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22 SEPTEMBER 2014
Minutes of a meeting of the PLANNING POLICY & BUILT HERITAGE WORKING PARTY held in the Council Chamber, Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 10.00 am when there were present:
Councillors
B Cabbell Manners (Chairman)
Mrs A R Green
Mrs P Grove-Jones
R Reynolds
P Williams
D Young
Officers
Mr M Ashwell – Planning Policy Manager
(21) APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies absence were received from Councillors Mrs S A Arnold, M J M Baker, N
D Dixon, P W High and Miss B Palmer.
(22) MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 May 2014 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
(23) ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman stated that there were no items of urgent business which he wished to bring before the Working Party.
(24) DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
No interests were declared.
(25) DUTY TO CO-OPERATE
The Planning Policy Manager explained that the Regional Spatial Strategy had now been replaced by the Duty to Co-operate on strategic issues when preparing Local
Plans. This was a formal duty which applied to all public authorities at both Officer and Member level and would be subject to a legal and soundness test when plans were examined by an Inspector.
A Working Group of Officers and Members from authorities and other bodies across
Norfolk had been set up to consider the matter.
All local authorities in the County were at different stages of post-2004 plan-making, with North Norfolk being the only authority with a fully adopted Core Strategy and
Site Allocations Development Plan. However, it was likely that each authority would be reviewing their plan documents for the period 2016-2036. The Working Party had developed a schedule which set out a number of elements where co-operation could be desirable and a timetable was being considered.

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A Member Forum had also been set up, which had no executive powers but would report to each Authority’s Executive. Reports were likely to come through the
Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party for consideration prior to submission to Cabinet.
The Working Party noted the report.
(26) STRATEGIC HOUSING MARKET ASSESSMENT
The Planning Policy Manager stated that a Strategic Housing Market Assessment
(SHMA) had been commissioned by five of the Norfolk District Councils. The preparation of a SHMA was a requirement of the National Planning Policy
Framework, and formed part of the evidence which would inform the review of the
Local Plan in terms of housing allocations.
The Planning Policy Manager explained that it was anticipated that housing delivery would be back on target during 2018. Development of the large allocations was likely to take place over the next 3 to 5 years, following which housing delivery would reduce. It was therefore necessary to review the Local Plan to allocate more sites.
Councillor P Williams requested a graph showing the developments which had been commenced and the development which was known to be coming forward. The
Planning Policy Manager stated that he would prepare a detailed forecast for the allocated sites.
The Planning Policy Manager presented the emerging findings from the Strategic
Housing Market Assessment (SHMA).
The Working Party raised concerns regarding the functional relationship between settlements as assessed by the consultants. Members considered that there were omissions with regard to commuter links between the towns and Norwich, and that some of the links shown did not reflect the true picture. The Planning Policy
Manager stated these were preliminary findings and that there would be more clarity as to the basis of the findings when the final document was published.
The Working Party also questioned the housing market area boundaries. Members considered that Cromer, Sheringham and Holt were better connected to Norwich than North Walsham, and that Fakenham was an important commuter town for
Norwich, Kings Lynn and Dereham.
The Planning Policy Manager explained that evidence had shown that many people commuted from North Walsham to Norwich. The diagrams in the presentation reflected the evidence, rather than the perception of what the evidence should show.
The Planning Policy Manager stated that the demographic projections had been made by an agreed national methodology which had been tested and any necessary changes would be made at the end of the process. They were a snapshot of a point in time and the starting point had to be revisited regularly to ensure that they were as accurate as possible.
Councillor P Williams considered that the shortfall should be factored in and two graphs produced to include the numbers on the housing list.
The Planning Policy Manager stated that much of the growth was in-migration, without which there would be negative growth.

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The Working Party questioned whether there was a typographical error in the report in respect of the average annual growth figure.
Councillor P Williams referred to proposals by some authorities to require planning permission to be sought for second homes. The Planning Policy Manager explained that they were seeking a change to the Use Classes Order to enable them to be controlled. It was unlikely that the Government would make such a change, but if they did so it would enable Councils to set their own policies. The Working Party discussed the advantages and disadvantages of second homes to the District. The
Planning Policy Manager stated that placing restrictions on the use of new dwellings as second homes would only increase the demand for existing, unrestricted dwellings as second homes and would be difficult to enforce.
The Working Party noted the report and requested more information and clarity around the methodology used when the final report was submitted for consideration.
(27) GROWTH STRATEGY BEYOND 2016
PROCESS AND TIMETABLE FOR LOCAL PLAN REVIEW
The Planning Policy Manager stated that it was necessary to consider reviewing the
Local Plan and suggested that the review commence in May 2015 following the elections. He requested that the Working Party resolve to recommend to Cabinet the approach suggested in the report.
The Chairman referred to proposed new Government legislation on barn conversions.
The Planning Policy Manager stated that the Government had already made a number of amendments to planning legislation and more changes were under consultation in order to streamline the process and reduce the amount of development which required planning permission. The proposed changes in respect of barn conversions related only to barns on agricultural holdings which were registered at the time the announcement was made, and would allow 450 m
2 to be converted to no more than three dwellings. This would be done through the prior notification process and there would be limited circumstances to refuse. He expressed concern that this approach would allow very poor agricultural buildings to become dwellings, whereas buildings which were not on agricultural holdings would be subject to the ‘worthy of retention’ test.
At the request of Councillor P Williams, the Planning Policy Manager outlined the possible cost implications of the plan review. A detailed Project Plan including budgetary information would be prepared.
Councillor Mrs P Grove-Jones questioned why there was a need to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply.
The Planning Policy Manager stated that without a five-year land supply the development industry would be unable to plan to meet development need.
Developers were taking options on land for 10-15 years and it was the Local
Planning Authority’s role to give them certainty that they would be able to build. It also helped utility suppliers to plan for the future.
In answer to a question by Councillor Mrs A R Green, the Planning Policy Manager stated that most of the demand for new housing was from inward migration. .

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It was proposed by Councillor R Reynolds, duly seconded and
RESOLVED unanimously
1. That a recommendation be made to Cabinet that the Local Plan review should commence in May 2015.
2. That a detailed Project Plan, including detailed budgetary information, is prepared for consideration by the Working Party
The meeting closed at 11.14 am.