National Planning Policy Framework Consultation
The government is “revising the National Planning Policy Framework in order to achieve sustainable growth in our planning system…. also seeking views on a series of wider policy proposals (NPPF) in relation to increasing planning fees, local plan intervention criteria and appropriate thresholds for certain Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects”
Respond to the NPPF Consultation here
before 11:45pm on 24 September 2024
Consultation Overview, Qs, Annotated Document, Outcome of Proposed Revised Method XLS
How will this affect local decision making, North Somerset land and our related food security, especially in relation to any devolution to a regional mayor via WECA ?
How will this affect North Somerset Council and local decision making, land use and our related food security, especially in relation to any devolution to a regional mayor via WECA? What is sustainable growth in relation to a decreasing UK population? Who will benefit from this growth, North Somerset residents or the ever expanding cities, such as Bristol?
North Somerset Council has delayed its Local Plan to consider its response to the NPPF consultation stating, “The new standard method is 23,805 dwellings in North Somerset over the next 15 years – that’s nearly 9,000 dwellings more than our current Local Plan target. This figure also doesn’t take into account the needs of our neighbours” (31JUL24)
NSC has stated that around 85% of land in North Somerset is at risk of flooding. Also, that enclosed farmland makes up 68% of all land in North Somerset (Climate Emergency Action Plan pg49). If NSC doesn’t protect farmland what will happen to it? Will NSC permit building the 24K houses, solar panel farms, etc. on farmland?
Residents have approached NSC on a number of occasions asking NSC to protect local farming and food security, including asking for a Food Security Emergency to be called.
On 15 Dec 14 local MP Liam Fox spoke out in parliament (skip to 21:58 mins) on behalf of North Somerset and the high extra housing development imposed by central government coming from the Bristol University court challenge wanting to build on Green Belt land. NSC was subsequently asked to increase indentified sites from 14,000 to 21,000 houses. Liam Fox MP said, ".. it must be made clear that greenfield development should come only as a last resort after all brownfield sites are exhausted (See letter from DCLG relating to the Dec 2017 Brownfield Register). Finally, the infrastructure that is needed to support new development, including schools, GP surgeries and, where appropriate, roads must be provided by the developers; the cost must not fall disproportionately on local council tax payers. (See related Blog on Weston General Hospital A&E night-time closures starting 4 Jul 17). In North Somerset we are facing an expensive fiasco that is undemocratic and producing unsustainable outcomes. We have been very patient, and our very competent council has been extremely co-operative. Now we need answers."
Liam Fox MP also said, "We seem to be in a ridiculous position. The plan [NS Core Strategy] was put forward in 2011, agreed by the inspector and adopted in 2012, yet here we are at the end of 2014. If I am not mistaken, at the end of 2015, we will begin the planning period in which we will look at housing allocation through to 2036. It would be the height of absurdity if we were one of only four councils in the sub-region to be asked not only to look at our 2026 housing allocation, but to start the process all over again at the end of next year and look at the 2036 allocation. Surely this is a complete waste of public resources, as well as being utterly contrary to what my hon. Friend the Minister says is the Government’s aim, which is to encourage greater localism." (current allocation of 20,985 is only up until 2026 so NSC will be looking for more sites). The Minister of State, DCLG representative Brandon Lewis replied "My right hon. Friend is absolutely right that we want to encourage localism. That is why we want the decisions to be made locally ... I am happy to discuss this issue with my right hon. and hon. Friends in greater detail at an appropriate point and to write to them to outline the detail behind their queries" (Link to Hansard Transcript and further information.)
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