Agenda item

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The Planning Policy Manager presented the draft Cabinet Report (2 August 2022) which sought authorisation to undertake a statutory 6 week statutory consultation exercise on the Draft South East King’s Lynn Growth Area Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document.  The Task Group was advised that the Borough Council would consider all representations made during the consultation exercise and would then proceed through the democratic process for formal adoption by the Council.

The Planning Control Manager outlined the purpose of the report and provided an overview of the proposals/indicative layout/infrastructure for development of the whole site via a collaborative approach.

The Planning Policy Manager and Planning Control Manager responded to questions in relation to:

·         Governance Guidance - Flood risk and sequential test being evaluated throughout the entire Local Plan area.

·         Flood Risk Protocol developed with the Environment Agency looking at villages sequentially to allow development and not stagnate.

·         Windfall sites put forward for development.

·         Allocated sites in the flood zones which had gone through the Sustainability Appraisal.

·         Sustainability of allocated sites.

·         Consultation Events – August and September 2022 which would include face to face discussions on the draft proposals, display boards.

·         Current capacity in secondary schools – Norfolk County Council being consultation.

·         Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

·         Communication with Stakeholder Group/Parish Councils regarding the proposals set out in the Master Plan/consultation.

·         Nearest railway station to West Winch – Watlington and car parking requirements.

·         Aim of the Masterplan.

·         Anticipated views from the consultation exercise and how the Borough Council could assist with the expectations of the consultation exercise, for example, provision of EV points on each house.

·         Separate consultation exercise to be undertaken for the new housing access road.

·         Hopkins planning application.

Councillor Hudson read out three questions from Councillor Kemp (who had sent her apologies for the meeting).  The Chair invited Councillor Hudson to ask Councillor Kemp to forward her questions direct to himself for a response.  The Planning Policy Manager explained that if Councillor Kemp had previously submitted representations and registered to attend the Examination, she would be invited to attend, but highlig that it was too late to make new representations.

Councillor Moriarty asked for a briefing to the West Winch Stakeholder Group following the recent announcement.  In response, the Planning Control Manager was discussed at a previous meeting and advised that a briefing would be scheduled at the appropriate time.

The Chair and Planning Policy Manager commented that the questions raised by Councillor de Whalley (set out below) be submitted during the 6 week consultation exercise:

•           Infrastructure required – Doctor’s Surgery, Dental Practice.

•           When the dualling of the A47 would take place – before or after the development commenced.

•           Sustainable transport and shared pathways for both pedestrians and cyclists.

•           Access to nearest rail network.

Councillor Parish made a general comment on the way the Borough Council issued Press Releases, in particular the one issued on 7 July – Consultation on West Winch Framework Masterplan set to start late summer and stated that it would have been more appropriate to have consulted with the relevant Committees prior to the issuing of the Press Release. 

Councill Bubb commented that the Council should be pushing Network Rail to open a station at West Lynn. The Chair explained this was a separate issue and an East of England Strategy was being developed to discuss the total transport infrastructure in the East of England.

Councillor Bubb commented that members of the public may not know who the statutory consultees were.  The Planning Policy Manager advised that a link could be inserted into the document setting out the statutory consultees.

Councillor de Whalley wished his abstention to be recorded for the resolution set out below.

AGREED:  That the:

·         Local Plan Task Group note the contents of the report and recommends to Cabinet that the Draft South East King’s Lynn Growth Area Framework Masterplan SPD (Appendix 1 to this report) be approved for a statutory 6 week consultation.

·         Cabinet note the contents of the report and approve the Draft South East King’s Lynn Growth Area Framework Masterplan SPD (Appendix 1 to the report) for a statutory 6 week consultation, and

·         To delegate authority to the Planning Policy Manager in consultation with the Cabinet member for Development and Regeneration to consider and agree any minor amendments and consultation arrangements required to finalise the document for consultation.