Agenda item

Considered a report of the Corporate Director of Community Development which sought approval of the Executive to take forward to Full Council the adoption of the New Settlement (Maltkiln) Development Plan Document (DPD) incorporating the Inspector’s recommended Main Modifications and the Council’s Additional Modifications.

The Executive Member for Open to Business, Councillor Mark Crane presented the report noting that the DPD provided a framework to deliver a new mixed-use settlement of some 3000 homes and 5ha of employment land where people had access to homes, a range of employment types, local services and facilities, public transport and open spaces. Councillor Crane referenced a letter received that morning in respect of a landowner’s continued opposition to releasing land required to deliver the proposed new settlement. Although disappointing, Councillor Crane added that this opposition did not prevent the continued progression of the DPD. The DPD had been subject to a rigorous examination in public by an independent Planning Inspector who had concluded that the DPD provided an appropriate basis for the planning of Maltkiln subject to some modifications outlined in the report. Councillor Crane and other Executive members commended the proposed new settlement which would be so important in helping the council to meet its ambitious annual housing target whilst noting that Maltkiln would take some years to develop.

Resolved (unanimously)

That the Executive

i.                Approve to take forward to Full Council that the New Settlement (Maltkiln) DPD and accompanying Policy Map, incorporating the Inspector’s recommended Main Modifications and Council’s Additional Modifications, are adopted.

ii.              Approve to take forward to Full Council that the Corporate Director of Community Development in consultation with the Executive Member for Open to Business, be authorised to make further additional modifications to the DPD. Those modifications may relate exclusively to factual updates, grammatical and formatting corrections.

iii.             Approve to take forward to Full Council that the Corporate Director of Community Development, in consultation with the Executive Member for Open to Business, be authorised to publicise the adoption of the DPD and to prepare and publicise a post adoption Sustainability Appraisal Statement in accordance with the relevant Regulations.

Reasons for recommendations

The New Settlement (Maltkiln) DPD is a key driver in meeting the Council’s Priorities and ensuring a sustainable and plan-led approach to development in the area. Furthermore, it contributes to the implementation of Policy DM4 of the HDLP.

As outlined throughout this report, the DPD is considered sound and legally compliant, has been positively prepared, and has been subject to extensive community involvement, public consultation and subject to an examination in public. The independent Inspector appointed by the MHCLG has concluded that subject to recommended main modifications, the DPD satisfies the requirements of Section 20(5) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, and meets the criteria for soundness in the National Planning Policy Framework (2012).

As outlined throughout this report, the following matters have been considered – Financial Implications; Legal Implications; Climate Change Implications; Equality and Diversity (the Public Sector Equality Duty and impact upon people with protected characteristics). If applicable, the outcomes of any consultations, assessments, considerations and implications considered necessary during preparation of this report are detailed within the main body of the report.

The recommendation to provide a mechanism to correct any factual or typographical errors is important to ensure that the final document reflects the findings of the Examination in Public and provides a clear unambiguous framework for decision making.