Issue - decisions

The Committee considered a report recommending the adoption of the revised Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which provided a framework setting out the types of obligations that could be secured on a wide range of planning applications.  It was necessary to agree a revised SPD following the adoption of the Bromley Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and changes to national, regional and local planning policy since the agreement of the current SPD in 2010. 

The Head of Planning Policy and Strategy presented the report and gave the following responses to Members’ questions:-

• The SPD was not part of the Bromley Local Plan but provided guidance on relevant local planning policies.

• Within the Air Quality section, a reference to the use of off-site measures to improve local air quality where they could not be further reduced by on-site measures (12.22) was based on a similar provision within the London Plan.

• Within the Off-site Provision and Payments in Lieu section, a reference to exceptional circumstances under which the Council could consider that off-site affordable housing provision or payment in lieu would be acceptable (5.17) could include a particular design reason why affordable housing could not be provided on-site, such as a small site footprint.  Any such provision was unlikely to affect community health and education facilities which were normally funded via a Community Infrastructure Levy.

In discussion, a Member observed that the production of an SPD was optional and underlined the need to clarify the advantages in agreeing an SPD.  The Member highlighted that only nine individual responses had been received during the public consultation period and raised further concerns with regard to the document, particularly the definition of Orpington which did not reflect the transformation of its shopping and leisure offer in recent years. 

Another Member supported these points and raised key areas not included in the SPD, including conservation and energy efficiency measures and no reference to home working.  The Member proposed that the Executive be recommended to defer adoption of the revised Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document, subject to further work being undertaken with Members to address inconsistences and omissions with a view to reconsidering a revised SPD at the meeting of Development Control Committee on 20 September 2022. 

Another Member proposed the SPD be approved at this time and be subject to continual review as a ‘living’ document, but this was not supported by the Committee.

RESOLVED: That the Executive be recommended to defer adoption of the revised Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document, subject to further work being undertaken.