Decision details

That Executive RECOMMENDS to Council that it:

       i.         Adopts the Bracknell Forest Local Plan incorporating the Main Modifications recommended by the Inspectors and non-material additional modifications (see Appendix A).

     ii.         Agrees to make the alterations to the Policies Map (see Appendix B) that are necessary to give effect to the policies of the Bracknell Forest Local Plan, as modified.

    iii.         Agrees that on adoption, the Bracknell Forest Local Plan will become part of the Development Plan for the Borough and that its policies will supersede all saved policies in the Bracknell Forest Borough Local Plan (adopted 2002), the Core Strategy (adopted 2008) and Policies CP1, SA11, SA12 and SA13 of the Site Allocations Local Plan (adopted 2013) for the purposes of decision making in Bracknell Forest.

    iv.         Agrees that any other non-material additional modifications to the Bracknell Forest Local Plan, can be agreed by the Executive Director: Place Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Transport, prior to final publication.

     v.         Carries forward adopted Supplementary Planning Documents, as related to relevant policies in the Bracknell Forest Local Plan (see Appendix C).

It is important that the Council has an up to date and robust planning framework to

guide development which reflects current national policy and guidance. The Bracknell

Forest Local Plan contains a spatial strategy and policies for managing development

that help meet the environmental, social and economic opportunities and challenges

facing the area. It also helps achieve the aims of the Council Plan and is a key

corporate document.

The Bracknell Forest Local Plan can only be adopted with all of the Main

Modifications recommended by the Inspectors. Not adopting the Bracknell Forest

Local Plan would result in a waste of resources incurred in preparing the Plan and

existing out of date local policies would remain in place. This could result in

speculative planning applications and subsequent appeals which might lead to

significant costs. It could also provoke intervention by the Secretary of State under

Section 27 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (‘the 2004 Act’). This

can be applied if it is thought that a local planning authority is failing or omitting to do

anything it is necessary to do in connection with the preparation, revision or adoption

of a local plan. Such intervention by the Secretary of State has recently been

undertaken in respect of West Berkshire and Mole Valley Councils’ local plans.