Agenda item

The Planning Policy Lead Officer outlined a report to seek the Committee’s  views on the response to the South Bucks and Chiltern consultation on Preferred Green Belt Options, and the failure to properly consider Slough Borough Council’s previous representations about the need for the northern expansion of Slough.

The Committee was reminded that Chiltern and South Bucks Councils were in the process of preparing a joint Local Plan to cover the period up to 2036. In  January, 2016 they had carried out an Issues and Options consultation which sought views on what the Councils considered to be the key issues for the Joint Plan as well as the identified options.

Slough BC had made a number of representations, the key one being that  there should be an urban expansion of Slough in the form of a new ‘Garden Suburb’ which would help to meet the housing needs in the area. It had also been suggested this should be combined with selective growth around Taplow and Iver stations.

The Officer discussed the on going Chiltern and South Bucks consultations around the Green Belt Preferred Options Consultation Document, the Draft Green Belt Assessment Part Two and the Green Belt Development Options appraisal.  He concluded that there were insufficient sites resulting in a possible shortfall of around 5,800 dwellings within the two districts. Aylesbury Vale had been requested to build an additional 5,800 dwellings in their Local Plan but this would not relieve housing pressures in the south of the County.

The Committee noted the concerns regarding the lack of a Local Plan Spatial Strategy which meant that it was difficult at present to comment on the results of Green Belt Preferred Options. It appeared that the amount of land to be released from the Green Belt was predetermined rather than objectively assessed. Slough BC had made representations that there should be an urban expansion of Slough in the form of a new ‘Garden Suburb’ which would help to meet the housing needs in the area.  Unfortunately it appeared that the Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee approved the Green Belt Preferred Options without first considering any of the comments that had been made to the previous consultation exercise, which included Slough BC’s  representations about the northern expansion. It was therefore proposed that the Councils be asked to reconsider these proposals using a more appropriate selection criteria that would give proper weight to all aspects of Green Belt policy and other matters such as the extent and distribution of housing need.

It was highlighted that the failure to meet housing needs when they arose would create more pressure on the local housing market and make property even less affordable to local people.  

Members asked a number of questions of detail and agreed that the recommendations be approved.

Resolved-  That Chiltern and South Bucks Councils be informed that Slough Borough Council:

a)  Is concerned about Chiltern and South Bucks Councils overall decision making process and shortcomings in the methodology for selecting sites for development in the Green Belt;

b)  Is concerned that Chiltern and South Bucks Councils have not properly considered Slough Borough Council’s previous representations to the Issues and Options consultation that there should be an urban expansion of Slough in the form of a new ‘Garden Suburb’, which will help to meet the housing needs in the area.

c)  Objects to the amount and distribution of housing in the Green Belt Preferred Options, which will fail to meet housing needs where they arise and increase pressures on the housing market in an area that is already one of the least affordable in the country.

d)  Requests that Chiltern and South Bucks Councils formally consider the proposal for the northern expansion of Slough combined with selective growth around Taplow, Langley and Iver stations as Preferred Options.

e)  Requests that Chiltern and South Bucks Councils enter into a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing the steps that are needed to properly consider the proposed northern expansion of Slough.

 It was also:

 Resolved-  That authority be delegate to Slough BC Officers to make  further detailed comments on the Preferred Green Belt Options consultation, and continue to discuss the matter under the Duty to Cooperate.