Agenda item

­The following additional papers were circulated in addition to the published report: 

(A)        Map “Strategic Site – Area Between Denvilles and Emsworth” (to replace map on page 237 of the published report, and Map “Southleigh Park House (UE55)” to replace the map on page 254 of the published report, both circulated in the paper headed “Supplementary Information – UE55 and Strategic Site”;

(B)        Revised recommendations together with explanatory text including paragraph references relating to where within the published Cabinet report the additional text should be included, circulated in the paper headed “Additional Recommendations and Supplementary Information.”

As Cabinet Lead for Economy and Planning, Councillor Guest presented the report to Cabinet, together with the revised recommendations referred to in (B) above.  The submission of revised recommendations and additional text in the Cabinet report had been in recognition of, and a direct response to, the important points made in many of the representations received around the importance of infrastructure provision alongside any new development.

The Cabinet received the following deputations:

·       Robert Tutton, representing West Bedhampton Residents Association

Mr Tutton outlined objections to the release of agricultural land at site UE68 (Forty Acres), without first exhausting options for redeveloping poorer quality sites, and in the absence of a consultation response from Natural England, on the grounds of the potential impact on local Brent Geese and Wader populations.  The WBRA also objected on the grounds of the loss of a countryside gap of fundamental local significance.

·       Rosie Law, representing Local Hayling Residents

Ms Law outlined objections to the release of site UE18 (Station Road) on the basis of its importance as a habitat for migrating Brent Geese, the importance of the Hayling Billy Trail as a nature reserve and current pressures on the highways infrastructure on Hayling Island that would be exacerbated by further development.

·       David Hindley, Resident of Old Bedhampton

Mr Hindley outlined objections to the release of site UE30 (Land South of Lower Road, Bedhampton) on the basis of the potential risk to pedestrians and cyclists, supported by recent CCTV footage, should there be further development in the area.

·       Sue Holt, representing Havant Friends of the Earth

Ms Holt outlined objections to the release of greenfield sites for development on the basis of the implications for important wildlife habitats and a lack of clarity about mitigation, suggesting that the local planning authority’s focus should be on the identification of more sustainable brownfield sites, including Havant Town Centre.

·       County Councillor Liz Fairhurst

County Councillor Fairhurst outlined objections focusing on UE68 and UE30 (Forty Acres and Land South of  Lower Road, Bedhampton), the potential damage to the conservation area, highway safety pressure on traffic infrastructure and implications for local wildlife habitats.

·       Councillor John Perry

Councillor Perry preceded his deputation by stating that he was speaking up behalf of residents taking into account the large amount of correspondence he had received and that he would approach the full Council debate with an open mind and make his decision as to how he would vote when all the evidence was presented.

Councillor Perry referred to the Government’s national housebuilding programme, the implications for the Council’s five-year housing land supply and the need to undertake a detailed infrastructure review for Hayling Island to secure sustainable development in the context of existing pressures on local infrastructure that would make further development unsustainable without significant improvements.

·       Councillor Claire Satchwell

Councillor Satchwell preceded her deputation by stating that she was speaking on behalf of residents taking into account the large amount of correspondence she had received and that she would approach the full Council debate with an open mind and make her decision as to how she would vote when all the evidence was presented.

Councillor Satchwell outlined residents’ concerns in relation to infrastructure provision, particularly in the key areas of traffic management, flood mitigation and healthcare.  Cllr Satchwell also urged the Council to formally lobby the Secretary of State and the two MP’s to review the 5-year land supply rule to enable Councils to better defend speculative planning applications prior to the adoption of new Local Plans.

·       Councillor Andy Lenaghan (statement read to the Cabinet by Councillor Mike Fairhurst)

Councillor Fairhurst preceded Councillor Lenaghan’s deputation by reading a statement from Cllr Lenaghan that he was speaking on behalf of residents taking into account the large amount of correspondence he had received and that he would approach the full Council debate with an open mind and make his decision as to how he would vote when all the evidence was presented.

Councillor Lenaghan’s statement focused on the perceived speed with which the Local Plan review was being taken forward, the infrastructure pressures associated with new development, especially on Hayling Island and particularly in relation to flooding and traffic infrastructure, and the need to protect the Island as a tourist destination.

·       Councillor Joanne Thomas

Councillor Thomas preceded her deputation by stating that she was speaking on behalf of  residents taking into account the large amount of correspondence she had received and that she would approach the full Council debate with an open mind and make her decision as to how she would vote when all the evidence was presented.

Councillor Thomas outlined concerns relating to the perception that new development would be approved in light of central government pressure on housing targets and without adequate consideration of local objections.  Councillor Thomas also referred to pressures on the traffic and healthcare infrastructure on Hayling Island, the ecological implications associated with increased floodrisk and the need to safeguard local ecosystems and quality of life for residents.

·       Councillor Ken Smith

Councillor Smith preceded his deputation by stating that he was speaking on behalf of  residents taking into account the large amount of correspondence he had received and that he would approach the full Council debate with an open mind and make his decision as to how he would vote when all the evidence was presented.

Councillor Smith outlined residents’ concerns around the implications of new development on the health and traffic infrastructure, current pressures on sewage systems and the need to maintain gaps between settlements as identified in the 2012 Havant Gaps Review.

The Cabinet noted that deputations from Andrew Walker and Councillor Malcolm Carpenter had been withdrawn prior to the meeting.

Cabinet members were then given an opportunity to ask questions of the officers in respect of the report and the additional matters raised by the deputees. The Chairman then opened the matter up to debate by Cabinet members.

Cabinet members were given an assurance that work had already begun under the Local Plan process to undertake a thorough infrastructure review and the revised recommendations before Cabinet at this meeting (B above) reflected this added focus, and in response to the extensive representations received, included a commitment to include a comprehensive Infrastructure Delivery Statement in the Havant Borough Local Plan 2036.

Cabinet members also expressed significant concern about the Council’s vulnerability to speculative applications for development in the absence of a 5-year land supply for housing, following the increased allocations identified by the Objectively Assessed Housing Need exercise undertaken in June 2016 as in compliance with the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). 

In order to mitigate this, and in order to better defend applications for unsustainable development, the Council needed to have the new Local Plan in place as soon as possible.  This would put the Council as Local Planning Authority, and local communities, in a strong position to influence the location of new development. In the interim, the proposal to require developers to include an Infrastructure Delivery Statement in support of their applications would strengthen the Local Planning Authority’s ability to ensure the sustainability of any new development in the Borough.

In response to representations suggesting that alternative brownfield sites may be available for development, the officers stressed that the call for sites had been exhaustive and that the number of sites identified still fell short of the objectively assessed need, leaving the Local Planning Authority vulnerable to the imposition of development by the Planning Inspectorate.  Withdrawal of identified sites would weaken the Local Planning Authority’s position still further.

The Leader of the Council reported that he would be writing in strong terms to the Secretary of State, the Minister for Housing and the local MPs demanding an urgent change in the Government’s housing strategy and, in particular, a review of the five-year housing land supply rule, to offer some interim protection to Councils such as Havant who were robustly reviewing their local plans in order to comply with the requirements of the NPPF. 

This need to maintain pressure on the Government through the Secretary of State and the Borough’s MPs was strongly supported by Cabinet members.  This was also reflected in the revised recommendations to Cabinet, in that the Government be demanded to review its current housing strategy and recognise the urgent need for infrastructure delivery alongside new development.

RESOLVED that

(1)       the responses to the recent consultation be noted (Appendix 1to the Cabinet report);

(2)       the proposed changes to the Local Plan Housing Statement be approved (as set out in appendix 1 , and amended as set out in the paper headed “Additional Recommendations and Supplementary Information”);

(3)       in addition, a further change be agreed to require within Guiding Principle 4 and its supporting text that any site outside the identified Urban Area (Policy AL2) may only be considered in principle if accompanied by a comprehensive Infrastructure Delivery Statement, produced as agreed by, and in collaboration with, the Local Planning Authority;

(5)       the Havant Local Plan 2036 proceeds to Pre-Submission stage only after a further public consultation takes place on a full Havant Borough Local Plan 2036, which shall include a comprehensive Local Plan Infrastructure Delivery Statement referring to every site identified for housing development and included in the Local Plan Housing Statement;

(6)       the Council make representations through the Council Leader and local MPs to the Secretary of State and the Housing and Planning Minister to review the five year housing supply rule to enable local planning authorities that are making positive progress on local plan reviews a moratorium on the release of sites until the local plan is adopted;

(7)       the Council make representations through the Council Leader and local MP’s to the Secretary of State, the Housing and Planning Minister, Hampshire County Council, Solent LEP and other infrastructure bodies regarding the need to recognise the urgent need for infrastructure delivery alongside the building of new homes;

(8)       the Cabinet RECOMMENDS to Council the adoption of the Local Plan Housing Statement (Appendix 2) in accordance with the above, and amended as set out in the paper headed “Additional Recommendations and Supplementary Information” and that as the Infrastructure Delivery Statement is produced it becomes a material consideration alongside the Housing Statement;

(9)       the Borough Council’s five year housing land supply position as described in paragraphs 3.14 - 3.19 of the Cabinet report be noted;

(10)     the Head of Planning be authorised to publish a five year housing land supply summary and update it as necessary;

(11)     authority be delegated to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Economy, Planning, Development and Prosperity Havant, to publish an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) setting out a costed timetable for the production of the Infrastructure Delivery Statement and the Submission of the Havant Local Plan 2036; and

(12)     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 to the documents listed above. These shall be limited to grammatical, typographical, formatting and graphic design changes and shall not change the meaning of the material.