Agenda item

Design and Sustainability DPD Regulation 18b

Minutes:

The Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure introduced the report and outlined the background to the Design and Sustainability Development Plan Document’s creation (D&S DPD), with the D&D DPD attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

 

The document would form part of the Council’s statutory development plan and build upon the Local Plan policies.  The proposed Regulation 18b consultation would occur across a six-week period from the 28 April 2023, alongside the concurrent consultation on the sustainability appraisal contained within Appendix 2 to the report. The feedback received would be considered as part of the next stage of the plan-making process, ahead of the Regulation 19 submission. 

 

During the discussion reference was made to the following matters; that further emphasis on biodiversity enhancement and linkages would be useful; the importance of landscaping across the public realm, including the relevant management structures required; the importance of ensuring adequate parking facilities and road adoption within development and the importance of designing sustainable homes and communities accounting for cyclists and pedestrians. The viability tests that would be conducted were highlighted, with references made to the different types of viability, such as financial.

 

In response to the comments made, the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure stated that the Council had to formulate policies based on current requirements, but that these could be updated in future if required, in reference to parking space provision. It was stated that the comments made by the Committee were appreciated.

 

In response to questions, the Principal Planning Officer stated that the D&S DPD would undergo viability testing ahead of the Regulation 19 submission, with a balance needed between what the Council required versus its deliverability.  Conversations were ongoing with Kent County Council to ensure that there was not anything within the D&S DPD that could lead to future roads being unadoptable by KCC as highways authority.

 

In response to further questions, The Interim Local Plan Review Director stated that if there were too many requirements within the D&S DPD, developers could be encouraged to develop elsewhere, and that the document’s contents would need to be balanced according to the design and sustainability aspects desired, particularly across individual areas of the borough. The document would be particularly applicable to larger developments, such as the proposed Garden Communities, and contribute to the creation of Supplementary Planning Documents.

 

The Committee welcomed the document and supported the proposal to go out to consultation.

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Lead Member for Planning and Infrastructure be recommended to:

 

1.  Approve the Maidstone Design and Sustainability DPD Regulation 18 preferred Approaches document in Appendix 1 and the Sustainability Appraisal of the DPD at Appendix 2 for public consultation starting at 4.00pm on Friday 28th April to run for six weeks to 5.00pm on 12th June.

 

2.  Give the Interim Local Plan Review Director delegated authority to make minor graphical or presentational changes to the document prior to consideration by the Lead Member on the Executive for Planning and Infrastructure for their decision.

 

3.  Note the evidence base documents at appendix 3-5 of the report.

 

 

  NOTE: Councillors Springett and Young both arrived at the meeting at 6.27 p.m. They did not have any disclosures of interest or lobbying to declare.

Supporting documents: