Swale Borough Local Plan: Updated Duty to Cooperate Statement Covering the Period December 2015 – December 2016 1. Introductio
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CD/011b Swale Borough Local Plan: Updated Duty to Cooperate Statement covering the period December 2015 – December 2016 1. Introduction 1.1 Since the submission of the Local Plan for Examination in Public (at April 2015) together with the covering Duty to Cooperate Statement (CD/011), the statement was updated at December 2015 to cover the additional research which was undertaken ahead of the Examination in Public (CD/011a). The Examination in Public (EIP) was paused after the initial hearing in December 2015 and followed by the Inspector’s Interim Findings published in late January and February 2016 (ID/9a-d). 1.2 The Inspector’s Interim Findings (ID/9a-d) followed the first phase of the EIP on the Swale Borough Local Plan. The Inspector noted at ID/9c (paras1-5) that she was satisfied that the preparation of the plan and additional work which would inform any main modifications has been based on co-operation and effective collaboration with the relevant organisations and that the DTC had been met. 1.3 In response to the detail of the Interim Findings, the Council has prepared and consulted on Main Modifications to the Swale Local Plan. These have been the subject of discussion and consultation with key stakeholders and neighbouring districts. However, as described in CD/011, contact with those bodies has continued as they progress their own strategies and plans. 1.4 This report provides a review of issues identified as potential strategic issues for the Borough or stakeholders in CD/011 and updates the situation. The Appendices to this update includes responses and sets out the actions taken and results of any cooperation. 2. Who does Swale Co-operate with? 2.1 Table 4.1 of CD/011 remains valid in this respect, with any additional bodies noted below for relevant topics. Regular liaison arrangements as set out in CD/011 continue. 3. Update on Strategic Issues Housing Need and Development Target Issues 3.1 The Inspector’s Interim Findings ID/9c indicated a new housing target for the Plan period of 776 dwellings per annum and a high degree of confidence that the Council would be able to accommodate this target, whilst maintaining its settlement strategy of two planning areas and should therefore propose main modifications to meet the new target. The Council has therefore done this 1 CD/011b through the Main Modifications document (SBC/PS/101). As a consequence, the Council has not found it necessary to request that any other neighbouring district assist with meeting any portion of the new housing target. Neighbouring district councils, although grappling with challenging housing targets of their own, have not to date needed to approach Swale to meet any of their need to date. This has been borne out in ongoing co-operation with neighbouring districts and the GLA as demonstrated below. 3.2 The Maidstone Local Plan has met its own objectively assessed housing need through the plan within its own administrative area. Swale BC made comments on the publication version of the Maidstone plan at March 2016 (on matters other than housing), which were subsequently resolved through discussion and proposed minor changes to the plan. A statement of Common Ground was also agreed between the two authorities at August 2016 which is at Appendix 1of this report and confirms the mutually agreed position on meeting housing need. The Maidstone Local Plan has been subject to EIP during October / November 2016, and Swale BC has been satisfied to rely upon the Statement of Common Ground in respect of both the Duty to Co- operate generally and upon the matter of meeting housing needs. Maidstone BC has also indicated their satisfaction in response to consultation with Main Modification 42 in respect of the new development targets. 3.3 The Canterbury Local Plan was subject to Inspector’s Interim Findings (as reported in CD/011a) and indicated the Inspector’s satisfaction with the DTC between Canterbury and Swale to date. The Interim Findings did increase the Canterbury housing target to be resolved through Main Modifications. This was proposed to be met within the Canterbury administrative area and consequently did not have any cross boundary issues for the Swale area on this topic. The resumed Canterbury EIP has now taken place and further reporting from that Inspector is awaited. No further cross boundary housing issues with Canterbury are anticipated at this time. 3.4 At the EIP hearings in 2015, the Medway City Council Plan was at too early a stage to establish whether they would need to seek to approach Swale BC under the DTC on housing matters. Since then, Medway CC have consulted on an Issues and Options document. (January 2016) for their plan, which Swale BC responded to (see Appendix 2). A preferred way forward for the Medway Plan has not yet been identified (a major issue continues to be the resolution of strategic site for 5000 dwellings, which has been subject to Secretary of State call in, with a public inquiry anticipated summer 2017). Medway CC have responded to the Main Modifications consultation on the Swale Local Plan have indicated their satisfaction with the new Swale development target in Main Modification 42. A meeting to discuss mutual local plan progress was held 3 August 2016 and led to the Medway note of 2 CD/011b satisfaction with the Swale Proposed Main Modifications as noted. Further updating and liaison meetings between Swale BC and Medway CC continue. 3.5 Ashford Borough Council sought to establish potential cross boundary issues in respect of their new Local Plan to 2030. The Borough Council responded to this (see letter 8 Feb 2016 Appendix 3) to share the latest information on the SHMA findings for the Swale housing market area, establishing the lack of overlap between Swale and Ashford in this respect. Ashford have proceeded to publication stage of their plan (August 2016), and propose to meet all of the objectively assessed housing need within their administrative boundaries (and focused principally at the urban area of Ashford), so no housing or other matters were identified as strategic cross boundary issues between Swale and Ashford. 3.6 Gravesham Borough Council (part of the wider North Kent housing market area) have also responded to the Main Modifications consultation and indicated their satisfaction with the new Swale housing development target at Main Modification 42. 3.7 The Greater London Plan Review is still at a very early stage, with a summit on the way forward on DTC, particularly in respect of how London’s housing need may be met anticipated in December 2016. At officer level information and research is disseminated through the Kent Planning Officers Group Planning Policy Forum, with officer representation at GLA from Kent County Council, Dartford BC / Gravesham BC and Medway CC feeding back to the whole group. At this stage no element of meeting London housing need has been sought in Swale, or indeed anywhere else in Kent. 3.8 The GLA have also responded to the Swale BC consultation on the Main Modifications and have indicated (LP Representation No 888) that they are content with Main Modification 24 and the assessment of the objectively assessed need for this plan period. However, Swale BC in assessing the potential implications of the 2014 based ONS Household Projections on Swale’s objectively assessed housing need (SBC/PS/116), also took the opportunity to corroborate the findings that there was no meaningful change to the Swale OAN, with the GLA’s demographers. Gypsy and Traveller Provision 3.9 In the light of the PPTS (2015) and continuing absence of any adopted DCLG guidance on GTAA’s, the Inspector’s Interim Findings (ID/9d paras 11-14) found the Council’s approach to assessing and meeting Gypsy and Traveller needs sound. The Council continues to meet with other Kent Districts and Kent County Council to monitor this topic and share research and policy approach as necessary. 3 CD/011b 3.10 In preparing the submission version of the Maidstone Local Plan, a small shortfall in identified sites was indicated and Maidstone BC enquired as to whether there were any surplus allocated sites in Swale. Following discussion, Maidstone BC resolved that their modest shortfall could be met through windfall provision within the Maidstone BC area. Transport Infrastructure 3.11 The Council continues to cooperate with the highway authorities and transport providers. Kent Highways advised the EIP in December 2015 that the new objectively assessed need figure was sufficiently close to figures already modelled to be acceptable on the County road network. Following the Inspector’s Interim Findings, there has been ongoing collaboration on the implications of the new housing target and proposed new allocations to meet this. The confirmation of the Council’s settlement strategy and ongoing focus of development at the western end of the Borough, led Highways England to advise that the impact of the new development on the junctions of the County network with the Strategic Road network along the A249 corridor should be tested and any necessary mitigation schemes identified (and this was confirmed in their response to the Main Modifications consultation). Both highway authorities and the Borough Council are continuing to work together and with key developers in the area to this end. A further Statement of Common Ground between the highway authorities and the Council, supported by technical evidence is in hand and will be available for the resumed Local Plan EIP hearings in January 2017. 3.12 The Council has continued to work with the Highways England M2/Junction 5 team in respect of research supporting the improvement scheme for this junction; and consultation on design options is anticipated early in 2017.