Issue - meetings

The Streets, Environment & Homes Scrutiny Sub-Committee has asked to review the decision taken by the Executive Mayor at Cabinet to recommend the revocation of the SPD2 to Council with a view to understanding the possible risks and next steps.

The Sub-Committee considered the report set out on pages 23 to 216 of the agenda which had been approved by the Executive Mayor at Cabinet and recommended the revocation of the Croydon suburban design guide supplementary planning document (SPD2) to Council. The report was introduced by the Cabinet Memberfor Planning and Regeneration by way of a short presentation prepared by the Head of Spatial Planningand Interim Head of Growth Zone and Regeneration.

Members asked for clarification on the implementation status of the London Plan 2021 and heard that this was in place as current policy, including the relevant housing and small site targets. The Chair asked about how identifying areas of gentle intensification related to SPD2 and it was clarified by the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration that these were contained within the Local Plan and not SPD2, even though the desire to move away from density driven development was identified in the report as a reason for the proposed revocation. The Sub-Committee queried why revocation was proposed before replacement supplementary planning documentation on residential extensions and alterations was ready to take its place, as was thought to be plan making best practice and carried reduced risk of poor quality residential extension and alterations. It was further asked whether this alternative approach was considered. The Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration stated that once the political decision had been taken to fulfil this election promise, this was the best way to achieve it in the view of the Executive.

The Sub-Committee understood that since the SPD2 had been adopted in 2019, there had been a number of planning policy changes and that alterations to the document were needed. The Director of Planning & Sustainable Regeneration informed the Sub-Committee that legal advice had been that no authority existed for the partial revocation and this was not possible. Members were advised that new guidance on residential extensions and alterations would be written as soon as possible, taking into account planning policy changes on design codes and design guidance. The Sub-Committee were informed that policy on residential extensions and alterations was in place would the position (including local planning policy and the London Plan) should SPD2 be revoked. The Head of Spatial Planning and Interim Head of Growth Zone and Regeneration restated that there was still a development plan and guidance at a national and London Plan level in place that could be used in the absence of SPD2 to determine applications.

The Chair queried whether the newresidential extensions and alterations guidance would incorporate changes expected at the London Plan level and heard that this was not the case and that the guidance would be brought forward as soon as possible and that national government’s focus on design and design quality, the national design code and guidance would be taken into account; these emphasised local authorities producing their own design codes and guidance. The new document would be checked against any new planning developments and the priorities of the Executive.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6

The Streets, Environment & Homes Scrutiny Sub-Committee has asked to review the decision taken by the Executive Mayor at Cabinet to recommend to revocation of the SPD2 to Council with a view to understanding the possible risks and next steps.

Cabinet to consider a report that recommends to Council, the revocation of the Croydon suburban design guide supplementary planning document (SPD2) (Appendix1) in accordance with Regulation 15 (2) and (3) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Executive Mayor, in Cabinet:

RESOLVED: To

1.1   Recommend to Council the revocation of the Croydon suburban design guide supplementary planning document (SPD2) (Appendix1) in accordance with Regulation 15 (2) and (3) of the The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

1.2   Agree to produce the residential extensions and alterations chapter of the Croydon suburban design guide supplementary planning document (SPD2) as a supplementary planning document. To be reported to Council for adoption after consultation.

Cabinet considered a report, which recommended to Council:

(i)           the revocation of the Croydon Suburban Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD2), as detailed in Appendix1 to the report, in accordance with Regulation 15 (2) and (3) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012; and

(ii)          to agree to produce the residential extensions and alterations chapter of the Croydon Suburban Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD2) as a supplementary planning document to be reported to Council for adoption after consultation.

It was reported that Executive Mayor Perry had made a clear manifesto pledge in the 2022 pre-election period to revoke the Croydon Suburban Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD2) and had indicated that this pledge was to ensure new development respected character, was led by design over density and improved the quality of future development.

The Cabinet report set out the basis for the revocation for consideration by Council following Cabinet.

It was noted that the Croydon suburban design guide supplementary planning document (SPD2) had been adopted in April 2019, with an approximate 18-month production time up to adoption, in a particular context that had changed notably up to present day.

It was reported that, at a national level, the National Planning Policy Framework 2021 included a chapter dedicated to ‘achieving well-designed places’, which had been supplemented by the publication, in 2021, of the National Design Guide and National Model Design Code, that provided the framework for how to produce design guides and codes.  It was further reported that this guidance stated that this was to provide and create beautiful and distinctive places with a consistent and high-quality standard of design.

It was noted that, in May 2022, the Government published the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, which included a number of proposed legislative changes to the plan-making process, which would need to be given regard to as part of the continued work on the Local Plan Review.

It was further noted that, in regard to the London Plan, SPD2 had been produced in the context of the submitted London Plan (July 2018), which included a proposed housing target for Croydon of 2,949 per annum (2019 -2029) with a clear expectation that a large proportion of this development would be accommodated through small site development. Post the London Plan Examination process, including the planning inspectors’ panel report and Secretary of State approval, the adopted London Plan 2021 included a housing target for the Borough of 2,079 per annum (2019 – 2029) inclusive of a 641 per annum small sites target (2019 – 2029).

It was noted that the London Plan 2021 was proposed to be supplemented by a series of design guidance, most notably, the Greater London Authority had published draft guidance regarding Optimising Site Capacity: A Design Led Approach and Small Sites Design Codes which, once adopted, would be material to the production of the Borough’s Local Plan Review.

The Executive Mayor, in Cabinet:

RESOLVED that COUNCIL be RECOMMENDED:

1.            to approve the revocation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31