Excellent news for planners in higher than average planning delivery grant 8 Dec 09
Harrogate Borough Council has received some welcome good news from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in the form of a much higher than expected Housing and Planning Delivery Grant for 2009/10.
A provisional grant totalling £535,000 has been awarded, which is £375,000 more than the council had originally budgeted for.
To put this grant into perspective, the average planning delivery grant awarded this year is £350.000.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, Cabinet Member for Planning and Transport says this grant, which is a record high for Harrogate, has been awarded because Harrogate is leading the way in the progress made in the district's Local Development Framework.
He added:
"I am delighted that the Government has recognised what our planners have achieved in the last 12 months. Three-quarters of the grant has been awarded for our Core Strategy, which the council adopted in February this year. The rest is for our success in identifying more than five years' worth of land for housing on previously developed sites, and for involving local groups in our work on housing land.
"I pay tribute to the professionalism of our council officers, and particularly to those in Tim Richards, the Head of Planning Services', LDF team, whose work has been outstanding especially Dave Allenby and Dave Sykes.
"The effectiveness of our Core Strategy has already been proven just a few weeks ago when the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government upheld our refusal of permission for 222 homes in the countryside at Penny Pot Lane. He agreed with us that there was no need now for this large-scale development and that strategic decisions about development within the district must be made as part of a proper plan process.
"
"I also would like to thank my fellow councillors for their support.
They will no doubt join me in welcoming this excellent grant. The additional funds take a little pressure off a very tight budget.
"Residents will benefit from continued improvements in the council's planning website, which is already considered one of the best. Soon we will be making available on-line a virtual planning file for every planning application, showing all relevant case documents.
The grant will also help with the next round of work, starting in 2010, which is to identify specific sites for housing, businesses and sports facilities throughout the district."
MEDIA CONTACT :
Councillor Don Mackenzie is available for comment on 01423 872211 or 07957 304109 or via Lynne Mee, Communications and Media Manager, 01423 556022 07884 226409