Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Service Delivery (copy enclosed).

The Council considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery presenting the consultation response to the proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (attached as Appendix A to the report). It was reported that the closing date for consultation responses was 24 September 2024.

It was noted that that the Planning Policy Working Group had considered the proposed draft response and that the Council should use the opportunity to express its opinion on the proposed changes and the impact they could have on the District. The Chairperson referred Members to an addendum which was circulated prior to the meeting and proposed an amendment to Question 6 as set out in Appendix A.

The Head of Service - Planning Policy and Implementation presented the report and outlined the key effects the draft NPPF would have in relation to Maldon District Council. These included:

·                changes to housing allocation calculations resulting in an increase in housing numbers, for Maldon it was indicated that the housing number could increase by 97%.

·                the Council’s Five-Year Housing Land Supply of deliverable sites for housing would drop below five-years which would mean that the ‘tilted balance’ became engaged in determining applications for housing.

·                an impact on infrastructure such as the NHS, education, water, and transport.

·                difficulty identifying from the consultation how the changes would be delivered.

·                there was no indication if there would be funding for infrastructure within the proposed Government changes.

The Chairperson moved the recommendation set out in the report. This was duly seconded.

The Leader of the Council reassured Members that the District Council’s Network Executive along with all political parties and North Essex Councils had produced robust responses to the proposals and Essex County Council was in the process of producing a response.

In response to a question, the Officer explained that the Council had a Local Housing Needs Assessment which set out the percentages and number of bedroom houses required on each development. At this present time, the Council needed more three-bedroomed houses. This document was currently up for review and as part of that review these figures would be revisited.

The Chairperson then moved the recommendation subject to the amendment as detailed in the addendum to the report and this was duly agreed.

RESOLVED that the consultation response to the draft National Planning Policy Framework (Appendix A to the report) be amended as per the addendum circulated and approved for submission to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the deadline.