Statement on withdrawal from Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

5 November 2020

At Preston City Council's Cabinet meeting on 4 November 2020, the decision was taken to withdraw Preston City Council from the Central Lancashire Memorandum of Understanding and Statement of Co-Operation: Relating to the Provision and Distribution of Housing Land (April 2020) ("the MOU") and the Statement of Common Ground (May 2020).

The decision follows a recent planning appeal decision in Chorley, in which a Planning Inspector attributed limited weight to the MOU in making his decision and will take effect immediately. The current MOU will no longer be relied upon by the Council in Development Management.

Following the withdrawal from the MOU the Council will revert to the Government's standard methodology formula to determine the minimum local housing need when assessing housing land supply and considering planning applications.

Councillor Peter Moss, Deputy Leader of Preston City Council and Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulation, said:

"We entered into the MOU with our partners in Central Lancashire to achieve a clear and consistent approach to monitoring housing land supply and to ensure a sustainable pattern of development across the region in advance of a new Local Plan.

"Unfortunately the results of recent planning appeals have rendered the current MOU unsustainable in achieving this aim so we have taken the decision to withdraw.

"We remain committed to working with our partners in Central Lancashire and continuing our strong relationship to promote sustainable development across the region with the best interests of our residents at heart recognising in future planning policies that Central Lancashire is a single housing market area."