To receive a verbal update
Minutes:
The consultant project manager for PfSH provided the Committee with a presentation on the Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) which sets out the PfSH authorities are undertaking to help shape future strategic planning in the area. It was acknowledged that there was a shortfall of housing provision in the area, however the forthcoming Joint Strategy will seek to address more than housing development alone. Government Policy requires Local Planning Authorities to plan to meet identified housing needs for their area, and neighbouring authorities where they are unable to meet their own needs, and SOCG is being developed to assist LPAs as part of this process and to meet the Duty to Cooperate.
The current position was summarised which included the need to address:
An up to date Joint Strategy will be crucial to secure investment in the area.
It was noted that nationally, Local Plans were failing examination due to a number of reasons, including Authorities not working effectively across boundaries, or significant environmental impacts. This is impacting on meeting housing need requirements in a well-managed way. Developments would still go ahead but in a more piece-meal way.
PfSH agreed the programme framework for the Statement of Common Ground (SoCG) in 2019 and it was formalised last year and signed by all Local Authorities involved with PfSH, the SoCG sets out strategic issues and identifies how they will be resolved. The Joint Strategy, currently under development, will set the development strategy for South Hampshire thereby supporting future Local Plans, including in relation to transport.
The process of development of the Joint Strategy was explained, work had been commissioned identifying the need for employment land and floor space. It was noted that guidance from government regarding housing need had been provided, however there was little guidance on employment land/development requirements. The commissioned work to date had identified that there was no shortfall of employment land that needed to be addressed, other than strategic warehousing. Associated work had been commissioned on potential green belt designation for parts of South Hampshire – this is in progress.
The process being undertaken to develop the Joint Strategy has included identification of potential “Strategic Development Opportunity Area” sites. PfSH’s policy of “cities and urban areas first” remained in place, but there was a need for further green field development to accommodate the required quantities of development.
Three strategy options are being considered.
A comparative assessment of options for strategic sites was undertaken by a planning consultant, considering economic, environment, water and climate change impacts.
In parallel a transport workstream looking at transport opportunities and issues is feeding into the sustainability appraisal. This workstream is being undertaken in partnership with Solent Transport.
Recommendations on a single preferred strategy option would be put before PfSH Joint Committee for decision in Autumn 2022.
In response to a Member question, Solent Transport officers stated that work with Network Rail was ongoing to develop the “Solent Connectivity” proposals to the next stage of development at present and that this could support some of the work PfSH are undertaking.