Planning Initiatives and Challenges in Rutland County
Rutland County, known for its scenic beauty and historic charm, is actively engaged in various planning initiatives, including the Local Development Framework Core Strategy and Neighbourhood Planning activities. Uppingham, a key town in Rutland, has taken significant steps towards community-led planning projects. However, challenges persist, such as the alignment of Neighbourhood Plans with the overall Core Strategy. Stay tuned for further developments in the planning landscape of Rutland County.
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Brett Culpin, Senior Planning Officer, Rutland CC Rutland Small County Big Pond Smallest English Unitary Council (pop circa 37,000) Rutland Water at its heart SSSI/RAMSAR Rural, 2 fine market towns of Oakham and Uppingham plus many pretty stone built villages and hamlets Its wealthy, with a prized historic environment, traditional rural farming and country pursuits and a good local tourism offer for nearby urban centres of Peterborough, Leicester, Nottingham etc
Planning Context Rutland LDF Core Strategy Adopted July 2011 Covers period to 2026 Site Allocations & Policies DPD (SAP DPD) To manage delivery of Core Strategy Modifications recently published following public examination Threat of JR regarding handling of NP activity within local plan area More later! Local Plan Review to 2031 or 2026 work started
Neighbourhood Planning Activity Uppingham Awarded front-runner status in 2011 as a town centre area, business-led NP project now Town Council led project covering whole town and beyond. Now at Examination stage Edith Weston Local Service Centre NP going to Referendum 3rdApril Langham NP area designation in December 2013 2 more NP area designation applications submitted, a further 2 NP proposals emerging.
Uppingham Initially business led to cover Town Centre and adjacent industrial area Emerging NP regulations established NP would have to be Town Council led All parties agreed whole town NP would better serve community Community has amazing and active structure of interest groups (e.g, 2 Business Forums, 3 Residents Associations, a Neighbourhood Forum) Community leaders keen to exploit opportunities for self determination! CLG engaged at early stage
Uppingham Council made critical decision to allow NP to take lead in delivering housing and employment land allocations between Preferred Option and submission draft stage of its SAP DPD Sought PINS and CLG views on this Effect was that site allocations in PO stage of SAP DPD were removed in Submission Draft plan This was challenged at SAP DPD Examination Inspector s report keenly awaited!
The Uppingham Challenge The Core Strategy states that the proposed SAP DPD will deliver the land use allocations, it does not make provision for a NP to do this Judgements about the soundness of the SAP to deliver the Core Strategy cannot be made when allocations for Uppingham are not included The Council has not applied the SA/SEA Directive as it fails to address the cumulative impact of the development being delivered across two separate planning policy documents The plan cannot therefore be judged sound if it is there will be a JR served on the Council to stop adoption. Proposed SAP Minor Modifications offered to Inspector merely update situation on emerging NP content
Uppingham We have appointed Nigel McGurk as the Uppingham Examiner We conclude consultation on the Submission Draft UNP 10 March An Examination is hoped for in early April Any decisions on legal challenges keenly awaited in the meantime!
Edith Weston A plan designed to constrain development Two communities rooted community in the conservation area village and transient population in the peripheral MoD estates A large area of agricultural land under option for housing development on the east side Successful but constrained commercial activities for tourism and recreation on the Rutland Water shoreline Area Designation RCC, the Parish, The Commanding Officer at the Barracks and the MoD asset management interest. NP Area designation excluded the Barracks within the wire Examiner supported area designation - but recommended Referendum Area take in property within the wire as some military personal are accommodated there.
Edith Weston (contd) Examiner recommended changes to; Ensure the plan narrative was supporting growth in accordance with NPPF principles; Made a clear distinction between land use policies in the plan and non-land use policies; Improve on NP policy wording to leave no doubt that NP policies matched adopted CS policies and emerging SAP policies Removed references in NP policies to specific SAP polices that might change on adoption of the SAP Overall, the examiner toughened up on the plans subservience to the local plan policy framework providing a good precedence for future neighbourhood plan making that is trying to pull up the drawbridge.
NPs The Way Forward for Delivering Planning Policy The Pro s The effect on community capacity building can be very rewarding and enduring CLG grant is generous - 25k per NP to the LPA and good grants to the PCs/Neighbourhood Forums (up to end March 2015 what then?) The lighter test means they get through examination quicker/easier It s a good vehicle for growth related infrastructure planning at the local level and The Parish/NPA gets a higher percentage of CIL if in place Once in place a NP can be reviewed to re-align with new strategic policy
NPs The Way Forward for Delivering Planning Policy The Con s CLG grant may taper out at the point momentum has built up and commitments to deliver have been made There is a lot for PC s/Neighbourhood Forums to take on especially on SA/SEA screening and other tests (eg Habitats Directive) The more change the plan takes on, the more uncertain becomes the need to get through referendum
NPs The Way Forward for Delivering Planning Policy The Con s The need for NP s to be reviewed in tandem with Local Plan review onerous obligation on local plan makers. There are challenges for Development Management taking on board emerging policies does the increasing weight immediately drop off if they fail at referendum? Developers judicial challenges undermining confidence a lot at stake!
Streamlining Resources Make sure planning policy gets the NP grant to preserve staffing resources! Have an overall planning policy work programme that deals with pressure points in relation to delivering several NPs at different times Ensure PC s/Neighbourhod Forums understand respective roles A good Council approved generic SLA to be entered into with PCs/NFs is worth drawing up. Make sure NP Ward Members understand their role encourage one of them onto NP Steering Group. He/she may be useful at Scrutiny if fully briefed The more you do, the quicker it gets templates for everything!
