Agenda item

The report presented to the Committee sought endorsement of the methodology for defining Green Wedges in the new local plan prior to the consultation at the Regulation 18 stage of the draft local plan.  This was following previous discussions where Members had highlighted issues where, in principle, Green Wedges should be designated between nearby settlements to avoid the risk of coalescence or loss of identity.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management referred Members to paragraph 2.2.1 in Appendix 1 which identified the existing Green Wedges and highlighted that sites already identified as proposed development allocations in those areas would be excluded from the areas to be assessed.  It was also highlighted that Green Wedges would also not be considered for the proposed new settlement as master planning would be required first.

The assessment methodology that was before Members outlined the various stages. It included the assessment criteria that would help to prevent the coalescence of settlements and to maintain a sense of place and identity for communities and proposed to assess potential Green Wedge locations against the criteria through strengths and evidence.

Many Members voiced their concerns on the content of the assessment methodology.

Discussion covered:

·       Several Members suggested that Green Wedges should have been looked at before the development.

·       Town and Parish Council views would need to be considered prior to the consultation stage.

·       A concern was raised about the time frame and to avoid a public consultation over the Christmas period.

·       It was not clear in paragraph 2.2.1 whether the sites identified as proposed development include both the first and second choice sites.

·       It was questioned whether the criteria that defined the Green Wedges previously proposed was correct.

·       There was no mention of assessing Green Wedges already mentioned in neighbourhood plans.

·       A concern was raised about the evidence criteria that focussed heavily on the visual impact on landscapes when in reality the impact would need to focus on more than what can be seen.

·       Clarification was sought on the receipt of a report on the new settlement.

·       Concern was raised about whether there would be a Green Wedge between the new settlement and Farringdon.

·       There was a need to update the interactive map to help visualise how things would change.

·       Not happy with the proposed method as there was no indication of how to safeguard against encroachment.

·       Disagreement with paragraph 2.2.1

·       More work was needed, better plans, more detailed discussions and more Member involvement, not just officers.

·       There was a need to protect all Grade 1 farmland.

·       It was suggested that this would be looked at alongside wider needs for footpaths and cycleways linking settlements.

In response the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised the Committee that Green Wedges are about preventing settlement coalescence and should not be confused with other countryside protections and landscape designations which fulfil different functions.  It was also explained that while there was a need to look a green infrastructure and how sustainable travel between settlements can be improved this should not be conflated into this work and needed to be done separately.

The Vice Chair urged Members to consider the recommendations, to try to look at them as a purpose and as an understanding in policy terms as to why Green Wedges should be there and what they should be doing.  It should not just be there to stop development.

Councillor Marcus Hartnell pointed out that much of the debate had not touched on the methodology and that if other local authorities had used this methodology and had reached successful conclusions on their Green Wedge policies he didn’t see a reason not to proceed with the methodology.

At the end of the debate the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management advised of the following key points that he recognised as concerns for Members.

These were:

1.     A clear recognition in the methodology for officers to look at and assess areas identified in neighbourhood plans that have been allocated for purposes of preventing settlement coalescence.

2.     Concern about paragraph 2.2.1 in the methodology and look at the conflict between allocations and Green Wedges with an action to report back to Strategic Planning Committee to flag up where there is a conflict between an allocation and a Green Wedge.

RESOLVED:

1.          Amend the proposed methodology for defining Green Wedges, set out in appendix 1 of this report to include:

(a)   consideration of all areas identified in neighbourhood plans that seek to prevent settlement coalescence.

(b)  to identify conflicts between proposed allocations and Green Wedges for Members to consider further and,

(c)   to ensure that all the areas identified for potential Green Wedges are considered under the methodology and that the methodology is used in the preparation of Green Wedge boundaries for consultation.

2.           Agree that the proposed Green Wedges be brought to Committee in the first quarter of 2024 for Members consideration.