Duty to Co-operate…the East Midlands Experience

Andrew PritchardDirector of Policy & Infrastructure

Introduction

Policy 17 of the East Midlands Regional Plan (Deceased)

Legal Framework for Joint Planning North Northants Joint Core Strategy Central Lincolnshire Joint Core Strategy Greater Nottingham Aligned Core Strategy Joint Planning: pros and cons

The East Midlands

41 Local Planning Authorities 11 Housing Market Areas Principle Urban Areas under-bounded Influence of surrounding conurbations High pressure for housing and economic

growth Two-tier till we die…

Policy 17 of EM Regional Plan (Deceased)

Local Authorities, developers and relevant public bodies should work across administrative boundaries in all of the Regions HMAs…joint development plans will be expected, with joint core strategies across HMAs particularly encouraged…

Legal Framework for Joint Planning Part 2 of the PCPA 2004 LPAs pooling sovereignty for plan-making

into a new body Will include the County Council in two-tier

areas as well as LPAs Requires an Order made by the Secretary

of State to establish - and a similar order to revoke.

North Northants JCS

Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, East Northants and NCC

Adopted in 2008 (first Core Strategy of any kind in the EM)

Review held up by Rushton Lakes retail call-in – but now underway

Has demonstrated substantial cost savings for LPAs

Central Lincolnshire JCS

Lincoln City, West Lindsey, North Kesteven and LCC

JCS pulled in 2013 because of deliverability issues (5 year land supply)

Work on a Joint Local Plan now underway Lack of progress has caused some

frustration from councils…

Greater Nottingham Aligned Core Strategy Broxtowe, Gedling, Nottingham City,

Erewash (Derbyshire), Rushcliffe and Ashfield

Common ‘Part 1s’ to each Core Strategy Joint approach found sound Rushcliffe and Ashfield tried to brake

ranks - but brought back into line by PINS

Joint Planning: Pros

Good way of addressing the Duty to Cooperate

Provides a statutory mechanism for planning across a sub-region – particularly in two-tier areas

Will save money and maximise the use of scarce staff resources

Joint Planning: Cons

May be challenging to establish both technically and politically

Some Members (and senior officers) may feel excluded from the plan-making process

Will not automatically lead to a sound plan…

Any Questions?