Issue - meetings

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.              Approved the Regulation 18 Spatial Options and Policy Direction document for public consultation;

2.              Delegated authority to the Strategic Director for Place, Operations and Sustainability, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to make any final editorial or formatting changes prior to publication; and

3.              Noted that there will be an emerging evidence base published alongside the consultation, as referenced in the Regulation 18 document.

KEY DECISION:

Yes

PORTFOLIO:

Planning and Economy

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in the report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

None

DISCUSSION:

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Economy introduced the report. He explained that the Spatial Options and Policy Direction Document was an important milestone in the overall process of the Local Plan Review. This part of the review builds on the Issues and Scope consultation and the call for sites process of 2025.   Since then, Officers had continued to develop the strategy with input from stakeholders, partners and the member working group. It was explained that the Government’s ongoing planning reforms included revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework and placed a greater emphasis on housing development, economic growth and higher density development. It was important that NFDC developed a plan swiftly, with a focus on local issues and needs, rather than defaulting to the Government’s national policy requirements. Officers had been proactive, engaging with statutory consultees and infrastructure providers whilst also working with partners in MHCLG and the Planning Inspectorate. This engagement was invaluable to the process and enabled Officers to understand the implications facing NFDC amidst national reforms. To enable the plan to be examined under the current regulations it must be submitted to the Secretary of State by December 2026. 

The Portfolio Holder explained that as part of the Regulation 18 Document, 15 Strategic Development Growth Options (SDGOs) had been identified to test the various elements that the Plan requires, such as housing, economic growth, climate change and infrastructure. It was stressed that the SDGOs were not confirmed site designations but instead formed the basis of the consultation, which would enable the Council to test the deliverability of housing and gather public and stakeholder views ahead of the draft Regulation 19 Plan, to be submitted by the end of the year.  

It was reported that even if every identified SDGO was carried forward to a site allocation, there remained a significant gap between the Government’s standardised method of calculation for housing need and the amount of housing that could feasibly be delivered. The Council must now openly engage with its communities on this issue. Cabinet heard that the public consultation would be hosted online and NFDC would be holding numerous in-person events across the district, which would be widely publicised in the local press and on social media. These sessions would enable all stakeholders to participate and provide strong, local focus on the issues and challenges facing the district.  

The Planning Policy Infrastructure and Delivery Service Manager listed the ten in-person sessions that were being hosted across  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68