Decision details

(1)  To adopt the amended draft Sustainable Construction Checklist Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (as set out in Appendix 1 of the report).

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

(3)  To delegate authority to the Head of Planning to remove text in the SPD which will be superseded on the adoption of the Local Plan Partial Update (LPPU).  The text in question will make clear that the elements of the SPD that relate to emerging LPPU policies will only apply to planning applications determined after the adoption of the LPPU.

The SPD is proposed to be amended for a number of reasons and key amendments are:

(1)  Updated and new tables for existing and LPPU policies for developers to demonstrate policy compliance.

(2)  Streamlined approach to simplify the process for developers and Development Management colleagues to assess policy compliance.

(3)  Technical guidance and information on how developers can best comply with the policies.

(4)  Incorporation of a spreadsheet to provide more detail on policy compliance for LPPU Policy SCR6.

There is no other legislative mechanism to make SPDs and to not adopt the SPD will leave standing policy requirements absent of additional detail.  The SPD mainly provides guidance on development plan policy requirements and national policy and does not create policy.