Agenda item

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer setting out consultation material on what should be included in an update to the Leeds Local Plan. This is the second Local Plan Update and will be known as Leeds Local Plan 2040; updating planning policies that require consideration but are not already a part of Local Plan Update 1.

The report of the Chief Planning Officer informed the Development Plan Panel of consultation material that will be included in an update to the Leeds Local Plan. This is the second Local Plan Update and will be known as LLP2040; updating planning policies that require consideration but are not already a part of LPU1. (Your Neighbourhood, Your City, Your Planet).

A Principal Planner from Policy and Plans outlined that LLP2040 is the name for Local Plan Update 2. Local Authorities are required to assess whether planning policies are in need of updating at least once every five years, a full Local Plan Policy review was published in 2020 and updated in January 2023. LPU1 is to update policies relating to climate change, LLP2040 will look at other topics and needs of planning policy from 2022 to 2040.

The objectives of the LLP2040 were noted as;

o  To reflect the character, needs and requirements of the diverse places within the District.

o  Evidence shall be based on the most up-to-date data for a wide range of needs.

o  To enable the right amount of development, of the right type and quality, to come forward in the right places.

o  To streamline and simplify the Local Plan for Leeds, making it easier to use and understand.

o  To be consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework and National Planning Practice Guidance.

The consultation was noted to be in its earliest stage and the timetable for the process will be;

o  Initial research on scope and main issues.

o  Consult on the proposed scope to create a headline list of topics.

o  Develop evidence base and policy options, along with the call for sites work.

o  Consult on topics, giving weight to evidence and potential options.

o  Consult on the publication draft.

o  Submission to the Secretary of State.

o  Examination in public.

o  Adoption of the plan.

The formal regulation 18 consultation period will be from the 10^th of February to the 24^th of March 2023, initiating the conversation with the public and relevant stakeholders and engaging with communities after the six weeks. The seven broad topic areas proposed as the overview of the potential scope are spatial strategy, housing, economic development, the role of City and local centres, minerals and waste, transport and connectivity and other policy areas. The consultation material will focus on two key documents, the scoping consultation document and sustainability appraisal scoping report. A summary document, to allow the information to be accessible and inclusive with less planning jargon will be provided, with visually engaging infographics also available. A website has been developed to support the consultation with subpages for each topic and videos explaining proposals; a response survey has been developed with letters and emails also being accepted responses. Initial views or additional suggestions for the topic areas are sought, with the survey being flexible with options for the amount questions to answer. A ‘call for sites’ online tool will be utilised to enable people to make suggestions of sites that could be considered for land allocation in the event that a need for additional land is evidenced. The overall consultation strategy is to raise awareness of the LLP 2040, and will be undertaken in line with the requirements of the SCI. It will seek views on the scope of LLP 2040 and ask how Leeds should look by 2040, with events proposed at high footfall areas, press releases, social media advertisements and targeted consultation for specific groups, such as younger people.

Members discussed the following key matters:

·  It was confirmed that provision of phone numbers, ‘pop in’ events, summary documents and hard copies kept at Merrion House were in place to alleviate issues regarding accessibility.

·  In response to a request from Members, it was agreed that summary versions of LLP2040 should be available in community hubs and libraries to further improve consultation accessibility.

·  Consultation responses regarding housing need concerns in a given area will be given full consideration, however the primary driver for evidence-based needs assessment will be identified through the Social Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) which will include over 25,000 household surveys.

·  Although green space strategy and provision is not currently within the proposed scope of LLP2040, representations could propose that it should be. It was also noted that all new housing applications will require green space provision. 

·  The SHMA will assess population growth against housing growth, working with the Housing and Adults Social Care departments, taking Census data into account as it becomes available, amassing locally relevant information.

·  A wider scope to incorporate the views of individual charities and stakeholders will provide detailed perspectives; focus groups were proposed to be held. 

·  Elected Ward Members can provide input as to appropriate locations to conduct face to face public consultation.

·  It was confirmed to Panel Members that town and parish councils and neighbourhood plan groups and forums will be formally engaged with which may extend beyond the formal six-week consultation period.

·  Once Ward specific issues have been identified, the emergence of bespoke conversations will allow greater depth and consideration of settlement hierarchy, where definitions and terms will be explained as part of the next consultation stage.

·  The Local Housing Needs assessment figures had been derived from government set methodology. The decision whether the government’s 35% Urban Uplift will be applied in Leeds relies on the consultation results in order to be specific to the city and its large rural areas.

·  Accessible language will increase overall engagement with the consultation.

·  Firmer policies to protect pedestrians, alongside the Vision Zero 2040, should be included within LPP2040.

·  Current housing mix and sustainability policies are not always met, the new proposed policies should enable confidence in their robustness and hold a better defence against viability issues.

·  Expanding the consultation methods for the inclusion of younger people needs to be creative, suggestions to join up work with Children’s Services and Community Committees were proposed. It was confirmed that contact with schools will be a focus of engagement.

·  Council infrastructure will be utilised to provide, flexible, time and budget efficient consultation. Members discussed their role and responsibility for engagement at community focused events.

RESOLVED –

a)  To endorse and recommend to Executive Board the proposed initial scope of the Leeds Local Plan 2040 as follows:

·  Update by deleting, creating or amending policies within the Local Plan for Leeds (namely the Adopted Leeds Core Strategy (amended 2019), the Natural Resources and Waste Local Plan (2013), Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan (2017), Site Allocations Plan (2019) and Unitary Development Plan (2006)) that relate to the spatial strategy, housing, economic development, the role of centres, minerals and waste, transport and accessibility and ‘other’ topics areas (including heritage, landscape, rural development, community facilities, contaminated land and hazardous substances, and open land and green corridors in urban areas)

b)  To recommend to Executive Board that the commencement of consultation on this scope for a period of six weeks using supporting topic papers (appendix 1) and other supporting consultation material be approved.

c)  To recommend to Executive Board that the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (appendix 2) be published for comment as part of the consultation.

d)  To note that a ‘Call for Sites’ will be undertaken alongside the consultation.