Agenda item

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

It was RESOLVED that:

a)               commencement of a review to amendments to the Ratcliffe on Soar Local Development Order (LDO) relating to data centres, environmental mitigation works and Local Labour Agreements be approved, and that they be published in draft for public consultation;

b)               it be agreed that the Local Development Framework Group considers and comments on the draft LDO amendments ahead of public consultation;

c)               authority be delegated to the Director – Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing to make appropriate alterations to the draft LDO amendments, prior to them being published for consultation; and

d)               it be agreed that approval of proposed amendments to the LDO will be a decision for Cabinet and subject to future reports.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, Councillor Upton, presented the report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth, which detailed proposed amendments to the Ratcliffe on Soar Local, Development Order.

Councillor Upton referred to the history of the site and the vision for its future use, which had included the adoption of a Local Development Order (LDO) in July 2023. The LDO specified permitted use type and had to be reviewed by July 2026; however, the Council could do that at any time. The site owner, Uniper had requested a limited number of amendments to be made, as detailed in paragraph 1.2 of the report. As part of any review, a public consultation would be required and the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF) Group would be asked to comment on the draft amendments before that consultation, with further details of the proposed amendments set out in Appendix 1. It was noted that the LDO already identified data centres as an appropriate use, but restricted to the northern part of the site, with giga-factories and green energy uses in south. Councillor Upton referred to changes in market conditions and the political situation, with data centre developments now being brought forward to help drive economic growth and categorised as critical national infrastructure. Councillor Upton stated that the use of the northern part of the site would be severely restricted potentially up to 2030, due to the approval of a large open cast gypsum quarry and the demolition of the power station infrastructure. The report outlined details of the effects of having data centre sites on the southern part of the site, with details of proposed changes to bio-diversity net gain and environmental migration proposals set out in Appendix 3 to the report. Councillor Upton referred to the final requested amendment to Local Labour Agreements (LLAs) and stated that the Council strongly supported the use of local labour wherever possible. It was considered that the current wording was ambiguous, as given that development was likely to come forward in a number of plot by plot phases, the wording should be adjusted to make clear that individual LLAs were to be submitted for each individual plot.             

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Brennan referred to the significance of this not just locally but nationally, and the importance of helping to create a conducive environment for private sector investment and development, by being responsive to any market changes. Failure to do that could result in sites such as this not benefitting from that investment, and whilst this site did have challenges, it also had huge economic opportunities. The Council needed to act swiftly to those changes, to enable development to come forward, which the recommendations would allow, and she hoped that development would soon take place on this crucial site.

Councillor J Wheeler reminded Cabinet that the public would be consulted, as well as the LDF Group and any feedback considered. He felt that this was a fantastic opportunity to bring highly skilled employment and an economic boost to the area, by getting this site back into use as soon as possible.   

The Leader reiterated the importance of driving economic growth, and whilst acknowledging the positive and negative aspects of data centres, this would signify a major investment in the area, which could encourage development on the northern part of the site, once the gypsum was extracted. The Leader stated that the Council needed to be encouraging and promoting economic growth of the entire site, and this amendment would allow for the possibility of a data centre to be established, which was a critical national infrastructure project. He also hoped that any concerns would be addressed as part of the consultation.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)               commencement of a review to amendments to the Ratcliffe on Soar Local Development Order (LDO) relating to data centres, environmental mitigation works and Local Labour Agreements be approved, and that they be published in draft for public consultation;

b)               it be agreed that the Local Development Framework Group considers and comments on the draft LDO amendments ahead of public consultation;

c)               authority be delegated to the Director – Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing to make appropriate alterations to the draft LDO amendments, prior to them being published for consultation; and

d)               it be agreed that approval of proposed amendments to the LDO will be a decision for Cabinet and subject to future reports.