The below text was kindly sent in by a Council officer and has been made public showing the changes to the Core Strategy. For those of you who don't know what a core strategy is, it is simply what the name implies... the core strategy that the council uses to define how it builds and where (Wiki link here).
This is a very important document and it lays out what will be built near you and in what quantity. If you live in my ward this is something that is very relevant to you.
For those that live in Wavendon Gate, the revised core strategy puts an additional 400 houses near by so you should read this and understand how this might affect you.
- The following is a direct excerpt, some of the language may be technical so if you need an interpretation please get in touch with Lee -
Core Strategy
Summary of Main Modifications & Strategic Land Allocation
Core Strategy Background
The Core Strategy Examination hearings were held in July 2012.
Following the Core Strategy Examination hearings the Inspector has prepared a draft list of modifications required to make the Core Strategy sound/legally compliant.
Council approval of the modifications will ensure that the Core Strategy has an improved potential for being found sound/legally compliant.
If the Council does not accept the modifications there is the potential that the Core Strategy will be found unsound/not legally compliant, leading to a strategic planning policy vacuum.
The Council has finalised the proposed schedule of modifications.
The modifications require further public consultation.
The Strategic Land Allocation Development Framework
Consultation on the draft Strategic Land Allocation Development Framework closed on 5 October.
The comments received during the consultation are now being analysed; about 150 representations have been received.
The Main Issues raised during the consultation can be summarised as follows:
- Generic
- Context and need
- Infrastructure
- Sustainability
- SLA Specific (mostly in relation to Church Farm)
- Education
- Healthcare
- Public amenities
- Landscape, public open space, green infrastructure
- Transport
- Flood Risk
- Infrastructure funding
The implications of the Core Strategy Main Modifications for the Strategic Land Allocation and the Development Framework need to be taken into account alongside the analysis of comments on the Development Framework.
As the Main Modifications propose the inclusion of additional land in the Strategic Land Allocation, further work needs to be carried out to consider how the internal layout of land uses and development in the Strategic Land Allocation needs to be amended. It is intended that some initial plans will be available from mid January for informal consultation alongside the consultation on the Core Strategy Main Modifications.
Summary of Core Strategy Main Modifications
- Confirm that the South East Plan remains part of the Development Plan and acknowledge the revocation of South East Plan remains a proposal.
- Acknowledge NPPF requirement that planning is not a barrier to development and the requirement of the presumption in favour of sustainable development. (New CS Policy.)
- Acknowledge need to provide at least 28,000 homes by 2026, including Strategic Land Allocation.
- 1,750 homes/year; 1,640/year in the urban area and 110/year in the rural area.
- Site Allocations Plan to be brought forward to provide short term flexibility and contingency.
(Acknowledge that ahead of PlanMK, additional deliverable land (small sites) for ±1,000 homes needs to be allocated; ±800 in the urban area and ±200 in the rural area, to provide for a 5-year housing supply; + 20% buffer in the urban area, +5% buffer in the rural area in relation to the existing Core Strategy target.)
- Strategic Land Allocation (SLA) allocated for 2,900 homes (and other supporting uses):
- Increased extent (to east and west) and capacity (+400 homes).
- Employment development in the SLA to be guided by Policy CS3; sequential test for large offices.
- SLA to plan for clear separation between new development and adjacent existing settlements and to plan for future-proofing for future development.
- No site-specific allocation in SLA for a Transport Interchange, Park and Ride, Lorry Park or safeguarding for a future bridge over and/or junction with M1 (J13a).
- Central Milton Keynes (CMK):
- CMK to be the focus of large scale office, high technology and research and development floor-space, unless there are clear reasons for the development to go out of city centre.
- CMK Primary Shopping Area (plus town/district centres) to be the focus of most of comparison retail needs.
(CMK has a role as a regional centre and international destination.)
- CMK to be the focus of commercial leisure and entertainment facilities.
- Design of future development to respect context and character of adjoining areas.
- Assess traffic impact of new development on city, town/district centres and adjoining rural areas.
- Align and update interrelationships and interventions between Core Strategy and LTP3:
- Acknowledge LTP3 objectives, hierarchy and priority of transport interventions and concepts.
- Maintain and future-proofing of grid road network, but reordered in policy.
- Clarify the nature and priority of the dualling of the A421 in Milton Keynes.
- Acknowledge importance of East-West Rail.
- Continue to implement Local Plan Policy D4 - Sustainable Construction.
(Reduce sustainable construction requirements.)
- Reduce community energy network requirements.
- Full review of the Core Strategy to follow through PlanMK. (New CS Policy.)
- Aim to be in place by 2015
- Subject to an objective NPPF housing assessment; also setting an affordable housing target and assessing needs for traveller sites.
- To take into consideration the South East Plan housing requirements.
- Reassess adequacy of existing employment land portfolio.
- Show effective joint working.
The Way Forward
The anticipated process and timing to adoption of the Core Strategy:
- Cabinet 19 December 2012
- Council 9 January 2013
- Public Consultation (Start) Mid-January 2013
- Public Consultation (End) End-February 2013
- Consultation Representations to Inspector Mid-March 2013
- Inspectors Final Report End-April 2013
- Council Fact Check of Inspectors Report Mid-May 2013
- Adoption of Core Strategy by Council End-July 2013
The anticipated process and timing of the review of the Development Framework for the Strategic Land Allocation and adoption of the Development Framework for the Strategic Land Allocation:
- Informal Consultation January/February 2013
- Review of Development Framework End-March 2013
- Formal Consultation April/May 2013
- Review of Development Framework End-June 2013
- Adoption of Development Framework by Cabinet End-July 2013
