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Southampton City Council - What SCC said in 2006 |
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Southampton City Council, 19th June 2006
CABINETT DECISION
Having read the report, including its recommendations and proposals, and following consideration of all other relevant matters, the decision-maker made the following decision: -
(i) To support PUSH’s endorsement of the fundamental approach of Draft South East Plan (March 2006).
(ii) To re-emphasise the following issues not taken into account in the latest draft Plan by the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) following their submission in April of last year by Southampton City Council, namely:-
• The economic importance of the Port not only nationally but also to the region, and the need for improved transport linkages to the Airport to exploit employment potential;
• The need to monitor housing figures in relation to economic growth, and to aim for a common affordable housing policy across the S.E. Region.
(iii) To re-emphasise the previous points made by the City Council, namely:-
In particular, Section e-1, South Hampshire Sub-Region, which deals with its economic growth pattern and linked urban regeneration and house building programme, is supported and welcomed. The protection of allocated land for employment purposes and the need for skills growth is of key importance; the two broadly based locations to be set aside for Strategic Development Areas are accepted, together with the need to regulate any release of Greenfield land using relevant indicators and closely monitored information.
The manner in which development growth can proceed will depend upon the ability of the infrastructure to support it, and the rate of investment in it. This is an endorsed key element, which will be part of any implementation plan. The setting up of an appropriate agency to manage this is supported.
The function of a Transport Delivery Agency which will fulfil the present Solent Transport role is also supported, as are the sustainable development issues which the document covers.
SEERA’s involvement in sub-regional gap definition is agreed with. The need for higher quality buildings across the South-East region as a whole needs to be more clearly addressed.
PUSH’s recently submitted analysis to SEERA, relating to City and Town Centres, is supported for inclusion in the Plan, to strengthen the issues relating to the uses being accommodated within them rather than enabling further out-of-town allocations for town centre uses.
(iv) There are four outstanding issues which the City Council would wish to highlight again to SEERA. These are:
(a) Port of Southampton
Policy T 10 (formerly T-7) does not sufficiently address the economic
importance of the Port of Southampton. The policy is still vague, and
should provide a clear spatial framework for future port investment.
The port’s function and potential investment for expansion during the
plan period to support both the region’s and country’s economic
development should be referred to. Criteria against which port
expansion should be assessed should be stated. The expression of
“niche” markets in which Southampton and other areas are involved
is not defined, and is therefore unclear;
(b) Employment Land
Another important issue relating to the economic potential of the
South Hampshire Area is the opening up of employment land in the
vicinity of the Airport, through the Chickenhall Lane link road;
(c) Monitoring Economic and Housing Growth
As South Hampshire is acknowledged as a significant housing and
economic development area, the need to monitor housing figures in
relation to economic growth should be referred to, in case some form
of adjustment is necessary. Broad support for the PUSH strategy for
enhanced economic development and regeneration is welcomed;
and
(d) Affordable Housing
Although the closing section of the Document on affordable housing
(Section D-3) refers to the difficulty and uncertainty amongst local
authorities in setting targets, types and tenures in their Local
Development Documents, this Authority considers that greater
G:\Democracy_2006-2007\Meetings\Executive Decision Making\Cabinet\Records of Decison Prior to
Publication\CAB0005 - 2006JUNE19.doc
emphasis should be placed upon the aligning of affordable housing
policies across the region. Although the mechanisms will not enable
this to occur within the next few years, ultimately a Regional Policy
for Affordable Provision will carry more weight.
REASONS FOR THE DECISION
The City Council wishes to support the views expressed by the Partnership of Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) regarding the latest Draft submission of the South East Plan, and reiterate the response from this City Council sent in April of last year where SEERA has not taken full account of the views sent.
DETAILS OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
Alternative options would be to:-
a) not endorse the PUSH assessment of the Draft SE Plan;
b) replace these comments with an alternative approach; or
c) not to support the South East Plan’s fundamental approach
The consequences of such an approach would mean that Southampton City would not influence the evolution of the South East Plan, which would be damaging to the City, and contrary to government regulations. The City Council is a key contributor toPUSH and its vision and strategy; it would be inappropriate to not now support their comments, which have already been endorsed by Member Authorities.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 23 October 2008 14:14 )
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