Agenda item

To consider the draft Cabinet report – 17 January 2023 - Adoption of West Winch Growth Area Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Please be advised Appendix 3 will follow.

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The Principal Planner (Policy) provided an update on the Local plan and reminded the Task Group that the Local Plan had been submitted to the Secretary of State at the end March 2022 and officers had been working on detailed responses to the questions from the Planning Inspector.  It was noted that three hearings would be held, one week commencing 5 December 2022 and two further ones in January 2023 at South Lynn Community Centre.  All the documentation was published on the Examination details on the Borough Council’s Local Plan examination website:  https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/info/20079/planning_policy_and_local_plan/951/local_plan_review_2016-2036_examination

The Principal Planner (Policy) presented the draft Cabinet report which sought authorisation to adopt the West Winch Growth Area Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and outlined the recommendations set out in the report.

The key issues raised were outlined as set out in Section 3 of the report relating to:

·         Principle of Development.

·         Traffic and West Winch Access Road.

·         Flooding.

The Task Group’s attention was drawn to section 2 – consultation and section 4 – Amendments to the SPD in response to representations received.

In response to a question from Councillor Parish on the Cabinet Header – Environmental Considerations - No, the Planning Control Manager advised that it was a typo and drew Members’ attention to paragraph 8 which set out environmental considerations as overall proposal and explained that the header would be amended to read – Yes.

Councillor Moriarty commented that his expectation was that the information would be presented the same format as previously, for example, representation, next to it the Borough Council’s response and why and that it made it easier for Councillors and members of the public to follow and asked why the information had been presented in the current format which made it difficult to cross reference each item which had been changed. Councillor Moriarty added that he could not vote to approve the report to go to Cabinet in its current format.  In response, the Principal Planner (Policy) took the point that the information could have been presented in a more conventional format, with the Borough Council’s response to each representation shown systematically. 

Councillor Blunt if the document on consultation action existed as outlined by Councillor Moriarty.  In response the  Housing Strategy Manager advised that the Borough Council’s response to each of the representations received should be available in the previous format.  The Planning Control Manager explained that there was a summary of representations/responses set out at Appendix 1, page 19 onwards in the report, but that the information requested had not been included within the report.

In response to comments made by Councillor Hudson on the report not being complete and the document not easy to understand by a lay person, the Chair explained that he did not agree with all the statements made but commented that the was missing clear indication of the action they had caused in the report and was therefore inclined to ask the officers to take the report back to rethink the presentation of the information.  The Housing Strategy Manager explained that there was a summary of the main changes to the document set out at section 4 and added that it was the bit in the middle that was missing as to how the Council had got to the changes.  It was noted that often the individual comments were grouped together but accepted that the individual responses had not been included.  Councillor Moriarty added that it would also be helpful if the responses could also be included where there was no proposed change.

The Principal Planner (Policy), Planning Control Manager and Housing Strategy Manager responded to questions and comments in relation to:

·         Questions from the Inspector/Hybridge Planning Application for Wisbech Fringe (part in West Norfolk, part in Fenland).

·         Current congestion on the A10

·         Impact of increased traffic movements/transport assessments on the existing A10 prior to the completion of the Housing Access Road.

·         Site Flood risks and Flooding Impact Assessment for West Winch/consultants working with the Borough Council on the strategies that could come forward.

·         What was the purpose of the SPD?

·         Bus Routes/new Cycle paths.

·         Contributions to maintenance of existing cycle paths.

·         Active Travel and consultation exercise.

·         Facilities – provision of library being left to King’s Lynn and impact of air quality management.

·         Connectivity to King’s Lynn and West Winch.

·         Traffic generation modelling – information available on the NCC website, extensive consultation currently underway for the design of the housing access road.

·         NCC contribution for sustainable methods of transport.

·         Anglia Water Authority response on page 31 on supply of water to new homes.

·         Borough Council’s annual target for the delivery of new homes.

AGREED:  The Local Plan Task Group hold an additional meeting in December 2022 to consider the amended Cabinet Report to include the individual responses/actions to each representation made during the consultation exercise.