Local Plan 2019/20
Information directly from Hertsmere Planning New Local Plan: Engagement on the ‘potential sites for housing and employment’ https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/Planning--Building-Control/Planning-Policy/Local-Plan/New-Local-Plan/New-Local-Plan.aspx What is a Local Plan? A Local Plan is a document produced by the local planning authority for an area – in this case Hertsmere Borough Council - in consultation with local people and the many other organisations whose activities influence or are affected by what happens in the borough. It identifies the number of new homes and jobs required to meet local needs over the next 15 years and where development should take place to accommodate growth. The plan also identifies areas which need protecting or improving and the factors we will take into account when planning applications for any sort of development are being determined. It is an important document and has as a major influence on how the local area will change, develop, look and feel in the future. Why does Hertsmere need a new Local Plan? The current Local Plan consists of a set of different documents to guide development. It is based on evidence which was produced quite a long time ago and restricts new development to built-up areas. If we were to continue to follow the current plan then we would meet under half of the expected housing need in the borough. This would result in an even more acute shortage of new and affordable homes. It is now time to create a new overarching plan that will help shape the way the borough develops into the 2030s, based on up-to-date, objective evidence. Why are you considering building in the Green Belt? Our approach over several decades has been to focus new development within built up areas through the re-use of brownfield or previously developed land. Figures recently published by the Office for National Statistics and our own technical studies show that we need to be building more than double the number of homes we are currently looking to have built. We also need some additional land for employment development as this will help ensure our areas do not become dormitory towns over time. There isn’t room within our existing towns and villages to provide land for all this growth – and in fact 63 per cent of people responding to the first consultation said that new homes should not be built within the existing larger settlements. The only realistic option for meeting some of Hertsmere’s need for new homes, jobs and infrastructure is to plan to build in areas of the borough which are currently undeveloped. This could be on the edge of the existing built up area or in a new settlement altogether. What is important is to ensure that this is achieved in the most sustainable and attractive way possible What about infrastructure? We need new GP surgeries, schools, public transport, power supplies, drainage. The Local Plan is not just about new homes and jobs; we also need infrastructure including schools, GPs, public transport, roads, utilities, parks and leisure facilities to support that growth. The plan will set out clearly what infratsructure provision is needed when new homes are being built. Development will be carefully controlled to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is provided. This is most likely to be possible when larger numbers of homes are being built together as these infrastructure requirements can be planned and delivered as part of the overall development. We are currently preparing an Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP). This will include an assessment of the current provision within the area and, over time, will be extended to provide a fuller assessment of the infrastructure needed to support the development being suggested. The IDP will ensure that infrastructure requirements are fully taken into account in preparing the plan, and ensure that all the necessary infrastructure providers are involved in the plan preparation process Will the sites that are eventually chosen automatically get planning permission? No, any planning application to develop a site will still be subject to the relevant planning procedures and assessed accordingly. The purpose of the ‘potential sites’ process is to focus on whereabouts future development should take place. Why is council-owned land such as the former Bushey Country Club site included when the future of those sites have not yet been agreed? Our report does not make any recommendations on the future use of the Bushey Country Club site or any other land which we own. Any decisions on how important council-owned assets could be used in the future will only be taken after all options have been reviewed and we have listened to the community. However, it is important that any potential development opportunities are highlighted at this stage as it is harder to introduce sites later on in the process. Why do the approaches being considered include a new garden village? We need to look at areas beyond existing towns and villages if we are to be able to deliver all the homes, jobs and services that people in the borough need. Nearly half of the people that took part in the first consultation felt that a new settlement should be built. A significant advantage of providing some of the new development needed in this way is that the infrastructure required – including education, health, open space and transport facilities – can be planned and funded as part of the development as a whole. So a garden village may provide an opportunity to create an attractive, sustainable new community within the borough. How can I find out more about potential sites of less than 250 homes? Information on potential sites of less than 250 homes can be found within our land availability assessment. This is available on our website: https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/Planning--Building-Control/Planning-Policy/Local-Plan/Callfor-sites-and-HELAA.aspx How long is this all going to take? Preparing a new Local Plan takes time. Apart from the fact that we need to collect lots of information (‘evidence’) to justify the proposals and policies that the plan will eventually contain, we need to allow time for local people and other organisations to have their say. There are also government regulations setting out a number of stages and timescales with which we have to comply. After we have engaged on the potential sites for housing and employment we anticipate that we will have a draft plan ready for consultation by the end of 2019. Currently we anticipate having a final plan that the council will adopt during 2021. Further Questions If you have any further questions or comments about this briefing or the process of creating a new Local Plan, please contact us at: [email protected] VALID OBJECTIONS TO PLANNING: •Loss of light or overshadowing •Overlooking/loss of privacy •Visual amenity (but not loss of private view) •Adequacy of parking/loading/turning •Highway safety •Traffic generation •Noise and disturbance resulting from use •Hazardous materials•Smells •Loss of trees •Effect on listed building and conservation area •Layout and density of building •Design, appearance and materials •Landscaping •Road access •Local, strategic, regional and national planning policies •Government circulars, orders and statutory instruments •Disabled persons' access •Compensation and awards of costs against the Council at public enquiries •Proposals in the Development Plan •Previous planning decisions (including appeal decisions) •Nature conservation •Archaeology Air pollution - Case : Gladman v SCLG: https://www.airqualitynews.com/2017/11/14/planning-decision-upheld-after-air-quality-ruling/ Not Valid Reasons •The perceived loss of property value •Private disputes between neighbours •The loss of a view •The impact of construction work or competition between firms •Restrictive covenants •Ownerships disputes over rights of way •Fence lines etc •Personal morals or views about the applicant. Timescale
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