The July 2020 quarterly meeting was cancelled due to Covid 19 and the BCC planning officers were asked to give updates on a number of topics. The responses are below:
- West of England Combined Authority Spatial Development Strategy – update
- Plan Review – update
- in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (HMO SPD) – progress update
- City-wide Character Appraisal
- Bristol Legible City project / open mapping
- Goram Homes – BCC housing developments / Caravan Park
- Electric Car Charging – update
- Post-COVID temporary street changes
- Master Planning updates: Western Harbour, City Centre, Frome Gateway, Broad Plain, Temple Quarter/St Philips, Bedminster
Planning updates for Bristol Neighbourhood Planning Network as at 29th July 2020
West of England Combined Authority Spatial Development Strategy
Weblink: https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/west-of-england-joint-planning/
The West of England
Combined Authority (WECA) is preparing a Spatial Development Strategy for the
area covering Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire,
in collaboration with the local councils.
This will be a high-level strategic plan. Bristol’s local plan will be in line with that strategy.
The SDS will provide
- Agreed quantum of
housing and jobs
- Agreed
distribution of housing numbers
- High level
strategic policies
- Spatial Strategy
for future growth for 2021 to 2041
The WoE Joint Committee
formally agreed to commence the SDS on 19th June 2020. Papers for
that meeting are available here.
The initial broad time
table is:
- Scoping evidence
requirements: January 2020-May 2020
- Commissioning
initial evidence; initiating SDS: June 2020 and throughout 2020
- Review evidence
and implications for strategic policy: Autumn 2020-Summer 2021
- Agree SDS for
public consultation, 12 weeks consultation, collate and review: Summer 2021 –
Winter 2021/2
- Agee SDS for
submission in Spring 2022 ;Hearings in Autumn 2022
- Inspectors report
early 2023 ; Publication final SDS Summer 2023
A Statement of Common
Ground will be produced. This will be a live document, published at key stages
to set out the cross boundary issues and evidence requirements and the areas of
agreement reached between the WECA authorities, adjoining authorities and other
relevant bodies such as Highways England, Historic England, Natural England and
Utilities providers.
For the latest information
on West of England joint planning visit the combined authority web page.
Local Plan Review – update
Weblink: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/local-plan-review
The
review of the local plan is continuing. It will set out how Bristol will develop
over the next 20 years.
The new plan will help deliver the new homes and jobs we
need and safeguard the environmental assets we value.
It’s being prepared in cooperation with neighbouring
councils so that planning issues are addressed across the wider region. We are
working to this timetable:
•2020:
New studies and evidence. ‘Call for sites’ continues.
•2021:
Consultation on issues and options for development (Regulation 18).
•2022:
Publication version to be approved and made available for comment (Regulation
19).
•2023:
Examination by planning inspector. New local plan to be adopted (Autumn 2023).
A
more detailed programme for the local plan review will be published in October
2020. The time table is related to key stages of preparation of the WECA SDS as
set out above.
Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (HMO SPD)
Weblink: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/review-draft-hmo-planning-document
The Council has received a range of technical responses to the initial consultation on the draft HMO SPD earlier this year. We are working through these to ensure a sound response to all issues. An amended draft SPD and consultation statement for the next round of consultation has been produced and a further round of consultation beginning on 3rd August for 6 weeks, prior to consideration at Cabinet which we anticipate will be November. See the web page above and BCC Consultation finder page for further updates. https://bristol.citizenspace.com/
HMO Licensing – progress update
3,000 premises draft
licenses in the Central Area Licensing Scheme have been issued. Final licenses
will be issued by November. Property inspections are currently underway.
City-wide Character Appraisal
This is currently being
scoped to understand if and how it could support Local Plan policy. The Urban
Living SPD contains a high level characterisation (p.23) – this exercise could
add more detail to that appraisal.
Whilst the formal progress
to the Local Plan has been delayed, there may be opportunities through
area-specific work (for example around the identified Growth and Regeneration
areas) to set out more detailed guidance on tall buildings detailed work is brought
forward.
Bristol Legible City project / open mapping
Bristol Legible City is
still a live project incorporating a number of strands including provision of
royalty-free mapping.
Goram Homes – BCC housing developments
Weblink: https://www.goramhomes.co.uk/developments/
Goram Homes – update on Caravan Park proposals
A pre-application
submission has been made for Goram homes for this site but no planning
application has yet been received. The pre-application submission which
indicates 165 homes will be considered at the Design West Panel in July.
Electric Car Charging – update
Installing electric
charging outlets fall within Permitted Development, so in themselves do not
generally require planning permission (subject to some exclusions such as being
within the curtilage of a listed building). The main requirement, however, is
that the outlet is installed in an area that is lawfully used for off-street
parking. More information about electric charging points and permitted
development can be found here.
In most cases new driveways also fall within
permitted development, however, there are some restrictions such as providing
access from a classified road, therefore planning permission is required for
the dropped kerb. In such cases the proposed driveway has to be accessed
without compromising highways safety. We are very supportive of electric
charging outlets as we recognise the importance them in tackling climate
change. We endeavour to work with applicants to find solutions to issues that
arise in their planning application; however, in some cases it is not possible
to find a solution which would overcome the highways safety issue.
It is also important to note that a licence is also
required for a dropped kerb which is separate to planning permission. More
information can be found here; https://www.bristol.gov.uk/streets-travel/dropped-kerbs
Post-COVID temporary street changes
Weblink: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/transport-plans-and-projects/covid-19-road-changes
Weblink: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/transport-plans-and-projects/changes-bristol-bridge
Bristol City Council’s Transport Team are continuing to work closely with colleagues in economic development and planning to improve conditions for walking, cycling and public transport in city. Government have issued a mandate to local authorities to progress ambitious walking and cycling schemes through the reallocation of roadspace and point closures. Broadly speaking the funding they have provided local authorities to deliver these changes is split into 3 tranches. The first tranche is for temporary measures, the second tranche is to make some of these measures permanent and the third tranche is a much more substantial funding package that we expect to be announced by government next year which will allow the city to further improve the walking and cycling network.
Currently we have delivered (or are on course to imminently deliver) tranche 1 measures including the widely publicised Bristol Bridge/Baldwin Street closure, pavement widening schemes and pedestrianisation in local high streets and segregated cycle infrastructure in the city centre. The Tranche 2 funding is modest, but it will allow the council to improve a number of these temporary schemes, as well as progress point closures in local neighbourhoods in consultation with residents and businesses.
We are currently working up proposals for Tranche 2 and these will be submitted to government on Friday 7th August via the West of England Combined Authority alongside the proposals of our neighbouring local authority partners.
We are continuing to take
feedback on schemes via our interactive map (see below) https://bristol.citizenspace.com/management-of-place/bristol-covid-19-transport-request-form/
Master Planning updates
Western Harbour
Weblink: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/planning-and-building-regulations/western-harbour
The link provides the most up to date information on the Western Harbour project. It includes information on where we are with the project, links to feasibility reports, consultation findings, Western Harbour Advisory Group members and minutes. There is also an opportunity to feedback your views on the project.
City Centre Framework
Weblink:https://www.bristol.gov.uk/documents/20182/239443/City+Centre+Framework+June+2020.pdf/a6519cd3-96a1-34f6-e775-2442eac3410c
The City
Centre Framework is available from the weblink above. This was approved at
Cabinet earlier this month. 14 july
Frome Gateway
We are
currently developing our future community engagement approach in the light of
COVID-19. With a new project manager we
are at the early stages of producing a new programme.
Broad Plain Public Realm Strategy
This is currently being
prepared for public consultation anticipated later in the summer.
Temple Quarter and St Philips
Weblink: https://www.bristoltemplequarter.com/portfolio-items/masterplan/?portfolioCats=141
The link provided gives a high
level overview of masterplan objectives and the rest of website gives wider
information on Temple Quarter.
Bedminster
Plot 1 (A2Dominion) – 2
appeals lodged, awaiting details from Planning Inspectorate.
Plot 2 (St Catherine’s
Place – no appeal, pre-app discussions being held regarding an alternative
scheme.
Plot 3 (Deeley Freed) –
pre-app process nearing its conclusion, application expected later this year.
Plot 4 (Little Paradise) –
revised scheme still receiving assessment, could go to Cttee Sep or Oct. New
application for car park also being considered.
Plot 5 (Dandara) – pre-app
process underway.
