1.
That the Committee approves the report as the basis
for formal representations on the Regulation 16 North Loose
Neighbourhood Development Plan (August 2015);
2.
That the Committee agrees the Council’s
consultation responses to the Regulation 16 North Loose
Neighbourhood Development Plan (August 2015) summarised
below.
The North Loose Neighbourhood
Development Plan (August 2015):
a)
Is in general conformity with the strategic policies
of the adopted Maidstone Borough-Wide Local Plan 2000;
b)
Has been assessed, at this stage, to not require a
Strategic Environmental Assessment or Habitats Regulations
Assessment;
c)
Is not in line with national policy in respect that
it fails to adequately indicate how it has contributed, and will
contribute, to the emerging Maidstone Borough Local Plan’s
Objectively Assessed Housing Need since the beginning of the
emerging Local Plan’s period. It
is suggested that the forum specifies the site boundaries and
quantum of development anticipated for each site;
d)
Is not in line with national and local policy in
relation to the Plan’s references to low housing density
standards across the Neighbourhood Plan area;
e)
Is not in conformity with the emerging Maidstone
Borough Local Plan Regulation 18 Consultation Draft 2014 (MBLP
2014) in relation to the non-allocation of the New Line Learning
draft housing allocation. Related to
this, clarification is needed on the identification of open spaces
as they relate to this site and countryside links;
f)
Should seek to ensure the Plan is ‘future
proofed’ in relation to references to the Code of Sustainable
Homes; and,
g)
Should include adequate justification and detailed
costing where policies refer to the seeking of development
contributions.