Agenda item

** Please note that due to the size of the documents, appendices Two (Sustainability Appraisal) – to follow - and Three (Consultation Statement) will be published as supplements to the main agenda pack. Only the cover report and appendices One (Proposed Submission Document – Partial Review of the Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 – Oxford’s Unmet Housing Needs) and Four (Equality Impact Assessment Screening) will be printed for Executive members **

Report of Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy

Purpose of report

To seek approval of a ‘Proposed Submission Document’ for the Partial Review of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 for the purpose of inviting representations. The Document contains proposals for residential development to assist Oxford City Council in meeting its unmet housing needs and has been prepared to fulfil a commitment set out at paragraph B.95 of the adopted Local Plan.

Recommendations

 1.1        That the Proposed Submission Document at Appendix 1 be approved for the purpose of inviting representations.

1.2       That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to approve the final presentation of the Proposed Submission Document and to make any necessary minor amendments and corrections prior to formal publication.

Resolved

(1)          That the Proposed Submission Document (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for the purpose of inviting representations.

(2)          That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to approve the final presentation of the Proposed Submission Document and to make any necessary minor amendments and corrections prior to formal publication.

The Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy submitted a report to seek approval of a ‘Proposed Submission Document’ for the Partial Review of the adopted Cherwell Local Plan 2011-2031 for the purpose of inviting representations. The Document contained proposals for residential development to assist Oxford City Council in meeting its unmet housing needs and had been prepared to fulfil a commitment set out at paragraph B.95 of the adopted Local Plan.

At the discretion of the Chairman, Councillor Nigel Simpson, ward member for Kidlington West, Councillor Maurice Billington, ward member for Kidlington East and Councillor Alan Mackenzie-Wintle, ward member for Kidlington West, addressed Executive.

Resolved

(1)          That the Proposed Submission Document (annex to the Minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved for the purpose of inviting representations.

(2)          That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be authorised to approve the final presentation of the Proposed Submission Document and to make any necessary minor amendments and corrections prior to formal publication.

Reasons

A Proposed Submission Document for the Partial Review of the Local Plan has been prepared in the interest of delivering Cherwell’s share of the unmet housing needs of Oxford to 2031. The Proposed Submission Document is presented to Members for approval for the purpose of inviting representations.

The Plan’s strategy has been prepared to meet objectives and a vision to specifically meet Oxford’s needs in the Cherwell context.  It seeks to meet Oxford’s specific needs while achieving substantial benefit for Cherwell’s communities.

It provides for development that will support the city’s economy, universities and its local employment base and ensure that people have convenient, affordable and sustainable travel opportunities to the city’s places of work and to its services and facilities.  It prioritises the need for development to be well connected to Oxford, to be fully integrated with the County Council’s sustainable transport policies, to be distinctive and for a consolidated approach to green infrastructure and for the achievement of net gains in biodiversity.

The Plan provides for 4,400 homes in addition to the existing Cherwell Local Plan requirement of 22,840 homes (2011-2031).  It focuses development on a geographic area extending north from Oxford to south Kidlington, along the A44 corridor to Yarnton and Begbroke, and up to Woodstock in West Oxfordshire.

Officers consider the document to be a ‘sound’ Plan; one that is positively prepared, justified, effective and fully consistent with national policy.

An Equality Impact Assessment Screening concludes that a full Equality Impact Assessment is not required.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to progress the Proposed Submission Document

The Council has committed to undertaking the Partial Review of the Local Plan in para. B.95 of the adopted Plan.  Not progressing the Partial Review would make it likely that Oxford’s unmet needs would need to be met within Cherwell through the consideration of applications for planning permission for unplanned development elsewhere in the District. The total housing requirement for Cherwell’s share of Oxford’s unmet needs would remain untested on a statutory plan-making basis.

Officers consider that this option would not be in the best interests of the district

Option 2: To reconsider the content of the Proposed Submission Document The Proposed Submission Document has been prepared having regard to statutory requirements, evidence and national planning policy and guidance.  If Members do not agree with significant aspects of the Plan, officers would need to consider the planning reasons for any changes and the implications for the extensive evidence base including the Sustainability Appraisal. There would be a lengthy delay to the programme and an increase in risk of a redrafted Partial Review Plan not being found ‘sound’.