Agenda item

To consider an update on the development of the Council’s updated Borough Design Guide

The Committee received and reviewed a report, set out in agenda pages 19 to 22, which gave an update on the progress of the creation of the new Borough Design Guide and other key planning documents which had been the focus of the team.

Nigel Bailey, Interim Assistant Director - Housing & Place Commissioning, stated that the draft Local Plan update had been the key area of focus for the team. Resultantly, there was no current timetable for the new Borough Design Guide and significant work was unlikely to begin until late 2020 at the earliest. Nigel stated that he was happy to keep the Committee updated with developments, including when a provisional timetable was set.

During the ensuing discussions Members raised the following points and queries:

·           Until the new draft Local Plan was formally adopted, were Wokingham Borough Council (WBC) required to use the existing 2012 Local Plan? Officer response – Yes, until any new Local Plan was formally adopted WBC would use the existing Local Plan.

·           How long was it estimated to take for the new Borough Design Guide to be created? Officer response – The creation of a new Borough Design Guide was a considerable piece of work which would likely take the next couple of years to complete. The team may have to consider bringing in extra capacity in order to carry out the creation of the new Borough Design Guide. Officers needed to look at the risks of not having a new Borough Design Guide, however the 2012 version was still fit for purpose for all that it could do with a refresh.

·           Were Officers considering a refreshed Borough Design Guide, or a full overhaul which would take considerably more time? Officer response – Officers needed to assess the National Design Guide and then gauge the views of Members as to their preference. There was currently a capacity issue within the team due to the considerable amount of work required to formulate the draft Local Plan Update. The Chairman asked that after an initial view in the summer, an update return to the Committee in autumn 2020 with a view to gauge Member preference.

·           Was there capacity within the team to gather Member opinion regarding their preferred approach to reviewing the Borough Design Guide over the coming months? Officer response – Whilst there was no capacity to move forward with any substantial work until the draft Local Plan was submitted, there was some potential to engage in some light opinion gathering from Members.

·           Had Officers considered liaising with the Executive Member for Planning and Enforcement regarding setting up Member working groups, including capitalising on the knowledge of current and former Planning Committee Members? Officer response – Working groups and other forms of Member engagement would all be utilised throughout the Borough Design Guide creation process.

RESOLVED That:

1)     Nigel Bailey be thanked for attending the meeting;

2)     The Committee be kept up to date with the formation of any provisional timetable relating to the new Borough Design Guide;

3)     An update be returned to the Committee in autumn 2020 after an initial view on the Borough Design Guide from Officers over the summer;

4)     Officers investigate conducting some light opinion gathering from Members with regards to their preferred direction for the new Borough Design Guide.