North Yorkshire Council
Executive
4th November
2025
Call For Sites
Proposed Submissions for Council
owned sites
Report of the Corporate Director of
Resources
1.0 PURPOSE
OF REPORT
1.1
To seek Executive Committee approval
for the submission of 47 Council owned sites to the NYC Local Plan
Call for Sites exercise.
2.0
SUMMARY
2.1
In 2024, as part of the preparation
of the new North Yorkshire Local Plan, the Council launched a
‘Call for Sites’ (CfS). This provides the
opportunity for landowners and promoters to suggest sites for the
council (as Local Planning Authority) to consider in meeting the
needs of the area for uses such as housing and
employment.
2.2
In response to the CfS exercise, a
comprehensive review of North Yorkshire Council’s (NYC)
landholdings was initiated by the Property service to identify
sites within the Council’s ownership that present potential
development opportunities.
2.3 Several
sites within the Council’s ownership are
already allocated for development by virtue of legacy plans, but
remain undeveloped. These sites have already been submitted to the
CfS by Property Services and are intended to be developed ahead of
the new NYC Local Plan. However, if progress is delayed, their
existing allocations may be considered for inclusion in the new
Plan.
2.4
This Report provides details of a
further 47 Council-owned sites which have been identified by the
Property Service as having development potential, and seeks
Executive approval for their submission to the Local Plan Call for
Sites (CfS) portal. Once submitted, the sites will be assessed by
the Planning Policy & Place team as part of the Local Plan
work, using the same methodology and consultation process as those
submitted and owned by third parties.
2.5
The submission of these sites for
consideration as part of the CfS process does not mean that they
will be taken forward for development. It is understood that
c1,800 sites have been submitted to the Planning Policy & Place
team to date and not all sites will be needed to deliver the Local
Plan growth strategy.
2.6
Following the assessment of all
submitted sites, the Planning team will identify a shortlist which
aligns with the North Yorkshire growth strategy. Public
consultation on that proposed shortlist is scheduled for Q4
2026
3.0
BACKGROUND
3.1 In 2023
the Council commenced work on a new Local Plan for North Yorkshire,
which will
set
out the Council’s strategy for growth along with site
allocations and policies to
guide development and conservation of the area up to the year
2045.
3.2 In 2024,
as part of the Local Plan work, the CfS exercise was launched. The
first stage of public consultation on the Local Plan (the Issues
and Options Consultation) has taken place, which includes options
for a new sustainable growth strategy for North Yorkshire. The next
stage of consultation is scheduled to take place in Q4 2026 and
will include sites to deliver the chosen growth strategy; although
that timetable may change once the Government release further
information about a new plan making system later this
year.
3.3
On 12 December 2024, the revised
National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published. This
introduced a mandatory housing need figure, significantly
increasing NYC’s annual housing requirement to 4,156 homes
per annum - a 200% rise from previous figures.
3.4
The increase in the local housing
need figure has intensified the requirement to identify additional
housing sites across the region. The NPPF increase has also
affected the five-year land supply figures across the majority of
adopted plan areas in North Yorkshire, which creates additional
pressure to bring forward sites in the context of the
‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ set
out in national planning policy.
3.5
Landowners, developers and promoters
have already uploaded a significant number of sites for
consideration in the Plan (c 1800 to date) and the Planning Policy
and Place team are currently in the process of assessing those
sites. The deadline for submitting sites is the end of November
2025.
3.6 More
information about the CfS, including access to the map of sites
already submitted, can be viewed here:
Call for sites for the
North Yorkshire Local Plan | North Yorkshire Council
3.7 North
Yorkshire Council holds an extensive portfolio of land and property
assets across the region and, following vesting day, elected
members identified asset rationalisation as a key priority to help
maximise value and outcomes from the portfolio. In line with this
and the revised NPPF - and in response to the CfS - a comprehensive
review of the NYC estate was initiated by the Property Service to
identify potential development opportunities that could be
considered in the new Local Plan exercise.
3.8
The Property service’s review
of the Council’s portfolio has identified 47 sites that are
owned by NYC and are considered to have development potential for a
range of uses, including residential and employment. Those sites
are summarised in Appendix A. The Executive are recommended
to approve that these sites be submitted to the CfS exercise, so
that they can be independently assessed by the Planning Policy
& Place team through their Local Plan work.
3.9
If all, or some, of the 47
identified NYC-owned sites are allocated for development, they
could significantly support the Council’s housing, employment
and financial objectives. An initial high-level desktop assessment
by Property Services suggests a combined, long-term potential
capacity of up to 10,000 dwellings, including a substantial
proportion of affordable homes and capital receipts.
3.10 It is important to note that the Council has two
very distinct and separate roles to play in the future CfS and
Local Plan process: one as landowner and one as local planning
authority (LPA). This report is written purely from the perspective
of the Council as landowner and does not include any assessment of
site suitability from a planning policy standpoint. Any such
assessment of suitability will lie with the Council as LPA and will
fall under the remit of the statutory Local Plan making process,
led by the Planning Service.
3.11
In recognition of the
Council’s separate roles, a protocol has been produced to
establish clear guidance on the call for sites submissions. The
draft protocol is attached at Appendix B.
3.12 It is recognised that some of the sites being
put forward as part of the Local Plan process (including those in
the Council’s ownership) may be sensitive and give rise to
speculation and concern from local communities about their
potential future use. It is
however important to note at this stage, that submitting these
Council owned sites to the CfS does not mean that the sites will be
taken forward for development or even shortlisted for inclusion in
the Local Plan.
3.13 There is much work that will need to be
undertaken, led by the Planning Service, to assess all sites
submitted in in the CFS process in a consistent way and to carryout
statutory plan making and consultation processes; including
independent examination by the Secretary of State before the Local
Plan reaches Adoption in 2028/29.
3.14 Once sites are submitted to the CfS
the Planning Policy & Place team
will assess each development proposal and shortlist those that are
proposed for inclusion. Shortlisted sites are expected to be
publicised towards the end 2026 and a period of public consultation
will then follow.
4.0
CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN AND
RESPONSES
4.1
Consultation on proposals to include any sites within the Local
Plan will be undertaken as part of the statutory Local Plan making
process, led by the Planning
Policy & Place team.
4.2 It is
currently anticipated that formal consultation on the sites
shortlisted for inclusion in the Local Plan will take place towards
the end of 2026.
5.0
CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES
5.1
The proposals set out within this
report contribute to a number of Council strategies and priorities
including:-
5.2
The Corporate Property Strategy
(2025-2035) which was presented and approved by the Executive
on the 21st October 2025 and sets out the framework and
vision for managing and developing the Council’s property
assets. The Strategy includes key objectives around utilising NYC
property assets to generate capital receipts and support increases
in housing delivery and employment through the release of Council
owned land for development.
5.3 The
North Yorkshire Housing Strategy and the Economic Growth
Strategy by supporting the ambition to ‘grow the supply
of affordable and available housing’ across North Yorkshire,
increase the numbers of affordable homes by 500 in the next 5 years
and accelerate economic
growth by utilising the NYC estate to deliver regeneration, place
shaping and other council priorities.
6.0
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
6.1
There are currently no financial
implications associated with this decision. If sites are included
in the Local Plan, they might ultimately present opportunities to
generate future capital receipts.
7.0 LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
7.1
The Council will have two very
distinct and separate roles to play in the future Call for Sites
process: one as landowner and one as local planning authority
(LPA). In recognition of the separate roles, and the potential
sensitivity associated with any submissions, officers have produced
a protocol to establish clear guidance on the call for sites
submissions. Refer Appendix B for the draft protocol.
7.2
Ongoing input from legal and
democratic services will be sought to ensure clarity is maintained
over the roles of the Council’s as landowner and its separate
role as planning authority. This advice will also include areas
such as member declarations of interests.
7.3
The future
of all NYC owned sites will need to recognise the Council’s
legal obligations in procurement legislation, the disposal of land
and subsidy control legislation, as well as the Council’s own
Procurement and Contract Procedure Rules and Property Procedure
Rules.
8.0
EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
8.1
An equalities impact assessment has
been undertaken and identified no negative impacts on people with
protected characteristics. The assessment is attached in
Appendix C.
9.0 CLIMATE
CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
9.1
A climate change impact assessment
has been undertaken and is attached as Appendix
D.
10.0
REASONS FOR
RECOMMENDATIONS
10.1
To support elected member ambitions
around asset rationalisation and to maximise value and outcomes
from the Council’s land and property holdings.
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11.0
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RECOMMENDATION(S)
For the Executive to:
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i) approve that the Property service submits the
47 new potential development sites as set out in Appendix A
to the NYC Local Plan Call for Sites.
ii) note the draft protocol attached at
Appendix B, which is intended to provide guidance to address
the Council’s dual role in the Call for Sites and future
Local Plan process.
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APPENDICES:
Appendix A – New
Sites
Appendix B – Draft
Protocol/Handling Note
Appendix C –
Equality
Appendix D – Climate
Change
Appendix E – Land images of
sites
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS:
Gary Fielding
Corporate Director –
Resources
County Hall
Northallerton
Report Author – Stewart Brown, Strategic
Land Manager
Presenter of Report – Stewart Brown /
Kerry Metcalfe Assistant Director Commercial, Property and
Procurement
Note: Members are invited to contact the author
in advance of the meeting with any detailed queries or
questions.
APPENDIX B –
Protocol for Decision-Making in respect of the Local Plan Call for
Sites
where NYC is both landowner and Planning Authority
Introduction and Purpose
This Protocol establishes a framework to guide
the North Yorkshire Council (the Council) in its dual role as
landowner and local planning authority (LPA) when deciding whether
to include land it owns, or in which it has an interest, within the
Local Plan Call for Sites.
The objectives of this Protocol are
to:
•
Ensure compliance by Officers and
Members with statutory and regulatory obligations and the
Council’s Constitution;
•
Promote fairness and impartiality in
decision-making processes whether it be by Committee or pursuant to
schemes of delegation;
•
Implement robust governance
mechanisms that identify, manage and mitigate conflicts of interest
or the perception of such;
•
Promote transparency and
accountability in decision-making and adherence to best
practice.
Legal Framework
Currently the key legislation relevant to the
preparation of Local Plans are:
•
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act
2004 (PCPA 2004)
•
Town and Country Planning (Local
Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/767).
The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning)
(England) Regulations 2012 specify the requirements for local
development documents. Regulation 5(1) mandates that documents
prepared by LPAs must include statements regarding the allocation
of sites for specific types of development or use, as well as site
allocation policies intended to guide planning
decisions.
The Council also has a role as a landowner and
can acquire land or dispose of land it owns subject to certain
duties. The Localism Act 2011 provides the Council with a general
power of competence enabling it to do anything which individuals
may do, unless specifically prohibited. In submitting land as part
of the Call for Sites the Council is not disposing of land but is
looking to safeguard the potential that an area of land may have in
supporting the future development of North Yorkshire. Inclusion of
land in the Call for Sites does not provide any guarantee that such
land will be allocated in the Local Plan.
North Yorkshire Local Plan Context
– and the Call for Sites
The Council is in the early stages of preparing
a Local Plan for North Yorkshire which will guide development
through to 2045. As part of the preparation process a ‘Call
for Sites’ commenced in April 2024 and the Council’s
Planning Policy and Place Team has requested that sites proposed
for development are submitted by the end of November 2025. The
Council in its role as landowner needs to consider whether it
wishes to make submissions in relation to its own
landholdings.
It is recognised by the Council that identifying
sites for potential future development can be contentious and may
be the subject of opposition and this can be further impacted by
its dual role as LPA and landowner
Decision-making by the Council as
landowner on sites to be considered for submission as part of the
Call for Sites.
Pursuant to the Council’s Constitution
matters relating to the Council’s land ownership are broadly
executive functions. Executive decisions may be taken by the
Council’s Leader, Executive, Executive sub-committees (in
line with their Terms of Reference), individual Executive Members
(in line with the Executive Members’ Delegation Scheme) and
officers (in line with the Council’s Officers’ Scheme
of Delegation and directorates’ internal schemes of
sub-delegation). Decisions taken by committees and individuals
under delegated powers must be consistent with:
•
statutory requirements and
restrictions;
•
the Council’s budget and
policy framework;
•
the financial limits and procedures
set out in the revenue or capital budgets
•
and Financial, Contract and Property
Procedure Rules;
•
other Constitution provisions;
and
•
codes of conduct for officers and
Members.
The decision on which sites owned by the Council
are to be submitted as part of the Call for Sites is to be
considered and determined by the Executive.
Key Decisions
The decision regarding which landholdings of the
Council are to be submitted as part of the Call for Sites will be a
key decision (falling under (i)(bb) below) and will need to be
identified on the corporate Forward Plan:
Key decisions.
(i) A key decision means a decision
made in connection with the discharge of a function which is the
responsibility of the Executive and which is likely:
(aa) to result in the Council
incurring expenditure, or making savings, which are significant
having regard to the Council’s budget for the service or
function to which the decision relates; or
(bb) to be significant in terms of
its effects on communities living or working in an area comprising
two or more electoral divisions in the area of the
Council.
Prior to any decision being taken by
Executive on Council landholdings to be included within the Call
for Sites, individual Division Members will be notified of sites
within their division. Parish and Town Councils will be advised of
sites included from their areas . Parties such as tenants who may
also have an interest in the land will also be notified.
Governance and Separation of
Interests
The Executive
As for any decision taking Members taking part
in the Executive Meeting shall have regard to their register of
interests and Member ‘s Code of Conduct and consider whether
they could have any disclosable pecuniary or other interests which
would impact on them taking part in the decision.
Key Council Officers
The Corporate Director Resources, Assistant
Director Property and Procurement together with the Strategic Land
Manager and Estates Manager Commercial Major Projects are the key
officers responsible for and leading on the identification of sites
for submission as part of the Call for Sites. These Officers and
their teams shall have no involvement in issues or decision-making
relating to the subsequent allocation of sites as part of Local
Plan process.
The Corporate Director of Community Development,
Assistant Director Regeneration and Planning, Heads of Planning and
the planning teams shall have no involvement in any decision making
with regard to the selection of sites the Council submits as part
of the Call for Sites.
When the Corporate Property Board are discussing
identification of sites for submission as part of the Call for
Sites or feedback on the potential sites for submission, the
Corporate Director for Community Development should consider
recusing themselves from such discussion.
Legal Services Officers
The Assistant Chief Executive Legal and
Democratic has overall responsibility for the Legal Service with
the Head of Property, Planning and Environment having day to day
management across both the Legal Property and Planning and
Environment teams.
Should legal advice be required by the Corporate
Director Resources, Assistant Director Property and Procurement,
Strategic Land Manager and Estates Manager Commercial Major
Projects in relation to the submission of landholdings identified
by the Call for Sites this will be dealt with by the Property Legal
Team who in this matter would report directly to the Assistant
Chief Executive Legal and Democratic.
The Head of Legal Property, Planning and
Environment and any member of the Legal Planning and Environment
Team shall have no involvement with providing any legal advice to
the Corporate Director of Resources , Assistant Director Property
and Procurement, Strategic Land Manager and Estates Manager
Commercial Major Projects in relation to the selection or the
submission of sites as part of the Call for Sites and officers in
the Property Legal team shall not be involved in providing any
legal advice to the Corporate Director of Community Development,
Assistant Director Regeneration and Planning, Heads of Planning and
the planning teams in respect of the Call for Sites.
Council Members who sit on Council
Planning Committee/ Development Plan Committee
The notification of proposed sites to be
submitted as part of the Local Plan Call for Sites by officers to
Members does not, of itself, give any Member of a Council Planning
Committee or OFFICIAL
the Development Plan Committee any declarable
interest or prejudice their ability to take part in any Planning
Committee or Development Plan Committee. Should any Member of these
Committees have concerns as to their position once notified in
respect of the Call for Sites please feel free to contact the Head
of Legal Property, Planning and Environment or any member of their
team to discuss any issues.
Approval of the Protocol
It is proposed that this Protocol be provided to
the Corporate Director Resources in consultation with Corporate
Director Community Development,the Executive Member for Open to
Business and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member
for Finance and Resource for approval.
Review
This Protocol shall be reviewed periodically to
reflect any changes in the Council Constitution and evolving
legislation.
APPENDIX C – EQUALITY
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
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Initial equality impact assessment
screening form
This form records an equality
screening process to determine the relevance of equality to a
proposal, and a decision whether or not a full EIA would be
appropriate or proportionate.
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Directorate
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Corporate Resources
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Service area
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Commercial, Property and
Procurement
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Proposal being screened
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Call for Sites exercise
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Officer(s) carrying out
screening
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Stewart Brown
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What are you proposing to
do?
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Submit NYC
owned sites into the NYC Call for Sites portal for consideration by
the Planning Policy & Place team
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Why are you proposing this? What are
the desired outcomes?
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The CfS exercise is a key
priority in the Corporate Property Strategy. The desired outcome
from this exercise is to submit these sites (as identified by
Property Services) to the CfS portal for consideration by the
Planning Policy & Place team.
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Does the proposal involve a
significant commitment or removal of resources?
Please give details.
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No
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Impact on people with any of the
following protected characteristics as defined by the Equality Act
2010, or NYCC’s additional agreed characteristics
As part of this assessment, please
consider the following questions:
·
To what extent is this service used
by particular groups of people with protected
characteristics?
·
Does the proposal relate to
functions that previous consultation has identified as
important?
·
Do different groups have different
needs or experiences in the area the proposal relates
to?
If for any characteristic it is
considered that there is likely to be an adverse impact or you have
ticked ‘Don’t know/no info available’, then a
full EIA should be carried out where this is proportionate. You are
advised to speak to your Equality rep
for advice if you are in any
doubt.
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Protected characteristic
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Potential for adverse
impact
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Don’t know/No info
available
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Yes
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No
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Age
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X
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Disability
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X
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Sex
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X
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Race
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X
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Sexual orientation
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X
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Gender reassignment
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X
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Religion or belief
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X
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Pregnancy or maternity
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X
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Marriage or civil
partnership
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X
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NYC additional
characteristics
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People in rural areas
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X
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People on a low income
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X
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Carer (unpaid family or
friend)
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X
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Are members of the armed forces
community
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X
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Does the proposal relate to an
area where there are known inequalities/probable impacts
(e.g. disabled people’s access
to public transport)? Please give details.
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Not at this stage
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Will the proposal have a
significant effect on how other organisations operate? (e.g.
partners, funding criteria, etc.). Do any of these organisations
support people with protected characteristics?
Please explain why you have reached
this conclusion.
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This proposal is purely, at this
stage, to seek approval to submit new, potential development
sites.
An EIA to assess the effect on other
organisations will be undertaken when development progresses which
will further assess any impact..
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Decision (Please tick one
option)
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EIA not relevant or
proportionate:
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ü
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Continue to full EIA:
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Reason for decision
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To seek approval to upload
details of the new development sites.
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Signed (Assistant Director or
equivalent)
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Kerry Metcalfe, Assistant Director Commercial
Property and Procurement
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Date
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7TH October
2025
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