Purpose

Approval to consult on Peterborough Local Plan Proposed Submission Version and submit to government following consultation period.

Decision

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1. Note the Economy, Inclusive Growth and Environment Scrutiny Committee referral.

a.     Approve the Proposed Submission (‘Publication Draft’) Local Plan as attached at Appendix 1, for the purpose of its final consultation for six weeks (October and November 2026) prior to the submission to the Secretary of State by 31 December 2026; and

b.     Approve the Policies Map (including associated inset maps) as set out as part of the agenda papers, for the purpose of consultation alongside the Local Plan.

1. In the event that Cabinet chooses to approve the matters above, to delegate to the Head of Planning any presentational improvements or other inconsequential changes (e.g. correcting typographical errors or factual inaccuracies) to the Proposed Submission Local Plan or Policies Map that, taken together, do not materially affect the policies set out in the Local Plan prior to the commencement of consultation.
2. To note that a number of minor amendments have been made since the plan was originally approved by Cabinet on 25 August. These largely arise from the publication of the National Planning Policy Framework (on 17 August). A copy of the up-to-date version of the Plan can be found at Appendix 1, and a summary of changes made can be found at Appendix 3. 

Alternative options considered

The alternative option of not preparing a new Local Plan was rejected by Cabinet in January 2023 as part of the approval of the Local Development Scheme. The original Cabinet Report sets out other options considered. 3.2 The other alternative option to reinstate site LP61.5 and site-specific policy LP62 into the Proposed Submission Local Plan, has been discounted as the concerns raised during the Cabinet, mainly focused on significant social and environmental impacts, would require further assessment and may not be capable of satisfactory mitigation within the available timetable. 3.3 If the proposed submission plan is not approved by Cabinet for public consultation, the plan cannot be submitted by the government’s deadline of 31 December 2026. This would mean that work would have to commence immediately on a new plan based on the new Plan making system. This would also mean that the Council will be in a position where it will be at risk of being unable to robustly defend its five-year supply of housing sites and could be subject to speculative applications. Recent changes to national policy mean that the risk of speculative development now also covers all types of development where there is a demonstrable unmet need.