Issue - meetings

Report of the Principal Planning Officer

The Principal Planning Policy Officer presented the report.

A Member was concerned about the extensive proliferation of warehouses, and the resulting environmental and aesthetic impacts, in the northern areas of the district such as Kegworth and the surrounding villages.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer advised that, although she appreciated the concerns, that area of the district had particularly excellent transport links which made it attractive to businesses; and the draft Local Plan was required to demonstrate its viability by allocating the most attractive prospective employment sites.

In response to a Member, the Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager advised that the figure for warehousing was a working figure, which reflected that the northern areas of the district were very attractive to potential employers. He also clarified that any new prospective employment sites would go out to a targeted consultation, after the Committee meeting on 29 January 2025.

A motion to suspend Standing Order 9.1 was moved by Councillor D Bigby, seconded by Councillor J Legrys, and

RESOLVED THAT:

The meeting be extended, by no more than an additional thirty minutes.

In response to a Member, the Planning Policy and Land Charges Team Manager advised that voting for a site for modelling purposes would not prejudice any planning applications at the location.

The Officer’s recommendations (i)-(v) were moved by Councillor JG Simmons and seconded by Councillor R Morris.

The Chair put the motion to the vote. A recorded vote being requested, the voting was as detailed below.

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)             Subject to the outcome of further work including transport modelling viability assessment and infrastructure requirements, that the general needs employment sites and locations in table 4 be proposed to be allocated in the Regulation 19 version of the Local Plan.

(ii)            Subject to the outcome of further work including transport modelling, viability assessment and infrastructure requirements and public consultation, that the general needs employment sites in table 5 be proposed to be allocated in the Regulation 19 version of the Local Plan.

(iii)          That the proposed policy wording changes included in appendix A be incorporated in the Regulation 19 Version Local Plan.

(iv)          The broad approach to the Freeport described in paragraph 4.8 be approved.

(v)           The strategic warehousing sites and locations in table 7 for the purposes of transport modelling be approved.