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V28-34 : WAVENEY LOCAL PLAN REVIEW

The report of the Head of Planning gave an overview of the Local Plan process, and how it had changed in the modernising environment. The Local Plan was an important document with the force of law, and must have strong community support. A lot of time and money would be spent on it, and it was important for members to understand the issues in order to gain ownership of the Local Plan and for it to have effect in the determination of planning applications.

The Head of Planning then explained that the planning system was in a state of metamorphosis, and set out the key features of the present system.

The Local Plan was first and foremost a plan which reflected the needs of the area. It would also link with present objectives on economic development and regeneration and support such things as the transport strategy, and areas of national concern such as social exclusion.

Having already produced a Local Plan, something some local authorities had not done as yet, Waveney was in the position of being able to learn by its mistakes and improve on the last Plan.

The Head of Planning then explained that the County Structure Plan was also being updated. The County Council, as Highway Authority, would set out the transport programme for Suffolk. Members felt the Head of Planning should emphasise the importance of roads such as the Bungay North-South Bypass and Phase 1 of the Carlton Colville Bypass, which the County was proposing to abandon, at a meeting he was to attend in Ipswich in July. The Head of Planning agreed with this view, and in particular felt that a feasibility study should be undertaken for the Bungay North-South Bypass before it was abandoned.

The Head of Planning concluded by saying that, in the future, the present system of Local Plans, Structure Plans and Regional Planning Guidance might be streamlined into planning on a sub-regional basis. There was also likely to be a stronger European dimension to planning. Thus local plans needed to connect horizontally with other processes and vertically with other spatial plans.

The Principal Planner then brought members up to date with work done so far by the Waveney Local Plan Panel, and also the proposed timetable for the various stages from consultation to final adoption. It was envisaged the new Plan would be adopted in 2004.

There would be seven or eight topic papers prepared which members would be asked to endorse for inclusion in the forthcoming Issues Report on the Waveney Local Plan Review. These topic papers would review existing policies in the light of the changing planning context, identify areas of work requiring further investigation and highlight key issues for inclusion in the Issues Report. It was suggested that members look at two of these topic papers at a time at special meetings of the Panel. The Head of Planning would bring a proposed schedule of meetings to the next meeting of the Panel.

RESOLVED

1. That the Head of Planning, at the forthcoming meeting with Suffolk County Council regarding the review of the County Structure Plan, stress the importance of a feasibility study on the Bungay North-South Bypass before its abandonment, and also request that Phase 1 of the Carlton Colville Bypass be retained in the Structure Plan.

2. That the Head of Planning present a proposed schedule of meetings to the next meeting of the Panel for discussion of Local Plan Review Topic Papers.

The meeting was concluded at 9.55pm.

Chairman

REGENERATION AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY PANEL - 20/06/00

REGENERATION AND ENVIRONMENT POLICY PANEL - 20/06/00

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Volume 28 Minute 33

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