Agenda item

The Committee considered a report that sought approval for the Protecting the Suburbs Strategy document.  The strategy supported the emerging preferred Spatial Strategy for the Local Plan for Slough and set out the direction of travel for future development management policies.

It was recognised that the suburban areas of Slough had an important role to play in making sure that there was a continuing supply of family houses to meet resident’s needs.  The Local Plan proposed that major growth should take place in locations such as the centre of Slough, which would mainly deliver new flats.  The aim was therefore to protect the suburbs in a way that enhanced their distinct local character, the quality of the environment and sense of place.

The approach to protect the suburbs from loss of family housing was a continuation of existing planning policy as set out in Core Policy 4 in the Core Strategy.  Since the adoption of the Core Strategy in 2008, Slough’s need for new homes had significantly grown.  The local housing needs assessment showed that there was the most need for 2 bed, 3 bed and 4 bed homes and that opportunities to build family housing elsewhere in the Borough was likely to be limited.  The proposed strategy for the suburbs was to protect them from intensification and they would continue to provide the main stock of family housing in the borough.

The Committee considered and approved the recommendations to adopt and publish the strategy document.

Resolved –

(a)  That the proposed Protecting the Suburbs Strategy document at Appendix A to the report be adopted and approved for publication.

(b)  That delegated powers be given to the Planning Policy Lead Officer to make minor changes to the document prior to publication.