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Monitoring

The Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) is the formal procedure for monitoring implementation of the local plan. Whilst it is impracticable to collect data on every policy, lack of certainty as to whether current policies are being delivered is problematic. Informal feedback on policies can also be obtained e.g. from design forums.

In the first instance, policies relating to the food environment need clarity to ensure they can be implemented. 

Brighton and Hove Council have long had an ambition for food growing space to be provided in new development and, after 10 years, were disappointed at the improvement on the ground. They found out through their planning agents forum that developers did not understand what was expected of them. This led to a review of their planning advice note which is much more informative.

Potential indicators are listed in the policy options section of the toolkit. Including the local plan food policies in the monitoring framework will raise awareness of their beneficial impacts. A relatively easy indicator that can be recorded from planning applications is the proportion of new development that includes food growing spaces, orchards and allotments to focus attention on driving the percentage up. 

A monitoring and reporting procedure not only ensures implementation, but it develops case studies and leads to improvement.

A planning authority could capture information from planning applications through Health Impact assessments or locally designed checklists. (see HIA section)

Local authorities could capture research from local universities for the local plan evidence base. Other Council departments collect useful data e.g. Environmental Health will have a data base of food retailers.

Case study

Good Food Local: the North East report

All 12 North East local authorities, have participated in benchmarking local action on healthy and sustainable food.

The project, funded by Impact on Urban Health, has seen all 12 North East councils plus Cumberland Council submitting information about what action they are taking on food under six key themes, ranging from tackling food poverty, diet related ill-health and access to affordable healthy food, to building a sustainable food economy. Local Plan policies are part of the data collected and published on an interactive map.

Case study

Cheshire West and Chester 

Cheshire West and Chester reports annually on local plan policy DM 29 – Health impacts of new development by monitoring the number of approved planning applications on major schemes that included an assessment of health. In year 23/24, 6 out of 29 relevant major planning applications had an assessment of health (either separate or part of other documents). The change in land used for allotments derived from the 5 yearly Open Space Study is also reported in the Annual Monitoring Report.

https://consult.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/kse/folder/75217

Case study

Calderdale Local Plan adopted 2023

Calderdale publish a monitoring table with each Local Plan policy.

Table 15.1 Monitoring: Policy HW5 – Local Food Production

Outcomes Provision of growing space for local food production
Indicators Area of dedicated space for local food production
Targets All larger residential development has local food growing space

 

Table 15.2 Monitoring HW6: Hot Food Takeaways

Outcomes Management of distribution of hot food takeaways
Indicators Numbers of planning applications received for hot food takeaway use

Number of applications implemented

Number of outlets in the designated centres
Targets No hot food takeaway to be provided within 400m of a secondary school

 

Table 23.7 Monitoring: Policy GN7 – Allotments 

Outcomes The protection and provision of allotments in Calderdale 
Indicators Ease of access to local open space – increased participation in community food growing

Amount of open space lost to development 
Targets Improved health and wellbeing

Reduced waiting lists for allotments – increased participation in community food growing 

Increase the Borough’s overall open space provision year on year to 2031

 

Table 23.8 Monitoring: Policy GN8 – Local Green Space 

Outcomes The protection and provision of local green spaces in Calderdale 
Indicators Ease of access to local green space 

Amount of local green space lost to development Indicators 
Targets Improved health and wellbeing 

Improved access to local green space