The NPPF, the absence of an East Devon Local Plan .......... and 'The Real Estate Industrial Complex'

Rob Hopkins' piece on the current state of housebuilding
Futures Forum: Are you a SWIMBY? >>> Something Wonderful In My Back Yard >>>

... referred to the notion of ‘The Real Estate Industrial Complex’, asking: “is it beyond our creativity to provide our fellow human beings with shelter and sustenance without covering more of the world in concrete?”
Blog Entry - The Real Estate-Industrial Complex - Architect Magazine

Another reference was to Oliver Wainwright's article, recently looked at on this blog:
The truth about property developers: how they are exploiting planning authorities and ruining our cities | Cities | theguardian.com
Futures Forum: 106 payments and the NPPF.......... “The definition of ‘sustainable’ has nothing to do with green issues or energy at all... It means one thing: commercially viable.”

And this has serious implications for East Devon:
Futures Forum: 106 payments and the NPPF... the repercussions for East Devon

Rob Hopkins refers to a local Totnes project and opportunities under the Localism Act:
What is a Community Right to Build Order? - Atmos Totnes

In other words, it's not a matter of saying 'No' to 'development' - but saying, 'something wonderful in my back yard' could be more than welcome...

As one commentator puts it:

Attached article is from Inside Housing, a mag for Housing Associations.

With three quarters of councils yet to have their Local Plan approved it suggests the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) was a deliberate ploy to let developers loose; free from regional strategies wherever they find a friendly landlord and see a financial opportunity.

The treasury’s hands are all over this policy making it hard for councils to play “snakes and ladders (with few ladders)” - without carrots and sticks to hasten the Local Plan process. Forget 2015: EDDC can deliver homes without the Local Plan through the NPPF 5 year supply loophole and without providing affordable homes. 

Oh yes and also forget sustainable development which is not about ecological credentials and infrastructure but selling houses on green fields. 

Localism means deregulation of the planning system to allow the market and EDBF (East Devon Business Forum) type enterprises decide. 

Needless to say with the election approaching the Tories are furiously back peddling pretending the trashing of the countryside isn’t their fault, - even the local MP has been on the bandwagon commenting on the Local Plan.

Question: how many affordable homes have EDDC delivered since 2011 not including Cranbrook?

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