Issue - meetings

The review of the adopted Core Strategy/Placemaking Plan is now underway in order to ensure the District’s policy framework is up-to-date and to reflect the requirements of the West of England Joint Spatial Plan. The views of the Scrutiny Panel are sought on the options to help inform the preparation of the draft Plan.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment introduced this report to the Panel. He explained that the review of the adopted Core Strategy / Placemaking Plan is now underway in order to ensure the District’s policy framework is up-to-date and to reflect the requirements of the West of England Joint Spatial Plan.  He said that prior to the preparation of the draft plan in 2019, a number of options for changes to policy are being considered. He stated that these were agreed by Cabinet for public consultation in November 2018 and that views of the Scrutiny Panel are sought on the options to help inform the preparation of the draft Plan.

He added that the Consultation sets out the policy options for public engagement. These options are subject to a sustainability appraisal to assist in selecting the preferred policy and options are constrained by National Planning Policy, the Joint Spatial Plan and the Council’s priorities.

Councillor Barry Macrae commented that he understood the process officers were required to undertake, but urged a note of caution to not be guided by national statistics.

He said that he would like to see additional housing come in the format that the local people actually require. He added that this housing should come with appropriate infrastructure such as schools and shops. He said that a holistic view was required.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that the Council does have some control over housing provision and that the need to align infrastructure has been made very clear. He added though that the figure of an additional 14,500 homes across B&NES has been established through the West of England Joint Spatial Plan, but there is some discretion as to where and what type of housing is built.

Councillor Liz Richardson fully commended the officers and Councillor Goodman for their work on the Plan and said that she felt that it was a fantastic document. She said that the proposed policy BTH4 regarding university accommodation was a master stroke and welcomed the universities involvement.

She said that she was sure that Parish Councils will have their views and hoped that the Plan would generate responses including those of a positive nature.

Councillor Lisa O’Brien said that she felt that there was an error in section 3.2.3 and that it should read ‘increasingly’ instead of ‘unceasingly’. She commented that it was so important to get the correct future housing mix right including Affordable and Social Rent. She questioned whether one option could be for the Council to build their own homes in the future.

She stated that she agreed with section 4.2.5 which seeks to restrict student accommodation in the Central Area, Enterprise Zone and former MoD sites where this would undermine delivery of new homes and jobs.

She said that it was also interesting to read in section 4.2.7 that some cities have started to see an over-supply of Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) and resultant change of use from PBSA to visitor accommodation.

She  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30

The five year review of the adopted Core Strategy is now underway and prior to the preparation of the draft plan in 2019, a number of options for changes to policy are being considered. These need to be agreed by Cabinet for public consultation in November 2018.

Councillor Dine Romero made an ad-hoc statement where she expressed concerns by Saltford residents in terms of any proposals on the Green Belt area around Keynsham and Saltford.  Councillor Romero also said that the Green Belt makes a significant contribution to residents and visitors.  Councillor Romero asked the Cabinet to give an assurance that they would stand against developments in the Green Belt.

Councillor Paul Crossley made an ad-hoc statement where he said that setting a Local Plan that would suit everyone was never an easy task.  Councillor Crossley also said that rents in Bath were so high that the term ‘affordable’ has become nonsensical.  There was a need for a strategy that could be communicated with the locals MPs about changes required in the law that would meet the needs of our people.  Councillor Crossley expressed his concerns on growing number of short terms rents in Bath; lack of social housing and the impact of new developments on the Green Belt.

Councillor Bob Goodman introduced the report.
 
The Council was reviewing its planning policy framework to ensure it was up-to-date and responded to the key issues that the area was facing. The consultation document was a discussion document and sets out options. The results of the consultation would be used to inform the draft plan due to be published in 2019.

Key issues in the document;

• Options for greater controls over new student accommodation, with a greater emphasis on focussing new university related developments at the campuses.
• Relocation of Bath’s Household Reuse and Recycling facility.
• Expansion and mix of uses of the Somer Valley Enterprise Zone.
• The introduction of new restrictions on the location of fast food takeaways to prevent them from opening near schools and youth facilities.
• A review of parking standards and provision for electric vehicles infrastructure.

The Local Plan must also reflect the requirements in the Joint Strategic Plan, such as:

• Rolling forward the District’s housing requirements to 2036
• Set out  more details on the new Garden Communities at North Keynsham (1,400 new homes) and South East of Whitchurch (1,600 homes). This would create exemplar, high quality communities to provide new affordable homes, jobs and infrastructure, eg the new Keynsham Link Road; Keynsham Station improvements and bus service improvements will help to relieve existing congestion and improve air quality.
• New housing sites, including affordable housing, in other towns and villages

Cabinet would also consider a report on Strategic Transport Options to ensure that new growth is properly aligned with necessary infrastructure.

The consultation would run from 12^th November 2018 to 21^st December 2018  and there would be exhibitions in Bath, Keynsham,, the Somer Valley and Whitchurch.

Councillor Bob Goodman moved the recommendations.

Councillor Tim Warren seconded the motion by thanking the officers and Members who had worked on the report.  Councillor Warren agreed with comments from Councillors Romero and Crossley on the importance of the Green Belt and on the negative impact of short term rental homes.  Councillor Warren concluded his statement by saying  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42