Issue - meetings
Strategic Planning Matters Report
Meeting: 22/09/2026 - Cabinet (Item 33)
33 STRATEGIC PLANNING MATTERS REPORT 
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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 was noted.
REASON FOR DECISION: To keep Cabinet informed of recent developments on Strategic Planning Matters.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 38 minutes 29 seconds
Councillor Donna Wright, as Executive Member for Place, presented the report entitled ‘Strategic Planning Matters Report’ and highlighted that:
· The final updated National Planning Policy Framework was published on 17 August 2026. It was not radically different from the draft version released in December 2025 but provided important clarifications and updated definitions.
· There were new National Development Management policies introduced, which could take precedence over local planning policies where there were conflicts.
· There were further updates in approach to greenbelt, climate change, health inequalities and building safe communities, where were outlined within the report.
· A new National Scheme of Delegation was being introduced, with the final regulations approved on 15 July, and would place all applications into two categories.
· There was a report going to Full Council in October 2026, which would provide constitutional changes required for adoption of the new National Scheme of Delegation, and a Member Briefing had been arranged for 30 September ahead of this decision. The National Scheme of Delegation would come into effect on 31 October 2026.
· New requirements for Biodiversity Net Gain were outlined in the report.
· The position on Housing Delivery and 5 Year Housing Land Supply was outlined in the report. The Council was still short of a 5 year supply, although the headline figure was declining, the reality was that housing delivery was improving. This was due to the 2 year delay in publication of the Housing Delivery Test by government.
· A briefing had been prepared for Members on this and had been uploaded to GrowZone, with details also included in the Five Year Housing Supply Position paper published on the website.
· Luton Rising were now taking steps to implement the Development Consent Order and this would include establishing groups to monitor various aspects of the impact of the expansion.
· All surrounding authorities were continuing to progress with their Local Plan work.
· The main upcoming risks were continuing to fail to achieve a 5 year housing land supply, the implementation of the planning system reforms which was increasing workload within the team, and recruitment and retention of key staff, although two posts had recently been filled.
N.B. Councillor Amy Allen left the Chamber at 20.09 and returned at 20.14.
Councillor Donna Wright proposed to approve the recommendations and this was seconded by Councillor Sean Nolan.
As part of the debate, Councillor Sean Nolan noted that it was good to get some clarity on the groups which would be established to monitor the developments surrounding Luton Airport expansion. This Council had an interest in ensuring the works would enhance travel in the neighbouring areas and there was a risk of an impact on Hitchin, but this provided clarity on the monitoring processes to be established.
Having been proposed and seconded and following a vote, it was:
RESOLVED: That the report on Strategic Planning Matters was noted.
REASON FOR DECISION: To keep Cabinet informed of recent developments on Strategic Planning Matters.