Place and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Panel – 12 September 2024

Update Report to Agenda Item 6 - Proposed consultation response to proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework

Purpose

For Review

Classification

Public

Executive Summary

This update report summarises the discussion of the Local Plan Member Working Group on 9 September 2024, with regard to the proposed response to the government’s consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework. It should be read in conjunction with the main report for this agenda item.  

Recommendations

The Panel is recommended to consider the further comments made by the Local Plan Member Working Group on the proposed consultation response to the National Planning Policy Framework and agree that they are reflected in the final version to be agreed by the Portfolio Holder.

The Panel further recommends that Officers consider the need for any modifications to the response to more fully reflect the proposed National Park Authority’s response, where relevant.

Reasons for recommendations

To reflect the views of the council’s Local Plan Member Working Group and the draft response of the New Forest National Park Authority. See main report for more detailed reasons.

Wards

All

Portfolio Holders

Councillor Derek Tipp – Planning and Economy

Strategic Directors

James Carpenter – Strategic Director Place, Operations and Sustainability

Officer Contact

Tim Guymer

Acting Assistant Director for Place Development

tim.guymer@nfdc.gov.uk

 

James Smith

Planning Policy Team Leader

james.smith@nfdc.gov.uk

 

Introduction and background

1.           The Local Plan Member Working Group met on 9 September.  As part of its meeting, a detailed discussion took place on the draft response to the government’s current consultation on the planning reforms and the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), as set out in Appendix 1 of the main report for this item.  General support to the proposed responses was offered by the Working Group.

2.           During the course of working through the individual responses to the questions posed, the following suggested amendments were made, set out in the table below:

 

Response

Proposed amendment

Q15

Provide reference to the need to reflect economic as well as demographic trends when calculating housing need. Amend the first paragraph with a new final sentence as follows, “Reflecting economic trends should be considered either through the setting of a standard method, or subsequently by a local authority through plan preparation when looking to identify an area’s needs.”

Q19

To reinforce the point made in Question 15, amend the start of the first paragraph as follows, “Noting the council’s views in Question 15 on the proposed method needing to reflect demographic trends rather than based on existing housing stock, the consultation….”

Q22

Clarify in the response that glasshouses should not be included in the definition of previously developed land (PDL) regardless of whether used for horticulture or agriculture. Amend wording as follows, “Glasshouses that are used for horticultural or agricultural production should not be included within the definition of PDL….”  And include new sentence at the end, “Clarity is also requested in the definition around the definition of horticulture and agriculture in the context of glass houses”

Q23

Reinforce the point that the definition of grey belt is not clear, insert the following text in the first sentence, “The proposed definition is unclear and quite broad/non-specific, and…”

Q30

Fourth paragraph, amend typo to read ‘similar to BNG, there should be…’

Q31

Reinforce the point that the definition of grey belt is not clear. Add the following text to the beginning of the paragraph as follows, “Whilst further clarity is still required around the definition of ‘grey belt’ as set out in this council’s response to Question 23, it is probable…”

Q38

Amend typo in final sentence: Royal Institution, not institute.

Q48

Amend text to provide support for removing the 10% requirement, but to clarify that it would then fall to the local authority to set its own split based on its own local needs. Amend the sentence as follows, “Yes, the council supports this change to reprioritise provision for those in most need of assistance, and that it would therefore fall to the LPA to set its own split based on its own identified local needs”

Q49

Amend text to provide support for removing the minimum 25% First Homes requirement, but to clarify that it would then fall to the local authority to set its own % requirements based on its own local needs. Amend the sentence as follows, “Yes, the council supports this change to reprioritise provision for those in most need of assistance, and that it would therefore fall to the LPA to set its own requirements based on its own identified local needs”.

Q57

Amend the response to indicate that the council is supportive of Community Land Trusts, Almshouses, and other Co-operatives in delivering new affordable housing for their communities, whilst at the same time wishing to see the current protections that comes with delivery through Registered Providers remain. Add a new paragraph at the beginning as follows, “In summary, the council is support of Community Land Trusts, Almshouses, and other Co-operatives in delivering new affordable housing for their communities, whilst at the same time ensuring the current protections that come with delivery through Registered Providers remain.”

 

3.           Further to these recommended changes, Officers understand that the proposed response of the New Forest National Park Authority is due to be discussed on 17 September 2024. Taking account of the duty for statutory bodies to seek to further the statutory purposes of the New Forest National Park, it may be appropriate for this council’s detailed response to be modified to incorporate appropriate referencing to the National Park Authority’s position.

Corporate Plan priorities

4.           The priorities remain the same as the main report this update refers to, namely, they are particularly relevant to the following objectives:

·         Meeting housing needs

·         Shaping our place now and for future generations

·         Protecting our climate, coast and natural world.

Options appraisal

5.           Officer have considered the proposed reforms and the likely impact they would have on the provision of planning services by the Council.  Alternative responses were considered in the drafting of the main report for which this is an update report to.

Consultation undertaken

6.           In addition to the details set out in the main report, consultation took place with Members of the Local Plan ‘Member Working Group’.

Financial and resource implications

7.           Refer to the main report for implications.

Legal implications

8.           Refer to the main report for implications.

Risk assessment

9.           Refer to the main report for implications.

Environmental / Climate and nature implications

10.       Refer to the main report for implications.

 

Equalities implications

11.       Refer to the main report for implications.

Crime and disorder implications

12.       Refer to the main report for implications.

Data protection / Information governance / ICT implications

13.       Refer to the main report for implications.

New Forest National Park / Cranborne Chase National Landscape implications

14.       The proposed recommendation of this report ensure that the views of the National Park Authority will be appropriately included. Wider implications are set out in the main report.

 

Appendices

 

None.

Background Papers:

 

None.