Issue - meetings

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Planning Act 2008 and Localism Act 2011) requires a Local Planning Authority to prepare and maintain a Local Development Scheme setting out the Development Plan Documents to be produced, including the Local Plan. This report seeks approval of the 2025 - 2028 Local Development Scheme for publication.

Purpose of the report

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Planning Act 2008 and Localism Act 2011) required a Local Planning Authority to prepare and maintain a Local Development Scheme setting out the Development Plan documents to be produced, including the Local Plan. The report sought approval of the 2025 - 2028 Local Development Scheme for publication.

Decision

That Cabinet approved the Local Development Scheme (2025-2028) for publication.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The alternative of not reviewing the Local Development Scheme was discounted. Failing to keep the Local Development Scheme up to date would contravene the statutory requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Planning Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) and Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

Reasons for the decision

The reason for the recommendation was to ensure the Council was providing an up-to-date position and an accurate timeline for the production of development plan documents. This would ensure that the Council was in accordance with the requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended).

In a letter to chief planners, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government asked that, in light of the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, that all planning authorities produced an updated Local Development Scheme within 12 weeks of the publication of the NPPF, i.e. by no later than 6 March 2025. Approval and publication of the revised Local Development Scheme in February 2025 would ensure this deadline was met.

Maintaining an up-to-date Local Development Scheme would ensure a transparent process. This was important because the local community and others with an interest in the district could be kept aware of development plan production and stages of consultation.

Supporting the continuity of the planning function in South Kesteven would aid the recovery of the local economy and the economic resilience of the district by providing greater certainty and confidence for future investment and development.

The following points were highlighted:

-       The Council had previously been progressing towards Regulation 19 consultation, however in December 2024 the government published a revised NPPF which mandated a need for more housing across South Kesteven. The Council was therefore not proceeding with Regulation 19 consultation at this time. The Council was required to keep the Local Development Scheme up to date to reflect any changes to the timetable.

-       The new local plan timetable indicated that consultation on Regulation 19 would now take place in January-February 2026, with submission of the new Local Plan by November 2026.

-       All parish and town councils would be notified of the Local Plan at the publication stage.

-       Updating the Local Development Scheme alongside local government reorganisation was a big task. There was a great deal of work to do to meet the requirements of the Local Plan and ensure sustainable development to 2041.