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Cotswold District Local Plan Update

 

 

Meeting: 24/01/2024 - Council (Item 11)

11 Cotswold District Local Plan Update pdf icon PDF 282 KB

Purpose

To consider the recommendation to start preparing a new local plan for the period 2026 to 2041 and to consult on a first stage document that includes development strategy options for distributing future growth in the district.

 

To consider the formation of a new cross party working group that will examine strategic growth in Moreton-in-Marsh.

 

Recommendations

That Council resolves to:

1.    Begin the preparation of a new Local Plan that would extend the plan period from 31 March 2031 to 31 March 2041 and approves the  consultation document, as presented at Annex A, to be published for a six week public consultation;

2.    Delegate authority to the Forward Planning Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, to agree questionnaires and make minor and typographical corrections to the consultation documents prior to being published for public engagement.

3.    Note upcoming national policy changes and the impact this may have on the preparation of the Local Plan at Annex B;

4.    Approve the formation of a Moreton-in-Marsh Working Group and approves the Terms of Reference at Annex C; and

5.    Approve the Local Development Scheme as presented at Annex D.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was to consider the recommendation to start preparing a new local plan for the period 2026 to 2041 and to consult on a first stage document that includes development strategy options for distributing future growth in the district. It was also to consider the formation of a new cross party working group that would examine strategic growth in Moreton-in-Marsh.

 

Councillor Layton introduced this item and outlined the following points:

 

  • The strategic development strategy and proposed Local Plan policies would be discussed at a later stage in the consultation on 1 February but this was for Council to approve the approach to developing a new Local Plan.
  • The statutory deadline would be 30 June 2025 for the submission of a replacement Local Plan.
  • 5,000 of the 6,300 homes required had been identified but the remaining needed to be identified.
  • Moreton-in-Marsh needed to be corrected on the terms of reference Working Group which referenced the Cirencester Town Centre Masterplan Steering Group in error.

 

Councillor Coleman seconded the recommendations and reserved his right to speak.

 

There were many comments regarding the need to control necessary developments and ensure they were in located in the right places.

 

There was a question regarding the decisions around the contents of the Local Plan and the development plans for Moreton-in-Marsh. It was clarified by the Forward Planning Manager that this decision was the beginning stages of development proposals subject to consultation.

In regard to Moreton-in-Marsh, it was also explained that Moreton-in-Marsh was identified as one of the sustainable locations for development in the context of the District as parts of the town are not within the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and there were key transport links.

 

It was noted that this was a key moment which will help to shape the future of the Cotswolds, and it was hoped that there would be a large community engagement.

 

The creation of a Moreton-in-Marsh working group was welcomed by many members of Council as an opportunity for Members and officers to engage with residents on some of the specific issues that Moreton-in-Marsh was facing. 

 

Councillor Coleman in seconding the recommendations spoke and asked the following questions:

 

  • Whether any extra resources were needed to deliver the plan and mitigate any risks?
  • On paragraph 3.6 and whether  the use of village clusters could be considered as one of the options for strategic development?
  • Whether the design of buildings would be considered to minimise heat loss?
  • What measures would be made to avoid the demolition of buildings which would release carbon stored within them?

 

The Forward Planning Manager answered the questions presented:

 

  • Whilst more resources would be welcomed, the Council had to consider this against the backdrop of difficult financial circumstances.
  • In regard to village clusters, it was noted that this would be a useful response for the consultation in order to feed into the formulation of the new Local Plan.
  • It was also noted that high-density developments would be considered as part of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11

Meeting: 11/01/2024 - Cabinet (Item 221)

221 Cotswold District Local Plan Update and the Cirencester Town Centre Framework Masterplan pdf icon PDF 313 KB

Purpose

To consider the recommendation to Council to start preparing a new local plan for the period 2026 to 2041 and to consult on a document that includes development strategy options.

To consider the recommendation to consult the public on a set of draft policies that update the adopted Cotswold District Local Plan 2011-31 (the adopted Local Plan).

To consider the recommendation to consult the public on an ‘initial ideas’ Cirencester Town Centre Framework Masterplan consultation document.

To approve the updated Statement of Community Involvement and the updated Local Development Scheme documents.

 

Recommendations

That Cabinet resolves to:

1.    Recommend to Council that Cotswold District Council begin the preparation of a new Local Plan that would extend the plan period from 31 March 2031 to 31 March 2041 and approves the Vision, Objectives and Development Strategy consultation document, as presented at Annex B, to be published for a six week public consultation;

2.    Approve the draft policies consultation document at Annex C for a six week public consultation;

3.    Approve the updated Local Development Scheme as presented at Annex D is approved;

4.    Approve changes to the Statement of Community Involvement as presented at Annex E;

5.    Approve the emerging Cirencester Town Centre Framework Masterplan ‘initial ideas’ consultation document for a six week public consultation as presented at Annex F;

6.    Note upcoming national policy changes and the impact this may have on the preparation of the Local Plan at Annex G; and

7.    Delegate authority to the Forward Planning Manager, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, to agree questionnaires and make minor and typographical corrections to the consultation documents prior to being published for public engagement.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The purpose of the report was for Cabinet to:

·         consider the recommendation to Council to start preparing a new local plan for the period 2026 to 2041 and to consult on a document that includes development strategy options.

 

·         To consider the recommendation to consult the public on a set of draft policies that update the adopted Cotswold District Local Plan 2011-31 (the adopted Local Plan).

 

·         To consider the recommendation to consult the public on an ‘initial ideas’ Cirencester Town Centre Framework Masterplan consultation document.

 

·         To approve the updated Statement of Community Involvement and the updated Local Development Scheme documents.

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, Councillor Juliet Layton introduced the report and outlined the following points:

 

·         The active Local Plan was in force up to 2031 and a new Local Plan would then take the Council up to 2041.

·         The twin-track approach for updating the existing Local Plan and preparing a new Local Plan was identified as the best way forward for the Council ahead of the UK Government Local Planning Reform deadline 30 June 2025.

·         There around 60 existing/new policy changes with key changes being a new Climate Change chapter with a suite of new policies.

·         The development strategy included was outlined as a way to begin discussions around suitable housing for communities whilst taking into account the need for infrastructure to support it

·         There would be a public consultation in February which would help begin the process to ensure the Council meets its statutory requirements. However, further evidence would be required before site allocations could be made, with the exception of the Fire Service College in Moreton.

·         The consultation would go out on 1 February and run to 14 February to gather the views of residents on the plan as presented alongside the Cirencester Masterplan consultation.

·         There was need for 7,400 homes in the new Local Plan period 2026-2041 but this would be reduced to 6,330 if past over delivery was deducted.

 

Cabinet welcomed the update and the need to move ahead with this to ensure sustainable development within the district.

 

Cabinet noted the extensive work from officers and the resources that were required to ensure that the Council maintains a robust Local Plan into the future. It was highlighted that without this, it could risk the loss of local control over development within the district.

 

The Leader then invited observer Members to add any comments. Councillor Cunningham noted that it was important to ensure developments did not go ahead before there was suitable infrastructure in place, and there was a need to engage with all partners to ensure development is sustainable.

 

Councillor Ind as an observer Member also commented that it was important to have infrastructure first and highlighted how past developments had gone ahead without this. It was also important to ensure that the Local Plan could insist on certain measures like Solar PV energy.

 

 

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Layton and seconded by Councillor Joe Harris.

 

RESOLVED: That Cabinet AGREED to:

1.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 221

Meeting: 08/01/2024 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Item 25)

25 Cotswold District Local Plan - Partial Update pdf icon PDF 313 KB

Purpose

To consider the recommendation to Council to start preparing a new local plan for the period 2026 to 2041 and to consult on a document that includes development strategy options.

 

To consider the recommendation to consult the public on a set of draft policies that update the adopted Cotswold District Local Plan 2011-31 (the adopted Local Plan).

 

To consider the recommendation to consult the public on an ‘initial ideas’ Cirencester Town Centre Framework Masterplan consultation document.

 

For Cabinet to approve the updated Statement of Community Involvement and the updated Local Development Scheme documents.

 

Recommendation

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee scrutinises the report and agrees any recommendations it wishes to submit to the Cabinet meeting on 11 January

 

Invited

Councillor Juliet Layton, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services

James Brain, Forward Planning Manager

 

Note: Annex C is viewable on the website by clicking ‘Agenda reports pack’ at the top of webpage and selecting ‘Local Plan Partial Update Annex C- Draft Policies’.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee took a ten-minute break, reconvening before proceeding onto this item.

 

The Chair introduced the item, and recommended that due to the size and scope of the Local Plan Partial Update, the Committee focused on:

·         Whether the Council should start preparing the Development Strategy and Site Allocation Plan now;

·         The development strategy options;

·         Moreton-in-Marsh as highlighted by the Members Question and Public Question.

 

The Chair invited the Cabinet Member to introduce the report. The purpose of the item was to:

 

  • Consider the recommendation to Council to start preparing a new local plan for the period 2026 to 2041 and to consult on a document that includes development strategy options:
  • To consider the recommendation to consult the public on a set of draft policies that update the adopted Cotswold District Local Plan 2011-31 (the adopted Local Plan):
  • To consider the recommendation to consult the public on an ‘initial ideas’ Cirencester Town Centre Framework Masterplan consultation document; and
  • For Cabinet to approve the updated Statement of Community Involvement and the updated Local Development Scheme documents.

 

The Cabinet Member provided an overview of the report, and explained that the purpose of updating the Local Plan was to address Climate Change and ensure that communities are given the opportunity to shape how future needs are delivered across the district and in their communities. It was also explained that having an up-to-date Local Plan will help to ensure the council maintains an enduring housing land supply and guard against speculative applications for development. The Cabinet Member further explained that the intention is to join the adopted Local Plan partial update: draft policies (annex x) and a new Local Plan (which would include a new development strategy and site allocations for the plan period 2026-41) together ahead of the Government’s Planning Reform deadline of 30 June 2025. However, Council would be updated on whether this is possible by the end of the year. It was stated that if it is deeded not possible, then the Local Plan partial update (i.e. a finalised version of Annex C) would be submitted separately and the new local Plan 2026-41 would transition in to the government’s new planning system in 2025.

 

Members discussed the report and raised the following points, which were answered by the Cabinet Member and Officers;

 

  • The Forward Planning Manager assured members that although the deadlines were tight, the consultation would be delivered to the necessary deadlines.
  • Members stated that it would be necessary to ensure that the appropriate infrastructure, including flood mitigation and the appropriate environmental studies were in place before building more housing in Moreton-in-Marsh. The Forward Planning Manager stated that they would continue to engage with stakeholders such as Gloucestershire County Council. He also explained the importance of ensuring the Public identify infrastructure issues in their communities as this will aid how the plan progresses and the type and scale of new infrastructure required.
  • Members asked about the Strategic Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment document (SHELAA), which the Forward Planning Manager stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25

 

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