I think this is spot on! I think this delay is all about a clear and transparent justification of a positive outcome and not about delaying a negative decision!

If Eric Pickles office was going to turn this down... I think they would have done it weeks ago!!!

Thanks for that, its easy to understand and will calm the troops.

i was thinking about having a bit of a panic but i will hold off a little longer.

i just hope that this does not delay the whole start on site significantly - we are still working to a deadline set by superleague!!

- and if a previous poster was correct, and we are waiting for pickles to finish his dinner it will be later than the 19th June!!! even abu hanza (sp) might be deported before this gets passed

I think this is 100% correct, far easier to have published a negative decision than a positive one as the objectors will be happy and the supporters would quietly sulk in the corner, if/when the positive decision is made, the objectors will not sulk quietly off they will still rant and clutch at straws, the SoS needs to remove the straws before the announcement

As I said last week, my feelings on the outcome shift momentarily. It's the current government that scare me, they seem to be able to produce an impeccable form of incompetence.

From pensions to granny taxes to deporting innocent citizens/retaining dangerous foreign nationals- you name it, they've messed it up!

Worst part is as an ex libdem voter I feel more disenfranchised than most.

Or to play devils advocate he is delaying it to a give clear and transparent justification of a negative outcome.
I think it will be passed myself but there are 2 ways to look at it.

Didn't see it quite that way, but to play the same card - if the case is watertight, you don't need to wait for anything. The new legislation would surely put pay to any lingering arguments.

HOWEVER, as Sandal Cat has stated, it's not really about that, it's about closing any legal loopholes that may exist between the new legislation coming into effect and the propositions that were put forward prior to this.

For the sake of 20 days, I'd be prepared to wait.

Keep hitting it into the long grass...hope it goes away. Old political tactic. There'll be more reasons to delay, mark my words

We have been unlucky with the timing of this PI. First it was the localism act delaying the LDF, then the new planning act coming in before the outcome is released. The SOS could have proceeded under the old rules as that was what the planning was judged against but can also use the new rules as the dcision is still pending. With the delay in publication of the LDF, which is very much in favour of deveolping the site, the 30th may was always going to be tight if Mr Pickles wanted to judge it against that. The delay gives him that opportunity. And judging it against the new criteria also makes it even more likely that a positive outcome will happen. It is very pro development but it also means that one or two legalities have to be covered to ensure there is no comeback. If he was going to reject it then it would have been easier to do it now using the old rules. I get the feeling Mr Pickles wants to pass this and is using every way possible to justify doing so even if it means delaying it slightly. Its an inconvenience, but ultimately ad strange as it may seem, it is a promising development.

Oh indeed.
But I wouldn't use the delay to try and make a case either way is my point.

Most of us on here aint buying till our s are sweating in the plastic buckets, don't you worry. And if we don't get them, we'll go to plan 'K'.