Agenda and minutes

To record apologies for absence. 

Councillor Robert Sharp had sent his apologies for absence. 

To receive any declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests in respect of items on the agenda for this meeting.  

None

None

To receive any questions or statements from members of the public that have registered to speak. 

Councillor Bob Johnston addressed Cabinet, at the request of the Liberal Democrat group, to support the proposals set out in the report regarding the Local Plan inspector’s letter, and to encourage Cabinet to make these recommendations to Council on 19 November so that the plan could be progressed as soon as possible.  This was in the district’s best interests. 

To consider the head of planning’s report following receipt of the inspector’s initial post-hearing letter relating to the proposed allocation of Dalton Barracks, and to make recommendations to Council. 

Cabinet considered the head of planning’s report regarding the Local Plan Part 2 inspector’s initial post-hearing letter.  The inspector had set out options for the council to consider regarding the allocation of land at Dalton Barracks, near Abingdon, as a strategic housing site. 

The council’s proposal had been to release the whole site from the Green Belt but only to allocate part of the site for development in the current plan (up to 1,200 dwellings) but recognise the longer-term aim to allocate the whole site for housing (potentially up to 4,500 dwellings) in a future local plan. 

The options presented by the inspector were for the council to:

1.    Justify a proposal for a 4,500-dwelling new settlement

2.    Allocate a specific site for 1,200 dwellings in the current local plan

3.    Delete the Dalton Barracks site from the plan and identify alternative sites

Cabinet rejected the first option as it was unlikely that 4,500 homes could be built on the site during the plan period to 2031.  Option 3 was rejected as it would require additional work to allocate an alternative site.  Both options 1 and 3 would result in significant delays to the plan. 

Cabinet preferred option 2 as it was more realistic that 1,200 homes could be built during the plan period than a higher number.  This would also retain the playing fields and Starveall farm site.  This option would not prejudice the council allocating the remainder of the site for housing in a future local plan.  Option 2 would allow the council to meet its current Local Plan timetable.  However, it was recognised that further modifications might be required at a later date, if required by the inspector. 

Cabinet thanked the officers and the Cabinet member for planning for their work in progressing the local plan. 

RECOMMENDED to Council:

that Council responds to the Planning Inspector presiding over the Local Plan 2031: Part 2 Examination confirming that Option 2, as set out below, is supported.  A draft letter to the Planning Inspector is appended to the head of planning’s report to Cabinet on 16 November 2018, along with a proposed modification to Core Policy 8b: Dalton Barracks and a simple summary signposting to the existing evidence base. 

Inspector’s Option (Option 2):

“Allocate a specific site (or sites) at Dalton Barracks for the housing proposed during the plan period, with the Green Belt designation deleted from the site(s) concerned and no more.  In this case there would be no presumption that any further development would take place on the wider site unless brought forward and justified in a future local plan”.