Agenda item

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, on the Government’s proposed changes to the planning rules.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, provided a report on the Governments proposals to reform the planning system in England, as set out in the White Paper Planning for the Future.  The report also considered the changes proposed by the Government to the way in which housing numbers were calculated for local planning authorities, as set out in the consultation paper Changes to the current planning system.

The proposed reforms in the White Paper were significant.  The changes would require completely new legislation and guidance and would leave behind many of the principles and practices associated with the current planning system.  It was described in the White Paper as a “whole new planning system for England”.  Notwithstanding the extent of the change, the White Paper envisaged that new Local Plans would be in place by the end of Parliament in 2024. 

Reform was considered necessary to deliver the high quality homes and places needed and to unlock growth and opportunity in all parts of the country.  The proposed changes were intended to improve the user experience of the planning system, making it fit for the next century, including use of improved technology and data to underpin decision making.

Under the proposals, the planning system would comprise three pillars:

• Pillar One      Planning for development
• Pillar Two      Planning for beautiful and sustainable places
• Pillar three    Planning for infrastructure and connected places

The White Paper also included details of how the new system would be implemented and proposed that the cost of operating the new planning system should be principally funded by the beneficiaries of planning gain – landowners and developers – rather than the national or local tax payer.  Fees for planning applications would be set locally and income could be gained from the development of the Local Plan and enforcement. 

The second document, a consultation paper on changes to the current planning system, included 4 main proposals:-

• Changes to the standard method for assessing local housing need;
• Securing of First Homes through developer contributions in the short term until the transition to a new system;
• Supporting small and medium-sized builders by temporarily lifting the small sites threshold below which developers did not need to contribute to affordable housing; and
• Extending the current Permission in Principle to major development.

In consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Officers would prepare a response to Government on the proposed changes to the planning system.  The response would be circulated to all Members.

The Council was seeking to publish the publication version of the Local Plan in spring 2021, however, there could be a requirement for the Council to produce a new style Local Plan at around that time.  It would, therefore, be necessary for a decision to be made about whether to continue with the “old style plan” or to develop a “new style plan” as envisaged by Government.

Officers intended to consult elected Members on the sites that had been shortlisted for the Local Plan in October 2020.

Councillor Miles Parkinson highlighted key elements of the report including:-

• The two concurrent proposals;
• Changes to the housing development needs system;
• The intention to streamline delivery to unlock the potential for growth;
• New Local Plans against which applications would be determined;
• Revised decision making powers;
• Housing numbers to be determined by the Government;
• A national policy framework for development management;
• 3 categories of land: Growth Areas, Residential Areas, Protected Areas; and
• Levels of evidence required.

Any views from Members should be submitted to the Council’s Planning and Transportation Officer by no later than 25 September 2020, following which the response would be circulated to all councillors.

There remained a need to attract and keep businesses in Hyndburn, including the identification of new employment land in Altham.  The Leader of the Council would bring a report to the Cabinet in October 2020 on Site Allocations.

The following Members spoke on the proposed planning reforms: T O’ Kane, J Addison, J Scales, P McGinley and D Parkins.  The following matters were raised:-

• The need for suitable homes for the elderly, including bungalows and sheltered accommodation, in the face of an increasing elderly population, including those with age related disabilities;
• Concern about the potential loss of the requirement to provide affordable homes for younger people, in the drive to provide ‘beautiful and sustainable’ places;

• Concern about the direction of travel and a sense that the existing planning regime was better.  Reports of delays under the current system were something of a myth and often delays were caused by securing funding or the purchase of the land.
• Concern about accelerated loss of Green Belt land and the extension of urban sprawl.
• Pressure to double housing development targets, leading to poorly thought out developments.
• Concern about an erosion of planning officers’ ability to engage with developers to make the right deals regarding infrastructure and public realm facilities.
• Concern about a lack of focus on the development of brownfield sites and consequential shift to Green Belt developments.
• A recent site visit by Members to the former Huncoat Power station site and acknowledgement of the planned development there, coupled with a need to provide environmental protection for wildlife, such as deer and badgers.

The Leader of the Council noted the comments made at the meeting and encouraged all Members to give their feedback on the documents.  The proposals in the White Paper might, or might not, come to fruition.  Site allocations was a separate matter.  It was recognised that people were living longer and the population in Hyndburn included more elderly.  However, it was up to developers, not the planners, to deliver new housing in the Borough.

Resolved                           (1)  That the report on proposed changes to the planning regime be noted.

(2)  That a consultation response be agreed with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and that the response be circulated to all Members. 

(3)  That Member briefings on Site Allocations in Hyndburn be arranged for October 2020 to review the sites that are shortlisted for inclusion in the Local Plan.