Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Homes & Planning and the Group Manager for Policy & Environment will provide the Panel with a verbal update on this matter prior to its debate at Council later in the week.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment addressed the Panel. He informed them that the Inspector’s report was now with the Council following his review of the proposed changes and objections received from the public, including local residents and the development industry.

He explained that at its meeting on July 10th the Council must consider the modifications that have now been proposed by Inspector. He added that for the Core Strategy to now progress the Council would need to accept all the modifications.

Mr David Redgewell addressed the Panel. He said that he had supported the adoption of a Core Strategy throughout the process as he firmly believed it was an important document. He also emphasised that alongside the Core Strategy there was a need to have a robust Transport Strategy.

He stated that any subsequent debate on an East of Bath Park & Ride should be non-political and that it should be about finding the best solution to a long standing issue. He called for all parties to be united to move the debate forward.

The Chair replied that she had already raised the matter of analysing the costs, timescales etc. of any scheme with the Cabinet Member for Transport earlier in the meeting and that this would be discussed at a future meeting of the Panel.

Councillor Douglas Nicol commented that he did not think that the political groups were playing games on this matter. He added that a Park & Rail scheme was probably a better solution but that it was probably more expensive.

Councillor Lisa Brett agreed that the strategies of the Council do need to cross over. She asked Mr Redgewell if he was aware of the current discussions between the Council and Network Rail.

Mr Redgewell replied that he was, but said that he wanted to stress that any proposals to create a new station must be done via the proper process with the appropriate studies having been commissioned.

Councillor Douglas Nicol asked if a track was currently available for a Park & Rail scheme.

Mr Redgewell replied that the track that was in place currently was not adequate for stock to be able to turn around.

Councillor Liz Richardson asked if a figure on page 65 of the Inspector’s Recommended Main Modifications was correct. She wondered if under MM133 – 7.05a it should ‘around 13,000 homes’ instead of the printed ’12,700 homes’.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment said that he would discuss that point with his colleagues.

The Chair asked Councillor Richardson to email the Group Manager for Policy & Environment if she had any other points of clarification to raise.

Councillor Douglas Nicol asked if the density on brownfield sites needed be increased.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that the Council was already seeking to maximise the density on these sites as much as possible. He added that 80% of the proposed new homes would be built on brownfield sites.

Councillor Roger Symonds asked if discussions were due to take place with Curo regarding the density of homes planned on the former MoD Foxhill site and the reconfiguration of the Foxhill Estate.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that the Council had spoken with Curo on this matter, but that talks were at too early a stage for any outcomes to be incorporated into the Core Strategy.

Councillor Vic Pritchard asked how the Council could control developers from using particular sites as greenfield will be easier to build upon.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that the demand for housing in the district is sufficiently significant to encourage the development of brownfield and greenfield sites simultaneously.  This is evidenced by the current development of a significant number of brownfield sites such as Bath Western Riverside and the former MoD sites are already underway and that development on greenfield sites must be progressed alongside these. He added that the 5 year land supply need also requires that greenfield sites are brought on stream as soon as possible alongside the existing brownfield commitments.

Councillor Vic Pritchard commented that he was concerned that developers will land bank housing sites.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that the Council’s role is to show the Inspector that we have a trajectory of site development. He added that the need for housing was such that phasing or hold back of greenfield sites was not justified.

Councillor Douglas Nicol commented that he shared these concerns and asked what the Council could do if a developer purchases some land and does not develop upon it.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that the Council cannot enforce the developer to act, it is their role to have a strategy for development to take place. He acknowledged that the maintenance of a 5 year supply is dependent on progress made by the house building industry

The Chair suggested that the Panel at some point undertakes a review of sites that have planning permission but have yet to be built upon.

The Panel agreed to this proposal.

Councillor Liz Richardson asked if a further analysis of greenfield sites would be sought if the delivery of brownfield sites became too slow.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied a review would take place in 5 years’ time to assess whether targets are being delivered and that the target is still the appropriate one. He added that no changes would be necessary if we feel the numbers can be recovered during the plan period.

Councillor Liz Richardson asked if further use of greenfield sites could be ruled out at review.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that he could not say at this stage.

Councillor David Martin asked what happens next, in particular in terms of the Placemaking Plan.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that should the Core Strategy be adopted further work on the Placemaking Plan would accelerate with an options consultation in November with a draft Plan due for the middle of 2015.

Councillor David Martin asked if any Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) were envisaged.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that none were at this point, but that it may become necessary for some of the current ones to be amended.

Councillor Douglas Nicol asked when the Council could review the Core Strategy.

The Group Manager for Policy & Environment replied that it would be the Council’s document and so in theory it could review it as it sees fit but it had committed to reviews at 5 year intervals.

Councillor Lisa Brett wished to thank officers for the large amount of work they had done on the Core Strategy to get to this point in time.

The Panel agreed with her comment.