Agenda item

To receive a report from the Corporate Director - Place.

The Chairman called upon Cllr Nick Botterill, Cabinet Member for Finance, Development Management and Strategic Planning, to introduce the report. Cllr Botterill moved the motion set out in the report, which was seconded by Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council.

Cllr Botterill gave an overview of the complex processes, including formal consultation processes, that had taken place ahead of production of the the draft Local Plan, explaining that over 10,000 responses had been received and considered. He outlined some of his concerns about national changes to the way that housing need was calculated, which he felt had seen a shift in the prioritisation of development from cities to rural areas. He reported that Wiltshire was expected to deliver 3,476 new homes per year under these changes, an 81 percent increase on the previous target of 1,911. 

Cllr Botterill reported that the draft Local Plan presented was realistic and sound. He outlined some of the key principles within it, including achieving high environmental standards, delivering affordable housing, and a brownfield site first approach. He urged Council to recommend that the draft Local Plan be submitted to the Inspector, as it would mean that Wiltshire would benefit from transitional arrangements set out in the government’s consultation on the changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This would allow the housing numbers that underpinned the draft Local Plan to be used going forward, although a new draft Local Plan would have to be developed in the longer term to meet the government’s revised targets.

Public statements were then received from Andrew Nicolson, Wiltshire Climate Alliance, and Adrian Temple Brown.

Group Leaders were then given the opportunity to comment.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of the Council, endorsed Cllr Botterill’s view that the draft Local Plan should be sent to the Inspector. He commended the plan, explaining that new housing would be built to net zero standards and would achieve a 20 percent biodiversity net gain. Other benefits of the draft Local Plan were that it would improve the council’s control over what, and how, development was built, by giving it a six-year housing land supply. It would also deliver military and affordable housing. He criticised attempts in Full Council to delay progression of the draft Local Plan to its Reg 19 consultation in 2023.

Cllr Gordon King, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group, thanked officers for providing a briefing about the proposals. He noted that he regretted that an amendment put forward by the Liberal Democrat Group, in July 2023, to undertake a further Reg 18 consultation had been defeated.

Cllr Ernie Clark, Leader of the Independent Group, agreed that the draft Local Plan should be submitted to the Inspector and felt that there had been sufficient opportunity for people to put their views forward. He observed that local plans were always contentious and that some parish councils would likely take the plan to judicial review.

Cllr Ricky Rogers, Leader of the Labour Group, highlighted his disappointment that an amendment proposed by Cllr Ian McLennan had been rejected and so would not be moved at the meeting, but noted that he respected the decision. He reiterated that the Labour Group had concerns about Core Policy 30 (Land East of Church Road, Laverstock) in the draft Local Plan and the protection that it offered to small villages. However, he felt that it was important for the Local Plan to be updated, and he called for greater progress towards developing the engine sheds site in Salisbury.

The Chairman noted that the issue raised by Cllr McLennan needed to be raised with the Inspector.

The item was then opened to general debate by the Chairman.

There were numerous comments criticising the increase in the government’s housing targets for Wiltshire and stressing the importance of having an up-to-date Local Plan to ensure that decisions were not forced upon communities. Several members raised specific concerns about the housing allocation in their divisions. A member expressed regret that a site that had not been listed when the draft Local Plan went out for Reg 18 consultation had been added by the time of the Reg 19 consultation. Frustrations were also expressed that Wiltshire was currently unable to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and that, in their view, the appropriate infrastructure was not in place to support the level of development required by central government. There was also a comment that the draft would likely not be approved due to the increased requirements imposed by central government.

A number of the new policies in the draft Local Plan were welcomed. Some of the updated policies were singled out for praise, including Core Policy 87 (Embodied Carbon) for helping to reduce emissions, Core Policy 96 (Water Resources), for protecting water supplies, and Core Policy 65 (Existing Employment Land) for protecting local businesses.  Another suggest was that the wording of some core policies could be strengthened to provide greater protection, including Core Policy 92 (Conserving and Enhancing Dark Skies). Evidence of recently approved housing developments failing to comply with national space standard requirements was requested to be published.

Following concerns raised about the highway infrastructure available to support development near the Harnham area of Salisbury, Cllr Nick Holder, Cabinet Member Highways Street Scene and Flooding said that he would ask officers to provide information about the A338 Salisbury Junction to Salisbury Area Board.

At the conclusion of the debate, Cllr Botterill welcomed the support for submitting the draft Local Plan to the Inspector. He stated that as long as the draft Local Plan was submitted for inspection within a month of the government’s responses to the NPPF, it could be assessed under existing policy arrangements. He also clarified that there would be an opportunity for residents to have a further say if the draft Local Plan was submitted to the Inspector. He then advised that the query about space standards should be raised with officers.

He also took the opportunity to respond to some of the local issues raised by members about their divisions. He acknowledged the challenges associated with clearing contamination on the brownfield site at the engine shed in Salisbury and stated his desire to move the project forward. He noted that there were complexities in securing developer funding for a new railway bridge in Westbury but that they were still looking at ways which it could be delivered.

Cllr Botterill emphasised that it did not appear there was sufficient interest from developers, or enough tradespeople, to deliver 3,500 homes per year in the county.

At the conclusion of the debate, it was:

Resolved:

That Full Council, having considered the response from the formal consultation:

1)    Approves the submission of the Wiltshire Local Plan Review, Pre-submission Draft Plan at Appendix 1 to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination together with relevant associated documentation;

2)    Directs that submission is accompanied by a request that the Inspector appointed to carry out the examination recommends any modifications necessary to make the Plan sound and legally compliant in accordance with Section 20(7C) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended); and

3)    Authorises the Director of Planning to take or authorise such steps as may be necessary for the independent examination of the Plan to be completed, including:

a)    Make appropriate arrangements for submission of the Plan and the completion and submission of all documents relating to the Plan;

b)   Make all necessary arrangements for examination including - the

c)    appointment of a Programme Officer; the undertaking and/or

d)   commissioning of other work necessary to prepare for and participate at examination; proposing main and/or minor modifications to the Plan and/or modifications to the Policies Map; entering into Memorandums of Understanding and Statements of Common Ground; and the delegation to officers and other commissioned experts to prepare and submit evidence, representations and submissions to the examination and, where necessary, appear at any hearing sessions and represent the council; and

e)    Implement any consequential actions relating to the examination,

f)     including undertaking any consultation that may be necessary, and publishing the recommendations and reasons of the person appointed to carry out the examination.

In accordance with the constitution there was a recorded vote.

Votes for the motion (80)

Votes against the motion (1)

Votes in abstention (1)

Details of the vote are attached as an appendix to the minutes.