Issue - meetings

The Council published a Green Belt Study during April 2017 (study dated February 2017).  In September 2017, a Part Two Study was commissioned to provide a more detailed assessment of sites being promoted for development.  The Part Two Study will form part of our Local Plan’s technical evidence base and will inform the preparation of new policy.

The Committee is asked to consider the Green Belt Study and agree to its publication.  

Following on from an initial Green Belt Study presented to the Licensing and Planning Policy Committee in April 2017, the Committee received the Green Belt Study 2 report, which presented a more detailed review of the lower scoring areas of Green Belt (performance assessed against the five purposes as set out in the NPPF), as well as those sites which had been promoted through the Local Plan call for sites process.

It was noted that the introduction of the study referred to two plan periods, i.e. 2007-26 and 2015-2032.  Officers confirmed that 2007-26 was the original plan period included in the existing Core Strategy and 2015-2032 was the revised plan period for the forthcoming local plan. 

Clarification was sought on the status of brownfield sites and whether a similar study (to that produced in relation to the Green Belt) would be prepared focusing upon the potential housing opportunities present on brownfield sites.   Members acknowledged that the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) published in July 2017 included an assessment of existing sites and further work was being done to identify the housing potential from sites currently in non-residential use which could come forward for development in the future.  It was further noted that the Master Plan would also take into account the potential to develop brownfield sites.

Accordingly the Committee agreed to the publication of the Green Belt Study Stage 2.