Skip to main content

Issue - meetings

Local Plan - content and evidence base consultation

 

 

Meeting: 22/09/2026 - Cabinet (Item 32)

32 LOCAL PLAN - CONTENT AND EVIDENCE BASE CONSULTATION pdf icon PDF 218 KB

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – PLACE

 

This report seeks approval for the Local Plan - Content and Evidence Base document for consultation. The Content and Evidence Base document is the second stage in the new plan-making system.  Its purpose is to present the Council’s emerging policy approach across a range of thematic areas and what evidence has been or will be collected to support the Local Plan. It will also explain which planning matters will be addressed through the new National Development Management Policies.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

 

(1)  Noted the following documents:

·         Consultation Summary Report – scoping consultation (Appendix A)

·         Gateway 1 self-assessment (Appendix B)

·         Consultation and Engagement Strategy (Appendix C)

 

(2)  Approved the Local Plan using a plan-period of 11 years from 2029 – 2040

 

(3)  Delegated authority to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Director of Place, to amend and update the Statement of Community Involvement.

 

(4)  Approved for consultation, the following documents:

·         Content and Evidence Base document (Appendix D)

·         Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (Appendix E)

·         Equality Impact Assessment (Appendix F)

·         Health Impact Assessment (Appendix G)

and delegated to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Member of Place, to make any minor updates of a non-substantive nature to these documents, including in relation to any updates on Local Government Reorganisation.

 

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure the Council continues to meet the agreed milestones set out in the published timetable required under new Plan-making system.

Minutes:

Audio recording – 25 minutes 57 seconds

 

Councillor Donna Wright, as Executive Member for Place, presented the report entitled ‘Local Plan – Content and Evidence Base Consultation’ and highlighted that:

 

·       The report sought Cabinet approval the publish the Local Plan and Evidence Base documents for consultation, which would form the second stage of the Local Plan Review process.

·       The consultation feedback would feed into the Local Plan Review process in 2027.

·       The documents for consultation were included as appendices to the report, with a further 4 appendices included for information only.

·       Following reforms to the plan making system in March 2026, there were five main stages to be completed, which were outlined in paragraph 7.1 of the report.

·       An initial public scoping consultation took place between May and June 2026 and sought views on which issues and priorities should be included. There were 75 responses received and these were outlined at Appendix A, with most of the main issues having been incorporated already.

·       As well as the public consultation, Member Workshops have been held on a regular basis and updates have been provided to the Strategic Planning Board.

·       The Gateway 1 Assessment was required by the end of October 2026 and was a self-assessment on how prepared the Council was to begin the review process. This assessment was included at Appendix B.

·       A site submission map had been added to the website which allowed stakeholders to review and discuss sites in advance of the formal consultation starting in October. The site map included all suggested sites and allocated sites from the last Local Plan which had not started as of March 2026. These sites were currently being assessed but no decisions on which would be taken forward had yet been taken.

·       There was a Member Workshop scheduled for 18 January 2027 to allow members to consider some of the assessments before consultation later in 2027.

·       The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) now outlined that Local Plans should cover a minimum of 10 years rather than a minimum of 15 years as per the previous NPPF. Therefore, it was suggested that this Plan cover 2029-2040. This was to align with the anticipated adoption in 2029, but should also ensure there is enough land available for future development, allowing for longer term projects to be brought forward.

·       There remained several risks including Local Government. Reorganisation, future government policy changes, budget available to support the process and resourcing of the Strategic Planning team.

 

The following Members asked questions:

 

·       Councillor Sean Nolan

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

 

In response to questions, the Interim Strategic Planning Manager advised that:

 

·       Any changes to government policy would need to be considered as the Plan was prepared and that was normal practice. Some policy changes would be immediately introduced, whereas others would have transitional arrangements before the new policy applied.  

·       They had not considered using social media videos or the North Herts app to promote the consultation but would liaise with the Communications team to explore these options.

 

Councillor Donna  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32