"NOT one word" of a major council plan which outlines the possible development of 1,400 homes in Reigate and Redhill's green belt will be changed.
A shock intervention from the Government last month raised hopes of a dramatic 11th-hour twist in the formation of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's controversial Core Strategy – a planning blueprint which outlines where thousands of homes should be built up to 2027.
Planning minister Nick Boles criticised a planning inspector's report on the council's strategy – and Reigate MP Crispin Blunt declared that opened the way to delete all references to developing "urban extensions" in the green belt.
But Mike Miller, the council's executive member for planning and regeneration, has confirmed they are there to stay.
"There will be no alterations," said Cllr Miller.
"The letters [from Mr Boles] that started it all off gave some people the idea they could change it, but legal opinion found that was not possible, so we are going back full circle to where we were."
He said the council had employed "the country's top planning barrister" to scrutinise the issue, and it would take years and cost millions of pounds to change the strategy.
However, he knew nothing of an amendment which, Mr Blunt says, will yet safeguard the green belt when the council finally meets to formally adopt the strategy in July. And, Cllr Miller said, he would not be in favour of the proposed resolution.
Mr Blunt and the council have repeatedly clashed over the issue.
The MP has previously accused the council of being "weak" by including the green belt in its development plans.
In a letter from the council's chief executive, John Jory, written to the Department of Communities and Local Government last month, Mr Jory accused Mr Blunt of attempting to "subvert" the council's policy.
Despite the clash, Mr Blunt is confident the council, which may be under new leadership by July, will agree to the resolution.
"The council will pass the Core Strategy with a qualification," said Mr Blunt. "It will essentially say that the green belt urban extension developments, which are in the latter part of the strategy, will not be developed until there is a new Core Strategy.
" That, in effect, will bring forward the date of the next Core Strategy.
"We have a solution; the urban extensions can be protected. If the council adopts the strategy as is, we are back to square one, and I have made it very clear I oppose the strategy as it is."
The Core Strategy will go before the council's Executive on June 19 for recommendation to full council on July 24.
Cllr Miller added: "The majority political group of the council has agreed that it will proceed for approval and adoption without further amendment."
