Agenda item

The Council considered a report on The Local Plan: Development Management Policies (hereafter referred to as ‘the draft Local Plan’), which was the second part of Guildford’s Local Plan. Once adopted it would, together with the adopted Local Plan: Strategy and Sites document (LPSS), fully supersede the existing Local Plan 2003 and become part of the Council’s Development Plan. The draft Local Plan provided the more detailed policies to be used by Development Management in the determination of planning applications.  Councillors noted that the LPSS included a small number of development management policies where these were necessary in implementing the strategic policies, for examples in relation to Green Belt, employment and retail.

The structure of the draft Local Plan was consistent with that contained in the LPSS. The chapters therefore consisted of: Housing, Protecting, Economy, Design, and Infrastructure and Delivery. A list of all the proposed policies and a brief summary of any changes in the policy approach compared to the Regulation 18 version was contained in Appendix 1 to the report. 

The Regulation 18 consultation had included both ‘issues and options’ and went on to suggest a ‘preferred option’ for each policy.  This approach was designed to generate meaningful comments and concerns, which it did and now enabled the Council to move straight to a Regulation 19 ‘proposed submission’ document.   This in turn would increase the possibility of being able to progress the plan to Examination without the need for main modifications and a further round of consultation.

There had been limited significant changes in the policy approaches set out in the Regulation 18 version; however, there were some notable changes, and these had been categorised in the following ways: refinement of policy approach, presentational/ structural changes, new policies, deleted policies and changes in policy approach from the preferred Regulation 18 approach to an alternative option.

The Regulation 19 consultation period would run for six weeks from early January to mid-February 2022.

The report had also sought permission to consult upon a Parking Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for a four-week period.  This document would be consulted upon, but not adopted.  The issue of whether its content should form part of the DPD or be a standalone SPD would be put to the Inspector at the Examination in Public.  

Councillors noted that this matter was considered by the Executive at its meeting held on 23 November 2021.  The Executive had endorsed the recommendation in the report, subject to further investigation as to the merits of extending the requirement for design codes to all housing sites allocated in the Development Plan.  Details of the outcome of that investigation were set out in Order Paper circulated at the meeting.

The Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Councillor John Rigg proposed, and Councillor Liz Hogger seconded the motion set out in the Order Paper.  During the debate, whilst there was an acceptance that the Council should proceed to the Regulation 19 consultation without further delay, there were still ongoing concerns over the need for policies to address climate change, preservation of ancient woodland, and infilling.

The Council, having considered the report and the draft Local Plan

RESOLVED:

(1)   That the draft Local Plan: Development Management Policies document which accompanied the agenda for the extraordinary Council meeting held on 1 November, including the changes to that document referred to in Appendix 2 to the report submitted to the Council, be approved for Regulation 19 public consultation for a period of six-weeks beginning in early January 2022, subject to the following amendments:

(i)      Add the following wording to Policy D4

‘Masterplanning and Design Codes

8) Strategic sites listed in LPSS 2019 Policy D1(13) are Required to produce masterplans and follow a Design Code approach through the planning application process. This will require a Design Code to be agreed prior to the granting of full or reserved matters planning permission for any phase of the development. Where outline planning permission has been agreed subject to Design Code agreement, any relevant Reserved Matters applications which are submitted without the Design Code being agreed will be refused.

9) Masterplans and Design Codes will also be required for any site that will be developed in more than one phase or by more than one developer. Failure to agree a Design Code approach is likely to result in the refusal of an application.

10) A design code will be required for any other site or part of a site where it is considered necessary to set design parameters’.

(ii)     Add the following text to the reasoned justification to the policy:

‘5.19 Masterplans and Design Codes will also be required on other sites as specified in the policy in order to deliver schemes that are designed in a comprehensive manner. This will ensure that matters such as the design and location of roads, cycle and pedestrian links, open space, services and facilities are all considered holistically across the wider site. It is also important that any development proposal considers the way in which it will knit into the existing settlement fabric, promoting interconnectedness and avoiding sterilising the future development potential of adjoining land. The need to set design parameters in design codes is most likely to be required where there is design uncertainty, such as in the case of outline or hybrid planning applications for development sites.’   

(iii)    Amend the wording of the proposed LPDMP Policy ID11 at point e)so that it reads as follows:

‘the provision of electric vehicle charging will provide at least the minimum requirements set out in the Parking SPD; and’

(2)   That the draft Parking Supplementary Planning Document, be approved for public consultation for a four-week period beginning in January 2022.

(3)   That the Lead Councillor with portfolio responsibility for Planning Policy be authorised, in consultation with the Director of Strategic Services,

(a)       to amend:

(i)      the draft Parking SPD to include standards for Electric Vehicle Charge Points (EVCP) for strategic sites (alongside EVCP standards for non-strategic sites, which are already in the draft Parking SPD), and 

(ii)     the guidance within the draft Parking SPD to reflect the Government’s proposed new EVCP requirements for both strategic sites and non-strategic sites.  

(b)       to make such minor alterations to improve the clarity of the documents referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2) above, as they may deem necessary.

(4)   That if, in due course, and based on appropriate evidence, the Council wishes to introduce more stringent EVCP requirements, an updated Parking SPD be brought forward for consultation and potential adoption.

Reason:

The recommendations above are made to encourage the Council to:

1)    Enable the draft Local Plan: Development Management Policies document to be published for public consultation.

2)    Allow officers to undertake public consultation in line with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the National Planning Policy Framework 2021, Planning Policy for Traveller Sites 2015, the National Planning Practice Guidance, and the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement 2020.

Undertaking a public consultation on the draft Local Plan is a statutory requirement placed on Local Planning Authorities under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (‘Local Planning Regulations’) and will enable the Council to move closer to adopting the second part of the Local Plan as required by law and policy.