Issue - items at meetings - Shoreham Harbour: Interim Planning Guidance (IPG) Update

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

(1)         That the Cabinet Member agrees to consultation on the Shoreham Harbour: Interim Planning Guidance update, subject to any minor grammatical and non-material text and illustrative alterations agreed by the Strategic Director Place in  consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, and agreed by Adur District Council and West Sussex County Council.

12.1         Councillor Kennedy considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place concerning an update of Interim Planning Guidance (IPG) for Shoreham Harbour.

12.2         The Head of Planning & Public Protection advised that the IPG had originally been produced in 2009 and had been updated to reflect the current situation and that it would guide development in the short term, alongside a proposed investment strategy.

12.3         Councillor Kennedy welcomed the updated guidance and consultation. She explained that it was an interim measure until more formal planning policies were developed jointly with Adur District Council and West Sussex County Council to guide the regeneration of the area. The IPG did not establish new planning policy, but set out each authority's existing policies. It aimed to encourage the type of development that was in keeping with the future vision of the harbour.

12.4         Councillor Mitchell noted that the number of dwellings proposed had dropped from 10,000, then to 6,000 and now to 2,000 following the completion of a capacity study and questioned what had driven such a significant reduction. She added that only a small proportion of the harbour area fell within the city boundaries, but that it was the council’s responsibility to make more of that area.

12.5         Councillor Kennedy welcomed the comments and instructed officers to circulate a briefing note to Members explaining the results of the capacity study. She stated that she was conscious of the loss of Regional Spatial Strategy, but added that officers were investigating working with adjoining councils.

12.6         Councillor Theobald noted that Central Government was proposing to allow issues, such as the number of dwellings, to be determined locally.

12.1         Councillor Janio highlighted the importance of improving transport links to the harbour and in the surrounding area. He noted the inclusion of Policy EM12 and stated that the emphasis on HGV traffic was not relevant to the development or indicative of a sensible transport policy.

12.2         The Head of Planning & Public Protection explained that the spirit of the IPG was the three local authorities taking local control of the development and that the number of dwellings had been reduced mainly due to concerns about transport provision; the viability study had taken account of the views expressed by the local authorities and acknowledged that employment was the focus of the development. He advised that Policy EM12 was an existing Local Plan policy that could not be altered in the short term, but that it was recognised that transport was key to the successful regeneration of the harbour.

12.3         RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Councillor Kennedy accepted the following recommendation:

(1)         That consultation on the Shoreham Harbour: Interim Planning Guidance update be agreed, subject to any minor grammatical and non-material text and illustrative alterations agreed by the Strategic Director Place in  consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, and agreed by Adur District Council and West Sussex County Council.