Issue - meetings

The report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth is attached.

Councillors Barney and R Walker left the meeting for consideration of the item.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, Councillor Upton presented the report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth, which outlined the Ratcliffe on Soar Local Development Order (LDO) and sought Council’s approval to adopt the LDO.

Councillor Upton advised that this major decision would affect future generations and asked Councillors to make an open and objective decision, with no pre-determinations. Councillors were thanked for their engagement with this very detailed report and officers for their hard work in preparing it.

Councillor Upton reminded Council that Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station would be closing in September 2024 and so far going forward, the only approved use would be for the Emerge Waste to Energy Project.  This was a unique, strategic site of national importance, with excellent transport links, excellent connectivity to the National Grid and was a highly visible gateway to Rushcliffe and Nottingham.  The site was close to the urban conurbations of Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, and Loughborough, with their associated universities and high tech industries, with most of the site being within the East Midlands Freeport boundary, which came into operation in March 2023.  Councillor Upton stated that the Government clearly expected this site to be rapidly developed, as part of its levelling up agenda, and hopefully attracting international investment into the region.  Council noted that the Freeport Business Case focused upon advanced manufacturing, decarbonised technology and renewable and low carbon energy generation and there was an urgency to get new businesses established by September 2026, being the final date to qualify for full Freeport benefits.  Councillor Upton stated that any investors required clarity and certainty, and the current lack of any planning approval was a major issue, which the LDO would resolve.  Council was reminded that the Freeport would generate significant income from retained Business Rates to invest into local projects.

Councillor Upton referred to the Cabinet decision in 2021 to prepare an LDO and to work collaboratively with Uniper, and since then detailed work had been ongoing to prepare this final draft.  Council was advised that extensive consultation had taken place as detailed in the Statement of Community Involvement, it had been scrutinised numerous times by the cross party Local Development Forum (LDF) Group, and at its meeting in June, it had recommended adoption of the LDO.  Councillor Upton stated that an LDO was an efficient planning application process, whereby proposals could be assessed against a specific set of criteria, giving the Council planning control over the redevelopment of the whole site.  The use of LDOs was recommended in the National Planning Policy Guidance for simplifying and streamlining the planning process for large sites.  The LDO would be valid for 25 years and could create certainty for investors, reduce risk and speed up the planning process, which Council was reminded would be needed to meet the tight three year deadline of September  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21