Central Lancashire is first Core Strategy to be approved after NPPF

Planning Inspector Richard Hollox approved a 'Core Strategy' developed for Preston, South Ribble and Chorley councils. He said that it provides an appropriate basis for the planning of Central Lancashire over the next 15 years. It can now be adopted subject to two main modifications. 

The Inspector recommended Central Lancs Inspectors Report (31-pages / 281KB PDF) that before the Core Strategy is adopted the Council's must make modifications to the proposed housing strategy and must include a policy which sets out the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The Planning Inspectorate published 'model wording' in April which was aimed at helping councils to meet the expectation of the NPPF which requires them to have policies in place that guide how the presumption in favour of sustainable development will be applied locally.

The Planning Inspectorate said that it considers that the model policy will, if incorporated into a draft Local Plan submitted for examination, be an appropriate way of meeting this expectation.

The councils must also make some housing related modifications before the Core Strategy can be adopted. This includes meeting local housing needs by agreeing to develop an average of 507 new homes in Preston City, 417 in Chorley and 417 in South Ribble each year.

The Inspector's recommended housing modifications were set out in an additional consultation which was carried out during the examination stage last year. 
Hollox acknowledged that the NPPF imposes a new "duty to co-operate" on the councils but said that this obligation had been fulfilled.

"I am satisfied that these neighbouring Authorities [to Central Lancashire] have been involved in the preparation of the Local Plan to the extent that was reasonable and beneficial at the time," the Inspector said.

In a letter to the councils, the Planning Inspectorate requested that it be notified if the councils are aware of any planning appeals that may be affected by the adoption of the Core Strategy.

"Clearly it is now for the Council to adopt the Document at their discretion," the letter said Planning Inspectorate letter (1 Page / 76KB PDF)." When they do so, please could they consider whether adoption could have any effect on appeals currently being considered by the Planning Inspectorate."

"As you know, appeals must be determined on the basis of the development plan as it exists at the time of the Inspector’s (or the Secretary of State’s) decision, not as it was at the time of the Council’s decision. If adoption changes the policy position, the relevant Inspector(s) will need to take that into account," the letter said.