Agenda item

This report seeks the views of the Scrutiny Panel on the Pre-submission Draft Placemaking Plan which was published for public consultation on 16^th December 2015.  The consultation period ends on 3^rd February 2016 and any comments from the Panel can be taken into account as part of the forthcoming examination process.

NOTE: Given the large file size of the pre-submission draft B&NES Placemaking Plan it can be only viewed on Council’s website at http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building-control/planning-policy/placemaking-plan/placemaking-plan-pre.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment introduced this item to the Panel, He explained that the draft Placemaking Plan includes;

·  Spatial frameworks for Bath, Keynsham, the Somer Valley & the Rural Areas.  It allocates sites for development where these are necessary to deliver the strategy, setting out the required land-use mix and the development principles.

·  Designations where there is a need to identify and protect valued assets, such as important open hillsides or Local Green Space

·  Identifies schemes to be implemented such as road or cycleway improvements 

·  Generic criteria-based planning policies

He said that the consultation period ends on 3^rd February 2016 and any comments from the Panel can be taken into account as part of the forthcoming examination process.

He stated that in Bath, the key issue is how to facilitate the Council’s ambitions for growth and change in a relatively small city, recognized for its unique heritage and environment and constrained by the Green Belt. The development of the spatial strategy has therefore required that the Council make choices, in order to ensure its key priorities are met. The Plan reflects the ambitions of the Economic Strategy the Housing & Well-being Strategy and the Bath Transport Strategy.  In particular the proposals of the Bath Enterprise Area Masterplan have been formalised. The Plan highlights the transport interventions that are needed to realise the District’s growth proposals.

In Keynsham, the Plan seeks to build on the growing strengths of the town, providing a Masterplan for future change. This takes account of the significant growth contained in the Core Strategy.  It seeks to consolidate this growth and address the identified key issues facing the town.  It includes the allocation of Riverside for mixed use, residential led development including a replacement Leisure Centre. He said that a key element of the strategy for the town is the need to regenerate the High Street and the Plan includes a number of policies to achieve this.

In the Somer Valley, the Plan focuses on regeneration in light of the Core Strategy objectives of seeking a greater balance between homes and jobs. Both Midsomer Norton and Westfield are preparing their own Neighbourhood Plans and the Placemaking Plan complements the Neighbourhood Plans.

In the rural areas, B&NES has worked closely with the parishes to produce spatial frameworks for inclusion either in the Placemaking Plan or in their own Neighbourhood Plans. The approach has been to identify locations for new development where required in consultation with the local communities whilst identifying the key environmental assets for protection and conservation.

Councillor Paul Crossley questioned the need for approx. 30,000 m² of comparison retail up until 2029 as a vast majority of people now do their shopping on the internet.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that this recommendation was within the Plan following advice that had been sought by retail experts.

Councillor Lisa O’Brien commented that whilst internet sales were obviously massive a great number of people still look at items in shops prior to purchasing. She added that to some the whole process of shopping remains an aspect of enjoyment and a pleasurable leisure experience.

The Chairman asked if the Council has a policy that controls the heights of buildings within the City.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that a study had been previously carried out and that this evidence base had been used to formulate the policies in the Draft Plan.

The Chairman asked if as the views of officers and developers will differ would it not be better to firm up our position through a policy.

The Divisional Director for Development said that the Building Heights Study was a thorough piece of work and it has been and would continue to be used by developers and officers to assess development with the benefit of the new draft policies.

Councillor Fiona Darey said that she thought the Plan was an impressive document but asked why there was a lack of guidelines on room areas / heights.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that including space standards within the Plan was considered but the approach is not supported by Government guidance.

The Panel RESOLVED to ask that their comments on the Pre-submission Draft Placemaking Plan be taken into account during this consultation process.