Agenda item

To consider agreement of the final version of the Staines Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SDF).

The Committee considered a report on the Staines Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document.

Two questions were received from members of the public in relation to this agenda item.

Question one from Peter Bower:

“In relation to Staines and the Staines Development Framework, how many of the 331 responses to the public consultation on the Local Plan came from residents or traders in Staines, how many of the 1,200 issues raised were from these residents or traders, and what proportion of these support what the Staines Development Framework and Local Plan intend for Staines?”

Response from the Chair:

“Officers advise me that the consultation portal does not require users to input a physical address or the nature of the respondent’s interest, such as a resident or trader, as this information is not necessary for a formal consultation on a planning document. Some respondents have provided this information in the text of their response by stating that they live or work in Staines, for example, and all responses will be made publicly available once officers have finished their analysis and are ready to submit the Local Plan to the Secretary of State. However, any addresses provided will be redacted for data protection reasons. The Planning Inspector will not require this information either but will have access to all the representations for the Examination, plus those who have made comments were given the opportunity to request to speak at the public hearing sessions and can state their interest when doing so.”

Question two from Graeme Lock:

“In the Local Plan, and in relation to the Staines Development Framework, why has what might constitute an ‘exemption’ to the proposed zoning scheme for Staines been so loosely defined, and why is there no definition of who will decide what can be accepted as an ‘exemption’?”

Response from the Chair:

“This is a question relating to the Local Plan where the zoning and 'exemption' sit rather than the Staines Development Framework but I will answer it. Members of the Staines Development Task Group and the Local Plan Task Group met many times with officers and the consultants to discuss the issue of zoning in Staines and whether an exemption should be included, and if so, how this should be worded. It is important that the policy provides some flexibility to allow for the merits of a planning application to be considered in full when weighing against the potential harm of a development in the planning balance or we risk it being struck out altogether for not being sound. The recommendations of the task groups were then reported to this committee and to the full Council, where the documents were agreed on 26 April and 19 May respectively following much discussion. As I said, the zoning policy wording sits within the Local Plan and it will now be for the Planning Inspector to consider its soundness and effectiveness, including any exceptions to it and how they should be expressed. Officers advise me that many representations have been received on this issue so we expect it to be the subject of lively debate at the examination hearings. These include representations from those who oppose zoning in principle, even with the exception included. If the Local Plan is adopted with the policy intact, it will be for the Council as the Local Planning Authority to assess any planning applications that seek to rely on an exception to the policy, and the Planning Inspectorate in the event of an appeal.”

Following public consultation on the Staines Development Framework, responses had evaluated and amendments suggested to the document. The Staines Development Task Group reviewed and agreed the amendments, and recommended them to the Committee.

Some members of the Committee expressed concern at the housing figures the Staines Development Framework and Local Plan were seeking to meet. The Strategic Planning Manager explained that the most recent announcement from central government confirmed the housing numbers target and that changes to housing figures could affect green belt site release but would not affect development of Staines.

Some members of the Committee raised that the risk or financial implication sections of the report had not addressed the potential impact of zoning on the Council’s developments as had been presented to members at other committees. The solicitor advised that the Environment and Sustainability Committee was considering the report in terms of planning policy and other considerations may have been presented to other committees depending on their remit. The solicitor suggested that he would circulate advice to members on the difference between the Council being a Local Planning Authority and the Council submitting planning applications for its own developments.

The Committee resolved to agree the final version of the Staines Development Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SDF).