Agenda item

Will the Council write to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Housing, requesting that the application of the ‘tilted balance’ (paragraph 11(ii) National Planning Policy Framework) to planning decisions made by the Isle of Wight Planning Authority be suspended for the following reasons:

i)               A change in the direction of national planning policy has recently been announced by the Prime Minister. The precise detail is yet to be disclosed, but is likely to include greater protection for greenfield with brownfield being the preferred choice for the majority of development.

Contrary to the proposed change of policy, the continued application of the tilted balance will result in the loss of precious greenfield sites on the Isle of Wight which will be harmful to one of its principal sources of income namely ‘eco-tourism’ and may threaten its designation as a UNESCO Biosphere.

ii)              The R.18 consultation period of The Isle of Wight’s Draft Planning Strategy has recently ended. It is difficult, if not impossible, to proceed to the next stage when the scope of the changes to national policy have yet to be determined.

iii)            The Isle of Wight has one of the highest number of planning approvals in the South East (76% approval re applications for 5 or more units 2017-2020). The failure to build the number of homes required per annum by the Governments Standard Methodology is mainly due to developers ‘land-banking’ over which the local planning authority has little control.

Cllr Peter Spink moved the following amended motion which was duly seconded:

Council notes:

1.    Because it does not have an up to date five-year land supply and has failed to meet Government housing “targets”, planning decisions are subject to paragraph 11.d) i. and ii. of the National Planning Policy Framework, often referred to as the ‘tilted balance’. The application of the tilted balance limits the circumstances in which the Council is able to refuse planning applications.

2.    The continued application of the tilted balance is likely to result in the loss of precious greenfield sites on the Isle of Wight. The protection of greenfield was raised as a major concern by Island residents in the consultation period of the previous draft planning strategy and is important to tourism and to our status as a biosphere.

3.    The Government has recently indicated a change in the direction of national planning policy. The precise detail has yet to be clarified but is likely to include greater protection of greenfield, with brownfield being the preferred choice for the majority of development.

I ask, therefore, if Council will Support the following motion:

The Leader of the Isle of Wight Council shall write to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, requesting the suspension of the application of the ‘titled balance’ (Paragraph 11.d) i. and ii. National Planning Policy Framework) to planning decisions made by the Isle of Wight Planning Authority.

Cllr Paul Fuller moved the following amendment (including an addition by the Chairman) to the motion which was duly seconded:

Council notes:

1.    Because it does not have an up to date five year land supply and has failed to meet Government housing “targets”, planning decisions are subject to paragraph 11.d) i. and ii. of the National Planning Policy Framework, often referred to as the ‘tilted balance’. The application of the tilted balance limits the circumstances in which the Council is able to refuse planning applications.

2.    The continued application of the tilted balance is likely to result in the loss of precious greenfield sites on the Isle of Wight. The protection of greenfield was raised as a major concern by Island residents in the consultation period of the previous draft planning strategy and is important to tourism and to our status as a biosphere.

3.    The Government has recently indicated a change in the direction of national planning policy. The precise detail has yet to be clarified but is likely to include greater protection of greenfield, with brownfield being the preferred choice for the majority of development.

Council notes that in light of this, the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council has agreed to write to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, requesting the suspension of the application of the ‘titled balance’ (Paragraph 11.d) i. and ii. National Planning Policy Framework) to planning decisions made by the Isle of Wight Planning Authority.

Further, Council notes that the Leader will write to other Local Authorities in a similar general position to the Isle of Wight Council if a negative reply has been received, asking those Authorities to sign a joint letter to request that the application of the ‘tilted balance’ be suspended indefinitely so as to protect greenfield sites and make brownfield sites the preferred choice for the majority of development.

Following debate, a named vote was taken the results were as follows:

For: (27)

Cllrs David Adams, Debbie Andre, Rodney Downer, Paul Fuller, Chris Jarman, Michael Lilley, Karen Lucioni, John Medland, Darryl Pitcher, Michael Beston, Paul Brading, Vanessa Churchman,  Warren Drew, Suzie Ellis, Steve Hastings, Steven Hendry, Clare Mosdell, John Nicholson, Martin Oliver, Tig Outlaw, Matthew Price, Chris Quirk, Ray Redrup, Joe Robertson, Peter Spink, Ian Ward, Clare Critchison

Against: (4)

Cllrs Karl Love, Ian Stephens, Richard Quigley, Geoff Brodie

Abstained: (6)

Cllrs Jonathan Bacon, Ian Dore, Julie Jones-Evans, Phil Jordan, Joe Lever, Andrew Garratt

RESOLVED:

THAT Council notes:

1. Because it does not have an up to date five year land supply and has failed to meet Government housing “targets”, planning decisions are subject to paragraph 11.d) i. and ii. of the National Planning Policy Framework, often referred to as the ‘tilted balance’. The application of the tilted balance limits the circumstances in which the Council is able to refuse planning applications.
2. The continued application of the tilted balance is likely to result in the loss of precious greenfield sites on the Isle of Wight. The protection of greenfield was raised as a major concern by Island residents in the consultation period of the previous draft planning strategy and is important to tourism and to our status as a biosphere.
3. The Government has recently indicated a change in the direction of national planning policy. The precise detail has yet to be clarified but is likely to include greater protection of greenfield, with brownfield being the preferred choice for the majority of development.

Council notes that in light of this, the Leader of the Isle of Wight Council has agreed to write to the Prime Minister and to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, requesting the suspension of the application of the ‘titled balance’ (Paragraph 11.d) i. and ii. National Planning Policy Framework) to planning decisions made by the Isle of Wight Planning Authority.

Further, Council notes that the Leader will write to other Local Authorities in a similar general position to the Isle of Wight Council if a negative reply has been received, asking those Authorities to sign a joint letter to request that the application of the ‘tilted balance’ be suspended indefinitely so as to protect greenfield sites and make brownfield sites the preferred choice for the majority of development.