Minutes:
Ben Johnson, LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy provided an update in relation to Planning Policy.
It was highlighted at the meeting of the Bromley Economic Partnership in January 2020, that information relating to the London Plan was still awaited. The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised Members that this was still the case – it remained a Draft London Plan and there was currently no indication as to when it would be adopted. Several policies would be affected by this, including how planning applications in the Borough were determined. The situation would be monitored, and further updates would be provided once it was adopted. (ACTION: LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy)
Some substantial changes had been made at a national level, including significant changes to planning use classes. Several use classes, which categorised developments such as shops and financial institutions, had now been grouped into one use category. This allowed more flexibility for a change in use for different shop units across all areas and undercut some of the policies included in the Local Plan, which had been adopted the previous year. There had also been a number of new permitted development rights introduced nationally – allowing the building of up to an additional two storeys to create more homes in a building, and the demolition of purpose-built offices to be rebuilt for residential use. It was noted that this could affected the ability to balance commercial versus residential use in town centres and economic areas.
Last week, the Government concluded a consultation on some significant planning system reforms. The White Paper proposals would fundamentally change the current system, moving to a zoning-based system, which was seen on the Continent and in the United States. This would see every inch of the Borough mapped into particular zones, which would dictate what could be developed in that area. Going forward, different elements of the proposals would be consulted on individually, but the Government envisaged that they would be in place by 2024. The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised Members that detailed reports on these changes had recently been taken to the Council’s Development Control Committee, links to which were provided following the meeting:
Development Control Committee report, 14th July 2020, Upwards Extension Permitted Development Rights - https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/documents/s50082500/UPWARDS%20EXTENSION%20PERMITTED%20DEVELOPMENT%20RIGHTSPART%201%20REPORT%20TEMPLATE.pdf
Development Control Committee report, 24th September 2020, PLANNING LEGISLATION UPDATE – PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS AND CHANGES TO THE USE CLASSES ORDER - https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/documents/s50083418/PLANNING%20LEGISLATION%20UPDATE%20-%20PERMITTED%20DEVELOPMENT%20RIGHTS%20AND%20CHANGES%20TO%20THE%20USE%20CLASSES%20ORDERP.pdf
Development Control Committee report, 24th September 2020, ‘PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE’ CONSULTATION - https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/documents/s50083439/Planning%20For%20The%20Future%20Consultation.pdf
Russell Clarke, Sundridge Investments Limited, noted that due to current circumstances, large numbers of people were now working from home, and asked if this had been factored into the development of upcoming policies. The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised that this was at the “forefront of their minds”. The LBB Head of Renewal had mentioned the SPDs earlier in the meeting, and one of the original rationales behind these being developed was to allow for more flexibility in town centres. However, the change in use classes took elements “out of their hands” to a certain degree. Longer term, a Local Plan review would also look to address this.
RESOLVED that the Planning Policy update be noted.