Agenda item

For the reasons set out in the report, the Streets & Environment Sub-Committee is recommended:

1.               To note this report, the proposed changes to the Local Plan 2018 and the publication of the Local Plan Review for a second consultation under Regulation 19 of the of the Town and Country Planning (Local Plan) Regulations 2012; and,

2.               To consider whether it wishes to make any comments on the proposed changes to the Local Plan 2018 to be taken account of by the Executive.

The Sub-Committee considered a report set out on pages 83 to 94 of the agenda, which provided an update on the proposed changes to the Local Plan 2018 and the publication of the Local Plan Review for a second consultation. The Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration introduced the item and went through a presentation summarising the report.

The Sub-Committee asked what would happen if Croydon Area Remodelling Scheme (CARS) and Brighton Main Line Upgrade did not go ahead as planned. The Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration responded that the Council needed to have policies in place for the scheme should it go ahead, but that the actual funding for the scheme would come from the Department for Transport. The Head of Spatial Planning, Growth Zone and Regeneration explained that the Local Plan would set out how the scheme should be accommodated should it be funded. The Sub-Committee heard that the scheme was unfunded at this time, but including it in the Local Plan would mean that the Council was well placed should a Transport Works Act Order Inquiry come forward.

Members asked what work was being done to engage developers and partners in realising the ambitions of the Local Plan. The Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration explained that there were regular meetings with partners (including residents and developers). The Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration and the Mayor regularly meet with developers to discuss major developments, as well as pre-application discussions with officers. The Director of Planning & Sustainable Regeneration explained that development of the Local Plan was a regulated process that set out clear expectations on engagement to ensure all those affected by the Plan were able to contribute their views. There had been a large amount of engagement with residents and communities, as well as landowners (through previous consultations and calls for sites). The Council had a large database of partners and organisations to facilitate its engagement; this included the Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London (TfL), Network Rail and others. Engagement work was fundamental to the development of the Local Plan to ensuring it was fit for purpose, and had to be demonstrated when it was submitted for examination before a planning inspector.

The Sub-Committee asked if the existing local masterplans would be changed to better align with the revised Local Plan. The Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration responded that there was harmonisation across the various local masterplans, and the Head of Spatial Planning, Growth Zone and Regeneration explained that unadopted masterplans would not be adopted until the Local Plan had been agreed, and that these would be checked to ensure that they were properly aligned. Members asked if neighbouring masterplans accounted for each other, and heard that this was the case.

Members asked about increases in ‘build to rent’ properties, and queried whether the Local Plan addressed this. The Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration explained that the Council could not restrict developers in this way; however, the Local Plan would look to put restrictions on large-scale co-living developments. The Director of Planning & Sustainable Regeneration explained the ‘Homes’ chapter of the Plan had been revised to account for changes over the last ten years, and stressed the importance of providing a variety of tenures of homes appropriate for different groups.

The Sub-Committee asked if anything was being done to bring large-scale empty commercial units back into use. The Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration explained that the Executive Mayor was proactively focussed on this issue to move things forward, and the Director of Planning & Sustainable Regeneration added that up to date policy and guidance were important to ensure that the right kind of developments for Croydon came forward.

The Chair asked for an explanation of the ‘Green Grid’ and the Spatial Planning Plan Making Team Leader explained that this was a network of parks and green spaces across the borough, and about recognising the linkages between these spaces. The Local Plan also addressed sustainable transport as it related to the ‘Green Grid’. The Chair asked if this included ‘Blue Corridors’ and heard that it did.

Members acknowledged the intention to move to a ‘character over density’ policy approach to house building in the Local Plan, and asked how many homes the Local Plan would facilitate in delivering and whether this had led to any trade-offs in achieving targets. The Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration responded that housing targets would be unchanged, but the emphasis had shifted to a design and character led approach.

The Chair asked if Croydon would be adopting a tall buildings policy, and heard from the Spatial Planning Plan Making Team Leader that it would and that this was required under the London Plan.

Recommendation

The Sub-Committee welcomed the inclusion of the Green Grid and Local Green Spaces in the Local Plan Review, and recommended that Blue Corridors (watercourses and natural ponds) were explicitly referenced and considered in this area of work.