NORTH WARWICKSHIRE
CORE STRATEGY
Development Plan Document
Consultation Statement
February 2013
Consultation Statement
1
Introduction
1.1
All local planning authorities have to produce a Local Development
Framework (LDF) which will set out planning policies for the local authority
area. The LDF is made up of Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and
Supplementary Planning Documents, as well as a Local Development
Scheme which describes the function of each document and sets out a
timetable for document preparation. DPDs will form the development plan for
North Warwickshire and the Core Strategy is the most important of these,
setting out strategic planning policies for the development of North
Warwickshire until 2028.
1.2
This statement sets out the details of the consultations undertaken during the
preparation of the Core Strategy Submission Document as required by
Regulation 22(1)(c) of The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning)
(England) Regulations 2012 (‘the 2012 regulations’).
1.3
This statement has been published to demonstrate how North Warwickshire
Borough Council has involved the public and its key partners in the Core
Strategy process.
1.4
In April 2007, the Council adopted its Statement of Community Involvement
(SCI), which sets out how the community and other stakeholders will be
engaged in the process of preparing Local Development Documents and
when planning applications are received.
2
Issues and Options
2.1
The Core Strategy Issues and Options consultation ran from 15th June – 6th
August 2009. The Council consulted the Specific and General consultees, as
set out in the SCI, which included members of the public, businesses, agents
and other relevant organisations within the District. There were also
presentations to the 4 Area Forums, presentations and workshops to the
Partnership Day Events in conjunction with developing the Sustainable
Community Strategy (in 2008 and 2009) and meetings with Local
Stakeholders.
2.2
A paper copy of the document, together with a response form, was sent to the
Statutory Consultees. Any one else with their details registered on the
Council’s LDF consultation database was sent a letter or email advising them
of the consultation and telling them where they could find the relevant
documents on the Council’s website. In addition, the document was made
available at the Council’s offices and at Libraries throughout the Borough.
2.3
A total of 124 responses were received.
3
Draft Core Strategy
3.1
This Draft Core Strategy consultation was undertaken under Regulation 25 of
the Town & County Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment)
Regulations 2009, which has subsequently been amended to Regulation 18
of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations
2012)
-2-
Consultation Statement
3.2
The Draft Core Strategy consultation ran from 20th October 2011 – 12th
January 2012. The Council consulted the Specific and General consultees,
as set out in the SCI, which included members of the public, businesses,
agents and other relevant organisations within the District. There were also
presentations to Parish Councils and meetings with Local Stakeholders. The
Forward Planning team also manned displays at village halls and public
events within the Borough.
Events
Wed 19 Oct
Thurs 24 Nov
Fri 25 Nov
Austrey
Hartshill
Coleshill
Sat 26 Nov
Sat 26 Nov
Mon 5 Dec
Wed 7 Dec
Fri 9 Dec
Wed 14 Dec
Water Orton
Atherstone
Fillongley
Curdworth
Shustoke
Newton Regis
Austrey Village Hall
Hartshill Library
handing leaflets out at Farmers
Market
The Link Building
Memorial Hall (Dickens Evening)
Village Hall
Village Hall
Village Hall
Village Hall
Being on BOB’s (Branching Out Bus) Bus
Mon 7 Nov
Kingsbury
Wed 23 Nov
Hurley
Wood End
Thurs15 Dec
Tues 8 Nov
Coleshill
Thurs 15 Dec
Baddesley
Water Orton
7 – 8.30pm
2 – 4pm
8 -11am
10 -1pm
2 – 9pm
10 – 1pm
2 – 4pm
3 – 6pm
1 – 3pm
New Arley
Hartshill
Dordon
Polesworth
Parish Council Consultation Events
Fri 11 Nov
Council House
Parish Council training
Fri 11 Nov
Council House
Parish Council training
Tues 15 Nov Council House
Parish Council training
Tues 22 Nov Council House
Parish Council training
Wed 4 Jan
Council House Drop-in session to answer any final
questions or help to fill in forms for
Parish Councils
10 – 1 pm
2 – 4 pm
10 -1 pm
6.30 – 9 pm
3 – 6 pm
3.3
A paper copy of the document, together with a response form and CD of the
consultation, was sent to the Statutory Consultees. Any one else with their
details registered on the Council’s LDF consultation database was sent a
letter or email advising them of the consultation and telling them where they
could find the relevant documents on the Council’s website. In addition, the
document was made available at the Council’s offices and at Libraries
throughout the Borough and also the Boroughs Leisure Centres and the
“BOB” community bus
3.4
108 individuals or organisations have made representations on the Draft Core
Strategy. This can be sub-divided into the following categories




Parish Councils
Other Local Authorities
Statutory Agencies
Organisations/Companies
10
3
6
78
-3-
Consultation Statement

3.5
Individuals
11
The range of issues covered
ISSUE IDENTIFIED
NWBC RESPONSE
New National Planning Policy Guidance
A report will be brought to the next meeting outlining
the implications for the Core Strategy and other
emerging LDF documents
That further progression refers to the RSS in the
past and assumes that it is effectively gone
The Borough Council has a number of authorities
that it could potentially be working with. It includes
all of the surrounding Districts / Boroughs and
Counties as well as the wider sub-regional areas
such as the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region,
which mirrors the Local Enterprise Partnership
(LEP) area. In addition there are the statutory
agencies that have a duty to co-operate with this
authority. Members will be updated of any issues
that relate to this when they emerge.
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)
Cross-border issues and Duty to Co-operate
Timescale of Core Strategy
Housing
In relation to Tamworth this is considered in more
depth in a separate report
That the timescale of the Plan be extended to 2028.
The Plan period will be 2006 to 2028
*To reflect the extension of the Plan period to 2028
the housing target be increased by 150 per annum
to 3300. *No change to split between co-joined
places, but revisit settlement numbers. *That work
continues to update the housing information but that
the Core Strategy continues with the current
information
Employment
*To reflect the extension of the Plan period to 2028
the employment target be increased by 4.4 hectares
to 48.4 hectares rounded to 48.5 hectares. *Up to
20 hectares (gross) be added to the local
employment land figure for logistics use if evidence
is presented of the continuing logistic need in our
Borough *The site of the former power station B site
be safeguarded for energy generation
Spread of Development
Allocations
No change
No site allocations to be made in the Core Strategy.
Green Belt
HS2/Potential HS3
No change to Green Belt boundaries
*The Safeguarded Route, when formally
designated, be shown on the Proposals Map
*Minor word changes
Housing Needs Studies
Retail
Brownfield Land
Coal/Minerals
No Borough wide retail study be prepared at the
present time but changes made to Core Strategy to
reflect the importance of retail to the viability and
vitality of settlements
Reference be made to the after use of mineral sites
-4-
Consultation Statement
3.5
All comments submitted to us during the consultation period were read,
assessed and used to inform the next stage of the Core Strategy.
4
Draft Pre-Submission Core Strategy
4.1
The Council published the Draft Pre-Submission Core Strategy for
consultation under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local
Planning) (England) Regulations 2012).
4.2
The Draft Pre-Submission Core Strategy consultation ran from 31st May – 23rd
August 2012. The Council consulted the Specific and General consultees, as
set out in the SCI, which included members of the public, businesses, agents
and other relevant organisations within the District. There were also
presentations to Parish Councils and the Area Forums and meetings with
Local Stakeholders. The Forward Planning team also manned the “BOB” bus
in various community locations
4.3
A paper copy of the document, together with a response form, was sent to the
Statutory Consultees. Any one else with their details registered on the
Council’s LDF consultation database was sent a letter or email advising them
of the consultation and telling them where they could find the relevant
documents on the Council’s website. In addition, the document was made
available at the Council’s offices and at Libraries throughout the Borough and
also the Boroughs Leisure Centres and the “BOB” community bus
4.4
There have been 88 representations made to the Plan during the period 31
May to 23 August 2012. Alongside each summary is a suggested response.
These are included in Core Document – CD 3/4. The main issues that come
out of the representations are outlined below.

Duty to Co-operate

Housing and Employment Numbers

Sustainable Development
5
Pre-Submission Core Strategy
5.1
The Pre-Submission Core Strategy was published under Regulation 19 of the
Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012
5.2
The Pre-Submission Core Strategy consultation ran from 8th November – 20th
December 2012. The Council consulted the Specific and General consultees,
as set out in the SCI, which included members of the public, businesses,
agents and other relevant organisations within the District.
5.3
A paper copy of the document, together with a response form, was sent to the
Statutory Consultees. Any one else with their details registered on the
Council’s LDF consultation database was sent a letter or email advising them
of the consultation and telling them where they could find the relevant
documents on the Council’s website. In addition, the document was made
available at the Council’s offices and at Libraries throughout the Borough and
also the Boroughs Leisure Centres and the “BOB” community bus
5.4
There have been 57 responses to the Pre-Submission Core Strategy during
the consultation period. Of these, 7 responses made general comments.
-5-
Consultation Statement
The remaining responses were received from Agents/organisations. There
were two specific representations relating to the Sustainability Appraisal.
5.5
Core document CD4/5 sets out the list of representations and an indication
what issues of soundness they are refer to. This table also indicates if the
representators wish to be involved with the examination process. Also as part
of this Core Document there is a table that sets out the paragraphs of the
Core Strategy and summarises the comments made and a short indication of
the Borough Council’s view of that representation.
5.6
In summary the three main issues would appear to be:
 Duty to co-operate
 Housing numbers
 Employment figures and how they are presented
6
Submission Core Strategy
6.1
No changes have been made to the Regulation 22 Submission version of the
Core Strategy from that consulted upon in Regulation 19.
7
Sustainability Appraisal
7.1
Throughout the progression of the Core Strategy sustainability work has been
carried out. This took a formal focus when the Draft Core Strategy was
published for consultation. The sustainability reports were prepared by Land
Use Consultants. Comments and recommendations were considered and
were possible changes made to the developing Core Strategy.
7.2
Comments have been made on the SA for the Pre-submission version. It is
not considered that these require further changes to the Core Strategy.
8
Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
8.1
Appropriate assessment has also been carried out by Land Use Consultants.
This started with a screening letter and has culminating in a fuller HRA report
which is included in the Core Documents as CD 4/2
-6-