64 Cabinet Report - 15 September 2016 (1-15-00) PDF 157 KB
To receive and consider reports, minutes and recommendations of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15 September 2016.
Report attached, minutes to follow.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Leader presented the report of the special meeting of the Cabinet held on 15 September 2016
Arising thereon:
1) Local Plan Review (Junction 27 and any associated housing need)
Councillor Mrs J Roach MOVED in accordance with Procedure Rule 19.4:
“THAT the vote in respect of all three MOTIONS before the Council shall be by Roll Call”
This was AGREED
The Head of Planning and Regeneration was invited to give a presentation to Members:
She stated that before the meeting today was the issue of land allocation and that Council were not being requested to determine any particular scheme by the land promoter or an application by the land promotor. She also clarified that business rate revenue was not a material planning consideration and should not form part of consideration of an allocation. She outlined the history of the site and the various plan options and representations made over many years, the agreement for the new area of growth identified east of Cullompton and that a new settlement limit option north of Willand was not pursued; the proposed submission plan of 2014 that had omitted J27 as allocated land and the work that had taken place to date to address the issues raised in 2014.
She identified the site by way of presentation, highlighting the elements of the allocation and the land ownership evidence. In reply to a question posed at public question time with regard to previous planning on the site, there was still an outline permission for a road side services area which was still capable of being developed out which included a 350 sqm shop, a rest area, a tourist information centre, parking and service yard.
The tourism and leisure opportunity would be supported by a retail facility in the form of a designer outlet village. She addressed the work that had taken place by the Council’s Retail Consultant and the issue of trade draw which had been highlighted during public question time, it had been suggested that there would be some trade draw impact but that this would be offset by comparison goods expenditure growth. Consultant advice was that overall impact of trade draw was not considered significant.
She also explained the “Duty to Cooperate” consultation that had taken place with surrounding local authorities and highlighted the issues raised by representatives from North Devon Council earlier in the meeting with regard to the impact on local retail and the search for other sites within certain drive times, which could be extended if requested. There was some comparison goods expenditure leakage out of the district and it was thought that allocation of land at J27 could clawback some of the spend into the district. Although some concerns had been raised with regard to the impact on retail, an allocation was still thought to be sound.
The officer addressed the housing issue identified during public question time. An updated assessment for the whole of the Local Plan had resulted in an additional 400 houses as the ... view the full minutes text for item 64