Central Lancashire
Employment Skills
Supplementary Planning
Document
Responses Statement
June 2017
Introduction
This statement should be read in conjunction with the attached summary of responses report, which sets out the responses received in relation to the first consultation on the SPD. Officer responses where appropriate are included in the report. This has necessitated only minimal change to the document.
Purpose of Supplementary Planning Documents
The Central Lancashire Core Strategy was adopted in May 2012 which sets out the Central Lancashire authorities’ spatial planning proposals for the combined area of Preston, South Ribble and Chorley.
The three authorities then subsequently adopted their Local Plans which sets out the vision for each borough including the Councils’ interpretation of the Core Strategy and development management policies.
The Central Lancashire Employment Skills SPD has been driven by the authorities’ aspiration to see additional benefits (known as social value) incorporated into their housing and other development opportunities. The SPD provides planning guidance in relation to the preparation of the Employment and Skills plans which supports the implementation of Core Strategy Policy 15: Skills and Economic Inclusion. The document has been prepared by joint working between the authorities’ Development Management, Planning Policy and Economic Development teams.
Consultation on the Draft SPD
The first draft of the SPD was subject to a six week consultation period between 30th January and 13th March 2017
Approximately 3000 individuals, companies, statutory consultees and interest groups were notified of the consultation on the draft SPD. All of the documentation relating to the SPD was available to view on each of the Council’s website throughout the consultation period. The documents were also available to view at deposit points across the 3 areas, which include the Council Offices and Libraries, and some Post Offices. The consultation was also advertised using each Council’s Social Media and by press releases. The consultation was also publicised in Chorley Council’s e-zines, ‘In the Know’ and ‘In the Boro’.
Issues
19 responses were received to the consultation, the contents of which are set out in the attached report. The responses fall into three categories, very supportive of the aims of the SPD; wish to make no comments and those who raise issues. The issues can be summarised as following:
-Concerns as to extent of information required to validate an application
-Query how the thresholds have been arrived at as to when a statement is required
-Stress the need for flexibility to acknowledge the fluid nature of projects
-Query policy justification and whether this is spatial planning
-Concerns as to impact upon deliverability of schemes, stifling or delaying development having regard to the advice in the NPPF
Changes
Seek to align the document with the National Skills Academy approach both in terms of the CITBA ‘Toolkit’and ‘Client Based Approach - Local Client Guidance’.
Greater clarity on what the statement will potentially cover.
Updating of the factual position in respect of the various projects across the three authority areas.
How to Comment on the amended version of the Document
Should any persons have any further comment on the Draft SPD then these comments should be made by 5pm on Wednesday 26th July
Comments should be emailed to or by sent post to the address below:
Planning Policy
The Civic Centre
West Paddock
Leyland
Lancashire
PR25 1DH
For more information please email Planning Policy or call 01772 625388/01772 625451.
Adoption of the SPD
Unless fundamental objections are raised that haven’t been raised before it is likely that the SPD will be adopted in its current or very similar form,as part of the Local Plan of the three authorities.
Any decision to adopt this SPD will be publicised in accordance with Regulation 14 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning ) (England) Regulations 2012.