City of York Local Plan Proposed Modifications and Evidence Base Consultation (2021)

Dear Sir/Madam,

City of York Local Plan Proposed Modifications and Evidence Base Consultation (2021)

in compliance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012

I am writing to inform you about the opportunity to comment on the Proposed Modifications (2021) to the City of York Local Plan and supporting evidence base. The emerging Local Plan aims to support the city’s economic growth, provide much needed housing and help shape future development over the next 15-years and beyond. It balances the need for housing and employment growth with protecting York’s unique natural and built environment.

The City of York Local Plan is currently in the process of Examination by Independent Planning Inspectors following submission of the plan to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 25 May 2018. Following the phase 1 hearing sessions held in December 2019 we are now publishing a series of proposed modifications to the City of York Local Plan and supporting evidence base.

This consultation gives York residents, businesses and other interested groups the opportunity to comment on the additional evidence and proposed modifications to the city’s Local Plan prior to further hearing sessions as part of the Examination. The Planning Inspectors undertaking the Examination have asked for the consultation as they consider the proposed modifications to be fundamental to what they are examining - the soundness and legal compliance of the plan.

The consultation period for the proposed modifications starts on Tuesday 25 May 2021 for a period of 6 weeks. All consultation documents will be live on the Council’s website (www.york.gov.uk/LocalPlanConsultation). Printed copies of the consultation documents will be available at West Offices, if open in line with the Government’s Coronavirus restrictions, by appointment only. Documents are also available to view electronically via Libraries, if open. Members of the library can book computer sessions up to a week in advance. Please see the Statement of Representation Procedure, which accompanies this letter for more information.

Representations must be received by midnight on Wednesday 7 July 2021and should be made on a response form. You can complete an online response form via www.york.gov.uk/form/LocalPlanConsultation. Alternative format response forms are available by request.

Any representations received will be considered alongside the Local Plan Publication draft and the proposed modifications through the Examination in Public. The purpose of the Examination is to consider whether the Local Plan complies with relevant legal requirements for producing Local Plans, including the Duty to Cooperate, and meets the national tests of ‘soundness’ for Local Plans (see below). Therefore, representations submitted at this stage must only be made on these grounds and, where relevant, be supported with evidence to demonstrate why these tests have not been met.

Legal Compliance

To be legally compliant the plan has to be prepared in accordance with the Duty to Cooperate and legal and procedural requirements, including the 2011 Localism Act and Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

Soundness

Soundness is explained in paragraph 182 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The Inspector conducting the Examination in Public has to be satisfied that the Local Plan is ‘sound’ –namely that it is:

• Positively prepared - the plan should be prepared based on a strategy which seeks to meet objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements, including unmet requirements from neighbouring authorities where it is reasonable to do so and consistent with achieving sustainable development;
• Justified - the plan should be the most appropriate strategy, when considered against the reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence;
• Effective - the plan should be deliverable over its period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities; and
• Consistent with national policy - the plan should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework (NPPF).

To help you respond, we have included Guidance Notes as part of the response form. We recommend that you read this note fully before responding. For more information please also see our Statement of Representation Procedure, which includes information regarding our privacy policy.

At this stage, unless you indicate you wish to appear at the Examination to make a representation you will not have the right to so do. Any written representations made will be considered by the independent Planning Inspectors.

All of the consultation and further evidence base documents published at previous rounds of consultation are also available on the Council’s website atwww.york.gov.uk/localplan.

If you require any further information on the consultation please contact Forward Planning at localplan@york.gov.uk or on (01904) 552255.

We look forward to receiving your comments.

Yours faithfully

Mike Slater

Interim Assistant Director – Place Directorate