Issue details

Purpose of Report: This report is to consider the outcomes of the Local Plan Examination and final report by our independently appointed Inspectors. Subject to the Inspectors conclusions, this report will recommend for the Local Plan to be adopted inclusive of any modifications, as advised, to allow the plan to be ‘sound’.

As a planning authority, City of York Council has a statutory duty under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 to produce a Local Plan setting out the spatial development strategy for the city. The preparation of a new Local Plan commenced in 2012 following a decision to prepared under the new National Planning Policy Framework. York’s draft Local Plan and supporting evidence base was submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination on 25 May 2018 following an extensive drafting and consultation process. Subsequently, Independent Inspectors appointed from the Planning Inspectorate have undertaken a comprehensive examination, including 5 stages of public hearing sessions between 2019 – 2024. As part of this process, modifications to the draft Local Plan have been proposed, agreed with the Inspectors and consulted on in citywide consultations. The Inspectors have considered all of the information submitted during the examination process and will reach their conclusion as to whether the plan is ‘sound’ and therefore able to be adopted in their final report.

Relevant to this report is the recommendation made at Executive on 26 January 2023:

(iv) in the event that there are no material changes following the conclusion of the consultation exercise on the Proposed Main Modifications and the associated evidence base and following receipt of the Inspectors’ report, the Local Plan (as modified in accordance with the Proposed Main Modifications and the associated evidence base) and the Inspectors’ report be submitted to Full Council by the Leader, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Place, to recommend adoption.

Reason: To support progress towards adoption of the Local Plan, which will ensure the Council meets its statutory and national planning policy requirements.

The adoption of the Local Plan is a wholly exceptional event, and for that reason this entry has been prepared; there is no legal or constitutional requirement to include this entry on the Forward Plan, and further entries in relation to Council matters will not be made.

Council will be asked to:

Subject to the conclusions of the Inspectors report, the recommendation to Council will be to:

• Accept the conclusions set out in the Inspectors Report, including where necessary proposed modifications to the submitted draft Local Plan (2018).

Reason: To allow a ‘sound’ Local Plan to be adopted as the spatial development plan for York.

This is a Council decision, which is included in the Forward Plan on an exceptional basis due to the level of public interest in the item.