Borough of Oadby & Wigston

Directorate of Community Services

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council Local Development Framework

Submission Core Strategy Development Plan Document

Regulation 30(1)(d) Statement Of Consultation

Directorate of Community Services Oadby and Wigston Borough Council

January 2010

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Contents List of Appendices

Page 4

1 What is the purpose of this statement?

Page 5

2 Why is this document needed?

Page 5

3 What were the previous consultation stages on the Borough of Oadby & Wigston Core Strategy?

Page 5

4 What consultations have contributed directly to the Core Strategy?

Page 6

5 Consultations on the Issues and Options Paper (July/August 2005)

Page 9

6 Preferred Options Paper (April/June 06)

Page 12

7 Supplemental Consultation Issues and Options Paper (June/August 2007)

Page 15

8 Consultation on the Draft Core Strategy (November/January 2008-09)

Page 17

List of Appendices Issues and Options Paper (2005) Appendix A1 List of Consultees Appendix A2 Letter sent to statutory consultees Appendix A3 Letter sent to non statutory consultees Appendix A4 Banner Appendix A5 Leaflet Appendix A6 Representation form Appendix A7 Senior Citizens Event Invitation Appendix A8 Senior Citizens Event Outline Appendix A9 List of respondents Appendix A10 Questionnaire analysis Preferred Options Paper (2006) Appendix B1 List of Consultees Appendix B2 Letter sent to non statutory consultees Appendix B3 Letter sent to statutory consultees Appendix B4 Press Release Appendix B5 Poster Appendix B6 Representation Form Appendix B7 List of comments received and responses of Oadby and Wigston

Borough Council Supplemental Issues and Options Paper (2007) Appendix C1 List of Consultees Appendix C2 Letter sent to all consultees Appendix C3 Poster Appendix C4 Press Release Appendix C5 List of comments received and responses of Oadby and Wigston

Borough Council Regulation 25 Draft Consultation (2008-2009) Appendix D1 List of Consultees Appendix D2 Letter sent to all consultees Appendix D3 Press Release Appendix D4 ‘Letterbox’ Article Appendix D5 Leaflet (extract) Appendix D6 Leaflet delivered to every household in the Borough and placed in Leicester Mercury as an Advert Appendix D7 List of comments received and responses of Oadby and Wigston

Borough Council

1 What is the purpose of this statement? This statement describes the consultation undertaken in previous stages of the Core Strategy. It outlines who was consulted and how these consultations were undertaken. It provides a summary of issues raised and explains how these issues have been addressed by the Borough Council. 2 Why is this document needed? The provision of this submission document is required by regulation 30(1)(d) of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008. This states that the submission documents (those given to the secretary of State) should include;

‘a statement setting out— (i) which bodies and persons the local planning authority invited to make representations under regulation 25 or regulation 26,

(ii) how those bodies and persons were invited to make representations under either of those regulations,

(iii) a summary of the main issues raised by the representations made pursuant to either of those regulations, and

(iv) how any representations made pursuant to either of those regulations have been taken into account’.

3 What were the previous consultation stages on the Borough of Oadby & Wigston Core Strategy? This table lists the previous consultation stages in the Core Strategy Consultation Process. Before these stages which focused on the Core Strategy the Borough Council held broad LDF consultation events;

A Visioning Seminar (24 January 2003) at the Brocks Hill Environment Centre in Oadby. Representatives of community groups, businesses, healthcare and education providers and other such groups were invited and contributed ideas about the future vision for the Borough.

The ‘Envision Planning our Future’ Events/Issues stage consultation was held between August and September 2003. This was focused on nine topic papers which were sent to some 150 individuals and organisations. A further 450 letters were sent to a wide variety of clubs and societies notifying them of the consultation. A roadshow exhibition was taken around the Borough. Exhibitions, posters, leaflets and questionnaires, a radio interview and the Council’s website were used to disseminate information. The consultation focused on broad issues.

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council has produced a Statement of Community Involvement (SCI). This was adopted in March 2006. An amendment has since been made to Chapter 12 which deals with Development Control matters. The revised Statement of Community Involvement was adopted in September 2009.

4 What consultations have contributed directly to the Core Strategy? There have been four rounds of consultation on the Core Strategy. These are listed in this table.

Stage in Core Strategy Date

Issues and Options Paper

July/August 2005

Preferred Options Paper (/Pre-submission Consultation Paper)

April/June 2006

Supplemental Issues and Options Paper

June/August 2007

Draft Core Strategy (Regulation 25)

November/January 2008-09

This document considers each of these stages. It outlines who the Borough Council consulted and how these consultations were undertaken. Representations that were made are summarised and then the Council’s response, including actions taken is outlined.

Consultation methods This table provides a summary of the consultation methods used at each stage. It shows the broad range of consultation methods the Council has employed.

Issues and Options Paper (July 05)

Preferred Options Paper (April 2006)

Supplemental Consultation Issues and Options Paper (June 07)

Draft Core Strategy (Regulation 25) (November 08)

Letters to all individuals and organisations on the LDF Consultation Database

� � � �

Distribution of consultation document and publicity to all libraries and council offices in the Borough

� �

Leaflet to every household in Borough.

�

Leaflet � �

Advert in Leicester Mercury and The Oadby and Wigston Mail.

� � �

Travelling Display � � � �

Website � � � �

Press Release � � � �

Roadshow Event in Oadby and Wigston Town Centres

� � �

Attendance at meetings of various organisations and groups by request

� � �

Senior Citizens Consultation Event

�

Posters � � �

Attendance at Forum Meetings

�

Consultation Responses Stage of consultation

Date of Consultation

Number of consultees

Number of Respondents

Number of responses

Issues and Options Paper

July/August 2005

794

33

292

Preferred Options Paper (/Pre-submission Consultation Paper)

April/June 2006

774

36

319

Supplemental Issues and Options Paper

June/August 2007

800

27

129

Draft Core Strategy (Regulation 25)

November/January 2008-09

930

33

252

5 Consultations on the Issues and Options Paper (July/August 2005) 5.1 Consultation Document: Core Strategy. Issues and Options Paper Consultation Dates: July to 19th August 2005 5.2 Introduction The Issues and Options Paper set out ten key Issues and Options which could be included in the Oadby and Wigston Core Strategy. Each key issue had a number of options and the Council sought views on the most suitable option. 5.3 Who was consulted? Consultation letters were sent to those on the Consultation database. These consultees are listed in Appendix A1. The letters sent out are in Appendices A2 and A3. The first letter was sent to statutory consultees while the second went to non-statutory consultees. The consultation documents were placed in libraries and Council offices in the Borough so that members of the public could see them. They were also available on the Council’s website. A travelling display was taken around the Borough. The dates were not published in advance as it was considered better use the display on days when weather was favourable to achieve the best response. In February 2006 a presentation was given at Senior Citizens’ Forum. The slides used are at Appendix A8. 5.4 How were people consulted? Consultation letters were sent to those on the Consultations database. The Issues and Options Paper document and leaflets were distributed to libraries and Council Offices. A consultation event was held. A travelling display was taken around the Borough. A senior citizens event was also held. 5.5 What were the main issues raised in the consultation responses? Appendix A10 summarises the comments made about each Key Issue, how these were ranked and sets out a brief officer response about how these comments will be addressed in the Preferred Options Reports. Comments were also received which related specifically to individual sites within the Borough, mainly for residential and employment development. These sites will be assessed, along with other potential sites as part of the Allocations Development Plan Document. In summary, the main issues raised at this consultation stage are as follows:

• The timeframe for the plan should be in line with the emerging Regional Plan;

• The preferred option for locating new development in the Borough was the use of brownfield sites and one urban fringe, closely followed by brownfield redevelopment and several brownfield site as opposed to a new settlement, brownfield only or urban fringe only;

• There was support for the allocation of a strategic employment site but not for the safeguarding of sites specifically for employment use

• There was strong favour for developing the centres of each of the three towns in the way which best met their individual needs through the development of individual action plans. Mixed uses near the town centres also had support

• The distribution of recreation and leisure facilities around the Borough was favoured over concentration in a particular area

• The Core Strategy should include policies to ensure the protection and enhancement of Green Wedges

• Non-motorised methods of transport have not been sufficiently dealt with. Policies should be included that lead to the creation of new footpaths and cycle ways

• Support for special consideration of Kilby Bridge especially the revitalisation of the canal and protection and enhancement of the Kilby-Foxton Canal SSSI

5.6 How did the Borough Council address these issues? The responses received to this Issues and Options Paper (Appendix A10) had an important influence on the Core Strategy and aided the preparation of the Preferred Options Paper. The Borough Council addressed the main issues in its preparation of the Preferred Options Report as follows:

• The timeframe for the Core Strategy will be brought in line with the emerging Regional Plan.

• The Council’s strategy for new development in the Borough will seek to concentrate development on brownfield land first and allocate one urban fringe site to meet the housing needs of the Borough where necessary in the plan period

• The need for a strategic employment site has been carried forward from the Leicester and Leicestershire Structure Plan. The Council’s evidence base does not suggest at this stage that it will be necessary to allocate a strategic employment site. General employment development sites will be allocated through the Allocations Development Plan Document.

• Town Centre Masterplans will be prepared for each of the Borough’s centres. This will identify each centres appropriate role and opportunities for mixed use development.

• The Council is preparing a Play and Open Space study which should help to develop a strategy for delivering a wide distribution of recreation and leisure facilities around the Borough

• It is agreed that the protection and management of the Borough’s Green Wedges has been unintentionally overlooked through this consultation. This will be rectified through the preferred options document.

• It is agreed that non-motorised methods of transport has not been sufficiently dealt with and this will be rectified through the preferred options document.

• A strategy for the protection and revitalisation of the Kilby-Foxton Canal SSSI and the Grand Union Canal as well as sympathetic development around the hamlet of Kilby Bridge in relation to leisure and tourism will be developed through the preferred options document

6 Preferred Options Paper (April/June 06) 6.1 Consultation Document: Core Strategy Preferred Options. Pre-submission Consultation Paper. Consultation Dates: 24 April 2006 – 5 June 2006 6.2 Introduction This document was produced as a basis for consultation on the second stage of preparing the Oadby and Wigston Core Strategy, building upon the earlier Issues and Options consultation stage. It presented the Borough Council’s preferred approach to future development in the Borough. Fourteen spatial objectives were provided. These set the context for the key spatial policy directions that the Core Strategy would deliver. 6.3 Who was consulted? A list of consultees is included at Appendix B1. 6.4 How were people consulted? Those on the Consultations Database were all consulted. The Borough Council also used a roadshow and a travelling display to reach the public. Press releases, adverts in the Paper and posters were all used to encourage the involvement of the public. 6.5 What were the main issues raised in the consultation responses? Following on from the Issues and Options consultation, the Council identified a number of 'preferred options' to indicate how some of the issues facing the Borough could be approached. Appendix B7 summarises the comments made and sets out a brief officer response about how these comments will be addressed in preparing the draft Core Strategy. Again many comments received were expressions of interest for individual housing and employment sites within the Borough. These sites will be assessed, along with other potential sites as part of the Allocations Development Plan Document. In summary, the main issues raised at this consultation stage are as follows:

• The end date of the plan should be 2026 in line with the Regional Spatial Strategy as well as some of the policies need to more closely reflect regional policies;

• There is a need for the spatial portrait to be more comprehensive;

• The format of the document was considered poor in terms of clarity;

• There was general support for the spatial objectives;

• Some revision was suggested in terms of clarity and minor amendments not covered in the previous draft;

• The document should be more Borough specific;

• The key diagram needs to better reflect the Borough’s relationship to Leicester City and the open countryside to the South;

• There should be a more explicit statement in relation to our brownfield strategy and in particular an appropriate brownfield target

• Many comments related to Expressions of Interest for particular sites. As the core strategy will not be allocating any strategic development sites

these expressions of interest will be taken through to the Allocations Development Plan Document;

• Support was given to the spatial strategy of concentrating development in the centres of the three settlements;

• References to necessary infrastructure to support the spatial strategy need strengthening;

• General agreement was given for the breadth of the policy themes covered;

• Calls were made for the inclusion of strategic allocations in relation to housing and employment;

• There is a need to include our strategy in relation to Green Infrastructure;

• Emerging policies need to better reflect the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy; and

• There is a need for more up to date affordable housing evidence. 6.6 How did the Borough Council address these issues? The Borough Council responded to the main issues raised as follows:

• The end date of the Core Strategy will be changed to 2026 in line with the Regional Plan. In addition, the draft Core Strategy policies will be revisited to ensure that they comply more completely with the Regional Plan.

• The spatial portrait will be revisited to ensure that is more closely related to Oadby and Wigston and how the Borough fits into the wider Principal Urban Area and in particular its relationship with its closest neighbours namely Leicester City, Blaby District and Harborough District Councils and the open countryside to the south of the Borough;

• Although there is no prescriptive format for the preferred options document it is agreed that the current format has not presented the preferred options coherently enough. The format for the submission draft core Strategy will not be the same as for the preferred options document.

• It is agreed that there needs to be a more explicit statement in relation to the Council’s brownfield strategy. This and an appropriate brownfield target will form the basis of the development strategy for the Borough within the submission draft.

• Due to the level of support for concentrating development within the Borough’s centres, this will continue through the submission draft of the Core Strategy

• It is agreed that there is insufficient guidance in relation to the necessary infrastructure to compliment new development. This will be addressed through development of the Core Strategy and future Local Development Documents.

• Due to the general agreement to the breath of policy themes covered it is not anticipated at this stage that further themes will be added unless the evidence base suggests otherwise

• The emerging Regional Plan does not anticipate that Oadby and Wigston borough will be required to allocate strategic housing or employment sites. The Council’s evidence base further supports this. General housing and employment development sites will be allocated through the Allocations Development Plan Document.

• It is agreed that a Green Infrastructure policy has been unintentionally overlooked through this consultation. This will be rectified through the submission Core Strategy document.

• It is agreed that the Council’s evidence in relation to Affordable Housing is not sufficiently robust. A Strategic Housing Market Assessment is in the process of being prepared jointly with other Leicestershire Authorities which should provide further more in depth guidance at Housing Market Area level.

The responses received to this Preferred Options Paper had an important influence in the development of the draft Core Strategy.

7 Supplemental Consultation Issues and Options Paper (June/August 2007) 7.1 Consultation Document: Core Strategy Development Plan Document. Supplemental Consultation. Issues and Options: Choices & Broad Locations for Development Growth. June 2007. Consultation Dates: June to 10 August 2007 7.2 Introduction This consultation was run alongside Preferred Options consultation on the Town Centre Master Plan Area Action Plans and Issues and Options consultation on the Allocations Development Plan Document. Sometimes these other consultations were attributed more attention in press releases in order to attract public attention to the consultation as a whole. This also reflected the particular stage that each consultation was at. The Core Strategy consultation was based specifically upon the Borough Council’s strategy and options for locating sustainable development and the options for potential broad locations for growth outside the Leicester Principal Urban Area. This was an area that responses on the Preferred Options Paper had highlighted as important for additional investigation. Two areas were consulted upon. The options for allocating land for future development such as jobs, housing and community facilities and secondly where land should be allocated on Greenfield sites if this proved necessary. 7.3 Who was consulted? A list of consultees is provided at Appendix C1 7.4 How were people consulted? A travelling display and a roadshow were again used. Details are in the press release at Appendix C4.

7.5 What were the main issues raised in the consultation responses?

Appendix C5 summarises the comments made and sets out a brief officer response about how these comments will be addressed in preparing the draft Core Strategy. Again many comments received were expressions of interest for individual housing and employment sites within the Borough. These sites will be assessed, along with other potential sites as part of the Allocations Development Plan Document. This consultation only sought views on what should be the Council’s strategy for locating development in the most sustainable way and the potential options for broad directions for growth outside the current urban area if required. In summary there was overall support of continuing the strategy of concentrating new development on brownfield land and one large sustainable urban extension. Of the five directions for growth put forward support was split between options:

Area of search B - adjacent to the urban area south east of Wigston Area of search C - adjacent to the urban area south of Oadby Area of search D - adjacent to the urban area south east of Oadby

7.6 How did the Borough Council address these issues? The comments received provided a clearer understanding of the preferred choice for locating new development i.e. brownfield redevelopment and one large urban fringe site and also where further investigation should be concentrated in narrowing down a direction for growth. This formed the basis of developing a clearer spatial strategy for the Borough.

8 Consultation on the Draft Core Strategy (November/January 2008-09)

8.1 Consultation Document: The Local Development Framework 2006 – 2026 Planning for Our Future (Core Strategy Regulation 25 Further Consultation Paper) November 2008 Consultation Dates: From 28th November 2008 until 23rd January 2009. Comments could be made online, by post to the Council Offices, by fax and by email. It was made available at the Council Offices, local town centre libraries, Brocks Hill Environment Centre and Helping Hands Centres. It was also available on the Council’s website. 8.2 Who was consulted? A list of consultees is given at Appendix D1.

8.3 How were people consulted? A travelling display and roadshows were used to consult people. In addition, a leaflet was delivered to every household in the Borough, promoting the consultation, inviting comments and setting our ways to respond. Pictures of the roadshow are shown below.

8.4 What were the main issues raised in the consultation responses? To help refine the Council’s options and take account of the amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act that came into force in June 2008 a further stage of consultation was carried out prior to submission of the Core Strategy. A summary of the main comments and the Council’s responses is given here. A fuller summary detailing each representation is provided at Appendix D7. Again many comments received were expressions of interest for individual housing and employment sites within the Borough. These sites will be assessed, along with other potential sites as part of the Allocations Development Plan Document.

The main issues raised at this consultation stage are as follows:

• How the Borough fits within the wider south-Leicestershire context is still not clear. Important omissions such as relationship to Leicester City and The University of Leicester. Recommend changes be made to the spatial portrait to address this.

• The retail hierarchy is not comprehensive enough and should be amended

• Many comments relate to issues of clarity, omissions and suggested references to source material and other evidence to be take into account

• The draft policies are not sufficient spatial in nature

• A need to strengthen references to necessary infrastructure and include an implementation plan

• Need to include an over arching Green Infrastructure policy based on robust evidence

• Need to include the likely level of housing/employment provision to be provided in any urban extension

• There was broad agreement with the spatial vision and strategic objectives albeit there were some issues of clarity/omission raised

• Policy and strategy in relation to more sustainable transport modes needs to be strengthened

• Affordable housing policy and strategy not robust enough, needs further consideration

• The inclusion of strategic development control policies do not fit well and give rise to confusion

8.5 How did the Borough Council address these issues? This document and the comments received represented an important stage in developing the vision, spatial objectives and policies within the Core Strategy. The comments from this last stage of consultation have helped to formulate the Publication version of the Core Strategy. The Borough Council incorporated the main issues raised into the submission draft of the Core Strategy as follows:

• The spatial portrait has been comprehensively rewritten to ensure that there is a clear demonstration of what role the Borough has in south Leicestershire, in particular its significance to the Leicester Principal Urban Area. To complement this a report has been prepared which summarises elements of existing reports and emergent development plan documents in order to express the strategic planning context of the Leicester Principal Urban Area

• The retail hierarchy was reviewed, redefined and expanded to include those shopping areas outside the Borough’s boundary that have an influence on the Borough and its residents. Again this was related to demonstrating a clear understanding of how the Borough fits within a wider local context

• Where comments received related to issues of clarity, omissions and suggested references to source material and other evidence to be taken into account these have been incorporated into the submission Core Strategy

• All the draft policies have been revisited in order to improve their spatial nature

• A Local Infrastructure Plan has been created in consultation with the Local Strategic Partnership and with reference to the Leicester and Leicestershire Housing Market Area Authorities Growth Infrastructure Plan

• An Oadby and Wigston Green Infrastructure Strategy has been prepared and this was used to inform the formulation of an over arching Green Infrastructure policy

• The submission Core Strategy policies on housing and employment have been reviewed to include reference to the likely level of housing/employment provision to be provided in any urban extension

• As there was broad agreement with the spatial vision and strategic objectives these have not been reviewed apart from where there were issues of clarity/omission raised

• An Assessment of Highways and Transportation Implications for South Leicestershire study was prepared and this was used to inform the formulation of stronger transport related policies

• An Affordable Housing Viability Assessment was carried out and this was used to inform the formulation of updated affordable housing policy and strategy within the submission Core Strategy

The strategic development control policies section of the draft Core Strategy has been removed and subsumed into the submission Core Strategy where appropriate.