Issue - meetings

Issue - meetings

To submit the Local Plan Part 2 - Site Allocations and Development Management Policies for examination

Meeting: 21/03/2017 - Council (Item 71)

71 To submit the Local Plan Part 2 - Site Allocations and Development Management Policies for examination pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Report of Cabinet 6 March 2017

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Sharpe informed members that he was asking council to agree to withdraw the item on the Local Plan Part 2.  The council had to consider whether to continue with the Local Plan or move straight to a review of the Core Strategy.  He outlined further reasons for suggesting that the council should not proceed with Local Plan 2, which included the government’s proposed changes in the Housing White paper.  There was also the potential cost of a planning inquiry, which would be a six-figure sum.  The council needed to take stock of the best way forward.  Cabinet and Planning Policy Advisory Group would be kept informed of any changes.

 

The Chairman stated that he was proposing that the item should not be debated.  The matter would be monitored by Planning Policy Advisory Group.

 

RESOLVED –

 

that the item to consider the Local Plan Part 2 be withdrawn.


Meeting: 06/03/2017 - Cabinet (Item 80)

80 Local Plan Part 2 Submission pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Report of Deputy Managing Director and Director of Place Shaping and Performance

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report was received from the Deputy Managing Director which set out the site allocations and detailed development management policies to support the delivery of the vision and strategy set out in Local Plan Part 1 Core Strategy which was adopted in 2013.

 

Councillor Sharpe introduced the report and explained that it had to also be approved by Council.  This was the second part of the local plan which included the development management plan and site allocations.  The council had to justify its decisions through a sound evidence base which would be examined externally.  However, the evidence base was constantly changing which had been problematic for all councils.  It was important that the council had a plan as without one it would be far more vulnerable to developers.  The changing evidence base meant that the council would have to review the plan at an early stage.  However, the rewards were greater than the risks to have the site allocations and development management policies in place. 

 

The Deputy Managing Director drew Cabinet’s attention to the risks outlined in the report.  There was an outstanding objection from Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) regarding transportation and the council would be working with them on a memorandum of understanding.  Also regarding the metropolitan line extension if a decision was made which was not favourable then the council would have to consider the impact on the plan.  Hopefully the council would know about both risks shortly before submitting the plan to the planning inspectorate.

 

Councillor Bell commented on the objection from HCC and the Mayor responded that the council agreed with HCC that the housing numbers could not be increased to the detriment of those travelling around Watford.  The council wanted a sound transport plan and had asked HCC for a major review

 

Councillor Bell welcomed the taller building policies and that there was clarification on special policy areas e.g., western gateway, Clarendon Road, Ascot Road.  This was an issue which would come up in future Development Management applications.

 

The Mayor responded with regards to tall buildings that the council could not refuse every application it received as it would go to appeal.  With the government’s housing white paper, urban density had been specifically mentioned.  It was for the council to challenge the quality of the buildings which would be proposed. It was further commented by Cabinet that the government’s strengthening of the greenbelt was forcing further development within urban areas and similar councils to Watford were also looking at tall buildings policies.

 

Councillor Bell commented on the traveller site on Tolpits Lane and stated that this should be accepted as a settled area.  The Mayor commented that there was not a great need within Watford for sites and some of the traveller community had settled within the area.

 

RESOLVED

 

That Cabinet:

 

1.        agrees that Local Plan Part 2 should be reported to Council on 21 March with a recommendation that the Plan be submitted for independent examination in line with Regulation 22 of the Town  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80


 

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