Decision Maker: Executive

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: March 11, 2025

Purpose: To approve the Fareham Borough Local Development Scheme (2025).   Local Planning Authorities are required to prepare and maintain a Local Development Scheme (LDS).  The LDS provides a timetable for the preparation of local plans and other related planning documents and sets out the planning strategy work programme for the year ahead including the production of any supporting documents.   In December 2024, the Deputy Prime Minister requested that all local planning authorities produce an updated Local Plan timetable (LDS) by the 6 March 2025 and submit it to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.   National Planning Policy specifies that policies in local plans should be reviewed at least once every five years and updated as necessary. The Fareham Local Plan 2037 was adopted in April 2023 and is therefore considered up to date until April 2028. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 and the revised National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024) have significantly changed the national planning policy context. The method for calculating housing requirement has been changed resulting in a much higher requirement for most authorities, and significant changes are to be made to the content of Local Plans with the forthcoming introduction of a national set of Development Management policies, removing the need for such policies to be included in local plans   Therefore, to ensure that the Local Plan remains consistent with national policy and to ensure continued coverage of the Borough by an up to date Local Plan, it is justified for this Council to set out the programme for ensuring a replacement of the Local Plan is in place by April 2028.   The timeline for future Local Plan production is proposed in line with the new plan making system which sets out a 30-month timeframe from commencement to adoption.   The proposed LDS attached at Appendix A sets out a local plan preparation timetable that is considered realistic in terms of enabling this Council to develop and undertake the necessary work to produce a replacement local plan, whilst providing flexibility to respond to changes in planning legislation and guidance expected during 2025. As increased clarity is provided by the Government regarding the new plan making system, elements of the LDS may be required to be updated.

Content: RESOLVED that the Executive:   (a)    approves the Fareham Borough Local Development Scheme (2025) as set out in Appendix A to the report;   (b)    authorises the Director of Planning and Regeneration, following consultation with the Executive Member for Planning and Development, to make any necessary minor changes to the Local Development Scheme, providing that these do not change the overall direction, shape or emphasis of the document; and   (c)    resolves that the Fareham Borough Local Development Scheme (March 2025), subject to any changes arising from (b) above, shall have effect from 1 April 2025