That;

(i)            the review of the Torbay Local Plan 2012-30 in Appendix 1 be approved and that the decision be published in accordance with Section 17 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Regulation 10A of the Town and Country Planning (Local Plan) (England) Regulations 2012; 

(ii)          as per option 1 set out in this report, the scope of the update will be:

To assess whether the local plan’s housing figure should be updated in line with the most recent standard methodology housing figure.   It would require an update to Local Plan Policies SS1, SS12 and SS13.  There may be a consequential impact on other policies dealing with housing supply, particularly Policy SS2 and neighbourhood area policies (SDT1, SDP1 and SDB1);

(iii)         a decision on any further amendments to the plan arising from updates to the housing policies in line with the review; or identified as necessary following legislative changes; or the identified as necessary to ensure the plan is sound, be delegated to the Assistant Director of Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency in consultation with the Local Plan Working Party;

(iv)         the terms of reference of the Local Plan Working Party, to reflect the work necessary beyond the review to update the Local Plan, be amended from:

“To support the Local Planning Authority’s review of the Torbay Local Plan 2012-2030 and any other associated documents as may be deemed appropriate by the Assistant Director of Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency”

To:

“To support the Local Planning Authority’s review and update of the Torbay Local Plan 2012-2030 and any other associated documents as may be deemed appropriate by the Assistant Director of Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency”; and

(v)       that Cabinet receives regular progress updates on the review from the Assistant Director of Planning, Housing and Climate Emergency.

The proposals in this report help us to deliver this ambition by seeking agreement of the scope of the Local Plan Update.  An up to date development plan is the legal starting point for determining planning applications.  It sets a framework for the delivery of affordable and market housing, contains policies on employment, tourism, reducing deprivation, and improving the built and natural environment.  By agreeing the scope of the Local Plan Update the review has a clear and prioritised approach, which recognised the importance of addressing housing land supply issues in accordance with the advice set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

There were three options:

1) To carry out a partial update of policies for the supply of housing (i.e. those which set a housing number).

2) To carry out a partial update of policies for the supply of housing (i.e. those which set a housing number) and to carry out a light touch update of other policies to reduce repetition and make minor amendments.  This is the recommended approach.  

3) To carry out a more detailed re-write to create a new Local Plan.

The three options were set out in more detail in the submitted report.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 30 November 2020 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

Local Plans are required by law to be reviewed at least every five years from adoption.  On 14 July the Cabinet established the Local Plan Review Working Party, who have subsequently met and proposed a number of recommendations for the Cabinet to agree.  Councillor Morey proposed and Councillor Long seconded a motion which was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out above.

None.