Lead Member – Councillor R Macey – Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing Development

Report of the Director of Place

Contact: Mark Barrow         Tel: 01743 258919

RESOLVED:

i)             That, subject to minor amendments and editing, the draft consultation document on preferred sites [attached to the report] be approved for consultation;

ii)            That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing Development to confirm the final version of the documents and to publish them for public consultation.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing Development presented a report from the Director of Place seeking approval for a consultation document identifying the preferred housing and employment sites to deliver the Council’s preferred level and distribution of development across Shropshire during the period to 2036. 

He drew attention to the key headings in the report relating to the identification of preferred sites across 70 preferred sites in 56 separate settlements including Shrewsbury, the principal and key market towns and each proposed community hub, the policy direction on housing, the Green Belt review and Gypsy and Traveller sites.  He drew attention to the 9-week consultation period to run from 29 November 2018 to 31 January 2019 after which the Local Plan would be formally submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in September 2019.  The Leader added that Planning Policy Officers were undergoing a phenomenal amount of work in compiling the Local Plan and the wide consultation would include positive engagement with Parish and Town Councils throughout the county. The Planning Policy and Strategy Manager stressed that refinement of the document would be forthcoming, opinions were being tested and a planned approach was being taken.

In answer to a Member’s request, the Portfolio Holder stated that investigations would be undertaken into the possibility of Cleobury Mortimer becoming a pilot for a new housing scheme as detailed in the Government’s budget and acknowledged the plea for additional starter homes and 2-bedroom bungalows.  Referring to a question on Cross Subsidy Exception Sites, the Planning Policy and Strategy Manager confirmed that careful consideration of size of development and quality of development would be taken into account.

The Portfolio Holder explained that Place Shaping was a collective vision of housing infrastructure and an understanding of wider considerations.  The Director of Place added that place shaping was at the heart of the report and was a means of celebrating the diversity of the county.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities, Waste and Regulatory Services voiced concerns whether the potential loss of the mobile library in the Trefonen area would remove the area from its ‘Hub’ status; it was hoped that this would not be the case.  The Planning Policy and Strategy Manager assured Members that a clear and consistent approach would be taken and it was hoped that a ‘downgrade’ would not result.

Members noted that strategic development sites, including Tern Hill and Buildwas, were not included and would be brought forward for consideration in Spring 2019.  The Planning Policy and Strategy Manager stressed that houses on either side were additional and their inclusion would have left the Council open to challenge.

Responding to a Member’s concerns regarding staff resources to undertake the process and the 5 year land supply, the Portfolio Holder gave assurances that resourcing of the Officer team was a management issue but he recognised the workload involved.  Referring to the 5 year land supply, the Leader commented that this would not be an issue for some years to come and it was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97