Agenda item

Report PLA1037 from Planning Policy & Partnerships Service Manager.

(Enclosure)

Please note that due to the size of the appendices to this report, they are only available electronically at: 

http://moderngov.southkesteven.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=164&MId=2929&Ver=4

Decision:

Cabinet recommends to Council the adoption of:

a)              the Site Allocation and Policies Development Plan Document as amended in accordance with the Main Modifications recommended by the Inspector in Appendix A to his report dated 27th February 2014 (Appendix 1 to report PLA1037) and the minor modifications set out in Appendix 2 to report PLA1037.

b)              the Policies Map as revised and updated to show the consequential changes that result from the adoption of the Site Allocations and Policies DPD.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              Report PLA1037 from the Planning Policy and Partnerships Service Manager.

2)              On 8th September 2011 the Council approved the publication of the Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document (SAP DPD) for a six week period to seek representations on it.

3)              On 12th January 2012 the SAP DPD together with the representations received were submitted to the Secretary of State for examination.

4)              An independent Planning Inspector was appointed by the Secretary of State to conduct the examination process.  Hearing sessions were held between 6th and 16th October 2012 and further sessions held between 9th and 12th December 2013.

5)              On the advice of the Inspector, the Council published two sets of proposed modifications to the Plan which were each subject to six weeks consultation. The Main Modifications published were agreed with the Grow the Economy Portfolio Holder in accordance with the resolution passed at Council on 8th September 2011 (minute 33).  Representations received during the consultation period were taken in to account by the Inspector in finalising his report and recommendations.

6)              The first set of Main Modifications related to changes to the Plan to respond to issues raised by the Inspector in exploratory meetings (concerning village and site selection) and as a consequence of the publication of the NPPF in March 2012.

7)              The second set of Main Modifications published in July 2013  occurred from a reassessment of the Plan’s Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA), which had been undertaken following case law issues which had emerged at the end of November 2012 hearing sessions.  Modifications from discussions at these hearing sessions were also proposed.

8)              The Inspector’s Report and recommended Main Modifications reflect the Main Modifications published and consulted on during the examination process.

9)              The Inspector concluded that in preparing the plan the Council had complied with the duty to co-operate and, subject to the Main Modifications being made the SAP DPD was legally compliant and met the criteria for soundness in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF).  It had been positively prepared and was justified, effective and consistent with national policy.

10)           Issues considered by the Inspector included the following:

- a duty to co-operate

- methodology for identifying appropriate locations and sites for  development

-  phasing of delivery of housing

- choice of LSCs to receive development allocations and choice of allocated sites in and around settlements

-  minor modifications

- policies map (it is a legal requirement that the Policies Map is updated at the same time as a DPD is adopted).

11)           The adoption of the SAP DPD will make it part of the statutory Development Plan for the District together with the Core Strategy and will be the starting point for the determination of planning applications.

12)           Comments made Members at the meeting thanking the officers for all the work that had gone into the document and the reassurance that the document was sound.

Other Options Considered

Do not adopt the Site Allocation and Policies DPD. The Council could choose not to adopt the plan; however given the NPPF’s presumption in favour of sustainable development, a decision not to adopt would leave the Council with reduced local policy control over development sites and the determination of certain planning applications.  The SAP DPD has been prepared over several years and has also been through a number of states of consultation.  There is, therefore, a reasonable expectation by residents, community groups and stakeholders involved in its preparation that the plan will be adopted.