A crunch council meeting about Erewash’s future was halted last week after a dramatic 11th hour intervention by Michael Gove to ban the borough from revamping its overall development strategy.
The “extraordinary” meeting at Long Eaton Town Hall (Thursday 30 Nov) had been called as the council’s new administration moved to fulfil an election commitment to change a long-running masterplan – including for new housing.
The leadership had branded it out-of-date and unsuitable. The new administration aimed to come up with a fresh blueprint.
Housing Minister Lee Rowley fired off an urgent letter to Erewash’s leader James Dawson on behalf of Secretary of State Mr Gove. It contained an order that Erewash should stick to working on the existing plan.
Mr Rowley cited powers the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is able to exert under Section 27 of the 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act.
He confirmed: “The Secretary of State is exercising his powers.” His letter warned of further action unless the council backed down over altering what is known as the Erewash Core Strategy Review.
The council, which claims new housing is slated to be built in the wrong places, now plans to seek legal advice.
