Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Brian Jones, Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel (copy enclosed) presenting the recommendations from the Strategic Investment Group regarding the Replacement LDP Draft Preferred Strategy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Council the Strategic Planning Group recommendations regarding the Draft Replacement LDP Preferred Strategy as follows –

 

(a)       Draft Proposed Levels of Growth:

 

68ha of employment land to accommodate a forecasted land requirement of 47.6ha

Land for 3,775 new homes to meet a housing requirement of 3,275 homes

 

(b)       Draft Proposed Spatial Approach:

 

Based on Option 3 – focus development in Bodelwyddan Strategic Site and serviced settlements: the top three tiers in the settlement hierarchy (main centres, local centres and villages) with more limited growth in other unserviced settlements (infill & small sites within development boundaries), primarily focused on meeting local needs

 

(c)        to recommend the Draft Preferred Strategy (Appendix 2 to the report) in its entirety to Council, and

 

(d)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessments (Appendix 3 to the report) as part of its consideration.

Councillor Brian Jones presented the report detailing the work undertaken to date on Denbighshire’s Replacement Local Development Plan (LDP) and recommendations from the Strategic Planning Group regarding the Draft Preferred Strategy for the LDP.  The Replacement LDP would provide up to date planning policies and site allocations for development to address issues and needs in the county for the period 2018 – 2033.  In brief, the Draft Preferred Strategy set out –

 

Draft Proposed Levels of Growth –

 

·         68ha of employment land to accommodate a forecasted land requirement of 47.6ha

·         Land for 3,775 new homes to meet a housing requirement of 3,275 homes

 

Draft Proposed Spatial Approach –

 

·         Focus development in Bodelwyddan Strategic Site and serviced settlements: the top three tiers in the settlement hierarchy (main centres, local centres and villages) with more limited growth in other unserviced settlements (infill & small sites within development boundaries), primarily focused on meeting local needs.

 

The report provided some background regarding the establishment and membership of the Strategic Planning Group (SPG) together with the development of the Draft Preferred Strategy in terms of developing growth and spatial options and setting out the context for identifying how much development land was required for housing and employment and where that development should be located. The majority of the SPG had agreed to recommend preferred growth levels, the proposed spatial approach and the complete Draft Preferred Strategy document to Cabinet and Council.  The Chair and Elwy MAG representative supported the housing growth figure but not the employment land figure so by implication also did not support the spatial approach.

 

Cabinet considered the report and recommendations put forward by the SPG and debated focused on the following areas –

 

·         officers acknowledged the need to make provision for a Gypsy and Traveller transit site through the LDP process which involved a number of steps and would be included in the Deposit LDP stage along with all other site allocations

·         Councillor Tony Thomas referred to issues raised by some Member Area Groups (MAGs) and felt it would be prudent to defer consideration of the item to allow those issues to be addressed and also to better reflect the needs of small businesses which were vital to Denbighshire’s economy.  At the Chair’s invitation Councillor Emrys Wynne, Ruthin MAG representative on the SPG summarised Ruthin MAG’s concerns regarding the potential reduction in the amount of employment land available in Ruthin and subsequent detrimental impact on the locality which was further elaborated upon by Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts.  Officers clarified that the employment land figures in the Draft Preferred Strategy provided a broad indication of proposed growth levels which had been based on the BE Group report who had considered the sites in some detail and the reasoning behind the recommendations was explained in terms of the Ruthin sites at Glasdir and Lon Parcwr.  Assurances were provided that no site allocations were being proposed at this stage and if the Draft Preferred Strategy was approved for consultation there would be an opportunity to feedback and inform that work going forward and requests from MAGs to revisit the allocation of employment sites would be accommodated.  Prestatyn MAG had recently put forward a potential employment site for inclusion in the LDP and Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill took assurance that there was no bar to bringing additional sites forward at a later date for consideration as part of the site allocation process and therefore supported the SPG recommendations

·         Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts challenged the proposed employment growth figure and basis of the calculations made by the BE Group, particularly with regard to the use of past completion rates which would not compare favourably in Ruthin, and considered that allocations should be based on need, reiterating his concerns regarding the potential loss of employment land available in Ruthin with no changes proposed in other areas.  Officers advised of the requirement to undertake an employment land review and identify requirements and allocate sites in the LDP which was part of the next stage, consequently the BE Group had reviewed current availability and recommended land to carry forward.  It was reiterated that the site allocation details and recommendations were not part of the current stage in the process but would be considered in detail at the next stage – none of the sites were being ruled in or out at this point.  The Preferred Strategy identified the needs in Denbighshire and more detailed discussion on individual areas would take place at a later stage

·         some discussion focused on the robustness of the process used to engage members which had involved the establishment of the SPG chaired by Councillor Brian Jones (Lead Member) and included the Chair of Planning Committee and one representative from each MAG to report and feedback contributions together with two all member briefings.  Councillor Mark Young asked for confirmation in terms of the SPG recommendations and it was noted that the Group had voted in favour of the recommendations by 5 votes to 2 – the Chair and the Elwy MAG representative did not support the employment land figures.  Councillor Brian Jones reported upon the SPG meetings and wealth of evidence considered together with his personal view regarding economic growth and the importance of small businesses.  Councillor Hilditch-Roberts felt it was important for the Lead Member and other members to be comfortable with the recommendations and queried the timetable for delivery and whether there was scope to further address outstanding issues prior to submission of the document to Council.  The Leader pointed out that apart from Elwy MAG all other MAG representatives on the SPG had voted in favour of the recommendations and there would be a further opportunity to deal with the issues raised regarding site allocations at a later stage and review the employment land figures following the consultation period.  Officers also referred to the Delivery Agreement setting out the tight timetable for producing the Replacement LDP which had been approved by Council and subsequently Welsh Government

·         Councillor Richard Mainon reiterated the importance of ensuring the correct outcome at this stage and queried how feedback from the earlier consultation had influenced the growth plan and allocation of employment land given that the initial steer had been for Option 2.  He challenged the subsequent change in direction and impact on the Bodelwyddan Key Strategic Site, particularly given the introduction of the BE Group report at a relatively late stage within the process which had a significant effect on the growth figures presented.  Officers explained the initial work untaken by a statistician from Conwy County Borough Council based on growth scenarios and options linked to jobs growth and subsequent land requirement calculations to provide a basic needs level for household growth options.  The BE Group had undertaken a different piece of work with regard to an employment land review which involved consultation with agents and businesses and reported a strong desire for further growth requirements.  The evidence base for the proposed growth level calculations relating to employment land had been detailed within the BE Group report which had been made available to all members.

 

The Leader invited submissions/questions from non-Cabinet members –

 

·         Councillor Rhys Thomas, Denbigh MAG Representative on the SPG reported that the Group had worked hard together to benefit the whole of Denbighshire and individual ward area issues could be addressed at a later stage in the process.  He added that there would be aspects of the LDP with links to the North Wales Growth Deal which should be discussed during the consultation process.  The Leader respected the work of the SPG and in terms of the regional growth deal he confirmed the potential for massive investment

·         Councillor Arwel Roberts, Elwy MAG Representative on the SPG referred to his late involvement in the Group and at a recent Elwy MAG meeting discussion focused on the housing requirement in Bodelwyddan and concerns regarding the potential 26ha of land for industrial use and whether other sites in the Elwy MAG area had been considered.  Officers explained that Bodelwydan currently had outline planning permission to March 2021 for various uses including 26ha of employment land recommended to be carried forward to the next LDP; there was permission for 1715 homes in Bodelwyddan which had not yet expired.  In meeting housing needs outline planning permission which may come forward had been considered and with that an allowance for 400 units had been considered a reasonable assessment as to what could be delivered by 2033

·         Councillor Graham Timms, Dee Valley MAG Representative on the SPG confirmed that the SPG had considered a vast and complex amount of information and he agreed with Councillor Brian Jones regarding the importance of small businesses and the need for investment in that area across Denbighshire including the Dee Valley.  The Corporate Director Economy and Public Realm confirmed that there was potential for future funding arising from the North Wales Growth Deal to fund employment sites in the Dee Valley area and reiterated assurances that there would be opportunity to bring forward sites as part of a future stage in the process to enable that investment to take place

·         Councillor Martyn Holland queried the potential for Welsh Government (WG) intervention given their involvement in the last LDP process.  Officers confirmed they had confidence in the figures provided which had been based on the best information available.  The current emphasis of WG was based on deliverability and feedback from WG would be sought as part of the consultation process.

 

Cabinet considered the recommendations of the SPG as detailed within the report and whether to recommend them to Council.  It was agreed that each recommendation be voted upon separately for clarity and it was subsequently –

 

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend to Council the Strategic Planning Group recommendations regarding the Draft Replacement LDP Preferred Strategy as follows –

 

(a)       Draft Proposed Levels of Growth:

 

68ha of employment land to accommodate a forecasted land requirement of 47.6ha

Land for 3,775 new homes to meet a housing requirement of 3,275 homes

 

(b)       Draft Proposed Spatial Approach:

 

Based on Option 3 – focus development in Bodelwyddan Strategic Site and serviced settlements: the top three tiers in the settlement hierarchy (main centres, local centres and villages) with more limited growth in other unserviced settlements (infill & small sites within development boundaries), primarily focused on meeting local needs

 

(c)        to recommend the Draft Preferred Strategy (Appendix 2 to the report) in its entirety to Council, and

 

(d)       confirms that it has read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessments (Appendix 3 to the report) as part of its consideration.

 

The votes for each of the above recommendations were recorded as follows –

 

(a)       Councillors Hugh Evans, Bobby Feeley, Brian Jones, Julian Thompson-Hill and Mark Young – IN FAVOUR

            Councillor Richard Mainon – AGAINST

            Councillors Huw Hilditch-Roberts and Tony Thomas – ABSTAINED

 

(b)       Councillors Hugh Evans, Bobby Feeley, Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Julian Thompson-Hill and Mark Young – IN FAVOUR

            Councillor Richard Mainon – AGAINST

            Councillors Brian Jones and Tony Thomas – ABSTAINED

 

(c)        Councillors Hugh Evans, Bobby Feeley, Huw Hilditch-Roberts, Brian Jones, Tony Thomas, Julian Thompson-Hill and Mark Young – IN FAVOUR

            Councillor Richard Mainon – AGAINST

 

(d)       ALL IN FAVOUR.

 

At this juncture (11.30 a.m.) the meeting adjourned for a refreshment break.