Hello everyone, 

I hope you are all enjoying the more pleasant weather which is now with us hopefully for some time before it turns again, and are also all safe and well!

I thought a brief note might be helpful after the very long and involved 'exchange of views' we have had with SODC and the other regulatory bodies dealing with this matter.

For any of you that does not know as yet, SODC wrote to a number of residents on 7 May - probably to those who objected to this matter- to explain that they have now come to the conclusion......and have also advised Taylor Wimpey, that they believe that Taylor Wimpey will need to submit a further Planning Application if their development is to go ahead, to deal with the groundworks arising as a result of the solution features found beneath the site. A copy of the letter is here if you have not seen it/received it. 

This is further welcome news after hearing that Lashbrook was no longer the primary focus for the drainage outfall that was required back in February/March

It has taken quite some time to get there, but finally SODC seem to have got to the point we have been making for the last 8 or 9 months. It's a slightly odd way of going about things as it is quite unusual albeit not unheard of for a site to have 2 consents required in this way. We had hoped that the matter would be dealt with under the terms of the existing Planning Permission as a variation, which we think would have been neater and tied off all loose ends, but SODC in their wisdom have chosen a different route, and no doubt they have their reasons for this.

Its quite hard to predict what is going to happen next, as no doubt many people are pondering over this issue to decide how to proceed, and whether to challenge the decision, go with it or perhaps even to sell the site as being too difficult or taking up too much management time.

It seems likely however that there will be a pause in proceedings for some little while whilst everyone decides what to do next. So.......so far so good, and we have at last reached a point where the authorities accept that the matter needs to be looked at carefully and properly, and that in order for them to do that, it needs a formal application for those works for the other statutory consultees to be able to formally comment on whatever Taylor Wimpey proposes for the groundworks.

TFAG will continue to monitor the situation, and alert everyone when we have any firm news about what is to happen. In the meantime, we shall continue forwards with the investigation being undertaken by the Local Government ombudsman, and again feedback when we have some definitive news to report.

Thank you all for your continuing support.

Peter @ TFAG