Planning inspectors do not propose changes to green belt
AVBC finally submitted a draft Local Plan to the central government Planning Inspectorate in 2024. While the Save Duffield Green Belt group (SDGB) was pleased to see that this version did not contain any green belt sites, it was concerned that an unrealistic housing ‘windfall allowance’ target for Duffield was included.
The windfall allowance refers to houses that would be built in the Local Plan period (15 years) through small scale developments, such as where a large house is demolished to build 3 new houses, or where a house is built on what was formerly a large garden.
Residents will be aware that there has been a lot of this type of development across Duffield over the last few years, and SDGB felt that the Plan’s windfall allowance figure of 106 additional homes for Duffield over the next 15 years was neither realistic nor achievable. Fearing that green belt land might subsequently be targeted to make up any shortfall in this allowance, SDGB submitted an objection to the figure.
Review of the Plan
The draft Local Plan was reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate during December and several hearings took place where any interested party could put forward their views.
Unsurprisingly, land promoters and developers argued that more housing was required for Amber Valley and consequently green belt land should be deleted. Indeed, specific representations were made to the Inspector that green belt land in Duffield should be allocated for housing to meet the Borough’s needs.
The good news is that while the Planning Inspector has suggested some changes to make the draft Local Plan ‘sound’, deleting land from the green belt was not one of the proposed changes.
Next Steps
AVBC will be meeting to discuss the actions required and the next steps to towards the Plan being formally adopted.
So, Duffield’s green belt seems safe for now, but the Planning Inspector has also highlighted that the Government’s planned changes to housing targets will mean that the Council will need to start work on a new Local Plan once the current plan has been adopted.
SDGB will continue to follow the process and keep residents updated with any new developments.
Previous newsletters
New Local Plan Reflects the Will of the People [More…March 24]
Consultation on the revised Local Plan due February 24 [More…Feb 24]
Duffield Residents Reaffirm their Support for the Green Belt [More…Nov 22]
Amber Valley Council launches a new consultation on the Local Plan [More…July 2022]
Positive news on the Local Plan and Green Belt [More…June 2022]
With the local elections looming [More…May 2022]
The threat of permanent loss of green belt land in Duffield remains [More … February 2022]
The public consultation results on the Spatial Strategy are in … December 2021
Act now to protect our Green Belt … August 2021
Amber Valley Borough Council have launched a public consultation … July 2021
At the most recent Amber Valley Borough Council meeting … March 2021
Save Duffield Green Belt 