The Committee was asked to note progress on preparation of the Runnymede 2030 Local Plan and the reasons for pausing commencement of the Issues and Options Consultation.

Members recalled that the Runnymede 2030 Local Plan (2015-2030) was adopted in July 2020.  The Council was required to commence a review of the Plan in 2021 to ensure it met the requirements of the NPPF to complete a review of the Plan within 5 years of its adoption and to plan for a 15 year period from the data of its adoption.

Officers advised that in February 2022, the Government had published its Levelling Up the UK White paper.  If introduced there were a number of potential impacts on the development of the Council’s review of the Local Plan.  For example the intention to target the delivery of new homes on brownfield sites outside London and the South East.  In May 2022 the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill was published.  This indicated significant changes to the Planning system and created uncertainty for a number of local authorities with regard to the direction of planning and housing policy in light of the change of Prime Minister whose stance thereon was as yet unknown. 

Officers therefore considered it prudent to pause the commencement of the Issues and Options consultation in Runnymede until such time as it became clear what the Government’s Levelling Up agenda was and the implications for Runnymede’s Local Plan and the development of the spatial strategy.

Subject to approval of suspending the consultation Officers planned to continue work in two other areas of the Local Plan.  Firstly, conducting a site specific assessment of land introduced to the Authority by third parties after the 2030 Local Plan was produced.  This was the final piece of evidence in determining whether there were any additional small sites that could be released from the Green Belt.  Secondly, Officers sought to produce a strategic Green Belt Review which would examine how the Green Belt was performing in Runnymede at appropriate large-scale geographies.  This would assist with meeting Counsel’s advice to complete this work prior to the Issues and Options consultation and recommendations made by the Inspector of the Local Plan.  In addition pausing the consultation would allow Officers to continue work on the production of a Blue and Green Infrastructure Strategy for the Council.

Members noted that an amended Local Development Scheme would need to be produced and approved by the Committee and Full Council in due course.

The policy Framework and Legal implications were noted and that an Equalities Impact Assessment would be required for the next iteration of the Local Plan.

The Committee was fully supportive of this approach and agreed that pausing the consultation on Issues and Options was sensible until it was fully understood what direction the levelling Up agenda was taking and the implications this had for any consequential planning reforms.

Officers would submit a further report to the Planning Committee in the latter part of 2022/early 2023 with an amended Local Development Scheme which would quantify the length of the pause proposed.