Purpose

 
In February 2019, Fenland
District Council agreed to prepare a new Local Plan. Progress has
been slower than expected since publication of the Draft Local Plan
due to the uncertainty created by ongoing national planning
reforms, Covid 19, updated flood-risk data, resourcing and
procurement challenges, and the potential for Local Government
Reorganisation (LGR). It is now necessary to rethink our approach
to ensure Fenland continues to have a strong voice after
LGR.
 
This report therefore
recommends formally withdrawing the Draft Fenland Local Plan
(2019–2040) and beginning work on a new Local Plan under the
new plan making system introduced by the Levelling-up and
Regeneration Act 2023. Much of the work done to date can be updated
and carried forward into this new process.
 
The new Plan will provide a
more streamlined, responsive, and forward-looking framework that
reflects local priorities and clearly articulates the
district’s ambitions. It will place people and place at its
core—ensuring future development supports quality homes, good
jobs, town centres, services, and resilient communities. It will
also have a facilitative and inward investment focus which is
increasingly important given the sluggish national economic
context.
 

Content

AGREED to recommend to Council
that they:
a)   
Withdraw the emerging Fenland Local Plan
2021-2040
b)   
Commence the production of a new Local Plan under
the new system to be completed by March 2028 that will cover the
period 2025 to 2050 once the new plan making regulations are
published.
c)   
Delegate authority to the Head of Planning in
consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder to publish and keep
up to date a new Local Development Scheme.