Thanet council is expected to agree proposals to publish Thanet’s Draft Local Plan and open a 6 week consultation.
The reports to be published are the pre-Submission draft plan, the Sustainability Appraisal and draft Transport Strategy, alongside other supporting documentation and the Thanet Landscape Character Assessment.
Following publication and consultation the draft Local Plan will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for Examination.
The Local Plan is a blueprint for housing, business and infrastructure for the isle up until 2031.
It sets out how much development is needed to support the future population and economy. Allocating land through the plan is designed to give the council greater control over where and what type of developments can take place.
Consultation was carried out earlier this year on revisions to the plan included axing the aviation-use only designation at Manston airport and putting forward two new isle sites at Manston Court Road and Haine Road.
Some 1,531 individual comments were received during this consultation and all comments are now available to view online.
The revisions also included a small change to the location of the proposed Thanet Parkway Station and new roads.
How many new homes are planned?
Government guidelines dictate a build of 17,140 new isle homes by 2031. This is much higher than the original 12,000 home figure announced in 2015.
The rise is due to government projections in March 2015 following the latest Census data.
The council carried out a review based on the fresh data, resulting in the higher housing rate.
This level of housing may need to rise even further following a government proposal to standardise the way local authorities work out housing need.
New proposals could see that figure rise to more than 20,000 homes, raising the requirement from 857 dwellings per year to 1063 dwellings per year. This figure would be applied by government if the draft local plan has not been submitted for Examination by 31 March 2018.
Some 1,555 homes have already been constructed; another 3,017 have been given planning permission; 2,700 are accounted for through windfall housing –sites that have historically had planning approval and may be put forward again – and 540 are already empty homes.
This leaves 9,328 properties to be accommodated.
Revised sites would provide 3,450 of these.
Manston airport
Manston airport was designated for aviation only use in the last Local Plan – which expired in 2011 – but the independent viability report by Avia Solutions led to a decision to consult on the site being open for mixed use development to include homes and business space.
The report stated that airport operations at the site are “very unlikely to be financially viable in the longer term and almost certainly not possible in the period to 2031”.
The airport closed in May 2014 after Stagecoach bus bus Ann Gloag bought it for a nominal £1.
A campaign to reopen the site has followed.
RiSP is now embarking on a Development Consent Order for the site through Central Government.
The land is owned by Stone Hill Park which submitted a planning application for 2,500 homes, a business park, sports and leisure facilities and parkland and open space.
The Local Plan revision states: “The site has the capacity to deliver at least 2,500 new dwellings and up to 85,000sqm employment and leisure floorspace.
“The overarching principle …is the creation of a single sustainable settlement that can be easily served by public transport and good, easily walkable access to central community services.”
Latest revisions
A Cabinet meeting on October 25 is expected to agree the publication of the plan with new revisions made as a result of public consultation.
These will include:
Retail
The retail need at Westwood has been revised down to 23,903sqm to the end of the plan period from 36,280sqm. Retail need for the main towns is revised down to 39,171sqm.This is due to a reduction in spending power in the “High Street.”
Business
Identifying a new site to accommodate advanced manufacturing and requiring the provision of community/business space on the strategic housing sites.
Green Spaces
A local green space will be afforded the same protection as Green Belts and new development will not be permitted other than in very special circumstances.
Recommended sites
Kitty’s Green, Broadstairs
Culmer’s amenity land, Broadstairs
Holmes Park Broadstairs
Land between Windermere and Kentmere Avenues, Ramsgate
Dane Valley Woods, Margate
Village Green, Foads Lane, Cliffsend
Meadow, Cliffs End Road, Cliffsend 8. Earlsmead Crescent, Cliffsend
Playground, Foads Lane, Cliffsend
Pierremont Park, Broadstairs
Memorial Ground, Lawn Road, Broadstairs
St Peter’s Recreation Ground, Broadstairs
Mockett’s Wood, Broadstairs
Westover Gardens, Broadstairs
Deletions
Gas Depot site in Northdown Road, St.Peters to be removed from draft plan
Westwood Lodge to be removed from Green Wedge area
Additions
Land at Shottendane Farm, Shottendane Road, Margate (8 dwellings)
Site known as Lanthorne Court, Broadstairs (up to 56 dwellings)
56ha of employment land, meaning an addition of 8.5ha allocated at the Manston airport site
Transport
Changes are being suggested to infrastructure and a Transport Plan is still being put together
Manston airport site
Details of how the RAF Manston Spitfire and Hurricane memorial Museum and RAF History Museum will be safeguarded to be added
Policies
A policy for the protection of allotments;
A Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for the Westwood retail area, detailing pedestrian connectivity and the goal of transforming Westwood into a cohesive town centre;
Policy support for new education and health facilities at key locations in the district;
Continuing the policy from the adopted Local Plan to safeguard land for grow-on space for the QEQM hospital
Timetable
The plan will be considered by various council committees between October and January 2018
Publication of Submission version (full Local Plan) for a period of 6 weeks – mid-January 2018 (exact date tbc)
Submission to Planning Inspectorate – March 2018
Examination – June 2018..
.Draft Local Plan – other sites already included and number of homes planned
Westwood 1,450
Birchington 1,101
Westgate 1,036
Manston Green 700
Margate/Cliftonville 816
Ramsgate 793
Broadstairs and St Peter’s 304
Rural 375
Cllr Lin Fairbrass, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Environmental Services said: ”We would like to thank everyone who took the time to provide us with feedback. Their comments have helped shape the Draft Local Plan, which will be published in the New Year. The council is committed to a planned and controlled approach to development, which supports growth as well as maintaining Thanet’s green and welcoming environment.”
“The final stage of the Local Plan process prior to submission to the Planning Inspectorate is referred to as ‘Publication of the Draft Local Plan’. Members of the public will have a further opportunity to comment on the Draft Plan when it is published in January.
“Feedback will be submitted directly to the Planning Inspector, when the document is submitted for independent Examination. Anyone wishing to speak in front of the Inspector must submit a comment at this stage. Previous consultation responses will not be put forward.”
The report to Cabinet detailing the next steps and outlining the council’s responses to main issues is available to review here.
Omission: The result of the Public Inquiry at TDC – After long and thorough examination of the case, the Government Inspector from PINS (ie Government Planning Department), declared the Avia Report to be seriously flawed and therefore unfit for purpose. The Avia Report disclaimer also states that no business or decision should be made on it!
RiverOak are due to submit their DCO Application within the next few weeks (mid November).What then TDC?
Cllr Lin Fairbrass. Analysing the results now on the TDC website, it is obvious that TDC have totally ignored residents’ comments about the Draft Local Plan!