Agenda item

The Panel will receive a presentation regarding this item.

The Head of Planning gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item, a copy of which can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book or as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary is set out below.

7 Policies

Seven high level & defined policies exist within the Plan.

1.  Housing Requirement

2.  Spatial Strategy

3.  Affordable Housing Target

4.  Employment

5.  Place-shaping Principles

6.  Strategic Infrastructure

7.  Strategic Development Locations

JSP Requirements

•  105,500 new homes by 2036

•  Space for 82,500+ new jobs

•  24,500 affordable homes

•  Policy 1 UA Housing Requirements;

–  Bristol: 33,500

–  North Somerset: 25,500

–  South Gloucestershire: 32,500

–  B&NES: 14,500

Components of housing supply

•  Existing commitments: 61,500

•  Strategic development locations: 17,100

•  Urban living: 16,200

•  Small windfalls: 6,862

•  Non-strategic growth: 3,400

 Strategy for B&NES

Primary developments will take place in Whitchurch and North Keynsham.

In Whitchurch we will seek to optimise solar gain with roofs facing south so that buildings can generate as much power as possible from the sun with solar panels.

JSP – Public examination, likely main issues

•  The spatial strategy is not the most appropriate one

•  The Housing Requirement is too low (or too high)

•  The infrastructure requirements are not viable / deliverable

•  Green Belt release has not been sufficiently justified

•  The affordable housing target is too low and the requirement of 35% is not viable 

•  Insufficient provision has been made for employment growth and the strategy for allocating land is not clear

•  The Plan is not legally compliant eg Duty to co-operate, the Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations

Councillor Rob Appleyard asked if any work would be carried out to compensate the release of Green Belt sites.

The Head of Planning replied that it was to be 4/5 locations and that the sites themselves are small.

Councillor Appleyard asked how the evidence for land allocation would be shown.

The Head of Planning replied that it would need to be shown as deliverable, effective and able to promote growth.

Councillor Lisa O’Brien commented that she had some concerns over the developments planned for Whitchurch & Keynsham and said that adequate infrastructure must be in place prior to the housing being built.

The Head of Planning said that this point had been made by a number of Councillors and he felt sure it would be discussed in detail at the public examination.

The Chairman asked if there was any ability to sub-define the Government’s description of Affordable Housing.

The Head of Planning replied that the Strategic Housing Market Assessments (SHMA) has been carried out and that this is an issue that will look to be picked up within the Local Plan.

Councillor O’Brien asked if Curo have been involved in the development of the JSP.

The Head of Planning replied that the Council works closely with a number of housing providers and noted that some do act more as developers on occasions.

The Chairman thanked him for the presentation and for his years of service to the Council.