Agenda item

 

Note – the status of Neighbourhood Plans in the District may be found via this link

https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/my-services/planning-and-building/neighbourhood-planning/

 

Minutes:

The Committee heard from the Interim Planning Manager (Development Management) regarding recent updates from Government.

 

Retail Opening Hours

 

Written ministerial statement from Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government:

 

https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2020-11-30/hlws602

 

“…the purpose of this Written Ministerial Statement, which comes into effect from 2 December, is to make clear that, as a matter of urgency, local planning authorities should take a positive approach to their engagement with retailers to ensure planning controls are not a barrier to the temporary extension of retail opening times in December and January.

In particular, local planning authorities, having regard to their legal obligations, should not seek to undertake planning enforcement action which would result in the unnecessary restriction of retail hours during this period. The National Planning Policy Framework already emphasises that planning enforcement is a discretionary activity, and local planning authorities should act proportionately in responding to suspected breaches of planning control.

Where appropriate, local planning authorities should also highlight this temporary relaxation to retailers in their area so that they can take advantage of longer opening hours if they wish to do so.”

Supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/supporting-housing-delivery-and-public-service-infrastructure

 

Consultation would close at 11:45pm on 28 January 2021

 

A new PD right would allow all buildings within the newly created use class E (which includes offices, restaurants, shops, gyms, professional services and light industrial) to be converted to residential use (Class C3) without requiring a planning application. There would be “no size limit on the buildings that can benefit from the right”, the consultation document states. prior approval system would be restricted to factors including flooding, noise, contaminated land, and adequate levels of natural light. The new homes must also meet national space standards.

 

A proposed new “fast track” planning route to build public service buildings - such as schools, colleges, universities, prisons and hospitals - would require local authorities to determine applications for such schemes within ten weeks. The current statutory requirement was 13 weeks. In practice, this would mean local planning authorities having to “prioritise these decisions over other applications for major development", said the MHCLG. Meanwhile, the statutory publicity and consultation period for such applications would be cut from 21 to 14 days.

 

Existing permitted development rights allowing public service buildings to expand would be changed to allow greater enlargement. Instead of the limit on such changes being set at 25 per cent of the original buildings’ gross floorspace, this would be set at 25 per cent of their footprint. Instead of total extra floorspace being capped at 100 square metres, this would be set to 250 square metres, as it currently was for schools. The height limit for such work would be raised from five metres to six metres. An exemption from developing playing fields would remain.

 

The government had announced plans to "simplify and rationalise" permitted developments rights, as part of a review of such rights following recent changes to the Use Classes Order. The government proposed to review and update references to use classes throughout the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO). It planned “appropriate legislative amendments” to be made before 31 July 2021.

 

The Committee was also provided the following updates on Neighbourhood Plans.

 

Neighbourhood Plan/s

Headlines

Planning Decision

Weighting

Made Neighbourhood Plans

Brattleby, Caistor*, Cherry Willingham, Dunholme, Great Limber, Lea, Nettleham*, Osgodby, Riseholme, Scotter, Scothern, Saxilby, Welton, Willoughton, Glentworth, Spridlington, and Sudbrooke.

Full weight

Scotton NP

Examination successful. Decision statement issued. But due to COVID-19 situation referendum delayed until May 2021.

Significant weight

Bishop Norton NP

Examination successful. Decision statement issued. But due to COVID-19 situation referendum delayed until May 2021. A claim is to be submitted shortly to MHCLG for Neighbourhood Planning Grant to help reimburse WLDC for the costs of this NP’s examination, referendum and other outlays.

Significant weight

Gainsborough NP

Submission consultation completed (Reg16). Examiner appointed. Examination underway. Site visit completed and clarification note issued.

Increasing weight

Morton NP

Submission consultation completed (Reg16). Responses posted on website. Process of appointing the examiner to begin shortly.

Increasing weight

Corringham NP

Consultation on Draft Plan (Regulation 14) underway from 9 Nov to 22 Dec.

Some weight

Sturton and Stow NP

Consultation on Draft Plan (Regulation 14) underway from 2 Nov to 14 Dec.

Some weight

Fiskerton

Early draft of NP issued to WLDC for comment.

-

Ingham NP

Consultation on site assessment report underway from 16 Nov to 11 Dec

-

*Caistor NP

Review underway. Consultant appointed.

-

*Nettleham NP

Review underway. Consultant appointed.

-

Neighbourhood Plans

- made (17)

- in preparation (24)

- to be started (42)

- being reviewed (2)*

 

 

To view all of WLDC’s neighbourhood plans go to:

https://www.west-lindsey.gov.uk/my-services/planning-and-building/neighbourhood-planning/

NP stage-weighting

Made–full weight

Referendum successful–full weight

Examination successful–significant weight

Submission Reg16–increasing weight

Draft Reg14 - some weight

Designated – little weight