Decision details

Members considered a report which sought agreement to consult on the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document (DPD) pre-submission version and supporting documents. Members welcomed the report and particularly the prospect that, following adoption, the Local Planning Authority would no longer be vulnerable to developers taking advantage of the lack of evidence that a five year land supply was in place.

A member asked that consideration be given to the Development Plan Document being brought back to Council after consultation, as had happened previously, before being submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public. In response it was explained that, when the previous DPD had been referred back to Council, it had been at an earlier stage in the process, and that to do so again at this late stage would cause unnecessary delay.

A member reported that, in considering the application for development on the Big Pit, Leicestershire County Council Planning Committee had been informed that Hinckley & Bosworth Borough had a five year land supply. In response it was confirmed that, whilst this was true, it was repeatedly challenged by the Inspector at appeals resulting in inconsistent outcomes.

A member raised concerns about the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment being out of date, as it had been produced in 2007, since when new areas of flooding had emerged. In response it was stated that the Environment Agency was a statutory consultee on the DPD and would be expected to have commented on any flood risk, if they felt it was an issue.

It was moved by Councillor Bray, seconded by Councillor Bill, and unanimously

RESOLVED –

(i)         the publication of the pre-submission draft Site Allocations Development Management Policies DPD, Sustainability Appraisal and supporting documents be approved for consultation between 17 February 2014 and 31 March 2014 in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Regulations (Local Development) (England) 2004 (as amended);

(ii)        the submission of the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies DPD and supporting documents be approved for submission to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public following analysis of the representations received during the consultation period;

(iii)       the Statement of Consultation Responses to the Site Allocations and Generic Development Control Policies DPD Preferred Options February 2009 – April 2009 be approved.