Agenda item

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All Members had been invited to the meeting for this item.

The Planning Policy Manager and the Local Plan Team provided a presentation on the Local Plan and presented the Cabinet report which sought adoption of the Local Plan by the Council.  A copy of the presentation is attached.

The Chair thanked the Planning Policy Manager and the Local Plan Team for the report and thanked all those involved in the process.  The Chair invited questions and comments from Members, as summarised below.

The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Licensing, Councillor Moriarty thanked all those involved in creation of the plan and highlighted that the plan had been found sound, met all the requirements, had been through examination and could now be formally adopted.

Councillor Lintern asked what the impact of Devolution and Local Government Reorganisation would be and it was explained that a key examination test was the Duty to Co-operate with neighbouring authorities and Statutory Consultees.  Government had indicated that they did not want plans to stop and were reviewing the plan making system to speed up processes, including the possibility of the ambition to create Local Plans within two and a half years.

Councillor Ratcliffe commented that it was good that the plan covered the whole of the Borough and had allocated employment land in Downham Market.

Councillor Rose addressed the Panel under Standing Order 34 and asked if the Custom and Self Build Task Group would start meeting again.  Officers provided an overview of the work that had been carried out, including winning a national award and the benefits of Custom and Self Build.

In response to a question from Councillor Lintern, it was confirmed that Custom and Self Build homes were exempt from the Community Infrastructure Levy and Biodiversity Net Gain.  This was because the Government wanted to see growth in this area to contribute to the housing crisis.

Councillor Colwell commented that he was pleased to see policies relating to saving disused railway lines, the natural landscape and flood risk.  He referred to Houses of Multiple Occupancy and Article 4 directions and officers confirmed that Council could consider Article 4 Directions if issues arose in the future.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration and Development Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet, as summarised below.

CABINET RECOMMENDATIONS:

To be recommended to Full Council:

1.     To note the outcome of the Inspectors report into the Examination of the Local Plan (Appendices 1 and 2 to this report).

2.     That the Council adopts the Local Plan as per the Inspectors Report, 21 February 2025, (appendix 1 to this report), as well as the accompanying Policies Map (contained within appendix 3).

3.     That Council notes that all policies of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Core Strategy (2011) and the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (2016)(the current Local Plan, for the period 2001-2026) will be superseded by the new Local Plan, upon adoption.

4.     That the Assistant Director for Environment and Planning, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, be authorised to make any non-material updates and drafting changes to the Local Plan.  This includes the Additional (minor) Modifications published alongside the Main Modifications.