An update on planning and development issues in the Westcotes Ward not covered elsewhere on the agenda will be given at the meeting.
Minutes:
Paul O’Neill, Planning Officer, was present to provide a presentation on Local Plan developments in the ward. It was noted that the Regulation 19 Consultation stage was ongoing until 27th February 2023 and officers provided a summary of the local plan and its policies.
The presentation included the following points:
· The Local Plan included land owned by the Leicester City Council. District Council land was not included.
· Members of the public were invited to submit a representation on the local plan and provide views and opinions on proposed sites included in the Plan.
· Leicester City Council was co-operating with nearby district councils to share the housing need for the 39k dwellings specified by the Government. District Councils had agreed to take on 18k of the demand. 23k houses were expected to be built in the inner-city area in the next 15 years.
· It was noted that Leicester City had grown beyond its boundaries. According to the Strategic Growth Plan for Leicester, over half of the needs had been met outside of the city.
· Two consultations for the Local Plan had been conducted in 2014 and 2017 to analyse and review options available. The current version of the Plan is the final submission that will be presented to the Planning Inspector, who will examine the plan and review any representations.
· Four sites had been proposed in the Westcotes wards, three on brownfield sites and one on a mixed brown/greenfield site. Proposals for the sites included two residential areas, two for mixed employment and residential area, totalling 71 dwellings.
· One site proposed had been put forward by a developer and was not Council owned.
A member of the public questioned whether residences proposed for the sites would be family houses or student accommodation. It was noted that Planning had no say in the final decision of the final dwelling type.
Councillors confirmed that they would watch for the final result in hopes to obtain family residences instead of student accommodation. Councillor Russell referred to a supplementary planning document to retain terraced housing for family residences instead of conversion to student accommodation.
The Officer referred to the consultation form for the plan, which members of the public could access online, or at local libraries, in which members of the public could provide comments and feedback. It was noted that if major changes were required to be made to the Local Plan, it would have to go back to the consultation stage. The Plan was due to be submitted during Summer 2023.
A member of the public enquired about whether community growth expectations were taken into consideration in the Plan and school needs following an increase in population in an area. It was noted that growth expectations were taken into consideration and schools would be available at Fosse Road, Ashton Green and Saffron Road. A projection for the increase in school places could be reviewed and found out.
Councillors discussed the boundary of Leicester City and its expansion. It was noted that the boundary was determined by the Secretary of State nationally and not locally. Inward migration was noted to be the biggest cause of population gain and due to this, school teams were required to review whether to increase classrooms or to build additional school, which were now required to be academies.
A member of the public enquired about an area planned for development next to the waterway on Frog Island, which seen a green space removed for property, however the property had since been knocked down. ACTION: Councillor Russell to note the concern and take back for investigation. It was noted that the area planned for a communal open space area.
A member of the public promoted sustainable development ideas, such as a vertical farm. It was noted that the Plan designated the site locations but what was built on the site was an entrepreneurial decision and outside of the Council’s jurisdiction.