Agenda item

Cotswold District Local Plan Update

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.

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 the formulation of the new Cotswold Design code as part of the aim to promote sustainable settlements.
There was a new climate change chapter which focussed on avoiding the demolition of buildings which Cabinet had approved for Regulation 18 consultation.

There were various comments around the protection of the District against the consequences of not having a Local Plan in force.

It was highlighted that officers would need to be supported with external support to ensure the new Local Plan was created and brought into force.

There was a question about the local representatives who would serve on the Moreton-in-Marsh Working Group. It was explained that officers would consult with Members to identify the best individuals.

There were various comments about ward councillors encouraging local residents to engage with the public consultation on the future plan for the District.

Councillor Coleman in summing up his comments as a seconder made the following points:

There was reference to lessons learnt from developments in Cirencester and the Upper Rissingtons to involve Members and local communities.
It was noted that the Working Group proposed as cross-party was welcomed.
There were comments around ensuring affordable housing was developed.

Councillor Layton in summing up then spoke and made the following points:

There was a focus on engaging with young people in the Cotswolds.
Some of the sustainable home designs would need to be considered as part of the update to the Cotswold Design Code.

Voting Record

29 For, 0 Against, 0 Abstentions, 5 Absent/Did not vote

RESOLVED: That Full Council AGREED

1. TO 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. DELEGATED 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. NOTED upcoming national policy changes and the impact this may have on the preparation of the Local Plan at Annex B;

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

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

For	Against	Abstention	Absent/ Did not vote
Andrew Maclean			David Cunningham
Angus Jenkinson			Dilys Neill
Chris Twells			Gary Selwyn
Claire Bloomer			Joe Harris
Clare Turner			Ray Brassington
Daryl Corps
David Fowles
Gina Bloomfield
Helene Mansilla
Ian Watson
Jeremy Theyer
Jon Wareing
Julia Judd
Juliet Layton
Len Wilkins
Lisa Spivey
Mark Harris
Michael Vann
Mike Evemy
Mike McKeown
Nigel Robbins
Nikki Ind
Patrick Coleman
Paul Hodgkinson
Roly Hughes
Tom Stowe
Tony Dale
Tony Slater
Tristan Wilkinson

Supporting documents:

Agenda item

Cotswold District Local Plan Update

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