Issue - meetings

Councillor Guest presented a report and supplementary information seeking consideration and approval of the draft Local Plan Housing Statement for public consultation, which would also  constitute the statutory consultation for the new Local Plan. 

The Cabinet then received a deputation from Mr Andrew Norton, representing the Warblington and Denvilles Residents Association, setting out the Association’s concerns with regard to the perceived accelerated timeframe for taking forward the consultation process and seeking a temporary embargo on planning applications on the affected sites prior to adoption of the new Local Plan.

In response, Councillor Guest confirmed that the Local Planning Authority was bound by the Town and Country Planning act to consider all valid planning applications and that an embargo on applications was not an option.  Refusal of applications on other than sound planning grounds risked appeal to the Planning Inspectorate.  Moving forward with the Local Plan Housing Statement would contribute to the Council’s 5- year land supply offered a strong defence against speculative applications in the interim period prior to adoption of the new Local Plan.

Councillor Guest welcomed and encouraged wide community and public participation in the consultation process, which would include events across the Borough.  He also gave an assurance that all representations received would be fully considered as part of the final analysis of the viability of the identified sites going forward.  Councillor Guest also confirmed that the timeframe for completing the required consultations, prior to adoption of the new Local Plan in compliance with the Government’s March 2018 deadline, was challenging but achievable.

RESOLVED that:

(1)  a review of the Havant Borough Local Plan (Core Strategy and Allocations) be approved;

(2)  public consultation of the Draft Local Plan Housing Statement be approved;

(3)  the Local Development Scheme 2016 (Appendix 2 to the Cabinet report) be approved; and

(4)  authority be delegated to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Economy, Planning, Development and Prosperity Havant, to make any necessary amendments which arise prior to the public consultation period.