Agenda item

The report contains two Appendices – A and B. Appendix A itself has six Appendices. Of these, Appendices 5 and 6 are listed separately on the website. Appendix 6 is on the website only (Visit www.scambs.gov.uk and click on The Council > Councillors Minutes and Agendas).

The Planning Portfolio Holder

i)               Agreed to submit to the Local Plan Examination Inspectors the ‘Further work on Policy NH/12: Local Green Space responding to the Inspectors’ Interim Findings’ document in Appendix A in response to their Interim Findings;

ii)              Agreed to Proposed Modifications to the submitted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan that relate to sites identified as Local Green Space in the Submission Local Plan set out in Appendix B  be submitted to the Inspectors examining the Local Plan; and

iii)             Agreed that delegated authority be given to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development to make any subsequent minor amendments (particularly relating to sites in Bassingbourn, Fulbourn and Orwell) and editing changes, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder.

The Planning Portfolio Holder considered a report on proposed modifications to the submitted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan relating to Local Green Spaces. The report addressed the Local Plan Inspectors’ Interim Findings of March 2017.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer summarised the main differences between Protected Village Amenity Areas (PVAA) and Local Green Space. PVAAs had been adopted as part of local planning policy to give some protection to areas within defined village frameworks. However, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (2012) had introduced a new designation – Local Green Space (LGS) - which allowed councils to designate green areas (inside or outside a village framework) of particular importance to local communities, and rule out development of those areas except in very special circumstances. Local Green Space therefore provided protection like the Green Belt. The Planning Policy Manager added that both types of designation afforded significant protection, but that the main difference was evidential – the comparative weight that could be given to each policy.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer referred those present to paragraph 20 of the report, which referred both to the original criteria required to be met for defining an area as Local Green Space, snd the criteria as reviewed. Key elements were evidence of “value” and “particular local significance”.  There was disappointment with the Local Plan Inspector’s interpretation of the criteria to be met.

Those present discussed several aspects relating to PVAAs and Local Green Space, particularly in Bassingbourn (Policy NH/12). The Panning Portfolio Holder referred Members to a letter dated 16 March 2017 from the Local Plan Programme Officer to South Cambridgeshire District Council, setting out the Inspector’s interim finding in respect of Local Green Space.

The Planning Policy Manager drew Members’ attention to the list of potential candidates for Local Green Space designation, set out in paragraph 14 of the report. She emphasised how important it was to recognise the Inspector’s decision in the interests of securing adoption of the emerging Local Plan. The Planning Policy Manager told Members that, once the Council could demonstrate a sive-year supply of housing land, it would be easier to protect those sites outside village frameworks that currently attract speculative planning applications.

Officers undertook to reconsider and redraft the pro forma relating to Glebe Field in Orwell.

The delivery of new housing was crucial. The Portfolio Holder emphasised that Neighbourhood Plans, when adopted, carried weight as local planning policy, and would further support communities: however, all of this depended on evidence of a dive-year supply of housing land, and getting the new Local Plan in place.

The Planning Policy Manager told Members that no PVAAs had been removed. In fact, the significant number of new PVAAs meant that more areas than ever now enjoyed protection.

While there was satisfaction with how the review had dealt with Great Abington, Councillor David Bard expressed disappointment that [Deal Green?{ in Sawston had been afforded only PVAA status.

With regard to Fen Ditton, the Principal Planning Policy Officer said that a ‘frontage’ had value. Members noted that the frontage might be used to widen the cycle way being promoted by the Greater Cambridge Partnership. However, it would nevertheless continue to provide protection.  The Planning Policy Manager assured Members that the removal of Local Green Space designation did not automatically render a site suitable for development.

The Planning Portfolio Holder

i)               Agreed to submit to the Local Plan Examination Inspectors the ‘Further work on Policy NH/12: Local Green Space responding to the Inspectors’ Interim Findings’ document in Appendix A in response to their Interim Findings;

ii)              Agreed to Proposed Modifications to the submitted South Cambridgeshire Local Plan that relate to sites identified as Local Green Space in the Submission Local Plan set out in Appendix B  be submitted to the Inspectors examining the Local Plan; and

iii)             Agreed that delegated authority be given to the Joint Director of Planning and Economic Development to make any subsequent minor amendments (particularly relating to sites in Bassingbourn, Fulbourn and Orwell) and editing changes, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder.