Agenda item

Report from the Interim Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment.

Recommendations:

1.    That Cabinet approves the publication of the refresh of the Core Strategy five year review on the Council’s website.

2.    That Cabinet approves public consultation on the Core Strategy Partial Update consultation draft.

Consideration was given to the report which provided an update on the five year review of the Local Plan Core Strategy that had been refreshed in light of

new legislation, changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, Census 2021 and other local policy changes. The review indicated that some policies in the Core Strategy required updating for consistency with national planning policy.

The Core Strategy Partial Update consisted of changes to planning policies on housing, flood risk and water management, climate change, improving public health, carbon reduction, and Social Value. It reflected new Council policies introduced since the current Core Strategy was adopted, such as the declarations on climate emergency and nature crisis, and the priority of achieving Social Value. An update of the infrastructure requirements to support new growth was also included.

The five year review had identified that Rotherham had sufficient housing sites allocated that met the identified requirement. As such, the Council was in a strong position with regards to the Local Plan. Public consultation on the Core Strategy Partial Update would not include a review of existing housing sites, nor would it seek suggestions for new housing sites within the Borough. It would be limited to the wording changes to those planning policies identified by the five year review as requiring an update.

It was noted that there could be changes to legislation and planning policy by the new Government. Any changes that impacted upon the proposals outlined would be subject of further reports to Cabinet.

Appendix 1 to the Core Strategy Partial Update was the technical focus of the consultation. It provided a “track changed” version of each policy to be updated, showing the changes that would apply from the Council’s preferred option given in section 4. Views were sought on the specific wording changes to each policy and the replacement of the Infrastructure Delivery Schedule in the Core Strategy with an updated schedule to reflect the 2021 Infrastructure Delivery Study. A summary of the main changes to the Core Strategy policies was at paragraph 2.13 of the report.

Subject to Cabinet approval, public consultation in line with relevant

legislation and the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement would

be undertaken of the Core Strategy Partial Update for a period of six weeks

from August to September 2024. The consultation would be carried out online using the Council’s Local Plan consultation website.

Resolved:

1. That Cabinet approves the publication of the refresh of the Core Strategy five year review on the Council’s website.
   
   
2. That Cabinet approves public consultation on the Core Strategy Partial Update consultation draft.