Agenda and decisions

To take any questions or statements from members of the Public.

To receive declarations of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or other registrable or non-registrable interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 11 July 2024 (attached) and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The Government launched a consultation on changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) on the 2^nd of August 2024. Four key proposals to note are:

1) a change to the Standard Method for Calculating Housing Need;

2) alterations to national Green Belt policy;

3) proposals to increase planning application fees; and

4) proposed transitional arrangements for Local Plans;

The response has been drafted in the knowledge that the proposed changes are only being consulted on and its publication does not mean that the planning system or the NPPF has changed yet.

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to publish the Final Epsom Town Centre Masterplan. A Draft of the Town Centre Masterplan was subject to public consultation for a four-week period between the 24 November and 22 December 2023 during which 213 responses were received.

Since the Draft masterplan was published for consultation, landowners on some of the opportunity sites have commenced developing schemes for consideration through the submission of planning applications (including pre-application).

The Town Centre Masterplan will form part of the evidence base for the Local Plan (Regulation 19) and will not be a statutory planning document.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Approve publication of the Epsom Town Centre Masterplan (Appendices 1-and 2 of this report).

This report provides an update on the Phase 1 work undertaken to develop a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) for Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to;

(7 for, 1 against, and the Chair not voting)

(1)      Endorse the Epsom and Ewell Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan – Phase 1.

In June 2015 the Licencing and Planning Policy Committee agreed to the introduction of an Article 4 Direction to three retail areas in the borough to prevent shops changing use to financial and professional services without the need for planning permission. The Article 4 directions were made (came into effect) in July 2015 and confirmed (made permanent) in October 2015. 

In December 2015 the Licencing and Planning Policy Committee agreed to the introduction of an Article 4 Direction to withdraw permitted development rights that enable the conversation of office floorspace to residential (C3) use from 16 office buildings in the borough.

Since the Article 4 directions were confirmed (made permanent) there have been changes to the Town and County Planning (Use Classes Order) and subsequently the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) (known as the GPDO). The result of these changes is that the Article 4 directions no longer serve their intended purpose. 

National planning policy advises that Article 4 Directions should be cancelled in such circumstances. It is recommended that the Committee approves cancelling of the Article 4 directions relating to employment office buildings and primary retail frontages under the GDPO.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Approve the cancellation of the Article 4 directions confirmed in December 2015 relating to changes of use from employment office buildings to residential use (C3) contained in Appendix 1.

(2)      Approve the cancellation of the Article 4 directions confirmed in October 2015 relating to changes of use in retail frontages contained in Appendix 2.

The Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) is a factual report that has two purposes; to monitor progress towards new Local Development Documents and to monitor the effectiveness of key policies set out in Local Development Documents.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Note the content of the Authority Monitoring Report for the 2023/24 Monitoring year and agree to it being published.

The report provides a basis for debate of the motion submitted to the meeting of Full Council on 30 July 2024 in relation to the role and function of LPPC and the arrangement of additional meetings to discuss the scope and content of the Local Plan.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to;

(5 for, 2 against, 1 abstaining, and the Chair not voting)

(1)      Note the motion, as debated, and take no further action in light of the content of the report. 

The report provides a basis for debate to the motion submitted to the meeting of Full Council on 30 July 2024 in relation to the release of Green Belt through the Local Plan process.

Following consideration, the Committee resolved to;

(5 for, 1 against, 2 abstaining, and the Chair not voting)

(1)      Note the motion and take no further action in light of the content of the report.