To determine a response to the Phase Two Revision of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).  A full copy of the Phase Two Revision document is available in the Members room for Members attention.

Prior to formally introducing the items 5, 6 and 7 (all of which were linked in part), the Cabinet Member for Environment and Strategic Housing advised Cabinet that Dr David Nicholson, Forward Planning Manager had recently been appointed on secondment to the Edgar Street Grid (ESG) and he wished him well for the future.

Additionally, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Strategic Housing informed Cabinet that Herefordshire Council had been asked to act as a peer for another authority by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) due to the following reasons; the advanced nature of the Core Strategy; the establishment of a Task Group with the Local Strategic partnership; the authority’s receipts of PAS training, and the linkages with the Growth Point initiative.  The request to act as a peer reflected well on the authority and the Cabinet Member gave particular thanks to Dr Nicholson and Andrew Ashcroft for their work on this.

The report outlined the Council’s proposed response to the West Midlands Regional Assembly consultation on the current review of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) Phase Two, which looked ahead to 2026 and which focussed on housing, employment, role of centres, and waste.

The Cabinet was informed that Government had already stated that the amount of housing provision for the region outlined in the RSS Phase Two was insufficient to meet future demand and to deliver affordable housing needs, therefore a further study had been commissioned by Government to reassess the situation and to provide for additional housing figures.  The Cabinet was advised that report would be provided later in the year which would outline the study’s outcomes. 

The report for Cabinet’s consideration outlined the need to establish the Council’s position on the review proposals, which would provide a basis for the Core Strategy Option (for consideration under agenda item 6).  Members were advised that whilst the RSS Phase Two rates proposed were similar those indicated in the UDP, the levels and distribution of housing development proposed in the Phase Two development would have implications for the county.  The implications would be that Hereford City would have a significant uplift of over 50% on UDP rates with a downturn in provision for the rest of the County, which may have a direct impact on market town growth and provision for sustainable rural settlements.  Members were reminded that Hereford was one of 10 designated ‘settlements of significant development’ as well as being an area with Growth Point Status (one of 29 areas in England which were identified to deliver higher levels of housing growth). 

The proposed response (as outlined in recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 9) generally supported the Phase Two Revisions, but suggested the need to introduce an element of flexibility.  Additionally whilst as much growth as possible would be sought for Hereford (up to the RSS figure) it was essential to emphasise that appropriate infrastructure would be required to support this.  It was also stated that any residual figures from the Hereford allocation should be capable of being added to the rest of the county figure should it not be practicably met at Hereford.

Following discussion at Planning Committee on 23 May, an additional recommendation to those listed in the report (recommendation 10) had been proposed to reflect the Council’s approach to climate change 

The Leader advised Cabinet that Herefordshire had inputted strongly into the regional debates to ensure the strengthening of references to remoter areas (i.e those outside the market towns) and to emphasise that sustainable rural communities did not relate solely to market towns.  The pressures to the infrastructure were emphasised together with the need to ensure that early considerations were given to such matters in parallel with the provision of the additional ½ million houses in the region to ensure a robust framework was in place to support infrastructure, employment and housing.  Should these factors not be present, it could lead to gridlock and consequently the possibility of economic decline.  The Leader additionally advised the Cabinet of the emerging agenda around the integrated regional strategy, whose focus would include the economic strategy and the urban and rural renaissance dimensions.

In response to a comment about the location of housing provision within the County, Dr Nicholson emphasised the requirement for the distribution allocated in the RSS Phase Two revision document which outlined that half the provision should be met in within the boundaries of Hereford, with the remainder being met in the rest of the county, in these cases, whilst there was a certain amount of flexibility, there would be a steer for developing within market towns and larger villages.

Councillor Edwards advised Members that in this role as a representative of the authority on the Regional Planning Partnership, he considered it his constant duty to engage with the region and to emphasise the rural dimension in the development of regional policy in order that these can best deliver the authority’s needs.  It was emphasised that it was important to ensure a two-way engagement with regional bodies.

In response to a comment on strengthening the public transport infrastructure, especially the rail network, to support the development of housing and employment, the Forward Planning Manager advised Members that the constructive engagement with relevant organisations to consider the possibilities of building new railway stations in the County would be for consideration by transport colleagues; this issue also linked in with other items on the agenda for consideration at the meeting.  A member in attendance raised the point that it was constructive that the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Community Services was engaged in dialogue with the rail companies.

It was stated that the issues raised crossed many Cabinet responsibilities and Cabinet Members worked to ensure that consideration was given to these important issues collectively.

The Leader advised the Cabinet that it was possible that draft legislation would transfer the strategic planning function to Regional Development Agencies, this position would not be supported by the administration as the key function of planning should be maintained and co-ordinated through local authorities.

RESOLVED that the Council submits representations to the Panel Secretary generally supporting the Phase Two Revision subject to:

1.         The Spatial Strategy should include further recognition of the infrastructure requirements at Hereford if growth is to be achieved; the peripheral expansion of market towns, and their service centre role for their rural hinterlands; and the need to plan for the renaissance of the region’s remoter rural areas in a way which sustains their social, economic and environmental character;

2.         Policy CF2 should be amended to recognise that growth may only be capable of being accommodated in some settlements of significant development if infrastructure constraints are removed.  The recognition in para.6.21 in respect of meeting housing needs in smaller settlements is welcomed;

3.         In respect of policy CF3:

a)      the total provision of 16,600 dwellings for Herefordshire be supported;

b)     the identification of Hereford as a settlement of significant development be supported as reflecting the Council’s Growth Point partnership with Government for the delivery of housing growth;

c)      the provision for Hereford (8,300 dwellings) be expressed as a maxima, recognising that at present the extent to which Hereford can accommodate new development is limited and that the practical achievement of these levels of growth will be dependent on suitable transport and other infrastructure provision, as well as other factors;

d)a)     following consideration of the distribution of growth within the County in the Local Development Framework Core Strategy and the Hereford Area Action Plan, dwellings which cannot be accommodated within or adjacent to Hereford be directed to the rest of the County in accordance with the principles in policy CF2;

4.   The affordable housing targets in policy CF7 be re-assessed in the light of the emerging Housing Market Assessment for the West Housing Market Area;

5.   Policy CF10 be supported and further recognise that in rural areas there are also considerations such as the relatively high proportion of small sites in the overall housing supply; 

6.   The comparison retail floorspace requirements set out in policy PA12A be supported, with the retail assessment work being undertaken as part of the Local Development Framework offering the opportunity to refine the Phase Two Revision figures at Examination if necessary to ensure suitable provision is made for Hereford city centre;

7.   The office development requirement for Hereford in policy PA13A be supported;

8.   The revisions to the waste policies be supported, subject to clarification of the implications of the existing joint arrangements for the principle that each waste planning authority should plan to manage an equivalent tonnage of waste arising within their boundary;

9.      The continuing recognition of the need to implement the package of measures identified in the Hereford Transport Review be supported, so as to allow Hereford to fulfil its role as a Settlement of Significant Development; and

10.The ‘sustainable region’ policies, including that on climate change, be particularly welcomed and supported.