Issue - meetings

To consider the Local Plan – representations update.

The Planning Policy Team Leader gave a summary of the report. Officers had summarised the representations from the Regulation 19 representation period in the summer and the Addendum of Focussed Changes representation period in the autumn. The summary of the representations and the full representations themselves would be submitted to the Secretary of State alongside the Local Plan in January.

The Planning Policy Team Leader noted the Regulation 19 representation period differed from the Regulation 18 consultation period, in that the former only gathered representations to pass onto the Inspector at the Local Plan examination, as opposed to gathering representations to which the Council would respond by seeking to amend the Local Plan.

The Planning Policy Team Leader noted it was expected the Water Cycle Study would be complete in February and the Sport and Recreation Study would be complete in April. The Heritage Impact Assessment would be updated and may also be submitted later than the Local Plan. The Stansted to Braintree Rapid Transit System Progress Update and the North Uttlesford Mass Transit Opportunities Study were also still ongoing and might be submitted a week later than the Local Plan.

In response to a member question, the Planning Policy Team Leader said the two transit studies were very much focusing on specific areas, rather than links between the north and south of Uttlesford. Councillor Rolfe said the Council was taking account of links between north and south Uttlesford. Highways England was looking into turning north Junction 8 on the M11 into a smart motorway and there was discussion with the rail network about links between the airport and the north of the district. There was nothing regarding rapid transit systems, but this was something that officers should keep in mind.

The Planning Policy Team Leader said officers were aiming to submit the Local Plan and supporting documents on 18 January. The examination was likely to start following the district elections on 2 May.

Councillor Rolfe said there would be another meeting of the group in order to review supporting documents which had not yet been received.

K McDonald spoke on this item.

The meeting closed at 6.35.