Issue - items at meetings - Draft Food Growing on Development Sites Planning Advisory Note

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

(1)         That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Employment, Economy & Regeneration approves the draft ‘Food Growing and Development ‘ document as a Planning Advice Note to provide information and guidance for use by Development Control, Planning Policy officers, applicants and their agents.

37.1               The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place seeking endorsement of the draft ‘Food Growing and Development‘ Planning Advice Note (PAN), which offered technical guidance on the delivery of food growing opportunities and facilities as part of development schemes.

37.2               The Cabinet Member welcomed the PAN and reported that it was thought to be the first of its kind nationally and was intended as a model document that may be emulated by other planning authorities. She explained that the PAN did not create additional expense or requirements for developers, but offered information on appropriate options to incorporate food growing within planning proposals. She reported that the council had recently seen a proliferation of major applications with a food growing element, which reflected a growing movement and technological developments and which supported growing opportunities in small spaces in the urban environment.

37.3               A presentation on the development and aims of the PAN was given by the Sustainability Officer from the Planning Projects Team (see Appendix 1). She explained that the PAN had been proposed by ‘Food Matters’ and written by one of its directors, Clare Devereux in conjunction with the council.

37.4               Councillor Morgan welcomed the introduction of the PAN. He noted that while it was not compulsory, it was necessary to make it clear to developers that it was not a determining factor in considering planning applications to ensure that there was no detrimental effect on economic development.

37.5               Councillor C Theobald supported the increase in food growing locally and noted that work to encourage this had been undertaken by former Councillor Ayas Fallon-Khan.

37.6               The Cabinet Member thanked opposition Members for their support and gave assurances that officers would make it clear the PAN was guidance only. She advised that there was significant media interest in the initiative.

37.7               RESOLVED - That, having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the following recommendations be accepted:

(1)         That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Employment, Economy & Regeneration approves the draft ‘Food Growing and Development‘ document as a Planning Advice Note to provide information and guidance for use by Development Control, Planning Policy officers, applicants and their agents.