Issue - meetings

To agree a response to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy December 2022.

1.      That the proposed responses to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy December 2022, as set out in Paragraphs 3.4-3.6 and at Appendix 1 to the report, be APPROVED and formally submitted as Tewkesbury Borough Council’s response to the consultation.  

2.      That authority be delegated to the Head of Development Services, in consultation with the Lead Member for Built Environment, to make any necessary minor amendment to the response prior to submission.

99.1           The report of the Interim Planning Policy Manager, circulated at Pages No. 51-69, set out a proposed response to the government consultation on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill: Reforms to National Planning Policy December 2022 which Members were asked to consider.

99.2           The Interim Planning Policy Manager explained that Member briefings on the subject had been held and there was now a need to confirm the Council’s response to the consultation prior to Thursday 2 March. Unlike the White Paper consultation in 2020, this did not represent a comprehensive view of all changes which might be proposed. There were several things which would be introduced in time but were not within the remit of the current consultation i.e. the levy to replace Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106, changes to the duty to cooperate and policy around custom and self-build. There were some clear proposals within the consultation in important areas. Overall, the purpose of the consultation was to recognise that the government remained committed to seeing 300,000 dwellings built each year but ensuring they had closer links with existing communities; provided effective infrastructure and achieved beautiful places and development. The consultation was set out over 15 chapters in a prospectus style with 58 specific questions. Officers had concerns about some of the content which seemed to be lengthy, vague and worded in a way which was difficult to understand, although there were some welcome suggestions within the reforms and these were set out in the report - not least the changes to the housing supply calculation and aligning to the needs of an ageing population. The key concerns were included within the proposed response which was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

99.3           A Member referred to question 13 and the requirement for a 35% uplift in the largest 20 cities and towns and questioned whether any of them were near Tewkesbury. He was advised that the nearest were Bristol and Birmingham. The Member queried whether that uplift would reduce the pressure on places like Tewkesbury Borough Council. In response the Interim Planning Policy Manager advised that this was related to the government formula – at one time changes were proposed which could have resulted in significantly higher numbers for places like Tewkesbury Borough Council but that was withdrawn and, if the new proposal was not implemented, it may mean that other areas would have to take higher growth - the proposed response to the question was framed around the issue that urban uplift may not be possible.

99.4           Members thanked the Officers for their work in putting together the response, taking into account the comments made by Members prior to the meeting.

99.5           Accordingly, it was