This meeting considered a range of planning policy issues affecting Westminster, as well as receiving the Design Review Panel's first report. The Committee also reviewed the Town Planning service's performance in determining planning applications and considered options for member training.

City Plan Partial Review

This was the most significant item on the agenda, and the document prepared for the meeting summarises the Council's response to feedback to its consultation on a partial review of the City Plan.

The plan was adopted in 2021 and the Council is now consulting on four proposed changes:

1. Revising the policy on affordable housing to prioritise social housing over intermediate housing. The revised policy would also seek affordable housing contributions from schemes delivering fewer than 10 homes.
2. Introducing a new 'retrofit first' policy that requires developers to prioritise retrofitting existing buildings.
3. Introducing new policies that will guide the future development of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, the area around Royal Oak station, the site of the Westbourne Park Bus Garage and the Grosvenor Sidings.

The report provides a summary of the consultation responses received, as well as explaining the next steps in the process. The final draft of the revised plan is scheduled to be submitted to the Secretary of State in November 2024, and if approved, will be formally adopted in Summer 2025.

The report notes that the majority of the 102 consultation responses related to the proposed 'retrofit first' policy and quotes the National Planning Policy Framework's definition of a 'sound' plan:

"Positively prepared – providing a strategy which, as a minimum, seeks to meet the area’s objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development;

Justified – an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on proportionate evidence;

Effective – deliverable over the plan period, and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of common ground; and

Consistent with national policy – enabling the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in this Framework."

The report confirms that the comments received are being reviewed to see if any changes are required to the plan before it is submitted to the Secretary of State.

Annual Update on Planning Applications Performance – 2023/24

This report provides an annual update on the Town Planning department's performance in determining planning applications.

The report notes that the department continues to meet or exceed the national performance targets on speed and quality of decision making set by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). For example, in the year to March 2024 the council determined 85.7% of major applications within the statutory 13 week timeframe, exceeding the 60% target.

Member Training

This item considers the future approach to training for members of the Planning Committee.

The report notes that while the existing approach of providing periodic training by council officers has been effective, there may be merit in inviting external organisations to deliver training in specialist areas. The report suggests that training could be sought from external subject matter experts in the following areas:

• Sustainability
• Viability
• Planning Balance

The report suggests that a survey of committee members be undertaken to understand their training needs.

Design Review Panel Update

The Committee received its first verbal update on the Design Review Panel, which has been running for six months. The Panel, which meets monthly to consider applications, is made up of architects, urban designers, and other built environment specialists, and advises the committee on planning applications. The Panel's first report, which will be presented to the committee on 17 April 2025, will cover an application at Lord's Cricket Ground.

Other items

The Committee noted a number of other items, including a report on recent changes to national planning legislation and policy. Of particular note to the council was the government's decision to require local authorities to ensure developments achieve a 10% increase in biodiversity.

The Committee also noted the government's announcement that it will introduce new permitted development rights for short term lets.

The Committee agreed to receive a further report on the impact of short term lets in Westminster.