Mole Valley: Council told it must carry on with housing plan

The local plan sets out where homes would be built across Mole Valley

A Surrey district with house prices "amongst the highest in England" has been ordered not to delay its plan for new homes. 

Mole Valley District Council was ready to pull the plug on its local plan, setting out where housing can be built.

A last-minute intervention by the housing minister ruled out the council abandoning its plan.

The council was to debate withdrawing its plan, but will instead continue working on it.

Lee Rowley, minister for housing, planning and building safety, wrote to the council on the day of a scheduled meeting about the local plan.

The minister raised concerns about the possibility the council would withdraw its plan, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mr Rowley said it was essential that local plans were in place and kept up to date, and said withdrawing the plan from examination "would be a clear failure by the council".

Housing affordability a 'significant problem'

The minister said: "Housing affordability is a significant problem in Mole Valley and the ratio of average house prices to average wages is amongst the highest in England. 

"I can therefore conclude that there is higher housing pressure."

An extraordinary meeting of the district council took place to discuss the plan on Thursday.

Margaret Cooksey, cabinet member for planning, said three options had been available to the council.

She said they had the choice of withdrawing the plan, continuing with the plan as submitted, or requesting the planning inspector change the plan to remove all green belt sites.

Of the letter from the minister, she said: "This new direction takes option A away from us and requires Mole Valley District Council to report monthly to the minister's officials on the progress of the examination.

"It will remain in force until the examination concludes with the inspector's report."

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