Leeds City Council Site Allocations Plan Examination Actions from Stage 1 Hearings 14th December 2017 Leeds Local Plan Page 1 of 11 The Inspectors Actions arising from the hearings are listed in full below, along with the Council’s response, or note that this response is to follow. Site Allocations Plan Hearing Day 1 24 October 2017 Actions 1. Confirm in writing, the base dates of the viability work which contributed to the adopted Core Strategy (Core Document CD2/1) and Community Infrastructure Levy (Core Document CD6/42). The Council can confirm that the base dates are January 2013 for the ‘The Economic Viability Study (EVS)’ (CD2/12) and May 2014 for the ‘EVS Position Update’ (May 2014) (CD2/13). Both documents contributed towards the Adopted Core Strategy and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). 2. Provide Inspectors with list of sites where landowners have indicated a preference for housing rather than employment/office as identified /proposed to be allocated in the Plan. The Council refers the Inspector to the Examination webpage – document HD1 which specifies all this information. 3. Reference was made to The Inclusive Growth Strategy at the hearings. The Council informed the Inspectors of errors within it. The Council to liaise with Thorp Arch Trading Estate (TATE) to establish the status of the Inclusive Growth Strategy in respect of the trading estate. Please see Appendix 1. 3a. Although any discussion was deferred to Stage 2, a Statement of Common Ground in relation to the status of the Inclusive Growth Strategy, between the Council and TATE, would be welcomed, before the beginning of the Stage 2 Hearings. Please see Appendix 1. The Council considers that this establishes the factual basis of the Growth Strategy and the error therein. A copy of this will be sent to TATE for their views. 4. Provide information to Inspectors, which illustrates the effect of the safeguarded HS2 route in relation to proposed designated Green Space. Appendix 2 of this response contains four tables, which set out the Green Spaces that will be affected by the HS2 safeguarded route and what effect the route will have on them, including what area may potentially be lost and the size of the remaining green space provision. It also includes a summary of the effects on surpluses and deficiencies by typology within the wards affected, assuming no mitigation occurs and two plans showing the route of HS2 and green spaces affected. Notwithstanding this, the Council is of the view that the HS2 development will, at the time of implementation, provide mitigation to address any loss of Green Space. The Council’s view is supported by material in preparation for Phase 2a routes elsewhere Page 2 of 11 in the country which explicitly include criteria for the mitigation of open space loss. See Appendix 2.1 ¶4.1 and ¶4.2. 5. Matter 4 Green Space – Statement of Common /Uncommon Ground was requested by the Inspectors between the Council and Mr McKinnon. A SOCG has been sent to Mr McKinnon for comment. He has requested some more time to consider and a final version will be sent to the Inspector before Christmas. 6. Council to consider how the policy relating to Green Space could be clarified to ensure consistency in interpretation for future decision makers and readers of the Site Allocations Plan – especially relating to large sites where car parks and spaces between buildings are proposed to be designated for Green Space. The Council has considered the clarity of policy GS1 in light of the Inspectors’ questions relating to the inclusion, within large Green Space sites, of areas of car parks and spaces between buildings. In response, the Council propose a Main Modification to continue SAP (CD1/1) paragraph 2.98 by including the following words of clarification: “Green Space sites may include ancillary non green space uses such as car parks, or school buildings where they are linked to the overall dominant green space designation and aid the function of the site as Green Space. Proposals for development on sites will be considered against the impact of the proposal on the integrity and function of the Green Space”. 7. Confirm to Inspectors whether areas of land covered by East Leeds Orbital Route is included in surplus / deficiencies of Green Space calculations, including whether this has implications for the delivery of green space The Council confirms that there are no green space sites included in the land covered by the route of ELOR therefore it has no effect on the calculations of surpluses and deficiencies as set out in the Green Space Background Paper (CD1/32). Notwithstanding this, in any event, the proposals for ELOR will provide new additional green space (including a 9.8ha country park) over and above the designations in the Plan. 8. Council to consider whether to amend the Site Allocations Plan to refer to the provision of off-site Green Space in accordance with local needs information where available through Neighbourhood Plans and whether a Main Modification would be necessary. Core Strategy Policy G4 has primacy in this instance and applies to the SAP. Notwithstanding this the Council propose a Main Modification to the Plan for clarity and flexibility as to the role of Neighbourhood Plans, to continue paragraph 2.100 of the SAP (CD1/1) by inserting the following: “Where opportunities arise for the provision of new green space, priority should be given to addressing identified deficiencies in green space typologies in the area. Decision makers should also consider the provisions of any made neighbourhood plan covering the new green space site and be guided by the policies, projects and evidence of local needs and views contained in the made Neighbourhood Plan and accompanying Evidence Base.” Page 3 of 11 9. Prepare a note for Inspectors explaining why the proposed Further Modification 36 (EX9) regarding Green Space G1718 which seeks to reinsert the site omitted from the Submission Draft Site Allocations Plan (CD1/1) may be required to make plan sound See note attached as Appendix 3. 9a.To agree landownership and boundaries of G1718 through a Statement of Common Ground (with Chartford Homes) Response to follow 10. Submit relevant Development Plan Panel reports as part of evidence base and signpost Inspectors to relevant paragraphs where decisions on proposed or discounted employment and office allocations were made Response to follow Page 4 of 11 Site Allocations Plan Hearing Day 2 25 October 2017 Actions 1. Confirm to Inspectors whether the amendments proposed to the Infrastructure background paper (in relation to highway requirements) as set out in Paragraph 3.6 of the Statement of Common Ground with Highways England) will be carried through to the Site Allocations Plan. Yes. The amendments will be carried through to the Site Allocations Plan. The agreed following wording will be inserted into paragraph 2.41 of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) which is Appendix 1 to the Infrastructure Background Paper CD1/35, as a modification. “The site requirements for allocated sites contain details of the locations where contributions towards improvements will be required from the allocated sites. Sites included in the Unitary Development Plan (Identified sites) where development has not yet commenced and where planning permission has not been granted or has lapsed or new permissions are sought will also be expected to contribute towards these schemes in line with the Core Strategy Policies SP1(vi), SP11 and T1.” The Council also propose, that in order to assist plan users and aid effectiveness of the Plan, that the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (Appendix 1 of CD1/35) be an appendix to the SAP. To that end, a Main Modification is proposed to the beginning of the IDP and to the SAP (CD1/1) to continue paragraph 2.55, as follows: “The Infrastructure Delivery Plan is up to date as at the date of Adoption and assists the implementation of the Local Plan. It will be kept regularly up to date in liaison with the Combined Authority and relevant infrastructure providers, on the Council’s web- site. Applicants should have regard to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan when preparing planning applications” This Modification will have the effect of making references to the Infrastructure Background Paper in the Plan needless. Additional modifications will be required to make consequential changes throughout CD1/1 from “Infrastructure Background Paper” to “Infrastructure Delivery Plan”. 2. Provide Inspector with list of updates to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan schedule since submission of the Site Allocations Plan. Please see Appendix 4 attached to this response, which details updates to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, agreed with Highways England since the submission of the Site Allocations Plan. 3. Council to consider whether the Site Allocations Plan adequately signposts developers to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, and the need for them to consider it when submitting planning applications for allocated and identified sites. Page 5 of 11 The Council considers that signposting is necessary alongside a clarification as to the status of the IDP as an appendix to the Plan. Q.1 above contains a Main Modification which addresses this. This deals with allocated sites. For identified housing, office and general employment sites it is proposed that the following sentence be added after paragraphs 2.29, 2.85 and 2.88 respectively: “Applicants for sites which are unimplemented allocations in the Leeds Unitary Development Plan (UDP) should have regard to the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.” 4. Provide Inspector with a list of all employment sites, indexed by identified and allocated employment sites, their current status and any extant planning permissions. This information has already been submitted in relation to identified sites; (HD2). Appendix 5 attached to this response provides an update for proposed employment allocations.