Agenda item

Report No: CAB/WS/19/024

Portfolio Holders: Cllrs John Griffiths and Susan Glossop

Lead Officer: Marie Smith

(**Note: Due to their size, these documents will be circulated as a separate supplement to the agenda papers**)

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: (19 September 2019)

That:-

(1)     The content of the Inspector’s report to the Single Issue Review of Core Strategy Policy CS7 containing Main Modifications (Appendix A to Report No: CAB/WS/19/024) be noted;

(2)     The schedule of Additional Modifications (Appendix B to Report No: CAB/WS/19/024) to the Single Issue Review of Core Strategy Policy CS7 to make minor updates and corrections, be noted;

(3)    The Single Issue Review (SIR) of Policy CS7 including both main and additional modifications (Appendix C to Report No: CAB/WS/19/024) be adopted;

(4)     The Service Manager for Strategic Planning, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make minor typographical amendments or updates in preparing the final version of the Plan.

(Report No: CAB/WS/19/024)

(Councillor Sarah Broughton declared a non pecuniary interest in this item, as she was a personal acquaintance of the owner of the land at Hatchfield Farm, Newmarket.  Councillor Broughton remained in the meeting and participated in the discussion and voting thereon)

The Cabinet considered this report which recommended to Council, the adoption of the Single Issue Review (SIR) of Policy CS7, including both the main and additional modifications.

The preparation of the Forest Heath Core Strategy Single Issue Review (SIR) of Policy CS7 had now reached the end of the plan making process.  The Inspector’s Report had been received and, subject to incorporating the associated Main Modifications identified by the Inspector, they had concluded that the Local Plan was sound.

The following documents were also attached to this report:

·         Appendix A set out the Inspector’s Report which found the Local Plan sound and considered it an appropriate basis for the planning for the area of West Suffolk District Council, formally known as Forest Heath.  The main modifications were attached to the Inspector’s Report.

·         Appendix B set out the suggested additional modifications by Officers made to the SIR document to-date.

·         Appendix C set out the final version of the SIR of Core Policy Strategy CS7, which included all of the main modifications required by the Planning Inspector and the additional modifications suggested by Officers.

·         As a result of the modifications, the Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) (Appendix D) and the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) (Appendix E) documents had also been updated.

This Local Plan Single Issue Review set out the overall housing requirement for the area (formally Forest Heath) which was 6,800 homes (340 dwellings per annum) and its broad distribution across the settlements.  The Inspector had dealt with concerns arising from the horseracing industry, noise and environmental constraints and had found the document sound and an appropriate basis for planning in the area formally known as Forest Heath.  The Inspector’s report was very supportive of the work the Council had done and praised the Authority, including on the extensive consultation that was carried out.  This was a huge achievement for the Council.

Officers also clarified that in relation to Recommendation (3) of Report No: CAB/WS/19/024, the Habitats Regulations Assessment (Appendix D) and the Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix E), it had since been confirmed that these documents did not require formal adoption by the Council.

The Cabinet wished to express their thanks to the Service Manager (Strategic Planning) and the Strategic Planning Team for all of the work which had been undertaken to be able to get to this position.  The Cabinet were particularly mindful of the repercussions of not adopting this Plan and the negative impact that this could have on the District as a whole.  However, the Cabinet also wished to acknowledge the particular concerns raised by the horseracing industry within Newmarket regarding the adoption of this Local Plan, but wished to reassure them that within the development of the new West Suffolk Local Plan, there would continue to be a recognition of the importance of the horseracing industry for Newmarket.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: (19 September 2019)

That:-

(1)     The content of the Inspector’s report to the Single Issue Review of Core Strategy Policy CS7 containing Main Modifications (Appendix A to Report No: CAB/WS/19/024) be noted;

(2)     The schedule of Additional Modifications (Appendix B to Report No: CAB/WS/19/024) to the Single Issue Review of Core Strategy Policy CS7 to make minor updates and corrections, be noted;

(3)    The Single Issue Review (SIR) of Policy CS7 including both main and additional modifications (Appendix C to Report No: CAB/WS/19/024) be adopted;

(4)     The Service Manager for Strategic Planning, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make minor typographical amendments or updates in preparing the final version of the Plan.

(It was noted that Councillor Andy Drummond had abstained from voting on this item)