Agenda item

The Leader of the Council to submit a report setting out the proposed Masterplan for the Southern Sustainable Urban Extension. The document, required as part of the Melton Local Plan and developed after consultation with key stakeholders, will provide a framework for future sustainable development and will assist Leicestershire County Council in meeting the conditions required to accept the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Cabinet:

(1)  APPROVED the Masterplan for the purposes of providing a framework to guide the consideration of future planning applications in the South Sustainable Neighbourhood area;

(2)  NOTED that its adoption would support the delivery of the southern section of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road;

(3)  INSTRUCTED that it be presented to Leicestershire County Council (LCC) with correspondence explaining that it was the view of the Council that the Masterplan was a robust and credible document to guide the development of the South Sustainable Neighbourhood and as such, provided the assurances sought in order to enable LCC to accept the HIF award;

(4)  DELEGATED authority to the Director for Growth and Regeneration to make minor adjustments and corrections to the content of the Masterplan document.

Jim Worley Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Delivery introduced the report, which set out the proposed Masterplan for the Southern Sustainable Urban Extension.  The document, required as part of the Melton Local Plan and developed after consultation with key stakeholders, would provide a framework for future sustainable development and would assist Leicestershire County Council in meeting the conditions required to accept the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

Mr. Worley highlighted paragraphs 5.3 and 5.4 of the report, which detailed the progress to date.  Paragraph 5.5 summarised the main features of the Masterplan (detailed in full at Appendix A).

Mr. Worley drew Members attention to section 12 of the Masterplan, which detailed infrastructure costs, the framework of delivery of schools and other key items etc.  The Council was committed to securing contributions towards infrastructure costs (examples of developments where this had already been achieved included those at the north side of Melton - 700 dwellings, Melton Spinney Road - 200 dwellings, Lake Terrace - 100 dwellings and a new development on Leicester Road).

Mr. Worley highlighted recommendation 2.4, advising Members that the Council had identified a small number of areas within the Masterplan, which required further elaboration under delegated authority should Members approve the recommendations (to include elaboration on the journey of the Masterplan, even further clarity on viability considerations etc.) and which respond to the ongoing dialogue with key stakeholders.

Mr. Worley advised that viability was a strong feature of the Masterplan but recognising the current challenging context, the Council could undertake further viability testing with Leicestershire County Council, developers and Homes England.  He informed Members that the Council had been made aware that 1 developer has questioned viability, relating to the western section of the sustainable neighbourhood but they had not provided reasons or evidence for this; and the report set out a number of bases upon which viability assumptions had been built.

Councillor Orson thanked the Assistant Director for Strategic Planning and Delivery, his team and the officer from Blaby District Council, who had undertaken the peer review of this Masterplan.  He commented that the Masterplan was comprehensive and added that the public recognised that the Melton Mowbray distributor road was crucial for the town and the southern aspect would help to reduce traffic.

During discussion, the following points were noted:

·         Members agreed that the Masterplan was a very good document and would support delivery of the homes and deliver the infrastructure the town needed.

·         The independent examination through the peer review had been invaluable.

·         Swift delivery of the southern section of the road would be economically beneficial for Leicestershire as well as Melton.

·         Members thanked Councillors representing southern wards (Councillors Bindloss, Douglas, Fisher, Freer-Jones, Pearson and Cumbers, who championed recreational and green spaces, which form part of this Masterplan).

Cabinet:

(1)  APPROVED the Masterplan for the purposes of providing a framework to guide the consideration of future planning applications in the South Sustainable Neighbourhood area;

(2)  NOTED that its adoption would support the delivery of the southern section of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road;

(3)  INSTRUCTED that it be presented to Leicestershire County Council (LCC) with correspondence explaining that it was the view of the Council that the Masterplan was a robust and credible document to guide the development of the South Sustainable Neighbourhood and as such, provided the assurances sought in order to enable LCC to accept the HIF award;

(4)  DELEGATED authority to the Director for Growth and Regeneration to make minor adjustments and corrections to the content of the Masterplan document.