Agenda item

This report advises on an update on work on local plan making and summarises progress on key work streams.

The Committee considered the Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management’s report that gave an update on the local plan making progress which was currently behind schedule by two weeks to take into account the Green Wedge Workshop that Members agreed at the meeting in February. 

Members noted that the addendum Regulation 18 consultation would now be launched after the Strategic Planning Committee meeting on 2 April which would allow for any further work to be completed.

The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management sought Members guidance to the preferred approach to the consultation and whether they wished officers to encourage responses through the Commonplace software or by other means of engagement such as the council’s website, newsletters, webinars with town and parish councils or direct engagement with officers. 

Members guidance was also sought on the climate change chapter of the Local Plan.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management referred to the recent Government actions to control building standards through Building Regulations and sought guidance about whether members would prefer to follow Government’s guidance or remain with the zero carbon approach which would require further work to be completed to gather evidence to promote this as a key policy in the Local Plan.

Points raised during discussion included:

·       Will there be village hall drop in events again and have lessons been learned from the last consultation?  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management sought clarity from Members about what they wanted to do as it was noted in the report that face-to-face engagement had received a mixed response with an expectation that more information would have been provided than was available on-line.  He suggested that due to the limited scope of the consultation there was limited need for face-to-face engagement but suggested if required, that officers would be happy to provide town and parish councils with materials needed if they wanted to hold their own event.

·       Disappointment was expressed about the Government actions on climate change as it is important to ensure houses are being built to the best possible standard.  How can this be achieved if the policy is not in the new Local Plan.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management acknowledged the need to deliver low carbon developments and sought clarity from Members about how far they wanted to push against Government which in turn could jeopardise the Local Plan at examination.

·       Clarity was sought on what the consultation would focus on. The following list was confirmed:

Ø  Additional housing sites

Ø  Green Wedges

Ø  Additional employment sites

Ø  Boundaries for Coastal Preservation Areas

Ø  Boundaries for Clyst Valley Regional Park

Ø  Town Centre Policies

·       Reference was made to Devolution and having the right homes in the right places and whether this would have an impact on the new Local Plan.

·       Clarification was sought on whether a response had been submitted to the consultation of the Future Homes Standard and whether the letter had been signed to the Town and Country Planning Association letter.  The Assistant Director – Planning Strategy and Development Management confirmed that these were urgent items to do.

·       There is a need to put pressure on developers to build zero carbon homes.

·       Preference was expressed for a zero carbon policy.

·       To build zero carbon homes would add extra costs for developers which would raise the prices of homes and make them unaffordable for people on low incomes.

·       Agree that in principle we should be building zero carbon homes but in reality this will be difficult until everyone is working to the same standard and for Building Regulations to be done on a national basis.

·       It was suggested that the consultation could be sent to every household in East Devon by putting a QR code on a tag which could be left on the refuse bin after they are emptied.

·       It was suggested to amend Recommendation 3 to read:

‘To request that officers undertake the necessary work to robustly defend the approach to zero carbon development contained within Strategy 28 of the Regulation 18 Local Plan and the work on suitable areas for wind energy contained in the proposed Strategy 31’.  In response the Planning Solicitor advised that the generalised wording in Recommendation 3 would allow officers more flexibility and suggested a slightly amended version:

‘That Committee wish to pursue a policy approach in the new Local Plan that sets out local plan policy on energy efficiency standards/approaches that exceed those of building regulations.

Councillor Mike Howe proposed Recommendation 1 and 2 as written and the amended Recommendation 3 as suggested by the Planning Solicitor.  This was seconded by Councillor Todd Olive.

RESOLVED:

1.          The ongoing work on local plan production as summarised in the update report be noted.

2.          The proposed approach to additional local plan consultation in April and May be agreed.

3.           That Committee wish to pursue a policy approach in the new Local Plan that sets out local plan policy on energy efficiency standards/approaches that exceed those of building regulations.