Decision details

That Council:-

a)    Supports the content of the Part 2 Local Plan, (as set out in Appendix A to the report) to provide for its adoption;

b)    Delegates authority to the Executive Member for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Assistant Director for Growth and Regeneration, to:-

                      i.        make any minor alterations to the Plan, or its accompanying Policies Map, that relate to factual updates or typographical errors for the purposes of publishing the Plan to presentation standard; and;

                    ii.        prepare and publish the Local Plan Adoption Statement (Appendix B) and the Sustainability Appraisal Statement (Appendix C) and to fulfil any other duties, as required by Regulations 26 to 36 of the Town and Country (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

Reasons for Decision:-

·         The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the planning system should be genuinely plan-led. Succinct and up-to-date plans should provide a positive vision for the future of each area and a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social, and environmental priorities.

·         The Plan prepared by the Council was subject to thorough examination and has been modified as a result of the recommendations made by the Inspector, as set out in her report (Appendix D refers). The Council has previously consulted on a schedule of these Main Modifications (Appendix E) and has also made non-substantive modifications to the plan during the examination, which are set out at Appendix F to this report. Corresponding changes to the Policies Map are also set out in Appendix G.

·         Subsequent to the adoption of the East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2, it will supersede all the saved policies from the 1996 Local Plan for East Northamptonshire, along with the extant policies from the 2011 Rural North, Oundle and Thrapston Local Plan.

Alternative Options Considered:-

·         The options considered were either to adopt the Local Plan incorporating the recommended modifications, or to resolve not to adopt the Plan.

·         Adoption of the Plan would provide full coverage for Part 2 Plan policies across the whole of North Northamptonshire. If the Plan was not adopted this would put at risk the delivery of key policies guiding future, sustainable development proposals across East Northamptonshire area.