Skip to main content

Agenda item

Local Development Plan Update

Minutes:

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires local planning authorities to produce a Local Plan for their area and maintain an up-to-date timetable. 

 

As part of the plan-making process a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) timetable has been prepared (Appendix A).  This provides an update to the currently published version, approved in November 2018.  Delivery of the Plan against the published timescales is monitored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

 

Brentwood Borough Council published its Pre-Submission Local Plan (Regulation 19) in February 2019.  Processing and consideration of representations received is nearing completion (Regulation 20).  A summary of representations has been prepared (Appendix B).  This and other accompanying material will be compiled for submission to the Planning Inspectorate for Examination-in-Public (Regulation 22).  Guidelines for Local Plan examinations have been published by the Planning Inspectorate (Appendix C).

 

A fundamental part of the strategy for growth in the borough is delivery of Dunton Hills Garden Village, one of four strategic allocations in the Council’s Local Development Plan.  It is important to secure longer-term control over the delivery of quality on site as well as consider land assembly options for the delivery of sustainable transport integration in the wider area.  Design guidance for Dunton Hills Garden Village is proposed to be added to the LDS.  The need for a process to secure land required for the delivery of development or related transport infrastructure in the event that a landowner does not cooperate is identified, utilising the Council’s ability for compulsory acquisition of land.

 

Cllr Tumbridge MOVED and Cllr Mrs Hones SECONDED the removal of recommendations 2.2 and 2.3 and the amendment to 2.1 to state:-

 

  1. To delegate to the Leader, Deputy Leader and the Chair of Policy, Resources and Economic Development to agree a timetable with specific dates within the outline of the timetable in Appendix A, and to prepare a report for submission to the Planning Inspector.  The Chair of Policy, Resources and Economic Development to report any planned decision to this committee before action is taken.

 

A vote was taken by a show of hands and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY.

 

Reasons for Recommendation

It is necessary to have an up-to-date LDS.  Delivery of the Plan against the published timescales is monitored by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.  The revised LDS set out in Appendix A sets out an updated position regarding anticipated timeframes and documents to be produced, such as final stages of the Local Plan and design guidance for Dunton Hills Garden Village.

 

  The Local Plan Examination in Public will be aided by the confidence that will be shown in a process that can acquire land for the delivery of essential development or off-site infrastructure if a landowner does not cooperate with delivery.  Delivery of infrastructure and the detail needed to evidence how this will be delivered has been identified as a key factor in the NPPF and other examinations across the country.

 

It will be important to secure future capacity funding from MHCLG and Homes England.  To do this the Council will need to show clear evidence of progress on delivery and quality.  It is likely that this case will be aided by identification of required documents and timeframes, submission of the Local Plan, a commitment to quality, and positive progress on the project displayed in the past year through use of granted funds.  Approval of the recommendations will help the Council’s position with regard to securing additional funds.

 

Supporting documents: