Decision details

Consideration was given to a report on the Local Plan Five Year Review.

The development plan (a local plan) was at the heart of the planning system, setting out a vision and strategy for future development of the Borough. Included within it were a series of policies which supported the delivery of that strategy and against which planning applications were assessed.

Under regulation 10A of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, there was a legal requirement to ‘review’ local plans at least once every 5 years from their adoption to ensure they remained fit for purpose. In the case of the Stockton-on-Tees Local Plan that is required to be complete by the 31 January 2024. 

Cabinet were being asked to ratify the outcomes of the Local Plan review and to recommend to Council to begin the process of a full update of the Local Plan.

RESOLVED that:-

1.    The findings and recommendations of the internal officer review of the Stockton on Tees Local Plan (Appendix 1 of the report) be agreed.

2.  The findings of the Local Plan review are made publicly available and published on its website.

RECOMMENDED to Council that:-

3.  A full update of the Stockton on Tees Local Plan commences.

4. The Director of Regeneration and Inclusive Growth be authorised to commence work on preparatory work for a new local plan with a review of the evidence base, related project management activity and consultation on updated Conservation Area Appraisals in advance of the details on government’s new local plan process.

Officers consider that the current local plan requires an update due to changes in; the calculation process of the housing requirement; implications of changes to the retail sector and use classes order; and a changing policy landscape with regards the environment and climate change (full review contained at appendix 1).

A full update of the Local Plan is deemed necessary due to the interdependent elements of these factors across the Local Plan as a whole and as they are not ‘narrow’ enough to be adequately dealt with by a partial Local Plan review. Furthermore, given the emerging planning reforms a full review and formulation of a new Local Plan under the new emerging Local Plan system is considered to be the most robust and cost-effective way forward.

It will also offer an opportunity to update and align the Borough’s planning policies with a number of the Councils recent and emerging policies and aspirations on climate change, addressing inequalities and in driving forward economic growth and regeneration. 

None.