Agenda item

Report of Senior Head of Development.

The committee considered the report of the Senior Head of Development which sought members views on the proposed submission version of Employment Land Local Plan due to be considered at the Cabinet meeting on 10 December 2014.

Members were reminded that in May 2012, the Eastbourne Core Strategy Local Plan was subject to Public Examination by a Planning Inspector. The Inspector expressed concerns over the evidence that supported Core Strategy Policy D2: Economy, particularly relating to the employment land supply. In order to address this issue without delaying the adoption of the Core Strategy, the Inspector recommended that Core Strategy Policy D2: Economy be the subject of an early review, leading to its replacement with an additional Local Plan to deal specifically with the employment land supply.

In order to meet this requirement an Employment Land Local Plan (ELLP) was being produced. The ELLP would guide job growth and economic development in Eastbourne up to 2027 by identifying an appropriate supply of land for future employment development, in order to achieve a sustainable economy and make Eastbourne a town where people want to live and work. It specifically related to land and buildings within the B1 (Offices and Light Industry), B2 (General Industry) and B8 (Storage and Distribution) Use Classes.

The report further detailed the representations on the proposed draft ELLP and the subsequent amendments that were made.

In order to progress the ELLP toward adoption a Proposed Submission version now needed to be published to allow for representations to be made on issues of soundness.

Following the representation period, it was recommended that the Local Plan Steering Group consider a summary of representations and the need for further changes, and that the Senior Head of Development be given delegated authority to approve the submission of the ELLP to the Secretary of State ahead of public examination by a Planning Inspector. It was anticipated that this would take place around May/June 2015. If found sound at examination the ELLP would be formally adopted by the Council.

Planning Committee was asked to consider the proposed submission and any comments would be considered and reported verbally to Cabinet at its meeting on 10 December 2014.

In addition the committee was advised that the planning application relating to the land at the former Cosmetica site, Faraday Close (ALDI application) was located within the Designated Industrial Estate as identified by the Employment Land Local Plan. In the event that the current application for the land at the former Cosmetica site, Faraday Close site (ref: 140958) was approved by Planning Committee, the industrial estate boundary would need to be amended to remove this site from the designated area.

Members were asked to give delegated authority to the Senior Head of Development to amend the boundary of the designated industrial estate before the report was considered by Cabinet.

RESOLVED:  (Unanimous) That delegated authority be granted to the Senior Head of Development to amend the boundary of the designated industrial estate as detailed within the report, prior to its consideration by Cabinet in December 2014.