Agenda item

Site Allocations Plan and Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan - Emerging Issues and Next Steps

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer which provides an initial overview of the emerging issues and next steps arising from the consultation on the Publication draft Site Allocations Plan (SAP) and Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan (AVLAAP)

 

(Report attached)

 

Minutes:

The Chief Planning Officer submitted an initial overview of the emerging issues and next steps arising from the consultation on the Publication draft Site Allocations Plan (SAP) and Aire Valley Leeds Area Action Plan (AVLAAP). 

 

This report accompanied the earlier Report of Consultation on the Plans on the agenda (Minute 22 refers)

 

The Head of Forward Planning & Implementation and the Deputy Chief Planning Officer presented the report, highlighting the following issues in respect of the Site Allocation Plan (SAP):

·  The task of assembling the 9,787 consultation responses in a consistent format so that the comments can be interrogated was about 25% complete

·  The nature and relevance of the comments received was an issue

·  The 'soundness of the Plan' was a key issue which would be presented to the Panel in due course

·  A number of parties wished to view all the responses. A redacted version would be available once the responses had been assembled. It was advised that this task would take some time to complete and that the first priority was to ensure that all of the submissions were entered into the database

·  Since consultation had commenced, some site capacities had changed (such as the withdrawal of the Headley Hall site in the Outer North East and proposed Burberry development in the Inner City HMCAs). A review of the figures would therefore be undertaken to review the overall position.

·  New sites identified through the consultation would need to be assessed, together with potential increases in site capacities.

 

In respect of the Aire Valley Area Action Plan (AVAAP):

·  The current position in respect of the developers view of the deliverability of the housing allocation at the Skelton Gate site

·  The requests received to increase housing capacity on two sites at Bridgewater Road and the former Tetley Brewery site and the suggestion that increasing the allocation on these two sites could potentially compensate for any reduction to the allocation at Skelton Gate

·  The current position in respect of the Haigh Park Road site

 

Additionally, Members views were sought on the future presentation of the detailed information to the Panel - a template was included at Appendix 1 of the report for comment and consideration

 

Finally, the projected timetable for progression of the SAP and AVAAP was highlighted, which included the requirement for Scrutiny and Executive Board involvement. Members’ views were sought on whether those aspects of the Plans which attracted no comment could be progressed quickly, which would allow the Panel more time to concentrate on the elements which had attracted representation.

 

The Panel also noted the suggestion that, in order to expedite matters, the AVAAP process could be dealt with separately to the SAP, with the assurance that any matters which had been flagged for further consideration would be dealt with appropriately.

 

Members recognised the volume of work to be undertaken and made the following comments:

·  The need for Panel Members and ward Councillors to receive early notification of new and emerging sites in order to support their work with local residents

·  Noted the comments received by house builders

·  The current status of the Outer North East HMCA, which one Member identified as a possibly requiring re-consultation on the available options given the withdrawal of the Headley Hall site by the owner. An indicative timetable for that work was requested

·  Timetable for the availability of information and whether an indicative Inspection timetable could be provided by the Planning inspectorate.

·  Whether all Councillors would have access to all the documentation or purely related to their ward and whether the information would be open to the public

·  A request that emerging new sites should be presented to DPP as soon as possible for early consideration in order that sites could be added or disregarded to the Plan process

·  The weight to be afforded the emerging SAP and AVAAP during the planning application process. In response, the Legal Adviser clarified (by reference to the NPPF) that the further advanced through the adoption process, the more weight could be attributed to the documents when considering planning applications

·  Noted the concern expressed by one Member over the suggestion that, where reductions to the housing allocation were suggested for one HMCA, another HMCA area allocation could be increased to make up that loss, particularly in respect of the city centre and Inner North East HMCAs. Additionally, the comment that this approach was very different to the 2014 SHLAA approach was noted.

 

Officers provided the following responses:

·  It was anticipated that the task of inputting the responses would be completed during February 2016. Suggested new sites were continually emerging as information was assessed and inputted from the responses. Once that was complete a list could be provided and considered in the context of the HMCAs

·  The Outer North East HMCA would be treated as a special case due to the change to the Plan. Initial discussions would be held with local Ward Councillors, after which a report would be presented to DPP. Any emerging proposals would be "pre-submission changes", at which point they would be open to public consultation

·  Assurance was given that matters would be expedited where appropriate

·  Officers continued to liaise with the Planning Inspectorate on progress and the timetable for submission; however the date of adoption was dependant on the approach adopted by the Planning Inspector. Officers did however emphasise the importance of keeping the process on track

 

RESOLVED -

a)  To note the initial summary of the preliminary issues and key steps arising out of the SAP and AVLAAP Publication consultation,

b)  To support the suggested approach to progress the AVLAAP in advance of the SAP

c)  To note the timescales for the SAP and the suggested pro-forma for presentation of conclusions of the analysis of the representations at further DPP meetings as outlined.

 

Supporting documents: