Agenda item

To receive and consider the attached report of the Chief Planning Officer which sets out details of the strategic housing (and employment) issues within the ONE HMCA, as a basis to determine a way forward in the preparation of the SAP Publication Plan.

(Report attached)

  Prior to consideration of this matter, Councillor Charlwood left the meeting

  With reference to discussions by the Development Plan Panel on 13^th January 2015 and Executive Board on 11^th February 2015 on the SAP, Members considered a report of the Chief Planning Officer which reported back on the strategic housing and employment issues within the Outer North East (ONE) HMCA, as a basis to determine a way forward in the preparation of the SAP Publication Plan

  Officers presented the report and reminded Members that the housing target for ONE HMCA was 5000 units and that at the Issues and Options consultation, two particular sites were identified – Thorp Arch (site 1055 A/1055B; EMP00326) and Headley Hall ( site 3391)

  Members were informed there was a live planning application for a mixed use development and the creation of a new settlement at Thorp Arch which had last been presented to City Plans Panel in December 2013, although indications had been made that the applicant remained keen to progress the application and was working to resolve several issues relating to the proposals.  In terms of the number of residential units proposed for the Thorp Arch site, Officers were of the view this would have a significant impact on the capacity of the rural road network

  Reference was made to a recent letter from the applicant which raised concerns about how the Thorp Arch site was being presented and the options

  The Headley Hall site was located in the Green Belt; was an 8ha site and was in a strategic location being close to the A1(M) and A64

  The housing and employment target figures within the submitted report were outlined.  Headley Hall had the capacity to deliver 3000 houses within the plan period and could offer critical mass to enable a settlement to be developed from the start, whereas it might be more difficult to integrate the Thorp Arch site and there were a number of issues to be resolved, including highways and land contamination

  Members discussed the report, with the key areas of discussion relating to:

·  the number of sites in the ONE HMCA which had been rejected

·  other options available.  Members were informed that whilst other options did exist, these related to smaller sites and would involve the release of PAS sites, with this not being as sustainable or as sequentially preferable as the proposals being put forward

·  the length of time Officers had been discussing development proposals at Thorp Arch

·  the need for some certainty for local residents and Ward Members

·  the need for an update on the discussions with Selby Council.  Officers advised that Selby District Council had an adopted Core Strategy and that although they were focusing development within settlements had indicated they would consider other sites, although the SAP process needed to be undertaken which would include public consultation

·  that Ward Members considered the options put forward in the report as the best way of taking the issue forward

RESOLVED -  To note the comments now made; the approach set

out in the submitted report and to recommend to Executive Board the strategic housing (and employment) allocations for Outer North East for inclusion within the SAP Publication Draft Plan