Complied with Rule 15 Complied with Rule 16

Transcription

1 BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC REPORT Report to: CABINET Report of: Director of Planning and Regeneration Date of Decision: 21 st October 2013 SUBJECT: BIRMINGHAM DEVELOPMENT PLAN 2031: PRE- SUBMISSION CONSULTATION Key Decision: Yes Relevant Forward Plan Ref: /2013 If not in the Forward Plan: (please "tick" box) Complied with Rule 15 Complied with Rule 16 Type of decision: Executive Relevant Cabinet Member: Councillor Tahir Ali, Development, Jobs and Skills Cllr Ian Ward, Deputy Leader of the Council Relevant O&S Chairman: Councillor Zafar Iqbal, Birmingham Economy and Jobs Wards affected: ALL 1. Purpose of report: 1.1 To seek authorisation to submit the pre submission version of the Birmingham Development Plan (the Plan) and Policies Map attached as Appendix 1, to Full Council. 1.2 To inform Cabinet of the latest version of the Plan that will be used for 6 weeks statutory public consultation. 2. Decision(s) recommended: That Cabinet: 2.1 Notes the Birmingham Development Plan (the Plan) (attached as Appendix 1) and supporting evidence attached as appendices to this report. 2.2 Endorses the submission of the Plan to Full Council seeking authority to publish the presubmission version of the Plan and undertake 6 weeks statutory consultation; following consultation, make minor amendments to the Plan and submit the Plan to the Secretary of State for examination. Lead Contact Officer(s): Martin Eade, Development Strategy, Planning and Regeneration Telephone No: address: martin.eade@birmingham.gov.uk

2 3. Consultation 3.1 Internal The Leader, Deputy Leader and the Chairman of Planning Committee have been regularly advised of the emerging Plan. Strategic Directors have been consulted and officers from across the Council have contributed to the process of preparing the Plan. 3.2 External There have been three previous rounds of public consultation. Most recently, in November 2012, public consultation was undertaken on options for providing additional land for housing and employment including the possible development of Green Belt land to the East or North of Sutton Coldfield. 4. Compliance Issues: 4.1 Are the recommended decisions consistent with the Council s policies, plans and strategies? The Plan is consistent with the Leader s Policy statement Financial Implications. (Will decisions be carried out within existing finances and Resources?) The Plan has been prepared using existing Development and Culture Directorate (Planning and Regeneration) staff resources and specialist external consultants to prepare specific evidence in support of the Plan. There have also been costs associated with providing specialist legal support from Queens Counsel. This expenditure has been provided for in the Planning and Regeneration revenue budget for 2013/14. The costs associated with submitting the Plan to the Secretary of State will be found from the Planning and Regeneration revenue budget for 2014/15. There are no direct financial implications to the City Council from the production of the Plan. 4.3 Legal Implications The preparation of the Birmingham Development Plan 2031 is required under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act More detailed guidance is provided in the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 and National Planning Policy Framework. which requires Local Authorities to plan to meet objectively assessed needs for new housing, employment etc. 4.4 Public Sector Equality Duty. An Equalities Analysis Executive Summary is attached as Appendix 8.

3 5. Relevant background/chronology of key events: 5.1 The Birmingham Development Plan 2031 (formerly known as the Birmingham Core Strategy) will set out a spatial vision and a strategy for the sustainable growth of Birmingham for the period to This Plan will be one of the Council s key strategic policy documents. 5.2 There have been three formal public consultations on the emerging Plan; Issues and Options 2008, Core Strategy 2010 and Planning for Birmingham s Growing Population Responses from the public consultations have been captured and the information has informed each iteration of the Plan. A summary of the responses received at each stage is attached as Appendix The most recent consultation undertaken in November 2012 attracted around 1,550 responses (about 1,400 from residents of the Sutton Coldfield area), a petition with 2,626 signatures opposing green belt development and a survey of opinion in relation to development at North Worcestershire Golf Course with a strong majority opposed. The main points arising were: Local residents were overwhelmingly (but not universally) opposed to development in the green belt mainly for environmental reasons, but also because it was felt that local infrastructure (schools, health services and transport) are inadequate, and because it was felt that brownfield sites should be preferred. Statutory consultees raised no fundamental objections to green belt development but raised detailed issues. Adjoining Councils generally supported the idea that Birmingham should accommodate as much of its own growth requirements as possible. Some cross-boundary issues were raised. Landowners/developers generally supported higher levels of development and development in the green belt and in several cases advocated particular sites. 5.5 Partly in response to the comments received, further technical work has been undertaken comprising: An updated Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment which informed the Housing Technical paper at Appendix 3 to this report A study of Housing Delivery in the Green Belt Options Areas which informed the Housing Technical paper at Appendix 3 to this report An Employment Land Review and an Employment Land Study which informed the Birmingham Development Plan at Appendix 1 to this report A Landscape Study of the Green Belt Option Areas which informed the Green Belt Options Assessment at Appendix 4 to this report A Transport and Accessibility Study of the Green Belt Option Areas which informed the Green Belt Options Assessment at Appendix 4 to this report An Archaeological Assessment of the Green Belt Option Areas which informed the Green Belt Options Assessment at Appendix 4 to this report An Ecological Assessment of the Green Belt Option Areas which informed the Green Belt Options Assessment at Appendix 4 to this report An Update of the Retail Need assessment which informed the Birmingham Development Plan at Appendix 1 to this report.

4 5.6 These documents and all the other background evidence supporting the Plan have been published on the Council s website ( A full list can be found in Appendix The Plan is also supported by a Sustainablity Appraisal (Appendix 5) and a Habitats Regulation Assessment (Appendix 6), both of which are statutory and an Infrastructure Delivery Plan which sets out the infrastructure requirements necessary to deliver the level of growth proposed. 5.8 It is proposed to start the final formal public consultation on 6 January The Plan and comments will be submitted to the Secretary Of State in the summer of 2014, followed by a public examination into the Plan s soundness by an independent inspector Assuming the Plan is found to be sound, it is anticipated that approval will be sought from Full Council for its adoption in late 2014/early Evaluation of alternative option(s): 6.1 The preparation of a sound Plan is a legal requirement, so doing nothing is not an option. 6.2 Different options have been considered and evaluated throughout the process of preparing the Plan. Based on the evidence assembled, the need for the Council to meet its objectively assessed requirements for new housing, employment etc and the consultation processes, it is considered that the approach contained in the proposed pre-submission plan at appendix 1 is the most appropriate 7. Reasons for Decision(s): 7.1 To allow the Birmingham Development Plan 2031 to proceed to the next formal consultation stage. Signatures: Dated: Waheed Nazir Director of Planning and Regeneration Cllr Tahir Ali Cabinet Member for Development, Jobs and Skills Cllr Ian Ward Deputy Leader. List of Background Documents used to compile this Report: See Appendix 9

5 List of Appendices accompanying this Report: 1. Pre-submission Birmingham Development Plan 2. Public Consultation Summary 3. Housing Technical Paper 4. Green Belt Options Assessment 5. Sustainability Appraisal 6. Habitats Regulation Assessment 7. Infrastructure Delivery Plan 8. Equalities Assessment 9. List of Background Documents