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.