Agenda item

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Place.

Agreed:

RESOLVED that the revised Local Development Scheme (Appendix A of the report) be approved as the basis for preparing local planning policy.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on the revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) which provided a scope and timetable for preparing Council planning policy documents, including the Exeter Plan, and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs). Although the existing Local Development Scheme was approved in July 2023, work on the Exeter Plan and other planning policy documents had progressed and it was a statutory requirement to ensure the Local Development Scheme was up to date.

Particular reference was made to:-

·         the latest update included a slightly amended timetable for the Exeter Plan and new work on an SPD for a new state-of-the-art health campus at the University of St Luke's site;

·         significant progress had been made on bringing forward the Exeter Plan including the full draft that was subject to public consultation, earlier this year;

·         several significant projects had been completed since the last LDS, which included a new SPD for Water Lane, a new CIL charging scheme, and a revised Householder Extensions and Alterations SPD;

·         an extension of the area of the city centre covered by the Article 4 Direction, relating to Houses in Multiple occupation (HMOs);

·         the current published Exeter Plan timetable included the publication of a draft version (Regulation 19) for consultation, in October 2024;

·         it was now proposed to publish the draft Publication version for consultation in December 2024 - January 2025, with a final submission to the Planning Inspectorate scheduled for June 2025, with an anticipated adoption date for November 2026; and

·         a delay was required to prepare further evidence in response to an earlier consultation at the beginning of the year. The Council remained committed to bringing forward a new local plan quickly and providing sufficient quality and quantity of homes including affordable homes.

Councillor’s Mitchell and Moore as opposition group leaders spoke on the item and raised points and questions, which were responded to by the Strategic Director for Place, as detailed further in this minute.

During the discussion, Executive Members raised the following points and questions:-

·         the report and significant work and achievements of the team was commended;

·         clarification was sought that Exeter currently could demonstrate a 5-year land supply ;

·         clarification that the impact of the increased housing targets would not take effect until after the Exeter Plan was adopted;

·         although there were other supplementary planning policies, it was important for the team to focus on the new timeline to prevent starting the process over;

·         the housing reforms were welcomed and the Council wanted to deliver the right number and quality of homes in the right places to meet resident’s needs;

·         the Council would be responding to the consultation on the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), but there would be a considerable uplift in the realistic delivery of housing;

·         it was important that the Exeter Plan was robust to ensure it passed examination, and required strong evidence to support it; and

·         reassurance was sought that the current Local  Plan still carried weight for planning decisions and despite a delay, emerging policies in the Exeter Plan also carried  weight.

The Leader highlighted Exeter’s ambitions for delivering homes and commended the work and engagement undertaken.

In response to questions and points raised by Members and opposition group leaders, the Strategic Director for Place advised that:-

·         the four-year land supply had been clarified by Government guidance, in which the Council was now working to a five-year land supply;

·         the Council had previously adopted a local plan which carried full weight but required updating;

·         completing the Local Plan quickly was important and once adopted, planning for the uplift in housing numbers could commence;

·         the current draft consultation had minimal weight, but the publication version, once submitted, would carry greater weight;

·         the Local Development Scheme (LDS) was a high-level programme and there would have different stages for Member and public involvement in plan making. Exeter maintained an excellent consultation and engagement record in its planning process;

·         all the issues being addressed were evidence focussed, which created extra work in addressing all the sustainability issues;

·         the Council was obtaining social, environmental, climate and economic sustainability evidence as part of the legal requirements of the plan;

·         the Council understood where co-living developments were coming forward and had been taken into account through the Exeter Plan;

·         waste and minerals were outlined in the strategic assessment and the Council’s response also strengthened the legality of the plan when it goes to examination;

·         the Exeter University Master plan had been adopted and but did not have SPD status. Elements of it were included in the core strategy, but it required an update by the University; and

·         a master plan for St. Luke's Campus would be different to the main campus documents and therefore would be considered differently.

The Leader moved the recommendations, which was seconded by Councillor Wright, voted upon, and CARRIED unanimously.

RESOLVED that the revised Local Development Scheme (Appendix A of the report) be approved as the basis for preparing local planning policy.