Agenda item

Background:

This report presented an Issues and Options consultation document, which had been produced to undertake the initial formal consultation stage in the preparation of the new Medway Local Plan.

It was explained that the new Local Plan would cover the period up to 2035 and set the strategic direction for development in Medway through updated land allocations and policies. In developing the new plan, it was essential that the Council assembled a comprehensive evidence base and demonstrated clearly that it had assessed all realistic alternative options for meeting Medway’s development needs over the plan period. The aim at this stage, therefore, was to gather information from local communities and wider stakeholders on their views of what the new plan should contain.

The Issues and Options consultation document did not set out detailed policies or identify specific sites for development. Rather, it presented the key contextual matters that would be the drivers for the new Local Plan and was structured around the key themes of Housing, Economy, Environment, Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Delivery.

The proposed consultation period would run for 8 weeks from 4 January to 29 February 2016.

The report also considered establishing a strategic approach to managing and mitigating the potential of damage to the protected habitats of the North Kent estuaries and marshes, resulting from population increases. It was noted that, in line with Natural England advice, the Council was seeking to establish an interim policy position and applying the tariff on consented residential development. It was reported that the other affected Local Planning Authorities, namely Gravesham, Swale and Canterbury had agreed to this strategic approach and were putting the appropriate policies and arrangements in place.

A number of appendices accompanied the report and the Issues and Options consultation document (Appendix 1 to the report) and were set out in Supplementary Agenda No. 1:

·         Appendix 2 - Integrated Growth Needs Assessment – Technical Paper;

·         Appendix 3 - Objectively Assessed Need for Housing;

·         Appendix 4 - Strategic Land Availability Assessment – overview map of sites;

·         Appendix 5 - Medway Local Development Scheme, 2015;

·         Appendix 6 - Strategic Access Management and Mitigation Scheme – Interim Policy Statement

·         Appendix 7 - Diversity Impact Assessments.

Reasons:

To progress the preparation of the new Medway Local Plan, and to satisfy the requirements of the Conservation of Habitat and Species Regulations, 2010 on the Council as a competent body.