Core strategy planning document to be withdrawn

Rochdale Borough Council is set to withdraw its core strategy planning document and prepare a new one as 'a matter of urgency', reports the Planning/Regeneration & Renewal network.

At the next meeting of the full council, due to be held on 18 April, approval will be sought for the strategy to be pulled out of the examination process.

The council’s cabinet has already approved a report from its planning and regulation director, which recommends the document is withdrawn because of inspector Patrick Whitehead’s concerns about its soundness.

Last July he questioned the proposal to release around 50-55 hectares of green belt land in South Heywood for employment development and 520 homes.

He also raised concerns about plans for a new link road to junction 19 of the M62 to support employment development and stop traffic short-cutting through Heywood.

The examination was suspended for six months to allow the council to review the evidence supporting the South Heywood proposal.

But planning officers have now concluded that the best course of action is to withdraw the core strategy completely and to draw up a new one.

The council report said that if the withdrawal of the core strategy is approved, it will be possible to progress quickly to produce a revised one.

It hopes to produce a new draft plan for consultation in July/August and be able to submit it to government in October and get it adopted by June 2013.