Decision details

(1)   To note the government’s proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and to agree the key elements of the Council’s response to the consultation on the revised NPPF and other changes to the planning system as set out in paragraph 3.6 of the report.

(2)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, to agree and submit the Council’s response to the government’s consultation on the revised NPPF and other changes to the planning system.

(3)  To agree that the Local Plan needs to be reset and that preparation should progress towards submission in advance of the Government’s new deadline of December 2026.

(4)  To delegate authority to the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, to agree and publish a revised Local Development Scheme setting out the revised programme for Local Plan preparation.

(5)  To agree that we continue to co-operate with our neighbouring authorities and the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to ensure that strategic planning delivers the affordable housing we need, as well as the supporting infrastructure.

(6)  To authorise the Executive Director for Sustainable Communities, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Built Environment, Housing and Sustainable Development, to issue communications relating to the resetting of the Local Plan and the proposed next steps as set out in Section 10 of the report.

In late July the Government launched consultation on its proposed approach to revising the NPPF to achieve sustainable growth through the planning system.  The revisions to the NPPF and other changes to the planning system which are being proposed by the government are subject to public consultation.  This council will need to adapt to the final version of the revised NPPF and other wider changes and adjust its local plan accordingly.

The proposed revisions to the NPPF are significant.  Alongside revising the NPPF the Government is also proposing to revise the standard method for calculating housing need in each local authority area.  The main proposed revisions to the NPPF are outlined in Appendix 1 of the report and relate to the following key areas:

·  Significant uplift in housing numbers for B&NES

·  Clear requirement to review Green Belt and introduction of the concept of ‘grey belt’

·  Focus on housing affordability and particularly meeting the needs of those on lower incomes

·  Commitment to regional/strategic planning and emphasis on its role in delivering the housing needed.

The recently published draft revised NPPF, encompassing transitional arrangements for plan-preparation, has significant implications for our Local Plan, not least with regards to the amount of housing to be planned for.  Re-setting the Local Plan means that the work undertaken to date will continue to inform the Local Plan as appropriate, but that some of the key parameters have changed.  In re-setting the Local Plan it is also important that it facilitates achieving the ambitions set out in the Economic Strategy, enabling sustainable economic growth in line with the Government’s growth plans, as well as additional affordable housing.

The issues identified in the report will require significant further engagement with communities and other stakeholders, in line with the Council’s objective of “giving people a bigger say”.

In progressing the Local Plan, the other option which was considered was accelerating preparation of the Local Plan in order that the transitional arrangements are met by submitting it for examination within one month of publication of the revised NPPF. However, it was concluded that this would be very likely to result in the Local Plan being found unsound at examination.