Decision details

Report updating on the Local Plan.

Key Decision identified as Review of the Telford & Wrekin Local Plan - Protect, Care & Invest to Create a Better Borough in the Notice of Key Decisions published on 4 December 2019.

Councillor D Wright, Cabinet Member for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure presented the report of the Assistant Director: Business, Development & Employment which set out the Council’s obligation to comply with regulations to ensure the Local Plan was up to date.  A review also provided an opportunity to address local opportunities and challenges.

Adopted in January 2018, the Telford & Wrekin Local Plan was the Development Plan for the Borough, central to delivering plan led growth and the starting point for assessing planning applications.

The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 placed an obligation on Councils to review Local Plans within a five year period from the date of adoption (ie the review needed to be completed by January 2023).  The Borough needed to comply with the Regulations and ensure its Local Plan is up-to-date and in conformity with the revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework. A review also enabled the authority to address local opportunities and it was a key opportunity to tackle policy and infrastructure challenges including transport, health and wellbeing, provision of affordable and specialist accommodation and to review policy to address Climate Change in the light of the Climate Emergency Declaration.

Given these circumstances and opportunities it was proposed that a review of the Local Plan be launched.  The proposed review would not be housing numbers driven but seek to embed key priorities for the Council and Borough. Four core objectives were proposed to underpin the review:

·         Employment led growth through inward investment and job creation

·         A ‘Forest Community’ approach which afforded the protection, enhancement and accessibility of the natural environment and green spaces that characterise the Borough

·         Support for regeneration of Borough Towns, new town estates and infrastructure

·         Meeting local housing needs including providing more affordable and specialist accommodation to support people to live longer and healthier at home

Appended to the report were the Local Development Scheme and Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). 

The process for the formal Review was detailed in the report, and it was noted that the Local Plan would be brought forward in tandem with a review of the Economic Strategy, a new Housing Strategy and a refreshed Local Transport Plan ensuring a Local Plan Review that set the context for growth in the short and medium term with a horizon of 2041.

RESOLVED - that

(a)       a review of the Telford & Wrekin Local Plan based on the information set out in the report be commenced;

(b)       the Local Development Scheme attached to the report be approved and published with effect from 1 January 2020;

(c)       the revised Statement of Community Involvement attached to the report be approved and published;

(d)       the Call for Sites process be commenced; and

(e)       the Assistant Director Business, Development & Employment (or any Officer authorised by this post-holder) be authorised to exercise all the Council’s powers (besides those which are non-executive powers) under the relevant provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and all other enabling legislation relating to, preparation, publication, consultation and processing to secure the delivery of the Local Plan Review, the Call for Sites, the Local Development Scheme and the Statement of Community Involvement.