Purpose

Report to Executive recommending that the
Executive, in turn, recommends to Council that the Bracknell Forest
Local Plan (incorporating the Main Modifications recommended by the
Inspectors and non-material additional modifications be adopted and
form part of the development plan for the Borough. It also seeks
agreement:

• to make the consequential changes to the Policies Map

• to supersede all the saved policies in the Bracknell Forest
Local Plan (2002)

• to supersede all the policies in the Core Strategy
(2008)

• to supersede Policies CP1, SA11, SA12 and SA13 of the Site
Allocations Local Plan (2013)

• that any other non-material additional modifications to the
Bracknell Forest Local Plan, can be agreed by the Executive
Director: Place Planning and Regeneration in consultation with the
Executive Member for Planning and Transport

• to carry forward already adopted Supplementary Planning
Documents as they relate to policies in the Bracknell Forest Local
Plan

Decision

That Executive RECOMMENDS to Council that it:
 
      
i.        
Adopts the
Bracknell Forest Local Plan incorporating the Main Modifications
recommended by the Inspectors and non-material additional
modifications (see Appendix A).
 
    
ii.        
Agrees to make
the alterations to the Policies Map (see Appendix B) that are
necessary to give effect to the policies of the Bracknell Forest
Local Plan, as modified.
 
   
iii.        
Agrees that on adoption, the Bracknell Forest Local Plan will
become part of the Development Plan for the Borough and that its
policies will supersede all saved policies in the Bracknell Forest
Borough Local Plan (adopted 2002), the Core Strategy (adopted 2008)
and Policies CP1, SA11, SA12 and SA13 of the Site Allocations Local
Plan (adopted 2013) for the purposes of decision making in
Bracknell Forest.
 
   
iv.        
Agrees that any
other non-material additional modifications to the Bracknell Forest
Local Plan, can be agreed by the Executive Director: Place Planning
and Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Member for
Planning and Transport, prior to final publication.
 
    
v.        
Carries forward
adopted Supplementary Planning Documents, as related to relevant
policies in the Bracknell Forest Local Plan (see Appendix
C).

Reasons for the decision

It
is important that the Council has an up to date and robust planning
framework to
guide development which reflects current national policy and
guidance. The Bracknell
Forest Local Plan contains a spatial strategy and policies for
managing development
that help meet the environmental, social and economic
opportunities and challenges
facing the area. It also helps achieve the aims of the Council
Plan and is a key
corporate document.

Alternative options considered

The Bracknell Forest Local Plan can only be
adopted with all of the Main
Modifications recommended by the Inspectors.
Not adopting the Bracknell Forest
Local Plan would result in a waste of
resources incurred in preparing the Plan and
existing out of date local policies would
remain in place. This could result in
speculative planning applications and
subsequent appeals which might lead to
significant costs. It could also provoke
intervention by the Secretary of State under
Section 27 of the Planning and Compulsory
Purchase Act 2004 (‘the 2004 Act’). This
can be applied if it is thought that a local
planning authority is failing or omitting to do
anything it is necessary to do in connection
with the preparation, revision or adoption
of a local plan. Such intervention by the
Secretary of State has recently been
undertaken in respect of West Berkshire and
Mole Valley Councils’ local plans.