To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Economy and Communications / Director of Economy.

The Committee considered a report which advised that a draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) has been produced for consultation purposes for the Littleborough Station area to support the redevelopment and renewal of the area by providing detailed planning and design advice. The report sought the views of the Township Committee on the content of the Draft SPD as part of the consultation with key stakeholders.

As set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, Supplementary Planning Documents build upon and provide more detailed advice or guidance on the policies in the Local Plan. Regulations 11 to 16 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 set out the requirements for producing SPDs. Regulation 12 requires that consultation is undertaken prior to the adoption of an SPD.

In considering the submitted report, written questions had been submitted by members of the public present at the meeting. A submission from Mr Hooson was also read out by the Assistant Director (Economy) as part of the introduction to the report and a submission from Councillor Taylor was read out by the Chair in his absence.

The written questions submitted from members of the public included:

• Ms Barber – asking about proposed bus movements at Littleborough Train Station and the potential implications of pedestrianisation or narrower roads in front of the station and links to existing pedestrian and cycle networks;
• Mr Pickering – asking about suggestions that properties housing long standing businesses could be demolished;
• Mr Cropper – asking why shopkeepers and residents had not been informed and the intentions and process relating to the Littleborough United Reformed Church;

There were also questions asked in the meeting about the formal consultation process and what format that would take; the possibility of the consultation process being extended as had happened with the Castleton SPD consultation recently; clarity about some of the terminology being used in the Draft SPD and the potential use of CPO powers.

Committee Members asked questions and made comments including;

• proposals about the narrowing of Church Street and retaining the green space adjacent to the Co-op;
• ensuring that local business owners and residents concerns should be taken into account as part of the process;
• the need to maintain suitable access to rail replacement services;
• the need to take into account the routeing of bus services.

The Committee were advised by the Assistant Director (Economy) and the Portfolio Holder for Economy and Communications that:

• The report presented to the Committee was the start of the process and presented initial aspirations and indicative plans to express the objectives of the SPD to inform any consultation as part of a series of regeneration plans being developed for land and buildings around the Train Stations across the Borough. Having an SPD in place would assist in attracting funding for schemes in future;
• All stakeholders were being encouraged to submit responses, comments and suggestions. In other parts of the Borough, stakeholder input had led to draft SPD’s being changed following consultation;
• One of the aims of the SPD was to make improvements to the public realm around the Train Station;
• Transport for Greater Manchester were involved in discussions around buses and bus movements at the Train Station and more detailed designs would be developed with the aim of improving pedestrian routes in the area;
• That there had been some limited consultation to date with some local landowners  but those who had not been consulted earlier now had the opportunity to make their views known and these would be taken into account as part of the formal consultation process;
• The proposals for Church Street related to the pedestrian routes possibly being widened and not narrowing the carriageway;
• Car parking was an issue raised by residents and businesses and this needed to be looked at as part of the SPD;
• With regard to the Littleborough United Reformed Church, potential options were being considered, and no decisions had been made as any options would have to be appraised through the appropriate decision making processes.
• An SPD brought clarity and certainty for residents, businesses and potential investors and additional powers like the use of Compulsory Purchase orders were only exercised by the Council as a last resort and in very limited and specific circumstances;
• The Draft SPD would be considered at the Communities, Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28^th September 2021, following which, there would be a six week consultation period. The format of the consultation would be considered in line with Government Guidance applicable at that time and could include face to face sessions if this was feasible;
• Following the conclusion of the consultation process, the final decision on whether to adopt the SPD would be made at a future meeting of Cabinet.

The Chair welcomed the input from local residents, business owners and Members of the Committee and encouraged responses to be submitted as part of the formal consultation when it opened.

Resolved:

That the Draft Littleborough Station Supplementary Planning Document be noted.

Eligible for call in - no