Issue - meetings

The Cambridge Local Plan Review – Towards 2031 Appendix documents are too large to attach to the agenda in hard copy format. All documents are published on the Council’s website:

 

(i)      Main report and Appendices A, B & D are attached to the agenda document.

 

(ii)            Appendices C, E, F, G & H are accessible via the following hyperlink (please copy all lines as the address is split over 3):

 

http://www.cambridge.gov.uk/democracy/ecSDDisplay.aspx?NAME=SD1081&ID=1081&RPID=34545813&sch=doc&cat=13026&path=13020%2c13021%2c13026

The Committee received a representation from Ms Blair.

 

The representation covered the following issues:

 

(i)                Requested that the City, County and South Cambridgeshire Councils worked together to produce a shared strategic vision for planning in the greater Cambridge area. Its not helpful for residents to look at separate documents. Also, the Orchard Park urban extension is not referred to in the document and it should be.

(ii)              The Local Plan Issues and Options report contains significant implications that are implicit, not explicit. Resident consultation was requested on high profile developments, such as the potential safeguarding of land for the guided busway.

(iii)            With regards to the study in relation to public houses, the planning status of the ‘Penny Ferry’ and the ‘Dog and Pheasant’ pubs is not yet clear.

 

The Committee received a representation from Councillor Hipkin.

 

The representation covered the following issues:

 

(i)                There appeared to be some assumptions embedded in the Issues & Options report that need to be examined. For example, at paragraph 3.2 of the spatial strategy, there is the assumption that the Green Belt is causing commuting, and that more workers should live in the City to make it sustainable. Councillor Hipkin queried if commuting could be viewed as acceptable in principle, and any difficulties viewed as transport issues due to inadequate transport infrastructure.

(ii)              Paragraph 3.34 assumes that Cambridge house prices are too high due to a lack of supply. However, where is the evidence that building more will lower prices?

(iii)            Queried wording in Options 6, 7 and 8 of the Report.  The Local Plan itself isn’t ‘providing jobs’, it is enabling planning for jobs.

(iv)            Option 155, which deals with the location of new hotels, refers to Shire Hall and Mill Lane, but not the Guildhall, which was also identified in the draft Hotel Futures Report.

 

Matter for Decision:  

The current Local Plan was adopted in July 2006. It sets out a vision, policies and proposal for future development and land use in Cambridge to 2016 and beyond.

 

The current Local Plan is a robust document, but there is a need to review and update policies.

 

The preparation of a Local Plan involves a number of stages, including public consultation. This is to ensure that it is robust and comprehensive.

 

The Issues and Options stage is about considering the types of issues that the city may face over the next two decades, and thinking about the issues and policy options that would need to be put in place to address those challenges. The issues and options document presents these issues and options in a thematic way to start the process of developing new policies.

 

Consultation on the Issues and Options Report is scheduled for six weeks between 15 June and 27 July 2012.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning and Sustainable Transport:

(i)                Agreed the Issues and Options Report (Appendix A of the Officer’s report) including the summary document (Appendix B of the Officer’s report), and interim Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix C of the Officer’s report) for consultation.

(ii)              Agreed the consultation arrangements set out in paragraphs 3.33 to 3.38 and the consultee list (subject to minor additions) (Appendix D of the Officer’s report).

(iii)            Endorsed the supporting evidence base relating to the 2012 Appraisal of the Inner Green Belt (Appendix E of the Officer’s report), Housing and Employment Provision in Cambridge – Technical Background Paper (Appendix F of the Officer’s report) Cambridge Sub-Regional Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment 2011 (Appendix G of the Officer’s report) and Gypsy & Traveller Provision in Cambridge – Site Assessment Process 2012 (Appendix H of the Officer’s report).

(iv)            Agreed that any minor amendments and editing changes that need to be made prior to publication should be agreed by the Executive Councillor in consultation with the Chair and Spokes. 

 

Reason for the Decision:

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations:

The Committee received a report from the Planning Policy Manager regarding the report on Local Plan Issues and Options.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

 

(i)                The Local Plan Issues & Options report should reflect Greater Cambridge needs. The City, County and South Cambridgeshire Councils must work together to join up policy development and implementation. Specifically concerning:

·       General employment growth.

·       Affordable housing.

·       Quality public transport.

(ii)              At the moment there is concern that there isn’t an overall strategic vision on housing, transport and jobs.  When will this linkage occur?  There is concern about the later phases of plan making without a real joined up body.

(iii)            There is a tension between profitability and deliverability of sites for developers. Public consultation could identify what members of the public think are examples of quality building designs.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Planning Services and Planning Policy Manager confirmed the following:

 

(i)                The final version Hotels Future report would be presented to members in June for endorsement.

(ii)              The Issues and Options report includes 4 options relating to housing provision and includes options relating to the physical capacity of land within the city boundary. There isn’t any government guidance in relation to setting the levels of housing provision but a range of information has been looked at in order to feed into the options. 

(iii)            The City Council has been working closely with both South Cambridgeshire District Council and the County Council and will continue to do so as the Plans’ are prepared. The Council is very mindful of the need to prepare a new plan and could not slow down its plan making to entirely match those of SCDC The aim is to minimise any policy gap where planning decisions may be made in relation to the NPPF as opposed to the Local Plan. The City is developing the approach to the development strategy for the Cambridge area with SCDC and the County Council. It is a step by step iterative process and there will be joint discussions as preparation of the plan continues.

(iv)            A joint decision body would not be practicable as the City’s planning strategy would be set by other areas. The Executive Councillor was not comfortable with this proposal. However, a joint governance board between SCDC the City Council and County Council has been set up and has already met and fed into the Issues and Options stage. This group will continue to provide a steer as work progresses.

(v)              Planning policies would not deliver jobs, but could identify and allocate land for others to take up and use for job creation. Officers would look at ways to encourage general employment without limiting options for consultation.

(vi)            Transport modelling will be undertaken as preparation of the plan continues.

(vii)          Officers undertook to clarify affordable housing trigger and general figures in paragraph 3.8 on P769 of the Officer’s report for Councillors Blencowe and Ward.

(viii)        Officers would bring details concerning parking standards back to DPSSC later in the year.

 

The Committee reviewed the Issues & Options report on a chapter by chapter basis. The Committee unanimously agreed to amend specific details in the Chapters set out below. Officers undertook to amend the final document.

 

·     Introduction

o       Add a question about how we define ‘sustainable development’ and what should be included in this.

·     Chapter 2 – Vision

o       Include a reference supporting the provision of jobs for all.

o       Make reference to affordable housing.

o       ‘Require’ that there is design excellence (5^th bullet).

·     Chapter 3 – Spatial Strategy

o       Add data on housing commitments in the South Cambridgeshire District Council (SCDC) urban extensions – including Orchard Park, NW Cambridge, NIAB 2, Southern Fringe.

o       Paragraphs 3.38 and 3.39 – clarify where the housing numbers are from ie the 19,000 homes figure is from the SHMA

o       Explain why there are housing numbers provided for the City Council area, but none provided for the SCDC part of the broad locations.

·     Chapter 4 – Spatial Strategic Options

o        City Centre – would like to see more about retail diversity and the different functional zones of the City Centre.

o       Paragraph 4.18 – add Riverside and Stourbridge Common Conservation Area.

o       Paragraph 4.23 - look at the role of planning policy in relation to the control of moorings.

o       Paragraph 4.59 – add reference to the possibility of housing in Northern Fringe East if the waste water treatment works were to downsize.

o       Paragraph 4.61 – Relook at the wording with regards to safeguarding land alongside the railway between Cambridge Station and the proposed station at Chesterton Sidings for a future extension to the guided busway.  This needs specific consultation.  Officers to clarify the position with the County Council.

o       Cambridge East – look at the wording of this section – use of terms ‘would’ and ‘could’.

·     Chapter 5 – Opportunity Areas

o       Officers to clarify if Mill Road would be included as an ‘opportunity’ area. Mill Road isn’t really an opportunity area for new development, as it is more about protecting what is already there.  However, it is an opportunity for a new planning policy.  Look at wording.

·     Chapter 6 – Sustainable development, climate change, water & flooding

o       Water efficiency will require looking at existing properties as well as new properties.  A possible water offsetting fund is mentioned.  This could also be considered as part of the consequential improvements option (option 50) in Chapter 6.

·     Chapter 7 – Delivering High Quality Places

o       Add a question after Option 63, asking whether current design policies have been successful.

·     Chapter 8 – Protecting and Enhancing the Historic and Natural Environment

o       No comments.

·     Chapter 9 – Delivering High Quality Housing

o       Re-look at wording of Option 93 with regards to the deliverability of affordable housing on schemes with less than 15 dwellings.

o       Consider adding reference about the clustering of affordable housing.

·     Chapter 10 – Building a Strong & Competitive Economy

o       More clarity on employment being in sustainable locations.

o       Officers to clarify the contribution of tourism towards the local economy.

o       Retail diversity – need a specific opportunity to comment on this in relation to the City Centre.  This could be here or earlier in Chapter 4, which relates to the City Centre.

·     Chapter 11

o       Community Stadium (option 179) – the current wording implies Council support for the proposals.  Re-order the questions and go back to general principles by starting with Question 11.50 - should the Abbey Stadium be retained as a stadium?  Wording should be more neutral and less detailed about Grosvenor’s proposals.  Potentially refer to a new sub-regional stadium as opposed to a community stadium.  Amendments to text to be agreed with Chair, Spokes and Executive Councillor.

·     Chapter 12

o       Need better consistency between the figures in the key facts.

o       Options 186 to 188 – the options need to be crisper and more distinct.

o       Question 12.30 – drafting error as it refers to wrong options.

·     Consultee list

o       Amend consultee list to include companies that have contacted the Council, secondary schools and business representatives.

 

The Committee resolved unanimously to endorse the recommendations, subject to document amendments set out above to be agreed with Chair, Spokes and Executive Councillor.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

Not applicable.