Agenda item

Further to minute 643 of 9 September 2014, and following receipt of the report of the Inspector who conducted the Examination of the draft Local Plan, to recommend the Council to adopt the Chichester Local Plan: Key Policies 2014-2029, as modified.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

1)      That the submitted Chichester Local Plan: Key Policies 2014 – 2029, amended to include all the main modifications recommended by the planning inspector to make the plan sound, together with other more minor modifications already agreed with the inspector, be adopted and published (including any consequential and other appropriate minor amendments) in accordance with Regulation 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

2)      That the Chichester’s Southern Gateway supplementary planning guidance remains as a material consideration where relevant to applications for planning permission.

3)      That the Sites in Chichester City North Development Brief remain as a material consideration where relevant to applications for planning permission.

4)      That the Provision of Service Infrastructure related to new development in Chichester District supplementary planning guidance remains as a material consideration until it is superseded by the Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing SPD, which will be adopted at the same time as the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule.

5)      That it is noted that the Interim Statement on Planning for Affordable Housing is superseded by the adoption of the Local Plan.

Further to minute 643 of 9 September 2014, the Cabinet considered the report circulated with the agenda (copy attached to the official minutes).

Mrs Taylor introduced the report, explaining that she was delighted to be able to recommend adoption of the Local Plan. This was the final stage in a long and arduous process.

In June the Council had been notified that the planning inspector had found the Draft Local Plan, subject to the agreed modifications, to be sound. This was the fulfilment of four years hard work. Mrs Taylor thanked the officers for their dedication and hard work in bringing this about.

She commented that it had not been easy to reconcile the localism agenda against the national planning policy that required the Council to significantly boost housing supply. A substantial amount of work to achieve this had been put in by the previous administration under the leadership of Mrs Heather Caird, (who was in the public seating area) and she thanked them also for their endeavours in achieving this outcome.

Following extensive public consultation the plan had now gone through its examination process and, subject to modifications, had been found sound enabling the Council now to adopt it. This would provide an up to date local plan for the part of the district outside of the national park and the Council could now demonstrate a five year housing land supply, which enabled it to resist speculative proposals for development on unallocated greenfield sites.

The Local Plan showed that the Council accepted change but, more importantly, was in control of that change and able to balance growth with other important local interests.

The District would have an up to date Local Plan which would provide certainty for investment and development and enable the Neighbourhood Plans to progress. Further, it would allow the Council to progress with the Community Infrastructure Levy which would help provide the funds to finance the much needed supporting infrastructure.

However, the adoption of the plan was not the end of the journey. There was now a need to manage the development of the strategic locations and ensure that the infrastructure necessary to support the development in the plan was provided and put in place at the right time. Land needed to be allocated for employment, gypsies and travellers and some housing where it was not being allocated through neighbourhood plans. Finally, there was a requirement to complete a review of this plan within 5 years. So upon adoption of the plan, the Council needed to focus on the continuation of the journey to reconcile the need for development against the protection of the natural environment.

Cabinet members expressed their appreciation of the efforts of the previous Leader of the Council (Mrs Caird) and officers in reaching this successful outcome.

The Chairman commented that the Local Plan was one of the most important documents for the District as it described how communities outside the National Park would develop over the next 15 years. Parishes within the South Downs National Park would have their own Local Plan.

The Government required the Council to produce a Local Plan, taking into account the official expected increase in the number of people living in the area. However, councillors and officers had turned this Government requirement into an opportunity. The Plan established a framework that would help to create jobs, homes, services and facilities of the right type, in the right place and at the right time, to benefit both present and future generations.

Mr Dignum drew attention to the shortage of homes, both national and local, both to buy and to rent. Locally this meant high house prices and high rents. Many young people growing up here had to move elsewhere when they came to set up their own homes.

The Local Plan offered the opportunity to try and address these issues. This was a chance to work together to make sure that the District had a bright future, with a strong economy, and a thriving working age population. 

Without this Plan the District would have been at risk of unwanted, unplanned development being permitted by a Government inspector.

On behalf of the Cabinet he thanked everyone for their support and input into this long and detailed process. Much of the credit went to the former Leader, Heather Caird, who had led the task of securing approval of a sound Plan; credit also went to the councillors who gave their support, and to the officers who did all the hard work. It was a huge achievement and it would help to shape the District for years to come.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL

(1)        That the submitted Chichester Local Plan: Key Policies 2014 – 2029, amended to include all the main modifications recommended by the planning inspector to make the plan sound, together with other more minor modifications already agreed with the inspector, be adopted and published (including any consequential and other appropriate minor amendments) in accordance with Regulation 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012.

(2)        That the Chichester’s Southern Gateway supplementary planning guidance remains as a material consideration where relevant to applications for planning permission.

(3)        That the Sites in Chichester City North Development Brief remain as a material consideration where relevant to applications for planning permission.

(4)        That the Provision of Service Infrastructure related to new development in Chichester District supplementary planning guidance remains as a material consideration until it is superseded by the Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing SPD, which will be adopted at the same time as the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule.

(5)        That it is noted that the Interim Statement on Planning for Affordable Housing is superseded by the adoption of the Local Plan.