Issue - meetings

Background:

This report sought permission to undertake further consultation on the Draft Innovation Park Medway (IPM) Local Development Order (LDO). The draft IPM LDO builds upon the masterplan to set principles for development which would allow developers and businesses to bring forward high quality development in the high-value technology, engineering, manufacturing, and knowledge-intensive sectors.

The report stated that an initial public consultation process was undertaken in 2019, which received comments from public and statutory consultees. Liaison had since been ongoing with statutory consultees to ensure their concerns are addressed prior to adoption of the LDO. This resulted in some changes to the LDO, Environmental Statement and supporting documentation, which would require re-consultation as a legislative requirement. The report added that ongoing liaison with Highways England (HE) and Natural England (NE) in particular, had led to changes to the Design Code and transport assessment work.

It was noted that in line with rule 15.11 of Chapter 4, Part 5 of the Constitution, call-in could be waived where any delay likely to be caused by the call-in process would seriously prejudice the Council’s or the Public’s interests. The Chairman of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed that the decisions proposed were reasonable in all the circumstances and to them being treated as a matter of urgency and to waive call-in as this would enable officers to undertake consultation at the earliest opportunity.

The report noted that following public consultation, the LDO and supporting documents would be presented to Cabinet and Full Council for adoption.

Reasons:

Public consultation on the LDO and Environmental Statement is necessary in order to adopt the LDO, allowing high quality development to come forward at IPM.