Decision details

The Government has published for consultation a draft Draft national Planning Policy Framework.  Once adopted this will supersede all existing national planning policies.  This could have significant implications for B&NES because planning decisions B&NES must reflect national policy.  This report proposes a response to the Government on the NPPF.

(1) To AGREE that the comments in paragraphs 5.4 – 5.19 of the report, as well as those contained in Annex 1 (suitably amended to include the comments received from the Development Control Committee and from others during the debate), be forwarded to the Department for Communities and Local Government, with the request that amendments are made to the Draft Framework;

(2) To DELEGATE authority to the Divisional Director for Planning and Transport, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, to finalise the comments before submission.

The Draft National Planning Policy Framework, as currently worded, is ambiguous in a number of areas.  If these are not addressed it could have an adverse impact on the robustness of the Council’s planning policy frameworks including the saved local plan policies, the Draft Core Strategy and the emerging Placemaking Plan.  It will also place significant additional resources on the Planning Service

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