I CABINET – 13 JANUARY 2009 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CONSULTATION: OADBY AND WIGSTON CORE STRATEGY AND TOWN CENTRE AREA ACTION PLANS REPORT OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE PART A Purpose of the Report 1. To seek the approval of the Cabinet for responses to Local Development Framework (LDF) consultation documents issued by Oadby and Wigston Borough Council. Recommendation 2. It is recommended that : (a) the comments set out in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 to the report be submitted to Oadby and Wigston Borough Council as the views of the County Council on the Oadby and Wigston LDF Core Strategy and Oadby and Wigston Town Centre Action Plans; (b) the omission of any reference in the Core Strategy as to how the proposed Pennbury Eco-town would help meet, or conflict with, the strategic objectives and policies in the Core Strategy be highlighted as an area of concern to the Borough Council; and (c) the Borough Council be particularly urged to reconsider its proposals in the Oadby Town Centre Area Action Plan so that a firm commitment be made to providing land for a dedicated place of worship at Sandhurst Street, Oadby, that proper account be taken of the plans and aspirations of the Oadby and Wigston Muslim Association which is acquiring property in this area for community and religious purposes, and to take further account of the need in Oadby for additional places of worship for other faith groups. 1 Reasons for Recommendation 3. To ensure that the County Council makes an appropriate input at this key stage in the LDF process, so that issues of importance for the County Council are clearly expressed and influence the shape and content of the LDF. Timetable for Decisions (including Scrutiny) 4. The consultation closing date for consultation is 23 January 2009. Policy Framework and Previous Decisions 5. The County Council may object to, or support planning proposals: • where they are inconsistent with, or help to implement, the provisions of strategic planning policies; • where they impinge upon the County Council's ability to implement any service it provides, or are particularly helpful in supporting these services; • where they affect (positively or negatively) its role as land and property owner. Regional Context 6. The Proposed Changes to the Regional Plan, published by the Secretary of State in July 2008, set out the quantity, phasing and broad locations of housing growth with a continuing emphasis on urban concentration. The Plan also contains policies on the environment, transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, energy, minerals and waste. The LDFs are required to be in conformity with the Regional Plan. 7. On 14 November 2008 the Cabinet agreed to submit comments to the East Midlands Regional Assembly questioning the need for an imminent review of the Regional Plan housing figures to take account of new population projections and associated national advice on housing requirements. Current housing market conditions and changes to migration patterns may mean that the latest projections and advice overestimate housing requirements and if built into regional planning policy could lead to an unnecessary release of greenfield land. Oadby and Wigston LDF Core Strategy 8. The Borough Council consulted previously on Issues and Options in 2005, and Supplemental Issues and Options in August 2007, when officer comments were submitted. 9. The next stage will be in May and June 2009, when the Submission draft will be available for consultation prior to submission to the Secretary of State. An examination will then test the soundness of the document, and the inspector’s report will be “binding” on the Borough Council. 2 Oadby and Wigston Town Centre Area Action Plans (Preferred Options Addendum Report) 10. Consultation on the two Plans has proceeded in parallel. The Preferred Options Addendum Reports build on previous Issues and Options and Preferred Options consultations and additional research undertaken. The Addendum Reports supplement and amend the Preferred Options Reports which were consulted on in November 2007 and to which officer responses were submitted. 11. Responses to these consultations will be considered and final pre-submission consultations will be carried out later in 2009. This will be followed by Submission, Examination and Adoption aligned with the progression of the Core Strategy. Resource Implications 12. Resource implications cannot be quantified at this stage and any significant implications would be subject to a further report. Circulation Under the Local Issues Alert Procedure 13. County Councillors representing Electoral Divisions in Oadby and Wigston: Mr. G. A. Boulter CC, Mr. M. H. Charlesworth CC, Mr. D. A. Gamble CC, Mr. M. Griffiths CC, Mr. A. P. Natzel CC, Officers to Contact Tom Purnell 0116 305 7019 [email protected] Andrew Simmonds 0116 305 7027 [email protected] 3 PART B Oadby and Wigston LDF Core Strategy 14. The LDF will be a key mechanism for delivering the spatial aspirations of the Leicestershire Sustainable Community Strategy and the Oadby and Wigston Community Plan that involve the development or use of land and buildings. The Oadby and Wigston Community Strategy is currently being reviewed, and will reflect and add a local focus to the Leicestershire Sustainable Community Strategy. 15. The Oadby and Wigston LDF Core Strategy sets out a vision for the borough, together with a strategy for delivering it to 2026. The document covers the broad location of development and includes strategic policies for housing, business, retail, transport and development control. Key proposals include: • Development will be focussed on the three town centres of Oadby, Wigston and South Wigston. Development at Kilby Bridge will be managed through designation of a ‘village envelope’; • Masterplans will be developed for the three town centres to sustain and promote vitality and economic prosperity; • Provision will be made to enhance the sustainable transport system, with development and services located to reduce the need to travel; • Green Wedges at Thurnby/Leicester/Oadby and Oadby/Leicester/Wigston, will be safeguarded and development restricted to that which will not damage their character; • Policies set out criteria to protect and enhance biodiversity, geological conservation, local landscape and the wider environment and preserve and enhance archaeological sites, listed building and other cultural assets; • Future developments will be required to meet national standards on energy efficiency, and promote sustainable construction and design. Renewable energy installation will be permitted where appropriate; • The Borough will deliver 2,250 homes from 2001 to 2026, consistent with the requirement in the Proposed Changes to the Regional Plan .Three broad development locations or ‘areas of search’ are identified should greenfield land be required to fulfil this level of provision; to the south-east of Wigston, to the south of Oadby; and to the north-east of Oadby. For developments of 10 or more homes 30% will be affordable. One Gypsy and Traveller pitch will be delivered in line with Regional Plan requirements; • The Borough will provide an additional 5,800 sq m of office floor space and 1.3 ha of industrial and warehousing between 2007 and 2026; • Leisure and tourism will be encouraged along the Grand Union Canal; • The local strategic partnership will coordinate proposals for community facilities and places of worship; • Seven Strategic Development Control Policies are also set out in the document; • An addendum to the Core Strategy sets out how the Pennbury Ecotown proposal will be considered through future stages of the LDF process. No account is taken of the proposal in the draft Core Strategy consultation paper. 4 Key Comments 16. Key comments are set out below, and are included in full in Appendix 1: Chapter 3: Achieving Sustainable Development a) In principle, the preferred approach is supported. The transport study being undertaken by the Borough Council (jointly with Harborough District Council) is welcomed and supported. The outcomes of that study will inform the County Council’s view of the preferred location for future greenfield housing provision within Oadby and Wigston. Chapter 5: Transport and Accessibility Core Strategy Policy 4 b) The County Council seeks the continued protection of the Eastern District Distributor Road in Oadby and Wigston's LDF. It would impact on a number of key strategic areas of the LDF and should not be abandoned unless and until the County Council expresses a formal view as Highways Authority. Chapter 6: Greenfield Land, Natural Environment and Biodiversity c) There is an inconsistent approach to Green Infrastructure (GI) in the Core Strategy. This would best be rectified by the inclusion of an over-arching GI Policy. Chapter 8: Balanced Housing Markets Core Strategy Policy 16: Meeting the Housing Needs of the Borough d) The approach to housing provision is supported. The 2,250 dwellings proposed to be provided between 2001 and 2026 equates to 90 per year, which is consistent with the draft Regional Plan. e) The proposal to prioritise brownfield sites is also supported and is consistent with the strategy of urban concentration and consolidation in the draft Regional Plan. It is noted that more detailed proposals for greenfield land provision will emerge through future drafts of the Core Strategy and an allocations Development Plan Document and that this will be informed by the study of transport and highways implications. Chapter 9: Employment Provision Core Strategy Policy 20 f) A policy focus on allowing existing employment areas to expand might appear sound in principle and in general is welcomed. However, in practice there are sites where in transportation terms this would not be acceptable. For example, Magna Road in South Wigston is poorly laid out with a sub-standard access to the highway network. The policy needs to be amended to include a condition, such that existing areas can only be expanded where suitable site 5 access is available or can be provided and there will be no adverse transport impacts or they can be suitably mitigated.