Agenda item

The Housing Strategy Officer provided the Panel with an update on the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) for the key strategic site at West Winch.  She explained that the purpose of the IDP was to identify the key strategic infrastructure to develop the entire growth area.  It would include information on the infrastructure required, costs, delivery and timing.  As part of the IDP, the biggest piece of infrastructure required would be the West Winch Relief Road.

The Panel was informed that consultants had been appointed to create the IDP and a first draft document had now been prepared.  Key stakeholders had been consulted on the IDP and it was noted that the key stakeholders were mainly developers and land owners.  It was also confirmed that the Parish Council and Neighbourhood Plan Group had been kept up to date with the process.

It was explained that once adopted, the IDP would become a material planning consideration when determining applications in the area.

The Housing Strategy Officer explained that all key stakeholders had been invited to attend a presentation on the IDP and provided with the opportunity to meet with officers on a one to one basis.  They had also been given the opportunity to submit written comments on the IDP.  The Consultants would now review all feedback and comments received and would prepare the final draft of the IDP which was expected towards the end of January 2018.  Following receipt of the final draft, a further round of consultation would take place.

Once the IDP had been agreed and finalised it would be used for developer agreements which would be a legal document outlining land uses and development plan zones.

The Panel was informed that a bid had been submitted for Government Grant for the Relief Road and it was anticipated that the outcome of the bid would be known in mid-February 2018.  If successful the bid would be used to accelerate the development of the road by the way of loans to developers.

The Principal Planner explained that a feasibility study was being undertaken for the relief road and the Panel was provided with a map of the area and the position of the road, as attached to the minutes.  She explained that a successful bid to the Norfolk Business Rates Pool had provided match funding to carry out the feasibility study.  Information was provided on the location of the road and it was explained that the detail would be available from the feasibility study.

The Chairman thanked officers for their presentation and invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

In response to a question from the Vice Chairman, Councillor Wright, the Housing Strategy Officer provided detail on the Government bid which had been submitted and explained that any loans would be subject to state aid rules with regards to interest.  She explained that contracts and loan agreements would be required and the Council would specify the works required.  The repaid loans could then be used to reinvest in other infrastructure works to assist with accelerating development.  It was explained that if the bid was unsuccessful the Council would have to look at alternative funding arrangements, or wait for the development to come forward as developers could deliver. 

It was confirmed that the maximum bid which could be submitted was £10 million and the Council had submitted a bid for £9.6 million using the Government formula.  Councillor Middleton commented that if the bid was unsuccessful could developers look to borrow elsewhere or use their own funds to accelerate the development of the road.  The Housing Strategy Officer explained that the developer economy in West Norfolk was not high value and there needed to be a balance between planning policies and developer economics.  She explained that West Norfolk competed with high value development areas such as Norwich and Cambridge where there was more significant value.  She explained that the purpose of the bid for grant funding was to act as an enabling fund to allow units to be developed quicker and assist with developer cash flow in the early stages of the development.

In response to a question from Councillor Manning, it was explained that work on the road would be required to commence by 2021 in line with Government funding arrangements. 

Councillor Crofts asked about the school and education provision and if the Government bid for grant funding was successful, could some of the funds be used for this.  It was clarified that the funds could only be used to accelerate development in the area and schools and education requirements would come into consideration later in the process.

In response to a question from Councillor Baron Chenery of Horsbrugh, it was explained that the NHS and Primary Care Trust had been consulted on the local Plan and had been provided with information on the IDP.

RESOLVED: The update was noted.