Cabinet:

1.    Noted the content of the Inspector’s Report into the soundness of the Havering Local Plan (refer to annex 1)

2.    Endorsed and make the following recommendations to full Council:

That full Council:

(i)             Agree to adopt the Local Plan 2016-2031 including:

a.    the main modifications to the Submission Local Plan that are set out in the appendix to the Inspector’s report (refer to annex 2)

b.    The minor modifications as set out in annex 3.

(ii)            Agree to revoke the Council’s current adopted Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Development Plan Document 2008 and the Romford Area Action Plan 2008 (excluding Site Specific Allocations) from the 29^th December 2021 (following the statutory six week legal challenge period from Local Plan adoption).

3.    Authorised the Assistant Director of Planning to prepare and publish an Adoption Statement and Sustainability Appraisal Report in accordance with S26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

4.    Authorised the Assistant Director of Planning to make typographical amendments to the plan prior to its publication to improve cross-referencing (e.g. paragraph numbering, page re-numbering) and typographical errors.

5.    Authorised the Assistant Director of Planning to prepare and publish an updated Policies Map, reflecting the proposed changes previously consulted on.

6.    Revoked the following Supplementary Planning Documents:

                        i.         Sustainable Design and Construction 2009

                       ii.         Shopfront Design 2013

                      iii.         Residential Design 2010

                     iv.         Protection of Trees During Development 2009

                       v.         Protecting and Enhancing the Boroughs Biodiversity 2009

                     vi.         Landscaping 2011

                    vii.         Designing Safer Places 2010

7.    Approved the publication of an updated Local Development Scheme (as set out in Annex 4)

8.    Approved the publication of an updated Statement of Community Involvement (as set out in Annex 5).

9.    Agreed that an All member Briefing would be organised

Cabinet considered the Adoption of the Havering Local Plan (HLP) report presented by Helen Oakerbee (Assistant Director, Planning).

It was explained that the HLP set out a vision, strategic priorities and a spatial planning policy framework for development in the Borough which positively planned for the future development and infrastructure requirements that would meet the needs of Havering’s communities and would be used to determine all planning applications submitted to the Council.

It was to be noted that the HLP had been through an extensive preparation process, including evidence base collection, public consultation and independent examination. In July 2017, full Council approved the publication and subsequent submission of the Local Plan to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public.

Following Examination hearings in 2018 and 2019, at the request of the Inspector consultation on a number of proposed Main Modifications commenced in August 2020.  Consultation on Further Main Modifications took place in 2021.

The Inspector’s Final Report was received on the 14^th October 2021. The report concluded that the Local Plan was sound and legally compliant, subject to the main modifications underway.

It was further explained that it was now necessary to adopt the HLP to ensure the Council had a robust and up-to-date spatial planning policy framework.

Cabinet:

Noted the content of the Inspector’s Report into the soundness of the Havering Local Plan (refer to annex 1).

Endorsed and make the following recommendations to full Council:

That full Council:

(i)             Agree to adopt the Local Plan 2016-2031 including:

a.    the main modifications to the Submission Local Plan that are set out in the appendix to the Inspector’s report (refer to annex 2)

b.    The minor modifications as set out in annex 3.

(ii)            Agree to revoke the Council’s current adopted Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Development Plan Document 2008 and the Romford Area Action Plan 2008 (excluding Site Specific Allocations) from the 29^th December 2021 (following the statutory six week legal challenge period from Local Plan adoption).

Authorised:

·       the Assistant Director of Planning to prepare and publish an Adoption Statement and Sustainability Appraisal Report in accordance with S26 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

·       the Assistant Director of Planning to make typographical amendments to the plan prior to its publication to improve cross-referencing (e.g. paragraph numbering, page re-numbering) and typographical errors.

·       the Assistant Director of Planning to prepare and publish an updated Policies Map, reflecting the proposed changes previously consulted on.

Revoked the following Supplementary Planning Documents:

                        i.         Sustainable Design and Construction 2009

                       ii.         Shopfront Design 2013

                      iii.         Residential Design 2010

                     iv.         Protection of Trees During Development 2009

                       v.         Protecting and Enhancing the Boroughs Biodiversity 2009

                     vi.         Landscaping 2011

                    vii.         Designing Safer Places 2010

Approved:

·       the publication of an updated Local Development Scheme (as set out in Annex 4)

·       the publication of an updated Statement of Community Involvement (as set out in Annex 5).