The Government has told Erewash Borough Council to stick with its emerging local plan, which has been branded ‘out-of-date and unsuitable’ by the authority.
The Derbyshire council's Labour administration, which took over from the Conservatives in the May elections, had campaigned on modifying the plan.
Councillors were due to vote on whether to withdraw the plan from examination at an extraordinary meeting last night.
In a letter received just hours before the meeting, the council was informed that housing secretary Michael Gove was exercising his powers to intervene under Section 27 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
On behalf of the secretary of state, housing minister Lee Rowley told the council that it must not ‘take any step to withdraw the plan from examination’.
Noting that the last Erewash local plan was adopted in 2014, Mr Rowley said the decision to intervene was made to avoid the ‘unnecessary additional delay’ to having an updated plan and the expense of preparing a fresh plan.
Council leader James Dawson said: ‘There has been no other communication with the council officers before this letter and this just rides roughshod over people’s democratic choice and representation.
‘The Government is effectively holding a gun to the council’s head and telling us to do as they say.
‘The council will be seeking legal advice and appraising all our options. But let’s be clear that this is an attack on local democracy.’
