Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1.      That approval be given to public consultation on the draft Supplementary Planning Documents at Appendices 1 to 5.

2.     That, following consultation, a further report be submitted to Cabinet in early 2023 regarding adoption of the Supplementary Planning Documents.

Consideration was given to the report which sought approval to undertake public consultation on the following draft Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs):

·       Developer Contributions SPD

·       Biodiversity Net Gain SPD

·       Trees SPD

·       Preparing a Soils Strategy SPD

·       Development in the Green Belt SPD

Detail on each of the SPDs was set out in section 2 of the report. The key elements of each document related to developer contributions, biodiversity net gain, trees, preparing a Soils Strategy and development in the Green Belt.

Rotherham’s Local Plan provided the framework for determining planning applications. Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) provide additional detail and guidance to support Local Plan policies. Once adopted they are a material consideration which can be taken into account when determining planning applications. SPDs provided detailed guidance to householders, planning agents and developers to help improve the quality of submitted planning applications, which in turn can speed up the planning process and produce better outcomes for the community.

The first suite of SPDs had been approved for adoption by Cabinet on 15th June, 2020, and the second suite were adopted on 21st June, 2021, following publication consultation.

The anticipated adoption of the draft SPDs, following public consultation and subsequent Cabinet approval, would assist in mitigating the negative impacts set out in the Nature Crisis motion approved by Council on 25th May, 2022. The SPDs would assist by presenting key actions that the Council could take to support a more natural environment, promote biodiversity and assist in nature recovery, and tackle climate change.

In line with The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 the Council was required to undertake public consultation on draft SPDs for a minimum of 4 weeks, and to take account of any comments received in preparing final documents. Once adopted by the Council the documents could then be considered when determining planning

applications.

Resolved:-

1.    That approval be given to public consultation on the draft Supplementary Planning Documents at Appendices 1 to 5.

2.  That, following consultation, a further report be submitted to Cabinet in early 2023 regarding adoption of the Supplementary Planning Documents.