Agenda item

[To consider the Cabinet report on the Local Development Plan – Issues and Preferred Options Consultation.  A specific Presentation to Scrutiny Board is also attached]. 

The Lead Planning Manager gave a presentation on the Local Development Plan – Issues and Preferred Options Consultation, a copy of which is attached to the signed minutes.  He stated that the Local Development Plan was one of the most significant documents produced by the Council.  It outlined the future strategy for the City for the next 15 years.  The plan was currently in draft form and would be formerly consulted on.  He described the plan as being about balance.  The plan contained no green belt sites. 

The Leader of the Council spoke on the Local Development Plan and gave his views on the national shortage of housing.  He spoke on the importance of protecting the green belt in the City.  The Local Plan was somewhat limited by national legislation.  There were major sites which had to go through the framework including Brownfield Land due to the industrial heritage of the City.  Employment land was important as well as housing.   The consultation was due to finish in April 2024. 

A Board Member referred to the importance of infrastructure to be able to service new house builds.  There had been new builds in South Staffordshire, which were impacting on the infrastructure of Wolverhampton, such as Schools and GP surgeries.  The Lead Planning Manager agreed, stating that developments in South Staffordshire needed to recognise the impact that they could have in the City.  The Council had made these points to South Staffordshire and had made particular reference to the need for new Schools and GP Practices when South Staffordshire had consulted on their Local Development Plan.  South Staffordshire were currently reflecting on the recent national changes introduced by Government in relation to Local Plans.   

The Leader of the Council agreed with the Board Member on the difficulties in providing infrastructure.  The financial difficulties of the Public Sector would also add further pressure to infrastructure.

A Member of the Board commented on the importance of green spaces in the City, which were particularly important for children who did not have access to a private garden.    

The Chair asked a number of technical questions about SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and the Lepus Consultation report.  The Lead Planning Manager responded that the SSSI was Cannock Chase which the Lepus report was referring to and parts of the City were in the zone of influence.  Developers in the zone of influence were required to financially contribute to improve the Special Area of Conservation (SAC).  The potential negative influence which the Lepus report referred to were in relation to areas of biodiversity habitat importance within the City.  The Local Plan could recognise these and steer developments away from the habitats and look to improve them, including potentially better public access. 

The Leader of the Council commented that if residents had concerns about areas of particular biodiversity habitat they could make them known by responding to the consultation. 

The Chair raised the importance of the Canals and asked when Walsall would be signing the agreement with Wolverhampton.  The Leader said he would press the case in the Black Country Joint Committee, which the leader of Walsall Council attended.  The Chair responded that National England had to sign off the final document and so asked for the Leader to give the matter some attention. 

A Member of the Board remarked that she wanted to see attractions for younger people by the Canals such as Cafés to make it a vibrant community.  She felt enterprise by the Canals would work well as in Birmingham.  The Leader responded that there was considerable opportunity in the Canals of Wolverhampton.  He saw them as heritage sites that could be used more to reach their potential.  

A Board Member asked about the progress on the site of Nelson Mandela House in Oxley as residents were very interested to know.  The Leader responded that Officers would provide an update direct to her.

The Chair thanked the Officers and the Leader on behalf of the Board for their contributions during the item. The Lead Planning Manager and Leader of the Council gave particular thanks to Michele Ross for her work in the development of the Local Development Plan to date.