Agenda item

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 said that the wording of 4.2.21 implies that the decision regarding the proposed Clean Air Zone has already been and suggested officers might want to amend this.

On the matter of the proposal to move the public household recycling centre at Midland Road to land at Odd Down she said that a recycling facility to the north of Victoria Park and therefore better serving the northern part of the city would be welcome.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that 30 – 40% affordable housing was being delivered on the majority of developments. He added that it has been a positive engagement with the universities and that work was ongoing to seek affordable rents for students.

The Chairman asked if the removal of permitted development rights had been considered regarding HMOs.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that it had not been raised at this point in time.

Councillor Lisa O’Brien asked where was the evidence that we require the provision of 500-750 new hotel bedrooms from 2011 to 2029 to widen the accommodation offer for the City.

The Team Manager for Planning Policy replied that the evidence came from the Visitor Accommodation Study that was undertaken to inform the Core Strategy. The requirement for 500-750 hotel bedrooms was also set in the Core Strategy. He added that this demand has been broadly met. The Local Plan will review the policy approach.

The Chairman asked the Panel if they were content with the approach detailed for public involvement regarding the consultation.

The Team Manager for Planning Policy said that the date of the meeting in Midsomer Norton had changed and that they would publicise this.

The Panel RESOLVED to;

i)  Note the contents of the report

ii)  Approve the consultation process as listed in Attachment 1