Decision details

The Council has been undertaking work preparing a new Borough Local Plan which will, when finalised, replace the 'saved' policies in the 2006 Local Plan, the Core Strategy 2010 and the Site Allocations Local Plan 2016.

The new Local Plan will set out a new growth strategy for the borough over a 15-years period, will allocate sites for development, and will provide general ‘development management’ policies to guide development.

At this point, an initial public consultation on an ‘Issues and Options’ document has taken place (in 2017), as has a subsequent one on a full Draft Local Plan (from 20th September 2019 to 15th November 2019).

In accordance with the adopted Local Development Scheme 2020, the next stage will be publication of the Pre-Submission Local Plan, under Regulation 19. Representations will be invited on this, which will then be passed, along with the Local Plan documents, to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.

The report will recommend to Full Council that Regulation 19 consultation be undertaken, and the Local Plan, Sustainability Appraisal, and other supporting information, be submitted to the Secretary of State for examination by the Planning Inspectorate

RESOLVED – That Full Council be recommended:

1.     To agree to undertake consultation on the Pre-Submission of the Local Plan 2020-2038 (Regulation 19) and its supporting Sustainability Appraisal in March/April-May 2021

2.     To agree that after the Regulation 19 consultation, to submit the Local Plan 2020-2038, Sustainability Appraisal and associated documentation to the Secretary of State in July 2021

3.     To agree that the Head of Planning be authorised to make minor modifications to the Local Plan and Sustainability Appraisal prior to commencement of Regulation 19 consultation to ensure clarity, robustness and for consistency, with any minor modifications to be agreed wit the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation.

REASON FOR DECISION: To commence a public consultation in accordance with the overall timetable for the production of the Local Plan