Issue - meetings

The Arun District Design Guide sets out the council’s expectations with regard to the design quality of new development, and for the preservation, conservation and enhancement of the built and natural environment with its distinctive character and qualities that can be found within the District.

The Planning Policy & Conservation Manager was invited by the Chair to present the report.  The purpose of the Arun District Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document was to provide more detail and explain what was meant by good design and to support policies in the adopted Arun Local Plan.  It was a material consideration and needed to go through statutory consultation as set out in the plan making regulations.  To ensure the guidance was as up to date as possible, it was proposed to update sections of the Design Guide to take onboard the National Highway Code changes and to carry out Statutory consultation.  The proposal was for consultation to take place from 4 December 2023 to 12 January 2024

               The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Tandy and seconded by Councillor Yeates.

The Chair invited questions or comment from Members.  One member referred to recent publicity concerning ill thought-out placing of traffic bollards along cycle paths across the Country.  The Planning Policy & Conservation Manager explained the intention of the Local Transport Note120 was the segregation of cyclists from the road carriageway where feasible, with the emphasis on safety.  The Group Head of Planning added that the Design Guide was specifically intended to assist the determination of planning applications for new developments. It was not to retro fit roads that may not be suitable or wide enough.  A member expressed his support for the amendments, as there were a lot of people in the District, as well as tourists who would like to cycle, walk, use mobility scooters but did not have the opportunity to do so.

The Committee

          RESOLVED to agree

1.    The contents of the proposed new sub chapters F.02, F.03, and F.04 of the Arun District Design Guide SPD update;

2.    The proposed approach and timetable for the public consultation on the Draft version of the Arun District Design Guide SPD update and that it should progress to consultation from 4 December 2023 to 12 January 2024; and

3.     That following consultation, the Design Guide be agreed (adopted) at the meeting of Planning Policy Committee on 30 January 2024 unless, in the event that significant amendments are necessary, following a further four week consultation, the Design guide be agreed at the Planning Policy meeting of 18 April 2024.