A RETIRED planning inspector will be brought in to help Hart District Council draw up its new plan for future housing, a minister said today.

Planning Minister Brandon Lewis made the announcement at a meeting held this afternoon to address concerns from Hook residents about overdevelopment.

Hart District Council is currently drawing up a new local plan, after its previous plan was rejected by a planning inspector last year for a lack of consultation with neighbouring councils.

Villagers in Hook have said the lack of a local plan has left the village more vulnerable to plans for large housing estates put forward by developers.

Mr Lewis said the retired planning inspector will give advice to Hart in drawing up its new plan.

The meeting, held in the Harlington Centre in Fleet this afternoon, heard the retired inspector will meet with Hart councillors and officers in the next “20 to 30 days”.

Councillor Ken Crookes, leader of Hart District Council, said: “I look forward to him telling us we are on the right track.”

For more on this story, see The Gazette on Thursday.