Agenda item

Up to 30 minutes is allowed for this item; no longer than 10 minutes for  presentation of the report and then up to 3 minutes for each question to be put and answered.

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) and Strategic Housing presented the report for Members’ consideration.

Information was provided on Development Management, and it was noted that the operational scope of the development management services was wide. It maintained a range of environmental and historical information,provided informal and pre-application guidance, as well as undertaking the day-to-day statutory process of determining planning applications and appeals in accordance with the Development Plan. As a measure of work coming into the Planning department, it was reported that eight hundred and sixty-two planning applications had been received in 2024 and to date in 2025 eight hundred and thirty-three planning applications had been received.

In terms of major applications, the Council determined roughly four or five applications each quarter, this number had been consistent over the last few years. In addition, approximately twenty-seven pre-application requests were submitted each quarter. It was noted that these figures were rising when compared to 2024 and 2025. Performance for speed consistently exceeded central Government targets with over ninety-two per cent of major applications and eighty-seven per cent of minor applications being determined within an agreed time scale. Quality measures remained below the ten per cent figure for both major and minor applications.

Members were informed that the Development Management team undertook a restructure of its administrative roles which were implemented in 2025. This had resulted in the successful recruitment of two Senior Planning Officers.

The Development Management team took part in a design coding workshop with Strategic Planning colleagues. This related to the Government drive to see improved design in new developments.

Efforts had been made to assist all Planning Officers to achieve chartership status and it was noted that the Royal Town Planning Institute attended sessions at Parkside to provide support and guidance for Officers.

The Planning Team continued to work with Wyre Forest District Council to support the discharge of biodiversity net gain function on applications.

Members were thanked for their patience and for the substantial time they had given in respect of Strategic Planning over what had been a challenging year. Consultation on the draft Development Strategy had dominated the work for the Strategic Planning Department. Preparing a Local Plan was one of the most significant roles that the department undertook and Councillor Taylor thanked the Officers who had done an excellent job, particularly when going out to consult with residents. It was noted that there were still uncertainties surrounding this process, but it was clear that the Government expected Councils to bring forward a Local Plan as quickly as possible.

The Local Plan process was set firmly within legislative framework, and this process would continue in line with that and Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Work was being undertaken as part of the review alongside the Planning Advisory Service (PAS).

Enforcement was also included within this portfolio and Planning Enforcement was part of this, along with several other areas of enforcement. The enforcement procedure was slow due to the quasi-judicial nature of the process. The Development Team provided Members with a regular update on enforcement matters including those that had been resolved and any further cases that had been received.

Following the presentation of the report, Members queried several areas. This included:

·       What areas were not included in the report – it was felt that there was little detail included in the report in respect of the Local Plan Development, including speculative planning applications, and enforcement matters. Members suggested that the public should have received a more complete overview of what had happened in this space over the previous months, including the challenges faced in the progression of a Local Plan, WRS and enforcement matters in order to reassure residents. In response, it was noted that there was confidence in the Officers who carried out these roles in a challenging environment. Members were urged to engage in the pre-application process in terms of speculative planning applications. Members were reminded that there must be an Officer present in discussions with any developer and such discussions were confidential at the pre-application stage. WRS were investigating several areas at present which included the unauthorised sale of alcohol and tobacco and had listened to residents in these matters and acted appropriately. This was welcomed by Members and WRS Officers were thanked for their hard work in this area particularly in Bromsgrove Town Centre High Street.

Members also raised the risks involved in the preparation of the Local Plan and the timetable attached to the Plan. It was noted that the submission of the draft Plan was made to Government in June 2025 which had included the preferred sites for development of nine-thousand dwellings. This had provided developers with an opportunity to submit speculative planning applications.  The Local Plan was due to be examined by Government in December 2026. If it was not received at this time the Council would be subject to the new planning regulations and there was the potential in the development of the Plan process being restarted. Members raised that the Council’s approach to the development of Green Belt land was problematic and the new legislation in respect of biodiversity net gain had increased Officers workload. This might result in applications not being addressed in a timely manner. All these areas were of concern and posed a risk to the Council for the future. It was noted that a response in respect of risk in terms of the Local Plan would be provided following the meeting.

·       Five-year land supply – Members stated that there was not a five-year land supply in the District and with the current Government plans for growth this would cause significant issues with land supply and impact on the land within the District due to the changes of definition in respect of Green and Grey Belt.

·       ‘Informal’ Local Plan Consultation – Members queried the term and asked for clarification on this matter. The Assistant Director for Planning and Leisure Services explained at the start of the Local Plan process, the public consultation stage was called ‘informal’ even though it was part of the whole Local Plan process. Members were aware that Planning Officers had to consider Regulation eighteen to Regulation nineteen when the Plan became more formalised and submitted to the Secretary of State. This was a very important part of the process and was the first step in the process of the Development Strategy in ascertaining how development should be allocated to certain places. It was the Council’s first chance to consult with the public about where exactly the nine-thousand dwellings should be located. Officers were currently going through a detailed process of reading each representation and responding accordingly. This would be reported back to Members. So, whilst technically it was an ‘informal’ consultation in planning terminology it was a very important step for the Council to have achieved and for our residents to have taken part in.

·       Agent’s Forum – Further information was requested by Members in order to provide transparency for members of the public. It was noted that these sessions were arranged in order to meet with local agents to understand their views on the process, any upcoming changes to that process and areas of improvement. The sessions were mostly attended by local architects based in the District and surrounding areas. The input was valuable in order to understand whether any changes needed to be made to Council processes.

·       Monitoring of mosquitos – Members welcomed the monitoring of mosquitoes by WRS and noted that this would provide valuable insight into what could potentially be a dangerous issue in the future.

At the end of the discussion the process of the Local Plan was questioned robustly by Members. It was felt that it had put residents and Members in a position of uncertainty and stress. However, it was reiterated that the Local Plan development had been undertaken in line with the legislation and that consultation was carried out with Members and residents. Officers continued to look through responses to better understand the residents thoughts and concerns.