At last week’s full council meeting, the Island Core Strategy was presented by Cllr George Brown. Following debate, in which Cllr Churchman expressed her concern at the length of time it has taken to reach this stage, members voted unanimously to adopt the Core Strategy.
Cllr Brown has kindly shared his report presented to members below. In his own words. Ed
Importance of Adopting the Core Strategy
I listened to the early part of Chancellors Budget speech this afternoon. In it, he referred to planning applications and announced “a presumption in favour of sustainable development”.
If we want to protect the Island and stay with locally-determined decisions, we need this Core Strategy. I will try to explain how.
National and local agendas
The proposed National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is based at local level on what the government refers to as “Local Plans”. On the Isle of Wight, our Local Plan is the “Island Plan”. At its heart is the “Core Strategy” (CS).
The NPPF, to be formalised next week, requires an up-to-date, adopted Island Plan, which takes account of the local distinctiveness of the Island, and develops policy to deliver the needs of local people.
It is in this context that the Isle of Wight Council needs to adopt the CS. Immediately this resolution to Full Council is, hopefully, approved this evening, the Island Plan Core Strategy replaces the UDP and becomes the adopted development plan for the Island, in other words our Local Plan.
Risks of non adoption of the Island Plan
If the Council does not to adopt the Island Plan Core Strategy, it will have to request Government formally to approve its withdrawal of the CS, and provide evidenced reasons.
If Government agreed to the withdrawal of the Island CS, the earliest date on which a replacement plan could be presented to Full Council would be in April 2013. This would lead to a local planning policy vacuum, in which the NPPF, and its definition of sustainable development, will be the yardstick against which Island planning applications are decided. There will be no local element reflecting the needs of the Island.
The new Approach and its Advantages
The Island Plan and its subsequent application will provide the balance between much needed economic regeneration in the right locations, whilst protecting our natural and special historical heritage. The Island Plan Core Strategy policy provides that:-
- There is a clear definition of where development can be located
- Area action plan boundaries and defined settlement boundaries are published for all to see
- Employment (job creation) land has been allocated
- Minerals and waste site locations are defined
- All residential development shall make a contribution to locally affordable housing
- Development schemes have to consider the mix of units required by local need
- Provision is made for residential development to service an ageing population
- Buildings must be designed to meet sustainable construction standards
- A strong environmental focus is retained, and extended to include, for example, seascapes.
Few, if any, of these points were catered for adequately in the long out-of-date UDP.
The Appeal process
Applicants have a just right of appeal to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) and I am not aware of any serious support for abandoning that principle. Nevertheless, Elected Members have frequently had cause to criticise PINS decisions for lack of appreciation of the local environment.
This concern, which lies at the heart of Localism, is shared by the Local Government Association (LGA). That body has stated its intention to engage in dialogue with PINS to protect the judgements of local democratic representatives.
I commend this position and seek this Council’s endorsement to support the LGA in this matter.
Image: Will Scullin under CC BY 2.0
