Agenda item - Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan

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

It was RESOLVED that:

a) it be agreed that the Director – Development and Economic Growth be authorised to request that the Planning Inspector(s) examining the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan (GNSP) recommends any main modifications to the GNSP, if necessary, in order for the Plan to be legally compliant and found sound;

b) the suggested Main Modifications and Other Modifications to the GNSP as set out in Appendix 2 to the report be approved;

c) authority be delegated to the Director – Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to propose and consult on necessary modifications to the GNSP during its examination stage;

d) the ‘substantially the same effect’ compliance statement for the GNSP as set out in Appendix 3 to the report be approved; and

e) the revised Local Development Scheme as set out in Appendix 4 to the report be approved.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, Councillor Upton, presented the report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth, which detailed the Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan (GNSP).

Councillor Upton confirmed that this document had been prepared jointly with Broxtowe Borough Council and Nottingham City Council, referred to previous debate, the joint public consultation, and that it was a statutory requirement for the Council to have an up to date Plan, which must be reviewed every five years. Councillor Upton detailed the examination process that would take place before it could be adopted, and that a failure to do this would result in the Borough no longer having an up to date Development Plan. This could led to speculative, unplanned development and also weaken the Council’s ability to effectively deal with all planning applications. The report detailed modifications to the draft Plan, many of which were raised during the public consultation, together with textual changes to reflect the withdrawal of Gedling Borough Council from the joint partnership. Councillor Upton confirmed that once adopted, this would replace the current Plan adopted in 2014. It was hoped to submit the Plan and all supporting documents later in December, to begin the examination process, and if found sound, the Plan should be ready for adoption by Full Council in December 2026.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Brennan referred to the considerable work already undertaken to reach this point, and how necessary it was to provide as much control as possible to avoid speculative and unplanned development. She noted that this would now be submitted for independent examination, which would provide further opportunities for consultees to raise issues, and she hoped that at the end of the process the Plan would be approved.

The Leader agreed that this was a long, detailed process; however, it was necessary to ensure that all important issues were covered within the document.

Councillor J Wheeler reiterated the importance of having a Plan in place, to avoid speculative development, especially given the Borough’s increased housing targets. He advised that if adopted, sites in the Plan would still have to go through the planning process, to ensure that they were suitable, with appropriate infrastructure requirements.