SUMMARY/PURPOSE
1.
To confirm the Council’s continued support for IW
Special Policies E10 (IW1 – IW5) contained within the Draft plan.
2.
To provide more detailed comments on the policy
wording of the generic policies of the SE Plan during the next round of
consultation in Autumn 2005.
BACKGROUND
3.
The objective of the South East Plan is to provide a
vision for the whole region up to 2026.
SEERA is responsible for the Plan production and as part of consultation
with key stakeholders has identified the need for a number of sub-regional
strategies. Although the Isle of Wight
was identified in a wider study area, including South Hampshire, SEERA
determined not to include it within the South Hampshire sub-region but
designated the Island as a Special Policy Area.
4.
The plan is a strategic long-term vision for South
East England. The draft represented
work in progress, setting out proposals for policies and options concerning
scales of change and the pattern of development.
5.
The IW secured special policy area status, which
enabled specific policies for the Island to be included within the plan. The policies proposed would allow the IW to
progress the new local development framework (Island Plan) to
deliver the aims and objectives of both the Community Strategy and the
Council’s Corporate Plan. The Island
Plan will also need to take into account other regional and local
strategies, with particular emphasis on the areas of economic development,
transport and housing.
6.
The policies provide a framework to allow for economic
led regeneration, with associated development in housing, education and skills,
employment, and tourism.
7.
SEERA have requested a small amount of additional work
to be undertaken, including the following:
a. Confirmation
that the overall level of planned housing provision will be at least 520
dwellings per annum.
b. Mechanisms
and indicators for linking housing to economic growth.
c. Options
for employment growth (range, not detailed floorspace)
d. The
scale of need for affordable housing.
e. Strategic
investment in infrastructure (types required)
f.
Consideration of whether the rural areas policy for
the Isle of Wight (Policy IW4) should be incorporated in Policy IW1.
8.
Points b to e will require further investigation and
work before the Council can respond to SEERA (by 6th June 2005).
9.
In terms of point a, SEERA has already indicated that
Council’s will be expected to deliver housing at current RPG9 levels and our
current requirement is at least 520 per annum.
The figure in Policy IW5 reflects current RPG9. Delivery at levels beyond this minimum will
be a local matter, to be determined through the Island Plan and
will be based upon economic regeneration and achieving sustainable communities.
10.
In preliminary discussions with SEERA it has been suggested
(by SEERA) that Policy IW4 could be covered by more generic environmental
policies contained within the main body of the SE Plan. SEERA particularly point to the fact that
there are no similar policies in other sub-regional sections.
11.
However, due to the current lack of emphasis in the SE
Plan on rural issues, and because of the unique character of the rural areas of
the Island and the role they play in the wider economy, it is considered that
this policy should remain in its current form.
12.
In support of the Council’s approach, the Environment
Agency is seeking the inclusion of similar policies for the other sub-regional
areas.
13.
For this consultation exercise, which is not a formal
part of the plan process, SEERA are seeking our views on the broad policy
framework and options for growth, rather than comments on the detail of policy
wording.
14.
More detailed comments will be appropriate at the next
stage of consultation in Autumn 2005.
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
15.
The SE Plan sets the regional framework for development
and as part of the new planning process, our local policies and proposals will
need to be in conformity with it.
16.
It is important for the Island, that the SE Plan
contains policies which will allow us to develop the more locally detailed
“Island Plan”, which will help to deliver the aims and objectives of the
Community Strategy, currently being prepared by the Local Strategic
Partnership, Island Futures.
CONSULTATION
17.
The SE Plan has been subject to wide consultation and the
Council has been involved in the following:
·
Copies of the consultation draft and additional
questionnaires placed in County Hall reception, Seaclose Reception and all
libraries.
·
County Press Briefing
·
Members and Senior Officers Briefing
·
LSP
·
Island Futures Support Group
·
SEERA organised meeting for hard to reach groups, Town
& Parish Councils
·
PCT and NHS Trust Executive Board Briefing
FINANCIAL/BUDGET
IMPLICATIONS
18.
Given the importance of the South East Plan to the future
of the Island, the additional costs of producing the special policies have been
found from Planning Delivery Grant (PDG) and have accounted for approximately
2.5 person days per week between September 2004 and March 2005. Any additional work on the SE Plan will be
funded in the same way.
LEGAL
IMPLICATIONS
19.
There is a chain of conformity for LDFs similar to
that which is already in place with regard to RPG9 and the UDP. Any document the Island produces as part of
its LDF will need to be in conformity with the Regional Spatial Strategy (South
East Plan) and any associated sub-regional strategy or policies. This conformity is set out in Section 24 of
the Planning And Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
20.
In addition, Section 4 of the Act deals with the assistance
that the Regional Planning Body should seek from each local authority within
its area.
OPTIONS
21.
OPTION 1 – To support Section E10 (IW Special Policy
Area) as included within the SE Plan, subject to the supplementary work
required by SEERA.
EVALUATION/RISK
MANAGEMENT
22.
Option 1 is recommended as it will provide a clear
framework from which to develop more detailed policies through the local
development framework. It is vital that
the Island has a clear vision for its future and there is general agreement
that economic led regeneration is an appropriate way forward.
|
RECOMMENDATIONS 23.
To support the inclusion of special policies for the
Island in the SE Plan, subject to additional work being undertaken. 24.
To confirm that the overall planned housing
provision will remain at 520 dwellings per annum unless formally changed by
the Council together with the appropriate infrastructure identified in policy
IW3. 25.
To agree that the rural policy (IW4) remain as a separate
policy. 26.
That the Strategic Director for Environment Services
and officers from Planning Services be given delegated authority to agree
amendments to the Special policies, as a result of additional work requested
by SEERA (by 6th June 2005), in consultation with the Portfolio
Holder for Economic Development, UK, EU and Regional Issues and the Portfolio
Holder for Sustainable Development, Environment and Planning Policy. |
BACKGROUND
PAPERS
27.
SE Plan – Consultation Draft
28.
Letter from SEERA dated 16th March 2005.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Contact
Point: Ashley Curzon, Planning Policy Manager ( 823557
Email:
[email protected]
ANDREW ASHCROFT
Head of Planning Services
|
HARRY
REES Portfolio
Holder for Economic Development, UK and EU, Regional Issues |
TERRY
BUTCHERS Portfolio
Holder for Sustainable Development, Environment and Planning Policy |