Defence of ‘standard’ process
In a statement, the council said: “The aim of the Supplementary Planning Document is to provide further guidance to help deliver the policies already set in the adopted Borough Local Plan. It is needed to help ensure various developers across this large allocation bring forward planning applications for high quality development, and the infrastructure needed to support it happens in a coordinated and comprehensive way.
“As the cabinet report makes clear, an SPD cannot create, replace or change planning policy.
“Although a material consideration in deciding planning applications, an SPD is not part of the Development Plan and is not a planning application either. Planning applications can only be determined on their individual merits in line with planning policy.
“The process of preparing an SPD is undertaken by the council in line with the Borough Local Plan, with a requirement to engage widely. We have actively sought the views and feedback of a wide range of stakeholders, including residents, statutory agencies and developers. Engaging with developers has also been crucial to help ensure the draft SPD, and vital feedback from our community, influences and informs their emerging schemes.
“The planning performance agreement (PPA) is purely to fund work on the SPD, particularly additional technical work such as urban design input, transport work and strategic environmental assessment, recognising that both the council and developers need an SPD to ensure high quality, comprehensive development, with each paying their appropriate share of these costs. All consultants are employed and instructed by the council. PPAs are charged on a cost recovery basis only and we have been transparent about this matter in the cabinet report and response to the member of the public’s question.
“Pre-application engagement and PPAs with developers are standard means of encouraging a collaborative approach to designing better development, considering and resolving issues about development. The PPA does not commit the local planning authority to a particular outcome but is instead a commitment to a process for progressing the SPD.
“Decisions on the content of the SPD lies solely with the council through approval at cabinet.
“We would like to be very clear that this never implies any obligation on the council to approve any subsequent planning application.”