Agenda item

Local Plan Spatial Strategy Key Components

Minutes:

The Planning Policy Lead Officer introduced a report that set out the content of three of the five “key components” of the Preferred Spatial Strategy, which was scheduled to be the subject of public consultation in November and December.

 

A comprehensive presentation was given on the progress made since the key principles were agreed by the Committee on 29th July 2020.  The Spatial Strategy would be a key part of the Local Plan and would set out the pattern, scale and development.  It had five key components:

 

·  Delivering major comprehensive redevelopment within the “Centre of Slough”;

·  Selecting other key locations for appropriate sustainable development;

·  Enhancing our distinct suburbs, vibrant neighbourhood centres and environmental assets;

·  Protecting the “Strategic Gap” between Slough and Greater London;

·  Promoting the cross border expansion of Slough to meet unmet housing needs.

 

The report focused on three - key locations for development; enhancing the suburbs; and protecting the strategic gap.  The Committee discussed various aspects of the Spatial Strategy which are summarised as follows:

 

·  Given the shortage of land available for new housing Members highlighted the importance of prioritising social and affordable housing in future developments.  This would be an issue addressed in the Local Plan policies that would follow the Spatial Strategy.

 

·  For the purposes of the Local Plan it was assumed that the proposals for the third runway at Heathrow would not come forward in the short or medium term.  The approach would be to revert back to restraining development to protect the Green Belt and Strategic Gap between Slough and Greater London.  The Poyle Trading Estate was a Selected Key Location and Members highlighted the importance of promoting a mix of industrial types including distribution, aviation, and automotive as well as warehousing.

 

·  The ambition to accommodate 15,000 additional jobs was expected to be met largely through office developments in the centre of Slough.  The potential to increase employment on the Slough Trading Estate was discussed and whilst it remained a crucially important site for jobs in the town, it had limited land for new development and some of the more recent employment types being generated, such as data centres, generally had a lower employment density than previous uses.  Alternative locations for job growth in the town would therefore be increasingly important.

 

·  There was a significant need for new housing and most sites that came forward would be brownfield sites with many in the centre of Slough.  Members discussed the importance of providing a mix of housing types and tenures.  The strategic priority of helping people stay in Slough by providing a range of attractive types of housing was supported.

 

Members discussed the timetable and next steps.  It was noted that a further report would come to the next meeting of the Committee on 9th September followed by a report a Cabinet in October and public consultation in November and December.  The consultation would include a leaflet drop as well as a significant amount of online consultation given the restrictions on public gatherings.  The Government had announced proposals to reform the planning process in the future, however, it was considered important to continue to develop the Local Plan for Slough which needed to have all stages completed by the end of 2023.

 

At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee approved the content of the three components presented and agreed to receive further reports at future meetings of the Committee.

 

Resolved –

 

(a)  That the content of the three “key components” set out in the report be agreed as the basis for the preferred Spatial Strategy for the Slough Local Plan.

 

(b)  That a report setting out the proposed content of the “Centre of Slough” and “cross border expansion of Slough” components of the preferred Spatial Strategy be brought to the Committee for consideration; and

 

(c)  That a report setting out principles for future policies to implement the Spatial Strategy be brought to the Committee for consideration.

Supporting documents: