Decision details

Joint Response to Uttlesford District Council's (Regulation 18) Local Plan Issues and Options consultation

Decision Maker: Lead Cabinet member for Planning

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Purpose:

To agree the response, jointly with Cambridge city council, to the Uttlesford District Local Plan Issues and Options (Regulation 18 consultation).

 

The Uttlesford Local Plan will provide strategic and local policies to guide development within the district of Uttlesford. This stage of plan-making is the start of the process of preparing a Local Plan. Its scope is to identify strategic issues, set out options and ideas for the strategic policies, levels and locations for potential development. This report focuses on matters of relevance to Greater Cambridge.

 

The consultation can be accessed on Uttlesford’s website  https://uttlesford-consult.objective.co.uk/kse/folder/20790

 

The consultation closes on 21 April 2021 at 17:00. 

 

Background:

The Uttlesford local plan will include:

 

• Strategic policies setting out an overall strategy for the pattern, scale and quality of development, with a view to securing a net zero carbon future, addressing climate resilience, promoting healthy places and lives principles, and the wider environmental objectives of the Council;

• make sufficient provision for a number of key land uses housing (including affordable housing), employment, retail, leisure, community facilities and other commercial development,

• infrastructure for transport and other key utilities,

• policies for the conservation and enhancement of the natural, built and historic environment including landscapes and green infrastructure, and

• a comprehensive and up to date evidence base to support the local plan provisions.

 

Main Issues:

The Issues and Options consultation is seeking views/comments on Nine themes. There are shared elements with the seven Big Themes of the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

 

The 9 themes/topics on which Uttlesford are consulting are:

1.    Where you live

2.    Character and heritage

3.    Climate change

4.    Transport

5.    Leisure, culture and healthy lifestyles

6.    Biodiversity

7.    Local economy

8.    Homes

9.    Creating new places and communities

 

Each topic has a main question and a number of specific sub-questions on the areas they wish to have further comments. (see appendix 1)

 

Proposed main response points:

We are asking Uttlesford to have regard to the priorities as set out in the seven Big Themes of the Greater Cambridge Local Plan. We have provided our comments against the 9 consultation themes in appendix 1, much of which draws Uttlesford’s attention to the priorities that we have set out in the emerging Greater Cambridge Local Plan.

 

We recognise the commuting connections between Uttlesford and Greater Cambridge as established in published evidence, with a proportion of Uttlesford residents commuting into Greater Cambridge for work. We are asking that the Uttlesford Local Plan give serious consideration is given to reducing travel where possible and also to supporting sustainable travel options, particularly in relation to the potential impacts on Greater Cambridge.

 

We are also suggesting that development within Uttlesford should be focused in sustainable locations which can reduce the need to travel, and where possible maximise opportunities for travel by non-car modes, particularly where locations may encourage commuting into Greater Cambridge.

 

Decision:

For the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development and Lead Cabinet member for Planning Policy and Delivery agree the response to the Uttlesford District Council Local Plan (Regulation 18) Issues and Options consultation as set out in Appendix A.

 

A parallel decision is being considered by Cambridge City Council to be agreed, and delegated authority is given to the Joint Director for Planning and Economic Development to agree any minor amendments to the response agreed by the City Council that are consistent with the response at Appendix A.

Reasons for the decision:

To provide the Councils’ comments to this consultation in recognition of the opportunities it provides to influence at an early stage the emerging Uttlesford District Council Local Plan.

Alternative options considered:

The council has the option of not responding to the consultation.

Publication date: 13/04/2021

Date of decision: 13/04/2021

Effective from: 14/04/2021

Accompanying Documents: