To advise Members of the Panel Report into the Examination in Public into the Regional Spatial Strategy and its implications for Herefordshire.

Wards Affected: County-wide

The Planning Policy Manager reported that the Examination in Public (EIP) into Phase 2 of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) took place during April to June 2009, and the Panel of Inspectors involved published their “Panel Report” on 28th September. The Report would be submitted to the Secretary of State who although is not bound to accept the recommendations is likely to do so. Final amendments will be made to the RSS by the end of 2009 with the intention of completing the formal process during 2010. Once this process is complete, the local planning authorities in the West Midlands Region will be obliged to ensure that their planning policies (in emerging Local Development Frameworks) are in compliance with the new RSS.  The main features of the Report are:

·                     Herefordshire’s housing target for the period 2006 to 2026 has gone up from 16,600 to 18,000;

·                     within that overall target the Hereford City (and immediate environs) allocation has gone up only 200, from 8,300 to 8,500 – this is not significant over a 20 year period;

·                     the allocation to the rest of the County (including the Market Towns) has increased more significantly, from 8,300 to 9,500 – this is intended to increase supply in rural areas to improve affordability;

·                     the approach to employment allocations has been revised – whilst the five year “reservoir” of 37 hectares has been maintained unchanged, the gross figure over the 20 year period has been recommended for an increase from 111 hectares to 148 hectares – but this figure takes no account of “recycling” of employment land where employment sites are redeveloped for employment use;

·                     the retail allocation has stayed unchanged at 40,000 sq metres of retail floor space to 2021 with a further 20,000 for 2021 to 2026;

·                     a revised housing “trajectory” has reduced the number of dwellings per year to be constructed in the period to 2011 but progressively increases it after then (this will have important consequences as we move into the “Delivery” phase);

·                         all the above figures are now “Targets” and are not to be regarded as either minimum or maximum figures;

·                         whilst no specific policy is introduced in respect of the Outer Distributor Road the supporting text makes it clear that one will almost certainly be required;

·                         any relief road proposed for Leominster is regarded as a local matter and not included in the RSS because it is not strategic enough in the Regional context;

·                         the practical difficulties of dual tracking the railway line between Hereford and Malvern are such that it was not considered practical to make a policy commitment to this;

·                         amongst the general policies there is a requirement for local planning authorities to do Strategic Flood Risk Assessments and Water Cycle Studies (both of which Herefordshire has been doing anyway);

·                         there is also the introduction of a “Merton” style rule to require developments above a certain threshold to ensure that at least 10% of the energy needs come from renewable sources; and

·                         the consequences, under the Habitats Regulations, for water quality and quantity in the Rivers Lugg and Wye were not fully resolved and further work will have to be done at County level to ensure that the new development does not have an adverse effect on the biodiversity of these rivers – this is mainly an issue of ensuring adequate water supply and treatment. There will, however, be restrictions in the “Pilleth Water Resource Zone” which affects part of the County.

RESOLVED THAT;

The report be received and noted,