Decision details

RESOLVED that

      i.        the Pre-Submission Bracknell Forest Local Plan and Policies Map at

Appendix A (along with the supporting documents) are approved for publication for a statutory period of consultation commencing on Tuesday 23rd March and closing on Tuesday 11th May 2021.

     ii.        Under the provisions of Section 22 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase

Act 2004 (as amended), recommends to Council that the Pre-Submission

Bracknell Forest Local Plan, the Policies Map and all supporting documents be formally submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination.

    iii.        Under the provisions of Section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase

Act 2004 (as amended), the Executive RECOMMENDS to Council that the appointed Inspector be requested to recommend main modifications to the submitted Plan, in the event that the Inspector considers that such modifications are necessary to make the Plan sound.

   iv.        any minor changes to the Pre-Submission Bracknell Forest Local Plan and supporting documents (including the final versions of the Air Quality Report, Sustainability Appraisal, Habitats Regulations Assessment and Viability Assessment), following Council, are agreed by the Director of Place Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Transport.

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

guide development which reflects current national policy

The options of delaying or abandoning the BFLP in order to await greater certainty

over the Government’s intentions to reform the planning system, as set out in the

White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ have been considered and rejected for the

following reasons:

·         Uncertainty over the timescales involved in implementing any changes to the

planning system suggested in the White Paper as they require primary

legislation to be passed.

·         Transitional arrangements are likely to be put in place that would cover the

BFLP.

·         The strong encouragement set out in the latest letter from the Chief

Planner dated 18th December 2020, to continue to prepare and adopt local

plans. The letter also refers to the need for a period of policy development

after the receipt of the responses to the White Paper. This will in turn be

followed by the preparation and progress of any legislation required to

implement the planning reforms. This will take some time and it’s therefore

important that local areas have a plan in place.

Councillor Dr Barnard expressed a disclosable pecuniary interest and would left the meeting for the duration of the item.

Councillor Harrison expressed an affected interest in agenda item 6 but would remain in the meeting and be able to participate and vote on the item.