North Yorkshire Council
Executive Member for Open to Business
9 May 2025
North Yorkshire Local Plan Issues and Option Consultation
Report of the Corporate Director of Community Development
1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 To seek approval to undertake public consultation during May/June/July 2025 on the North Yorkshire Local Plan: our first conversation (Appendix 1) and to note the draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (Appendix 2).
2.0 SUMMARY
2.1 Development plans are at the heart of the planning system with a requirement set in law that planning decisions must be taken in line with the development plan. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 sets out that each local planning authority must identify their strategic priorities and have policies to address these in their development plan documents. The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (as amended) also required that a single tier council adopts a local development document under section 23 of the 2004 Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act, to apply to the whole of its area, within a period of five years starting with the date of re-organisation.
2.2 Work has therefore commenced on a single local plan for North Yorkshire which, once adopted, will replace the existing seven adopted Local Plans (Craven, Hambleton, Harrogate, Richmondshire, Ryedale, Scarborough and Selby). In March 2025, Executive approved a revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) which sets out the key timescales to ensure the Local Plan reaches the final stage of plan preparation (Examination) within five years.
2.3 The North Yorkshire Local Plan: our first conversation (Appendix 1) is the first major stage of public consultation in the preparation of the new local plan. In accordance with regulations, the council is required to consult with stakeholders about what it considers the scope of its plan to be and the key issues that will need to be addressed. This initial stage (formerly known as Issues and Options) provides the opportunity to receive comments from all interested parties that will inform the future stages of the plan’s progression.
2.4 The purpose of this report is to seek approval to undertake public consultation on this first stage of the new local plan for North Yorkshire. This report provides a summary of the work undertaken to date, and information about the scope of the consultation and how the consultation will be carried out. The draft consultation document and accompanying Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report are attached at Appendices 1 and 2 respectively.
2.5 Consultation will take place for a period of eight weeks between 19 May 2025 and 15 July 2025. The consultation methods which will be used are detailed below in paragraph 4.10.
3.0 BACKGROUND
3.1 Central to delivering North Yorkshire Council’s place making and sustainable growth agenda is the Council’s new Local Plan. Our plan making will shape the future of North Yorkshire and help to deliver the Council’s wider vision and objectives, support our external partners to develop their programmes and use it as a basis for levering in external funding opportunities. As the local planning authority, North Yorkshire Council is required by national legislation and policy to prepare a local plan contributing to the achievement of sustainable development for our area.
3.2 The Council has commenced work on the North Yorkshire Local Plan which will set out how much and where land should be provided to accommodate the new homes and jobs that are needed across the County, together with associated infrastructure. It will also include policies to protect and enhance the County’s high quality natural and built environment. The North Yorkshire Local Plan will relate to the area of North Yorkshire outside the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks (the local plan area).
3.3 Once adopted the local plan will replace the current seven adopted Local Plans prepared by former district authorities. It will be used to manage development through the determination of planning applications, making clear where development is acceptable and providing certainty for local communities that new development will happen in a planned and coordinated way.
3.4 Whilst the Local Plan is currently being prepared under the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA) contains a number of plan-making reform measures which will impact on the preparation of the new Local Plan. However, the finalised requirements and transitional arrangements have yet to be published. Once, the new plan-making system is implemented (expected summer/autumn 2025[1]) the council will be able to understand the implications for the North Yorkshire Local Plan.
3.5 A significant amount of evidence base work and targeted engagement has already taken place on the new North Yorkshire Local Plan involving officers across all departments of the Council such as Economic Development, Transport, Housing, Public Health, Education etc and representatives from community groups such as Disability Action and the Youth Council. The Council has also held engagement events with businesses and the development industry and issued a ‘Call for Sites’ to provide the opportunity for landowners, site promoters, developers or other interested parties to put land forward for consideration for development to meet future needs. Whilst these submitted sites are available to view on our website, they do not form part of this Issues and Options consultation and we are not inviting comments on them.
3.6 Due to the amount of work already undertaken, it is important to keep up momentum so that we can have a new plan in place for the whole area as soon as possible. Therefore, we cannot wait for the new plan making system to be introduced before we launch this first major stage of consultation; the Issues and Options Consultation. However, as detailed in para 4.7 it is intended that the consultation takes place over eight weeks instead of the usual six and that it includes vision, aims and objectives in order to comply with the first ‘plan visioning and strategy development’ consultation stage proposed under the LURA 2023 planned reforms. Subject to final regulations and transitional arrangements, this could potentially result in not having to undertake the first mandatory consultation window again, thus saving time for the later stages of plan preparation. We will advise members of the new regulations as and when they are published.
4.0 ISSUES AND OPTIONS CONSULTATION
4.1 The Issues and Option Consultation is intended to start a conversation about what the places and spaces across the North Yorkshire Local Plan area will be like in the future (up to the year 2045) and how the new local plan can influence that. It does not contain any future policy wording or propose site allocations as these will be developed and set out in subsequent drafts of the local plan. Feedback from this consultation will help in preparing the growth strategy for the area, together with local plan policies and sites to deliver it. These policies will also need to be justified by a comprehensive local plan evidence base which is currently being prepared and will be made available when finalised.
4.2 The Issues and Options consultation document includes a number of questions to help capture views on the key planning issues or priorities facing the area as a whole or specific places and settlements, and how they can be addressed through the local plan. The document considers the following issues:
· Delivering Sustainable Growth:
o how much development do we need to plan for?
o how, where and when can development needs be met
o providing a mix of sites
o other growth considerations such as the settlement hierarchy - exploring the roles and relationships of existing settlements
o the application (or not) of development limits; and the green belt
o developing growth options
· Tackling Climate Change, Flood Risk and Coastal Change
o how the local plan can mitigate the impacts of climate change
o how the local plan can adapt to climate change
· Creating healthy and sustainable community
o promoting healthier lives and reducing inequalities
o consideration of the impact of pollution on health
o protecting and enhancing open spaces and community facilities
· Achieving Natural Environment Resilience
o protecting and enhancing biodiversity targets and locations
o consideration of high-quality landscapes
o enhancing the network of green and blue infrastructure
o consideration of pollution and ground conditions
· Meeting Specific Housing Needs
o affordable housing need and types
o ensuring sustainability of housing in rural settlements
o addressing housing needs of people with disabilities including accessible and adaptable housing
o supporting development to meet housing needs for older people
o identifying and supporting sites to meet the housing needs of gypsies and travellers
o support the delivery of self-build and custom-built housing
o meeting housing space standards
o supporting families with children, looked after children, students and service families
· Creating a prosperous economy
o supporting the North Yorkshire economy (different sectors)
o new tourist accommodation and attractions
o encouraging and supporting the growth of rural economies
· Creating resilient town and centres
o changing roles of centres- how can planning respond
o retaining local retail and community facilities
· Ensuring sustainable transport and access
o encouraging the use of public transport
o encouraging active travel
· Securing Infrastructure to support growth
o accessibility of services
o timing and funding of infrastructure delivery
· Achieving high quality design
o characteristics of well-designed places
o Seeking views from the local community about what people value in the areas they live in
· Safeguarding the historic environment
o Protecting and enhancing heritage assets
· Delivering the local plan
o Priorities for the local plan to address
· Your town, city or village
o Any specific local issues to be raised
o Anything else to bring to our attention
4.3 In addition to the issues identified above, the consultation document seeks to establish views on an emerging vision for North Yorkshire, that is, what North Yorkshire should be like in 2045 (the end of the Plan period). It also sets out a number of draft strategic objectives to deliver the vision. These are currently set out in a general way- without locationally specific detail- which will be incorporated as the plan emerges.
4.4 The main purpose of the consultation is it get early views from a wide cross section of the community and stakeholders on what the local plan should contain and the overall strategy for where new homes and jobs should be located.
4.5 We are also looking to get wider views on the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report. It is subject to formal consultation with the prescribed bodies of Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency but we have chosen to also seek wider views on this important document. The Sustainability Appraisal (SA) also fulfils the Strategic Environmental Assessment and is a legal requirement to assess the economic, social and environmental effects of the policies, spatial strategy and site allocations in the local plan and to monitor its impacts. It will help to assess different local plan policy options to determine which are the best ones for the plan area as well as helping to identify how to reduce any harmful effects from the plan. The first stage of the sustainability appraisal process is the preparation of a Scoping Report, which helps to identify the SA objectives and framework to be used in the appraisal of the local plan. The draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report is a technical document and is therefore appended only for the member to be aware of alongside the North Yorkshire Plan: a first conversation. The Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report has been subject to assessment by AECOM who are the council’s ‘critical friend’ in this area of work. They have sought some clarification on the framework itself, but have raised no major concerns with the work. Informal consultation has been undertaken with the prescribed bodies of Natural England, the Environment Agency and Historic England. With broadly positive feedback being provided by the latter two organisations, with comments awaited from Natural England (these are due imminently). AECOM will see a further draft of the SA prior to it being added to the appendix of this report.
Consultation Arrangements
4.6 Regulation 18 of the Local Planning Regulations 2012 requires the council to consult upon the intended scope of the local plan for a period of at least six weeks. The council has an adopted Statement of Community Involvementwhich sets out how we will engage on planning matters, including the methods of consultation it will use to ensure that consultation meets the legal requirements and needs of the community.
4.7 As highlighted above, due to the expected plan-making reforms, it is proposed that the North Yorkshire Local Plan Issues and Options consultation will take place for eight weeks between 19 May and 15 July 2025, factoring in the bank holiday too.
4.8 The key consultation document we are inviting comments on is:
· North Yorkshire Local Plan: our first conversation 2025
· With the Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 2025.
4.9 A number of supporting documents which form part of the evidence base for the Issues and Options consultation will also be made available to view however we will not be specifically inviting comments on these documents. If we do receive comments on any of the supporting documents, we will consider these separately to the main consultation, and in the context of the issues that they raise.
4.10 The following approaches will be used for the consultation:
· publication of the consultation document, supporting evidence and guidance notes/video on the council’s website and consultation portal
· all Member and Parish and Town Council briefing sessions
· hard copies of the consultation documents (excluding the supporting documents), response forms and other documentation will be available at the council’s offices and libraries
· notification of the consultation will be sent to statutory consultees and all of those who have registered on our consultation portal (currently c.4100 consultees)
· consultation will be advertised through a press release
· targeted consultation with groups as necessary (including seldom heard groups)
· use of social media, including video as well as text.
4.11 During the consultation period, consultees will be able to access the consultation documents and respond to them directly through the planning policy consultation portal, alternatively they can email or post comments to the planning policy team.
What happens next?
4.12 At the close of this consultation, all comments will be considered before the Council’s preferred approach is developed. There will then be a further consultation on the content of the draft Local Plan (preferred options), currently scheduled for the end of 2026.
5.0 CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES
5.1 The preparation of a new Local Plan will help the Council to deliver its Corporate Plan Vision to build on North Yorkshire’s natural capital, strong local economy and resilient communities, to improve the way local services are delivered and support a good quality of life. The Local Plan will help to deliver the spatial elements of the Council’s ambitions in relation to Place and Environment, Economy, Health and Wellbeing and People.
6.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
6.1 The Council has a statutory requirement to prepare a new Local Plan for North Yorkshire within 5 years as set out in The Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (as amended). The preparation of a new Local Plan must be prepared in accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).
6.2 Not to undertake the consultation was rejected as an option because early consultation on the local plan is essential to the preparation of a sound plan.
6.3 The consultation document sets out what we think are key issues for the plan to address/ explore, and starts to set out the various options we have considered for each issue. The primary purpose of the consultation is to help inform the council of options which can be considered as the plan progresses. The alternative options for each policy will be then assessed as part of the Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal process, and other technical evidence, and will be published alongside the Draft Plan (preferred options) for public consultation.
7.0 IMPACT ON OTHER SERVICES/ORGANISATIONS
7.1 The preparation of a Local Plan for North Yorkshire will require input from staff across the organisation as it will be the vehicle to deliver the spatial elements of the Council’s Plan and its vision and objectives and other relevant plans and strategies.
8.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
8.1 The additional resources for delivering the Local Plan have been factored into the Council’s budget. The 24/25 budget included a significant investment to establish a Local Plan and associated documents. This contribution will continue into 25/26 and the subsequent years.
9.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
9.1 The requirement to produce a new Local Plan for North Yorkshire within five years is set out in the Local Government (Structural Changes) (Transitional Arrangements) (No.2) Regulations 2008 (as amended). The preparation of a Local Plan is a statutory requirement of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).
9. 2 There will be further changes to the Local Plan preparation if the provisions of the LURA Act come into force.
10.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
10.1 An impact screening assessment has been undertaken (attached at Appendix 3). Taking into account the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement proposals are in place to ensure that as many people as possible are made aware of and are engaged with the consultation and that proper regard is had to the Equalities Duty. This will be recorded in the Statement of consultation. Regarding the content of the Local Plan, it will have its own Equalities Impact Assessment embedded through the Sustainability Appraisal process, and this will be set out and reported in an Equalities Impact Assessment Report.
11.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
11.1 Both the law and the NPPF requires that all plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change, taking into account the long- term implications for flood risk, coastal change, water supply, biodiversity and landscapes and the risk of overheating from rising temperatures. All will be prepared in-line with the NPPF and Sustainability Appraisals will be undertaken as part of the preparation of the Local Plan to ensure that the climate change implications have been adequately assessed, and that the plan take a proactive approach to this important matter.
12.0 HUMAN RESOURCES IMPLICATIONS
12.1 Sufficient staffing resources will be required to complete the preparation of the Local Plan. A new staff structure for the Planning Policy & Place team is in place and is fully populated.
13.0 ICT IMPLICATIONS
13.1 The preparation of the Local Plan is reliant on software to support public consultation, in drafting documents, GIS for mapping and a range of service specific monitoring systems.
14.0 CONCLUSIONS
14.1 The preparation of a new Local Plan for North Yorkshire is an important opportunity to set out the Council's place making and sustainable growth ambitions and to seek to meet the needs of our communities. The Issues and Options consultation is the first opportunity for the Council to seek views on the direction of the new Local Plan and will be an important stage in shaping how the plan evolves.
15.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
15.1 To ensure early and meaningful engagement on the preparation of the local plan is undertaken in line with Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
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i. That the Executive Member for Open to Business approve for public consultation the North Yorkshire local Plan: our first conversation (attached at Appendix 1)
ii. That the Corporate Director Community Development in consultation with the Executive Member for Open to Business, be authorised to make final editorial changes to the North Yorkshire local Plan: our first conversation prior to publication
iii. That the Executive Member for Open to Business is aware of the contents of the draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 2025 (attached at Appendix 2)
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APPENDICES:
Appendix 1 North Yorkshire Local Plan: our first conversation Document – copy to follow
Appendix 2 Draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 2025 – copy to follow
Appendix 3 Initial Equality Impact Assessment Screening Form
Appendix 4 Initial Climate Change Impact Assessment Form
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:
Statement of Community Involvement
Nic Harne
Corporate Director of Community Development
County Hall
Northallerton
Report Author – Rachael Hutton, Planning Policy and Place Manager
Presenter of Report – Rachael Balmer, Planning Policy and Place Manager
Note: Members are invited to contact the author in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or questions.
[1] Written Ministerial Statement of 12 December 2024, and the ‘Government response to the proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the planning system consultation’ (the Response) (of 12 December 2024)