Purpose

In line with the National Planning Policy
Framework (September 2023) all local planning authorities have a
requirement to produce, maintain and keep up to date a Statement of
Common Ground (SoCG). The purpose of a Statement of Common Ground
is to highlight agreement on cross-boundary strategic issues with
neighbouring authorities and other relevant organisations. South
Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the Heads of
Planning Group have produced a Joint Regional SoCG which sets out
an explanation of the agreed key strategic planning matters of
relevance to the region. It also includes links to relevant
evidence base documents. It is a live document which will be kept
up to date by the signatories involved. Its purpose is to enable a
more streamlined approach for planning authorities in South
Yorkshire and the former Sheffield City Region area in the
future.
There are seven cross-boundary strategic matters. These are: energy
and climate change; housing; employment; transport; natural
environment (including Local Nature Recovery Strategies, Natural
Capital and Biodiversity Net Gain); waste; and digital
connectivity. Other matters are summarised in the document just to
illustrate the range of shared interests across the Region and
those matters are: Green Belt; Minerals; Peak District National
Park; and recognising the health and wellbeing challenges of the
Region.
Planning Services has been involved in the Joint Regional SoCG
throughout the process including inputting into the document and
revising any drafts.
All information included in the document is factual and is publicly
available elsewhere. In the main, it states targets and
requirements that the SYMCA local planning authorities (LPAs),
including City of Doncaster Council, have or will include in their
Local Plans. For Doncaster, this means repeating the Local Plan
requirements of 920 dwellings per year and 481 hectares of
employment land over the plan period (2015 – 2035).
The key strategic matters and the where all signatories are agreed
is summarised below:
Energy and Climate Change
• Work will take place to contribute to the national target of
being net zero by 2050 and accelerate progress towards a carbon
neutral region;
• Local planning authorities (LPAs) will seek to encourage
higher standards than Building Regulations;
• LPAs will seek whole life carbon assessments;
• Partners will work together to develop and deliver flood
risk benefits through the planning system;
• South Yorkshire LPAs have agreed to develop and support the
implementation of the Energy Strategy and Delivery Plan.
Housing
• All LPAs are planning to meet their own housing
requirement;
• The quantum of housing required to deliver growth will be
met through Local Plans;
• Housing markets will be agreed though Local Plans;
• All LPAs will maximise delivery of sustainable housing
development;
• Housing delivery will be monitored on an annual basis.
Employment
• All LPAs are planning to meet their own employment land
needs;
• Support will be given to employment growth in the Key Urban
Centres and Major Growth Areas;
• Employment land delivery will be monitored ensuring that
there is an appropriate supply of land;
• The loss of employment land to other uses will be
monitored;
• Work will continue to achieve the economic ambitions of the
region;
• LPAs will seek to maintain an adequate supply of land for
logistics uses across the region.
Transport
• Ensure cross boundary impacts of development and transport
interventions are considered and mitigated for;
• Support the development and adoption of new Local Transport
Plans by Spring 2024;
• Work together to improve connectivity;
• Support the safeguarding and delivery of critical transport
routes and make best use of inter-regional rail, road and water
transport networks;
• Secure financial contributions to help leverage funding for
relevant interventions such as public transport;
Natural Environment
• Authorities will work together to develop and agree Nature
Recovery Strategies;
• Continue to share learning on Biodiversity Net Gain
including set a consistent net gain % requirement, and ensure data
is of a consistently high standard;
• Use the findings of the South Yorkshire Natural Capital
Assessment to help shape new development plans;
• Undertake a review of the South Yorkshire Natural Capital
Assessment.
Waste
• LPAs will share and monitor cross boundary waste planning
information;
• There will be the maximum degree of self-sufficiency
possible in net waste movements;
• South Yorkshire authorities will jointly plan to meet South
Yorkshire’s waste needs and produce a Joint South Yorkshire
Waste Local Plan.
Digital Connectivity
• Support the implementation of Project Gigabit and the
digital infrastructure elements of adopted Local Plans;
• Help bring forward a range of local and regional
interventions to improve digital connectivity and spends and
address gaps in provision;
• Support local communities to utilise the Building Digital UK
Gigabit Voucher Scheme;
• Create a supportive planning framework to digital
connectivity including consistent planning conditions.
Throughout the Joint Regional SoCG there is a commitment for local
evidence to be shared and for collaborative work between the
Mayoral Combined Authority and local planning authorities to
continue.
The document will be kept under review by the signatories and the
process will allow other signatories and strategic matters to be
added as appropriate.
The SoCG has been prepared by the Heads of Planning Group which
includes planning managers from the nine local planning authorities
as well as from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire County Councils and
the Peak District National Park Authority. It has also been
considered and supported by SYMCA Housing and Infrastructure Board
which includes Cabinet Portfolio Holders and representatives from
South Yorkshire LEP.

Content

The Director of Place has approved and
endorsed the Joint Regional Statement of Common Ground in
consultation with the Portfolio Holder of Finance, Traded Services
and Planning who has then signed the Joint Regional Statement of
Common Ground on behalf of City of Doncaster Council.