Bob Seely MP said: "On Wednesday (5 October) Councillors will decide whether to adopt the Island Planning Strategy in its current form or to delay the decision to allow for further changes.
"The plan will set out where and how many new homes will be built on the Island over the next 15 years.
"Since my election, I have fought against unsustainable greenfield development and for housing need to be prioritised for Islanders. It is my strong opinion that the Council should progress with a new plan. Our existing plan is out of date and therefore provides much less protection than a current plan would.
"I respect very much that councillors have a difficult decision to make.
"On one hand, the new plan before councillors now is not perfect - not least because the number of new homes proposed to be built remains too high - but by adopting it we at least have more protection against speculative development which damages our environment. I sympathise with what the Council is trying to achieve. That’s option 1.
"At the same time, I respect the opinions of those who think the numbers are too high. I agree.
"If councillors believe they can get a better plan in place quickly, then they need to do so in a timely way. That’s option 2.
"However, my concern with option 2 is two-fold.
"First, the potential length of any delay will damage our ability to block unsustainable development.
"Second, I am concerned that the Planning Inspectorate will throw out a plan with dramatically lower numbers. If that happens, we are back to square one, without the protection that a plan gives.
"Therefore, I fear that option 2 is higher risk.
"However, I urge councillors from all sides of the chamber to come together to agree an Island Plan for the good of the Island in a timely way.
"The longer we delay, the more vulnerable the Island is to unsustainable development pushed forward by developers who I do not believe have the best interests of the Island at heart.
"It is critical for me, that once any new Island Plan is put in place, it is reviewed as soon as new laws come into place. Once new planning laws go through, the Island can scrap the targets and use a methodology more suitable for the Island which reduces greenfield building and increases affordable housebuilding. I am seeking a commitment from the Council’s political leadership that, once the new planning laws are in place in the next year or so, the Council will seek to re-examine both the standard methodology used by the plan and the unsustainable housing numbers.
"On that, the Leader of the Council has given me a commitment that the Plan will be paused and reconsidered, if and when relevant changes to Planning Laws are made by the Government."
