East Devon District Council 5 year land supply tactics criticised

In the influential blog “Decisions, Decisions” in the entry on 10 February by planner Andrew Lainton.

He goes into detail on the recent decision to allow the construction of 130 dwellings east of Butts Road, Ottery and says, in conclusion:

The key (classic) tactical error here was to attempt to puff up the 5 year supply by inviting applications which is tantamount to saying there is not a 5 year supply.  If East Devon has admitted it did not have a 5 year supply, invited applications on favoured sites and then swiftly approved them it would not have had a problem.  The appellant would be arguing its case at the forthcoming local plan EIP instead as its application would have been approved as the current local plan would not have been ruled out of date.

Does anyone hear the sound of rolling heads at EDDC?  No, thought not.