Agenda item

Report of the Director of City Services and Commercial

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a report of the Director of City Services and Innovation, together with a detailed presentation at the meeting, regarding the review of the Local Plan. The report had been considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 14 December, 2024 (Minute 47 refers) and would be considered by Council on 14 January, 2025 where approval would be sought to undertake a Regulation 19 stage for a 6 week publication period as part of the review. The report outlined the responses received from the Regulation 18 consultation which had been used to inform the development of the Regulation Plan.

The presentation covered:-

·  The Local Plan Review – Progress and Next Steps

·  Process and practicalities

·  Land Banking and stalled sites

·  Key principles:-

o  Housing land supply

o  Employment land supply

o  Affordable housing delivery

o  New housing allocations

o  Purpose built student accommodation

o  Space standards/Design codes

o  Open space

o  Greenbelt

o  Tackling climate change

o  Development density

o  Parking standards for new development

The Committee asked questions, sought assurances and information, and made comments on a number of issues, including:-

·  Clarification of the new housing allocation figures

·  Projected population figures for Coventry and assurances regarding their accuracy

·  The new energy efficiency in homes standards were welcomed.

·  Land banking, locally and nationally

·  Ensuring that new houses are capable of being adapted in the future and are therefore “homes for life” (It was noted that introducing standards in relation to this were proposed in the new Plan)

·  Clarification of the requirements in relation to affordable housing and the inclusion of requirements for larger affordable family homes

·  The links between the proposed new Plan and a number of existing Council Policies and Strategies (including the Climate Change Strategy and Greenspaces Strategy) were noted

·  The inclusion of a requirement for electric charging points for new homes was noted

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee note the information in the report and:-

1)  Request that a joint meeting of the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) and the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4) be arranged to consider the Space Standards/Design Codes.

2)  Request that the outcome of the Regulation 19 be consultation be considered by the Committee in due course.