Decision details

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Authorise Regulation 18 consultation for the Hillingdon Local Plan using the draft document (Appendix 1) as the basis for the consultation and consulting on the Integrated Impacts Assessment Scoping Report (Appendix 2);

2.    Delegates authority to the Director of Planning, Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, to make any necessary editorial amendments and minor changes to the appendices prior to consultation;

3.    Notes that completed documents forming part of the evidence base will be published alongside the two appendices;

4.    Endorse and recommend the revised draft Local Development Scheme (Appendix 3) for adoption by Full Council;

5.    Delegates authority to the Director of Planning, Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, to make any necessary editorial amendments and minor changes to the Local Development Scheme prior to agreement by Full Council; and

6.    Authorise post consultation Local Plan work, including preparing a consultation report outlining responses to the Regulation 18 consultation and a subsequent Regulation 19 consultation with draft Local Plan policies, that will be brought back to Cabinet for approval.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to progress the review of the Council’s Local Plan and planning policies, authorising consultation under the required regulations.

The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services reported that this would start with a public consultation on the local plan in accordance with Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning Act. He explained the importance of having an up-to-date Local Plan, noting that the Council’s current plan was adopted in two parts in 2012 and 2020, and was due for a five-year review. The Cabinet Member announced that this process would ultimately bring about a new consolidated Local Plan.

The Leader of the Council urged the public and businesses to participate in the consultation, emphasising it as an opportunity to shape the future of their Borough.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to update the Local Plan, but noted the risks of not doing so, which included outdated local planning policies, lack of mechanisms to create new policies, and the potential for inappropriate development. Cabinet also noted that the Council would be at a higher risk of losing planning appeals.