Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Planning and Infrastructure

The Planning Policy Team Manager presented the report to Members. 

Members were pleased to see the proposed policy inclusions, especially in relation to space standards, and wheelchair accessible and adaptable housing.  Members shared concerns on the sizes of rooms currently being built in new homes by developers and the lack of ease of access for wheelchairs.  The Chairman concurred and explained that the proposals would put the council in a good position to address these concerns.

Some Members expressed the importance of addressing water efficiency standards and a suggestion was made to include aids to capture water within developments to assist with this problem.  Both the Chairman and the Planning Policy Team Manager assured Members that this was something developers were working on already, but the inclusion of a standard would be another step forward.

It was moved by Councillor D Bigby, seconded by Councillor N Smith and

RESOLVED THAT:

Subject to the outcome of a future consultation and consideration of a whole plan viability assessment, that policies in respect of -

1)     Space standards;

2)     Wheelchair accessible and adaptable housing; and

3)     Water efficiency standards

be included in the Local Plan substantive review.