Decision details

The Cabinet had before it and NOTED a report * from the Director of Place and Economy on the National Planning Policy Framework.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Regeneration outlined the contents of the report with particular reference to the following:

• The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out the Government’s planning policies for England and how those would be applied.
• It provides a framework within which locally-prepared plans would provide sufficient housing and other development in a sustainable manner.
• The NPPF was first introduced in 2012, it had replaced previous National Planning Policy guidance and statements and had been subject to updates made in July 2018, February 2019, July 2021 and in December 2023.
• The current version of the NPPF included revisions made in response to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to National Planning Policy consultation at that same time.
• In particular, the December 2023 NPPF update removed the requirement for Local Authorities with an adopted Local Plan less than 5 years old to continually demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply.
• The Government published its consultation “proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system”, and had made clear that reform was necessary to reverse the December 2023 changes to the NPPF that it considered “were damaging to housing supply, disrupted plan-making and undermined investor confidence.”
• The consultation document included 106 questions and comments were invited by Local Authorities and other interested parties by 24th September 2024. There was now an opportunity for the Council to consider the implications of the proposed reforms in relation to plan making and also the determination of planning applications in Mid Devon and submit its own response to consultation. The draft consultation responses, informed through discussions with PPAG, were presented for review and discussion.

Discussion took place regarding:

• The housing issues and the concerns for implications to our environment.
• The gain of land for housing would be a loss to other uses, biodiversity and agriculture.
• Net Zero Advisory Group (NZAG) recommended that the Council sought clarification from the Government on whether the Council’s targets could be met through repurposing.
• A decision about housing targets and the ability to balance the new land release with biodiversity and carbon storage opportunities.
• To strategically work on nature recovery with local nature recovery partnerships. When allocating new developments to go beyond the minimum ten percent biodiversity net gain. Including on site and per development application to ensure a more strategic balance was found between development and biodiversity.
• To consider including the following: reference to the renewal of railway infrastructure and renewal of sustainable transport opportunities such as cycle ways on old railway lines. Public transport to reduce additional traffic impacts from meeting new housing targets. River based management plans. The erosion of the open countryside with scattered housing development.
• To seek further clarification on whether Neighbourhood Plans could incorporate renewable energy preferences and plans.
• The references to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty should be national landscapes.
• In the response could the diversity needs of the community be more widely reflected? (I.e. neuro-diversity/dementia friendly etc.)
• Scope for the  response  to include reference to how Local Authorities could  take on more initiatives to deliver the additional housing needed – i.e. through expanded HRA developments where sufficient funding was made available and legislative regimes proactively supported and encouraged such development and retention of stock

(Proposed by Cllr S Keable and seconded by Cllr N Bradshaw)

Note: *Report previously circulated.