Agenda item

** 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

Council resolves:

1.1           To approve:-

a)    the submission of the Local Plan at Appendix 1 to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination with all necessary prescribed and supporting documents; and

b)    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.

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 .

Resolved

(1)            That the submission of the Local Plan (Appendix 1 to the report) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination with all necessary prescribed and supporting documents be approved.

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

(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 to the report) be noted.

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

The Assistant Director Planning and Development submitted a 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. Executive has considered and had recommended Council approve the submission of the Plan at its meeting on 1 July 2025.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development, Councillor Conway, explained that 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 considering the report, Members commended all council officers involved in the Local Plan process and the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development for their work on the Local Plan as well as the cross party working through the Member Advisory Group and Group Leaders to reach submission stage for a sound Plan.

Councillor Wood proposed that a recorded vote be taken. This was duly seconded by Councillor Mawer. Having been proposed and seconded, a recorded vote was taken. Members voted as follows:

Councillor Fiaz Ahmed                 For

Councillor Rebecca Biegel           For

Councillor Chris Brant                  For

Councillor Besmira Brasha           For

Councillor John Broad                 For

Councillor Phil Chapman             For

Councillor Mark Cherry                For

Councillor Becky Clarke MBE       For

Councillor Jean Conway              For

Councillor Gemma Coton             For

Councillor Nick Cotter                  For

Councillor Dr Isabel Creed           For

Councillor Andrew Crichton          For

Councillor Dr Henry Elugwu         For

Councillor Donna Ford                 Abstain

Councillor Ian Harwood                For

Councillor David Hingley              For

Councillor Frank Ideh                  For

Councillor Harry Knight                For

Councillor Simon Lytton               For

Councillor Nick Mawer                 For

Councillor Fiona Mawson             For

Councillor Lesley McLean            For

Councillor Zoe McLernon             For

Councillor Ian Middleton              For

Councillor Julian Nedelcu             For

Councillor Dr Chukwudi Okeke     For

Councillor Lynne Parsons            For

Councillor Rob Pattenden            For

Councillor Chris Pruden               For

Councillor Edward F Reeves        For

Councillor David Rogers              For

Councillor Alisa Russell               For

Councillor Les Sibley                   For

Councillor Nigel Simpson             Abstain

Councillor Dr Kerrie Thornhill        For

Councillor Dorothy Walker           For

Councillor Linda Ward                 For

Councillor Amanda Watkins         For

Councillor John Willett                 For

Councillor Barry Wood                 For

Resolved

(1)            That the submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government for independent examination with all necessary prescribed and supporting documents be approved.

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

(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 be noted.

(4)            That the supporting documents relevant to the preparation of the Cherwell Local Plan Review 2042: Sustainability Appraisal (November 2024) - Non-Technical Summary; Sustainability Appraisal (November 2024); Sustainability Appraisal Addendum (May 2025); Draft Habitats Regulations Assessment (November 2024); Health and Equalities Impact Assessment  (November 2024); Consultation Statement (June 2025); Officer responses to representations received (June 2025); Duty to Co Operate Statement of Compliance (June 2025); and, Infrastructure Delivery Plan (June 2025), be noted.