Agenda item

To consider the Local Plan.

The Cabinet Member: Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability presented the report of the Director: Prosperity & Investment which set out the Council’s legal obligation to comply with regulations to ensure the Local Plan was up to date.

Government policy over a number of years has required Local Planning Authorities to deliver Local Plans and keep them up to date to ensure that they are reviewed every 5 years. The Council was also required to show a 5-year land supply for development to avoid speculative development in locations which could impact valuable greenspaces and would not support provision of planned key infrastructure, such as schools and highway improvements.

The existing Telford & Wrekin Local Plan was adopted in February 2018 and given these circumstances and opportunities it was proposed that a review of the Local Plan be launched. The proposed review would see population growth of c28,500 over the plan period, with a total Borough population below the original vision of the Telford Development Corporation of a new town consisting of 260,000 people. Telford had remained the key population centre, most accessible location and destination for jobs and inward investment. As part of the review, the Council were also planning for development needs of communities in Newport and the rural area.

In line with national guidance the Council previously consulted on Issues & Options (I&O) during 2020/21. This set out and sought public views on four strategic objectives underpinning the review of the Telford & Wrekin Local Plan:-

• Employment led growth through inward investment and job creation;
• A ‘Forest Community’ approach which affords the protection, enhancement and accessibility of the natural environment and green spaces that characterise the Borough;
• Support for regeneration of our Borough Towns, new town estates and infrastructure Publication Version of Local Plan; and
• Meeting local housing needs including providing more affordable and specialist accommodation to support people to live longer and healthier at home.
  
  

The process for the formal review and consultation for the draft local plan was detailed in the report and the Council had reviewed comments received and amended the plan where deemed appropriate. The key themes from the consultation included:-

• The number of homes the Council were planning for and the distribution of new allocations weighted towards the north of the Borough
• The need to plan for new infrastructure to accommodate new development
• The release of agricultural land for new development
• Concerns around flooding and drainage on and around proposed development sites
• The need to protect important green spaces
  
  

As part of the key proposals of the local plan, over a third of housing would be affordable or social housing, new buildings would be more energy efficient, green spaces would be protected, a further 17,000 jobs would be secured through new land for existing businesses to grow, an additional six new schools would be built and GP surgeries expanded.

The review process had also enabled the Council to update policies within the Local Plan and where needed introduce new policies to better reflect the development priorities of the Council and the needs of the community. Changes included amendments to the Council’s affordable housing policy to incorporate funding for specialist housing and the introduction of a policy to cover stalled development sites which will allow the Council to bring forward previously developed land such as former pubs, derelict sites and vacant land.

The proposed plan would be published for final comment before examination by a Government appointed Planning Inspector.

Cabinet Members welcomed the report and the new proposals put forward for the Local Plan which would provide much needed affordable and quality homes, continue to protect and enhance green spaces and maintain the Borough’s identity as one of the greenest places in the country. Members commented on the importance of a plan-led approach for infrastructure and thanked Council officers for their hard work. They highlighted that climate change would continue to be central to the plan, with policies in place to reduce carbon emissions and improve sustainability, reaffirming the Council’s commitment to tackling climate change.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group thanked officers for the detailed report and briefings provided. He asked for clarity over the process for obtaining final comments from the public as the consultation window would not open until 17 March and any comments made before then may not be considered. It was noted that the Council were dictated by Government frameworks in relation to housing numbers and that local authorities must accommodate shortfalls from neighbouring authorities such as the Black Country when they are unable to meet their housing targets. He raised concerns around infrastructure and that the local plan could not condition developments on the provision of infrastructure which would result in planning applications proceeding regardless of the funding available. It was noted that planning conditions could be applied to individual applications ensuring that developments are phased in line with infrastructure improvements. He expressed significant concerns regarding the three main developments in north Bratton, Wappenshall and Muxton which would make up the majority of the additional 8,000 houses planned, highlighting that residents and businesses in the area would need to access highways such as the M54 and thus exacerbating existing road infrastructure issues at junctions 5, 6 and 7. He was supportive of the Council’s efforts towards creating local nature reserves and was supportive oof the additional green areas allocated around new developments.

The Leader of the Conservative Group expressed concerns around building on food production land and highlighted the importance of food security. He raised concerns around the additional 8,000 homes proposed and whether the existing infrastructure would be able to accommodate the new dwellings. He welcomed the Council’s efforts to promote and expand the Borough’s green spaces and the use of energy efficiency but asked that the Cabinet consider installation of solar panels on building roofs rather than on farmland. He also welcomed the use of compulsory purchase orders with regard to stalled sites.

The Cabinet Member: Neighbourhoods, Planning & Sustainability clarified that the consultation process had been outlined on the Council’s website with a specific period for submitting public comments and any comments that had been made would be included. It was noted that whilst the Government sets a formula for housing numbers, the numbers proposed as part of the local plan were based on the Borough’s actual need and anticipated growth. It was also highlighted that the current infrastructure plan was in the process of being updated and that funding for infrastructure comes from various sources including Section 106 monies and Government grants. It was confirmed that only 2.8% of agricultural land would be affected by the local plan and that the Council had continued its efforts to improve agricultural productivity in the Borough.

RECOMMENDED TO FULL COUNCIL that:-

a)    the Publication Local Plan, the Publication Policies Map and the Site Allocations be approved;

b)   that any representations on the publication version of the plan received be agreed;

c)    the submission of the Publication Local Plan and associated documents, to the Secretary of State for examination be approved;

d)   delegated authority be granted to the Director: Prosperity & Investment, following consultation with the Cabinet Member, to exercise all relevant powers under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and associated law to:

·         Receive, action and collate representations made for submission to the Secretary of State;

·         Prepare the plan for submission to, and examination by, the Secretary of State; and

·         Publish the outcome of the examination and recommendations.

e)    delegated authority be granted to the Director: Prosperity & Investment, following consultation with the Cabinet Member to exercise the Council’s powers relating to its duty to cooperate in relation to the planning of sustainable development as set out in Section 33A Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and any other associated legislation and guidance;

f)     delegated authority be granted to the Director: Prosperity & Investment, following consultation with the Cabinet Member to enter into formal arrangements with any person or body referred to or prescribed in accordance with Section 33A Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and associated law and authorise the Lead Cabinet Member to sign and confirm the Council’s agreement to those formal arrangements if required; and

g)   the new Local Development Scheme and updated Statement of Community Involvement documents for publication be approved.