Decision details

(1)  To adopt the Transport and Development Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (attached as Appendix 1 to the report).

(2)  To delegate authority to the Head of Planning to make any necessary editorial changes, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Licensing, prior to the publication of the adoption of the Transport and Development SPD.

(3)  To delegate authority to the Head of Planning to remove text in the SPD, which will be superseded on LPPU adoption.  The text in question will make clear that where the SPD applies to the LPPU policies ST1-3, ST5, ST7, SCR9, H2, H2a and LCR6 this will only be applied to planning applications determined on or after the date of the adoption of the LPPU.

The Transport and Development SPD builds upon policies in the adopted Local Plan and provides more detailed guidance and advice for developers on the application of policies.  The document further strengthens the council’s focus on sustainable transport, travel choice and reducing car dependency.

The SPD provides clarity for anyone involved in the development process for “what good looks like” to B&NES Council, drawing on Best Practice.

The SPD covers Walking and Cycling; Parking; Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles; and Travel Plans.

The decision to move the Parking standards from the Local Plan to an SPD, provides more agility to control parking levels, and to review on a more regular basis because the level of process required to revise is significantly reduced.  Transferring parking standards into an SPD also provides an opportunity to include a greater level of detail and specificity in guidance.

There is no other legislative mechanism to make SPDs and to not adopt the Transport and Development SPD will leave standing policies absent of detail on the way in which they will be implemented.  The SPD provides details on development plan policy requirements and national policy and does not create new or additional policy requirements.