Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Cabinet Member for Culture & Regeneration, Councillor Oliver Lewis

Officer: Interim Corporate Director for Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery, Sarah Hayward

Key decision: yes

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

RESOLVED: To

1.    Approve the publication of the Proposed Submission draft of the Croydon Local Plan review (Appendix 1) its associated additional Sustainability Appraisals (Appendix 2) and updated additional supporting evidence for six weeks for representations to be made upon it, in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012;

2.    Approve that the Proposed Submission draft of the Croydon Local Plan be recommended to Full Council for submission to the Secretary of State upon conclusion of the statutory 6-week publication period; and

3.    Delegate minor and/or factual changes to the Proposed Submission draft of the Croydon Local Plan including the Policies Map, prior to publication to the Director of the Director of Planning and Sustainable Regenerationin consultation with the Cabinet Member for Culture and Regeneration.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval to publish the Proposed Submission draft of the Croydon Local Plan Review prior to submission to the Secretary of State. Preparation of the proposed content of the Local Plan Review was required under Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. The Cabinet Member for Culture & Regeneration (Councillor Oliver Lewis) provided Cabinet with an introduction which set out:

• The Local Plan review set out how the council would respond to the challenges of the national housing crisis and the global climate challenge;
• The challenge for Croydon was to deliver the target of 42,000 new homes by 2039. The Cabinet Member thanked residents and stakeholders who had participated in the discussion on how to tackle that challenge;
• The Plan supported the development of a prosperous and innovative economy and thriving communities;
• Proposed changes to the Plan included details on three areas of transformation: Purley Way, East Croydon station and the North End quarter; on how they could be developed to deliver much needed homes, spaces for jobs and community facilities;
• That the Cabinet Member had asked officers to complete transport modelling of the Purley Way before 1500 homes were completed in the area;
• Since publication the Cabinet Member had received representations in relation to the Purley Way chapter, with concerns in relation to the height of focal buildings. He informed Cabinet that he had reviewed those representations and proposed that the prescriptive detail in relation to the height of focal buildings be deleted;
• Should the draft Plan be agreed there would be six weeks of consultation in the New Year which would ensure feedback was gathered on the proposed changes from local businesses, the community and stakeholders; and
• Following the consultation the Plan would be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate to examine.

During the consideration of the recommendations, the following points were made:

• The Cabinet Member for Sustainable Croydon (Councillor Muhammad Ali) highlighted the importance of the work in tackling climate change and the housing challenge. It was noted that Croydon was the 4^th highest borough susceptible to surface water flooding nationally and that planning had a role to play in mitigating those risks. It was hoped that planning guidance would be introduce which would support more sustainable communities;
• The Cabinet Member for Croydon Renewal (Councillor Stuart King) queried site allocation reference number 20 (page 454 of the agenda) as the proposed use was for residential development, however he understood the site was already residential. Additionally he highlighted Thornton Heath pond and the importance of celebrating it as being the heart of the area, but queried whether that could be achieved via an introduction of water feature;
  • In response, the Head of Spatial Planning and Interim Head of Growth & Generation (Steve Dennington) advised that officers had taken the view that site reference 20 had the scope to increase housing capacity at the site. In terms of the water feature; the Head of the Spatial Planning advised the Plan provided guidance on future development and should material considerations arise to suggest that it was not the best option that would be considered.
• The Cabinet Member for Homes (Councillor Patricia Hay-Justice) noted the Plan set out how the council intended to provide much needed housing, but did not set out how those properties would look. She welcomed the Plan and intention to build new homes but suggested the challenge would be ensuring they were good quality homes for all members of society; and
• The Shadow Cabinet Member for Culture & Regeneration (Councillor Jeet Bains) noted that 9,753 homes had been proposed for the Croydon Opportunity Area, 5,735 homes for Purley and 7,515 homes in Purley Way. Concerns were raised that the council was proposing over 40,000 homes be built when it was felt the council’s enforcement team was unable to enforce the rules properly and that enforcement orders were ignored. In light of those concerns, the Shadow Cabinet Member suggested that the Plan would lead to uncontrolled and low quality housing in the borough.
  • In response, the Cabinet Member stated that within the Local Plan there was provision for a new leisure facility in Purley as part of any redevelopment of the Purley Pool site. The Cabinet Member further noted that it was important that the council addressed the challenges it faced; whether in relation to community provision or housing for residents and he felt that the Plan sought to achieve that.

The Leader of the Council delegated authority to the Cabinet to make the following decisions:

RESOLVED: To

1.    Approve the publication of the Proposed Submission draft of the Croydon Local Plan review (Appendix 1) its associated additional Sustainability Appraisals (Appendix 2) and updated additional supporting evidence for six weeks for representations to be made upon it, in accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012;

2.    Approve that the Proposed Submission draft of the Croydon Local Plan be recommended to Full Council for submission to the Secretary of State upon conclusion of the statutory 6-week publication period; and

3.    Delegate minor and/or factual changes to the Proposed Submission draft of the Croydon Local Plan including the Policies Map, prior to publication to the Director of the Director of Planning and Sustainable Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Culture and Regeneration.