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Agenda item

Replacement Local Development Plan - Growth and Spatial Options Consultation and Revised Delivery Agreement

Minutes:

The Leader introduced the Delivery Agreement, which set out the processes of plan preparation, making clear the opportunities and methods of engagement required by legislation, regulations and Welsh Government guidance. There was a requirement to keep the Delivery Agreement under review, a revision was needed when the preparation of the plan fell behind the approved timeline by more than three months.

 

The planned timescale slipped and a revised Delivery Agreement was required to be approved by Welsh Government. 

 

The reasons for the delay primarily related to recruitment issues but importantly there was a great deal of uncertainty around the implications of the Draft TAN 15 which had significant implications for Newport as currently drafted.  Whilst the issue remained unresolved, delayed work on the RLDP could no longer continue.

 

The report also sought authorisation for the next consultation stage of the Replacement LDP in January 2023, on Growth and Spatial Options.

 

Should Cabinet endorse the revised timetable, Welsh Government sign off was required. Informal discussions were held with WG on the revisions and they indicated their agreement with the revisions. This meant that the RLDP would be due for formal adoption in February 2026.

 

In terms of financial implications, the staffing issues resulted in an underspend during the current year and figures indicated that despite the delay, the RLDP would be delivered within the project budget.

 

The Leader invited Councillor Clarke, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Regulation and Housing to say a few words:

 

Councillor Clarke went on to say what was key, was the involvement of the Council and asked that should the decision go ahead, residents of Newport should be involved to participate in the consultation as well as stake holders. Councillor Clarke also mentioned that Newport was a listening Council. This could change Newport for the future and the more people that were involved could help with this change. 

 

Comments of Cabinet Members:

 

·        Councillor Davies mentioned two of the existing industries in Newport; SPTS had already commenced on the constructive of their new research and development and manufacturing site one based in Phoenix Park.  The Deputy Leader referred to their webpage and their press release, where it was highlighted that the company was expanding in South Wales to tap into the region’s attractive talent pool.  Also mentioning that Newport was also home to some of the UKs leading universities and research institutes with strong semiconductor competencies and industry ties for collaborative research.  The second company was IQE, which was already producing semiconductors and Councillor Davies also highlighted that their CEO was committed to continuous innovation and providing solutions that helped to propel the semiconductor industry forward and deliver technologies that would make a meaningful impact on our world.  This investment and expansion in Wales helped continue to develop wafer processing for the high growth secular industries, this included 5G communications, electric vehicles, consumer electronics, data centres, medical devices and much more.  This was an opportunity for our residents to provide their input.  This was the start of something exciting for Newport.

 

·        Councillor Harvey echoed Councillor Clarkes comments adding that it long journey and hoped that residents would provide their input, therefore the Cabinet Member for Community and Wellbeing and fully supported the report.

 

·        Councillor Batrouni also agreed with Councillor Clarke and the Leader’s comments. There was a need to consultation early and it was important so start thinking about these issues. The Cabinet Member for Organisational Transformation went on to read out statistics from the last census.  Along with Cardiff, Newport had the highest pupil per household in all of Wales.  Newport had the second highest density to Cardiff. In addition, 28% of the Newport population worked from home.  Nearly 50% of people travelled within 10KM for their place of employment.  With these figures in mind, Councillor Batrouni welcomed and supported the consultation.

 

·        Councillor Hughes mentioned that having decided to move to Newport 35 years ago, he has considered that Newport was the fastest growing city in Wales.  Affordable housing was needed to encourage people to move to the city.  The media also noticed the improvements in Newport, including development of riverside, and the university.  There were steady market and regeneration programmes in the UK linking into Newport. Newport also had the ability to run national and international links.  We had the International Convention Centre (ICC) as well as being called the Gateway City and soon to be a connected city.  It was easy to criticise the city after years of austerity. Newport had a past but it also had a bright future and people were choosing to come to Newport to live, as did Councillor Hughes. The Cabinet Member for Social Services hoped that people living in Newport would take part in the consultation.

 

·        Councillor Forsey reiterated the comments above that Newport was listening council and a transparent Council and that it was important we were also a green council.  Part of the Replacement Local Development Plan (RDLP) was the Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA), this included strategic environment assessment and wellbeing of future generations.  The Strategic Development Plan (SDP) would define a green belt and would only allow development in exceptional circumstances, therefore there would be a strong protection for the green belt, which was important for our green areas.  Whilst the Council welcomed growth and keeping Newport as sustainable as possible, the RDLP would provide this.

 

The Leader added that it was important to find out what the views of the residents were by approving the consultation.  This was an informal stage and Newport was identified as a national growth area, which was a top tier of development plan for planning purposes in Wales.  This set out the framework for our discussion and was important that people had an opportunity to put their views forward and welcomed the opportunity to encourage public to engage on consultation.

 

Decision:

 

Cabinet

1.      Approved the Growth and Spatial Options paper to be taken through informal community consultation by officers.

2.      Endorsed the continued preparation of the RLDP in line with the revisions to the Delivery Agreement and submission to Welsh Government.

Supporting documents: