Cabinet approval for the publication of a Review of the Policy for public consultation, to reflect the requirements of the new Regional Spatial Strategy.

Members were reminded that the Council had adopted an Interim Planning Policy for New Housing Development in October 2005 to focus new housing development within a number of identified regeneration priority areas including the Newheartlands Housing Market Renewal Pathfinder (Cabinet, 20 October 2005, Minute  278 refers).

Cabinet on 6 November 2008 then resolved that the Interim Planning Policy be reviewed in response to the publication of the North West of England Plan Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021, following the outcome of a forthcoming planning appeal at Rockybank Road, Prenton (Minute 257 refers).

Planning Inspectors in two recent appeal decisions, at Rockybank Road, Prenton and at Beresford Road, Oxton, had concluded that the Interim Planning Policy would assist in meeting the objectives of in the new RSS, which set out priorities for development across the Region.  The Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Corporate Services therefore recommended that the Interim Planning Policy for New Housing Development be retained unaltered.

Resolved: - That the Interim Planning Policy for New Housing Development (October 2005) be retained unaltered for use in determining planning applications.