1.       INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1     At the 10th March 2020 meeting of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure (SPI) Committee, Members resolved that officers should provide a short-written update at each meeting of the committee, concerning any slippage and/or progress on delivering the plan on the timescale agreed. This report provides the requested update.

1.2     As noted at the previous meeting of the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee, approximately 3,200 responses were received to the Regulation 18b consultation and work is now being finalised in respect of the processing of these responses.

1.3     While the vast majority of representations were uploaded on the 3^rd March, a small number of residual responses have since been uploaded as part of the finalisation of the processing. Accordingly, a note was placed on the Local Plan Review webpage that stated “Please note: there are still some outstanding processing and uploading to take place. These include uploading the remaining Local Plan Review and sustainability appraisal representations, as well as checking duplication and other anomalies. This will be completed as soon as possible.”

1.4     At the 9^th February 2021 meeting of this committee, Members also resolved to approve the framework for future duty to co-operate processes. This is now being implemented, as work with neighbouring authorities and other prescribed bodies continues.

1.5     Work on the Local Plan Review continues at pace and this includes work on supporting information and the wider evidence base, such as specialist studies and evidence papers.

1.6     The specialist studies include detailed transport and air quality modelling, as well as further work on the Leeds Langley Relief Road area of search involving Kent County Council.

1.7     Evidence updates are also taking place to the economic development needs study, strategic housing market assessment and strategic housing land availability assessment, for example.

1.8     The wider work includes analysis from the Regulation 18 Preferred Approaches consultation, which is to be reported as part of the evidence base and Regulation 19 proposals. New assessments are also being undertaken, including a heritage assessment and viability assessment.

1.9     Discussions have also been ongoing with site promoters, including the promoters of garden communities at Lidsing and Heathlands. The promoters are working up evidence to demonstrate that their schemes can address issues raised during the work around Regulation 18 preferred approaches and potentially be included in the Local Plan Review Regulation 19 document.

1.10  One of the subject matters for discussion with promoters has been land ownership. At this stage, officers are content that land ownership will not be a barrier to the Lidsing and Heathlands garden communities coming forward.

2.   RISK

2.1     This report is presented for information only has no direct risk management implications. Risks associated with the LPR are dealt with through the usual operational framework and have been previously reported.

3.        REPORT APPENDICES

·         None