Issue - meetings

The Director of Regeneration and Place introduced the report and referenced the partnership been Homes England and the Council. The options agreements would be finalised between the former and the principal landowners in the near future.

The Heathlands Garden Community Proposal had been included in the Regulation 19 ‘draft for submission’ documents stage of the Local Plan Review, with the subsequent public consultation to take place between 29 October 2021 to 12 December 2021. As the land promoters, the Council and Homes England would be undertaking further public engagement exercises with ‘We are Fabrick’. The proposal would continue to be developed in response to that engagement and the public responses to the Regulation 19 public consultation.  A pre-briefing would be arranged for the local Ward and Parish Councillors before the engagement exercises commenced.

The Council and Homes England would be preparing the Town Planning Strategy, as part of the collaboration agreement in place, to be presented to the Committee in the last quarter of the financial year.

In response to questions the Director of Regeneration and Place confirmed that Homes England were leading on the appointment of an external consultant to further develop the business case submitted to Network Rail. The latter had sent the Council a ‘Letter of Content’, with further work necessary to find a suitable option.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Note: Due to the technical difficulties experienced during the introduction of this item, the Officer’s introduction was made publicly available on the Council’s website.

These difficulties took place between 6.53 p.m. to 6.57 p.m.

Councillor Brice temporarily left the meeting between 6.58 p.m. to 6.59 p.m.