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.