Decision details

The Cabinet had before it a report * from the Director of Place updating the Local Development Scheme and providing an updated timetable for the production of a new Local Plan for Mid Devon.

The following was highlighted in the report by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration:

·       The report was about the need for an amended timetable for preparing a new Local Plan for Mid Devon.

·       Local Planning Authorities were required to prepare and keep up to date a development plan for their area. The Mid Devon Local Plan was adopted in July 2020 and work had commenced with preparing a new local plan that would cover the period to 2043. This new local plan had the working title ‘Plan Mid Devon’.

·       A new Local Development Scheme was needed following a review of progress made so far, where there have been significant competing work pressures on the Forward Planning team that had contributed to a delay in reaching a Draft Policies and Site Options stage. Consideration had also been given to the Government’s proposed reforms to the plan making system and the potential introduction of new style plans from late 2024.

·       The report set out in detail the context for a new Local Development Scheme and options that had been considered.

·       A new Local Development Scheme was included in Appendix 1, which included updated key milestones. The next key stage for preparing the new Local Plan, which would be a Draft Policies and Site Options report, would be reached in late 2024. This would provide an early opportunity for public consultation on emerging proposals for the future planning of Mid Devon, and modifications to be made to those proposals before a draft plan was finalised and was submitted to the Secretary of State for its independent examination.

·       Draft Policies and Site Options would be informed through technical evidence about the need for new homes, jobs, community facilities, supporting infrastructure and a range of other considerations relevant to plan-making. It would be shaped through the engagement of the Planning Policy Advisory Group over the coming months, with consideration given to a draft spatial development strategy for the district, site allocations and strategic and local planning policies to guide the development and use of land and buildings. This work would build on and take forward 6 top priorities that had previously been identified as part of policy Issues that were consulted on in early 2022.  These included responding to the climate emergency, moving to a net-zero carbon future, and addressing housing affordability and improving choice. A Draft Policies and Site Options consultation report would be brought to the Cabinet in late 2024 for consideration.

Discussion took place with regard to:

·       How the residents of Mid Devon would be consulted? It was confirmed that the Forward Planning Team would do more than the statutory minimum requirements in order to utilise all opportunities for community engagement. This would include a range of consultation events in each of the towns as well as workshops and opportunities to provide comments online. The team would also work with Members through the Planning Policy Advisory Group.

·       The Cabinet Member provided assurance that the towns and the parishes would be at the heart of any proposals going forward.

·       Sustainability would be a significant factor in all discussions.

·       There was a need to avoid the delays which had occurred before the adoption of the previous Local Plan. It was explained that there had been particular reasons for those delays. Currently the timetable did hinge around the capacity of the Forward Planning Team, however, whilst the timetable was ambitious it was also achieveable.

·       There was a degree of uncertainty in the planning policy world at the moment, however, the team were continuing to make positive steps towards creating a new Local Plan.

·       The new plan would need to be robust enough in order to support the levels of housing needed both currently and in the future.

RESOLVED that the revised Local Development Scheme (Appendix 1) be approved for the period from 12^th July 2023.

(Proposed by Cllr S Keable and seconded by Cllr S Clist)

Reason for the decision

Local Planning Authorities were required to prepare and keep up to date a development plan for their area. It was important that the development plan was kept up to date to ensure that it reflected recent changes in the planning system, the Council’s current corporate objectives and provided a sound basis for decision making.

Note: * Report previously circulated.