Minutes:
Ben Johnson, LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy provided an update in relation to planning policy.
The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised Members that at the previous meeting of the Partnership, it had been noted that Article 4 directions were being prepared in light of the government introducing new regulations from August 2021, which would broadly allow the majority of units in class E (such as retail, offices and restaurants) to be converted to residential use through permitted development rights. The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy highlighted that it would be extremely damaging for town centres and industrial areas if development were unrestricted as it could lead to a significant loss of economic floor space, particularly retail and office space. The Article 4 directions had since been presented to the May 2021 meeting of the Council’s Development Control Committee, and subsequently to the Renewal, Recreation and Housing Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee for Portfolio Holder sign-off, and the legal process was now underway. As the government had given Local Authorities a year to replace any existing Article 4 directions, these would come into force in August 2022.
In response to a question from Sharon Baldwin, Orpington 1st BID Company, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy said the Article 4 directions related to designations within the Local Plan. Areas that they were looking to protect included all town centres in the borough; all office clusters; and Strategic Industrial Locations (SIL) and Locally Significant Industrial Sites (LSIS).
Members were advised that the team were at the very early stages of a Local Plan review. The first action would be a ‘Call for Sites’ consultation exercise which would be launched in the coming weeks. It was noted that these tended to focus on housing sites, however the Local Authority would be keen to look at any potential sites for economic development or any other uses.
Work was also underway to produce Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) for Bromley and Orpington town centres. Draft documents were currently being prepared and it was anticipated that the consultation process would be launched before the end of the year. In response to a question from the Chairman, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised that the SPDs provided further guidance regarding Local Plan policies and details on how they should be implemented. In response to questions from the Vice-Chairman, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy said that Members of the Partnership would be notified when the ‘Call for Sites’ was issued, and this could be circulated to wider network groups to ensure as much coverage as possible. (ACTION: LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy / Clerk)
With regards to the proposed zoning process mentioned at previous meetings, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised that no further information had been provided by the government. It was anticipated that a government response to the issues raised in the previous consultation would be received in the autumn.
RESOLVED that the Planning Policy update be noted.