Agenda item

            The Committee considered the undernoted report:

“1.0      Purpose of Report or Summary of Main Issues

1.1       The purpose of this report is to provide members with an update on:-

·        the LDP Metropolitan Working Group (MWG);

·        An invitation from Lisburn City Council (LCCC) to attend a meeting to discuss their Consultation and Engagement Strategy with neighbouring councils; and

·        the recently published Ards and North Down Borough Council (AND) Preferred Options Paper (POP);

2.0       Recommendations

2.1       The Committee is asked to note the updates on the MWG, the invitation by LCCC on their engagement strategy and to agree to delegate responsibility to officers to respond on behalf of the council to the AND POP.

3.0       Background

3.1       The MWG provides a liaison forum on spatial planning and includes cross boundary aspects of economic development, housing, transport and general infrastructure issues arising at regional and sub-regional level.  The MWG met on 11 March 2019 and this report sets some of the main issues that were discussed. Minutes from the meeting are available on mod.gov.

3.2       The council has received an invitation from Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council to attend a meeting on their ‘Consultation and Engagement Strategy with Neighbouring Councils’ which is designed to seek feedback from neighbouring councils on their draft Plan Strategy in advance of public consultation. The meeting has been scheduled for 10am on 18th April 2019 in the Civic Headquarters, Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn.  The invitation is targeted at senior planning officers from those councils adjoining LCCC. A copy of the invitation is available on mod.gov.

3.3       Public consultation on the AND POP began on 28 March 2019 and will be open for a period of 12 weeks, ending at 5pm on 20 June 2019. Feedback from the public consultation will inform the preparation of the Draft Plan Strategy. It is the last POP to be published within the metropolitan area and this report outlines some of the proposed strategic approach.  The summary of the AND POP is available on mod.gov.

4.0      Main Issues

            The Metropolitan Working Group Update

4.1       The main issues discussed that the MWG on 11 March 2018 are set out below.

4.2       In terms of updates, BCC advised that we had recently met with the DfI and PAC regarding process and next stage of plan development. We provided an update of our revised timetable and the publication of our plan responses following our engagement on the DPS.  We also advised that we are currently summarising those responses and completing our own response to the PAC in advance of the independent examination.

4.3       LCCC and Antrim and Newtownabbey (ANBC) currently intend to publish their draft Plan Strategies in the autumn. ANDBC advised that it will be publishing its POP imminently (now published).

4.4       Concerns were raised by DfI, LCCC and ANDBC at the previous meeting about engagement by BCC prior to publication. This was also raised in their formal response to our DPS last autumn. LCCC is required to set up their own consultations for their LDP as they have different adjoining council and they suggested they would take an alternative approach to this.

4.5       DfI is intending to produce a two stage Transport Strategy and Transport Plan. However, the timetable for these has continued to slip. DfI raised concerns about BCC publishing its DPS prior to production of the DfI Transport Strategy. This was also raised in its formal response to the DPS last autumn. Unfortunately there is still no draft Transport Strategy or Plan from DfI despite comments at the last meeting that suggested that this would be available March. There is yet to be a Transport Plan Board meeting.

4.6       DfI is required to set up consultations for the development of the transport plan but it has yet to formally outline the processes or timescales. DfI in January published ‘guidance’ on transport policy for councils without any prior consultation.

            Ards and North Down Preferred Options Paper (POP)

4.7       Public consultation on the Ards and North Down Borough Council POP began on 28 March 2019 and will be open for a period of 12 weeks, ending at 5pm on 20 June 2019. It is the last POP to be published within the metropolitan area and indeed in Northern Ireland.  As members will be aware, the POP is the first public consultation stage in the LDP process and its main purpose is to encourage debate on key issues affecting the area, including the Council’s preferred approach to guiding future development.

4.8       The ANDBC POP sets out three strategic objectives, as follows:

·        Ensuring cohesive and safe communities; and, supporting healthy lifestyle

·        Protecting and enhancing the environment;

·        Promoting economic vitality.

4.9       It proposes five overarching principles that all development proposals must have regard to:

·        Improving Health and Well-being;

·        Creating and Enhancing Shared Space;

·        Supporting Sustainable Economic Growth;

·        Supporting Good Design and Positive Place Making; and

·        Preserving and Improving the Built and Natural Environment.

4.10      The proposed growth strategy seeks to guide the majority of development to locations within large towns that have adequate capacity and infrastructure. Bangor and Newtownards are designated as ‘large towns’ at the top of the proposed settlement strategy, followed by a number of small towns, such as Holywood, Comber and Ballygowan. It proposes to allocate land to accommodate 8,190 new houses over the LDP period to 2030, in line with the RDS 2016 housing growth indicators. It notes that land zoned for housing in existing development plans can meet almost all of this allocation and, in addition, there are other lands within settlements with potential for new housing, with a total of over 10,000 potential housing units identified.      

4.11      The POP supports local economic development and seeks to identify land to support the creation of up to 7,500 jobs in line with the target set in the ANDBC’s Integrated Tourism, Regeneration and Economic Development Strategy. It notes that there is sufficient land already zoned for employment uses to meet future growth. In addition, it also seeks to protect and enhance the rural economy across the area.

4.12      The POP sets out preferred approaches across a wide range of other planning matters, including the natural and built environment, flooding and climate change, sustainable travel and retailing. 

4.13      In overall terms, the POP seeks to grow the ANDBC area in an inclusive and sustainable way. Its general approach is to meet local needs, including increased employment opportunities throughout the area. There is a clear acknowledgement of the need for a sustainable approach, including in relation to environmental protection and sustainable/active travel. In this regard, the overall proposed approach is in line with regional planning policy.     

4.14      The POP public consultation period runs to 20 June 2019. Having regard to the general nature of the issues raised in the POP and the committee timetable over the coming months, permission is being sought from members to delegate the submission of a written response to officers in this instance.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.