Issue - meetings

(Planning Services) To consider the attached report (C-035-2019-20).

The Draft Strategy can be found here:

https://rds.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/documents/b22518/Background%20Paper%20to%20item%2014%2026th-Mar-2020%2019.00%20Cabinet.pdf?T=9

(1)        That the Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy (Appendix 1 of the report) be approved for public consultation for a six week period; and

(2)        That the Planning Services Director, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy prior to the public consultation.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning Services, Cllr J Philip, presented a report requesting approval for the draft Green Infrastructure Strategy to begin public consultation.

Cllr J Philip stated that the Council’s emerging Local Plan had set out policies in relation to Green and Blue Infrastructure, the protection of ecological assets and high quality design. To support these policies and address the requirement to provide suitable avoidance or mitigation measures to manage any potential impacts of growth on protected sites, primarily the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a number of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s), the Council had produced a Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy. This would ensure high quality Green and Blue Infrastructure, including the provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Green Spaces (SANG), was delivered alongside the proposed growth in the District.

Cllr J Philip informed the Cabinet that this report therefore provided Members with an update on the aims, objectives and purpose of the Green Infrastructure Strategy and confirmed the proposed consultation programme on the Draft Strategy. The intention was that, following the consultation and any updates arising thereout, the final Strategy would be submitted to the Cabinet for endorsement as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications, masterplans/concept frameworks and guide design and implementation processes.

Decision:

(1)        That the Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy (Appendix 1 of the report) be approved for public consultation for a six week period; and

(2)        That the Planning Services Director, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy prior to the public consultation.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure that Members were appraised on progress of the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

To comply with the Council’s general obligations as a competent authority under the Habitats Directive [article 6(3)] and the Species and Habitats Regulations 2018 [Regulation 9(1)].

In response to the Planning Inspector’s Advice dated 2 August 2019 (ED98) following the hearing sessions of the Local Plan examination for a SANG Strategy to mitigate the full effect of recreational pressure upon the Epping Forest SAC.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To not bring forward the Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy for consultation; however, that would mean that there would be no guidance to support the delivery of development proposals and achieve the objectives set out in the Council’s Local Plan policies SP 7, DM 1, DM 2, DM 16, T 1 and DM 6.