Decision details

To agree the revised scope and timetable for the Local Plan Partial Update

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed with:

1)  The policy options and proposals in Attachment 1 as the basis for public engagement,

2)  The revised B&NES Local Development Scheme in Attachment 2, and

3)  The approach to public engagement in Section 10 of this report, and

4)  To delegate authority to the Director for Development and Public Protection, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing, to finalise the Local Plan Partial Update Options consultation document and the Local Development Scheme.

The Planning Acts require that planning decisions must be determined in accordance with Development Plan Documents or Neighbourhood Plans unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

In light of the UK Plan-led system, Regulation 10A of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended) requires that Local Planning Authorities must review local plans and the National Planning Policy Framework states that this must take place at least once every 5 years, and Plans should then be updated as necessary. This must in whole or in part be to ensure that policies remain relevant and effectively address the needs of the local community. 

Whilst Local Authorities are required to review their Local Plans at least every 5 years and ensure that they are up-to-date, the update to the B&NES Local Plan could have been undertaken as part of a Full Review of Plan alongside the preparation of the WECA Spatial Development Strategy. However, this would have delayed updating key policies critical to the delivery of the Council’s policies and the Renewal Programme.

There are also options for the scope of the Partial Update and the approach to take for different policies and these are set out in Attachment 1. In particular, the Partial Update is seeking to address housing supply issues which will require taking advantage of the national planning reform transitional arrangements. The alternative would be to delay addressing housing supply issues until the full Local Plan review, but this may leave the council vulnerable on housing supply contrary to national guidance and the Council’s own housing objectives and climate and ecological emergency.