Update from Cllr. Lewis Barber following the Local Plan meeting held on the 7th May 2025, when the Draft Local Plan was once again rejected by Councillors in favour of an 'INFRASTRUCTURE FIRST' approach.
"We promised we’d only vote for an infrastructure first development plan and last night we made sure we upheld that promise, again. From concerns about doctors, to sewage to water and schools, we know that development needs infrastructure alongside it.
Myself, with colleagues Cllrs Sara Naylor, Rhys Smithson, Martin Parsons, Paul Smith, Sean Kelly and Mick Spindler voted down attempts to pass a plan the committee already voted against earlier in the year.
We voted against the plan in February for there being, in our view, insufficient evidence particularly on infrastructure. It was telling that more councillors voted against it this time.
We look forward to seeing the further evidence and infrastructure plan as we face a massive challenge with the steep increase in central housing targets while being aware that housing is for too many unaffordable." Cllr. Lewis Barber
Cllr. Lewis Barber at the Local Plan Meeting on 7th May 2025