Agenda item - Adoption of the Brighton & Hove City Plan Part 2

Report of the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture (Copy Attached).

RESOLVED:

That the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee recommend to Full Council:

1. To agree to adopt and publish the Proposed Submission Brighton & Hove City Plan Part Two, as amended to include all the main modifications required by the CPP2 Examining Inspector to make the plan sound, in accordance with Section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Regulation 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. This includes changes required to the adopted Policies Map, together with other additional (minor) modifications already noted by the 16 March 2022 Tourism, Economy, Culture & Communities Committee (including any consequential and other appropriate alterations for the purposes of clarification, improved accuracy of meaning or typographical corrections, being necessary).

2. To agree amendments needed for planning application validation requirements.

3. To note that on adoption of the City Plan Part Two the policies in the retained 2005 Brighton & Hove Local Plan will be superseded. These superseded policies are listed in Appendix 5 of the City Plan Part Two.

31.1 Helen Gregory introduced the report starting on page 257 of the Agenda.

31.2 Councillor Littman raised that:

·       The recommendations in this report would allow the Planning committee greater control over what gets built in the city.

·       More weight can be given to local concerns and to benefit tourism, business, and culture.

·       Requisite infrastructure can become part of the requirement for development.

·       The plan protects some of the green spaces in the city instead of giving free range to developers for all greenfield sites.

31.3 Councillor Ebel raised that:

·       The plan will give protection to local shopping parades and community facilities.

·       The plan protects the city’s heritage.

·       The plan will provide new housing to combat the housing crisis.

·       The plan contains policy to manage HMOs better.

31.4 Councillor Robins raised that the reason the Council is not developing brownfield sites is because it doesn’t own them, so green spaces have to be utilised.

31.5 Councillor Rainey raised that:

·       The plan is a necessary response to a requirement to provide housing in the city.

·       Landscaping is considered early in the design process ensuring the retention of trees and opportunities for pollinators.

·       The plan will help the Councils objective to become carbon neutral by 2030.

·       The requirement for measured biodiversity net gain as a result of new developments will be in place ahead of the Government mandate.

31.6 Councillor Bagaeen raised the following points:

·       5 or 6 years ago the data was telling us to build on the urban fringe.

·       The Census 2021 data was mentioned which doesn’t support any of the arguments for extra building.

·       There are local authorities up and down the country pulling local plans in the face of inspected decisions because they are waiting on the Government position.

·       A number of petitions have been submitted with upwards of 1000 signatures each that haven’t been given a voice in this process

·       If the 930 homes in the City Plan Part 2 were taken out, the plan would have remained intact and above housing targets.

·       The Council does not need to take this position on taking allocated land for small number of dwellings.

31.7 Councillor Littman raised that an officer has been appointed to find out why brownfield sites aren’t being developed on, and that the city plan isn’t a conscious choice to build on the urban fringe, it is a necessary step to protect more green spaces than without a plan.

31.8 Sandra Rogers confirmed that there was a clear direction from the City Plan part 1 inspector that all sites need to be looked at which included the urban fringe.

RESOLVED:

That the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture Committee recommend to Full Council:

1. To agree to adopt and publish the Proposed Submission Brighton & Hove City Plan Part Two, as amended to include all the main modifications required by the CPP2 Examining Inspector to make the plan sound, in accordance with Section 23 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Regulation 26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. This includes changes required to the adopted Policies Map, together with other additional (minor) modifications already noted by the 16 March 2022 Tourism, Economy, Culture & Communities Committee (including any consequential and other appropriate alterations for the purposes of clarification, improved accuracy of meaning or typographical corrections, being necessary).

2. To agree amendments needed for planning application validation requirements.

3. To note that on adoption of the City Plan Part Two the policies in the retained 2005 Brighton & Hove Local Plan will be superseded. These superseded policies are listed in Appendix 5 of the City Plan Part Two.