Agenda item

The Placemaking Plan will be the spatial expression of the Council’s objectives. Before the preparation of a draft Plan, the Council must  engage publically on the reasonable alternative options.  Therefore an options document has been prepared for public consultation to inform the draft Placemaking Plan scheduled for publication in 2015.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment introduced this item to the Panel. He explained that the purpose of the Placemaking Plan is to complement the strategic framework in the Core Strategy by setting out detailed development principles for identified development sites and other policies for managing development across Bath and North East Somerset.

He stated that the Placemaking Plan is at the options stage and therefore provides the opportunity for the Council to test different options with local communities, stakeholders and the development industry without a formal commitment to a policy. He said that the Options document therefore sets out policy approaches for consultation although in some cases a preferred option is expressed. This will enable the demonstration at examination that the alternatives options have been considered in the process of identifying the “most appropriate strategy”.

He said that the Council has been progressing the Enterprise Area Masterplan which includes a spatial vision and sets out development aspirations for various sites along the river corridor.  He added that the Placemaking Plan Options consultation enables the opportunity to formally test this evidence through the statutory plan-making process, alongside reasonable alternatives.

He informed the Panel that preparation of the options document entailed the involvement of other Services, partnership working with Town and Parish councils, input from key stakeholders and advice from the LDF Steering Group. He said that sites could still be suggested to form part of the Plan.

He notified the Panel that this current consultation would conclude on 30^th January 2015 and that officers would welcome their comments either individually or as a group.

The Chair suggested that the Panel sets up a small working group to collate their views.

Councillor Liz Richardson asked if new sites were now proposed how they would be consulted upon.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that formal consultation of the Plan still needs to take place and so any new sites would be picked up at this stage. He added that he would be surprised if any did, but that the Council needed to be prepared.

Councillor Douglas Nicol commented that he felt that housing density should be as high as possible so as to lessen the impact on the Green Belt. He added that any new developments within the City of Bath should not come with a car parking facility and that residents parking should be minimised.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that site requirements are being defined and that he would welcome any views on this process.

Councillor Lisa Brett asked if the division of housing and retail in certain areas was flexible. She also asked if Georgian windows could be replaced by more environmentally friendly ones and if shop frontages on the London Road could be addressed following a change of use.

He replied that amongst the various plans there was some flexibility in the mix of housing and retail. He added that the matter of windows came under a separate Retrofitting SPD that the Council adopted around two years ago and was now due to be reviewed.

The Planning Policy Team Leader added that the current B&NES Local Plan policy generally protects ground floor retail uses and that the Placemaking Plan offers the opportunity to review the  policy approach in relation to London Road, having regard to recent changes in permitted development rights made by the government.

The Chair suggested that the Retrofitting SPD be placed on the Panel’s workplan.

Councillor Douglas Nicol commented that he believed that high street retail was shrinking and asked if this had been taken into account as part of this process.

The Planning Policy Team Leader replied that consultants had looked at these figures and that they would be continued to be monitored. He added that the assessment suggests a growth of comparison retail floorspace of around 20,000sqm by 2029 in Bath and that this assessment took account of increased use of internet shopping. Whilst the latest assessment shows a growth in retail floorspace this is at a reduced rate compared to the previous assessment which showed growth of around 25,000sqm to 2026.

The Chair asked if a briefing note on retail growth and housing density could be supplied to the working group for their meeting.

Councillor Anthony Clarke said that he was against a draconian clamp down on City parking and that a degree of fairness must be used. He added that many visitors come to Bath because of the diverse retail opportunities.

The Panel RESOLVED to agree to set up a cross party working group that would meet before 30^th January to give their views on the Placemaking Plan.