Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive submitted a report (previously circulated) seeking approval for the adoption of Skerningham Garden Village Design Code Draft SPD.

The submitted report stated that a requirement ofthe adopted DarlingtonLocal Plan2016 – 2036(Darlington LocalPlan) was that the Councilprogress with the creation andadoption of Supplementary Planning Policy Documents(SPD) based on a Design Code for SkerninghamGarden Village. It was stated that, after a decisionof Cabinet on 13 December 2022, the Skerningham Garden VillageDesign Code Draft SPD had been formally consulted uponbetween 16 December2022 – 13January 2023. The Council received 102comments from 94 contributingconsultees on the Skerningham GardenVillage DesignCode DraftSPD, and all comments receivedand suggested revisions were appended to the submitted report.

Further to a Cabinet Meeting on 3 July 2023, the Council received correspondence which suggested that the Design Code previously recommended was in conflict with the Local Plan. After considering this further, Officers suggested further amendments to remove any perceived conflict, and these amendments were appended to the submitted report.

It was highlighted that the two consultation processes had ensured that all stakeholders had received the opportunity to comment on the draft SPD.  The submitted report stated that the Councilhad welcomed the various responses to the draft SPD and, given these extensivecomments andobservations, it had beenrequested thata refreshed documentwhich demonstrated positively the differences that have beenproposed inthe Skerningham Garden VillageDesign Code, and the DesignCode had been amended based on the received comments and was detailedin Appendix 3 of the submitted report.It was reported that the Skerningham Garden Village Supplementary Planning Document was endorsed by Cabinet on 5 September 2023.

RESOLVED - (a) That the comments received from the consultation and the subsequent revisions that have been made to the Skerningham Garden Village Design Code SPD be noted.

(b) That the adoption of the Skerningham Garden Village Design Code SPD (including the changes that were approved by Cabinet) be approved.

REASON – The document had gone through an extended consultation process with the wider public and statutory consultees and was fit and effective to be adopted as Council Policy complementing the Darlington Local Plan 2016-2036.