Agenda item

To receive the report from the Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport and the Director Environment, Planning & Enforcement on the consultation.

41.      DCLG Consultation on the formation of the Ebbsfleet Urban Development Corporation

(Item C2)

(1)       The Cabinet Committee received a report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Director of Environment, Planning and Enforcement which contained information on the DCLG Consultation for the formation the Ebbsfleet Urban Development Corporation (UDC).  Sharon Thompson, Head of Planning Applications, was in attendance to introduce the report and in particular referred to the following:

(2)       This was Members’ opportunity to shape KCC’s response to the consultation on the UDC.  Parliamentary approval was required before the formulation of the UDC could be taken forward and this would be informed by any responses.

(3)       In March 2014, as part of the Budget, the Government announced plans to create a new ‘Garden City’ at Ebbsfleet capable of providing up to 15,000 new homes, primarily on previously developed land. 

(4)       The Ebbsfleet UDC was seen by Government as the delivery vehicle for the new Garden City as a response to the slow progress of development in the locality despite planning permission having been granted.

(5)       The UDC, if established, would work closely with local authorities to coordinate investment, provide direction, focus and expertise to accelerate and drive forward development within the identified UDC area.  A £200m funding package would be available to the UDC to unlock some of the infrastructure delays.

(6)       Some key areas that Members might consider when forming their response to the consultation included:

·       The boundary – the area largely covers the major development sites of Ebbsfleet, Eastern Quarry, Northfleet Embankment, Northfleet West Sub-Station and the proposed London Paramount site on Swanscombe Peninsula.  The proposed area did not include the existing residential communities of Swanscombe, Greenhithe and Northfleet and also excluded areas such as Northfleet Industrial Estate and Springhead Enterprise Park where there was existing commercial development and multiple land ownership.  The area included two wharves, Robin’s Creek and Red Lion Wharf.  A significant proportion of minerals come into the county through these wharves and the safeguarding of them was critical for the county’s emerging Minerals & Waste Local Plan (MWLP).  The implications of the loss of these wharves would lead to a need to establish alternative importation methods, potentially adding significantly to the cost and environmental impact of transport, including a potential change to road transport options which would ultimately impact on the costs of construction in the county.

·               The powers of the UDC – the statutory objectives and powers of a Development Corporation are set out under Section 136 of the Local Government, Planning & Land Act 1980.  It is proposed that the Ebbsfleet UDC should be given comprehensive and consistent powers within its boundary area.  The UDC would not have plan making powers but would have powers to determine planning applications.  In determining planning applications the UDC must have regard to the provisions of existing plans so far as they are material to the application; which means that the UDC would determine all planning applications within its area, including minerals and waste applications that would normally be determined by the County Council.  The UDC would, however, be bound by the policies and development framework set out in the Local Plans produced by Dartford and Gravesham Borough Councils (DBC and GBC) and by the MWLP produced by the County Council.

·               A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) – an MoU would be agreed between the local authorities and the UDC which would set out the processes on how matters would be handled e.g. transitional arrangements, consultation with the local authorities and how local authorities might be engaged in any decision making.  While the MoU would not be legally binding it provided the opportunity for the local authorities to agree with the UDC a wide range of matters relating to the delivery of development and infrastructure in the Ebbsfleet Garden City.

·               The structure of the UDC Board – appointed by the Secretary of State a UDC Board consisted of a Chairman, Deputy Chairman and between five and eleven Board members.  For the Ebbsfleet UDC Board 11 Board members were proposed, including the Chairman and Deputy Chairman, with the three local authorities (KCC, DBC and GBC) each having representatives on the Board.

 (7)    RESOLVED that the Cabinet Committee:

(a)       note the information pertaining to the DCLG consultation on the formation of the Ebbsfleet Urban Development Corporation; and

(b)       comments to the Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport inform his views in the formulation of KCC’s formal response to the consultation.