Agenda item

Report from the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the contents of this report and approve the commencement of preparation of a new Rotherham Local Plan in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.

2.    Approve the publication of the Local Plan Timetable attached at Appendix 1 and note that it supersedes the current Local Development Scheme timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan.

3.    Approve the publication of the formal ‘Notice of Intention to Commence’ by 30 October 2026, at the latest, in line with Regulation 19.

4.    Approve the establishment of a Local Plan Steering Group in accordance with the Terms of Reference attached at Appendix 2.

5.    Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport, Jobs and the Local Economy:

·       to approve updates to the Local Plan Timetable during plan preparation;

·       to approve, publish and submit all documents required for the statutory Scoping Stage (Regulation 20);

·       to approve publication and submission of documents required for Gateway 1 (Regulation 21); and

·       to approve the content and commencement of consultation on proposed plan content, draft vision and supporting evidence (Regulation 23).

6.    Agree that Planning Board and Overview and Scrutiny Management Board will be updated and consulted at appropriate stages throughout plan preparation.

7.    Agree to receive a further report as the Local Plan progresses towards plan content and evidence consultation (Regulation 23(1)(a)) and seeking approvals for subsequent stages - Gateways 2 (Regulation 26) and Gateway 3 (Regulation 31).