Decision details

The Inspector has completed his examination of the B&NES Core Strategy.  The Council must decide whether it accepts the Inspector’s recommendations thereby enabling it to formally adopt the Core Strategy.

The Planning, Transport & Environment Panel received a verbal update relating to the status of the Core Strategy at its meeting on 8^th July.

The Core Strategy was referred by Cabinet on 10^th July to Council that day who agreed to its adoption.

(1) To RECOMMEND to Council:

a) To accept the main modifications listed in Attachment 1 that the Inspector considers are needed to make the Plan sound in accordance with section 23 (3) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004;

b) To agree the Minor Modifications listed in Attachment 2 to the B&NES Core Strategy which are needed to ensure consistency and accuracy in the Plan;

c) To adopt the B&NES Core Strategy (Local Plan Part 1) as modified in (a) and (b) above for the purposes of section 38(6) of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act;

d) To agree that the B&NES Policies Map is amended in line with (a) and (b) above, and

e) To agree that the adopted Supplementary Planning Documents/ Guidance listed in Attachment 3 should supplement the Core Strategy.

Adoption of the Core Strategy brings with it significant benefits and reduces other risks to the Council.  In particular;

·  Once adopted the Council can give full weight to the Core Strategy in planning decisions thereby reducing  the vulnerability to harmful planning applications,

·  It enables progress to be made on the preparation of the CIL which has to be in place by early Spring 2015 in order to maximise income for the Council

·  It facilities delivery of corporate objectives by providing clarity on key development locations and on the delivery of housing and economic growth

·  It provides certainty to local communities and the development industry on the location of new development.

The options open to the Council are set out in s.23 of the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. If the Council rejects one or more of Inspector’s recommended modifications, it cannot then proceed to adopt the Core Strategy.  The Council therefore has three options:

(a) adopt the Core Strategy with the modifications recommended by the Inspector; or

(b) adopt the Core Strategy with the modifications recommended by the Inspector and the minor modifications recommended by officers; or

(c) resolve not to adopt the Core Strategy.

In the case of (c), the Council would need to withdraw the Core Strategy and begin preparation of a new style Local Plan.  Because the Duty to Cooperate would now apply, this work would need to be done in conjunction with adjoining authorities as part of a wider review of West of England plans. It would be a number of years before a new Local Plan could be put in place.