Agenda item

Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP): Planning Inspector's Report and Adoption

Report No: CAB/WS/19/025

Portfolio Holders: Cllr 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**)

Decision:

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: (19 September 2019)

That:-

(1) The content of the Inspector’s report to the Site Allocations Local Plan containing Main Modifications (Appendix A to Report No: CAB/WS/19/025) be noted; and

(2) The schedule of Additional Modifications (Appendix B to Report No: CAB/WS/19/025) to the Site Allocations Local Plan to make minor updates and corrections be noted; and

(3) The following documents be adopted:

· The Site Allocations Local Plan including both main and additional modifications (Appendix C to Report No: CAB/WS/19/025).

· The Policies Map (Appendix D to Report No: CAB/WS/19/025).

(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.

Minutes:

(Report No: CAB/WS/19/025)

(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 Site Allocations Local Plan, including both the main and additional modifications.

The preparation of the Forest Heath Site Allocations Local Plan (SALP) had now reached the end of the plan making process. The Inspector’s Report had now 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 formally known as Forest Heath.

· Appendix B set out the additional modifications suggested by Officers to the SALP document.

· Appendix C set out the final version of the SALP, along with a Policies Map Book showing the allocations (Appendix D). These documents 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 Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) and the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) documents had also been updated.

The Forest Heath Site Allocations Local Plan contained the site specific housing, employment and other allocations to meet the requirements of the Core Strategy. This Plan would complete the suite of Local Plan documents for the former Forest Heath area and for West Suffolk. The Inspector had dealt with concerns arising from the horseracing industry, noise and environmental constraints and had concluded finding 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 that 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 in order for development to be delivered in a planned way.

Officers also clarified that in relation to Recommendation (3) of Report No: CAB/WS/19/025, the Habitats Regulations Assessment (Appendix E) and the Sustainability Appraisal (Appendix F), 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 again 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 recognitions of the importance of the horseracing industry for Newmarket.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL: (19 September 2019)