Issue - meetings

Subject to the discussions at the Executive on 16 March 2021, to consider the Pre Submission Bracknell Forest Local Plan, Policies Map and all supporting documents to the Secretary of State for independent examination by an appointed Inspector who would be requested to recommend any main modifications to the submitted Plan, in the event that they are considered necessary to make the Plan sound.

Having declared disclosable pecuniary interests Councillors Atkinson and Dr Barnard left the meeting before the item commenced. 

The Council considered a report seeking approval to submit the Pre Submission Bracknell Forest Local Plan, Policies Map and all supporting documents to the Secretary of State for independent examination by an appointed Inspector who would be requested to recommend any main modifications to the submitted Plan, in the event that they were considered necessary to make the Plan sound.

Andrew Hunter, Director: Place, Planning and Regeneration advised the meeting that the Plan before council was the final version of the plan which had been shaped, by consultations, evidence and national guidance, it aimed to meet needs for Bracknell Forest’s existing and future populations up until 2037 and provide the council with an up to date Local Plan against which development proposal in the borough would be assessed. The first part of the Plan dealt with the strategic policies which would apply across the Borough and included the site allocations for regeneration, growth, development, and enhancement. The second part dealt with the more detailed policies generally applied to planning applications when they were being considered by the council.

The key changes to the Plan since the last public consultation included:

·                An update to the housing figures required over 15 year life of the Plan

·                Detailed changes to the 20 plan allocations set out in policy LP4, this included updating site capacities in the light of evidence and consultation responses

·                Site specific policies for the larger more complex allocations, including Jealott’s Hill, Beaufort Park, Derby Fields and the addition of the Peel Centre for mixed use, residential led development.

·                There had been reduction in the new homes proposed for the new garden community at the Jealott’s Hill site reducing the allocation to 2000 new homes alongside the development of a new science park. The area to be removed from the Greenbelt had been reduced. The publicly accessible open space surrounding the development would be left within the Green Belt. A small Gypsy and Travellers site had been added to the allocation and would provide for 8 additional pitches to meet needs. The proposal for a secondary school had been removed as existing borough facilities would be able to meet needs.

·                The Affordable Housing Policy had been updated to meet needs and issues of viability and seek to secure 35% affordable housing on all qualifying sites.

The Plan was supported by a number of technical studies, assessments and background studies which made up the extensive evidence base for the plan which would be available for the purposes of the local plan examination.

In response to Councillors’ questions the Director made the following points:

·                The proposed allocation of 2,000 new homes on the Jealott’s Hill site were integral to the delivery of the whole plan to meet housing need.

·                The final version of the plan included the sites selected from those submitted in earlier consultation stages for consideration.

·                The Plan as set out meets the need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52

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.