Agenda item

Planning and Sustainability – to receive a report (C-027-2020-21) that provides members with a summary of the aims, objectives and purpose of the EFDC Sustainability Guidance (Major Developments and Minor Developments).

(1)        The Cabinet agreed that the Draft EFDC Sustainability Guidance documents (Major Developments and Minor Developments) and Draft HGGT Sustainability Guidance and Checklist (Strategic Sites) be approved for public consultation for a six week period;

(2)        The Cabinet agreed that the Planning Services Director, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Draft EFDC Sustainability Guidance (Major Developments and Minor Developments) prior to the public consultation;

(3)        The Cabinet noted that, following consultation, and any subsequent revisions to the documents, it was intended that the final EFDC Sustainability Guidance and Checklists (Major Developments and Minor Developments), would be considered by Cabinet for endorsement as a material planning consideration for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes within the District;

(4)        The Cabinet noted that, following consultation, and any subsequent revisions to the documents, it was intended that the final HGGT Sustainability Guidance & Checklist, would be agreed as a material planning consideration for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes within the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town.

The Planning and Sustainability Portfolio Holder introduced the report on the draft sustainability guidance for the district and Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

It was noted that the Council’s emerging Local Plan set out policies in relation to sustainable and high quality design and construction of developments. On 19 September 2019 the Council declared a Climate Emergency, including a resolution to do everything within the Council's power to make Epping Forest District Council area carbon neutral by 2030. To support these policies and this declaration, the Council had produced two EFDC draft Sustainability Guidance documents for use across the District; one for Major Developments (10+ units) and one for Minor Developments (1-9 units). The documents are in addition to the draft HGGT Sustainability Guidance and Checklist, which was relevant for sites which were located both within Epping Forest District and the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

A Blom-Cooper (Planning Policy and Improvement) noted that these documents were proposed for consultation, starting from 2^nd November. Almost all the consultation would be carried out virtually.

Councillor Philip commented that sustainability was a key driver for the council and also by making it sustainable it was also good for the environment and lined up with the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency.

Councillor Heap remarked that there needed to be buses to Epping. Councillor Bedford replied that buses were not really in our remit but down to Essex County Council. We could make suggestions to them for the need for buses, but we would have to say where they should come from. There were a lot of villages in our district. At present TfL were running about 100% of their services but with minimum passengers’ levels. Councillor Heap came back saying that we need to provide them first and then consider how they interacted as a whole network.

DECISION:

(1)        The Cabinet agreed that the Draft EFDC Sustainability Guidance documents (Major Developments and Minor Developments) and Draft HGGT Sustainability Guidance and Checklist (Strategic Sites) be approved for public consultation for a six week period;

(2)        The Cabinet agreed that the Planning Services Director, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Draft EFDC Sustainability Guidance (Major Developments and Minor Developments) prior to the public consultation;

(3)        The Cabinet noted that, following consultation, and any subsequent revisions to the documents, it was intended that the final EFDC Sustainability Guidance and Checklists (Major Developments and Minor Developments), would be considered by Cabinet for endorsement as a material planning consideration for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes within the District;

(4)        The Cabinet noted that, following consultation, and any subsequent revisions to the documents, it was intended that the final HGGT Sustainability Guidance & Checklist, would be agreed as a material planning consideration for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes within the Harlow & Gilston Garden Town.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

•           To ensure that the EFDC Draft Sustainability Guidance documents (Major Developments and Minor Developments) were afforded suitable planning weight by agreeing that the documents should be consulted upon prior to endorsement as material planning considerations.  This would ensure that development proposals across the District target the Council’s sustainability ambitions, and that clear parameters were established for future pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes.

•           To ensure that the HGGT Sustainability Guidance and Checklist were afforded suitable planning weight by agreeing the document should be consulted upon prior to endorsement  as a material planning consideration, to ensure that development proposals within the Garden Town target the HGGT sustainability ambitions, and that clear parameters were established for future pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes within the Garden Town.

Other Options for Action:

Not to agree the EFDC Sustainability Guidance documents (Major Developments and Minor Developments) and HGGT Sustainability Guidance and Checklist can be published for a 6 week consultation which 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 emerging Local Plan policies SP3, DM5, DM9, DM11, DM15-22.