Agenda item

The Council is required to prepare and regularly review a Local Development Scheme (LDS) under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011). This paper presents an interim LDS which supersedes all previous versions and sets out a planning work programme for the Council from March 2025.

The Group considered a report presenting an interim Local Development Scheme (LDS) in line with the Council’s obligations under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011) and setting out a planning work programme for the Council from March 2025.

Officers provided an overview, including a summary of the Government’s response to a consultation on reforms to the planning system as set out in the addendum to the report, and in response to members’ questions it was noted that:

·       With reference to timescales for plan-making it was confirmed that the Council was technically in a five-year review period following adoption of the Local Plan in February; it was noted that plan-making would begin in late July 2026 to coincide with the introduction of the new housing Standard Method.

·       It was confirmed that Neighbourhood Plans would retain significant weight and importance in the planning system; officers were working with Parish Councils and Neighbourhood Forums to ensure that policies remained up to date. Neighbourhood Plans should be reviewed from production date to ensure that they were up to date against with national planning policy. It was suggested that reviews should take place within the five-year period and noted that officers would support any that came forward. In terms of financial support for reviews, a grant could be provided early in the process, while national schemes were also available.

·       For neighbourhoods with no Parish Council, it was confirmed engagement in plan-making could take place through the formal establishment, following consultation, of Neighbourhood Forums. Several members emphasised the need to ensure support was available in the development of

Neighbourhood Plans, and the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities confirmed that he would discuss with officers ways to codify support for Neighbourhood Plans through Parish Councils and Neighbourhood Forums and update members.

·       With reference to Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) which were not among those being prioritised through the LDS, it was noted that officers would provide an update with an indicative timetable for their implementation; pending further Government announcement on plan-making.

·       With reference to the Government’s indication that reference to ‘beautiful places’ would be replaced with ‘well-designed places’ in the new plan-making system, it was noted that this was a less subjective criterion which could be measured more effectively, with no loss of quality being key. This should not mitigate against innovative design; new developments would be looked at on a case-by-case basis and the Climate Change SPD would set out more detail on encouraging innovation in delivering sustainability.

·       In relation to capacity to deliver within the proposed timescale, it was noted that a decision had been taken to move forward with the SPDs and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), with the timetable staggered to make best use of resources.

·       The Government was seeking to bring the shorten the timeframe for local plan examination to six months, with needs assessments being brought forward to before the examination part of the process; mini examinations would form part of the gateway process and consider any conflicts with needs assessment evidence.

·       The Mayoral Combined Authority had a duty through the National Planning Policy Framework to produce a spatial development strategy covering York and North Yorkshire.  There was a statutory duty to cooperate, and officers were in conversation with North Yorkshire Council and the Combined Authority around strategic conformity. Changes to consultation methods with statutory bodies were also anticipated.

·       It was emphasised that this was an interim LDS, and further iterations would be brought to future meetings of the Group.

Resolved: 

                i.                    To recommend that Executive approve the interim Local Development Scheme (Annex B).

              ii.                    To request that the Executive Member and officers consider ways to codify support for the production of local and neighbourhood Plans.

Reason:     To ensure that the Council Complies with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011).