Purpose

The
purpose of this decision is to agree a response to the Proposed
reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes
to the planning system consultation.
 
Consultation closes on 24 September 2024 and further information
can be viewed on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local
Government website for the consultation:
Proposed reforms to
the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes to the
planning system - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
 
The
consultation seeks views on changes to the National Planning Policy
Framework and wider changes to the planning system, with a focus on
enabling the delivery of 1.5m homes over the next 5 years. It
proposed changes to the standard method of calculating housing
requirements, changes to green belt policy including introducing
the term ‘grey belt’ and ‘golden rules’
that would apply to green belt development, changes to the approach
to affordable housing, and renewable energy. It also proposes
changes to the planning application process, seeking views on what
should be covered by Nationally Significant Infrastructure
Projects, and how planning fees should be set.
 
Feedback is requested via submission of written responses to the
answered questions included within the document. The
Councils’ response is set out in Appendix 1. Note that the
response is proposed to be joint by Cambridge City Council and
South Cambridgeshire District Council, but it will be subject to
each council’s individual decision sign of
process.
 
The
draft response is supportive of a number of the changes proposed in
the draft NPPF, although there are a number of cases where the
proposed response is supportive of the general principle but
concerned about omitted details or unintended consequences. The
response has raised concerns about amendments to the presumption of
sustainable development not doing enough to secure high quality
development, the lack of transitionary arrangement associated with
changes to the standard method for assessing housing needs and, and
the proposed definition of Grey Belt Land and expansion of the PDL
definition. In response to wide changes to the planning system, the
proposed response supports proposals to increase planning fees to
enable cost recovery.
 

Content

That
the Lead Cabinet Member for Planning agrees:

to
submit the response to the open consultation on Proposed
reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and other changes
to the planning system as set out in Appendix 1.
that
delegated authority is given to the Joint Director for Planning and
Economic Development to agree any minor amendments to the response
in order to finalise the joint response.