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Agenda item

New Local Plan Introduction

Minutes:

The Programme Manager introduced the report.

 

In response to questions raised by the committee, the following was advised:

 

  • New policies on HMO’s have been included. The key thing was that adopting the plan helped to move forward with HMO guidance which complimented the existing Article 4 direction.
  • The council is legally obliged to review plans every 5yrs. This plan has a 15yr life plan which runs until 2038 and would be reviewed within that time.
  • Cabinet Members already committed the Council to do a Design Code for site CW2. When looking at Design Codes, officers reviewed the surrounding area but the site that the Design Code would focus on would be site CW2 as this was the only site in Colliers Wood allocated for a taller building. The power lines in Colliers Wood inhibit taller buildings so unless the powerlines went underground, which was not the plan, it was likely that Colliers wood would stay at the current levels.
  • Thanks to residents, in planning terms South Wimbledon had been updated and although this may not filter through to the electoral register, it would be correctly referred to in planning terms.
  • On the strategic height diagram in the Local Plan, in general Local Plans trump guidance such as SPD’s but it was worth noting that the strategic heights diagram for Wimbledon was very much based on the Wimbledon SPD which went through substantial consultation.
  • The Council’s position was that Brittania Point should have remained the pinnacle which was not held up by Inspectors. Representation for Morden was received that asked for the Council building to be the pinnacle. This was not something that was in the local plan and wasn’t the position taken. The Morden Policy did have a strategic heights diagram which looked at building heights in Morden, but they proposed regeneration of Morden and rather than expanding the town centre out, taller buildings will be proposed in the area.
  • The work done for Morden did look at taller buildings, but it didn’t measure by storeys as storey heights could be misleading, instead it was measured at 71meters.
  • Cabinet Members have tasked the team to produce a design code for the active site at the land south of Brittania Point which was a priority moving forward. The Inspectors were clear that national policy allowed provision for either the Council or applicant to do design codes so it didn’t slow down development. They would then look at what else needed design codes, it was important to note that nationally design codes were now focussed on areas of change instead of everywhere in the borough. They would have to come back to members to confirm timescales and whether the Council led on every design code that came forward.
  • The plan would only be adopted by resolution of Full Council on 20th November 2024. Tonight’s report looked at whether this committee would recommend to resolve at the upcoming Full Council meeting.
  • The submitted plan had more then 9months of consultation by the time it was submitted to the Secretary of State in December 2021. Once with the Planning Inspectors, they were in charge and set the boundaries for consultation and engagement. At this point the Council were no longer able to modify the plan without the Inspectors say so. The examination went on for 3 years with 5 weeks of hearings, 7 weeks of post hearing consultations plus another 4 weeks on the map. On top of the 9 months, there was substantial consultation. Although the policy on Wimbledon Park was decided by the Inspector in the last year of the hearings, it still allowed for consultation for 7 weeks. Officers position was that there was substantial scope for engagement on the plan.
  • The Council have to review plans every 5years. This did not mean that the whole plan would be revised but each policy would be reviewed and assessed.  
  • Aware of concerns from Wimbledon Park Residents Association in regard to their consultation response. Consultation finished on 22nd March, their full response is on the website and was submitted to the Planning Inspectors by 16th May. Members can be assured that the Wimbledon Park Residents Association and everyone who participated in the consultation that full responses were received by the Inspectors and the Inspectors report made comments which stated that all representation were considered.
  • After the 5 weeks of hearings, the Inspectors were clear that they wanted to see a site allocation for the existing AELTC site and a policy for Wimbledon Park. All representations were received by the Inspector and they would have reviewed them when coming to their conclusion.

 

The following recommendations were proposed and seconded:

 

Recommendation C: That Full Council notes that in 1.2.43, once the new local plan is adopted, tall buildings should be deemed to be appropriate, if at all, only in those locations identified within the plan. DPAC note that Merton has not had a policy on tall buildings and will rely on new chapter D12.6, plus a range of impending design guides/codes for each site allocation to ascertain appropriate heights. As these could be prepared either by applicants or the council, we suggest that the preparation of these be a priority and that the borough looks to creating a Supplementary Planning Document on tall buildings as soon as possible.

 

After discussion, Recommendation C was voted on as follows:

For - 2, Abstentions - 1, Against – 7

 

RESOLVED: That the Committee REFUSED the recommendation.


Recommendation D: Development and Planning Applications Committee notes that the national requirement for 10% Biodiversity Net gain in planning applications will now be reflected in the Local Plan. It recommends Merton’s Biodiversity Net Gain Group should have its membership reviewed every year to ensure that it contains officers with the correct and most up to date environmental expertise with which to contribute to strategy. 

After discussion, Recommendation D was voted on as follows:

For - 2, Abstentions - 1, Against – 7

 

RESOLVED: That the Committee REFUSED the recommendation.


Recommendation E: Council notes that the plan will run until 2038 and whilst there were four consultation rounds, policies like N8.1 were only able to be commented on for the first time in 2024. We therefore recommend that Merton adapt policies in the plan as things change, including through the use of supplementary planning documents, and that the borough does not commit any site to any one development.  

 

After discussion this recommendation was withdrawn.

 

Recommendation F: Acknowledge that it is important that residents trust the planning process and DPAC recommend engaging with ward councillors and resident groups from the pre-app stage where possible to facilitate schemes that come with community support.

 

After discussion this recommendation was withdrawn

 

The Chair moved to the vote on the Officers’ recommendation: Votes For – 9, Against – 0, Abstentions – 1.

 

RESOLVED: That the Committee GRANTED that, considering the Cabinet recommendation on 4th November 2024, the Development and Planning Applications Committee advises that full council (20th November 2024):

 

A.    Adopts Merton’s Local Plan and Policies Map to replacing Merton’s Core Planning Strategy 2011 and Merton’s Sites and Policies Plan 2014.

B.    Delegates authority to the Executive Director of Housing and Sustainable Development in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainable Development to approve all the necessary adoption documents and other consequential matters in accordance with the appropriate Regulations permission subject to conditions and legal agreement.

 

 

Supporting documents: