Agenda item

(Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods) To consider the attached report (LPC-002-2018/19).

The Planning Policy Manager presented an update on the work being undertaken to support the progression and implementation of the Epping Forest District Local Plan. 

The Planning Policy Manager reminded the Cabinet Committee that the Local Plan Submission Version (LPSV) established the policies and allocations that would be subject to independent examination. However, plan-making was an ongoing and iterative process, and work had continued on developing the Evidence Base to support the Plan, and to develop the Implementation Strategy.

The Planning Policy Manager provided a short summary of the ongoing work, which included the anticipated dates for the publication of further reports and information that would need to be taken into account during the Independent Examination process following the submission of the Plan. Updates were also provided on several areas of work being undertaken across local authority boundaries and work to implement the Local Plan and ensure the timely delivery of the planned housing and infrastructure. The Cabinet Committee was advised to consider the report in conjunction with the existing Evidence Base, particularly the Duty to Cooperate Compliance Statement (EB119) and the Housing Implementation Strategy (EB410).

The Planning Policy Manager informed the Cabinet Committee on the progression of the Neighbourhood Plans within the District. There were currently ten designated Neighbourhood Plan areas within the District. The Neighbourhood Plan for Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Levers was the most advanced, having been examined in public in 2016, and was in the process of being revised. The Neighbourhood Plan for Chigwell had been submitted to the Council for publication under Regulation 16, which would take place for a period of six weeks following the Local Elections in May 2018. All of the other Neighbourhood Plans were in their early stages of preparation, with the Plans for Epping, North Weald Bassett and Ongar being the most advanced and intending to undertake public engagement exercises in the coming months. The Planning Policy Team, together with the Rural Community Council for Essex, continued to provide support for Town and Parish Councils wherever possible.

Cllr Kauffman enquired about the terms of reference that had been given to Essex County Council for the traffic assessments, and whether more detail could be given to Members about these. Cllr Kauffman stated that he had an interest in the assessments for the Loughton area, as there was development planned but the roads were insufficient to cope with current traffic levels. The Planning Policy Manager responded that the current work being undertaken by Essex County Council was building upon previous traffic assessments undertaken and completed, which were now published on the Council’s website. Particular emphasis would be on those junctions where it was felt further development would increase the pressure of traffic, but the terms of reference for Essex County Council could be provided to Members if they so wished.

In respect of the Quality Review Panel, Cllr J M Whitehouse queried how its discussions would be disseminated to Members, and how Members and Town/Parish Councillors could make their views known to the Panel. The Interim Assistant Director (Planning Policy) stated that the Panel would produce a report of its deliberations for each scheme or application, which would be published by the Council as a material planning consideration for that application. A Development Management Forum had been set up by the Council to consider the same schemes before the Quality Review Panel did, which would allow Local and District Member input. The first meeting of the Development Management Forum would take place the following evening to consider the Waltham Abbey employment site, to which all local Members had been invited as well as the public and other interested parties.

The Planning Policy Manager acknowledged that the draft Infrastructure Technical Paper was very important, however it would not provide all of the answers but a mechanism to use during Master Planning exercises. The draft Paper was currently awaiting a response from Essex County Council, but it was expected that it would be published within the next month or two.

Cllr Wixley highlighted a recent report in the local newspaper which stated that the size of the proposed Garden Town was to be doubled and requested some reassurance. The Interim Assistant Director reassured the Cabinet Committee that the initial plan was for 16,000 new homes to be provided in the Garden Town up to 2033, of which 3,000 would be in Gilston (East Herts District Council). The current version of the Local Plan for East Herts stated that a further 7,000 homes would be provided after 2033 in Gilston, giving a final total of 23,000 new homes (and an increase of 44%).

Decision:

(1)        That the current progress made with the Epping Forest District Local Plan be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To provide members with an update on work being undertaken to support the progression and implementation of the Local Plan.

To update members on Neighbourhood Planning in the District.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

To not advise members of the work being undertaken to support the progression and implementation of the Local Plan; however, the Cabinet had previously committed to providing all Members with regular updates on the progress with the development of the Epping Forest District Local Plan.