Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development setting out proposals for a selective review of the Core Strategy and seeking consideration of the scope, commencement and timetable for that review. The report emphasises that the areas which are considered to fall within the scope of the proposed review relate to a targeted number of areas in the Plan - these are areas where significant changes to the evidence base or specific issues arising from the application of policies have prompted further consideration, leading to the potential for revisions in a number of select areas.

Further to minute 33 (iii) of the meeting held 19^th May 2015, the Director of City Development submitted a report seeking consideration and support for the Council to consider the scope, commencement and timetable for a selective review of the Core Strategy. The report included a copy of Edge Analytics “Leeds Demographic Review September 2016” which provided an initial assessment of the new sub-national household projections released by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in June 2016 and information from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The Group Manager (Policy & Plans) emphasised that the areas considered to fall within the scope of the proposed review related to a targeted number of areas in the Plan - where significant changes to the evidence base or specific issues arising from the application of policies had prompted further consideration. DPP in May 2015 had recommended that a selective review be undertaken once the Core Strategy was adopted and subject to any changes suggested by central government. With this in mind, the report proposed a review – limited to the areas of housing requirements and to combine housing standards (rather than as a separate Development Plan Document); and having regard to the contents of the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

This proposed selective approach was consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework Section 153 which allowed for Local Plans to “be reviewed in whole or in part to respond flexibly to changing circumstances”.

A review would be obliged to undertake a viability assessment of the Core Strategy as a whole; therefore it was appropriate to combine the two threads – housing number and housing standards – which would make the viability assessment more effective.

(Councillor J Procter joined the meeting at this point)

The adopted Core Strategy included a 70,000 net housing requirement – this reflected the outcome of the Inspector’s consideration which had balanced local views and concluded 70,000 as an appropriate Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) figure (local groups felt 50,000 appropriate, housing developers suggested 90,000). Following the adoption of the Core Strategy subsequent Government demographic projections pointed to a lower figure. Officers reiterated however, that in deriving the housing requirement of a Core Strategy Review, consistent with national planning guidance, population projections are the starting point in identifying Objectively Assessed Needs (OAN) for housing. This analysis also needs to take into account economic and social factors/evidence. The proposed review would seek to find a balance between the local drivers of economy and population.

A draft SHMA was in preparation and the process of LCC inter-departmental consultation had begun. A correction to paragraph 3.1.4 was reported to amend the 7^th bullet point to read “the number of newly arising households likely to be in need of affordable housing”.

Members’ attention was directed to Figure 2 within Appendix 1 of the report on the changing demographic evidence for Leeds, which showed the 2008 projection suggested Leeds’ 1m population by 2033 against the 2014 projection which suggested a figure of 857,000. A review now would assess whether the Core Strategy requirements continued to be based on up to date evidence and in line with Government Guidance.

Additionally, Members were directed to table 5 within Appendix 1 showing housing growth alternatives. Here, officers highlighted the latest demographic evidence for Leeds which suggested a lower housing growth outcome than the adopted Core Strategy - the more recent 2014 ONS/DCLG benchmark of 41,600 with a suggested demographic starting point of development of 2,600 homes per year (against the adopted Core Strategy figure of 70,000 and an average of delivery of 4,700 homes per year to the end of 2027/28).

In conclusion the Group Manager (Policy & Plans) referred to the proposed timetable for the review; and sought support to focus the review on the two key housing elements. As part of this it was emphasised that the submission of the Site Allocations Plan remains a priority for the City Council, to the agreed timetable, as a basis to meet housing land supply requirements. The Chief Planning Officer commented also that the commitment to the Core Strategy Review would not mean a concurrent review of the Site Allocations Plan and a removal of sites from the Plan at this stage. The outcomes of the Core Strategy Review process and supporting evidence would need to be considered in due course, including implications for the Plan-period. Panel agreed that the evidence for the Core Strategy Review should be available for the Site Allocations Plan Examination.

The Panel welcomed the report and the opportunity to review the housing elements and went onto make the following comments:

·  Housing Growth Alternatives – with reference to Table 5 of the Edge Analytics report, a comment was made that, at the time of the Core Strategy Examination, Members did not feel that they had been made aware of the range of housing growth alternative figures.

·  The full range should be discussed in order to properly balance the population projections; housing need considerations and economic and employment projections/aspirations

·  The need to consider alternative options including a “no change” approach

·  Concern that to progress with the 70,000 (net) figure could leave Leeds vulnerable and in the position of releasing land for housing development which may not be needed

(Councillor M Coulson withdrew from the meeting for a short while)

The Panel also made the following observations:

Evidence

·  Queried the reliability of GP registrations as a source for population figures, when the Electoral Roll or Children’s Services information on the number and location of children and their families in Leeds could be utilised

·  The role of Edge Analytics in this initial process; noting that no decision on the procurement of future SHMA work had been undertaken

·  Officers confirmed that Neighbourhood Plans and their evidence bases would be considered in the SHMA.

Concurrent with the Site Allocation Process

·  A view was expressed that Leeds should not now allocate up to the 66,000 figure but closely monitor the number of housing units actually required.

·  Would the review allow Leeds to present evidence to the Inspector to support the removal of allocated sites from the SAP in order for the Inspector to make an informed decision on housing allocations? The Chief Planning Officer reiterated views minuted above on the progression of SAP concurrently with a Core Strategy Review

·  The Site Allocations Plan (SAP) timetable to be referenced in future presentations to provide a timeframe comparison.

Consultation and Engagement

·  The need to provide an early indication to Councillors of their role; likely involvement and commitment in order to achieve the proposed timetable and retain momentum

·  Consideration of how the public will be kept informed and involved

·  The involvement of neighbourhood groups and forums; using their evidence as a resource, and the role of the Neighbourhood Officer

·  The creation of a SHMA working group - similar to the SHLAA Partnership Group which included Councillors and appropriate local/neighbourhood planning representatives in its membership alongside representatives from the development industry.

(Councillor R Lewis joined the meeting at this point)

Scope of the Review

·  Highlighted the need to retain focus on quality, space and housing standards throughout this process

·  Viability and affordability for residents to remain key focus

·  Public space and green space – noted comments that there must not be a diminution of green space, although acknowledged the balance between provision of private green space for individual homes and provision of public green or public spaces within the whole development site

Noting the level of public interest in housing allocations, evidenced by the 3700 responses to the ONE HMCA consultation process, the Panel discussed revising the proposed submission timetable in order to maintain public interest and achieve adoption of revised housing allocation figures by summer 2018. Officers reported the intention to present a draft review document to the December Panel meeting. A suggestion to hold informal workshops throughout the process with Members to assess the evidence and assumptions was noted.

RESOLVED – That, having considered the contents of the report and the comments made during discussions, the Panel agreed to recommend to Executive Board to commence a Selective Review of the Core Strategy and agreed the following:

a)  the targeted scope of the Review

b)  the timetable to progress the Review as;

i. Evidence gathering, scoping and early consultation: Early 2017

ii. Drafting the Plan for Publication: Spring 2017

iii. Formal consultation (6 weeks): Summer 2017

iv. Consideration of responses and submission with any necessary modifications: January 2018

vi. Examination: Spring 2018

vii. Adoption: Summer 2018

c)  To note that future reports will include the Site Allocations Plan timetable for reference