Agenda item

The Planning Policy Lead Officer introduced a report that provided an update on the further development of the emerging Preferred Spatial Strategy for the Local Plan including the identification of strategic housing sites and the further work required to progress the plan.

The Committee noted that the Spatial Strategy was not yet ready to be approved as had been envisaged due to delays to the finalisation of the transport model, progress of key sites including Queensmere and former Thames Valley University site and the recently published consultation on the proposed third runway at Heathrow Airport.  However, work had progressed in a number of areas and 24 strategic sites had been identified for housing development.  The parameters for acceptable development of 4 strategic sites – Horlicks, Akzo Nobel/National Grid and Langley Business Centre were highlighted to ensure the market understood the Council’s expectations for each site.  A number of views were expressed during a wide ranging discussion including:

·  The importance of providing family housing on strategic sites. Officers commented that policies permitting higher density development in the town centre helped to protect the suburbs.  Each of the four major strategic sites identified included an element of family housing, however a Member suggested that a fixed target be set for the provision of family housing.

·  The policies adopted would need to strike the right balance between employment and housing land to ensure the ambition to deliver 15,000 new jobs could be met alongside the 19,000 new housing units.

·  The provision of education and health facilities and impacts on transport infrastructure must be properly considered as part of the strategy.

Members noted the progress on the Green Belt Assessment Study; the proposal for a Planning Strategy for the Centre of Slough to shape the comprehensive redevelopment of a number of related sites; an Employment Topic Paper to limit any further loss of employment land for housing (outside of identified strategic sites); and the development of a Sub-Regional Growth Study to progress the northern expansion of Slough.  The response of neighbouring authorities as set out in the amendment sheet was noted and further updates would be brought to the committee in due course.

The key issues arising from the current consultation of the Heathrow Airport expansion were discussed and Councillor Smith expressed a number of concerns.  It was agreed that Officers would meet separately with Councillor Smith to discuss these issues and take them into account in the Council’s response to the consultation which was due to be considered by the Cabinet on 19^th March 2018.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Committee noted the progress update and agreed the proposed Strategic Houses Sites and the further areas of work to progress the Spatial Strategy.

Resolved –

(a)  That progress on the Review of the Local Plan for Slough be noted.

(b)  That the proposed Strategic Housing Sites set in Table 1 and in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed.

(c)  That the proposed work on the Green Belt Assessment, Planning Strategy for the Centre of Slough, Employment Topic Paper and the Joint Growth Study be agreed.

(d)  That the Interim Sustainability Appraisal be subject to selective consultation.