Agenda item

That Members of the Policy & Resources Committee:

·         Approve and recommend to Full Council the Local Plan Regulation 19 Part 2: Site Allocations document as set out in Appendix 1 for public consultation in accordance with the regulations and the Local Development Scheme

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to make any subsequent changes that are required before the documents are published for consultation

·         Grant delegated authority to the Head of Planning Policy & Conservation and the Director of Finance in consultation with the Lead Member for the Local Plan to propose minor modifications to the Local Plan and submit the plan to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

·          Agree significant proposed modifications to the Local Plan be agreed by Urgent Decision under the council’s constitution prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate for examination in public.

Officers introduced the report and explained that the Site Allocations document formed the second part of the Regulation 19 Local Plan, identifying specific sites for development and protection in accordance with the spatial strategy set out in Part 1. It was explained that this stage represented the final opportunity for the Council to approve the document for consultation prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination. Officers reiterated that the Regulation 19 consultation was narrowly focused on matters of legal compliance and soundness, and that representations would be considered by the Inspector rather than revisited by the Council.

Members acknowledged the extensive work undertaken by officers and the Local Plan Sub-Committee in developing the Site Allocations, including consideration of sustainability appraisal, deliverability, infrastructure capacity and environmental constraints. Some Members reiterated concerns previously raised about individual site allocations, particularly in relation to local impacts, infrastructure provision and consistency with settlement character. It was noted, however, that these matters had been considered through earlier stages of the plan-making process and that outstanding objections would be tested through the examination process.

Members discussed the importance of ensuring that the Site Allocations document was internally consistent with the Part 1 Policies document and supported by robust evidence. Officers confirmed that minor factual or typographical corrections could be made prior to publication under delegated authority, but emphasised that the Council must be satisfied that the document was sound in principle before proceeding.

The Committee recognised that delaying progression of the Site Allocations at this stage would risk undermining the overall Local Plan timetable and increase exposure to speculative development. Members agreed that the appropriate mechanism for resolving remaining disagreements was through the independent examination process.

Councillor Cooper proposed an amendment, seconded by Councillor Edwards,

“Remove the allocation of the following sites:

• H5 (ACFS9b, Little How Croft)
• H12 (CFS56, Church Hill Road, Bedmond)
• H15 (CFS13, land at Oxhey Lane, Watford Heath)
• H16 (CFS14, land north of Oxhey Lane, Carpenders Park)
• H17 (NCFS11, Grange Wood, Carpenders Park)
• H20 (CFS16, Chorleywood station car park)
• H32 (CFS65, Bucknalls Lane)
• H36 (CFS26c, west of Kings Langley estate)
• H37 (NSS20, land adjacent to the RES site, Egg Farm Lane)
• H41 (EOS7.0, land to the south of Shepherds Lane and east of M25)
• H53 (CFS47c, Adams Nurseries, Sarratt)”

The amendment was put to the vote and declared LOST by the Chair, with the voting being For 4, Against 9.

The substantive motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED by the Chair, with the voting being For 9, Against 0, Absentions 4.