To determine a response to the Phase Two Revision of the Regional Spatial Strategy.

Wards: County-wide

The Forward Planning Manager presented a report about a proposed response to the Phase Two Revision of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).  He advised that the current version of the RSS was issued by the Government in 2004 followed by a phased review.  The first phase which dealt with the Black Country had been completed and second phase had reached an advanced stage.  It dealt with housing, employment, the role of centres, waste and some aspects of transport.  The third and final phase had begun in November 2007 and covered rural services, gypsy and traveller sites, culture, minerals and environment policies.  The Regional Assembly had worked closely with regional stakeholders in preparing the phase two revision, and strategic planning authorities such as Herefordshire Council had submitted advice to the Assembly in 2006.  Consultation was  undertaken on spatial options which were considered by Cabinet in February 2007.  A preferred option was approved by the Assembly’s Regional Planning Partnership in October, and had been submitted to the Secretary of State in December.  Formal public consultation on the revision was launched in January and the closing date of was 30 June 2008, although this was likely to be extended.  The next stage would be an Examination in Public, arranged by the Secretary of State and held before an independent Panel.  The Panel would subsequently prepare a Report for consideration by the Secretary of State who would consult on proposed changes before finalising the revised RSS. 

The Forward Planning Manager said that throughout the process of preparing the revisions, the Government had been concerned that more houses needed to be built if problems of affordability were to be addressed.  The Assembly had worked with partners, including local planning authorities, to increase its proposals for housing provision throughout the region.  Although significant increases in housing development were proposed across the region, the submitted revisions did not meet Government aspirations in full.  He explained what the proposals meant for Herefordshire in terms of infrastructure, housing and employment.  He advised that although the proposed housing targets were broadly in line with the Herefordshire Unitary Development Plan, there was a greater emphasis on Hereford and the market towns for their location. 

The Committee discussed the details of the proposals and Councillor RI Matthews emphasised the need for the careful management of housing in the rural areas to support the sustainability of the local communities.  The Forward Planning Manager said that it was important to recognise the very different needs of the communities in the rural west of the county compared to the market towns and other areas.  Councillor PJ Edwards said that care needed to be taken to ensure that services matched the housing provision in the larger developments and for the villages.  Councillor ACR Chappell highlighted the need for extensive consultation with Members regarding the volume of housing proposed for Hereford and the surrounding areas.  Councillor GFM Dawe was concerned that the proposals did not fully address the implications of climate change.  The Forward Planning Manager said that Cabinet had previously agreed the volume of housing, the revised proposals emphasised different locations.  He was also of the view that significant issues were included on climate change.  The proposed approach would help to meet the concerns raised about the Committee regarding Hereford, the market towns and the villages. Having discussed the various proposals set out in the report, the Committee supported the proposals put forward by the Forward Planning Manager.  Councillor GFM Dawe voted against the resolution.

RESOLVED

THAT it be recommended to Cabinet that representations generally supporting the Phase Two Revision be made to the Panel Secretary, subject to:

1.      the Spatial Strategy should include further recognition of the infrastructure requirements for 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 recognize 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)     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 recognize 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; and

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.