Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Resources seeking approval of the City Centre Action Plan (CCAP) and the City Centre Master Plan (CCMP).

The CCAP sets out a vision and strategy for how the city centre will evolve as a place over the next 15 years.  It will become part of the adopted development plan against which planning applications for new development are judged.  It will also help inform the provision of infrastructure.  It includes policies on a range of issues, for example:  employment, retail, leisure / night time uses, housing, open spaces, ‘green’ energy, design, and transport / movement.  It also includes a wide range of development site allocations, including the ‘Major Development Quarter’ (in the west of the city centre), Royal Pier, Town Depot, and 12 other sites.  The draft CCAP (and Master Plan) were subject to public consultation early in 2012.  The Proposed Submission CCAP will be subject to formal public consultation (anticipated in June / July 2013).  Representations received will be considered by an independent planning inspector.  The full Council will then adopt the Plan in 2014.  A decision to adopt is legally required to follow the inspector’s main conclusions.  Therefore the Cabinet’s decision on 19^th March 2013 will be the last opportunity for the Council to significantly influence the shape of the Plan.

The CCMP sets out a more detailed design strategy and a series of visual images for how the city centre might evolve.  The Master Plan is a vehicle to raise the profile of the city centre nationally, guiding development and illustrating its investment potential.  It is a key piece of evidence informing the CCAP, and will be a non statutory material consideration in the determination of planning applications, where the Master Plan conforms with the CCAP

(i)  To approve the City Centre Action Plan (Proposed Submission) as placed in the members’ room.

(ii)  To approve the City Centre Master Plan as placed in the members’ room, including as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications where it is consistent with the Action Plan.

(iii)  To delegate to the Head of Service for Planning, Transport and Sustainability (in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources) the power to make changes to the City Centre Action Plan and City Centre Master Plan;  provided these do not affect the main policy direction of the Plans.  Such changes to the Action Plan could be made prior to publication of the ‘proposed submission’ or ‘submission’ plan;  or proposed during the public examination.

1. To provide a clear development framework to encourage investment.
2. To ensure the efficient processing of the Plans through to examination.

Not to prepare the Plans.  This would fail to provide clear guidance.  The Council has a statutory duty to prepare a development plan.