Issue - meetings

To note a report on decisions taken by the Assistant Director Planning and Regulatory in accordance with his delegated authority.

It was RESOLVED that the Information Report – Appeals/Called in Applications be noted.

The Head of Planning and Enforcement gave an update to the Committee on the Local Plan Partial Review (2024).

The Head of Planning and Development advised that one of the keys areas for change was creation of policies in relation to climate change. Also some of the policies include improvement of the town and the infrastructure, creating a stronger position in terms of architecture of the town and emphasising the garden city principles with the town and country association.

The key amendments outlined in the review of the 2019 Local Plan were summarised as follows:

• Climate change policies would be placed at the top of the Council’s Strategic Planning Policies. The Council was seeking the right balance of new low carbon homes and investment in retrofitting existing homes, alongside new jobs, infrastructure whilst protecting the towns green spaces and cultural assets, echoing the Town and Country Planning Association Garden City principles that the original new town was founded on.

• Deletion of Policy SP1: Presumption in favour of sustainable development and replaced with new Policy SP1: Climate change to reflect the changed priority for the Local Plan to address climate change issues and challenges.

• Amendment of Policy SP2: Sustainable development in Stevenage included an amendment to clause A. which added an additional requirement for developments to demonstrate the promotion or provision of local green jobs during its construction or operation.

• Amendment to Policy SP11: Climate Change, flooding, and pollution to consider flooding and pollution only and replaced with Policy SP11: Flooding and pollution.

New chapter of detailed Climate Change policies:

Policy CC1: Energy efficiency which would set CO² emissions targets and contributions to a Carbon Offset Fund where these could not be met on-site.

Policy CC2: Heating and cooling to prevent overheating and limit the use of energy-dependent cooling systems.

Policy CC3: Water efficiency to set water use targets for new development.

Policy CC4: Energy infrastructure to encourage new ultra-low and zero carbon energy infrastructure.

Policy CC5: Carbon sinks to protect existing carbon sinks and encourage net gains in carbon sequestration.

Policy CC6: Green roofs and walls to encourage new green roofs and green walls.

Policy CC7: Digital connectivity to encourage the installation of high-speed digital infrastructure.

Policy CC8: The green economy to support the principles of a circular economy and encourage the creation of local green jobs.

Deletion of Policy FP1: Climate Change and replacement with new Policy FP1: Sustainable drainage to reflect change in Plan structure and to ensure that: Major and minor developments utilise sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) wherever possible; Surface water run-off is not increased; Developments incorporate green, surface level features (e.g. ponds and swales) wherever possible; and Underground attenuation features and impervious surfaces are only used where unavoidable.

Deletion of Policy FP2: Flood risk in Flood Zone 1 and Policy FP3: Flood risk in Zones 2 and 3 and replacement with new comprehensive Policy FP2: Flood risk management to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4