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/

Members heard that on 2  April 2024, mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) came into force for smaller sites, following its requirement for major developments since February. Introduced under the Environment Act 2021, BNG required a developer to apply a statutory metric to a site prior to its development to give a baseline value to its current biodiversity. Consequently, a development should be looking to achieve at least a 10% uplift in the baseline value following development. Where the developer could not achieve this on site, they would need to buy off-site credits to make up the difference.

On 17 April, the Central Lincolnshire Principal Ecology and Wildlife Officer, Chris Harrison provided training to Councillors on BNG. The session was recorded and slides were circulated to Members. 

On 6 March, the Government launched a consultation on its proposals for “An Accelerated Planning System”. The consultation sought views on proposals to:

·         Introduce a new “fast-track” service for major commercial applications – currently major applications were due to be determined within 13 weeks, unless an extension of time (EoT) was agreed with the developer. It was proposed that a developer could instead pay a higher fee in exchange for a decision within 10 weeks, or they would receive their fee back;

·         Change the use of extensions of time (EoT) – Currently, local planning authorities were expected to determine major development applications in 13 weeks, and non-major applications in 8 weeks, unless an extension of time (EoT) had been agreed in writing with the applicant. The Government proposed to remove the ability to agree an EoT on householder applications, and the ability to seek more than one extension on other applications. The extract below showed how West Lindsey compared with the England average for determining applications within the statutory time period (8/13 weeks) and/or within an agreed extension of time.  

·         Expand the current simplified written representations appeals process for householder and minor commercial appeals to most appeals, being dealt with via written representations – The Government proposed to expand its simplified appeal process across most appeals decided through written representations. This would remove opportunities for parties to provide additional information at the appeal stage.

·         A new process to “vary or amend” an existing planning permission – this was proposed to enable an applicant to make an application to a local planning authority for a new planning permission for development which was not substantially different to that previously granted by an existing planning permission.This would allow the developer to seek to change the description of the development as well as any conditions of permission. At present, an applicant could only seek to change the conditions, but not the description.

Members also heard the following update on Neighbourhood Plans in the district.