Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 December 2009 LDF* Part of the Local Development Framework
Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Local Development Framework Annual Monitoring Report 2008/2009
Published December 2009
C.J. Conway Director of Strategy and Development Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council Council Offices The Campus Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire AL8 6AE
Tel. 01707 357532 Fax. 01707 357285 Email: [email protected]
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Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Contents
Glossary...... 7
Introduction ...... 1
Progress of the Welwyn Hatfield Local Development Framework ...... 8
Monitoring and Implementation of Saved Policies ...... 19
The Environment...... 23
Safe, Healthy and Strong Communities...... 30
Work and Jobs ...... 34
Town Centres, Shopping and Leisure facilities...... 42
Travel ...... 50
New Homes ...... 53
Homes for All ...... 65
Appendices ...... 70
Appendix A - 5 Year Land Supply and Housing Trajectory Assumptions ...... 70
Appendix B Sample Land Availability Monitoring Letter ...... 72
Appendix C - Sample Housing Land Availability Monitoring – Planning Permission Update...... 73
Appendix D Lapse Rate - Housing Sites (less than 10 dwellings) ...... 74
Appendix E - Use Classes Order (Amendment 2005) ...... 75
Appendix F – National Core Output Indicators Summary Tables ...... 76
Appendix G – Local Indicators Summary Table...... 79
Appendix H – Trajectory Summary Table ...... 81
Appendix I – Trajectory Housing Site List...…...…...…...…...…...…...…...……...……………………98
Contents ׀ iii Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Introduction ׀ iv Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Executive Summary
This is the fifth Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) produced by Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. The Annual Monitoring Report is one of the key components of the Local Development Framework (LDF). Its main purpose is to assess the implementation of the Local Development Scheme (LDS); report on key milestones and the extent to which policies in the Local Development Documents (LDDs) are being successfully implemented. This AMR reports on the period 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2009, which is known as the reporting year.
Local Development Framework
• Consultation on the Core Strategy Issues and Options was carried out between March and May 2009. Around 6,500 comments have been received. • A number of key pieces of technical work were completed this year, including The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, The Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Investment Strategy, An Assessment of Open Space, Outdoor Sports and Recreation, The Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, The London Arc Hertfordshire Employment Land Review and The Rye Meads Water Cycle Study
General
• Following publication of the East of England Plan, there was a successful legal challenge to the plan. This relates to the level of housing numbers for Welwyn Hatfield and Dacorum and the need for a Green Belt review. The High Court Judge ruled that relevant parts of the plan should be remitted to the Secretary of State for re-determination.
• The population of Welwyn Hatfield in 2008 was estimated to be 108,300, an increase of 1,600 from the estimated 2007 figure.
New Homes
• In the reporting year, 327 net additional dwellings were completed in Welwyn Hatfield. • 99.7% of all completed dwellings were on previously developed land. • Approximately 80% of new dwellings were built at a density of 30 dwellings per hectare or higher. • Due to the legal challenge to the East of England Plan, Welwyn Hatfield currently does not have a regional housing allocation. Therefore in order to calculate our housing land supply position we have had to revert to the target set out in the District Plan. This relates to the target set by the Hertfordshire Structure Plan of 5,600 dwellings (280 dwellings per year) between 1991 and 2011 and this will be rolled forward until a new target is adopted. • Of the 5,600 dwellings required in Welwyn Hatfield by the Hertfordshire Structure Plan between 1991 and 2011, 6,474 have now been completed. This means that the target has already been met and exceeded. • Welwyn Hatfield currently has a 5 year housing land supply.
Executive Summary ׀ v Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Work and Jobs
• Average weekly earnings are above regional and national averages in Welwyn Hatfield. • Unemployment levels have increased in Welwyn Hatfield but are still below county, regional and national averages. • There has been an overall gain of employment floorspace (B use class) of 51,672m² during the reporting year. The majority of this is new employment development on the former Hatfield Aerodrome site.
The Environment
• One wildlife site has been deselected during the reporting year. The site is an allocated housing site. • Four new local nature reserves have been designated (totalling around 14ha) • King George V playing fields have received a Green Flag Award for the first time.
Quality of Life
• Life expectancy is above the national average in Welwyn Hatfield at 78.8 years for males and 82.8 years for females. • A new police station has opened in Hatfield. The police station on St Albans Road East has now closed and all operations moved to the new site on Comet Way. • Crime levels has continued to fall in 2008/9 to approximately 73 recorded crimes per 1,000 people in 2008/9. This is in line with the Hertfordshire average of 74.
Town Centres, Shopping and Leisure facilities
• There has a net increase of 869m² A1 retail floorspace in the borough over the reporting year. The majority of the gain was the extension of the Waitrose store in Welwyn Garden City. • Shop front vacancy rates have increased slightly in Hatfield town centre from 11% to 12%. Vacancy in Welwyn Garden City has increased from 3% to 6% in the past year.
Executive Summary ׀ vi Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Glossary
Annual Monitoring Report (AMR): A report submitted to the Government by local planning authorities or regional planning bodies assessing progress with, and the effectiveness of a Local Development Framework.
Affordable Housing (including intermediate or sub-market housing): Includes social rented and intermediate housing provided to specified eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Affordable housing should: • meet the needs of eligible households including availability at a cost low enough for them to afford, determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices; and • include provisions for: (i) the home to be retained for future eligible households; or (ii) if these restrictions are lifted, for any subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision (CLG, 2006, Delivering Affordable Housing).
Amenity Green Space: Village greens, landscaped green space in and around housing and informal recreation spaces. Given their size and nature they tend to have local catchments, providing opportunities for passive recreation (e.g. reading) and informal children’s play for residents in close proximity. Amenity green spaces do not always need to be used for informal recreation purposes; they can also enhance the character or appearance of an area.
Best Value: The way an authority measures, manages and improves its performance in line with Government targets.
Bio-diversity: The whole variety of life encompassing all genetics, species and ecosystem variations, including plants and animals
Community Strategy: Prepared by the Local Strategic Partnership it co-ordinates the actions of local public, private, voluntary and community sectors with the aim of improving the social, environmental and economic well-being of its area.
Core Strategy: A Development Plan Document, forming part of the Local Development Framework for an area, which sets out the long-term spatial vision, and strategic policies and proposals to deliver the vision. A key diagram may be used to indicate broad locations for strategic developments.
Chelmer Model: The Chelmer Population and Housing Model is a demographic regional housing model developed by the Population and Housing Research Group as part of a research project supported by the Housing Research Foundation. It is based on projections of population, households, dwellings and labour supply over the period 2001-2021. The projections examine a number of variants, relating to assumptions about levels of net migration, net additions of dwellings and economic activity rates (Anglia Ruskin University).
Comparison shopping: Comparison retailing is the provision of items not obtained on a frequent basis. These include clothing, footwear, household and recreational goods.
Glossary ׀ vii Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Convenience shopping: Convenience retailing is the provision of everyday essential items, including food, drinks, newspapers/magazines and confectionery.
Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO): An order issued by the government or a local authority to acquire land or buildings for public interest purposes. For example, for the construction of a major road or the redevelopment of certain brownfield sites
DCLG: Department of Communities and Local Government.
DTLR: Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, disbanded in May 2002.
Development Plan Documents (DPDs): Statutory planning documents that together with the Regional Spatial Strategy and the Waste and Minerals Development Framework will form the development plan for Welwyn Hatfield. DPDs are subject to independent examination. DPDs can include a Core Strategy, Site Specific Allocations of land and Area Action Plans. Other DPDs including generic Development Control Policies can be produced.
Dual Use Agreement: An agreement between a local community organisation such as a school and local authority over the use of the sporting facilities. This is so that the community can use the facilities in out of school hours.
Employment Land Availability Survey (ELA): A survey of all outstanding employment based planning permissions in order to assess the status of each development. Undertaken annually in April.
Enabling Development: Enabling development is development that is contrary to established planning policy, but which is occasionally permitted because it brings public benefits that have been demonstrated clearly to outweigh the harm that would be caused, and which could not otherwise be achieved. The key public benefit in the context of the historic environment is securing their long term future, but may include, for example, a degree of public access, or contributions to biodiversity.
Excluded Settlements: Towns and settlements which are excluded from the Green belt
Freedom of Information Act (2000): provides the public with a general right of access to information held by public authorities. Green Corridor: An area that links housing, education and employment areas and different types of open space. It facilitates sustainable forms of transport and creates opportunities for wildlife migration. Examples include cycleways and rights of way.
Green Flag Award: is the national standard for parks and green spaces in England and Wales. The award scheme began in 1996 as a means of recognising and rewarding the best green spaces in the country. Awards are given on an annual basis and winners must apply each year to renew their Green Flag status.
Glossary ׀ viii Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Green Infrastructure: Network of open space, woodlands, wildlife habitat parks and other natural areas, which sustain clean air, water, and natural resources and enrich their citizens' quality of life.
Grey Infrastructure: Roads, sewers, utilities etc.
GO East: Government Office for the East of England, which covers Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): is a key indicator of the state of the whole economy, In the UK, three theoretical approaches are used to estimate GDP: ‘production’, ‘income’ and ‘expenditure’.
Gross Value Added (GVA): measures the contribution to the economy of each individual producer, industry or sector in the United Kingdom.
Household: Households according to the Department for Communities and Local Government are defined as one person living alone or a group of people living at the same address with common housekeeping – that is, shared either a living room or at least one meal a day. Households are divided into five categories:
Married couple household: a household which contains one or more married couple families. Cohabiting couple household: a household which contains one or more cohabiting couple families, but no married couple families. Lone parent household: a household which contains one or more lone parent families, but no married couple or cohabiting couple families. Other multi person household: a multi person household that is neither a married couple household nor a cohabiting couple household nor a lone parent household. Examples include, lone parents with only non dependent children, brothers and sisters and unrelated (and non-cohabiting) adults sharing a house or flat. One person household: a person living alone who shares neither housekeeping nor a living room with anyone else, not necessarily in a one bedroom dwelling.
Housing Trajectory: The means of showing past and future housing performance by identifying the predicted provision of housing over the lifespan of the local development framework.
Indices of Deprivation 2007 (IMD): The IMD 2007 is a measure of multiple deprivation at small area level. The IMD is constructed from seven domains, with each of the domains measuring a separate aspect of deprivation. Various statistical techniques have been used to combine the domain indices into a single index of multiple deprivation which gives a score and a rank for each of the 32,482 Super Output Areas in England.
Intermediate affordable housing: housing at prices and rents above those of social rent but below market price or rents, and which meet the criteria set out for affordable housing (above). These can include shared equity (e.g. HomeBuy) and other low cost homes for sale, and intermediate rent (CLG, 2006, Delivering Affordable Housing).
Glossary ׀ ix Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Local Area of Play (LAP): small area of unsupervised open space specifically designated for young children for play activities close to where they live. They mainly cater for 4-6 year olds and should be appropriate for low-key games such as hopscotch.
Local Development Document: the collective term used in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act for Development Plan Documents, Supplementary Planning Documents and other LDF documents such as the Statement of Community Involvement, the Local Development Scheme and the Annual Monitoring Report.
Lifetime Homes: Houses designed to provide accessible and convenient homes for a large segment of the population from young children to frail older people and those with temporary or permanent physical or sensory impairments. Lifetime Homes have 16 design features that ensure that the home will be flexible enough to meet the existing and changing needs of most households.
Local Development Framework: the name for the portfolio of Local Development Documents and related documents which will provide the framework for delivering the spatial planning strategy for the borough. A Local Development Framework can consist of:
• Development Plan Documents; • Supplementary Planning Documents; • Area Action Plans; • A Proposals Map; • A Local Development Scheme; • The Statement of Community Involvement; • The Local Development Scheme; and • Annual Monitoring Reports.
Local Development Scheme (LDS): sets out the programme for the preparation of the various Local Development Documents that will form the Local Development Framework.
Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP): unsupervised play area equipped for children of early school age. These mainly cater for 4-8 year olds and should offer at least 5 types of play equipment.
Local Strategic Partnership (LSP): A partnership that brings together organisations from the public, private, community and voluntary sector within the borough, with the objective of improving people’s quality of life. In Welwyn Hatfield the LSP is known as the Welwyn Hatfield Alliance. There is also a county-wide LSP, known as Herts Forward which supports the ten district LSPs that are delivering the ten Local Community Strategies.
Mitigation: To seek to reduce the impact of a proposed action, such as the development of a site rich in biodiversity; for example, by modifying the development proposals in such a way that high quality habitats are damaged or destroyed to a lesser extent. Natural Green Space: Grasslands (e.g. commons and meadows) and areas of woodland which are either matured or semi-matured. They have recreational value, but their primary function is to protect and enhance biodiversity.
Glossary ׀ x Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (NEAP): unsupervised site providing for a large residential area. Should cater for 8-14 year olds and should offer at least 8 types of play equipment.
Notifiable Offences: An offence on the designated list of crime types that constitutes total recoded crime. All of the more serious types of crimes that can be tried in the Crown Court (i.e. indictable and triable either way offences) are notifiable plus a few of the remaining crimes that can only be tried in the magistrates courts (i.e. summary offences). (ONS definition)
Open Space: According to PPG 17 Open Space is defined as any one of the following 9 typologies: allotments, amenity green spaces, cemeteries and graveyards, civic spaces, provision for children and teenagers, green corridors, outdoor sports facilities, parks and gardens and natural/semi-natural green space.
Output Indicators: measure the direct effects of a policy. Used to assess whether policy targets have been achieved using available information.
Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004): Primary legislation which replaces parts of the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, and introduces the new spatial planning system.
Planning Policy Statement (PPS): Are prepared by the Government to explain statutory provisions and provide guidance on planning policy and the operation of the planning system. Local authorities must take their contents into account in preparing plans. Guidance may also be relevant to decisions on individual planning applications.
Preferred Options Document: Produced as part of the preparation of Development Plan Documents and the Statement of Community Involvement. Sets out the Council’s preferred options. Made available for statutory public consultation in order that representations can be made.
Proposals Map: Illustrates on an Ordnance Survey map the policies and proposals in the Development Plan Documents. Inset Maps show policies and proposals for specific parts of the borough.
Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS): Prepared by Regional Planning Bodies such as the East of England Regional Assembly, to provide a broad development strategy for a region over a 15 to 20 year period. The Regional Spatial Strategy:
• identifies the scale and distribution of new housing in the region; • indicates areas for regeneration, expansion or sub-regional planning; and • specifies priorities for environment, transport, infrastructure, economic development, agriculture, minerals and waste treatment and disposal.
Replaces Regional Planning Guidance and policies contained within the county-wide Structure Plans and forms part of the development plan for the area.
Residential Land Availability Survey (RLA): A survey of all outstanding residential planning permissions in order to assess the status of each development. Undertaken annually in April. Glossary ׀ xi Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Retail warehouses: Large stores specialising in the sale of household goods (such as carpets, furniture and electrical goods), DIY items and other ranges of goods, catering mainly for car-borne customers.
Secretary of State (SoS) (for planning and other matters): An appointed Government Minister with a specific portfolio covering local and regional government, housing, planning, fire, regeneration, social exclusion and neighbourhood renewal (currently the responsibility of the Department for Communities and Local Government and the First Secretary of State). The Secretary of State has powers to intervene on development plans and planning applications under certain circumstances.
Section 106 Agreement (S106): Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 allows a local authority (LPA) to enter into a legally-binding agreement or planning obligation, with a land developer over a related issue. Such agreements can cover almost any relevant issue and can include sums of money. S106 agreements can act as a main instrument for placing restrictions on the developers, often requiring them to minimise the impact on the local community and to carry out tasks, which will provide community benefits.
Site Specific Allocations Development Plan Document: A document identifying site allocations for a range of land uses such as housing, employment, retail, leisure, community uses, urban open spaces, cemeteries, education, as appropriate.
Social rented housing: rented housing owned and managed by local authorities and RSLs, for which the guideline target rents are determined though the national rent regime. It may also include rented housing owned or managed by other persons and provided under equivalent rental arrangements as to the above, as agreed with the local authority or with the housing corporation as a condition of grant (CLG, 2006, Delivering Affordable Housing).
Statement of Community Involvement (SCI): sets out how the Local Planning Authority will involve the community in the preparation, alteration and review of Local Development Documents and in the consideration of planning applications.
Statutorily Homeless: Those households which meet specific criteria of priority need set out in legislation, and to whom a homelessness duty has been accepted by a local authority. Such households are rarely homeless in the literal sense of being without a roof over their heads, but are more likely to be threatened with the loss of, or are unable to continue with, their current accommodation.
Strategic Environmental Assessment: European Directive 2001/42/EC and the SEA Regulations 2004 require a strategic assessment of certain plans and programmes which are likely to have significant effects on the environment.
Submission Document: The Council’s final version of a Development Plan Document or a Statement of Community Involvement, produced following consultation on a preferred options document, and which the Council submits to the Secretary of State for independent examination.
Super Output Areas (SOA) Sub-ward areas, with average populations of around 1500.
Glossary ׀ xii Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Supplementary Planning Document: Provide supplementary information to support the policies in Development Plan Documents. They do not form part of the Development Plan and are not subject to independent examination.
Sustainability Appraisal (SA) including Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): A systematic and iterative appraisal process, incorporating the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive. The purpose of sustainability appraisal is to appraise the social, environmental and economic effects of the strategies and policies in a local development document from the outset of the preparation process. This will ensure that decisions are made that accord with sustainable development.
Urban Fringe: Open land which is on the edge of an existing urban area.
Welwyn Hatfield Alliance: This is the Local Strategic Partnership for the borough. The Alliance is made up of the Executive Board (Steering Group), the Wider Alliance and nine forums, dealing with specific issues, i.e. Community Safety partnership, Learning Forum, Environmental forum, Business Forum, Health and Community partnership, Strategic Housing Partnership, Cultural Consortium, Transport Forum and Children and Young People Partnership.
Disclaimer
This Glossary is neither a statement of law nor an interpretation of the law, and its status is only as an introductory guide to planning issues and it should not therefore be used as a source for statutory definitions.
Glossary ׀ xiii
Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Introduction
What is the Annual Monitoring Report?
1. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council is responsible for producing the Local Development Framework (LDF), which is a portfolio of documents that collectively deliver the spatial planning strategy for the local area. In accordance with section 35 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act and regulation 48 of the Town & Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004, the Council is required to produce an Annual Monitoring Report (AMR). The main purpose of the AMR is to:
• review actual progress in terms of local development document preparation against the timetable and milestones in the local development scheme; • assess the extent to which policies in local development documents are being implemented; • where policies are not being implemented, explain why and set out the steps to be taken to ensure that the policy is implemented; or whether the policy is to be amended or replaced; • identify the significant effects of implementing policies in local development documents and whether policies are to be amended or replaced.
2. This is the fifth AMR submitted to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (via the Government Office for the East of England) under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, 2004 and covers the period 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2009.
How to use this document
3. The layout of the AMR was changed last year in line with the emerging Core Strategy. This AMR will follow the same format as the 2007/8 AMR. The chapters are themed by topic which include all relevant contextual, national and local indicators. A summary table of all indicators can be found in the appendix.
4. Each chapter begins with a green ‘In this chapter…’ box, which summarises the information found within it. See example below.
In this Chapter…
Indicators
5. The AMR currently contains 3 different types of indicators, contextual, national and local. The indicators are spread throughout the document according to their relevant chapter. The 3 different types of indicators are highlighted by different coloured boxes, see examples below.
Introduction ׀ 1 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Contextual Indicators
Contextual Indicators
6. Contextual indicators help to create an ‘area profile’ of Welwyn Hatfield both in general terms and to complement each themed chapter. The contextual indicators describe the wider social, environmental and economic background against which the Local Development Framework policy operates.
National Core Output Indicators
National Core Output Indicators
7. The set of National Core Output Indicators in the report originate from the Local Development Framework Monitoring Good Practice Guide and updated guidance dated July 2008 (Update 2/2008). The indicators record measurable events in Welwyn Hatfield between the dates of 1st April 2008 and 31st March 2009.
Local Performance Indicators
Local Indicators
8. A number of local performance indicators have been developed alongside the District Plan. As progress is made with local development documents, further local targets and indicators will be developed. Most of those National Core Output Indicators, which were deleted from the July 2008 updated guidance, have become Local Indicators for Welwyn Hatfield.
Significant Effects Indicators
9. The ‘Local Development Framework Monitoring Good Practice Guide’ states that significant effects indicators should be developed alongside local output indicators and be linked to sustainability appraisal objectives and indicators. Welwyn Hatfield currently has significant effects indicators relating to the Broadwater Road West Site and will begin monitoring them as the site progresses. Other significant effects indicators will come from the Core Strategy sustainability appraisal and will be included in future AMRs.
Targets
10. Where a local plan policy includes a specific requirement, it is expressed as a target against which progress is measured. However, as the majority of ‘saved’ local plan policies do not have a formal objective with a measurable target, it is difficult to apply output indicators to them. In these instances an assessment has been made as to whether or not the broad aim of the policy is being met.
11. Where appropriate the indicators shown in each themed chapter include targets, outputs and performance measurement. The performance of Welwyn Hatfield against the target is illustrated by the following symbols:
Introduction ׀ 2 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
☺ Target achieved Target not achieved No Change
Welwyn Hatfield Borough
Figure 1 - Map of Welwyn Hatfield Borough
Introduction ׀ 3 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Introduction to the borough
12. Welwyn Hatfield borough is located centrally within Hertfordshire and covers an area of approximately 130 square kilometres. It is bordered by Hertsmere to the south west, St Albans to the west, North Hertfordshire to the north and East Hertfordshire and Broxbourne to the east. The very south of the borough borders the London Borough of Enfield. The Metropolitan Green Belt covers 79% of the borough, which is approximately 10,248 hectares.
13. The borough has two main towns, Welwyn Garden City, with a resident population of 43,252 and Hatfield, with a resident population of 27,8831. Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield are the main sources of housing for the borough, contain the major shopping and service facilities and are the principal locations for local employment. The borough also contains a number of smaller settlements, which are excluded from the Green Belt. These settlements are a source of housing together with local shops and services. They are Brookmans Park, Cuffley, Digswell, Little Heath, Oaklands and Mardley Heath, Welham Green, Welwyn and Woolmer Green. The borough also contains a number of small villages, hamlets and areas of sporadic or ribbon development, all of which are located within the Green Belt.
14. Welwyn Hatfield is highly accessible from north and south by road and rail. Motorway connections are good with the A1(M) passing through the borough north-south and connecting to the M25 to the south. The main east coast railway line runs from London to the North East of England and Edinburgh. Regular services run from Kings Cross to Cambridge and Peterborough calling at Hatfield, Welwyn Garden City and Welwyn North. In addition, slower services to Moorgate also call at Welham Green and Brookmans Park. There is also a station at Cuffley which is on the suburban line from London to Stevenage via Hertford North.
Geography
15. Welwyn Hatfield is located within the Hertfordshire Central River Valley and the South Hertfordshire Plateau. The predominant soil type in Welwyn Hatfield is the Paleoargillic brown earths, which cover most of the northern and central areas. To the south on the South Hertfordshire Plateau there is a smaller area of Stagnogley soils2.
16. The borough contains three river catchments (the Upper Colne, Upper Lee and the Lower Lee) and three main rivers (the Lee, Mimram and the Mimmshall Brook). The river Mimram rises in North Hertfordshire and flows through Welwyn and Digswell joining the river Lee in Hertford. The river Lee rises in Luton and flows through the borough at Brocket Park,
1 ONS Census 2001 © Crown Copyright 2 Welwyn Hatfield Landscape Character Assessment, Hertfordshire County Council (April 2005) Introduction ׀ 4 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Lemsford, Stanborough and Hatfield Park. It continues to Hertford and through East London to the river Thames. The Mimmshall Brook rises to the east of Borehamwood and flows from south to north through Welwyn Hatfield to the river Colne. The river valleys of the Mimram and the Lee are generally shallow in character. The Mimram has good water quality and is of regional importance because of the diverse habitats it provides2.
Population
17. The population of Welwyn Hatfield was 108,300 in mid 2008, which is an increase of 1,600 from the mid 2007 estimate of 106,7003. Figure 2 shows how the population of Welwyn Hatfield has changed between 1981 and 2008 and how it is projected to change to 2031 (based on past trends).
160,000 ONS Mid Year Population Estimates ONS 2006 Based Population Projections 140,000
120,000
100,000
80,000 Population
60,000
40,000
20,000
0 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025 2027 2029 2031
Figure 2 – Welwyn Hatfield Population 1981 (mid year estimates) to 2031 (projections)3 & 4
Table 1 – Components of change between mid-2007 and mid-2008 population estimates4 Net % Mid 2007 Live Natural Migration Total Mid 2008 change Area Deaths Population Births Change & other Change population 2007 to changes 2008 Hertfordshire 1,066,100 14,400 9,000 5,400 6,800 12,300 1,078,400 1.15% Broxbourne 89,500 1,200 700 500 100 600 90,100 0.67% Dacorum 138,600 1,900 1,200 700 300 1,000 139,600 0.72% East Herts 134,000 1,600 1,000 600 900 1,500 135,500 1.12% Hertsmere 97,000 1,300 900 400 1,300 1,700 98,700 1.75% North Herts 122,500 1,600 1,200 300 900 1,200 123,800 0.98% St Albans 132,300 2,000 1,000 1,000 400 1,400 133,700 1.06% Stevenage 79,400 1,100 700 500 100 600 80,000 0.76%
3 ONS Mid year population estimates 2008. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15106 4 Office for National Statistics. Crown copyright 2009. Cited in Mid Year Population Estimates Hertfordshire 2008. Hertfordshire County Council http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/hcc/env/factsfigs/population/popestimates/midyear/ Introduction ׀ 5 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Net % Mid 2007 Live Natural Migration Total Mid 2008 change Area Deaths Population Births Change & other Change population 2007 to changes 2008 Three Rivers 86,400 1,100 800 300 900 1,300 87,700 1.50% Watford 79,700 1,300 700 700 600 1,200 81,000 1.51% Welwyn 106,700 1,300 900 400 1,300 1,700 108,300 1.59% Hatfield Figures may not sum due to rounding
18. There was a larger number of births than deaths in Welwyn Hatfield between mid 2007 and mid 2008, which lead to a net increase of 400 people. The largest component of change in Welwyn Hatfield has been ‘net migration and other changes’, which accounted for an increase of 1,300 people in the borough between mid 2007 and mid 2008. Table 2 shows the breakdown of the changes from internal and international migration. There have been 8,300 people moving into the borough between mid 2007 and mid 2008, however 7,100 have moved out of the borough. This results in a net increase in 1,200 people, of which half were internal migrants and half were international migrants. Of all the Hertfordshire districts this is the second highest level of migration after Hertsmere, which has had an increase of 1,400 people.
Table 2 – Internal and international migration components of change between the mid-2007 and mid-2008 population estimates for Hertfordshire and Districts Internal Migration International Migration Area Net Migration In Out Net In Out Net Hertfordshire 43,700 39,400 4,300 9,600 7,100 2,500 6,800 Broxbourne 4,700 4,600 100 300 300 0 100 Dacorum 6,400 6,300 100 1,000 800 200 300 East Herts 7,300 6,600 700 1,000 900 100 800 Hertsmere 6,100 5,300 800 1,300 700 600 1,400 North Herts 6,900 5,800 1,100 600 800 -200 900 St Albans 7,000 6,800 200 1,700 1,400 300 500 Stevenage 3,600 3,600 0 400 300 100 100 Three Rivers 5,200 4,600 600 900 500 400 1,000 Watford 5,300 5,100 200 1,100 600 500 700 Welwyn Hatfield 6,900 6,300 600 1,400 800 600 1,200 Figures may not sum due to rounding Internal migration into and out of Hertfordshire is not the sum of numbers moving into or out of component districts, as some migrants move between districts as well.
Introduction ׀ 6 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 2001 Population Pyramids
Welwyn Hatfield Population Pyramid - 2001 Census England Population Pyramid - 2001 Census
85+ 85+ Females Males Females 80-84 Males 80-84 75-79 75-79 70-74 70-74 65-69 65-69 60-64 60-64 55-59 55-59 50-54 50-54 45-49 45-49 40-44 40-44 Age Group Age Group Age 35-39 35-39 30-34 30-34 25-29 25-29 20-24 20-24 15-19 15-19 10-14 10-14 5-9 5-9 0-4 0-4
5432101234554321012345 Population (% ot total population) Population (% of total population)
2031 Population Pyramids (projections)
Welwyn Hatfield Projected Population Pyramid 2031 England Projected Population Pyramid 2031
85+ 85+ Males Females 80-84 Males Females 80-84 75-79 75-79 70-74 70-74 65-69 65-69 60-64 60-64 55-59 55-59 50-54 50-54 45-49 45-49 40-44 40-44 Age Group 35-39 Group Age 35-39 30-34 30-34 25-29 25-29 20-24 20-24 15-19 15-19 10-14 10-14 5-9 5-9 0-4 0-4
54321012345 54321012345 Population (% of total population) Population (% of total population)
Figure 3 – 2001 & 2021 Population Pyramids (Welwyn Hatfield & England)
19. The population pyramids above show the expected changes to the age structure of the population of Welwyn Hatfield (left) in 2001 and 2031, compared to the England average (right). The 2001 pyramids for Welwyn Hatfield and England are broadly similar in shape, with a higher proportion of people in the mid age ranges gradually becoming narrower at the top in the older age groups.
20. By 2031 the population structure of Welwyn Hatfield is expected to remain broadly similar in shape, with a higher proportion of people in the 20 – 45 age groups. However, a notable difference is the increase of people in the 85+ category, particularly females. By 2031 the age structure of England is expected to become less pyramid shaped with more similar proportion of people in each age group, as the population ages and people live longer.
Introduction ׀ 7 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Progress of the Production of the Welwyn Hatfield Local Development
Framework
In this Chapter…
This chapter outlines the progress on Welwyn Hatfield’s Local Development Framework (LDF) and the accompanying technical work.
East of England Plan
This consists of the East of England Plan published in May 2008, and Accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople in the East of England published in July 2009.
Legal Challenge Following publication of the East of England Plan, there was a successful legal challenge to the plan. This relates to the level of housing numbers for Welwyn Hatfield and Dacorum and the need for a Green Belt review. The High Court Judge ruled that relevant parts of the plan should be remitted to the Secretary of State for re-determination.
The rest of the East of England Plan remains unaffected. This means that the remaining majority of policies and supporting text retain full Development Plan status.
The Government Office, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, will now respond to the judgment in respect of ‘determining’ the plan.
Waste and Minerals Development Framework
21. This is produced by Hertfordshire County Council. For more information visit http://www.hertsdirect.org/envroads/environment/plan/hccdevplan/wasteplanning/
Local Development Scheme (LDS)
22. The Local Development Scheme (LDS) was published in April 2005 and the milestones are now out of date. There is a need to review the LDS, however this has been delayed due to the legal challenge to the East of England Plan.
Progress of LDF ׀ 8 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Core Strategy
23. During the reporting year, we have consulted on our Core Strategy Issues and Options document.
Evidence Base - ongoing Pre-Issues and Options Consultation – Done - March 2009 Issues and Options - public consultation March- May 2009
24. The project timetable for the preparation of further stages in the production of the Core Strategy is under review and will be finalised once the project plan for the repair of the East of England Plan has been finalised.
Core Strategy Issues and Options Site Allocations Consultation
25. Work has commenced on the evidence Between March and May 2009, we gathering for the Site Allocations. consulted on the Core Strategy Issues Consultation will commence in 2010. and Options. We had exhibitions around the towns and villages of the Statement of Community Borough and over 1,000 people attended in total. We have received around 6,500 Involvement (SCI) responses to the consultation and are currently in the process of reviewing and 26. The SCI was adopted in January 2007 and analysing the comments. The next step is available on the website. The SCI will be will be to consult on our preferred set of reviewed to reflect changes in the new strategies. PPS12. Hatfield Town Centre Regeneration
27. Planning permission for the town centre redevelopment scheme was given in March 2007 following the completion of the accompanying Section 106 agreement. The developers St. Modwen made an application to GO East for a Highways Stopping Up Order to enable the highway works required to support the redevelopment scheme. In conjunction the Council also applied to GO East to make use of its Compulsory Purchase Powers to enable the redevelopment to move ahead. Objections were received to both applications and a conjoined public inquiry was held in regard of the road closure orders and the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in September 2007. Following the inquiry the Secretary of State approved and confirmed both the CPO and the Highways Stopping Up Order in January 2008. Given the current economic climate, the Council, St. Modwen and the Homes and
Progress of LDF ׀ 9 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Communities Agency are working together to review the scheme and are looking at possible alternative, viable approaches to the regeneration of the town centre.
Broadwater Road West Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
28. Public consultation (regulation 17 stage) on the draft SPD took place in April/May 2008 and the SPD was adopted in December 2008.
WGC Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)
29. Urban Practitioners were appointed in 2006 to produce the SPD. Early public consultation and discussions with key stakeholders has taken place along with site analysis to identify the key issues and opportunities. This included an Action Planning Day held in September 2006. Early transportation survey and analysis has also highlighted the need to produce a transport model which was commissioned in May 2008 and is now being used to test the highway impacts of different development options. The role of the SPD is under consideration in the light of new evidence resulting from the Retail and Town Centre Needs Assessment, and the Welwyn Garden City Leisure and Community Review. As such the Council has proposed to refocus the work that has taken place to date and develop an Area Action Plan (AAP). This proposal was included in the Core Strategy Issues and Options report and subject to consultation in March/April 2009.
Sustainability Appraisal, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulation Assessment (SA, SEA and HRA)
30. Land Use Consultants were appointed in November 2007 to conduct a Sustainability Appraisal, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Habitat Regulation Assessment of the Local Development Framework Development Plan Documents.
31. The first stage of Sustainability Appraisal /Strategic Environmental assessment process has been completed with the production of a scoping report. The scoping report was prepared following a stakeholder workshop and further statutory consultation, which ended in May 2008. The report sets out the sustainability issues and objectives in the borough and provides a framework for the appraisal. The work will be ongoing to influence the strategy and policies of the Local Development Framework, and to assess its sustainability.
Local Development Framework Evidence Base
Retail and Town Centre Needs Assessment (PPS6)
32. Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners were appointed in May 2007 to undertake an assessment of the retail and town centre floorspace requirements for the period up to 2021 in Welwyn Hatfield. The report includes:
Progress of LDF ׀ 10 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
• a qualitative assessment of existing retail, leisure and entertainment facilities in the borough; • an assessment of future needs for additional retail, commercial leisure and office facilities; • an assessment of the capacity of the borough’s town and neighbourhood / village centres; and • a policy review and proposed issues and options for the Council’s Local Development Framework.
33. The findings of the assessment were informed by a survey of 1502 households within the borough and parts of neighbouring authorities, a survey of 400 visitors within Hatfield and Welwyn Garden City town centres, and a postal canvas of national/regional multiple retailers and leisure operators. The report is based on survey data from June 2007 and was published in November 2007. The report is available on the website.
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (PPS3)
34. The Council commissioned consultants Tribal Urban Studio (formerly Llewelyn Davies Yeang) to carry out a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) in March 2007. The purpose of the SHLAA is to consider sources of supply for new housing, quantify supply and consider the deliverability and developability of sites taking into account sustainability issues and physical constraints as well as looking at possible broad locations for development. Consultation with the Home Builders’ Federation, landowners, planning agents and developers has taken place to help identify suitable sites for inclusion in the SHLAA. Phase 1 of the Assessment, concerning urban capacity sites, was completed in October 2009.
Strategic Housing Market Assessment (PPS3)
35. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council along with Watford, Three Rivers, St. Albans, Hertsmere and Dacorum District/Borough Councils and Hertfordshire County Council have jointly commissioned Opinion Research Services (ORS) to carry out a Strategic Housing Market Assessment (date removed). The assessment will provide an understanding of how housing markets operate in the area and help to inform the development of housing policies in future local development documents. In accordance with Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing, the matters to be dealt with by the assessment include estimates of: • The proportion of households requiring market and affordable housing. • The profile of household types requiring market housing (e.g. families and children, single persons, couples). • The size and type of affordable housing required. • The assessment is scheduled for completion by the end of 2009.
Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Investment Strategy
36. In the light of the significant additional housing growth proposed for Hertfordshire in the East of England Plan, consultants were commissioned in April 2008 by the County Council and the Hertfordshire Districts to undertake the preparation of this Strategy. The consultants
Progress of LDF ׀ 11 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 report identifies existing deficits across the full range of physical, environmental and social infrastructure, and makes an informed assessment of the amount and type of new infrastructure required to enable the proposed housing growth to take place in a sustainable manner. A funding model has been produced to calculate the level of developer contributions which is likely to be required, either through Section 106 Agreements or the proposed Community Infrastructure Levy, to fund the infrastructure improvements. Account will also need to be taken of any other available public funding. The consultants’ final report was published in October 2009.
An Assessment of Open Space, Outdoor Sport and Recreation for Welwyn Hatfield
37. The Council has undertaken an assessment of the provision of open space, outdoor sport and recreation in the Welwyn Hatfield. The study looks at the quality, quantity and accessibility of all open space facilities in the borough in order to establish local standards for current and future provision of open space for sport and recreation in the borough. It covers amenity green space, allotments, cemeteries, children’s play areas, outdoor sports facilities, natural green space, parks and gardens, green corridors, and civic spaces. The report was completed in June 2009. The suggested standards will be subject to review as open space is tested and scrutinised by public consultation as part of the local development framework process.
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, SFRA (PPS25)
38. Consultants Scott Wilson were commissioned in September 2007 to undertake a borough wide SFRA. The aim of the Level 1 SFRA is to:
• Provide an assessment of flood risk from all flood resources present in the borough and make policy recommendations for inclusion in the LDF, • Present sufficient information to enable the use of the PPS25 : Development and Flood Risk Sequential test to determine the suitability of development according to flood risk from fluvial sources, • Provide guidance for developers and the Local Authority on the requirements for site specific Flood Risk Assessments • Provide guidance to the Council on developing an Emergency Flood Plan.
39. The level 1 SFRA was completed in July 2009 and is available on the website.
Central Hertfordshire Employment Land Review Interim Report
40. Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, Hertsmere Borough Council and St Albans District Council jointly commissioned Roger Tym & Partners to undertake the Central Hertfordshire Employment Land Review. Local stakeholders from the business community and the public sector were consulted about the advantages and drawbacks of Central Hertfordshire as a business location and the issues the Employment Land Review should address by means of
Progress of LDF ׀ 12 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
a workshop session and individual discussions. The report was completed in November 2006.
London Arc Hertfordshire Employment Land Review
41. Following the adoption of the East of England Plan, the Central Hertfordshire Employment Land Review Interim Report was updated and finalised as part of a London Arc Hertfordshire Employment Land Review to take account of any changes to the job growth figures for Hertfordshire. This work was completed in March 2009.
Welwyn Garden City Leisure and Community Review
42. Consultants PMP were commissioned by the Council to conduct the review which identifies local leisure and community needs, audits existing facilities and contains findings about facilities for indoor sports, community activities, commercial leisure, museums, culture and the arts. Extensive consultation with the local community took place including stakeholder consultation with leisure and community service providers and partners, a residents’ postal survey of 1,100 households, user surveys, public drop-in sessions, local advertising, a school survey and a workshop with the Welwyn Hatfield Leisure and Cultural Consortium. The report was completed in October 2006.
Northern and Eastern Hertfordshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment - Completed June 2006 and Northern and Eastern Hertfordshire Gypsy and Traveller Identification of Potential Areas to Accommodate Gypsy and Traveller Pitches – Completed October 2007
43. Welwyn Hatfield Council in partnership with East Hertfordshire District Council, North Hertfordshire District Council, Stevenage Borough Council, Broxbourne Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council have completed two key pieces of technical work. The first of which assessed the need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation in the study area and the second identified areas of potential for Gypsy and Traveller pitches. Only one location within Welwyn Hatfield was identified as potentially suitable and this falls within the Green Belt. The availability of sites has yet to be assessed.
Rye Meads Water Cycle Study
44. Hyder Consulting were appointed in April 2008 to undertake a joint study with Stevenage Borough Council, Harlow District Council, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, North Hertfordshire District Council, East Hertfordshire Council, Epping Forest District Council and Broxbourne Borough Council to assess the impact of planned growth on water cycle processes, water infrastructure capacity and environmental capacity in the strategy area over the period to 2021 and beyond. It will recommend viable infrastructure options to accommodate planned growth. The study was completed in October 2009.
Progress of LDF ׀ 13 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Development Economics Study
45. The Council has commissioned, together with Hertsmere Borough Council and St Albans City and District Council, a Development Economics Study (DES) to examine the economic viability of land for housing development in the area. The DES will examine the opportunities to deliver affordable housing in each of the local authority areas. It will take account of other existing policy objectives (or possible future objectives) such as the achievement of sustainable building standards, Lifetime Homes and contributions that may be sought towards physical, social or green infrastructure through planning obligations (or the potential Community Infrastructure Levy).
46. It will also take account of relevant outputs from the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment and the Strategic Housing Market Assessment, where these are available. The study is scheduled to report by the end of 2009.
Water Cycle Study ( Maple Lodge )- Initial Scoping Study
47. Phase 1 of the Water cycle study (The initial scoping study) is currently out to tender. This is a joint study with Dacorum Borough Council, Watford Borough Council, Three Rivers District Council, St Albans District Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. The scoping report will providing a summary of the available information relating to the water environment within the study area, and will identify if further work is needed to inform strategic planning decisions. This study covers that part of the Borough not included in the Rye Meads water cycle study and should be completed by March 2010.
Low and Zero Carbon Study
48. AECOM were appointed in September 2009 to undertake a joint study with Broxbourne Borough Council, Dacorum Borough Council, East Hertfordshire District Council, Hertsmere Borough Council, North Hertfordshire District Council, St Albans District Council, Three Rivers District Council, Watford Borough Council, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council. The aim of the study is to provide technical evidence to support policies and target setting on low and zero carbon for the Hertfordshire authorities. The study should be completed by January 2010.
Progress of LDF ׀ 14 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Statement of Community Involvement Monitoring
In this Chapter…
Based on requirements set out in the Statement of Community Involvement, this chapter will review the effectiveness of recent consultation undertaken by the planning department. It will outline the methods used to engage with identified ‘hard to reach’ groups, whether these methods have proved successful and whether any new ‘hard to reach’ groups have been identified.
49. The Welwyn Hatfield Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) states that it is important to recognise diversity within the Borough and to consider the potential needs of all sections of the community. It identified young people, ethnic minorities and sections of the community living in rural or more deprived areas of the borough as being underrepresented and ‘hard to reach’.
50. The Council carried out consultation on the Core Strategy Issues and Options document between 4th March and 11th May 2009. A variety of consultation methods were used to engage the public. These included;
• A series of drop in events held throughout the borough and beyond, which were attended by over 1000 people • Publicity in the local newspaper, the Welwyn Hatfield Times, including a series of editorial articles on consultation topics and adverts for the drop in events • Promotion in the council’s magazine, Life Magazine, which is sent to all households in the borough • Promotion on the front page of the council’s website and a strapline on all emails leaving the council throughout the consultation period • Personally addressed letters were also sent to all those on our consultation database. • Meetings and workshops with local businesses, the Local Strategic Partnership, Parish and Town Councillors and other groups, such as the Youth Council and The Interfaith Group.
51. Response to the consultation was good, with approximately 6,700 comments received from around 1,500 different people.
Did people find the consultation helpful?
52. On each response form and attached to the online questionnaire, we asked people for their feedback on the consultation. Around 100 people filled in this section of the form. Of those, 70.0% said yes they did find the consultation helpful, 16.5% said no and 13.5% did not comment.
53. We also asked people what they thought we could do to improve the consultation. One of the main points raised was ‘advertising the consultation/raising awareness’. Some people stated that they did not receive the Welwyn Hatfield Times, in which a series of articles and adverts were placed, or Life magazine and suggested that the consultation was also Monitoring of SCI ׀ 15 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 advertised in the other local newspapers in future. Other common points raised related to the structure of the document and the response form and the level of detail within the document.
54. In order to asses the most useful form of advertising/promotion, we asked people how they heard about the consultation. The most common responses were the local paper, a local organisation and a friend/colleague. Other methods often given were Life Magazine, Poster/flyer and Council website. The least frequently given methods were Other website (not Welwyn Hatfield Council), Other and Direct mail.
Location of Respondents
Rural Areas
55. In order to reach people living throughout Welwyn Hatfield, particularly those in the more rural areas, drop in events were held across the borough, including Brookmans Park, Cuffley and Welwyn villages. The events were advertised by posters, articles in the local press, leaflets and with assistance from Parish Councils.
56. In order to determine the location of respondents, we were able to use data stored on the consultation database, as all respondents are required to give an address and postcode when they submit a comment. The table below shows that the greatest proportion of residents who commented came from Brookmans Park, followed by Welham Green and then people ‘out of borough’. A large proportion of the people from outside of the borough were from the Potters Bar area, close to Little Heath. There were also representations from people living in Smallford and St Albans. The table shows that we have consulted very effectively with the rural settlements and greater numbers of people have responded than in the town centres, despite representing a smaller proportion of the borough’s residents.
57. It is possible that this is partly due to the nature of the issues raised in the document, which residents of the small villages and settlements may feel particularly strongly about, such as a possible green belt review and the possible expansion of villages and settlements. It is also worth noting that a large proportion of comments received were ‘standard’ responses, written and distributed by a local green belt society.
Table 3 – Core Strategy Issues and Options Consultation respondents by area By Area % of Respondents Brookmans Park 42.30% Welham Green 23.25% Welwyn Garden City 5.46% Little Heath 5.67% Hatfield 2.24% Cuffley 1.96% Bell Bar 1.54% Digswell 1.26% Other 1.26% Water End 1.12% North Mymms 0.91% Welwyn 0.56%
Monitoring of SCI ׀ 16 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
By Area % of Respondents Woolmer Green 0.28% Colney Heath 0.14% Lemsford 0.14% Bullens Green 0.07% Essendon 0.07% Northaw 0.07% Oaklands & Mardley Heath 0.07% Newgate Street 0.07% Out of borough 11.55% Total 100.00%
Deprived Areas
58. The indices of multiple deprivation 2007 identified the most deprived areas of the borough as part of Hatfield Central ward (pre 2008 ward boundaries) and Peartree ward in Welwyn Garden City. A consultation event was held at Breaks Manor Youth Centre (formerly in Hatfield Central ward, now Hatfield East), however this was poorly attended. An event was also held in Hatfield town centre on a Saturday, which was well attended. In Welwyn Garden City, an event was held in the town centre (close to Peartree ward) on a Saturday, which was also well attended. In addition, the Head of Planning Policy met with the manager of the Woodhall Community Centre to outline the purpose of the consultation and the consultation materials. Leaflets and a Summary Guide were also produced to make the consultation accessible. There are currently no figures available for the proportion of respondents in these particular wards and areas and further analysis at a ward level may be required in future. It is likely however that this remains a hard to reach group
About You Form
59. To help monitor the effectiveness of the consultation, an ‘About You’ form was included with the response form, which invited people to anonymously tell us about themselves. Of all the people that responded to the consultation, only around 7% of people completed the voluntary ‘About You’ Form. This low proportion is partly due the number of ‘standard’ responses received, which were written and distributed by a local group and therefore did not have Feedback and ‘About You’ forms attached. This represents a very small statistical sample and therefore caution needs to be taken when analysing the results.
Age of Respondents
60. A few different consultation methods were tried in order to try and engage with younger people living in the borough. These included meeting with the Welwyn Hatfield Youth Council, the availability of online consultation, promotion via social networking site Facebook, some consultation events held in youth centres and some consultation events in town centres at weekends.
61. Whilst it is possible that we managed to speak to more young people than in previous consultations, the proportion of them that responded was still very low and they are still hard to reach. Methods such as using social network sites need to be expanded further as they were perhaps not used to their full potential for this consultation.
Monitoring of SCI ׀ 17 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 62. During the pre-production phase of consultation, the council attended the Kaleidoscope festival in Welwyn Garden City. The aim of this consultation was to ask people to help us identify the main issues for Welwyn Hatfield. During this event, consultation methods particularly aimed towards attracting the attention of children and young people were used, such as a colouring competition, badge making and prizes. We then asked them to tell us what they liked and disliked about where they lived and what they would like to change. These methods proved successful in this case, however are only possible with certain types of consultations and are perhaps not as applicable to consultations which are consulting on a wide range of topics with a wide range of questions to answer.
Ethnicity of Respondents
63. A few methods were used to consult with ethnic minority groups, including liaison with the Welwyn Hatfield Ethnic Minority Group and visits to two of the three Gypsy and Traveller sites in the borough. Analysis of the ‘About You’ forms shows that ethnic minorities are still underrepresented, according to proportions of ethnic minorities in the borough from 2001 Census data. Although as previously mentioned, the response to the ‘About You’ form was low compared with the overall response and caution in interpreting the results needs to be taken.
Conclusion
64. Overall, response to the consultation was very good and a large number of responses were received. A very high proportion of the comments received related to the broad locations of growth, especially around the smaller towns and settlements. The nature of the issues presented in the document are likely to account, in part, for the large response, particularly from more rural areas.
65. The response to the ‘About You’ form was low in comparison with the total number of respondents at around 7%, however this is partly due the number of ‘standard’ responses received, which were written and distributed by a local group and therefore did not have Feedback and ‘About You’ forms attached. In order to assist future monitoring of consultation, the Feedback and ‘About You’ forms may need greater promotion.
66. Analysis of data in the consultation database and those ‘About You’ forms received has shown that we have managed to reach rural communities and received a strong response. Despite efforts, younger people are still hard to reach and greater efforts to develop new methods of consultation, which could appeal to younger audiences, may be required in future consultations. Ethnic minorities also remain a ‘hard to reach’ group and continued efforts to engage them in future consultations will still be required.
67. This analysis has not identified any particular ‘hard to reach’ groups that were not previously recognised in the SCI. However, the response to the ‘About You’ forms represents a very small statistical sample and may not be a true reflection of the range of people and groups that exist in Welwyn Hatfield. Work has commenced on reviewing the SCI, which will aim to reconsider the previously identified and any further ‘hard to reach’ groups based on all consultations completed to date and other work with the local community.
Monitoring of SCI ׀ 18 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Monitoring and Implementation of
District Plan Saved Policies In this Chapter…
This chapter monitors the use of ‘saved’ policies in determining planning applications and appeals. It also provides information on which policies in the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan have been saved.
68. Planning legislation and Government guidance identifies the requirement for local authorities to: • Assess the effectiveness of their planning policies; and • Identify those policies which need amending or replacing
69. One of the ways of assessing the effectiveness of a planning policy is to see how many times that policy has been used to determine planning applications. However, some policies in the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan relate to very specific uses, such as amusement centres and car boot sales or very specific sites, e.g. Panshanger Airfield and Brookmans Park Transmitting Station, and therefore are unlikely to be used often. This does not necessarily mean that these policies are not working as intended and therefore caution needs to be taken when using the frequency of policy usage alone to determine the effectiveness of a policy.
70. For the purpose of these counts, the policies listed on the decision notice under ‘Reason for Approval’ or ‘Reason for Refusal’ have been counted. This does not necessarily mean that other policies were not considered by the case officer but these were the ones listed as the reasons for approving/refusing an application.
Approved Decisions
71. Table 4 - Polices used in approvals 07/08 06/07 % Use Rank Policy Description % % 08/09 Rank Rank Use Use 1 D2 Character and Context 93.7% 1 94.6% 2 93.4% 2 D1 Quality and Design 90.4% 2 88.7% 1 93.5% 3 SD1 Sustainable Development 83.9% 3 70.1% 4 29.8% 4 GBSP2 Towns and Specified Settlements 73.9% 4 64.2% 3 40.4% 5 R3 Energy Efficiency 41.7% 5 30.8% 7 11.2% 6 M14 Parking Standards for New Development 31.6% 6 23.4% 6 12.5% 7 D8 Landscaping 15.9% 10 10.1% 16 1.6% 8 GBSP1 Definition of the Green Belt 15.3% 8 14.4% 9 9.8% 9 R17 Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows 11.0% 9 10.7% 13 4.8%
Monitoring and Implementation ׀ 19 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
07/08 06/07 % Use Rank Policy Description % % 08/09 Rank Rank Use Use Access and Design for People with 10 D9 9.1% 11 8.0% 16 2.7% Disabilities
72. Table 4 shows the 10 most frequently referred to policies in approval decisions. Policies D1 and D2 are once again the most frequently used policies in approval decisions. These policies are unsurprisingly used in the vast majority of approvals as they relate to quality and design. Policy SD1 concerning sustainable development has continued to be used more frequently over the previous 3 years. Policy R3, which refers to energy efficiency was used in 42% of all approvals compared with only 11% 2 years previously.
Refused Decisions
Table 5 – Policies used in refusals 07/08 06/07 % Use Rank Policy Description % 08/09 Rank Rank % Use Use 1 D1 Quality and Design 61.4% 1 96.8% 1 69.4% 2 D2 Character and Context 55.4% 2 84.7% 2 65.3% 3 GBSP2 Towns and Specified Settlements 24.3% 3 37.1% 6 8.7% Extensions to dwellings in the Green 4 RA3 10.7% 4 12.8% 5 13.2% Belt 5 SD1 Sustainable Development 5.6% 11 3.5% 11 2.4% Parking Standards for New 6 M14 4.9% 7 6.7% 8 5.6% Development 7 R17 Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows 4.0% 8 6.7% 7 7.0% Replacement of dwellings in the Green 8 RA4 3.1% 13 2.9% 9 3.6% Belt 9 D8 Landscaping 2.5% 12 2.9% 16 1.2% 10 GBSP1 Definition of the Green Belt 2.5% 15 1.9% 12 1.9%
73. Table 5 shows the 10 most frequently referred to policies in refusal decisions. Policies D1 and D2 are also the most frequently use policies in refusals, demonstrating that most applications which are refused are done so on design grounds. Other policies which are frequently used in refusals are GBSP2 and RA3 which relate to development in the green belt and reflects the number of applications for development, particularly extensions to dwellings, in the greenbelt which are received and refused in the borough.
Monitoring and Implementation ׀ 20 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 All Decisions
Table 6 – Policies used in all decisions 07/08 06/07 % Use Rank Policy Description % 08/09 Rank Rank % Use Use 1 D1 Quality and Design 78.0% 2 91.0% 1 88.0% 2 D2 Character and Context 77.3% 1 91.8% 2 83.3% 3 GBSP2 Towns and Specified Settlements 52.8% 3 56.6% 3 34.0% 4 SD1 Sustainable Development 50.5% 4 51.6% 4 19.7% 5 R3 Energy Efficiency 23.9% 5 22.3% 9 7.2% Parking Standards for New 6 M14 20.2% 6 18.8% 7 10.0% Development 7 D8 Landscaping 10.2% 11 8.1% 13 3.6% 8 GBSP1 Definition of the Green Belt 9.8% 8 10.9% 10 6.9% Extensions to dwellings in the Green 9 RA3 8.7% 10 9.0% 6 10.2% Belt 10 R17 Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows 8.0% 9 9.6% 11 5.6%
74. Table 6 combines the information in the previous 2 tables by showing policy usage for all decisions. Figure 4 shows the use of policies grouped together by their relevant chapter in the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan. As expected, design policies are the most frequently referred to, although this is mainly D1 and D2. Greenbelt and settlement policies and sustainable development policies are also used frequently. As previously stated this reflects the high proportion of applications for householder developments, i.e. extensions received in Welwyn Hatfield.
Community, Leisure and Tourism Design Employment Green Belt and Settlement Pattern Housing Hatfield Aerodrome Implementation and Monitoring Movement Open Space Resources Rural Areas Sustainable Development Retailing and Town Centres
Figure 4 – Frequency of policy use 2007/8 (grouped by District Plan Chapter)
Appeals
75. There were 76 appeals decided in the monitoring year, of which 29% were allowed. This represents good performance when measured against the government’s former target of
Monitoring and Implementation ׀ 21 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 33% of all appeals allowed. This indicates that the Council has an effective policy base upon which to determine applications and that this is being supported on appeal.
Table 7 – Appeal Decisions Summary 2008/9 Decision Number of Decisions Percentage Allowed 22 29% Dismissed 54 71% Total 76 100%
Table 8 – Local and National planning policies/statements used in Appeal Decisions 2008/9 Policy % Allowed % Dismissed CLT2 0% 2% D1 32% 45% D2 41% 55% D8 5% 47% D9 0% 2% EMP1 5% 0% GBSP2 14% 12% H2 0% 4% H6 0% 2% M14 5% 0% R2 0% 2% R22 0% 2% RA1 5% 8% RA2 5% 0% RA3 9% 12% RA4 0% 2% RA10 0% 2% RA17 0% 4% RA19 0% 4% RA28 0% 2% SPDG 2005 0% 10% PPG2 9% 24% PPG13 0% 2% PPG14 0% 2% PPG15 9% 0% PPG24 0% 6% PPS25 0% 2% PPS7 0% 4% PPS3 5% 4%
76. The analysis of the policies referred to by inspectors in appeal decisions, particularly appeals allowed, should help to identify any policies which are not working as intended. The most frequently referred to policies in both allowed and dismissed decisions are D1 and D2, which is to be expected as a large proportion of appeals are related to design. Other frequently used policies in allowed decisions are GBSP2 (greenbelts), RA3 (extensions to dwellings in the greenbelt), PPG2 (greenbelts) and PPG15 (planning and the historic environment). Analysis of the inspectors reports, particularly those where the appeal was allowed, does not highlight any particular problems with any particular policy at appeal.
Monitoring and Implementation ׀ 22 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 The Environment
In this Chapter…
This chapter covers all contextual, national and local indicators relating to the environment, including: water, air quality, biodiversity and habitats, the historic built environment, renewable energy and climate change. It includes National Core Output Indicators E1, E2 and E3 and Local Indicators 7, 8, 21, 22.
Water
Core Output Indicator E1: Number of planning permissions granted contrary to Environment Agency advice on flooding and water quality grounds5
Flooding Quality Total E1: No of Applications 0 0 0
77. There were no planning permissions granted contrary to Environment Agency advice on flooding or water quality grounds during the 2008/9 reporting year. All objections were either withdrawn or the planning permission was refused.
Air Quality
Contextual Indicator: No. of Air Quality Management Areas 6
2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 No. of Air Quality Management Areas 0 0 0 0
78. There are currently no air quality management areas in Welwyn Hatfield borough.
Contextual Indicator: No of days when air pollution is moderate or high 7
Number of days of Number of days of high Number of days of Pollutant moderate pollution pollution very high pollution Nitrogen Dioxide 0 0 0 Ozone 26 0 0
79. There were 26 days in the reporting year, where there were moderate levels of ozone pollution in Welwyn Hatfield. This is an increase of 19 days from last year, which saw only 7 days of moderate ozone pollution. There were no days of Nitrogen dioxide pollution and no days where ozone pollution was high or very high.
5 Environment Agency 2009 http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk 6 HCC (2008) LTP Progress Report Appendix 5 cited in Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report 2008 http://enquire.hertscc.gov.uk/qol/2008/airquality08.cfm 7 Air Quality Indices. http://www.hertsbedsair.org.uk Accessed 15/07/09 The Environment ׀ 23 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 *Note - The only air quality monitoring station in the borough is in Welwyn Garden City Town Centre.
Biodiversity & Habitats
Core Output Indicator E2: Change in areas of biodiversity importance
Table 9 – Change in areas of biodiversity importance 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 Type of Site No of Area No of Area No of Area Sites (ha)* Sites (ha)* Sites (ha)* Wildlife Sites 206 2295 206 2295 205 2294 Local Nature Reserves 5 336 5 336 9 350 Sites of Special Scientific 5 367 5 367 5 367 Interest (SSSI) Special Areas of Conservation 1 6 1 6 1 6 (SAC) * figures rounded
Loss Addition Total E2 (sites) -1 4 +3 sites E2 (hectares) -1 14 +13 ha
New Local Nature Reserves 80. One wildlife site in the borough was deselected during the reporting year, taking the number of sites Four new Local Nature Reserves from 206 to 205. The site was a small part of the (totalling around 14 hectares) have former allotments at Knella Road in Welwyn Garden been designated during the year. City, which is an allocated housing site. These are Singlers Marsh in Welwyn, Stanborough Reed Marsh 81. Four new local nature reserves have now been in Welwyn Garden City and Oxleys formally designated. See information box opposite, Wood and Howe Dell, both in Hatfield. This brings the number of 82. There has been no change to the number of Sites of Local Nature Reserves in the Special Scientific Interest or Special Areas of borough to nine. Conservation during the reporting year.
The Environment ׀ 24 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Local Indicator 7: Loss of designated Wildlife Sites
District Plan Relevant Saved Target Output Performance Objective Policy No. 1 R15 0 Loss 1
Contextual Indicator: Condition of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) 8
Table 10 – Condition of SSSIs*
% Area % Area % Area % Area % Area % Area declining no change no change favourable favourable destroyed/ recovering recovering Commentary Commentary unfavourable unfavourable unfavourable unfavourable part destroyed part destroyed Sherardspark 25% 75% 0% 0% 0% No Change Wood Wormley- Hoddesdonpark 75% 22% 3% 0% 0% No Change Wood south Water End 100% 0% 0% 0% 0% No Change Swallow Holes Northaw Great 12% 69% 0% 18% 0% No Change Wood
Redwell Wood 0% 100% 0% 0% 0% No Change
*Percentages rounded
83. There has been no change to the condition of any of the SSSIs during the year. Local Indicator 10 has been removed from the AMR this year as it repeats information given in the above table
Historic Built Environment
Contextual Indicator: Changes to the Historic Built Environment
Table 11 – Historic Built Environment 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 Type No of Area No of Area No of Area Sites (ha) Sites (ha) Sites (ha) All Listed Buildings9 417 n/a 418 n/a 418 n/a Grade 1 7 n/a 7 n/a 7 n/a Grade 2* 23 n/a 23 n/a 23 n/a Grade 2 387 n/a 388 n/a 388 n/a Areas of Archaeological 73 1071 73 1071 73 1071
8 Natural England http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/search.cfm – SSSI Information Compiled 01/06/09 9 English Heritage 2009 The Environment ׀ 25 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 Type No of Area No of Area No of Area Sites (ha) Sites (ha) Sites (ha) Significance10 Scheduled Ancient 4 n/a 4 n/a 4 n/a Monuments10 Historic Parks & Gardens 4 950 4 950 4 950 (registered) 11 Buildings at Risk 12 1 n/a 1 n/a 1 n/a
84. There was one listed building added to the listed building register during the reporting year, at 26 Pentley Park, Welwyn Garden City. It was listed on the 13th August 2008 and was given grade 2 status. This addition was included in the 2007/8 AMR and therefore does not appear as a new addition this year.
Local Indicator 8: Number of Listed Buildings Demolished
District Plan Relevant Saved Target Output Performance Objective Policy No. 1 R27 0% Loss 0 ☺ 85. There have been no listed buildings demolished during the reporting year.
Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Core Output Indicator E3: Renewable Energy Generation
Table 12 – Renewable Energy Generation permitted and completed
Biomass
Co- E3 Municipal Wind Solar firing of Renewable Hydro Sewage (and Total Onshore Photovoltaics Landfill biomass Animal Plant Energy sludge industrial) Gas with biomass biomass digestion solid waste fossil combustion fuels Permitted installed 0.00075mW ------0.00075 capacity in MW
Completed installed 0.00075mW 0.00008mW ------0.00083mW capacity in MW
86. Table 12 provides information on the known renewable energy generation permitted and completed in the borough in 2008/9. The permitted capacity relates to an application for a
10 Hertfordshire County Council – Historic Environment Department by email 20.07.08 11 Parks and Gardens UK Accessed 02/09/09 http://www.parksandgardens.ac.uk/ 12 English Heritage. Accessed 02/09/09 http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.19203 The Environment ׀ 26 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
solar panel at Tesco offices in Welwyn Garden City. There was one additional application for small solar panels, which is not listed above, as the capacity of the panels could not be determined. As they are for a private residential property, the contribution would likely be very small.
87. There was also an application for combined heat and power (CHP) for the Tesco store in Hatfield, although it was felt not to fit directly into the above table. Tesco claim that the CHP unit is estimated to reduce carbon emissions at the store and be able to provide the store with 60-70% locally generated electricity. Based on the requirements of East of England Plan policy ENG1 (Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Energy Performance) will develop a new local indicator around energy efficiency in future.
88. The completed capacity refers to the installation of a small wind turbine and solar panels at the University of Hertfordshire’s DeHavilland campus in Hatfield.
Climate Change
89. There are several methods of measuring CO2 emissions. Figure 5 shows CO2 Emissions per capita (tonnes) by sector. The Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report 2008 states that across Hertfordshire, the domestic sector is responsible for the largest proportion of emissions. However, for Welwyn Hatfield, the largest proportion of emissions comes from the industry and commercial sector. With the exception of Dacorum and Broxbourne, all districts
experienced a rise in CO2 emissions levels during 2005 and 2006.
Contextual Indicator: CO2 Emissions
450 Industry & Commercial 2005 Industry & Commercial 2006 400 Domestic 2005 Domestic 2006 Road Transport 2005 Road Transport 2006 350
300
250
200 Emissions in kilotonnes in Emissions
2 150 CO 100
50
- BBC DBC EHDC HBC NHDC SACD SBC TRDC WDC WHBC
Figure 5 – CO2 Emissions by Sector13
13 Department for Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) September 2008. Available in Hertfordshire Quality of Life Report 2008, Hertfordshire County Council http://enquire.hertscc.gov.uk/qol/2008/climatechange08.cfm The Environment ׀ 27 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Open Space
Local Indicator 31: Amount of open space with a Green Flag Award
Site Area (ha) with Green Flag Award Stanborough Park, Welwyn Garden City 52ha King George V Playing Fields, Welwyn Garden City 16ha Total 68ha
90. Stanborough Park in Welwyn Garden City has retained the Green Flag Award status again this year. King George V Playing fields in Welwyn Garden City has achieved Green Flag status for the first time this year.
Figure 6 - King George V Playing Fields, Welwyn Garden City
Local Indicator 21: Percentage loss of urban open land (permissions granted)
District Plan Relevant saved Target Output Performance Objective policy no 7 OS1, OS2 0% loss 0% loss ☺
91. The borough currently has around 242 ha of designated urban open land. District Plan Policy OS1 states that the planning permission for development within these areas will not be granted unless it would:
• Assist in the maintenance or reinforcement of their function as essential open area • Be of a scale which did not compromise the value of the Urban Open Land or use of the open space as defined in terms of its criteria; and • Not result in the loss or reduction in size of any playing pitches, if the open land is used for formal recreation purposes, subject to the consideration set out in Policy OS2.
92. There have been no permission granted during the reporting year which involve the loss of urban open land.
The Environment ׀ 28 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Local Indicator 22: Percentage loss of playing fields (permissions granted)
District Plan Relevant saved Target Output Performance Objective policy number 7 OS1, OS2 0% loss 0 ☺
New Allotments Completed 93. There have been no planning permissions granted in the reporting year which would lead to the loss of Three new allotment sites have playing fields. However, there is an application now been allocated in the Welwyn (Section 106 agreement pending) at Sir Frederic Garden City and Welwyn. The Osborn School in Welwyn Garden City, for residential sites at Marley Road, Hawbush development and a sports hall on one of the school’s Close and St Audrey’s Green playing fields. Section 106 contributions will be used provide 23 new plots between to fund improvements to sports facilities in the them. The sites are at varying borough. stages of being cleared and let. See the council’s website for more details.
The Environment ׀ 29 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Safe, Healthy and Strong
Communities In this Chapter…
This chapter covers all contextual, national and local indicators relating to the quality of life of the borough’s residents, including health, crime, deprivation and social and community facilities. This section contains Local Indicator 23.
Health Contextual Indicator: Life Expectancy (males and females)
Males Females Life Expectancy 78.8 years 82.8 years
94. Life expectancy in Welwyn Hatfield is good, at 78.8 years for males and 82.8 years for females. This is compared with a national average of 77.7 for males and 81.8 for females.
Health Profile 2009 14
14 APHO and Department of Health. © Crown Copyright 2009 http://www.apho.org.uk/default.aspx?QN=P_HEALTH_PROFILES Accessed 16/07/09 Safe, Healthy & Strong Communities ׀ 30 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Figure 7 – Welwyn Hatfield Health Profile 2009
95. The 2009 health profile for Welwyn Hatfield shows that the health of the people of Welwyn Hatfield is generally better than the England average. However, there are some inequalities in the borough. Men and women from the least deprived areas can expect to live 4 years longer than those in the most deprived areas. Compared to the 2008 profile, GCSE achievement and road injuries and deaths have improved and are no longer ‘significantly worse’ than the England average (red circles). However, homelessness still remains significantly worse than the England average. The NHS profile suggests that the priorities in Welwyn Hatfield should be to address inequalities, reduce smoking and levels of childhood obesity, and increase vaccination rates.
Crime
Contextual Indicator: Total recorded offences per 1000 population15
Table 13 – Total Recorded Offences per 1,000 population Recorded offences per Recorded offences per Recorded offences per Area 1,000 population 2006/7 1,000 population 2007/8 1,000 population 2008/9 Welwyn 92.3 75.6 72.6 Hatfield
This indicator has been amended slightly this year, due to the data available at the time of publication. Levels of recorded crime have continued to fall in 2008/9 to 72.6 crimes per 1,000 people. This is a small improvement on the 2007/8 levels and remains a good improvement from the 2006/7 levels. Figure 8 below shows how crime levels in Welwyn Hatfield compare against the other Hertfordshire Districts. Watford has the highest levels of crime, followed by Stevenage and Broxbourne. Three Rivers and East Hertfordshire have the lowest levels of crime. Welwyn Hatfield had the fourth highest level of recorded crime however it is broadly similar to rates in Dacorum, Hertsmere and St Albans districts and the Hertfordshire average of 73.6.
15 http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/soti.html Accessed 05/11/09 Safe, Healthy & Strong Communities ׀ 31 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
120
100
80
60 r 1,000 population 2008/9
40 Recorded Offences pe 20
0 Broxbourne Dacorum East Herts Hertsmere North Herts St Albans Stevenage Three Rivers Watford Welwyn Hatfield
Figure 8 – Recorded Offences per 1,000 population 2008/9 in Hertfordshire Districts16
New Police Station, Hatfield Economic and Social well being
A new police station on the former 96. The indices of multiple deprivation are a Aerodrome site in Hatfield has opened measure of economic and social well being at within the last year. The grade 2 listed, Lower Super Output Area (LSOA), which are building, originally the de Havilland small areas with an average population of office block, has been converted and around 1500 (meaning that they are usually extended. The police station on St smaller than wards). The IMD 2007 is made up Albans Road East has now closed and of 7 domains (or topics) which are: income all operations moved to the new site on deprivation, employment deprivation, health Comet Way. deprivation, education deprivation, skills and
training deprivation, barriers to housing and
services, living environment and crime. These 7 domains are combined to create an overall
score and rank. Each LSOA in England is then
ranked, with 1 being the least deprived and 32,482 being the most deprived17.
16 Hertfordshire Constabulary, Prepared in accordance with Home Office Counting Rules by the Organisational Intelligence and Development department of Hertfordshire Constabulary 17 Indices of Multiple Deprivation 2007 http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/neighbourhoodrenewal/deprivation/deprivation07/ Safe, Healthy & Strong Communities ׀ 32 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Contextual Indicator: Number of LSOAs in the most 20% deprived in England
Most Deprived 20% in England Number of LSOAs 1 (within Hatfield Central Ward) 97. This indicator has not changed since the 2007/8 AMR as the Indices of Multiple Deprivation are only updated every 3 years.
Social and Community Facilities
Local Indicator 23: Retain existing social and community facilities
District Plan Relevant saved Target Output Performance Objective policy no. CLT1, CLT13, 2 0% D1 loss -4311m² (net loss) RA12
98. There have been losses of D1 use at 3 different sites during the reporting year. All of these have been educational facilities (schools, colleges, universities etc). There has been the loss of Hazelgrove school which is due to be developed for housing. The absence of any local need for community, leisure or recreation facilities was considered. It was concluded that Hazel Grove Primary School was not used out-of-hours by outside bodies and that through the County Council’s consultations no need had been demonstrated.
99. There was also a loss at the University of Hertfordshire, although this is due to be replaced by the new student entertainment venue which was under construction at the time of the survey in April. There has also been a very small loss at the Royal Vet College, which is also due to be replaced. D1 includes uses such as places of worship, church halls, clinics, health centres, museums, libraries, art galleries, exhibition halls and non residential education and training centres.. The Uses Classes order with full definitions can be found in the appendix.
Safe, Healthy & Strong Communities ׀ 33 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Work and Jobs In this Chapter…
This chapter covers all contextual, national and local indicators relating to employment and the economy. Contextual indicators include information on number of jobs, educational attainment and skills, job types, weekly earnings, unemployment, job density and VAT registrations/deregistrations. This section includes National Core Output Indicators: BD1, BD2 and BD3 and Local Indicator 24.
Contextual Indicator: Number of Jobs18
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Welwyn Hatfield 66,000 67,000 65,000 71,000 70,000 73,000 77,000 Hertfordshire 582,000 574,000 577,000 573,000 585,000 580,000 577,000
100. The latest figures available show that there were approximately 77,000 jobs in Welwyn Hatfield in 2007, an increase of 4,000 jobs from 2006. There were approximately 577,000 jobs in Hertfordshire in 2007, a drop of 3,000 jobs from 2006, which is a drop of 8,000 jobs since 2005. As figures are only currently available for 2007, the full effects of the recession are not yet reflected in these figures.
101. Policy E1 of the East of England Plan states that an additional 68,000 jobs are required in Hertfordshire between 2001 and 2021. A target for Welwyn Hatfield has yet to be set.
Contextual Indicator: Educational attainment and skills
Table 14 – % of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C grades19 Area 1997 2007 2008 Welwyn Hatfield 43% 54% 60% Hertfordshire 51% 67% 71% East of England 46% 61% 65% England 45% 62% 65%
102. Performance at GCSE level has improved within the last year, from 54% of pupils achieving 5 or more A*-C grades in 2007 to 60% in 2008. This is also a significant improvement from the 1997 level of 43%. However, this is still below County, Regional and National averages.
103. Despite GCSE levels being below average, according to the ONS population survey, the proportion of residents with NVQ level 4 and above qualifications (degree equivalent) in Welwyn Hatfield is higher than country, regional and national averages at 39.4%. The proportion of residents with no qualifications is 12.9%, which is slightly higher than county, regional and national averages.
18 ONS Jobs Density 2006. Available on NOMIS http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431802/report.aspx#tabrespop Accessed 09/07/09 19 Department for Children, Schools and Families http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/inyourarea/statics/pcon_495_0.shtml Accessed 09/07/09 Work & Jobs ׀ 34 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Table 15 - Qualifications of working age population – Jan - Dec 200820 Welwyn Welwyn Great Hertfordshire Hatfield Hatfield East (%) Britain (%) (numbers) (%) (%) No qualifications 8,800 12.9% 8.8% 11.8% 12.4% NVQ1 and above 52,600 77.5% 78.8% 78.8% 78.9% NVQ2 and above 46,400 68.4% 69.0% 62.8% 65.2% NVQ3 and above 33,800 49.9% 50.3% 43.4% 47.0% NVQ4 and above 26,700 39.4% 32.4% 26.1% 29.0% Other qualifications 6,500 9.6% 7.9% 9.3% 8.7%
No qualifications: No formal qualifications held Other qualifications: includes foreign qualifications and some professional qualifications NVQ 1 equivalent: e.g. fewer than 5 GCSEs at grades A-C, foundation GNVQ, NVQ 1, intermediate 1 national qualification (Scotland) or equivalent NVQ 2 equivalent: e.g. 5 or more GCSEs at grades A-C, intermediate GNVQ, NVQ 2, intermediate 2 national qualification (Scotland) or equivalent NVQ 3 equivalent: e.g. 2 or more A levels, advanced GNVQ, NVQ 3, 2 or more higher or advanced higher national qualifications (Scotland) or equivalent NVQ 4 equivalent and above: e.g. HND, Degree and Higher Degree level qualifications or equivalent
Contextual Indicator: Employment by Occupation21
Welwyn Hatfield Hertfordshire
Manager & Senior Officials 25.0 East of England Great Britain
20.0 Process Plant & Machine Operatives & Professional occupations Elementary Occupations 15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
Personal Service, Sales and Customer Associate professional & Technical Service Occupations
Skilled Trades Occupations Administrative & Secretarial
Figure 9 - Employment by Occupation Oct 2007 – Sept 2008
104. Figure 9 shows the types of occupations of Welwyn Hatfield’s residents in comparison with county, regional and national averages. Welwyn Hatfield has a higher proportion of residents employed in highly skilled jobs (professional, associate professional and technical
20 ONS Population Survey. Available on NOMIS http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431802/report.aspx#tabrespop Accessed 25/07/09 21 ONS annual population survey Employment by occupation (Jan 2007-Dec 2007) Available on NOMIS http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431802/report.aspx#tabrespop Accessed 25/07/09 Work & Jobs ׀ 35 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 occupations) than the county, regional and national averages. Consequently, Welwyn Hatfield and Hertfordshire have a lower proportion of residents employed in lower skilled jobs (process plant, machine operatives and elementary occupations). Welwyn Hatfield has a significantly lower proportion of people employed in administrative and secretarial roles than county, regional and national averages.
Contextual Indicator: Average Earnings22
£600.00
£500.00
£400.00
£300.00
Gross Weekly Earnings £200.00
£100.00
£0.00 Residents Workplace Residents Workplace Residents Workplace Residents Workplace Welwyn Hatfield Hertfordshire East of England Great Britain Weekly Earnings £551.40 £541.00 £568.00 £514.70 £498.70 £468.10 £479.30 £479.10
Figure 10 - Gross Weekly Earnings for Residents and Workforce 2008 – All Full Time Workers
105. Residents of Welwyn Hatfield earned on average £551.40 per week in 2008, an increase of £20.20 from £531.20 in 2007. This is £16.60 less than the Hertfordshire average. However, Hertfordshire is relatively prosperous and Welwyn Hatfield residents still earn £52.70 a week more than the East of England average and £72.10 more than the Great Britain average.
106. Workers in Welwyn Hatfield earned on average £541.00 per week, which is £26.30 more than the Hertfordshire average, £72.90 more than the East of England average and £61.70 more than the England average, suggesting that Welwyn Hatfield is a provider of highly paid jobs, which may attract commuters from other areas of Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas.
Contextual Indicator: Unemployment levels
107. There are various methods of calculating unemployment levels, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. According to the Annual Population Survey (Local Labour Market Summary) the unemployment rate from January to December 2008 was 5.7% in the
22 ONS annual survey of hours and earnings, available on NOMIS http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431802/report.aspx#tabrespop Accessed 09/07/09 Work & Jobs ׀ 36 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
UK, 4.9% in the East of England, 4.3% in Hertfordshire and 4.0% in Welwyn Hatfield23. Between January and December 2007, the rate in the UK was 5.2%, 4.3% in the East of England, 4.4% in Hertfordshire and 4.2% in Welwyn Hatfield. As this is an annual survey the data is fairly out of date now and due to the current economic climate, the rate is likely to have risen.
Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) Claimant Count
108. Another method of assessing unemployment is by measuring Job Seekers Allowance claimant rates. Whilst this data is more up to date, it only includes those claiming JSA and excludes substantial numbers of unemployed that are not entitled to JSA. The proportion of people in Welwyn Hatfield claiming job seekers allowance in September 2009 was 3.0%, compared with 1.5% in September 2008 (which in actual numbers represents a 95% increase). This is equal to the Hertfordshire rate of 3.0% but is lower than the East of England rate at 3.5% and the UK rate of 4.2%.
109. Figure 11 shows the proportion of JSA claimants at ward level. Claimants rates vary throughout the borough with Brookmans Park having the lowest proportion of claimants at 1.1%. Peartree ward had the highest rate at 5.2%, followed by neighbouring ward Howlands at 4.0% and Hollybush at 3.7%.
1 Brookmans Park & Little Heath 2 Haldens 3 Handside 4 Hatfield Central 5 Hatfield East 6 Hatfield North 7 Hatfield South 8 Hatfield West 9 Hollybush 10 Howlands 11 Northaw 12 Panshanger 13 Peartree 14 Sherrards 15 Welham Green 16 Welwyn South 17 Welwyn North
Figure 11 - % population JSA Claimants by Ward April 2009 (Ward boundaries pre 2008 boundary changes)
23 Unemployment Bulletin for Hertfordshire, July 2009 http://www.hertsdirect.org/yrccouncil/hcc/env/factsfigs/socio/unem/ Accessed 20/08/09 Work & Jobs ׀ 37 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Contextual Indicator: Job Density24
110. Job density is defined as the number of filled jobs in an area divided by the working-age population resident in that area. Welwyn Hatfield has historically always been a provider of jobs for residents of other Districts. In 2007 Welwyn Hatfield had a job density of 1.13, meaning that there is more than 1 job for every working age resident. This compares to Hertfordshire which has an average job density of 0.87, The East of England at 0.81 and Great Britain at 0.83.
Contextual Indicator: VAT Registrations/Deregistrations
450 Registrations Deregistrations 400
350
300
250
200
150 No of Registrations/Deregistrations
100
50
0 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Figure 12 - VAT Registration and Deregistrations in Welwyn Hatfield 1994-2007
111. VAT registrations and deregistrations provide a guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures in an area. They are an indicator of the level of entrepreneurship and of the health of the local business population. In 2007, 395 businesses were registered for VAT and 265 businesses were deregistered for VAT. Figure 12 shows that despite fluctuations, the health of the local business population has been good over the past decade. As the latest figures available are for 2007, the full effects of the economic downturn on VAT registrations and deregistrations may yet to be seen.
Table 16 – VAT Registrations and Deregistrations 2007 Welwyn East of Welwyn Hertfordshire Great Hatfield England Hatfield % % Britain % Numbers % VAT Registrations 395 10.9% 10.9% 9.6% 10.2% VAT Deregistrations 265 7.3% 7.7% 7.2% 7.3% Stock (at end of year) 3,610 - - - - % is a proportion of stock (at end of year)
24 ONS Jobs Density 2008. Available at NOMIS. http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/2038431802/report.aspx#tabrespop. Accessed 19/08/09 Work & Jobs ׀ 38 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 National Core Output Indicators
112. The following indicators refer to ‘employment land’, which is defined as Use Classes B1 (B1a, B1b B1c), B2 and B8 in the use classes order (Use Classes Amendment Order 2005). In the following tables in this chapter, B1 classification relates to permissions where the use was indeterminable between B1a, B1b and B1c. B Mix classification relates to permissions where the use was indeterminable between all B uses; namely B1a, B1b, B1c, B2 and B8. The use classes order, with definitions, can be found in the appendix.
Core Output Indicator BD1: Total amount of additional employment floorspace m² – by type
B1 B1a B1b B1c B2 B8 B Mix Total
Gross m² 23,949 28,898 0 145 4163 4,794 360 62,309 BD1 Net m² 23,949 27,469 0 145 -278 27 360 51,672
New Employment Development 113. The figures given in indicator BD1 are gross Completed in Hatfield internal floorspace, as required in Update 2/2008. This has been calculated by subtracting Two new sites have recently been 3.75% of the gross external floorspace for each completed on the former Aerodrome development site. site in Hatfield. The buildings are providing headquarters for Eisai 114. There has been a net increase of 51,672m² of Pharmaceuticals and Veolia (Three floorspace (B uses) in the reporting year. This is Valleys) Water. There is still around largely due to the completion of several 15.7ha of land designated for employment sites on the former Aerodrome site employment use available on the in Hatfield, including the police station, Eisai and former Aerodrome Site. Three Valleys (Veolia) buildings. Note – the Eisai development includes some B1a, b and c uses, however this is classed as ‘B1 in table above’. There was also a large site completed in Black Fan Road, Welwyn Garden City which was a change of use from storage and distribution (loss recorded in previous year) to a data processing centre.
Core Output Indicator BD2: Total amount of employment floorspace on previously developed land
B1 B1a B1b B1c B2 B8 B Mix Total Gross m² 23949 28898 0 0 4163 4794 360 62,164 BD2 % Gross 100.0% 100.0% n/a 0.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 99.8% m² on PDL
Work & Jobs ׀ 39 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 115. Overall, 99.8% of employment floorspace completed within the reporting year was on previously developed land. There was one small site at Brewhouse Farm in Wildhill which involved the change of use of 145m² agricultural buildings to joinery workshop.
Core Output Indicator BD3: Employment land available – by type (ha) i) sites allocated for employment uses in Development Plan Documents (includes site which are under construction but not yet complete/available) ii) sites for which planning permission has been granted for employment uses, but not included in (i)
BD3 B1 B1a B1b B1c B2 B8 B Mix Total i 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 21.887 21.887 ii 2.060 1.292 0.000 0.049 0.083 0.558 2.378 6.418 Total 2.060 1.292 0.000 0.049 0.083 0.558 24.265 28.305
Figure 13 - Remaining land available (allocated for employment) Former Hatfield Aerodrome (left), Shire Park, WGC (right) and Mater Dei, Chequersfield (below)
Work & Jobs ׀ 40 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
116. The majority of remaining employment land for BD3 i) above is on the former Hatfield Aerodrome Site, see Figure 13 (left). There is a total of 15.713ha of land allocated for B1/B2 and B8 use on this site, however at present the mix in unknown. The land shown above is currently vacant and does not yet have detailed planning permission. The only other sites which are allocated for employment use but not yet completed are at Shire Park and the former Mater Dei site both in Welwyn Garden City. The 1.713ha area at Shire Park currently has a temporary permission for use as a car park and the 4.46ha at the Mater Dei site is allocated as a ‘dirty user’ site in the Welwyn Hatfield District Plan.
117. Sites in part ii) include those which have planning permission but were not included in part i). Permissions for extensions, additional floors and change of uses from existing employment uses have not been included.
Local Indicators
LOI 24 – Loss of employment land in rural areas
District Plan Relevant saved Target Output Performance Objective policy EMP8, RA16, 4 0 loss -35m² RA17
118. The ONS 2001 Census Urban Areas and Settlement boundaries have been used as a base for calculating loss of employment land in rural areas25. During 2008-2009, a very small loss of 35m² occurred in the borough’s rural areas, which was the change of use from industrial to a beauty clinic.
LOI 35 – Loss of employment land to residential use
Employment Land Lost to Residential (m²) Welwyn Hatfield borough 930 m²
119. There was a loss of 930 m² of B1(a) floorspace during the reporting year. This was the change of use of 35-47 Howardsgate, Welwyn Garden City, from offices to residential use.
25 ONS Urban area and settlement boundary CD. Census 2001. Available from www.statistics.gov.uk Work & Jobs ׀ 41 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Town Centres, Shopping and Leisure facilities
In this Chapter…
This chapter covers all contextual, national and local indicators relating to Town Centres, Shopping and Leisure facilities, including retail frontage vacancy and town centre footfall. It includes National Core Output Indicator BD4 (i and ii) and Local Indicators 16, 17, 18, 25, 26, 27, 28a and 28b
Core Output Indicator BD4: Total amount of floorspace for ‘town centre uses’ within (i) town centres and (ii) the local authority area
BD4 (i) Town Centres A1 A2 B1a D2 Total Gross m² 1,159 m² 70 m² 0 m² 182m² 1,411 m² Net m² 1,082 m² -120 m² -1182 m² 182m² -38 m²
Waitrose Extension Completed 120. There are 2 town centres in the borough, Welwyn Garden City town centre, which is identified as a Waitrose Supermarket in Welwyn ‘major town centre’ in the East of England Plan, and Garden City recently completed a Hatfield town centre. The majority of changes within large extension to the store, the monitoring year occurred in Welwyn Garden City which provided 969m² A1 town centre. floorspace. The store also underwent a refurbishment and a 121. The changes included an extension to Waitrose new car park deck was supermarket (see information box opposite), the completed. change of use from offices to residential at Osborn House, which was a loss of 930 m² B1a floorspace and various other smaller gains/losses. Hatfield town centre experienced a gain of 182 m² of D2 and loss of 182m² B1a floorspace with the change of use of offices to a fitness centre.
BD4 (ii) Local Authority Area A1 A2 B1a D2 Total Gross m² 1,159 m² 283 m² 28,898 m² 1,295 m² 31,635 m² Net m² 869 m² 93 m² 27,469 m² 1,190 m² 29,621 m²
122. All of the A1 floorspace gain was within the town centres, see BD4 (ii). Gains in A2 floorspace occurred at Parkhouse court, with a change of use from A1 retail to betting office (A2) and Welwyn Garden City town centre with a change of use from A1 retail to letting agency (A2). See Work and Jobs chapter for further information on B1a gains. The gains in D2 floorspace were mainly at Gosling Sports Centre in Welwyn Garden City which had several extensions and a refurbishment during the reporting year, including a new fitness studio.
Town Centres, Shopping & Leisure Facilities ׀ 42 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9 Welwyn Garden City Town Centre Minor Sub-Regional Centre
Hatfield Town Centre
Large Neighbourhood Centres Large Neighbourhood Centres Large Village Centres Welwyn Garden City Hatfield
Moors Walk Haldens Highview Parkhouse Court Brookmans Park Welham Green (proposed allocation as large neighbourhood centre)
Hall Grove Woodhall Old Hatfield Cuffley Welwyn (proposed allocation as large neighbourhood centre)
Small Neighbourhood Centres Small Neighbourhood Centres Small Village Centres Welwyn Garden City Hatfield
Handside Shoplands Birchwood Crawford Road Digswell Oaklands & Mardley Heath
Peartree Lane Hollybush Harpsfield Broadway Manor Parade Woolmer Green
Roe Green St Albans Road East
The Common
Figure 14 - Welwyn Hatfield Retail Hierarchy
Town Centres, Shopping & Leisure Facilities ׀ 43 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Local Indicator 25: Loss of A1 use in designated retail centres (m² net)
District Plan Objective Relevant Saved Policy Output TCR7, TCR8, TCR16, TCR17 2 +869 m² and TCR28
123. Overall there has been a net increase of 869m² A1 floorspace in the boroughs retail centres (including town, neighbourhood and village centres) during the reporting year. There were 2 small losses of A1 which involved changes of use to A2 (financial and professional services) and A3 (restaurants, snack bars, cafes). This indicator is currently being revised to reflect the proportions of A1 use in all designated frontages against their relevant District Plan targets.
Local Indicator 26: Amount of A1 retail floorspace completed outside designated retail centres
District Plan Relevant Saved Policy Target Output Performance Objective TCR1, TCR2, TCR3, TCR23, TCR24, 2 0% gain 0 TCR25, TCR26, TCR17 ☺
There has been no A1 gain outside of the designated retail centres during the reporting year.
Vacant Retail
Local Indicator 28: Proportion of vacant street level retail property in a) Hatfield Town Centre and b) Welwyn Garden City
Table 17 – Retail Frontage vacancy (frontage length) in Town Centres District 2005- 2006- 2007- 2008- Plan Area Target 2006 2007 2008 2009 Performance Objective % % % % a) Hatfield Town Decreasing 10 18% 12% 11% 12% Centre proportion b) Welwyn Garden Decrease 10 1% 2% 3% 6% City Town Centre proportion
Figure 15 – Vacant Retail in Church Road/Wigmores South, Welwyn Garden City
Town Centres, Shopping & Leisure Facilities ׀ 44 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Sainsbury’s Redevelopment 124. There has been a small increase (1%) of vacant Approved retail frontage in Hatfield town centre during the reporting year. Due to the delay of the Hatfield Planning permission for the extension Town Centre redevelopment, special measures and redevelopment of Sainsbury’s were put in place to prevent the already high store, Church Road, Welwyn Garden levels of vacancy in the town centre increasing, City has recently been approved which seem to have so far prevented vacancy (subject to S106 agreement). The levels increasing further. development includes several of the currently vacant units in Church Road 125. Welwyn Garden City has experienced an adjacent to the existing store. It is increase in the proportion of vacant retail hoped that the redevelopment will frontage during the reporting year, which is likely enhance the surrounding area of to be due to the current economic downturn. A Church Road and Wigmores South, large proportion of this vacant retail however is which have higher levels of vacant located in the Church Road area, which is due units than other areas of the town to be redeveloped by Sainsbury’s as part of their centre. extension and refurbishment plans (see information box).
Villages and Neighbourhood Centres
Local Indicator 27: Proportion of vacant street level retail property in designated retail centres (excluding town centres)
Table 18 – Retail Vacancy (units) in designated retail centres excluding Town Centres (April 2009) Change Retail Centre Town 2006 2007 2008 2009 07/08- 08/09 Large Neighbourhood Centres - % of total units Haldens WGC 0% 6% 6% 0% Hall Grove WGC 0% 0% 0% 0% - Moors Walk WGC 7% 7% 5% 7% Woodhall WGC 7% 14% 7% 4% Highview Hatfield 13% 0% 0% 0% - Parkhouse Court Hatfield N/A N/A N/A* 25% n/a Small Neighbourhood Centres - % of total units Handside WGC 0% 0% 0% 0% - Hollybush WGC 14% 14% 0% 0% - Peartree WGC 0% 0% 0% 0% - Shoplands WGC 13% 13% 0% 29% Birchwood Hatfield 0% 0% 0% 0% -
Town Centres, Shopping & Leisure Facilities ׀ 45 Annual Monitoring Report 2008/9
Change Retail Centre Town 2006 2007 2008 2009 07/08- 08/09 Crawford Road Hatfield 11% 22% 0% 0% - Harpsfield Broadway Hatfield 0% 8% 8% 11% Manor Parade Hatfield 0% 0% 0% 11% Roe Green Hatfield 14% 14% 14% 0% St Albans Road East Hatfield 8% 0% 0% 0% - The Common Hatfield 10% 0% 0% 10% Old Hatfield Hatfield 9% 9% 11% 11% - Large Village Centres - % of total units Brookmans Park 0% 4% 4% 7% Cuffley 3% 6% 3% 0% Welham Green 6% 6% 6% 0% Welwyn 5% 3% 0% 3% Small Village Centres - % of total units Digswell 0% 0% 0% 0% - Oaklands and Mardley Heath 0% 0% 0% 0% - Woolmer Green 0% 0% 0% 0% -