Issue - meetings

Report of the Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-ordinator (enclosed).

Carolyn Williams, Central Lancashire Local Plan Co-Ordinator, presented the report which provided Members with an update on the progress of the development of the Central Lancashire Local Plan.

Officers were in the process of reviewing and updating the Local Development Scheme (LDS) and the next milestone for the Local Plan was the consultation on the Preferred Options Document. This was currently timetable for consultation commencing in June 2021, however delays in development of key aspects of the evidence base have meant this date was not achievable. The revised plan for delivery aimed for consultation on a Preferred Options document towards the end of 2021.

Members noted that the Queen’s speech indicated that changes to the planning system would start to come forward this year. A key change proposed through the White Paper for local plans was the introduction of three categories of land, Growth, Renewal and Protection. To ensure the Local Plan is compatible with any new system developed on adoption, officers suggested that work on these sites should be undertaken with this in mind.

Other issues detailed in the report related to the following;

·         Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA)

·         Housing Needs Study

·         Central Lancashire Density Study

·         Central Lancashire Transport Masterplan

·         Climate Change

·         Land Viability

·         Integrated Assessment (IA) and Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA)

Following queries with regards to the housing needs study, Members were advised a number of partner agencies such as housing associations and homelessness charities have been engaged with the survey. Consultants would also look at housing registers for data. It was suggested that the comprehensive list of all those stakeholders who have been included in the process could be circulated with Members to help identify any which were absent from the list.

Decision – That the report be noted.