Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mark Brock and Will Harmer; Councillors Keith Onslow and Gareth Allatt attended as their respective substitutes.

An apology for lateness was received from Councillor Kevin Brooks.

No declarations of interest were received.

The appendices to this report are being circulated to all Members of the Council under separate cover.

Report DRR19/003

In August 2017, Bromley’s Draft Local Plan, together with accompanying documents including minor modifications and Policy Map sets, was submitted for independent examination.

The Chief Planner advised that the Council had subsequently received the Inspector’s Report on the Draft Local Plan which concluded that, with the recommended Main Modifications (which were agreed as appropriate by DCC, the Executive and Full Council), the Local Plan was sound and capable of being adopted. 

The Local Plan delivered a good balance between the requirement to provide housing and the protection of valued environments, including Green Belt land.

When adopted, the Local Plan would replace the Unitary Development Plan (2006) and be used alongside the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan (AAP) and the London Plan for determining planning applications in the Borough.  The entire Unitary Development Plan would be withdrawn on adoption of the Local Plan and some policies in the AAP would be replaced.

The Chairman informed Members that with the exception of the Inspector’s report, all documents forming the Local Plan had been approved as appropriate by DCC, the Executive and Full Council.  In her opinion, the Local Plan struck the correct balance between the provision of housing and other purposes such as the protection of Green Belt, MOL, Conservation Areas and Areas of Special Residential Character.  Members were requested to recommend its adoption to the Executive. 

The Chairman expressed her gratitude to the Chief Planner and all officers involved in the Policy Team for the very hard work they had undertaken throughout the years.

Councillor Dykes also acknowledged the work undertaken by officers. She had, however, highlighted during the formulation process that she had concerns regarding the identification of 1 Westmoreland Road as a 6-8FE school, which she now considered to be justified and sought clarification about the proposed Masterplan (at West of Bromley High Street/Bromley South).  The Chief Planner advised that the Masterplan was considered as a separate exercise from the Local Plan.

Councillor Fawthrop acknowledged the work of officers, specifically in regard to parking standards.  In response to his query regarding rural and suburban parking standards, the Chief Planner reported that the parking policies to be applied by the Council were set out in Policy 30 of the Local Plan.

The Chairman moved that Members agree the recommendations as set out in the report; the motion was seconded by Councillor Fawthrop.

Following a unanimous vote, it was RESOLVED that:-

1  the Inspector’s Report be noted;

2  the Development Control Committee recommend to the Executive and Council that:-

  (i)  the Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan, including the Main Modifications, minor modifications and the policy maps, be adopted as the Local Plan for Bromley as consolidated;

  (ii)  the documents detailed in (i) above, be consolidated as outlined in paragraph 3.11 for publication as the Bromley Local Plan; and

  (iii)  the Bromley Unitary Development Plan (2006) be withdrawn and the relevant policies in the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan be replaced (see paragraph 1.2.19 of the Draft Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44.