Agenda item

The report sets out a revised timetable for preparing the Local Plan following the publication of ‘Building the Right Homes in the Right Places’ by the Government for consultation in September 2017. It also provides progress on the most recent elements of the Local Plan evidence base that have now been finalised or updated.

Decision Notice D180021MEM

The report set out a revised timetable for preparing the Local Plan following the publication of ‘Building the Right Homes in the Right Places’ by the Government for consultation in September 2017.  In addition, an update in respect of the most recent elements of the Local Plan evidence base that had been finalised or updated was provided.

Subsequent to the preparation of the report, Members were advised that a draft version of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) had been published and was out for consultation until 10 May 2018, along with various other documents including one dealing with developer contributions. 

Particular reference was made to the transitional arrangements proposed which provided for Local Plans submitted to the Secretary of State within 6 months of the final NPPF being published to be assessed under the current NPPF, rather than the proposed new standardised methodology for calculating housing need which would be a significantly higher figure for many local authorities.

For Tonbridge and Malling this meant that Objectively Assessed Needs of 696 new homes per year and associated evidence already prepared and used to inform ‘The Way Forward’ regulation 18 consultation document could continue to form the basis for the Borough’s Local Plan.  Consequently the work now would focus on drafting the final Local Plan for consideration, building on and refining the development strategy in ‘The Way Forward’.

It was proposed that every effort should be made to submit the Borough’s Local Plan to the Secretary of State within the 6 month transitional period which was anticipated to be December 2018 at the latest.

Members welcomed the proposals related to transitional arrangements and committed to fully support the revised timetable and decision making process so that the ambition to submit the final Local Plan during this six month period was achievable.  

A number of issues were discussed and Members expressed concern around infrastructure, the risks associated with Government imposing housing figures on local planning authorities, the shortfall in the five year supply of housing and proposals related to the green belt and level of density. 

The Advisory Board was reassured that the Borough Council recognised that appropriate infrastructure investment was vital in accommodating future housing need adequately.  A viability study and infrastructure delivery plan formed part of the local plan work to inform the process.   In addition, there was ongoing communication with a number of partners and infrastructure providers.   A modelling exercise for the A20 corridor had been completed and published to the Borough Council’s website, alongside various other pieces of evidence which Members were encouraged to inspect.

Members also recognised the significant challenges of meeting identified housing need which was likely to meet resistance in some parts of the borough.

RECOMMENDED: That:

(1)     the progress on the Local Plan evidence base be noted;

(2)     the revised timetable for preparing the Local Plan, as summarised in the report and set out in Annex 1 be agreed, subject to:

every effort being made to submit the Local Plan to the Secretary of State by end of December 2018 to take advantage of the transitional arrangements proposed in the draft National Planning Policy Framework; and

(3)    the proposed new Local Plan be brought forward for consideration at the next two meetings of the Advisory Board and subsequently reported to Cabinet and Council in September 2018.