The Panel to receive updates in respect of the Local Plan and Development Management matters.
Minutes:
A detailed update on Development Management and Local Plan work was provided and Members were advised that a ‘pause’ had previously been introduced in relation to certain planning application determinations because of South East Water’s response to the Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation and the implications this had raised around water supply capacity.
It was explained that water supply had thereby become a material planning consideration, and that the pause had allowed applicants and agents the opportunity to submit material addressing relevant Local Plan policies.
The Panel heard that planning applications were now recommencing following legal advice and extensive engagement with DEFRA, MHCLG, the Environment Agency and South East Water.
It was also reported that Full Council had resolved on 12 May 2026 to replace the three-ward based Area Planning Committees with a single Planning Committee. The first meeting of the new committee would be held on 24 June 2026.
Reference was made to the updated guidance published on the Borough Council’s website dealing with water supply and planning applications. It was reported that major developments would now be expected to submit a potable water demand technical note and that the local validation checklist was being consulted upon so that applications could be invalidated if that information was not provided.
For developments of 30 dwellings or more, or commercial developments of 3,000 square metres or more, the Borough Council would look to impose Grampian-style conditions preventing development from proceeding until sufficient water supply capacity was available.
The Panel also received an update on the Planning Advisory Service review. It was reported that an action plan had been agreed and was being regularly monitored, and that work was under way on a review of staffing structures, in particular around conservation, landscape and business support resources.
It was further reported that the Borough Council had secured grant funding to improve public digital access to planning data, including Article 4 directions and listed building curtilages, and that almost £50,000 had been secured through the Pathways to Planning programme to support the recruitment of a graduate planner.
On Local Plan progress, the Panel was reminded that the Regulation 18 consultation had closed on 2 January 2026 and that work was being undertaken towards Regulation 19.
The current programme anticipated Full Council consideration on 3 September 2026, with Regulation 19 consultation commencing on 10 September 2026 for the statutory six-week period, and submission to the Planning Inspectorate by the end of December 2026.
It was recognised that the timetable was challenging but was being pursued so that the Borough Council could remain within the current “legacy” Local Plan system, rather than falling into the untested new system.
The Panel heard that, in addition to meeting the Government’s objectively assessed housing need, the Local Plan also had to include a 20% buffer, and that site allocations and evidence base work continued to be reviewed accordingly.
A wide-ranging discussion followed on public transport, the implications of South East Water’s position, confidence in the evidence base, public confidence more generally, Borough Green Garden City, and the possible interaction between the Local Plan timetable and local government reorganisation.
It was confirmed that, by the time the Regulation 19 consultation was issued, the supporting evidence base would need to demonstrate sufficient confidence in both supply and demand measures relating to water and their consequences for the borough.