Minutes:
Gemma Wildman gave the forum members an update with regards to the emerging Local Plan.
The draft Local Plan will be presented to Cabinet on the 12 May and public consultation is to commence in early June for six weeks. This will be the first opportunity for members of the public to see the draft policies, the proposed sites and to make comments.
The plan will set a target of approximately 10500 homes by 2040 and is based on the Governments standard method for calculating local housing need which very recently changed as at the end of March the Government published new statistics that feed into the formula which has resulted in a slight increase for Fenland.
The key changes to the plan are that it will remove broad locations for growth, which will be replaced with specifics and deliverable sites. The plan will reintroduce settlement boundaries and it will look to support business growth and investment.
Gemma Wildman explained that many of the policies that are in the plan will be changed and updated, due to the various changes to national policy since 2014 and changes to the use class order. It will include a number of new policies, such as the requirement for biodiversity net gain.
Gemma Wildman explained that when the consultation starts, members of the forum will be advised of the start of the consultation period, and an email including links to the website and how to make comments.
www.fenland.gov.uk/newlocalplan
The website will include links to the draft plan, the consultation forms and also the evidence base and supporting information.
Gemma Wildman highlighted to the forum the dates for the next stages of the Local Development Scheme which was approved in February and shows following the draft Local Plan consultation all comments and information will be reviewed that has been submitted and make any necessary changes and then look to start the pre submission consultation in early 2023 with a view to submitting to Government in April 2023. Gemma advised that from that point on, the process is out of the Councils hands and is down to the independent inspector who will set the dates for the hearings, the examination hearing and following comments and objections to the plan at the hearing, the Inspector will take into account all those views and then issue a report which will get out what changes have to made to the plan and only then can the plan go forward to Full Council for adoption.
John Maxey asked whether the viability document will be a specific document on which you will consult or will it just be a background document. Gemma explained that it will just be an evidence-based document on the website. John Maxey asked Gemma, how she envisages the viability matter being properly addressed given that it is a crucial aspect for Fenland. Gemma explained that in any comments made on the policies on the plan there will be the opportunity to state that you don’t agree with certain policies or information and link it back to the viability report.
David Thomas stated there appears to be a deal of interest with regard to the biodiversity net gain and he asked whether Gemma has any detail on the approach that the Council are intending to take. Gemma explained that it is the 10% requirement for biodiversity net gain and there is nothing additional. David Thomas stated that there is no definition on how it may be delivered on or off site. Gemma stated that there will be information provided on what it means and how it can be delivered. Simon Machen added that there is the hope that emerging local nature recovery strategies will identify habitat banks for offsite mitigation as there will clearly be the need in some instances for offsite provision. He added that the challenges for officers are that once the legislation is fully in place with the appropriate DEFRA guidance, there will be the need to make sure it is a workable process for both the planning authority, stakeholders, and applicants for planning permission. He added that there are a number of planning authorities currently and some are in their infancy with the concept, and some are further advanced, such as a council who has identified surplus land assets to use as habitat banks which developers are able to plug into through financial contribution or direct management through some of those land assets. Simon explained that there is quite a lot of operational work to be undertaken beyond the policy. David Thomas added he is aware that there are a number of aspects to be considered and it will require some careful thinking, rather than leaving it down to developers to come up with solutions and in his opinion if the Council are able to provide a steer, the overall delivery will be better. Simon Machen stated he totally agrees with that point and added that without that clear direction, there is a danger that the planning system will come to a halt, which needs to be avoided and there needs to be assurances that the biodiversity net gain is achieved but ta the same time, it must not stop development investment happening.
Dino Biagioni asked Gemma Wildman to clarify what the criteria is for setting out whether a site is deliverable. Gemma stated that the information submitted at the issues and options stage is being looked at, and the capacity of the site is also being looked at along with all other contributions that would effect that. Dino Biagioni questioned what the case would be if the information provided at the issues and options stage has changed or is likely to change. Gemma Wildman stated that it could change, and that is partly what the consultation is for. She added that work has taken place to look at the sites for the five-year land supply as well.