Redrow's withdrawal...fatal consequences?

I have just spent a fascinating morning attending the Planning Inspector’s examination of the Draft Babergh Development Framework.  The proceedings which started last week will I understand continue for a fortnight.

The subject under discussion was the Chilton Woods Development, which of course largely falls within the parish of Chilton.  As readers of the blog know this project was recently dealt something of a blow by the termination of the preferred developer agreement between the County Council and the housebuilder, Redrow.

If there was any doubt, today's session with the Planning Inspector made it clear that  Redrow’s withdrawal from the scene has real significance, and may indeed be fatal,  not just to the Chilton Woods project in its present form,  but possibly even to the swift enactment of the Development Framework as a whole.

The Inspector was much exercised by the fact that with the withdrawal of a second developer, the Chilton Woods scheme may not now be viable as it stands.  If the scheme is not deliverable, the Inspector asked,  is there a plan B for housing growth in the Sudbury area?   If not where is the growth in housing encapsulated in the Framework going to come from?  The Inspector voiced doubts and reservations about all these issues. It is clear that he needs some evidence to support the County Council's confidence in the future of the Chilton Woods scheme, and he needs it soon.

It is too early to say if the Inspector’s stated reservations and concerns will scupper the Framework, and indeed I am not entirely sure whether it is possible to pass parts of the plan and exclude other parts, or whether it has to be passed as 'sound'  in its entirety.  

It should be noted however that failure to get the policy in place would mean that Babergh would for a meaningful period have to rely for guidance on the notoriously liberal National Planning Guidelines.  This, as the Council for the Preservation of Rural England and the National Trust recently pointed out could lead to some unfortunate planning decisions.

Aside from these rather crucial issues, Peter Clifford and Val Hart, representing Chilton Parish Council, and Jan Osborne for Sudbury Town Council, made a strong case for the retention of all of the community assets, provision for open space etc. that are supposed to be a feature of the Development.  This was in the face of a request for changes by the County Council who have had to step into the breach following the departure of Redrow,  The Inspector clearly agreed with them that the changes are not as trivial as the County Council's agent claimed and it seems that any alterations will need to go to further public consultation.