Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Director of City Development presenting a revised and accelerated approach to refreshing York’s Local Plan.

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

i)              Approves and publishes the Plan-Making Activity Schedule, inclusive of the Local Plan Timetable (Annex A of the report);

ii)             Approves formal notification of plan-making by June 2026 with delegated authority to the Director of City Development to issue the notification;

iii)           Approves the Statement of Community Involvement (Annex C of the report);

Reason: To enable the Council to benefit from government funding for local planning authorities that commit to start their local plans by 30 June 2026 and complete Gateway 1 by 31 October 2026 in accordance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2026 and legislative framework.

iv)           Delegates authority to the Director of City Development, in consultation with the Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities:

a)   To approve and update, when necessary, a Local Plan Consultation and Engagement Strategy;

b)   To approve updates to the Local Plan timetable, when necessary;

c)    To approve and publish the statutory ‘scoping stage’ consultation;

d)   To approve, publish and submit the required documents and statements for statutory Gateways 1, 2 and 3;

e)   To approve all evidence documents, reports and supporting data and analysis for publication;

f)     To formally submit the proposed City of York Local Plan for Independent Examination once Gateway 3 is successfully completed.

Reason: To ensure the efficient delivery of the local plan

programme and timely decision-making during the 30 months

preparation period and its submission following completion of the

formal stages of preparation.

v)             Authorises Officers to prepare a work programme for discussing Local Plan preparation at Planning Policy Advisory Group.

vi)           Instructs Officers to report to Executive for approval on the proposed Local Plan content and evidence for statutory consultations during the 30-month preparation period.

Reason: To ensure detailed political oversight and consideration

at key stages of the local plan programme.

vii)         Delegates approval of consultation strategies for non-statutory guidance to the Director of City Development.

Reason: To continue effective implementation of the adopted

Local Plan (2025)

The Director of City Development submitted a report which presented a revised and accelerated approach to refreshing York’s Local Plan.

The following annexes were attached to the report:

-       Annex A: Plan-making Activity Schedule

-       Annex B: Overview of Legislative changes

-       Annex C: Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)

-       Annex D: Statement of Community Involvement Consultation Statement.

-       Annex E: Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA).

-        

The following officers were in attendance for this item:

-        Garry Taylor, Director of City Development

-        Alison Cooke, Head of Strategic Planning Policy.

The Executive Member highlighted the important development of the Local Plan. That it was a substantial piece of work which identified spatial growth and avoided speculative development. The review also ensured compliance with any changes in legislation and planning policy.

Resolved (unanimously):

That Executive

i)              Approves and publishes the Plan-Making Activity Schedule, inclusive of the Local Plan Timetable (Annex A of the report);

ii)             Approves formal notification of plan-making by June 2026 with delegated authority to the Director of City Development to issue the notification;

iii)           Approves the Statement of Community Involvement (Annex C of the report);

Reason: To enable the Council to benefit from government funding for local planning authorities that commit to start their local plans by 30 June 2026 and complete Gateway 1 by 31 October 2026 in accordance with the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2026 and legislative framework.

iv)           Delegates authority to the Director of City Development, in consultation with the Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities:

a)   To approve and update, when necessary, a Local Plan Consultation and Engagement Strategy;

b)   To approve updates to the Local Plan timetable, when necessary;

c)    To approve and publish the statutory ‘scoping stage’ consultation;

d)   To approve, publish and submit the required documents and statements for statutory Gateways 1, 2 and 3;

e)   To approve all evidence documents, reports and supporting data and analysis for publication;

f)     To formally submit the proposed City of York Local Plan for Independent Examination once Gateway 3 is successfully completed.

Reason: To ensure the efficient delivery of the local plan

programme and timely decision-making during the 30 months

preparation period and its submission following completion of the

formal stages of preparation.

v)             Authorises Officers to prepare a work programme for discussing Local Plan preparation at Planning Policy Advisory Group.

vi)           Instructs Officers to report to Executive for approval on the proposed Local Plan content and evidence for statutory consultations during the 30-month preparation period.

Reason: To ensure detailed political oversight and consideration

at key stages of the local plan programme.

vii)         Delegates approval of consultation strategies for non-statutory guidance to the Director of City Development.

Reason: To continue effective implementation of the adopted

Local Plan (2025)