Central Lincolnshire Local Plan CONSULTATION STATEMENT In support of the Proposed Submission Local Plan April 2016 1 Introduction Introduction 1.1 The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan has been prepared in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. This statement demonstrates how the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee (CLJSPC) has involved the public and its key partners in the preparation of the Local Plan, in accordance with the Regulations and the Committee’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement (2014). 1.2 This Consultation Statement is prepared in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 which requires, inter alia, the publication (as part of a package of documents which collectively make up the ‘Proposed Submission Document’ s as defined by Regulation 17) of a statement setting out: “(i) which bodies and persons were invited to make representations under regulation 18, (ii) how those bodies and persons were invited to make such representations, (iii) a summary of the main issues raised by those representations, and (iv) how those main issues have been addressed in the DPD” (note: for the avoidance of doubt, ‘DPD’ above stands for Development Plan Document. A Local Plan is a form of DPD, and in essence the two phrases are interchangeable) Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 1.3 There is no current Local Plan for Central Lincolnshire. At present, the development plan for the area (excluding Minerals and Waste matters) comprises the adopted Local Plans for Lincoln, West Lindsey and North Kesteven. These three plans will be superseded in their entirety on adoption of the central Lincolnshire Local Plan. 1.4 Originally, it was intended to prepare a ‘Core Strategy’ Local Plan, followed by a ‘Site Allocations’ Local Plan, but this approach was abandoned following events in late 2013. In March 2014, it was decided to commence a single Local Plan for the area. Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) 1.5 In addition to national Acts and Regulations governing consultation arrangements on an emerging Local Plan, the CLJSPC also adopted an SCI on 12 May 2014. The commitments made in that SCI must be followed through (unless there are legal reasons to the contrary, such as a change in national Regulations). Summary of community and stakeholder engagement on the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 1.6 The CLJSPC agreed a three stage consultation process to preparing the Local Plan, together with a timetable for doing so (see the Local Development Scheme for the timetable). 1.7 The three consultation stages proposed, which have been followed through on, were: Preliminary Draft Local Plan – which was consulted upon Oct-Nov 2014 Further Draft Local Plan – which was consulted upon Oct-Nov 2015 Proposed Submission Local Plan – scheduled for consultation Apr-May 2016 1.8 The Preliminary Draft and the Further Draft were both undertaken under the ‘Regulation 18’ requirements, though as will be seen in this statement, consultation which took place at these stages were considerably greater than the legal minimum requirement as set by Regulation 18. Duty to cooperate 1.9 Prescribed public bodies have a duty to cooperate on planning issues that cross administrative boundaries. A separate Statement of Compliance with the Duty to Cooperate (April 2016) is available on our website. Structure of this Consultation Statement 1.10 The rest of this report is structured so as to clearly demonstrate how the requirements set out at paragraph 1.2 have been complied with 2 Which bodies and persons were invited to make representations under regulation 18? Introduction 2.1 As stated in section 1, the CLJSPC undertook two separate consultation stages under regulation 18, first in October-November 2014, and again in October-November 2015. October-November 2014 Consultation 2.2 Appendix 1 contains the full list of bodies and persons invited to make representations at the first consultation stage. October-November 2015 Consultation 2.3 Appendix 2 contains the full list of bodies and persons invited to make representations at the second consultation stage. 3 How were those bodies and persons invited to make such representations under regulation 18? Introduction 3.1 As stated in section 1, the CLJSPC undertook two separate consultation stages under regulation 18, first in October-November 2014, and again in October-November 2015. October-November 2014 Consultation 3.2 Appendix 3 contains a sample letter which was sent, by email or hard copy letter, to those bodies and persons. This sets out the formal arrangements, and meets our statutory minimum requirements under the Regulations and SCI commitments. 3.3 Appendix 4 supplements appendix 3, and sets out a variety of information to demonstrate how people were invited, informed or otherwise got involved with the consultation. October-November 2015 Consultation 3.4 Appendix 5 contains a sample letter which was sent, by email or hard copy letter, to those bodies and persons. This sets out the formal arrangements, and meets our statutory minimum requirements under the Regulations and SCI commitments. 3.5 Appendix 6 supplements appendix 5, and sets out a variety of information to demonstrate how people were invited, informed or otherwise got involved with the consultation. 4 A summary of the main issues raised by those representations under regulation 18 Introduction 4.1 As stated in section 1, the CLJSPC undertook two separate consultation stages under regulation 18, first in October-November 2014, and again in October-November 2015. October-November 2014 Consultation 4.2 On 12 January 2015, the CLJSPC considered and approved a ‘Key Issues Raised’ report, which summarised all of the main issues raised by those representations under the first Regulation 18 stage consultation. 4.3 That report was published on our website, following Committee approval, and can be found in our planning policy library (Reference LP01A). That report forms part of our Consultation Statement requirements as set by regulation 19 (i.e. in addition to this report). http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/central-lincolnshire/planning-policy- library/126952.article October-November 2015 Consultation 4.4 Likewise, on 18 January 2016 the CLJSPC considered and approved a ‘Key Issues Raised’ report, which summarised all of the main issues raised by those representations under the second Regulation 18 stage consultation. 4.5 That report was published on our website, following Committee approval, and can be found in our planning policy library (Reference LP02A). That report forms part of our Consultation Statement requirements as set by regulation 19 (i.e. in addition to this report). http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/central-lincolnshire/planning-policy- library/126952.article 5 How have those main issues raised under regulation 18 been addressed in the Local Plan? Introduction 5.1 As stated in section 1, the CLJSPC undertook two separate consultation stages under regulation 18, first in October-November 2014, and again in October-November 2015. Individual Policy Evidence Reports 5.2 At the Further Draft Consultation stage, October – November 2015, a set of ‘Evidence Reports’ were published, including a bespoke Evidence Report for each Policy proposed in the Local Plan. Such Evidence Reports set out the background to the Policy, a summary of issues raised at the Preliminary Draft consultation stage, and an explanation of how those main issues raised have been addressed (or not) in the preparation of the Local Plan. 5.3 These Evidence Reports have been updated once more, dated April 2016, and now set out a summary of issues raised at both the Preliminary Draft and the Further Draft consultation stages, and an explanation of how the main issues raised have been addressed (or not) in the preparation of the Proposed Submission Local Plan. 5.4 This collection of Evidence Reports should be read alongside, and in affect form part of, this Consultation Statement, and collectively assist in the fulfilment of the Regulations. 5.5 The full set of Evidence Reports are available in the planning library http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/central-lincolnshire/planning-policy-library/126952.article , with each having a reference number starting PS.EVR (followed by the policy number). Appendix 1 – Persons consulted Oct-Nov 2014 Preliminary Draft Consultation Company Last Name First Name Job Title Lincolnshire Police Area Commander Chief Superintendent Lincolnshire County Chief Executive Council Powergen Plc Director of Rail Director of Rail Strategy Strategy & & Stakeholder Relations Stakeholder Relations Bassetlaw Council Scofield Richard Lincolnshire Police Rothwell Neal S Head of Asset & Facilities Management East Lindsey District Planning, Sports and Council Leisure Environmental Services Nottinghamshire County Council South Kesteven District Sinclair Karen Regeneration Council South Holland District Williams S Development Council Boston Borough Council Lumb S Planning Lincolnshire Police Heads Simon Chief Inspector (Sleaford Police Station) Mono Consultants Limited Wilson Carolyn Senior Planner Natural England Murray Sally Planning Advisor Anglian Water - Planning Lill Amie Liaison Manager & Equivalence Team Severn Trent Water Pearce Steve Asset Protection Manager EDF Energy West Division, Lincolnshire Police Npower Powergen Retail Limited Sainsbury's Energy Scottish Power Seeboard Energy East Lindsey District Turton Kay Council Environment Agency