Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: November 26, 2024

Purpose:

Content: Salford City Council - Record of Decision (Cabinet)   I Councillor Tracy, Statutory Deputy City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council Constitution do hereby:   1)            Note that the Draft Salford Local Plan: Core Strategy and Allocations is likely to have significant environmental effects, and therefore approves the formal determination that the Plan must be subject to a strategic environmental assessment in accordance with the requirements of the European Directive 2001/42/EC (the SEA directive);   2)            Approve the Draft Salford Local Plan: Core Strategy and Allocations, and associated supporting documents for a period of public consultation lasting 10 weeks (starting no earlier than Wednesday 4 December 2024); and   3)            Delegate approval to the Executive Director of Place to make any minor, non-material modifications to the Draft Salford Local Plan: Core Strategy and Allocations, and associated supporting documents before consultation commences.   The Reasons are:   Salford City Council is progressing its Local Plan in two parts. The first part, the Salford Local Plan Development Management Policies and Designations document (SLP:DMP), was adopted on the 18 January 2023. The second part of the Local Plan, the Salford Local Plan Core Strategy and Allocations document (SLP:CSA), is now being progressed.   The purpose of the Draft SLP:CSA is to ‘fill the gaps’ by providing policies that are not covered by other policies in Salford’s adopted development plan (in particular the SLP:DMP, and the joint Places for Everyone plan which sets the broader, strategic priorities for the city region that was adopted on 21 March 2024).   Options considered and rejected were:   To not progress the SLP:CSA. This was rejected however given that it would leave policy gaps (particularly at a neighbourhood level) in Salford’s statutory development plan.   Assessment of Risk: Medium.   In order for the city council to be able to adopt the SLP:CSA, the document must be found sound when an independent examination of the document is carried out. To be sound a Local Plan must be positively prepared, justified, effective and consistent with national policy, and the city council must be able to demonstrate the soundness of the document to a Planning Inspector (or inspectors) on this basis. The Draft SLP:CSA is considered to be sound.   It is recognised that some of the sites which are being proposed as allocations may generate significant opposition from some parties, whilst there may be challenge from landowners to the designation of land as Local Green Space. Equally there will be strong opposition from landowners / developers relating to sites that were put forward for development as part of the call for sites exercise but are not proposed for allocation.   The new government has set a deadline requiring the submission of Local Plans being prepared under the current planning system by the end of December 2026. The city council needs to be mindful of this deadline in progressing with the SLP:CSA, as failure to meet it could result in a significant amount of abortive work.   The source of funding is: Existing revenue budget   Legal Advice obtained: Yes.   Supplied by: Fahid Malik, Senior Solicitor (Planning and Infrastructure) – Shared Legal Service   Supplied: 15 October 2024   The legislative requirements for the preparation of the SLP:CSA in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (the “2004 Act”) and the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (the “2012 Regulations) have been complied with.   The Council is required to submit the draft SLP:CSA to the Secretary of State for independent examination in accordance with s.20 of the 2004 Act along with the documents prescribed by Regulation 22 of the 2012 Regulations.   Prior to submission to the Secretary of State, the Council is required to publish the draft SLP:CSA, inviting comments, pursuant to Regulation 19 and Regulation 20 of the 2012 Regulations.   If the proposed SLP:CSA is not prepared in accordance with the 2004 Act and the 2012 Regulations, then any subsequent attempt by the Council to adopt the SLP:CSA would be susceptible to the risk of challenge.   Financial Advice obtained: Yes.   Supplied by: Martin Anglesey, Accountant. Martin.Anglesey@salford.gov.uk   Supplied: 11 October 2024   Expenditure associated with the recommendations contained in this report relate to the cost of consultation. This will include depositing printed copies of documents at the Civic Centre and main libraries within Salford, advertising, and postage in respect of a minimal number of consultees who have not provided an email address.   Total costs are expected to be under £200 for which sufficient revenue budget exists within financial year 2024/25 on cost centre D4602. Other costs for the consultation relate to staff time which will be undertaken as part of day to day Planning Officer activity.   Procurement Advice obtained: Not applicable.   HR Advice obtained: Not applicable.   Climate Change Advice obtained: Yes   Part 1 of the Local Plan (Development Management Policies and Designations), and Places for Everyone, include detailed policies relating to climate change / carbon that are applied in the determination of planning applications. These will support Salford becoming net zero carbon by 2028 and carbon neutral by 2038.   Neighbourhood visions in the Draft SLP:CSA complement adopted policies in Part 1 of the Local Plan, and Places for Everyone. They are consistent with the spatial strategy in Places for Everyone which seeks to direct development to the most accessible (such as City Centre Salford and Salford Quays) therefore reducing the need to travel by unsustainable means. The SLP:CSA also provides additional protection to some areas of greenspace through the formal designation of land as Local Green Space   The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:   ·         Draft SLP:CSA plan and associated polices map for consultation.   The following are supporting documents for the Draft SLP:CSA:   ·         Consultation Statement (including responses to comments made at the initial consultation stage) ·         Draft Statement of Common Ground ·         Integrated Appraisal ·         Local Green Space background report ·         Strategic Environmental Assessment Determination Statement ·         Site allocations background report   Contact Officer: James Shuttleworth / Matt Doherty                              Telephone number: 0161 793 2307 / 0161 793 2304   The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Growth and Prosperity Scrutiny Committee.                 Signed:            Councillor Tracy Kelly     Dated:   26.11.24__                                              Statutory Deputy City Mayor City Mayor   For Democratic Services use only   This decision was published on 26.11.24                                             This decision will come in force at 4.00 p.m. on 03.12.24                                                   unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.