Decision details

Further to Minute No. 22 of the Council meeting held on 16 June 2016, the Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing which provided details of the Inspector’s Report on the Examination of the Sefton Local Plan which had been received by the Council and published on the website, in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Inspector’s report indicated that, as submitted, the Local Plan had a number of deficiencies in relation to soundness and/or legal compliance for the reasons set out in the report. However, with the Main Modifications recommended by the Inspector to the Plan, the Sefton Local Plan now satisfied the requirements of Section 20(5) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and met the criteria for soundness set out in the National Planning Policy Framework.

Having received the report, which indicates that the Local Plan has been found to be ‘sound’ the Council was now able to adopt the Local Plan and this would become the Development Plan for Sefton, which would enable the policies in it to be given full weight when determining planning applications and it would replace the Unitary Development Plan.

Decision Made: That

(1)       the Chief Planning Officer be granted delegated authority in conjunction with the Cabinet Member - Planning and Building Control to approve any additional minor modifications to the Local Plan consequential to the Main Modifications recommended by the Inspector, and any other minor editorial changes that do not amend the substance of the Plan; and

(2)       the Council be recommended to:

(a)        give approval to the adoption of the Sefton Local Plan, including the Main Modifications set out in the Appendix to the Inspector’s report (as attached to the report) and any consequential changes to the Local Plan and the Policies Map and any minor changes as set out in this report or as agreed (1) above, as part of the statutory Development Plan for Sefton; and

(b)        note that the decision to adopt the Sefton Local Plan would be subject to a statutory legal challenge period of 6 weeks from the date of adoption.

Reasons for Decision:

When the Council adopts the Local Plan it would be given full weight when planning applications are determined, and would enable the jobs, homes and supporting infrastructure that Sefton needs to be delivered.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The Council could choose not to adopt the Local Plan. However, this would mean that it would lose control over where development takes place and that the infrastructure required to support development was not provided.