Agenda item

The Principal Planning Policy Officer presented the report to the Committee.

The “Bolsover District: The Future” plan aimed to drive economic growth through better housing and placemaking.

The Local Plan supported this by promoting sustainable, well-designed development through Policy SC2 (Sustainable Design) and Policy SC3 (High Quality Development).

The current Supplementary Planning Document that advised on residential design, Successful Places SPD (2013), was now being updated and retitled Successful Healthy Places to reflect:

·       National policy updates:

o   Building for a Healthy Life (2023);

o   National Design Guide (2019); and,

o   National Model Design Code (2021).

·       A greater focus on health, wellbeing, and sustainable placemaking; and,

·       The need for higher design standards in response to increased housing targets.

The guidance had been revised to improve readability, incorporate current images, and focus specifically on local context.

Unlike the previous joint local authority document, the revised SPD was specific to the District to better reflect local character and needs.  Extensive consultation with stakeholders – across councils, design professionals, and community groups – had shaped the new guidance.

Overall, the SPD aimed to ensure that housing growth contributed positively to the quality, health, and sustainability of the District.

The Senior Urban Design Officer informed images had been provided in the proposed consultation draft version of the SPD, attached at Appendix 1, to emphasize the desired design.

It was reiterated that sustainability was at the heart of the document, with a holistic approach to care for all aspects of design, as well as a new emphasis on health and wellbeing, climate change, biodiversity, and modern technology (e.g. EV charging and heat pumps).

New sections in the document focused on local character, streets and trees, heritage and retrofit, residential extensions, and design criteria cross-referenced to the National Model Design Code.

The proposed consultation on the Successful Healthy Places SPD was to be carried out in line with the requirements of the Regulations and the principles of the Council adopted Statement of Community Involvement.

The complete coding document would be brought before Committee in a future meeting.

The Principal Planning Policy Officer informed those that had registered an interest on the Council’s planning policy consultation database that had stated a wish to be notified of forthcoming Policy documents would be contacted directly by email and letter.  Parish Councils would be notified so that their pages could link to the consultation.

The consultation document would be made available for at least 4 weeks in the

following ways:

·       a digital copy of the Successful Healthy Places SPD and consultation questionnaire would be available to read and print off on the Council’s Supplementary Planning Documents webpage;

·       a link on the webpage would direct people to a digital version of the consultation questionnaire that could be completed online;

·       the same questionnaire would also be on the Ask Derbyshire webpage as many residents used it as their ‘go to’ when finding out what consultations were live across the District; and,

·       paper copies of the Successful Healthy Places SPD and consultation questionnaire would be made available at the District’s libraries and Contact Centres throughout the 8-week consultation period.

Two drop-in events had been arranged: one at the Assembly Rooms, Bolsover on 16^th September 2025; the other at the Shirebrook Leisure Centre on 18^th September 2025.  The dates and times of these would be advertised in the local press and included in any direct mailing to interested parties.

The detailed arrangements for the final content of consultation material would be agreed by the Interim Director of Planning, Devolution & Corporate Policy, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee.

The outcome of the consultation exercise would be considered and reported, together with an updated SPD in light of the consultation feedback, to the Committee later in 2025.

The Chair thanked the Principal Planning Policy Officer and Senior Urban Design Officer for their work.  A Member added it was wonderful.

To a question on developers currently struggling to sell units, and how likely there might be additional costs for the improved designs both architecturally and in sustainability terms, the Senior Devolution Lead for Planning Policy, Strategic Growth and Housing informed the Council was aware of the complex demands on developers.  It was stressed, however, that good design and good quality were always desirable, even if delivering both might prove challenging.

While the UK Government wanted more completed units and developers sought to maximise profits where available, good design always remained desirable – it was possible for developments to get the right balance between profit and quality.

A Member informed that for the 18^th September 2025 drop in session at the Shirebrook Leisure Centre, members of the public should note that this would be for the design consultation for the District and not the Shirebrook Growth Plan.  The Senior Devolution Lead for Planning Policy, Strategic Growth and Housing agreed – while not a consultation on the Shirebrook Growth Plan, it was just as important for members of the public to provide their thoughts on the Successful Healthy Places SPD consultation.

The Chair reiterated the two drop-in events that had been arranged: one at the Assembly Rooms, Bolsover on 16^th September 2025; the other at Shirebrook Leisure Centre on 18^th September 2025.

A Member echoed previous sentiments and thanked officers for their work.  As the Portfolio Holder for Growth, the officers’ work on the consultation was appreciated.

9 in favour

0 against

Moved by Councillor Tom Munro and seconded by Councillor Phil Smith

RESOLVED that the Planning Committee: 1) approve the contents of the proposed draft Successful Healthy Places Supplementary Planning Document as discussed in the report and attached as Appendix 1;

2)    gives delegated authority to the Assistant Director of Planning and Planning Policy, in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Planning Committee, to agree the final arrangements of the proposed consultation exercise on the Successful Healthy Places Supplementary Planning Document.