Patsy Dell
Cambridge City Council
Local Plans update
Local Plan Examination
 Preparation on the new Local Plan
began in 2011
 Submitted for Examination on 28
March 2014
 Laura Graham appointed as the
Inspector
 Alan Wood appointed as the
Assistant Inspector
 Joint hearing sessions held between
November 2014 and April 2015
Local Plan Examination
 Letter from the Inspectors received on 20 May 2015
 Not unusual in the current climate
 4 out of 5 Councils have received a letter either for
further work to be undertaken or to withdraw plans
 Examples include Stroud, Durham, Maldon and
Warwick with issues relating to duty to co-operate,
housing needs, development strategy , infrastructure
and Green Belt
Local Plan Examination
• Full, complex Local Plans
• Prepared against a changing backdrop at a
national level:
• Revocation of Regional Spatial Strategies (announced
in 2010)
• Draft NPPF – 2011
• NPPF – 2012
• New homes and jobs needs now set
at a local level
• Draft NPPG - September 2013
• NPPG – March 2014
Local Plan Examination
Inspectors’ Preliminary Conclusions May 2015
• Three main areas for further work:
• Overall Development Strategy
• Objectively Assessed Need for new Housing
• Conformity with Revisions to National Planning
Policy e.g. housing standards
Local Plan - Further work
Overall Development Strategy
 Questioned approach to testing alternatives
for the development strategy (edge of
Cambridge versus new settlements)
 Questioned the evidence available relating
to infrastructure provision (for new
settlements)
 Questioned the methodology used for the
Green Belt work
Local Plan - Further work
6 work streams now close to completion:
• Refresh Sustainability Appraisals
• Update Infrastructure evidence to
demonstrate the deliverability of new
settlements and appropriate updates to the
transport modelling
• Review approach to Green Belt work and
update as appropriate
Local Plan - Further work
Objectively Assessed Need for new Housing
Plans provide for 33,000 new homes – 14,000 in
Cambridge and 19,000 in South Cambridgeshire
• No one single approach
• SHMA at the likely lower end, with other assessments
higher
• Inspectors have not indicated a view on the precise
figure
• Asked for further work to take account of market signals
and consider whether an upwards adjustment is
appropriate
Local Plan - Further work
Conformity with Revisions to National Planning
Policy
• Various written ministerial statements have been
published since March 2014
• Relate to provision of affordable housing, space
standards and car parking provision
• Inspectors have asked for policies to be reviewed in light
of the written ministerial statements
Local Plan Timetable
Stage 1:
Responding
to the
Inspectors’
Letter
Stage 2: Completing
the further work addressing the
implications and
preparing to consult on
modified plans
Stage 3:
Member
processes to
approve the
modified plans
for
consultation
Stage 4:
Public
Consultation on
modified plans
Stage 5 and 6:
Post Consultation
leading to ReSubmission of the
modified plans
Scoping out
the further
work needed,
drafting the
timetable,
appointing
consultants
Work being prepared –
Officers and
consultants
Democratic
approvals
needed:
Modifications to
the plans are
subject to 6
weeks
consultation
Responses to the
consultation are
assessed and
made ready to be
put back to the
Inspectors
Joint
response to
the
Inspectors’
letter
Strategic
Transport and
Spatial
Planning Group
Development
Plan Scrutiny
Sub-Committee
Special Council
Repeat Member
processes to agree
plans for
submission:
Development Plan
Scrutiny SubCommittee and
Special Council