Report HPR2021/067

The report recommended that the revised Orpington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) should be published for six weeks public consultation. The SPD provided guidance to assist with the determination of planning applications in the Orpington Town Centre area, including guidance on design requirements. The report had already been considered by the Development Control Committee at its meeting on 11^th January 2022.

The Committee supported the recommendation, but proposed that the consultation  should run for twelve weeks, not six, and that a communication plan setting out proposals for consultation with all ward members should be presented to this Committee.

The Chairman confirmed that a presentation was being arranged for Members of Development Control Committee and ward Members on the Areli scheme for the Walnuts. As regards the Areli application,  reference was made to literature being distributed in Orpington stating that Labour were opposed to the development. Cllr Allen stated that this was a local initiative and did not reflect official Labour Policy.

RESOLVED that the Executive be recommended to –

(1) Approve the draft Orpington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (Appendix 1 to the report) for twelve weeks consultation.

(2) Authorise the Director of Housing, Planning, Property and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, to approve any further minor changes to the draft Orpington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document ahead of public consultation. 

Report HPR2021/067

The report recommended that the revised Orpington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was published for six weeks public consultation. The SPD provided guidance to assist with the determination of planning applications in the Orpington Town Centre area, including guidance on design requirements.  Following the consultation period, the draft would return to Committee for adoption.

In opening the discussion, the Chairman noted that the purpose of the document was to give some guidelines around development in Orpington Town Centre, it did not have legal weight in its own right but once approved would be a planning consideration when applications were considered.  When the Local Plan was revised in 2024 it was expected that much of the supplementary planning document would be uplifted into a revised Local Plan.

Committee Member and local Ward Councillor William Huntington-Thresher highlighted that it would be helpful to have a document offering guidelines for anyone considering investing in the town centre. It was noted that there was further work to be undertaken on the document although the full consultation should be progressed.  Noting that there were a lot of people who were interested, it was suggested that the consultation period should be extended beyond 6 weeks.  In addition, it was suggested that SPD Note 12 should be modified to require that there should be no reduction in parking at development sites

Councillor Huntington-Thresher moved that the draft Orpington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document be endorsed for public consultation with consideration being given to extending the consultation beyond 6 weeks and an amendment to SPD Note 12 to suggested that there should be no reduction in parking at development sites.

The Committee noted with disappointment the low response rate to the initial consultation.  Members also expressed concern at the processes that had been followed, noting that whilst Orpington Ward Councillors may have been consulted over a number of months, councillors from surrounding wards had no knowledge of the consultation.  The need to build the confidence of local residents was highlighted and there was agreement that the consultation period should be extended to give all interested parties the opportunity to engage.  It was noted that with the current Covid situation it would be difficult to engage with local residents’ associations and provide a response within 6 weeks.  It was also important that local residents felt that they had a genuine input into the process.  It was therefore appropriate to have at least a 12-week consultation period.

Members highlighted that there were many aspects of the consultation that required further clarity.

In response to a question concerning the implication of purdah, the Legal Advisor to the Committee advised that the consultation could start before the start of purdah and could continue during the pre-election period as it would be considered to be continuing with normal council business.

The Committee sought assurances around the consultation that would be taking place.  It was highlighted that more elected Members needed to be consulted and given the opportunity to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86