Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence and to note the attendance of any substitute members.

The Commission noted the attendance of the following Substitute Members:

Councillor Baily for Councillor Virgo

Councillor Mrs Beadsley for Councillor Mrs Shillcock.

Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests and the nature of that interest, including the existence and nature of the party whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

Councillor Bettison declared a personal interest as a close personal friend was a landowner at Amen Corner.  

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive on the Call-In of the Executive decision, to approve a Preferred Option of the Site Allocation Development Plan Document for Consultation.

The Chairman introduced the Call-In requested by five councillors of the Executive’s decision I020719, to approve a Preferred Option of the Site Allocation Development Plan Document for Consultation, agreed at its meeting on 19 October 2010.

Bev Hindle, Chief Officer: Planning and Transport introduced the Bracknell Forest Borough Local Development Framework Site Allocations Development Plan Document which included details of the background to the Executive’s decision and work undertaken to identify sites to meet the Borough’s development needs to 2026 in accordance with the Council’s adopted Core Strategy.

Production of the Site Allocations Development Plan Document (SADPD) supported the Council’s policy of a plan-led approach to development rather than reacting to developers’ proposals.

The original housing target for Bracknell Forest based on the South East Plan of 12,780 new homes to be delivered by 2026 had been revoked. The proposal in the SADPD was for a figure of 10,780 new homes delivered by 2026 based on the Council’s adopted Core Strategy. The Government had made it clear that work should not cease on preparation of Local Development Documents and that a long term supply of housing was needed. Local authorities would need to justify housing levels chosen.

A key component of the SADPD was the identification of sites to meet the Borough’s housing needs. Of the total housing requirement, 66% was already committed which left a need for additional sites for 3,626 homes. From eight sites originally proposed the preferred option set out four sites for consultation which were:

• Broadmoor
• TRL site, Crowthorne
• Amen Corner North
• Land at the Blue Mountain Golf Course

These sites had been in the proposals process for a very long time. The reasons the other sites had not been chosen as part of the preferred option were that they were not sustainable sites and some were not being promoted by the landowners or developers. It was noted that full details of the sites were set out in the Preferred Options Background Paper.

The SADPD had undergone several rounds of consultation. Recent consultation included; stakeholder workshops, meetings with Parish and Town Councils, press releases, newspaper articles, exhibitions and member briefings. It was noted that Wokingham Without had been included in consultation.

Timothy Wheadon, Chief Executive gave a short presentation on the SADPD which highlighted that the Government had made it clear that housing numbers set by local authorities needed to be based on robust assessment. The Council’s Core Strategy was a robust document. Where local authorities had undertaken reassessment a higher housing target had been recommended.

Bracknell Forest Council had undertaken extensive work on the SADPD document and were confident that by being plan-led, the Council would be well-placed to deal with any planning appeals from developers. Consultation and research to reach the current stage of the SADPD had cost over £1 million which would be lost if a new approach was taken.

Local businesses, particularly those looking to expand had indicated that they were keen for BFC to move forward with its housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.