Agenda item

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

It was RESOLVED that:

a)              the preparation of a new Rushcliffe Local Plan, and the publication of the Council’s Notice of Intention to Commence the Rushcliffe Local Plan (at Appendix 1), in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 be approved;

b)              the Rushcliffe Local Plan timetable (at Appendix 2 to the report) be approved and published, and delegated authority be granted to the Director for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to agree any subsequent updates to the Local Plan timetable when necessary; and

c)       delegated authority be granted to the Director for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to undertake necessary scoping work and evidence gathering to support the new Rushcliffe Local Plan, prior to the Gateway 1 Assessment Stage.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, Councillor Upton, presented the report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth, seeking Cabinet approval to prepare a new Rushcliffe Local Plan and to publish a ‘Notice of Intention to Commence’ a new Local Plan.

Councillor Upton stated that despite the draft Greater Nottingham Strategic Plan (GNSP) progressing through its final stages, being examined in July and hopefully adopted in early 2027, it was a statutory requirement for the Council to start preparing a new Local Plan, with the publication of a ‘Notice of Intention’ required by 30 June 2026. A failure to issue this Notice would prevent the Council from entering a 30-month preparation process, which he advised would be a challenging timescale, especially given that officers would be simultaneously working on two Local Plans. Councillor Upton stated that the Government had introduced a more streamlined preparation process, structured around three defined “gateways”, as detailed in Table 1 of the report. Cabinet was advised that Rushcliffe would continue to work with the Greater Nottingham Planning Partnership and that Nottingham City Council and Broxtowe Borough Council would be following the same timetable.

Councillor Upton advised that the adoption of the new Local Plan in April 2029, would be after Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) was due to come into effect in April 2028; however, what form the new authorities would take was unknown, with any implications considered when further details of LGR were announced. National planning policy made it clear that LGR was not a valid reason to delay Local Plan preparation, and the new one would replace the GNSP and the Rushcliffe Local Plan Part 2. The new Local Plan would include new site allocations and a range of planning policies and would focus on delivering 100% of the Government’s mandatory housing target, which could result in an estimated additional 1,900 houses for Rushcliffe. Councillor Upton concluded by reiterating the legal implications if the ‘Notice of Intention’ was not published by the deadline of 30 June.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor J Wheeler advised that he was not happy about the prospect of having more housing; however, the Council needed a Local Plan to protect itself against unsuitable development, as detailed in paragraphs 3.1 and 3.2 of the report. He expressed concern regarding timings and workloads for officers, with the GNSP going forward for examination, as work would be starting on this Plan, coupled with the uncertainty regarding LGR, and he felt that the Government had handled this process badly and wasted a lot of money. He referred to the Government’s housing targets and advised residents who were unhappy with them to lobby their MPs.

Councillor Brennan reiterated that the Council was required to produce a Local Plan in order to deliver the Government’s new mandatory targets, LGR was not a reason to delay the process and it was likely to result in Rushcliffe having additional housing.    

It was RESOLVED that:

a)              the preparation of a new Rushcliffe Local Plan, and the publication of the Council’s Notice of Intention to Commence the Rushcliffe Local Plan (at Appendix 1), in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 be approved;

b)              the Rushcliffe Local Plan timetable (at Appendix 2 to the report) be approved and published, and delegated authority be granted to the Director for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to agree any subsequent updates to the Local Plan timetable when necessary; and

c)       delegated authority be granted to the Director for Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, to undertake necessary scoping work and evidence gathering to support the new Rushcliffe Local Plan, prior to the Gateway 1 Assessment Stage.