The Council shall consider planning applications in accordance with their Local Plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Local Plans are Council documents that set out the amount and distribution of housing and employment land over a specific period. The Council’s current plan is out of date.
The adopted Development Plan for Derby is the Derby City Local Plan (DCLP) Core Strategy (2017), and saved policies from the City of Derby Local Plan Review (2006). The adopted Local Plan sets out the Council’s planning strategy for the City up to 2028.
The Council is working on preparing a new Local Plan for Derby (LPD). Once adopted it will identify additional land for development and replace the current Local Plan. However, until the new plan is adopted, decisions on proposals will still be made using the policies of the adopted local plan. The Local Development Scheme (Feb 2025) anticipates adoption by Derby City Council by Summer 2027.
This development will assist in addressing the shortfall in housing that has been identified by Derby City Council. National policy requires the council demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply, however the latest published position is just 3.85 years, and as a result the policies most important for the determination of planning applications are out of date. This shortfall will need to be addressed through the provision of new residential sites across the City, such as the Land East of Moorway Lane.
As the Council are currently unable to demonstrate a 5 year housing land supply, Paragraph 11d of the NPPF dictates that planning permission should be granted unless any adverse impact of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits when assessed against the policies in the Framework when taken as a whole. The provision of a deliverable site such as this which can make a substantive and rapid contribution to recovering the shortfall in housing land supply and deliver much needed market and affordable homes should be given substantial weight in the planning balance.
The Site lies within the southern part of the Littleover/Sunnyhill Green Wedge (GW), as designated by Policy CP18 of the DCLP. This designation helps define neighbourhood boundaries, provides space for recreation and wildlife, supports flood management, and promotes local food production and well-being.
The design of the proposals has carefully considered the potential impact on the Green Wedge, with built development focused on the western part of the Site to preserve its overall width. A landscaped buffer is included along the southern and eastern edges of the Site to further protect its character.