Remove Housing Plans From Silverstone Development Brief
| Published: 2nd April 2008 21:57 |
Speaking to the Full Council meeting of South Northamptonshire Council, Cllr Ian McCord, Conservative Member for Cosgrove and Grafton said:-
“I support, in principle, the educational facilities, commercial units, hotels, track improvements and new pit and paddock. Indeed these developments will help build upon our strengths as a world class centre for motor sport.
“All of that proposed development is the track side of the A43. It is in keeping with policy EV7 that the A43 is the boundary for track related developments. The housing, is called an enabling development. What it enables is track improvements, therefore it must fall into that definition of track related development.
“The residential developments are on the village side of the A43, to the north. They are breaching policies EV7 and EV8. The Brief (para 1.5.1) states that its intention is to provide clarity to the existing policies. My proposal is in line with that. Our polices are clear – no development north of the A43. To adopt the brief with the housing development muddies this, and weakens the policy.
“We have a clear and defensible boundary. I urge council and cabinet to defend that boundary and restate your support for the adopted policy.
“Re-draw the boundary of the planning brief to run to the south of the A43. Remove Areas B and C from the plan. Approve the remainder.
“We are told that this is not a planning application and there are still opportunities to have concerns satisfied during any process to determine the application. But I don’t care about the colour of the bricks or whether or not to have frosted glass in the skylights. I object to the principle of building houses against the policies of this council. I object to what feels like the latest in a series of threats. No car parks – No Grand Prix. No road – No Grand Prix. Now No Houses - No Grand Prix.
“Once this sod is cut the whole ribbon of land parallel to the A43 will be in play for developers to nibble at. Arguments that this is safe because of the enabling development are specious. The precedent will have been established. What this will be is a Trojan development for area B and C, where B is the Bridge at Dadford Road and C the Church. Sufficient space for up to 1000 homes.
“I propose to remove just 3, from 175 hectares, a mere two percent of the total land from the Master Plan. All, except the very greedy, would settle for a compromise giving 98% of what you want.
“Now we are told time is running out. We must act with haste or all will be lost. The BRDC can get on and develop the track and do what is necessary to keep the Grand Prix.
“Remember that this council granted planning approval for new pit and paddock in 2002, 2003, and 2004. None of which were accompanied by housing development to fund it. If time has been lost it has not been lost by this council. Why nothing has been made of those opportunities is for the BRDC to answer. No wonder Bernie Ecclestone says he has heard it all before. Is it a case that vision without action is simply a daydream?
“Approve the plan for all the things that help motor sport. The case for the housing has not been made, spending more time on this will detract from the efforts to secure the Grand Prix.
“There are arguments that the housing growth should be shared around and Silverstone should take its share. This is something that I am sympathetic towards. However, it must be done in a district wide holistic way. All sites, in all villages, considered during the Local Development Framework process. Until our policies change we have to stick with what we have got.
“Another fear expressed to me is that planning applications for the housing may be imposed by appeal or by the Secretary of State following a call in. I say, bring it on. Lets point any Appeals Inspector to this debate to show that this Council considered development and rejected it.
“The threat that the Secretary of State could call in and impose their will in Silverstone, or elsewhere, is always there. They can do that now, and indeed I wonder why they have not? However, this is a local district Council. Our duty is to listen to our local residents and put forward their views. This council should do what it thinks is right for this area.
“If Central government believes the Grand Prix is of strategic national importance let them give a grant. They can do it for the Olympics, why not F1?
“If the BRDC is worthy of public subsidy, then do it openly and in a way that does not destroy the countryside for evermore.
“This Conservative Council should reject the housing plan as it is nothing more than a cunning wheeze to turn low value land into a crock of gold.
“If the Labour Government wishes to impose its will on us, then I will merrily take my chances in the ballot box.
“My compromise proposal has all these advantages:-
the BRDC get 98% of what they want; the community get what they want; the countryside is protected; the policies of this council remain in tact; the chances of legal challenge are reduced; the circuit can be enhanced; our motor sport industry strengthened; the business interests of Silverstone Circuit and the community interests of Silverstone Village are once again in harmony.
“With the village, the circuit, and the council aligned to a common cause we can work as one to retain the British Grand Prix.”
Ian A McCord
Conservative Member for Cosgrove and Grafton Ward
South Northamptonshire District Council
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