THE minister for Local Government, Eric Pickles, has responded in writing to Stockton Borough Council's direct criticisms of Government planning rules.

Stockton Borough Council passed a resolution criticising the Government's planning guide, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), earlier this year and wrote to the minister.

The council had been put under pressure by the Save Stockton Save (SSS) group after the planning committee gave permission to build more than 2,500 homes across the district in recent years including more than 700 in two Yarm developments, 850 in Allens West, near Eaglescliffe, and was forced to accept more than 1,000 new houses in separate developments in Ingleby Barwick.

Earlier this year SSS, forced a debate criticising the planning committee's decisions on the full council agenda after securing nearly 2,500 signatures.

The full council resolved to write to Mr Pickles to urge him to change the Government's policies.

The letter, sent in April by Stockton mayor, Cllr Barbara Inman, said the Government's policies were; "totally undermining the Government's stated intention of empowering local people".

Mr Pickles has responded by saying that in fact the NPPF does encourage councils to re-use brownfield land and only sustainable development is encouraged.

Leader of the council, Bob Cook, has also written to Mr Pickles asking for permission to prepare a separate document on providing sites for Gypsies and Travellers instead of dealing with the issue in the Local Plan. A public consultation on various proposed Gypsy sites was held earlier this year, but the scheme was abandoned following widespread protests

Mr Pickles has replied by saying the Government is not inflexible but the council needs to consult more with the planning inspector.

The correspondence will be discussed at the planning committee meeting at Stockton Central Library at 1.30pm on Wednesday, October 22.