A new Borough-wide Local Plan
On 25th June 2015 the Infrastructure, Planning and Contracts Committee met to consider the need for a New Borough-wide Local Plan and new Local Development Scheme;
They agreed to commence preparation of a new Borough-wide Local Plan, and approved the Local Development Scheme (Annex 1) that set out the work programme required to deliver the new Local Plan.
So Kingstons' planning policy and documents are now in the process of being rewritten.
They agreed to commence preparation of a new Borough-wide Local Plan, and approved the Local Development Scheme (Annex 1) that set out the work programme required to deliver the new Local Plan.
So Kingstons' planning policy and documents are now in the process of being rewritten.
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Why this matters to us
Planning policy is at the core of determining what can and cannot be built - so getting this right is key. Although these changes wont take effect for two years, they will inform incoming developments from now on. We must be engaged in this process now, to ensure we can get the best possible planning decisions when these policies come into force. Timetable
The current Planning policy isn't working
1) Tall Buildings SPD is missing - It has been reasoned that if we specify a height then everyone will build up to that height; but we have seen what happens with the alternative: the unspecified EQDB heights are being tested application by application. We are currently looking at two proposals with two competing towers of near identical height when the Area Action Plan only envisioned one landmark. Not having a tall buildings SPD is not working. To say nothing of the economic waste this is causing the 20 groups that have to fight for common sense in each and every case. 2) Conservation Area Statements are missing - We have been unable to find policy documents that cover conservation areas and their protection. 
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The process is deeply suspicious
We have serious concerns over who or what is driving policy for our built environment. Residents should be at the heart of policy - not developers, business or personal ambition. We have concerns over pressing ahead with Opportunity Area status for large parts of Kingston. Leading to an unprecedented scale of growth and impact on Kingston - which no-one appears to know about. Nor are the implications known: "I don't know what the downsides [of an Opportunity Area] are" - Council Leader, 25th June 2015 The All-In-One survey is being cited as a mandate, but the questions on growth were too general to be at all meaningful as a pretext for the scale of growth envisaged. We disagree with this statement:
10. The Council’s recent All in One survey demonstrates a clear positive attitude amongst residents towards future growth and development with 68% of respondents considering Kingston should embrace growth and work with developers to maintain it’s position in London as a place where people want to live, work and study. The public has not been consulted, nor is it represented in the decision-making process such as on the Strategic Growth Board.
Questions we raised at the meeting:
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Extracts from the meeting report ( available here - scroll down to Appendix E )
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Some SPDs may be cancelled
Following adoption of the new Local Plan, the status of existing Supplemental Planning Documents will need to be considered and addressed. In some cases (where the policies to which they relate do not change) the content of an SPD may remain valid; but it will be prudent to publicly restate/re-publish this, with any necessary updating, which may be required. In other instances, where policy will change, as is likely to happen in relation to matters such as affordable housing, the relevant SPD may need to be formally cancelled and new SPD prepared and published. Neighbourhood Planning
24. The Localism Act 2011 enables local communities through the establishment of Neighbourhood Forums to prepare Neighbourhood Plans for their local area. The Plans should set out how growth will be accommodated, and need to be in conformity with the objectives and policies of the Core Strategy. |
Key points - as stated by RBK Director of Place
A. The National Planning Policy Framework requires Council’s to undertake a full objective assessment of the need for housing. This combined with the new challenging minimum housing and employment delivery requirements set out in the March 2015 London Plan cannot be achieved through the Council’s existing planning policy documents. |