Agenda item

Councillor D B Dew, Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning and Housing to present an update on the Local Plan.

(Notes –

Executive Councillor presentations  10 minutes each

Questions to each presenting Councillor  5 minutes each

  15 minutes in total)

Period for questions to other Members of the Cabinet - 10 minutes).

Councillor D B Dew, Executive Councillor for Strategic Housing and Planning addressed the Council on an update of the Local Plan and Development Management update. A copy of Councillor Dew’s PowerPoint presentation is appended in the Minute Book.

Councillor Dew updated Members on the timeline of the Local Plan and explained that the revised timetable had been in accordance with the Minister of State for Housing and Planning’s written statement of July 2015 which had urged all planning authorities to produce an up-to-date Local Plan by early 2017. Councillor Dew explained that the proposed submission of the Local Plan was Autumn 2016 for full public consultation with final submission in March 2017 and adoption in 2018/19. It was explained that key supporting evidence was required to support the submission that included an Environmental Capacity Study that had identified additional sites since the last public consultation, strategic transport study jointly commissioned with Cambridgeshire County Council and strategic flood risk assessment. In addition to these requirements further supporting evidence required was a retail assessment, gypsy and traveller accommodation needs assessment, identification of areas for wind energy development.

Members were acquainted with further challenges faced by the Council on demonstrating deliverability in the provision of housing but had been achieved through the number of sites with planning permission and under construction. The National Planning Policy Framework required the Council to identify and update annually a supply of specific deliverable sites to provide five years’ worth of housing against identified need. Councillor Dew explained that the provision of infrastructure and raising of funding provided the greatest challenge and the Infrastructure Business Plan would identify the requirements to deliver and service the growth in the Local Plan. He further explained that the aspiration was to have a Local Plan with housing allocations to meet all development needs up to 2036.

Members were provided with an update on changes in national guidance since the targeted consultation in January 2015, resulting in tougher action on local authorities that have not got a Local Plan in place by 2017, a zoning system to grant planning permission automatically on suitable brownfield sites and a requirement to plan proactively for the delivery of starter homes for first-time buyers under 40. Changes had been made to the Planning Policy for Travellers which included changes to the definition of a gypsy or traveller and restrictions to traveller sites in the open countryside. Local Plan policies required to consider inclusion of optional housing standards on accessibility and wheelchairs housing standards, water efficiency standards and internal space standards.

Councillor Dew provided an update on the Neighbourhood Plan process and reported that Neighbourhood Plan areas had been designated for Houghton and Wyton, St Neots, Brampton, Godmanchester, Huntingdon and Bury. Following examination, a referendum on the St Neots Neighbourhood Plan would be held on 4th February 2016. A Neighbourhood and Community Planning Guide had been approved by the Cabinet at their meeting in November 2015 that had been designed to assist Town and Parish Councils in reaching a decision on the form of plan to develop.

Councillor Dew concluded his presentation by reporting upon the performance of Development Management and the timescales involved in determining major, minor and other planning applications.

In response to a question from Councillor D A Giles on the amount of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding raised from development in St Neots had been spent in St Neots, Councillor Dew reported that it had been 3 years  since the introduction of CIL and funding had amounted to £2.378m overall, with £1.53k from St Neots and £96.5k already allocated to St Neots. CIL expenditure had been approved for the infrastructure project at Edison Bell Way, Huntingdon and Councillor Dew explained that there would be a further review to consider the allocation of CIL funding throughout the District as a whole. He further explained that CIL funding was only available for infrastructure or capital projects.

Arising from a question from Councillor T D Sanderson of developers with approval for large housing sites not commencing work on site, Councillor Dew explained that this was a national problem that needed to be addressed.