Agenda item

The Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development submitted a report explaining how the approach to the Local Development Framework Core Strategy required adaptation, in order to operate effectively in the context of changes to the planning system.  He also set out East Herts Council’s enhanced role and responsibility in terms of strategic planning.

The Executive Member also suggested an approach based on targeted consultation on a Preferred Strategy, with a timetable for consultation in Autumn 2012.  He detailed a draft of the first three chapters of the Strategy Supporting Document, including associated documents at Essential Reference Papers ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’, and ‘E’ of the report now submitted.

The Panel was asked to note that the traffic light assessment within Essential Reference Paper ‘D’ represented work in progress and that any factual inaccuracies or typographical errors should be notified to the Planning Policy Team by 16 April 2012.  The Panel Chairman implored all Members to use their local knowledge and to advise Officers of any factual inaccuracies by e-mail.

The Panel considered each chapter in turn and a number of questions and comments were raised.  Officers advised that although the approval of the final District Plan was still some way off, the Authority was well placed compared to some other Authorities, in terms of being able to resist “unwelcome” development applications.  The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) suggested that if significant progress had been made in the District Plan process, then considerable weight would be given to it by the planning inspectorate.

In respect of the strategic overview of Transport and route hierarchies, Officers advised that the Road Hierarchy was set within Hertfordshire’s Local Transport Plan.  The issue of inappropriate ‘satnav’ usage was a matter for the Highway Authority where a team with responsibility for the road network liaised with the ‘satnav’ companies.  While this issue was not one of strategic importance to be included in Part 1 of the District Plan, it might be a matter for consideration under Part 2.

Officers also referred to the requirement of the NPPF for robustness in respect of infrastructure work associated with developments and the requirement for sustainability.

Officers explained that brownfield land would be prioritised through the strategy selection process, but that if insufficient brownfield land was available, then it would be likely that Greenfield land would be needed in order to meet the NPPF requirement to achieve ‘objectively assessed development needs’.

The Chairman stated that in recent years  most development had been directed to brownfield sites in order to avoid Greenfield development, but that most of the brownfield sites were now full up.

Officers advised that further detailed work on settlements, the green belt, cumulative impacts and infrastructure delivery would be undertaken in Steps 4 – 6 of the Strategy Selection.

In noting that the traffic light assessments detailed in the Topic Assessments at Essential Reference Paper ‘D’ of the report submitted, represented work in progress, the Panel recommended that for the purposes of providing an audit trail, an additional recommendation authorising Officers to undertake this work, be proposed.

The Panel recommended the proposals now detailed to the Executive.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the planning process, strategic planning tools, and approach to preparing the LDF Core Strategy, as set out in Essential Reference Papers ‘B’ and ‘C’ of the report now submitted, be agreed;

(B)      the draft technical work contained within Essential Reference Paper ‘D’ of the report now submitted, be agreed for the purposes of preparing the Preferred Strategy for consultation;

(C)      Planning Officers be authorised to undertake such duties as necessary to demonstrate soundness at Examination in Public, including, for example, the collection of further information from landowners and developers, and conducting joint technical work with neighbouring Local Planning Authorities; and

(D)      the Head of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning Policy and Economic Development, be authorised to update the draft technical work contained within Essential Reference Paper ‘D’ of the report now submitted, as necessary.