Agenda item

The report provides further information around work planning for the new local plan and also highlights issues associated with Government consultation on proposed changes to the local plan making system.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management provided the Committee with an interim update on the work programme for the new local plan to address the immediate issues to the local plan making system due to the proposed Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill.  He advised that it was critical for Members to be aware that absolute deadline to submit the draft local plan was June 2025 and adopted by June 2026.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management drew Members attention to key areas that had been identified as not having been effectively progressed and would need further consultation through a further Regulation 18 stage.  Members noted that a detailed report would be brought to Committee next Spring.

These included:

·       Site allocations and master planning for the new town

·       Employment allocations

·       Further housing sites

·       Clyst Valley Regional Park Boundary

·       Green Wedges

·       Coastal Preservation Areas

·       Designated Neighbourhood Area Housing Requirements

Members attention was drawn to the detailed table that summarised the further work, evidence and committee considerations that may be needed to support the local plan which would be brought to Members in bite size chunks, chapter by chapter to work through and agree any changes.

Questions from Members included:

·       Clarification was sought on whether there was a Jurassic Coast Protection Area to cover the inland areas and whether this was an overlap of the coastal preservation areas.  The Assistant Director was not aware of this and advised he would look into this with the World Heritage Site Team.

·       There was a need to consider food and water security and look at ways of protecting the grade 1 and 2 lands on further developments and clarification was sought on whether there would be policies in the local plan to protect these types of land.  It was advised there would be policies in the plan to protect the best agricultural land and could look to accommodate water security which could be picked up when the Water Cycle Study was completed.

·       Concern raised that there nothing in the local plan about our rural communities and clarification was sought about helping farmers.  It was advised current policies were open to rural development and rural diversification.

·       Several Members raised concerns about the Green Wedges advising they were very important, and the review should not propose to reduce them or be encroached on.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised there the Green Wedge Policy along with the other outdated policies must be reviewed to make sure the new local plan has up-to-date evidence and justification for it to be adopted.  In response there was a request to have it noted in the minutes that whilst the committee recognises there was more work to be done that as a matter of principle the Green Wedges were a priority and preventing the coalescence of settlements was absolutely vital.

·       Clarification was sought on the strategic development at Whimple and Feniton.  In response it was advised this would be picked up at a later date when considering the site allocations.

·       It was suggested that the Chair and Vice Chair be kept regularly up to date on the GANT chart and on any other relevant information relating to progress.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management confirmed he was happy to sit down with the Chair and Vice Chair and review the work programme at any time.

·       Clarification was sought on whether a policy could be introduced to prevent developers trying to get out of providing affordable housing after the planning application has been approved.  In response it was advised that if current government legislation changed this could be possible but at present this would not be possible.

RESOLVED:

1.     That local plan production continues under the current existing plan making system though with future periodic reviews to assess possible potential and desirability to work under the proposed new system.

2.     Working on and refining the existing draft local plan notwithstanding that scope exists to alter the plan strategy and add to, delete or amend draft policies in the future be endorsed.