The meeting of the Planning Committee included 11 public facing reports, the majority covering performance of the service, emerging policies, and changes to national legislation. No planning applications were included in the agenda pack, however Members will be asked to note a number of proposed changes to the Planning Protocol, a document which is included in the council's constitution and which sets out how planning applications are decided.

Proposed changes to the Planning Protocol

The Planning Committee are being asked to note a number of proposed changes to the Planning Protocol that relate to the membership of the Strategic Panel and the Committee's training. They will then make recommendations about these changes to the Audit and Corporate Governance Committee.

The Strategic Panel provides high-level strategic input on complex proposals that may later be considered by the Planning Committee. The report suggests changing the Panel membership to account for changes to Cabinet portfolios and to include the Cabinet Members for Better Homes and New Homes and Community Investment.

The report also recommends updating the Planning Committee training provisions to include occasional mandatory training sessions, a change that has been prompted by recent legal cases. The training would refresh Councillors' knowledge on relevant legal, procedural, technical, and policy matters that relate to the function of the Planning Committee.

Short Term Lets (STL)

One of the most significant issues raised in the Enforcement, Trees and Appeal Performance Update was the use of residential properties as Short Term Lets, with the report identifying an estimated 6,000 entire properties in the borough used for STL. The report highlighted the significant loss of housing and income to the council and the difficulty of using existing planning powers to tackle the problem, which is being compounded by the limited resources available to the Enforcement team.

The previous administration proposed introducing a new planning use class¹ for STL and associated permitted development rights². The report noted the council’s previous opposition to the proposals, as set out in a letter from Dan Pope, the council's Chief Planner to Angela Rayner MP, the Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, and an earlier letter from Councillor Danny Beales, the Cabinet Member for New Homes, Jobs and Community Investment, to Michael Gove MP, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. They expressed concerns that the new use class would result in the loss of a significant number of permanent homes and urged the Government to review the proposals.

The report also discussed a number of recent Public Inquiry appeal decisions relating to STL, including an appeal in relation to 267 Eversholt Street, which the council considered to have been changed from 3 flats and a commercial unit to 15 units of temporary sleeping accommodation. The Inspector agreed that the use was unlawful and an enforcement notice served on the building was upheld with a variation to the compliance period. The report also highlighted the successful appeal against an enforcement notice at Alpha House, 24-27 Regis Road. The council's concerns about piecemeal development of a site identified for comprehensive redevelopment were not upheld by the Inspector, who considered that the proposed self-storage facility was in keeping with the existing character of the area.

Proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

A report provides an update on proposed changes to the NPPF. In particular the report highlights the government's proposal to amend the NPPF to make the ‘standard method’ the “mandatory” starting point for planning for homes, which means that councils will be expected to make “all efforts” to allocate land in line with their assessed need, although they can justify a lower figure if there are local constraints. The report sets out the council’s concerns about the proposal, highlighting that the standard method calculations do not take account of the capacity of individual boroughs to accommodate new development and can therefore produce unrealistic targets. The report also notes that under the new approach to the standard method London's overall housing target has been reduced, which the council welcomes.

Development Management performance

A report provides an update on the performance of the Development Management service during the first two quarters of the 2024/25 financial year. The number of planning applications being received has remained consistent in recent years, with an increase in the number of decisions being determined due to process changes and backlog clearance work. A temporary backlog team was created to process older applications and additional planning officers have been recruited into temporary positions. The report also notes a decrease in the number of complaints in respect of delays, but highlights concerns about proposed changes to performance targets in the Accelerated Planning System consultation.

The number of pre-application requests has remained reasonably consistent in recent years, although there was a slight increase in requests during Q1 and Q2 of the financial year. The report notes a drop in the number of major and large major pre-application requests compared to the previous year, which has resulted in a reduction in income from Planning Performance Agreements (PPA). The report sets out the council's plans to review the pre-application service in light of the Accelerated Planning System proposed changes, and to consider replacing the Duty Planner service with alternative options.

The report also provides details of performance against national targets, with Camden currently exceeding targets in relation to the speed and quality of decisions, however falling below the London average. The report highlights the proposed changes to performance measures in the Accelerated Planning System consultation, with concerns about Camden’s ability to meet the new target for major applications.

Digital Planning programme

A report provides an update on the Digital Planning programme, with further details included in the attached slides. The programme aims to improve access to information, increase engagement, and use data to improve understanding and decision-making.

The report highlights the progress made in recent months, including the soft launch of a ‘Find Out If You Need Planning Permission’ flow on the PlanX platform and the creation of a pre-application service. The council has also developed a new service offer that can be used by other local planning authorities and is working with the GLA to expand the digital planning services across London. A number of upcoming projects are also highlighted, including testing of the Back Office Planning System, expansion of the Digital Site Notice service, and further work on the Digital Planning Register.

Local Plan review

A report provides an update on the review of the Camden Local Plan, which aims to ensure Camden’s planning policies respond to changing circumstances and the borough’s unique characteristics. The report highlights the consultation and engagement process undertaken in January-March 2024 on a draft new Local Plan, which included three online public engagement sessions, a workshop with D/deaf and disabled residents and representative groups, a briefing for all Councillors, and a workshop with students from Regent's High School. The report notes that the Council received approximately 2,400 comments from 245 respondents, with officers now updating the plan for a 'Proposed Submission' version to be taken to Cabinet and Council in Spring 2025. The plan will then be published for comment before it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for public examination.

Euston Area Plan

The report also provides an update on the review of the Euston Area Plan, which sets out Camden's vision for the future of Euston, including how new homes, jobs, green spaces, and community facilities will be delivered. The report notes that work on the plan was paused in 2023 following the previous Government’s announcement of a pause to HS2 works. The report highlights the consultation that took place over the summer on the direction of travel of the plan, and notes that the plan is now working to a similar timetable as the Local Plan, with consultation on a submission draft timetabled for Spring 2025.

Neighbourhood planning update

The report also provides an update on neighbourhood planning, with seven adopted neighbourhood plans currently in place in Camden, including in Camley Street, Dartmouth Park, Fortune Green and West Hampstead, Hampstead, Highgate, Kentish Town, and Redington Frognal. The report notes that the Hampstead Neighbourhood Forum has brought forward an update to their neighbourhood plan, with statutory consultation held between late August and early October. The council will now appoint an Independent Examiner to assess the plan and determine whether a local referendum is required. Subject to the examination and referendum, the updated plan will be reported to full Council for adoption.

Planning frameworks and visions

The report also provides an update on a number of planning frameworks and visions for different areas of the borough, including:

• The Camden Goods Yard Planning Framework (adopted in 2017)
• The Kentish Town Planning Framework (adopted in 2020)
• The West End Lane to Finchley Road Supplementary Planning Document (adopted in 2021)
• The Canalside to Camley Street Supplementary Planning Document (adopted in 2021)
• The Gospel Oak and Haverstock Community Vision (adopted in 2022)

The report notes that work is ongoing on the Holborn Vision, which is intended to be adopted as a supplementary planning document in early 2025. Consultation on a draft vision and urban strategy took place in 2019, but work paused due to the pandemic and uncertainty in relation to the Transport for London (TfL) funded Holborn Liveable Neighbourhood Project. Following TfL confirmation that the Liveable Neighbourhood project could progress, engagement took place on both projects in Spring 2024. The report notes that consultation responses have now been analysed and a report will be produced with the comments feeding into the final version of the Holborn Vision document.

The report also notes that work is ongoing with key landowners in the Bloomsbury area to develop a Bloomsbury Vision, which builds on the Bloomsbury Green Corridor proposal to create a pedestrian-friendly network and green links connecting Euston to the River Thames. The vision will focus on greening and improving the public realm in both public and private ownership. The report notes that the Bloomsbury Vision is not expected to be adopted as an SPD, but will instead form a public realm strategy shared by the landowners, providing guidance and highlighting opportunities. Consultation on the draft vision is expected in early 2025.

The report also provides an update on the Regis Road Area Guidance, which is being prepared to support the comprehensive development of the Regis Road growth area, a site that has been allocated in both the Camden Local Plan and the Kentish Town Planning Framework. Consultation on the area guidance is timetabled for November and December 2024.

Finally, the report notes that work has begun on a Camden Town Vision, which will help define, coordinate, and prioritise future projects in the area, including the pedestrianisation of Camden High Street from Britannia Junction to Hawley Crescent. The Camden Town Vision is expected to be consulted on in Spring 2025.