Decision details

15.1

The report set out the overall spatial options for meeting future development needs in Sheffield in the period to 2039 and to conduct the cross-party engagement process regarding the approach as agreed in October 2021.  The overall aim of that process is for the Council to reach a decision on a preferred approach in advance of producing the Publication Draft Sheffield Plan (to be published for public consultation in October 2022).

15.2

RESOLVED: That Co-operative Executive:-

1. notes the advice provided by the Climate Change, Economy and Development Transitional Committee to support Option 3 (as set out in the report) as the preferred overall spatial option that should be taken forward in the Publication (Pre-Submission) Draft Sheffield Plan; and

2. In accordance with the agreed cross party engagement process, refers the report to full Council for a view on whether Option 3 or one of the other four options should be supported prior to making the final decision.

15.3

Reasons for Decision

15.3.1

Officers require a clear steer on the preferred approach before the details can be worked in the full Publication Draft Plan and before further public consultation takes place in autumn 2022.

15.3.2

The options set out in this report mean there are difficult choices to be made between social, economic and environmental objectives and a thorough cross-party engagement process is desired to mitigate the risk of the draft plan being rejected by full Council at a later stage. 

15.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

15.4.1

The main spatial options relating to the scale and location of future development are already set out in sections 1.6 and 1.7 of the report.

15.4.2

Officers could have worked on producing the Publication Draft Local Plan without seeking a specific Member steer on the overall spatial approach.  However, to date, it has proved difficult to build a consensus on what is the correct approach for the city; in particular, there has been considerable concern on whether land should be removed from the Green Belt in order to provide more land for development.  Without a thorough cross-party engagement process on the overall spatial approach, there would be a very significant risk of the Publication Draft Plan being rejected by full Council.

15.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

15.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

15.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Executive Director, Place

15.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee

NOTE: This is subject to approval at Full Council at its meeting to be held on 2^nd February 2022 and is not subject to call-in.