Agenda item

Report attached.

Members considered a report of Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of the Council, on the publication of the Local Plan (Strategic Policies and Site Allocations – henceforth referred to as the “Local Plan”) at Regulation 19 stage.  The report explained the context and content of the consultation documents that were proposed to be the subject of a public consultation exercise, due to be commenced in May 2022.

The Leader highlighted that this was a comprehensive document which would ultimately replace the existing Local Plan as the overarching planning document.  However, this would be supported by other detailed plans.  The Local Plan would identify sites for employment and housing up to 2037.  It would support the Huncoat Garden Village proposals and other housing growth in Rishton, while also protecting the Green Belt.  Additional employment land would be made available for Altham Industrial Estate and a train station park and ride would be provided in Huncoat.  Many brownfield sites had already been developed.

Local councillors had been engaged throughout the process of revising the Local Plan.  Change was sometimes controversial, but essential for the future of employment and housing.  It might not be possible to please every individual, but all were being consulted.  After the conclusion of the consultation, the document would be sent to the Planning Inspectorate for independent examination.  Any recommendations would be provided to the Council to consider and a final version then submitted to the Secretary of State in 2024.

Councillor Britcliffe asked what influence the Council had over Local Plans developed by neighbouring local authorities.  In particular, he was concerned that Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Local Plan sough to develop land up to the border with Hyndburn, at Belthorn, potentially altering the rural character of the village.  The Leader responded that the Council worked closely with its neighbours.  Blackburn with Darwen was slightly further along in the process of updating its Local Plan.  However, Hyndburn Borough Council was a statutory consultee in respect of its Local Plan.  Any issues arising could be submitted for discussion at the forthcoming Leader’s Policy Development Board.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

Full reasons were set out in the main report, which included detailed information on the following:-

• Purpose of the Local Plan;
• Key documents;
• Reasons for review;
• Timetable and progress to date;
• Summary of Local Plan contents; and
• Consultation details.

There were no alternative options for consideration or reasons

Decision                                     -    That Cabinet:

(1)     Notes the work which has already taken place, including previous statutory public consultation, on the earlier stages of preparation of the new Local Plan for Hyndburn;

(2)     Approves the content of the Local Plan document (as set out in the various papers attached to the report) and agrees to commence a 6-week statutory consultation process; and

(3)     Delegates authority to the Council’s Executive Director (Legal and Democratic Services) and the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Planning, to make any further changes considered necessary or appropriate to the consultation documents, prior to commencing consultation.