Geoffrey Robinson
Main Page: Geoffrey Robinson (Labour - Coventry North West)(9 years, 6 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Mr Pickles
I am happy to join my hon. Friend in congratulating the residents of Worth. She is absolutely right that the additional £23 million that has been announced will help and encourage many more communities across England to start neighbourhood planning and to take control of future developments in their area. Nearly 10% of the population of England is now covered by a neighbourhood plan.
Mr Geoffrey Robinson (Coventry North West) (Lab)
Is the Secretary of State aware that localism is not much help when the most important project in Coventry, the Gateway project, is called in and then the decision is delayed? An answer was expected in December, but it has been delayed to January and then to the end of January. Will he tell us when he will make a decision?
Mr Pickles
As the hon. Gentleman knows, we do not call in many applications for consideration. Last year, we called in only about eight. The one he has mentioned has some degree of complexity, and he will understand that I cannot comment about the individual application until all the facts are before me.