Report to Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Development

Subject:	Rushcliffe Local Plan Part 1: Core Strategy

Date:	9th July 2013

Author:	Principal Planning Officer (Planning Policy)

Wards Affected

None

Purpose

To approve representations on the consultation for further proposals for housing set out in the Rushcliffe Local Plan.

Key Decision

This is not a key decision.

Background

In October 2012, Rushcliffe Borough Council submitted the Rushcliffe Core Strategy (Part 1 of its Local Plan) to the Planning Inspectorate for Public Examination. Although part of the Greater Nottingham Housing Market Area, Rushcliffe is not preparing Aligned Core Strategies with the other Greater Nottingham Authorities.

The Inspector appointed to examine the Rushcliffe Core Strategy has raised concerns on a number of issues including the level of housing being too low to meet needs to 2028 and also longer term needs beyond 2028. The Inspector also raised the absence of a comprehensive Green Belt review which she considered should be carried out. In raising these concerns the Inspector took into account representations including from Gedling Borough Council and the other Aligned Greater Nottingham Authorities objecting to the housing provision set out in the Rushcliffe Borough Core Strategy on the basis it would result in a significant shortfall against the likely requirement for the Greater Nottingham Housing Market as a whole. Gedling Borough also raised an objection to the plan period which was only to 2026 as compared to 2028 for the Aligned Greater Nottingham Councils.

At Rushcliffe Borough’s request the Inspector has agreed to suspend the examination until October 2013 so that further work can be undertaken in order to increase Rushcliffe’s housing provision.

Proposal

Rushcliffe Borough Council is consulting on proposals to increase the housing target and to extend the plan period to 2028. Discussions have been held between the Greater Nottingham Housing Market Authorities (including Rushcliffe Borough) and it has been determined that 3,550 additional dwellings should be planned for in Rushcliffe Borough to 2028 in order to meet the objectively assessed housing needs of Rushcliffe Borough. This would take the planned housing provision to 13,150 dwellings and significantly higher than the 9,600 dwellings contained in the Rushcliffe Core Strategy Publication Draft.

In order to make provision for this additional housing Rushcliffe Borough are seeking views on increasing the overall housing provision to 13,150 dwellings up to 2028. More specifically Rushcliffe Borough is proposing that additional housing should be located at the following locations:

Land at Gamston (2,500 homes to 2028)

South of Clifton (this is for 500 additional homes bringing the total at this site to 3000)

Land at Melton Road, Edwalton (for an additional 550 dwellings bringing the total here to 1,750)

The consultation includes a general question asking whether consultees support the overall increase of 3,550 dwellings. More specific questions relate to the specific housing proposals. These questions along with a proposed response (where appropriate) are set out in the appendix to this report.

On the question of overall housing numbers, provided Rushcliffe amend their Local Plan Part 1: Core Strategy to provide for 13,150 dwellings the collectively agreed housing needs across the Greater Nottingham Housing Market Area will be met and Rushcliffe Borough’s approach to housing numbers would be consistent with the other Greater Nottingham Authorities. Therefore there would be no substantive grounds for Gedling Borough to maintain objections to the Rushcliffe Core Strategy Publication Draft on this basis or for that matter for Rushcliffe to maintain objections to the Greater Nottingham Aligned Core Strategies.

Whilst, it is for Rushcliffe Borough to select its preferred sites, Gedling Borough considers the strategic locations proposed accord with the strategy of urban concentration and regeneration as they adjoin the Nottingham Principal Urban Area.

Following the comments of the Inspector, Rushcliffe Borough Council is also looking at how it can plan for longer term housing need beyond 2028 and is considering the possibility of designating safeguarded land at the Edwalton and Gamston locations. Safeguarded land is land which is removed from Green Belt and safeguarded from development until a future Local Plan identifies a need for the development. Gedling Borough has designated safeguarded land and this has avoided the need to amend Green Belt boundaries for strategic sites in the Aligned Core Strategy. In principle Gedling Borough would strongly support the identification of safeguarded land in Rushcliffe Borough in order to meet longer term development needs.

Green Belt Review

Rushcliffe are also consulting on their draft Green Belt review which has been discussed with the other Greater Nottingham Authorities at officer level. This work draws heavily on previous work commissioned by the Greater Nottingham Authorities including the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Green Belt Review 2006, the Sustainable Urban Extensions Study by TRIBAL in 2008 and the Sustainable Locations for Growth Study 2010.

Alternative Options

The only other option would be for Gedling Borough not to make representations in which case its views would not be considered by Rushcliffe Borough.

Financial Implications

None

Appendices

Appendix A which sets out the consultation questions and Gedling Borough’s proposed response.

Background Papers

None

Recommendation

That the Portfolio Holder agrees the response to the consultation by Rushcliffe Borough on their further proposals for new housing development set out in the Appendix A.

Reasons for Recommendations

In order to ensure that Gedling Borough Council’s views are put forward as part of the consultation exercise being held by Rushcliffe Borough.

Appendix A

Question 1

Do you think that we are right to increase the level of proposed housing by at least 3,550 homes, which in total will mean the delivery of a minimum of 13,150 new homes in Rushcliffe between 2011 and 2028? Please tick yes or no.

Gedling Borough Response

Yes Gedling Borough supports the proposed increase to the level of housing in Rushcliffe Borough by 3,550. Conditional upon Rushcliffe Borough agreeing to modify the Rushcliffe Local Plan (Part 1: Core Strategy) to include an additional 3,550 houses and to provide an overall housing figure of at least 13,150 dwellings to 2028 then Gedling Borough would be willing to withdraw its previous objections to the publication version of the Rushcliffe Core Strategy.

Question 2

Do you think that the identified shortfall in proposed new housing in Rushcliffe should be met in part by increasing the number planned at land south of Clifton by around 500 homes and that this should be achieved without increasing the amount of land already proposed for development? Please tick yes or no.

Gedling Borough Response

This strategic location is consistent with the strategy of urban concentration and regeneration.

Question 3

Do you have any views on how development of land south of Clifton should look, in terms of, for example, the mix and layout of different land uses on the site, the types and level of new services and facilities on the site and their location?

Gedling Borough Response

No comment as this is a local issue.

Question 4

Do you think that the identified shortfall in proposed new housing in Rushcliffe should be met in part by increasing the number planned at land at Melton Road, Edwalton by around 550 homes? Please tick yes or no.

Gedling Borough Response

This strategic location is consistent with the strategy of urban concentration and regeneration.

Question 5

Do you have any views on how development of land at Melton Road, Edwalton should look, in terms of, for example, the mix and layout of different land uses on the site, the types and level of new services and facilities on the site and their location?

Gedling Borough Response

No comment as this is a local issue.

Question 6

Do you think other land within (to the north) of the A52 should be removed from the Green Belt and at the present time ‘safeguarded’ from development? If possible, please give reasons for your answer.

Gedling Borough Response

As a general principle Gedling Borough would strongly support the designation of safeguarded land to meet longer term development needs post 2028.

Question 7

Do you think that the identified shortfall in proposed new housing in Rushcliffe should be met in part by a major mixed use development on land to the east of Gamston (north of Tollerton), which would include the delivery of around 2,500 homes by 2028, and with capacity to provide around a further 1,500 homes post 2028? Please tick yes or no.

Gedling Borough Response

This strategic location is consistent with the strategy of urban concentration and regeneration. As a general principle Gedling Borough would support the designation of safeguarded land.