Agenda item

The Growth and Projects Officer (Economic Development) attended the meeting to provide Members of the Committee with the background to, and an update on the current status of, the Central Lincolnshire Food and Enterprise Zone (FEZ) Local Development Order (LDO).

On 12 February 2015 the government announced proposals for 11 Food Enterprise Zones across the country, including three within Lincolnshire, with a view to attracting investment and encouraging closer ties between food and farming businesses to boost the domestic food and farming sector.  The Central Lincolnshire Food and Enterprise Zone Local Development Order (LDO) sought to capitalise on the opportunities associated with the existing businesses/premises at Hemswell Cliff and the availability of adjacent land to support the development of an ‘agri-food cluster’ located within the A15 growth corridor.

The purpose of an LDO was to simplify and speed up the planning process by providing certainty about the types of development which were permitted within a specific area, and reducing the potential risks associated with the formal planning process, encouraging development to come forward in that area.

The LDO would facilitate development of new premises and facilities for businesses in the agri-food sector, thereby providing a location for new and expanding businesses and encouraging inward investment.  Investment in the agri-food sector in this location would also contribute to the Council’s regeneration and socio-economic objectives through the creation of employment opportunities and integration with the existing businesses and residential areas of Hemswell Cliff. 

In February 2015, the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership (GLLEP) was successful in attracting funding from Defra to support three pilot schemes for developing Food Enterprise Zones in the geographical area consisting of West Lindsey, North East Lincolnshire and South Holland. West Lindsey received £50,000 to support the development of a LDO at Hemswell Cliff.

A Masterplan for Hemswell Cliff, including the proposed LDO site was completed in 2016. The intention of this document was to “guide the future growth and development of Hemswell Cliff as a strategic employment area and establish a more sustainable residential settlement” supporting strategic economic policy (as set out in the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Strategic Economic Plan (2014) and the promotion of Hemswell Cliff FEZ.

In June 2016 Members approved the adoption of the Hemswell Cliff Masterplan report along with the Emerging Regeneration Delivery Programme to drive forward the social, economic and environmental regeneration of the wider settlement.

The LDO provided Outline planning consent for only those uses specified under ‘Agri-Food sector uses’ set out in part 1 of the Order.  It did not remove the need to obtain other statutory consents from the Council or other organisations, such as building regulations, highways consents or environmental permits.

The site was located immediately north of the A631 and west of the existing Hemswell Cliff Business Park.  Access to the site would be direct to the A631 at or close to the existing access points.  The boundary of the LDO site was shown to Members on a presentation slide.

Councillor McNeill questioned the amendment for revocation of the order on page 9 of Cushman Wakefield’s Statement of Reasons and asked what the future process might be in that case.  The Growth and Projects Officer responded that the duration of the order was 10 years, and that the LDO did not supersede any current planning applications.  A review and assessment would be undertaken at the end of the 10 year period.  A clearer response would be provided to the Councillor shortly.

RESOLVED That Members note that the Central Lincolnshire Food and Enterprise Zone Local Development Order (LDO) was currently undergoing public consultation and would conclude on 14 April 2017.