Agenda item

The Executive RESOLVED that

(i)            the Draft Local Plan Additional Site Allocations for Gypsy and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople (Regulation 18), attached at Annex 1, and relevant supporting documents including the Interim Sustainability Appraisal Addendum, are agreed for a period of 6 weeks consultation from 8 August to 19 September 2022; and

(ii)         minor changes to the Draft Local Plan Additional Site Allocations for Gypsy and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople (Regulation 18) and the content of the Updated Interim Sustainability Appraisal Addendum be agreed by the Head of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and People; and

(iii)         officers and Members continue to search for additional or alternative sites in order to fulfil the Council’s requirement to have a sound Local Plan.

The Executive was reminded that the Council had consulted on a Regulation 18 Draft Surrey Heath Local Plan (2019 – 2038) between March and May 2022. At the time of the publication of the Draft Local Plan, the Council had been unable to identify sufficient sites to meet its identified needs for Gypsies and Travellers and had included only one site allocation for a Gypsy and Traveller site for 4 pitches at Diamond Ridge Woods.  As a result, the Plan indicated that work to identify further sites to meet identified needs would continue across the remainder of the plan-making process and that a consultation focused on additional sites with potential to accommodate Gypsy and Traveller pitches and Travelling Showpeople plots would take place in summer 2022.

Work had been ongoing to identify potential sites to meet the Council’s identified needs, as defined in the national statutory planning framework, and had resulted in the identification of three potential sites to be included in the additional Draft Local Plan Consultation as draft allocations. These sites were:

·         Land south of Broadford, Chobham (13 – 15 pitches).

·         Swift Lane (extension), Bagshot (5 pitches); and,

·         Bonds Drive, Pennypot Lane Extension (5 - 9 plots for Travelling Showpeople)

Members considered the report and concerns were expressed about the suitability of the sites identified, including concerns about proposals for extending existing sites. Concerns were also raised about the potential impact on future ability to defend planning applications submitted on Green Belt land, as the identified sites were located within the Green Belt.

Members were reminded that failing to identify sufficient sites could lead to the Local Plan being declared unsound and consequently affect the Council’s ability manage development in the borough.

The difficulties with identifying options for sites were acknowledged, as it was reliant on both the site meeting the necessary requirements, as well as obtaining the agreement of the private landowner, or the Council owning or purchasing the land. 

It was emphasised that there was still need to identify sites in order to address future need. Furthermore, it was recognised that the sites identified in the report, once fully investigated, might not be brought forward following the consultation. It was therefore recognised that the Council would need to continue to seek alternative sites in parallel with the public consultation.

RESOLVED that

(i)     the Draft Local Plan Additional Site Allocations for Gypsy and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople (Regulation 18), attached at Annex 1, and relevant supporting documents including the Interim Sustainability Appraisal Addendum, are agreed for a period of 6 weeks consultation from 8 August to 19 September 2022;

(ii)   minor changes to the Draft Local Plan Additional Site Allocations for Gypsy and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople (Regulation 18) and the content of the Updated Interim Sustainability Appraisal Addendum be agreed by the Head of Planning in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and People; and

(iii)  Officers and Members continue to search for additional or alternative sites in order to fulfil the Council’s requirement to have a sound Local Plan.