www.torbay.gov.uk

1. Local Plan and evidence refresh

2. Resources and project planning

Responses to Local Plan ConsultationAgreement• Ambition / Aspiration • Success• Principle of constrained,

balanced growth• USP• Environmental protection• Jobs emphasis• Town centres• More sustainable communities• Tourism Investment Areas• HCA support

Concerns• Scale of growth• 15000 jobs unrealistic• 10,000 homes too many / few• Limit houses until jobs arise• Infrastructure constraints• Too much reliance on

brownfield land• 1.5 jobs per home negative

impact on viability• S Hams and TDC concerns

What the Local Plan must do:

• 5 year land supply• Compliance with NPPF and Govt

Growth agenda• Meet housing needs – test of

soundness• Balance between jobs and homes• Stay within environmental limits• Duty to Cooperate compliant(not duty to agree)• Be flexible – as difficult to predict the future

Comfort for 5 years:• Plan for and focus on first 5 years –

more certainty• DCLG Interim Household projections

say plan for 4,400 homes over next 10 years = 440 homes p.a. = 2,200 over next 5 years

• Land supply – healthy; space for 2000 homes (with PP); 350 already built; market slow / demand low, 650 windfalls projected

• Opportunity for robust neighbourhood plans and masterplans looking beyond 5 years

Pool of sites / land (SHLAA & NP)

10 -15 year - developable sites (LP / NP)

5 – 10 year – viable, developable sites (LP / NP)

0 – 5 year land supply – marketable, deliverable sites (LP) – know this is sites with PP (2000) and already delivered (350)

‘Lock gates’ controlled by Council and community

Sites move downstream if sustainability criteria met, including need, infrastructure etc

Lock Gate approach

Progress…

• Refresh of Housing evidence in response to consultation

• Assessment of demand and capacity

• Member discussion. Members and Mayor are adamant that balance between homes and jobs must be right in the Local Plan. The Local Plan should take a “jobs led” approach.

• The SHLAA and SHMA will be evidence base reports, not Council Policy.

Demand for homes: Jobs and Homes balance

• No direct arithmetic relationship; evidence refresh work has explored various options

• No. of homes is a test of soundness; no. of jobs is not.• Inspector will want to ensure reasonable balance between jobs and homes• Majority of demand for new homes over next 20 years is from:

- natural change within Torbay (around 3,000 new homes needed)

- in-migration, predominantly retirement (around 3500 new homes needed)

- economically active in migration (around 2500 new homes needed)• Need to plan positively for growth, recognising environmental and

infrastructure limits• Lots of new jobs = need for lots of new homes, so need to be realistic about

number of new jobs

Jobs and Homes: scenarios (detail)• All scenarios assume reduction in unemployment

from 8.3% to 5.5% of workforce: about 1,700 people by 2032. PBA say this is optimistic, but agreed with TDA.

• Percentage of working age population that are economically active maintained at 76%. Agreed with TDA.

• Key sectors will grow (with intervention)• Household size falls from 2.17 to 2.06 in 2032. In

line with latest (2011) projections, but smaller fall than previously projected. 3000 homes needed just to meet own needs

• Torbay remains as self-contained as present - around 85% of jobs in Torbay are filled by Torbay residents

Growth Sectors (e.g.’s)- Tourism + 145 jobs p.a.- Business Services +90

jobs p.a.- Education +50 jobs p.a.- Health + 80 jobs p.a.

Capacity for new homes• Government message very clear – cannot prevent people from living where

they want to live.• Torbay’s environment is excellent, underpins its economy and there is

limited capacity.• Torbay’s historic position: capacity is around 10,000 homes• SHLAA work will help us define capacity in Torbay• Important that, in future, capacity is assessed across South Devon area –

working with Teignbridge and South Hams• That shared assessment will identify sites, across S Devon, capable of

accommodating future growth• On-going conversations, as part of Duty to Cooperate, with Teignbridge and

South Hams.

Progress

• 15 May – Council report to agree approach for Local Plan:

- 8/10,000 new homes

- 5/6000 net new FTE jobs (not a ceiling, maximum)

- Review of plan every 5 years (with neighbouring authorities) – joint housing assessments

- Clear monitoring of jobs, homes, infrastructure

www.torbay.gov.uk

Resources and Project Planning

Resources…investment in Torquay Neighbourhood Plan• Prince’s Foundation – 3 visits• Frontrunners Funding (DCLG)• Communities funding• Council officer support – Planning, Highways, Transport, Env. Policy,

Communities, TDA• Sustainability Appraisal & HRA• Examination & Referendum• Community resource?

£130,000 +

Perhaps not ‘enough’

Project Planning – key stages

• Developing the Plan – project groups, community resources, planning authority advice and external help?

• Consultation – engagement strategy – costs could vary hugely

• Publication – paid for by Council

• Examination – paid for by Council

• Referendum – paid for by Council but campaigning costs for Forum

Further support?

• Locality funding – direct support, grant support or both

• Grant– up to £7,000

• Deadline to submit bids within next few weeks

• All 3 Neighbourhood Forums are co-ordinating bids

• Other support – sponsorship, community resources?

Local Plan/Neighbourhood Plan relationship

• Basic conditions: Neighbourhood Plan must be in ‘broad conformity’ with Local Plan

• Torbay approach – Neighbourhood Plans with ‘teeth’, dealing with big issues. Parrallel-track with Local Plan.

• Could adopt Neighbourhood Plan ahead of Local Plan but risky

• Neighbourhood Plan should follow the Local Plan

Timetable for Local Plan• Clear framework agreed by Council 15 May

• Re-drafting of Local Plan - May/June/July

• Consultation – Aug/Sep

• Submission to Sec. of State - Oct

• Examination of Local Plan end of 2013 and early 2014 (7 months)

• Adopt Local Plan – June 2014

Neighbourhood Plan – remaining stages• Develop the final draft Neighbourhood Plan• Consultation – 6 weeks• Analyse responses, editing Neighbourhood Plan• Submission to Torbay Council - June 2014• Publication – 6 weeks – June 2014• Examination – Sep 2014• Referendum – Nov 2014

However, Local Plan and Neighbourhood Plan carry increasing

weight as they progress towards adoption

Neighbourhood Planning – influence

• Content of draft Local Plan – SWOT’s, aspirations, growth

• Evidence base refresh – SHLAA/SHMA

• TDA capital projects

• Planning applications

• Council priorities

Developing the Neighbourhood Plan

• Good progress – consider using external help, keep Strategic Planning involved closely

• Our advice – keep it simple. The first 5 year of housing is ‘banked’.

• Put the ‘hooks’ in to deliver real place-making change through masterplanning of key areas – e.g. Town Centre, The Gateway getting best value for community

• Use the CIL receipts and ‘planning gain’ to deliver community projects in your plan