Councillors approve MVDC Local Plan

18th October 2024

On 15 October 2024 Mole Valley District Council voted to adopt its new Local Plan by 28 votes in favour, 5 against, and 1 abstention.  Although a number of Bookham's local Councillors asked questions and commented positively on issues residents are concerned about, Those present voted in favour of the Plan.  
There is an argument that having a current Local Plan is better for a district council as a whole, than not having one, and there is truth in that.  However, back in June the BRA told the Council and the Government appointed Planning Inspector that we wanted a "Fair Deal for Bookham".  That included the Bookhams taking their fair share of new building (through redevelopment and infilling) but saying a clear NO to inappropriate development in the wrong places, and especially not in the Green Belt. 

The "deal" that has subsequently been imposed on the Bookhams is not, in our opinion,  "fair ", and the Local Plan remains unsound. 

What happened to Bookham's issues about over-development, and inadequate infrastructure, and the deep concerns about:  traffic generation and highway safety;  not removing land from the Green Belt; and, increasing the risk from flooding and surface water?  

Well the short answer is, sadly, that the Bookham's feedback was largely disregarded by the Council and the Inspector.

The Council has been instructed by the Inspector to review the Plan again in three years time. So we won't have long before consultations start all over again. Next time, against what we have been told, will be even greater Government housing targets.