Contact your Parish Council
MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL
COUNCIL
8 DECEMBER 2021
REPORT OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON 9 NOVEMBER 2021 ADJOURNED TO THE 19 NOVEMBER 2021
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME 2021-2024
Issue for Decision
The Council is required by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) (as amended) to maintain an up-to-date Local Development Scheme (LDS). The purpose of an LDS is to set out the timetable for the delivery of Council produced planning policy documents and to inform local people and stakeholders.
There is a need to produce two additional Development Plan Documents (DPDs) which will sit alongside the Local Plan Review. These are: - Gypsy and Traveller DPD - Design and Sustainability DPD. A new LDS is therefore required which will set out the timetable for delivery of the additional DPDs, in addition to the Local Plan Review.
Recommendation Made
That the Local Development Scheme 2021-2024, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed.
Reasons for Recommendation
On 14 July 2021 the Local Development Scheme 2021-2023 was adopted and sets out the timetable for delivering the Local Plan Review. To date work on the Local Plan Review is on track against the timetable set out in the Local Development Scheme 2021-2023.
There is a need to produce two additional Development Plan Documents (DPDs) which will sit alongside the Local Plan Review. These are the Gypsy and Traveller DPD and the Design and Sustainability DPD. A new LDS is required which will set out the timetable for delivery of the two additional DPDs, in addition to the previously agreed timetable for the Local Plan Review, as well as the overall scope for these documents.
The new Local Development Scheme 2021-2024 can be found as Appendix 1 to this report.
Gypsy and Traveller DPD
A new Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) is being produced. Owing to the COVID 19 lockdowns and the subsequent public health advice, the new assessment has been delayed. In the meantime, discussions with the consultants undertaking the assessment have indicated that there will be a significant need for new pitches in Maidstone Borough, over the plan period.
The Local Plan Review Call for Sites exercise invited the submission of Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites, however, only a small number were put forward for inclusion in the plan. As a consequence, Maidstone is facing a significant need for new pitches.
On the basis that the GTAA has not been completed and there will be a likely significant need for pitches, the most appropriate course of action is to undertake a separate Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople DPD. This will be informed by the outcome of a Pitch Deliverability Assessment (to assess what proportion of the need can be met on existing sites through intensification or expansion) and if necessary, a targeted Call for Sites exercise to identify potential new sites so the needs of the community can be adequately and appropriately addressed and appropriate engagement can take place.
The timetable for delivering the DPD, subject to resources, can be found below.
Design and Sustainability DPD
Recent shifts in local and national agendas have placed a greater degree of focus on how the Local Plan Review can respond to the current climate and biodiversity crises. At the Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee on the 21st September 2021, the Council resolved to prepare a DPD reinforced by appropriate evidence to support the Local Plan Review through the strengthening of the council’s design and sustainability focused policies.
The DPD is intended to provide policies associated with the following overall areas:
• Landscape principals
• Biodiversity, including biodiversity net gain
• Design Coding
• Advice on generic design-related matters, such as materials, densities and building heights and orientation, tree planting, parking standards and lighting
• Onsite open space provision and standards
• Sustainable connectivity
• Building uses
The DPD will sit alongside and build on the policies in the Local Plan Review and will provide the basis for Development Management decision making.
The timetable for delivering the DPD, subject to resources, can be found below.
The LDS replaces the Local Development Scheme 2021-2023. However, the scope and timing of the Local Plan Review remains unchanged.
Alternatives Considered and Why Not Recommended
To not approve the Local Development Scheme 2021-2021 – This is not recommended as under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended), local planning authorities must maintain an up-to-date LDS. The current LDS does not cover the Gypsy and Traveller DPD and the Design and Sustainability DPD and therefore a subsequent LDS is required. To not adopt this LDS will be contrary to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and would mean that the Local Planning Authority would fail its legal tests for producing these DPDs.
Background Documents
None
Appendices
Appendix 1: Local Development Scheme 2021-2024.