Agenda item

Further to Minute 123 of the Cabinet, the City Council considered a report of the Executive Director of Place detailing proposed modifications to the Coventry City Council Draft Local Plan and City Centre Area Action Plan.

The Coventry Draft Local Plan and City Centre Area Action Plan were submitted to the Secretary of State (SoS) on 1st April 2016. Following its submission, the SoS appointed an independent Inspector – Rebecca Phillips – to oversee the public examination of the Plans and their evidence base. The public examination hearing sessions took place between July 2016 and January 2017.

Following this examination process the Inspector had indicated that the Council should consult on proposed modifications in order to ensure both Plans could be considered ‘sound’ in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations (2012). The majority of the proposed modifications were minor in their nature and none of them fundamentally affect either Plan or their overall objectives or direction. The vast majority of proposed changes reflected Action Points raised by the Inspector during the hearing sessions or consultation responses received during the statutory period of consultation in early 2016. Proposed modifications could only reflect changes to the Plan that made technical or factual corrections, responded to consultation responses or issues that had been raised during the examination process. For example:

• The introduction sections to both Plans are updated to reflect the movement of Plans from consultation stages to possible adoption;
• Although the most recent national data continues to show the city’s housing need is increasing this is offset by need across Warwickshire falling. As such, need at the Coventry and Warwickshire level remains stable with no significant change. This is explained within the proposed modifications;
• A review mechanism is added to the Plan should any issues arise with delivery of new development or a fundamental failing of either Memorandum of Understanding (MOU);
• A new Masterplan principles policy is added to guide new development proposals with a specific focus on sites at Whitley, Keresley and Eastern Green;
• The threshold for Health Impact Assessments increases to 150 dwellings and sites over 5ha. This reflects national legislation;
• References to Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), its supply chain and the Universities are strengthened to highlight their importance to the local economy;
• The list of proposed site allocations remains unchanged although some small adjustments to site boundaries are proposed at Keresley, Eastern Green, Cromwell Lane, London Road / Allard Way and the Browns Lane Nursery Site (Appendix 3);
• Infrastructure requirements and considerations for site allocations are strengthened and clarified – especially around highway improvements. This is also reflected in an updated Infrastructure Delivery Plan;
• The new Parish Council status at Finham is recognised;
• The threshold for retail impact assessments is increased to 1,000sq.m;
• Additional references are added to strengthen the protection of ecology and biodiversity value as well as overall green infrastructure;
• The management of Local Green Space is strengthened within Policy GB1. The boundaries for Local Green Space have also been slightly amended to reflect the presence of existing development and to correct historic cartographical errors. These are set out in Appendix 3;
• Policy GB2 is amended to reference ‘safeguarded land’ as opposed to ‘reserved land’. This relates to a small number of land parcels on the city’s southern boundary;
• Heritage policies are strengthened to reflect the city centre’s Heritage Action Zone status, with additional clarification added around the Heritage Park proposals;
• Additional clarity is added around transport infrastructure and the links to regional strategies such as Midlands Connect. Additional references are also added to strengthen the importance of public transport provisions and city wide connectivity;
• Flood risk, drainage and water resources policies have been strengthened in partnership with the Environment Agency. This reflects the most up to date national guidance;
• References to deculverting are increased with such proposals being encouraged where appropriate and viable;
• A new policy is to be added to cover non-mineral developments within mineral safeguarding areas. This will ensure consistency with national guidance; and
• Both monitoring frameworks have been updated to ensure appropriate indicators and targets are identified.

The following amendment (in italics) was moved by Councillor Ridley, seconded by Councillor Male and lost:

Amend Recommendation 1:

Add the following to the end of the existing Recommendation 1

“subject to safeguards that ensure a phased release of greenbelt land after brownfield sites have been exhausted”

Recommendation 1 would then read:

“Approves the proposed Modifications to the ‘Local Plan Publication Draft (2011-2031)’ and the ‘City Centre Area Action Plan Publication Draft (2011-2031)’ subject to safeguards that ensure a phased release of greenbelt land after brownfield sites have been exhausted”

RESOLVED that the City Council:

1)  Approves the Proposed Modifications to the "Local Plan Publication Draft (2011-2031)" and the “City Centre Area Action Plan Publication Draft (2011-2031)”.

2)  Authorises a period of statutory public consultation beginning on 15th March 2017 and ending on 28th April 2017.

3)  Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Development, the Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee and the Chair of Planning Committee, to take full account of the responses received to the statutory period of public consultation, propose any further minor amendments to both Plans (where this is necessary to correct any errors and aid clarity) and submit the Plans back to the Secretary of State’s nominated Inspector for her final consideration.