Issue - meetings

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth presented the report for the Watton-at-Stone Neighbourhood Plan. She said that the plan showed how engaged residents were in the district and the Parish Council had taken a proactive approach to meeting the District Plan’s housing requirements for the village. This was the first Neighbourhood Plan that had released land from the green belt with the allocation of two strategic sites which met and exceeded the required growth thereby delivering significant community benefits.

Councillor Glover-Ward proposed that the recommendation in the report be supported. Councillor Thomas seconded the proposal.

Councillor Crystall congratulated the team behind the Neighbourhood Plan and thanked them for their hard work.

Councillor Thomas echoed Councillor Crystall’s comments and said this had been an eight-year process. He said that the Neighbourhood Plan group had been able to bring the community along with them in the process and said there could be lessons to learn for the council from this process.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – That the Watton-at-Stone Neighbourhood Area Plan 2017-2033 be adopted.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth presented the report for the Watton-at-Stone Neighbourhood Plan. She said that the plan showed how engaged residents were in the district and the Parish Council had taken a proactive approach to meeting the District Plan’s housing requirements for the village. This was the first Neighbourhood Plan that had released land from the green belt with the allocation of two strategic sites which met and exceeded the required growth thereby delivering significant community benefits.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth said that the Examiner’s report concluded that the Plan was of a very high quality with a particular emphasis on it being well researched, well evidenced and clearly laid out. She said that the support of the community was demonstrated in the referendum with 95% of votes in favour of the plan.

Councillor Glover-Ward proposed that the recommendation in the report be supported. Councillor Hopewell seconded the proposal.

Councillor Hoskin said that he was interested as to why Watton-at-Stone had gone over and above the requirements in their plan and whether it was worth understanding the community benefits and whether others may consider the same approach.

The Principal Planning Officer said that they had a very strong desire to improve active travel in the area,  so want to create a circular walk to ensure the development was connected to the village centre and station. They also want to deliver new football pitches and a wetland meadow.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED - To recommend to Council that the Watton-at-Stone Neighbourhood Area Plan 2017-2033, as detailed at Appendix A to this report, be formally made (adopted).