Issue - meetings

The Strategic Planning Manager introduced the report and reiterated that the Regulation 18 public consultation responses would be presented to the Committee in March 2021. Around 3,000 submissions had been received.

The public consultation was due to end on 22 December 2021, however several requests to submit late representations were made, citing directly the increased prevalence of Covid-19. The consultation was then extended through the appropriate delegations, until 8 January 2021, with a statement and press release published in response.

The two proposed garden settlements of Lidsing and Heathlands were referenced; the Local Planning Authority had requested that the Council also consider the land north of the A20 for the latter. From the 16 December 2020, the Government’s new interim standard methodology was released, which reverted the Council’s housing need figure to approximately 1200 per annum. Significant uncertainties remained, with the Government response to the ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper to be released in the Spring of 2021.

The Strategic Planning Manager confirmed that the introductory wording within the Lenham Policy outlined the sites within the regulation 18 preferred approached document for that area.

It was confirmed that the June 2021 target date for Regulation 19 remained unaffected.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.