Purpose

In line with the National Planning Policy Framework (September 2023) all local planning authorities have a requirement to produce, maintain and keep up to date a Statement of Common Ground (SoCG). The purpose of a Statement of Common Ground is to highlight agreement on cross-boundary strategic issues with neighbouring authorities and other relevant organisations. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the Heads of Planning Group have produced a Joint Regional SoCG which sets out an explanation of the agreed key strategic planning matters of relevance to the region. It also includes links to relevant evidence base documents. It is a live document which will be kept up to date by the signatories involved. Its purpose is to enable a more streamlined approach for planning authorities in South Yorkshire and the former Sheffield City Region area in the future.
There are seven cross-boundary strategic matters. These are: energy and climate change; housing; employment; transport; natural environment (including Local Nature Recovery Strategies, Natural Capital and Biodiversity Net Gain); waste; and digital connectivity. Other matters are summarised in the document just to illustrate the range of shared interests across the Region and those matters are: Green Belt; Minerals; Peak District National Park; and recognising the health and wellbeing challenges of the Region.
Planning Services has been involved in the Joint Regional SoCG throughout the process including inputting into the document and revising any drafts.
All information included in the document is factual and is publicly available elsewhere. In the main, it states targets and requirements that the SYMCA local planning authorities (LPAs), including City of Doncaster Council, have or will include in their Local Plans. For Doncaster, this means repeating the Local Plan requirements of 920 dwellings per year and 481 hectares of employment land over the plan period (2015 – 2035).
The key strategic matters and the where all signatories are agreed is summarised below:
Energy and Climate Change
• Work will take place to contribute to the national target of being net zero by 2050 and accelerate progress towards a carbon neutral region;
• Local planning authorities (LPAs) will seek to encourage higher standards than Building Regulations;
• LPAs will seek whole life carbon assessments;
• Partners will work together to develop and deliver flood risk benefits through the planning system;
• South Yorkshire LPAs have agreed to develop and support the implementation of the Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan.
Housing
• All LPAs are planning to meet their own housing requirement;
• The quantum of housing required to deliver growth will be met through Local Plans;
• Housing markets will be agreed though Local Plans;
• All LPAs will maximise delivery of sustainable housing development;
• Housing delivery will be monitored on an annual basis.
Employment
• All LPAs are planning to meet their own employment land needs;
• Support will be given to employment growth in the Key Urban Centres and Major Growth Areas;
• Employment land delivery will be monitored ensuring that there is an appropriate supply of land;
• The loss of employment land to other uses will be monitored;
• Work will continue to achieve the economic ambitions of the region;
• LPAs will seek to maintain an adequate supply of land for logistics uses across the region.
Transport
• Ensure cross boundary impacts of development and transport interventions are considered and mitigated for;
• Support the development and adoption of new Local Transport Plans by Spring 2024;
• Work together to improve connectivity;
• Support the safeguarding and delivery of critical transport routes and make best use of inter-regional rail, road and water transport networks;
• Secure financial contributions to help leverage funding for relevant interventions such as public transport;
Natural Environment
• Authorities will work together to develop and agree Nature Recovery Strategies;
• Continue to share learning on Biodiversity Net Gain including set a consistent net gain % requirement, and ensure data is of a consistently high standard;
• Use the findings of the South Yorkshire Natural Capital Assessment to help shape new development plans;
• Undertake a review of the South Yorkshire Natural Capital Assessment.
Waste
• LPAs will share and monitor cross boundary waste planning information;
• There will be the maximum degree of self-sufficiency possible in net waste movements;
• South Yorkshire authorities will jointly plan to meet South Yorkshire’s waste needs and produce a Joint South Yorkshire Waste Local Plan.
Digital Connectivity
• Support the implementation of Project Gigabit and the digital infrastructure elements of adopted Local Plans;
• Help bring forward a range of local and regional interventions to improve digital connectivity and spends and address gaps in provision;
• Support local communities to utilise the Building Digital UK Gigabit Voucher Scheme;
• Create a supportive planning framework to digital connectivity including consistent planning conditions.
Throughout the Joint Regional SoCG there is a commitment for local evidence to be shared and for collaborative work between the Mayoral Combined Authority and local planning authorities to continue.
The document will be kept under review by the signatories and the process will allow other signatories and strategic matters to be added as appropriate.
The SoCG has been prepared by the Heads of Planning Group which includes planning managers from the nine local planning authorities as well as from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire County Councils and the Peak District National Park Authority. It has also been considered and supported by SYMCA Housing and Infrastructure Board which includes Cabinet Portfolio Holders and representatives from South Yorkshire LEP.

Decision

The Director of Place has approved and endorsed the Joint Regional Statement of Common Ground in consultation with the Portfolio Holder of Finance, Traded Services and Planning who has then signed the Joint Regional Statement of Common Ground on behalf of City of Doncaster Council.

Alternative options considered

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED
An alternative option would be to not endorse and not sign the Joint Regional SoCG. This option would result in City of Doncaster Council failing to comply with joint working on cross boundary strategic planning matters and the Council would not meet its requirement to have an up-to-date Statement of Common Ground.