Issue - meetings

** Due to the size of the documents, to assist access, the appendices are published as a series of supplements to the main agenda pack **

Report of Assistant Director Planning and Development

Purpose of report

To present the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 (draft) and to seek approval for its submission to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

1.1           To recommend to the Council:

a)    the proposed submission Regulation 19 draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 (December 2024) (Appendix 1) and;

b)    approve the submission of the draft (the “Proposed Submission Local Plan”) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination with all necessary prescribed and supporting documents.

1.2           To note:-

a)    the responses to the consultation on the Proposed Submission Local Plan draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 summarised in the Statement of Consultation at Appendix 6;

b)    the supporting documents relevant to the preparation of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 presented at Appendices 3 to 9 and available online at https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/local-plan-review-2042-submission .

1.3           To approve:-

a)    the Schedule of Proposed Changes and Minor Modifications to the Proposed Submission Local Plan draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review presented at Appendix 2;

b)    the Local Development Scheme (July 2025), presented at Appendix 10.

c)     the use of £300,000 from the Council’s reserve for the costs of the examination

1.4           To delegate authority to the Assistant Director - Planning and Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management and Corporate Director - Communities:-

a)    to make any necessary presentational changes to the Submission draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 and to necessary prescribed and supporting documents before submission to full Council;

b)    to propose changes and corrections to the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 and supporting documents, including policy updates, editorial changes, and correction of typographical and grammatical errors during the examination.

c)     to invite the examining inspector(s), post submission, to recommend any modifications they consider to be necessary in accordance with section 20(7C) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

Resolved

(1)            That the proposed submission Regulation 19 draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 (December 2024) (Appendix 1) be recommended to Council.

(2)            That Council be recommended to approve the submission of the draft (the “Proposed Submission Local Plan”) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination with all necessary prescribed and supporting documents.

(3)            That the responses to the consultation on the Proposed Submission Local Plan draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 summarised in the Statement of Consultation (Appendix 6) be noted.

(4)            That  the supporting documents relevant to the preparation of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 (Appendices 3 to 9 and online at https://www.cherwell.gov.uk/local-plan-review-2042-submission ) be noted.

(5)            That the Schedule of Proposed Changes and Minor Modifications to the Proposed Submission Local Plan draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review (Appendix 2) be approved.

(6)            That the Local Development Scheme (July 2025) (Appendix 10) be approved.

(7)            That the use of £300,000 from the Council’s reserve for the costs of the examination be approved.

(8)            That authority be delated to the Assistant Director Planning and Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management and Corporate Director Communities:-

a)    to make any necessary presentational changes to the Submission draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 and to necessary prescribed and supporting documents before submission to full Council;

b)    to propose changes and corrections to the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 and supporting documents, including policy updates, editorial changes, and correction of typographical and grammatical errors during the examination.

c)     to invite the examining inspector(s), post submission, to recommend any modifications they consider to be necessary in accordance with section 20(7C) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

The Assistant Director Planning and Development submitted a report to present the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 for approval and subsequent presentation to Council as a draft 'Submission' Local Plan. Subject to approval by Council the Proposed Submission Local Plan would be submitted to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination. This report also sought approval of an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS). An up-to-date LDS must support submission of the Plan.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management thanks officers for their hard work bringing the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042

The adopted Local Plan was the main part of the statutory Development Plan, the starting point for considering development proposals.The review of the Cherwell Local Plan had commenced in 2020 with three public consultations were undertaken prior to the publication of the Proposed Submission Local Plan in December 2024. Following Executive approval in December 2024, consultation on the Proposed Submission Local Plan commenced on 19 December 2024 and closed on 25 February 2025.

The 345 consultation responses had been considered by officers in reviewing whether the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 (the ‘Plan’) was 'sound' and legally compliant, the tests of the independent examination of the Plan started when the Proposed Submission Local Plan was submitted.

The view of officers was that the Plan was sound but that a number of 'proposed changes' and 'minor modifications' should be suggested to the examining inspector(s) in the interests of its improvement, clarification and updating and to address minor presentational, grammatical and typographical issues.

In response to Executive Member comments, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management confirmed that the Plan was sound, and evidence based and worthy of submission for independent examination.

The Leader, having apologised for being unable to attend the meeting in person due to being at the LGA Conference in Liverpool, highlighted that the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 was one of the most important documents for the district and added thanks to officers for their hard work. The Leader also thanked the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management, and other political Groups for their engagement in the process through the Member Advisory Group. Thanks was also extended to parishes, residents and parties who had engaged in the process.  

The Labour Group Leader commended officers and the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management and confirmed the Labour Group supported the Proposed Submission Local Plan, the sooner it was adopted, the better for the Cherwell district.

Resolved

(1)          That the proposed submission Regulation 19 draft of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042 (December 2024) be recommended to Council.

(2)          That Council be recommended to approve the submission of the draft (the “Proposed Submission Local Plan”) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination with all necessary prescribed and supporting documents.

(3)          That the responses to the consultation on the Proposed Submission Local Plan draft of the Cherwell  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17