Agenda item

Update on the Review of the Local Plan for Slough 2016 - 2036 - Including a new Spatial Strategy for Accommodating Growth at Heathrow

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report that updated on the progress that had been made in reviewing the Local Plan for Slough and an “Emerging Spatial Strategy for Accommodating Growth at Heathrow” which set out the planning principles for the development of the Colnbrook with Poyle area if the third runway at Heathrow went ahead.

 

Members were reminded that the Council had been advised not to submit the Local Plan until a decision had been made about Heathrow expansion to avoid the Local Plan hearing overlapping with and duplicating the one proposed for the third runway.  Work was however continuing to develop the emerging Preferred Spatial Strategy for Slough.  The Committee was updated on the current position regarding the proposed Northern Expansion of Slough and work planned for 2019 to produce a ‘Centre of Slough Development Strategy’ which would take account of a new transport strategy.  There had been recent changes to the calculation of housing need in recent years and the Committee noted that the Local Plan Objective A should state that 912 dwellings per year should be built in Slough or as close as possible to where the need arose.

 

The developments with regards to accommodating the proposed third runway at Heathrow were considered and the Council had developed an Emerging Spatial Strategy for Accommodating Growth at Heathrow which set out the planning principles for how the Colnbrook with Poyle area could be developed.  The principles included protecting Colnbrook and Poyle villages with a ‘Green Envelope’; replacement of the energy from waste plant; preventing through traffic and promoting sustainable travel; enlarging the Poyle trading estate but with access from the M25; and putting in place measures to tackle air and noise pollution issues.

 

Members discussed various aspects of the report including the position regarding the proposed redevelopment of the Langley Business Centre and Western Rail Link to Heathrow.  There was support for the proposals made to protect Colnbrook and Poyle, particularly to avoid additional HGV traffic, and the Council’s proposal for a Park & Ride facility linked to the Mass Rapid Transit scheme was raised.

 

It was noted that some minor changes needed to be made to the Emerging Spatial Strategy as at Appendix A and the Committee therefore delegated authority to the Planning Policy Lead to finalise and publish the document.

 

Resolved –  That delegated authority for the final report be given to the Planning Policy Lead in order to make minor changes before publication, including replacing references to Grundon with ‘Lakeside’ as Grundon was the commercial operator, and the site is part owned and operated by Viridor.

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