Borough Local Plan (2013-2033)
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Borough Local Plan (2013-2033) Updated Consultation Statement January 2018 1 RBWM Borough Local Plan Consultation Statement January 2018 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Legal Requirements for Consultation Statement 3. Consultations Stages Undertaken 4. Key Themes and Issues from LDF Options Consultation, June 2009 5. Key Themes and Issues for “Planning for the Future”, April 2012 6. Key Themes and Issues from Borough Local Plan: Preferred Options, January 2014 7. Key Themes and Issues from ‘Planning for the Future’, 2015 8. Draft Borough Local Plan (Regulation 18): Summary of Statement of Consultation, December 2016 Appendix A: Who Has Been Involved? Appendix B: Representations and Issues; Local Development Framework (LDF) Options Consultation (2009) Appendix C: Representations and Issues; ‘Planning for the Future’ (2012) Appendix D: Representations and Issues: Borough Local Plan; Preferred Options DPD Consultation 2014 Appendix E: Representations and Issues; Borough Local Plan: ‘Planning for the Future’ Consultation Summer 2015 2 1. Introduction 1.1 This statement sets out how the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead has undertaken community engagement and stakeholder involvement in the preparation of the Borough Local Plan. It provides information on the consultation methods used throughout the preparation process and shows that the Royal Borough has satisfied the requirements of the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), adopted 27 September 2016 and its previous version adopted in June 2006. 1.2 This statement also fulfils the requirements of the Town and County Planning (Local Planning) Regulations 2012, (as amended) (“The Local Planning Regulations”). In accordance with the Regulations 17(d) and 22, this statement also shows how the representations made pursuant to Regulation 18 have been taken into account and shaped the Borough Local Plan Submission Version (“BLPSV”). Appendix A sets out the consultees involved in the preparation of the Borough Local Plan from 2009 through to 2017. 2. Legal Requirements for Consultation Statement 2.1 The Consultation Statement is a legal requirement to accompany the Submission of the Borough Local Plan to the Secretary of State to fulfil the requirements set out in the Local Planning Regulations, specifically Regulation 22 (1) paragraph (c) which requires the Statement to demonstrate: (i) which bodies and persons the local planning authority invited to make representations under regulation 18, (ii) how those bodies and persons were invited to make representations under regulation18, (iii) a summary of the main issues raised by the representations made pursuant to regulation 18, (iv) how any representations made pursuant to regulation 18 have been taken into account; (v) if representations were made pursuant to regulation 20, the number of representations made and a summary of the main issues raised in those representations; (vi) if no representations were made in regulation 20, that no such representations were made. 2.2 During the course of preparing the Borough Local Plan the relevant Regulations, originally made in 2004, were amended in 2008 and 2009. In April 2012 the Local Planning Regulations (currently in force) replaced the 2004 Regulations (as amended) in their entirety. 2.3 This Consultation Statement forms one of the “submission documents” prescribed by Regulation 22. This statement considers the consultation and public stakeholder involvement processes involved at each stage of the preparation of the Local Plan: 2.4 Five main periods of consultation and engagement during the preparation of the Borough Local Plan (BLP) may be summarised as follows: i. Local Development Framework (LDF) Options Consultation: 6 March to 22 May 2009 3 ii. RBWM Borough Local Plan Consultation (‘Planning for the Future’): 10 February to 16 March 2012: Business Workshop: March 2012 Neighbourhood Planning Groups/Parish Council sites consultation: August and September 2012 Public Sites (housing and employment) Consultation: November 2012 to January 2013 Spencers Farm and Ockwells Manor Consultation: November 2012 to January 2013 iii. Borough Local Plan: Preferred Options DPD Consultation: January to March 2014 iv. Borough Local Plan: ‘Planning for the Future’ Consultation: Summer 2015. v. Draft Borough Local Plan: Regulation 18 consultation: December 2016 to January 2017 2.5 The Regulation 19 Publication period from June to September 2017 allowed Regulation 20 representations to be made on the BLPSV. Since September 2017, further discussion on Duty to Co-operate matters have taken place with local authority partners and other prescribed bodies. Further information relating to the Duty to Co- operate can be found in the Council’s Duty to Co-operate Compliance Statement, January 2018, which is available on the Planning Policy pages of the Council’s website: https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200209/planning_policy Statement of Community Involvement 2.6 Section 18 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires local planning authorities to produce a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) which explains how local communities and other interested parties will be engaged in the production of Local Plans and in the determination of planning applications. 2.7 The Reg 18 BLP consultation was undertaken in the light of the SCI adopted in September 2016. A copy of this document is available on the Council’s website at: https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200209/planning_policy/460/statement_of_community _involvement 2.8 All previous planning policy consultations have been conducted in line with the earlier version of the SCI adopted in 2006. Sustainability Appraisal requirements 2.7 A Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is required to encourage sustainable development through improved integration of environmental, economic and social considerations throughout the preparation and adoption of land use plans and policies. UK regulations stipulate that Sustainability Appraisal of plans should meet the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive. 2.8 The Council prepared a Sustainability Appraisal for the Borough Local Plan Preferred Options document. This SA was consulted on from January until March 2014 alongside the Borough Local Plan Preferred Options document. Prior to this the Council produced a combined draft Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report for the 4 Borough Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plans. This was consulted on in September - October 2011 for a five-week period. As authorities with environmental responsibilities, the Environment Agency, Natural England and English Heritage were all consulted on the content of the document. Comments were incorporated into the Scoping Reports. 2.9 The Council has also undertaken appropriate screenings against the Habitat Regulations using criteria agreed with by Natural England at each stage of consultation. Screening opinions have concluded that the Borough Local Plan is unlikely to have significant effects that would affect an international site. Duty to Co-operate 2.10 A further legal requirement introduced by the Localism Act 2011 requires local planning authorities and other bodies to cooperate with each other in the preparation of Local Plan documents. The Council has complied with the Duty to Cooperate, by holding ongoing and iterative discussions with the relevant organisations. Compliance with the Duty is also demonstrated by the evidence base comprising documents that, where appropriate, consider matters beyond the borough boundary. 2.11 Where appropriate, consultation on methodologies and draft documents is being undertaken with key stakeholders under the Duty to Cooperate, for example, the Council has held discussions with surrounding authorities particularly in relation to meeting objectively assessed housing and employment needs and the use of population projections. 2.12 The Council has engaged with all statutory consultees on the writing of relevant Borough Local Plan policies, either via email or holding meetings with the necessary bodies. Further details of the cooperation which has taken place between neighbouring local authorities and other stakeholders are presented in a separate Duty to Cooperate Compliance Statement, January 2018, available on the Council’s website. 5 3. Consultation stages undertaken 3.1 RBWM has been working on a new Borough Local Plan since 2008, having previously worked towards a Local Development Framework and produced a number of consultation documents. These consultations included the LDF Options Consultation in 2009, a ‘Planning for the Future’ (‘issues and options’) consultation early in 2012, followed by a series of related other consultations up to January 2013. 3.2 Since then there has been the Borough Local Plan: Preferred Options consultation early in 2014 and a Borough Local Plan Summer 2015 Consultation, which was a more focussed series of consultations designed to deal with certain specific issues and consult on parts of the evidence base. 3.3 Work has continued on the draft BLP and evidence base following the Summer 2015 consultation, together with further meetings with neighbouring authorities, and legal advice was sought on the compliance and soundness of the draft BLP. A revised programme was agreed at the Council Cabinet meeting on 29 September 2016 which decided to re-consult with a full draft BLP under Regulation 18 stage and to ensure the evidence was up to date and agreed with neighbouring local authorities as far as is reasonably possible. 3.4 This statement