Agenda item

To provide a progress report on preparation of the proposed submission Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036, its supporting evidence base and the highways and transport infrastructure projects necessary for its delivery.

Notes progress on preparation of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036, its supporting evidence base and the highways and transport infrastructure projects necessary for its delivery.

By way of a report from the Head of Development (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet received a progress update on preparation of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036 (HLP2036), its supporting evidence base and the highways and transport infrastructure projects necessary for its delivery.

Within the previous update reports the Cabinet had been informed of the continued delays to the revalidated Cambridge Sub-Regional Model (CSRM) and the resultant impact on the Strategic Transport Study.  At the meeting in June, Minute No. 40 referred, the Cabinet agreed with the approach that the priority was to develop a defensible transport evidence base which necessitated waiting for the revalidated CSRM to be available. 

The Cabinet were advised that the revalidation work had been completed and reviewed by Mott McDonald to ensure it was fit for use from a Huntingdonshire perspective.

The Cabinet were referred to the revised timetable included within the submitted report and it was explained that although completion of re-validation of the CSRM by the County Council was six months behind schedule, the District Council continued to make considerable efforts to ensure that the timescale for the statutory consultation on, and submission of, the Local Plan was only one month later than reported to the Cabinet at the meetings in June and September.  The Cabinet commended Officers for their hard work to ensure that the timescale for statutory consultation on and submission of, the Local Plan had only been delayed by one month.

In response to a question it was explained that the remaining evidence base that relied on external consultants related to the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA).  JBA had made good progress on the SFRA, recently undertaking the climate change modelling work on behalf of the Environment Agency for the whole of the lower Great Ouse and the final report was nearly complete.

The Cambridgeshire, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, Peterborough and West Suffolk Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTNA) reflected the new ‘planning’ definition for a Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showperson as set out in the national Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (2015).  However, was inconsistent with the definition in the Equalities Act (2010) and might be subject to further legal challenge.

In response to a question it was explained that using the new definition, the GTNA had indicated a need for nine additional pitches for Gypsy and Traveller households in Huntingdonshire which might potentially increase to nineteen additional pitches as there were a number of non-responders to the questionnaire.

Referring to wind turbine development it was noted that the HLP2036 did not incorporate matters such as proximity or noise.  It was explained that once areas within the District had been designated in principle as potential sites suitable for further wind turbine development, other matters such as proximity and noise would be considered. 

Having considered the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth) the Cabinet,

RESOLVED

to note progress on preparation of the Huntingdonshire Local Plan to 2036, its supporting evidence base and the highways and transport infrastructure projects necessary for its delivery.