Options for Taking Forward the Ryedale Local Plan

 

Option 

Pros 

Cons  

Conclusions 

Option 1: A twin-tracking approach to undertaking both Local Plans at the same time - Reviewing the Ryedale Plan in full and preparing the new Local Plan for North Yorkshire (with a view to the NYP superseding the RLP in time) 

·         In the event of any delays to the NYP, would help to ensure up to date plan coverage for the Ryedale area of North Yorkshire can be progressed as quickly as possible, providing the Ryedale area with increased land supply sooner than a new NYP  

·         There will be synergies between the two plans (but this can be an issue too) 

·         Resource commitments in terms of staff and funding to progress two Local Plans alongside the other DPDs listed in recommendation 5

·         Limited benefit to land supply as the RLP may not be completed much sooner than the NYP 

·         Complicated context which would not assist those seeking to prepare Neighbourhood Plans 

·         Potential challenge in terms of the ability of two plans to have concurrent, aligned spatial development strategies.

·         Evidence base technical documents could be challenged in terms of their coverage/messages/overlap

·         Plan-making is already complex and procedurally this will only be exacerbated by the preparation of two local plans covering the same area. There is the risk of disenfranchisement due to confusion 

·         Once adopted it will be superseded by the new North Yorkshire Plan when it is adopted – the timescale that the RLP would be in place would be very limited

·         This approach would undermine the ‘one council’ culture/approach

Not recommended

·         The resource and complexity implications in the short term raise issues for the new council.   

·         Risk that two concurrent plans for the same geography could undermine each other and leave either plan vulnerable during examination. This is particularly pertinent in relation to spatial development strategies, not just for housing, but retail, economic development and renewable energy and infrastructure delivery.

·         If adopted, it would be superseded by the new plan for North Yorkshire in any event 

Option 2: Halt the formal RLP review. Devote resources to new NYP preparation and subsuming the work undertaken to date of review of the Ryedale Plan into the preparation of the new Local Plan for North Yorkshire at the appropriate points.   

 

  

·         Allows comprehensive alignment of visioning objectives 

·         Allows the ability to produce a singular development strategy 

·         Aligning of evidence base work 

·         The main thrust of work is on shaping the key themes and spatial development strategy for the new authority area. Provides clarity on the way forward for stakeholders  

·         Less complicated strategy than trying to twin-track two plans. 

·         Ability to use site-specific locally-focused evidence base work where appropriate within the new Local Plan, evidence base work and when considering planning applications.  

·         Ensures that the work undertaken to date on the RLP is not wasted and can be used where appropriate to inform the NYP

·         Will take longer than the Ryedale Plan’s land supply will be able to be maintained, without the release of additional land being approved or granted on appeal (although note that this would also likely to be the case under option 1). This creates additional uncertainty. 

·         Some additional resource implications but limited as the main thrust of work would be on the new Local Plan, with some site specific evidence work done alongside, which is necessary for general planning policy development whilst the NYP is in preparation.

Recommended

·         Crucial aspect is the ability to deliver a singular development strategy and aligned evidence base.   It brings all the identified pros of subsuming the review into the Local Plan for North Yorkshire. 

·         This will have an impact on planning decisions for housing in the Ryedale LPA area until the new local plan is adopted from 2025/6 onwards. There is an acknowledgement that the land supply is likely to falter, and this will be a material planning consideration in detailing with planning applications, however it should be noted that this would likely be the case under option 1 also.  

·         Local evidence on housing supply will need to be kept up to date and evidence on site availability    

·         Site-specific evidence base work and site assessment may be useful to help inform the assessment of planning applications.