Agenda item

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that scrutiny committee comment on the proposals within the attached draft cabinet report, ref CAB3462 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 16 September 2024.

Councillor Jackie Porter, Cabinet Member for Place and Local Plan introduced the Cabinet report, reference CAB3462 and made the following points:

1. Winchester City Council, regardless of political persuasion, wanted to provide the homes and employment necessary for growth, health, and well-being.
2. The new plan included an unwavering commitment to reducing the carbon footprint.
3. A strong local plan provided certainty for residents and clear guidelines for developers and the development planning team.
4. The Integrated Impact Assessment (IIA) indicated that the local plan should offer a succinct and up-to-date vision for each area's future.
5. Extensive consultations had involved Councillors at every stage and utilised various media.
6. Despite its length, the IIA had to go out for public consultation alongside the Regulation 19 document. The IIA was a commissioned objective study to support local plan decision-making.
7. The IIA examined the local plan vision and objectives, spatial strategy, and development principles through the lens of 14 objectives, including the commitment to decarbonise the district.
8. The assessment combined sustainability appraisal, strategic environmental assessment, health impact assessment, and equalities impact assessment.
9. Winchester City Council commissioned LUC to carry out the IIA, and they had used available data on metrics such as air quality, noise, flood risk, access to services, transport, open space, and importantly, reducing the carbon footprint for living, working, and travelling between new buildings and facilities.
10. Winchester City Council had a highly qualified and experienced team of planners, and the success of the local plan's efficacy was evident through a strong record of delivery, appeal judgements, and proof of the five-year land supply.
11. This scrutiny committee meeting was to monitor the local plan process from the publication of the Regulation 18 draft plan to the Regulation 19 proposed submission to reach the examination stage.
12. The Inspectorate must be confident that the local plan was sound, with a deadline for submission by June 30, 2025. Comments from this meeting would go forward to Cabinet, and then Full Council in September 2024.
13. If agreed, the Regulation 19 plan would go out for public consultation in 2024. The Inspectorate would receive full responses from the consultation.
14. The plan acknowledged smaller sites coming forward in sustainable locations on previously developed land, identified as windfall sites.
15. The local plan dictated a "brownfield first" approach to ensure the countryside was not developed while brownfield sites were available. Greenfield sites would only be given planning permission after 2030.
16. The South Downs National Park contributed significantly to biodiversity, leisure, and tourism, occupying 40% of the district’s land. Although it had duties as a national park, it was not a housing authority and would contribute 350 homes to the local plan.
17. Detailed studies of employment and retail land requirements were carried out using three different methodologies, updated recently and reviewed to reflect current economic situations and work patterns.
18. The plan allocated sufficient employment land to meet predicted requirements if all opportunities were taken up.
19. The three major spatial areas discussed in the local plan were South Hampshire urban areas, Winchester town, and market towns and rural areas, each contributing about one-third to the district’s economy.
20. Despite the different directions these areas faced, they were all part of Winchester District, and efforts would continue to deliver homes, jobs, and infrastructure for all residents.