Issue - meetings

A new Local Plan Programme has been prepared to set the process and timetable for a partial review of the Epsom and Ewell Core Strategy.

The Committee is asked to consider and agree the Local Plan Programme to take effect from 12 July 2017.

The Committee considered the draft Local Plan Programme and resolved that the programme presented to the Committee take effect as of 12 July 2017.

The Committee received and considered the draft Local Plan Programme which had been prepared to set the process and timetable for a partial review of the Epsom and Ewell Core Strategy.

The report stated that the primary purpose of the Local Plan Programme (or Local Development Scheme as it had previously known) was to set out the processes and timetable for the preparation and production of the Borough Council’s Local Plan.  The Council had always envisaged its programmes providing a three year project plan which sought to inform both the process and all of the interested parties and partners about how and when the Local Plan would be brought forward.

The timetable before the Committee was acknowledged as ambitious, with the intention of working towards Pre-Submission Consultation on a revised Core Strategy during the first half of 2018.

In response to concern about the speed of the process, the importance of quick and decisive action by the Council was stressed to mitigate the risk of government intervention and unsustainable speculative approaches for higher levels of housing growth from the development industry. Swift action was essential if the Borough Council wished to remain in control of the Local Plan’s growth strategy.

Accordingly, the Committee agreed that the programme set out in summary below should take effect as of 12 July 2017: