Skip to main content

Issue - meetings

STRATEGIC PLANNING MATTERS

 

 

Meeting: 23/09/2025 - Cabinet (Item 28)

28 STRATEGIC PLANNING MATTERS pdf icon PDF 465 KB

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – PLACE

This report identifies the latest position on key planning and transport issues affecting the Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: That the report on strategic planning matters and appendices be noted.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To keep Cabinet informed of recent developments on strategic planning matters

Minutes:

Audio recording – 12 minutes 47 seconds

 

Councillor Donna Wright, as Executive Member for Place, presented the report entitled ‘Strategic Planning Matters’ and advised that:

 

·             Two Government consultations were launched in May with the first on the “Speeding Up Building Out” paper which outlined measures to accelerate housing delivery.

·             A joint response was submitted by the Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Planning Partnership (HIPP) which supported the measures but raised concerns on administrative burden, enforcement challenges, support and other matters. 

·             HIPP also submitted a response to the second consultation on Planning Committee Reforms which expressed concern over the removal of Member rights to call-in applications.

·             In August, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) issued a letter which outlined several changes to Chief Planners including an update to the plan making system. However, there was a lack of detail on this and the Strategic Planning Project Board had agreed to send a letter to MHCLG in response to express their frustrations on the delays to Local Plan making guidance.

·             A Judicial Review had been launched against the proposed Luton Airport expansion and a hearing was scheduled to take place in November.

·             Paragraph 8.2 showed the progress of the six largest strategic sites in the Local Plan.

·             Under the current schedule, the Council would adopt the new Local Plan by the end of 2027.

·             An initial expression of interest for the Call of Sites had been conducted from June to September and a formal Call of Sites would take place from November to January.

·             Progress on Local Plans from other local authorities was detailed within the report.

·             Government funding for Neighbourhood Planning Groups would cease and may influence the number of Neighbourhood Plans created in the future.

·             A report on the Vision and Growth Study for North East Central Herts was due this month. 

·             North Herts Town Centres Strategy had been delayed and would now be presented at the Cabinet meeting in November, however, its new timetable would allow for more scrutiny from within the Council and public consultation.

 

The following Members asked questions:

 

·             Councillor Mick Debenham

·             Councillor Ian Albert

·             Councillor Daniel Allen

 

In response to questions, the Director – Place advised that:

 

·             Detailed guidance on beautiful development was not yet available but would be likely to follow the consultation. 

·             The Judicial Review on Luton Airport expansion had been launched by another party, therefore, there would be no workload implications for officers on this.

 

In response to questions, Councillor Donna Wright advised that:

 

·             North Herts Town Centres Strategy would be discussed at Community Forums in December under the current timetable.

·             The Health Places Framework had not been mentioned in the discussions on the new Local Plan but would be raised with Officers.

 

Councillor Donna Wright proposed and Councillor Tamsin Thomas seconded and, following a vote, it was:

 

RESOLVED: That the report on strategic planning matters and appendices be noted.

 

REASON FOR DECISION: To keep Cabinet informed of recent developments on strategic planning matters