Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council
Contents
1 Executive Summary 2 2 Introduction 6 3 Local Development Scheme 10 3.1 Core Strategy DPD 12 3.2 Site Allocations DPD 12 3.3 Development Control Policies DPD 14 3.4 Residential Design Guide SPD 14 3.5 Town Centre Area Action Plan DPD 14 3.6 Proposals Map 15 3.7 Evidence Base 15 3.8 Risks 15 4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford 18 4.1 Demographic Structure 18 4.2 Comparison of projected population growth to 2031 20 4.3 Projected Household Growth 2006-2031 21 4.4 Ethnicity 23 4.5 Crime 23 4.6 Deprivation 24 4.7 Economy 25 4.8 Labour Demand and Supply 27 4.9 Built Environment 29 4.10 Education, Skills and Training 30 5 Local Output Indicators 34 5.1 Transport 35 5.2 Environment 44 5.3 Housing 46 6 Core Output Indicators 54 6.1 Business Development 54 6.2 Housing 62 6.3 Environmental Quality 74 Appendices 1 Glossary of Terms 85 2 List of Studies which act as the LDF Evidence Base 91 3 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation 95 4 Comparison of New Core Output Indicators with Original Core Output Indicators 99 5 Local Development Scheme Timetable and Milestones – the LDS approved by 103 Government Office July 2007 6 Watford Context Map 105 7 List of WDP 2000 Saved Policies agreed by Secretary of State’s Direction dated 107 14 September 2007 8 Summary Butterfly Conservation Transect Data (Total Butterflies and Total 111 Species) By District 200-2006 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
Contents
9 Summary of Housing Commitments at 31/3/09 and Projected Annual 113 Completions 10 Outstanding Allocated Sites without Planning Permission at 31/3/09 115 11 Housing Sites listed in Watford District Plan 2000 – Status at 31/3/09 117 12 Summary of 5 Year Assessment of Housing Supply 121 Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 1
Executive Summary 1 2 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
1 Executive Summary 1 Executive Summary
1.0.1 This Annual Monitoring Report covers the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009.
1.0.2 The purpose of the Annual Monitoring Report is to:
Review the progress of the work programme contained in the Local Development Scheme, with regard to production of new local development documents; Assess the effectiveness of existing planning policies; and Identify whether any policies are not being implemented, or should be amended or replaced.
1.0.3 This report is part of a continuing process of developing a more comprehensive monitoring system and provided below is a summary of the main findings of the report:
1.0.4 Local Development Scheme
A revised 2007 to 2011 Local Development Scheme (‘LDS’) was approved by Government Office for the East of England (‘GO-East’) in July 2007 and published in November 2007 - the LDS timetable is now under review. Public consultation on the Core Strategy Preferred Options took place between 18th February and 31st March 2008.
1.0.5 Delays in the production of evidence based studies being undertaken by consultants appointed by the Council and the need to update some existing studies to take account of changes in the economy since they were produced, have meant that it has not been possible to move to the submission stage in line with the published timetable – the LDS is therefore currently being reviewed. This will have to be agreed with GO – East.
1.0.6 Business Development
100% of the 2,746 sq.m. gross floorspace gained to employment this year was on previously developed land. There has been an overall net loss of 4,436sq.m. of employment floorspace (following a net loss of 16,344 sq.m. in 2008 and a net loss to employment floorspace of 4,596 sq.m. in 2007). Although there has not been much development activity within the Town Centre, all economic data available for Watford, such as job density, VAT registrations, unemployment and earnings indicate the good health of business in general. 33% of the floorspace gains were in allocated employment areas, and only 9% of the losses. This suggests that our policies are still protecting employment areas.
1.0.7 Housing
The Hertfordshire County Structure Plan housing target was current during this monitoring period and Watford Borough Council has exceeded its requirement of 4,700 units of new housing in Watford between 1991-2011, by 866 units. The Council is also on target to meet and exceed the East of England Plan (adopted in May 2008) minimum requirement of 5,200 dwellings between 2001-2021. 100% of completed dwellings were on previously developed land (PDL) against a national target of 60%, and our local target of 95%. The Core Strategy will set an appropriate Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 3
Executive Summary 1
target for residential development on PDL, looking to restrict all development on greenfield land. Only three of the residential development showing completions this year were of sufficient size to trigger the requirement for provision of affordable housing. These sites have provided 48 affordable housing units. Outstanding planning permissions include commitments of 609 affordable dwellings, of which 459 are on schemes currently under construction. The forthcoming Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) study, commissioned in partnership with neighbouring authorities, will provide evidence to inform the affordable housing policy within the submission draft of the Core Strategy. The SHMA study seeks to provide information about the mix of housing that is required for both affordable and open market housing. The output of the SHMA and other studies such as the Development Economic Study will be used to refine the housing policy further before submission of the Core Strategy. The housing chapter will require substantial redrafting dependent upon the studies’ findings.
1.0.8 Transport
Car parking policies are in place to ensure that appropriate provision is made for car parking in relation to new development or in land use conversions. They are intended to restrict over provision and to encourage the use of alternative sustainable transport modes. Most (97%) non-residential development (within Use Classes A, B and D) completed this year complies with the standards set out in the WDP 2000. A key corporate priority is to tackle traffic congestion and encourage less reliance on the car and in support of existing policy T9 and the Cycling Strategy, 14.1 kilometres of new cycle route has been delivered by Watford Borough Council over the last six years. Cycle route usage has increased at all sites monitored with cycle route usage almost trebling at Dalton Way and more than doubling at Ebury Way sites over the same period. 100% of new residential development delivered this year is within 30 minutes sustainable travel time of all essential services. This is to be expected in Watford as the town has good public transport links. The Council, in partnership with Hertfordshire Highways has been working to deliver the South West Herts Transportation Strategy. The overall aims are to reduce congestion, enable infrastructure to support existing and proposed development, achieve a shift to more sustainable modes of travel, minimise the environmental impact of transport provision and to make the roads safer. Monitoring by the County Council of roads they control (which excludes motorways and trunk roads) provides a measure of locally generated traffic change. Although there have been both slight increases and slight decreases over the past five years, the data does appear to indicate that traffic levels have been relatively stable in Watford.
1.0.9 Environment
The Green Spaces Strategy was adopted by Cabinet on the 9 October 2006, and encompasses the aim of raising the quality of all our parks up to Green Flag Award standard within the following five years. However, we do not intend to make formal applications for all our parks, as it would be too costly and time consuming. Watford Borough Council was successful in winning a Green Flag Awards in respect of Cassiobury Park , Cheslyn House and Woodside/Alban Wood for this AMR period. This is an increase on the previous AMR period when only Cassiobury Park received the award. The Council 4 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
1 Executive Summary
manages another five sites to Green Flag standards, two ( Goodwood Recreation Ground and St Mary’s Churchyard) of which are managed to this standard for the first time this AMR period. No objections were received in the monitoring period on the grounds of water quality from the Environment Agency (EA) and no applications were approved against the Environment Agency’s advice.This shows that saved policies (namely SE 26 to SE 30) that include requirements for flood prevention and defence and the safeguarding of water quality are working. Both Watford Central and Watford Woodside Leisure Centres were completed during this monitoring year and both designs demonstrate low and renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels, high insulation levels, rainwater recycling and ground-linked heat recovery systems to reclaim heat from air and water. The sustainable elements will increase the buildings’ long term viability, both in terms of a reduction in carbon emissions and running costs. This fits in with the Council’s aim to manage carbon emissions in its own premises, and across the town. Both schemes will achieve energy reductions of at least 35% over current building regulation standards. The Woodside scheme was recently awarded a Building Futures Design Award for the building which has the Most Sustainable Construction. A further smaller scheme was completed on a residential property on Sheepcote Lane where hot water solar panels have been successfully installed. Watford Borough Council has adopted a Carbon Management Strategy during the monitoring period and a draft Climate Change Strategy has been given Cabinet approval. Key targets from these documents will be built into the emerging Local Development Framework.
1.0.10 Overall our conclusion is that policies are working and this report does not suggest that any immediate changes are required although new policies are being formulated as part of the emerging Local Development Framework. It is recognised that although adopted Development Plan objectives are being met, e.g. parking standards and residential density. The outcomes are not necessarily popular with the communities affected and the objectives will be reviewed through the Local Development Framework. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 5
Introduction 2 6 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
2 Introduction 2 Introduction
2.0.1 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (‘the Act’) came into force on the 28th September 2004 and set in place a series of changes to the planning system.
2.0.2 The 2004 Act means that at a local level, District or Unitary Plans are being replaced by a portfolio of Local Development Documents, known collectively as the Local Development Framework (‘LDF’). At a county level, Structure Plans are no longer produced.
2.0.3 The new planning system of using a range of shorter documents rather than a larger single plan is designed to promote greater flexibility to update or amend policies in order to respond to change more quickly, and also enable more opportunity for community involvement in the process.
2.0.4 For the period covered by this report, the Development Plan for Watford comprised the Regional Spatial Strategy (Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (‘RPG 9’), replaced by the East of England Plan in May 2008), the Watford District Plan 2000 (‘WDP2000’), which was adopted on the 3 December 2003, the Hertfordshire Structure Plan (‘SP’) and the Hertfordshire Waste and Minerals Local Plans (which are themselves being replaced by Minerals and Waste Local Development Frameworks). However, it should be noted that from 28 September 2007, only selected policies within the Watford District Local Plan 2000, Hertfordshire Structure Plan, and the Hertfordshire Waste and Minerals Local Plans are ‘saved’ as part of the development plan for the Borough. For the District Plan, details of these are set out in the “Saving Direction” in Appendix 7. Information on the Structure and Minerals and Waste Plans is available from the County Council.
2.0.5 Every local planning authority produces an Annual Monitoring Report (‘AMR’) to monitor the policies and proposals of the Local Development Framework.
2.0.6 These are required to:
Review actual progress in terms of local development document preparation against the timetable in the local development scheme Assess the extent to which policies are being implemented/achieved Where policies are not being implemented, explain why and set out what steps are 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 they are as intended; and Set out whether policies are to be amended or replaced
2.0.7 The government’s guidelines specify that Annual Monitoring Reports must contain the following indicators, but recognises that it may not be possible to cover all the prescribed indicators, as some can only be developed as work on the Local Development Framework is progressed, and new policies emerge:
Contextual Indicators provide a background and context against which to consider the effects of policies and interpret the output and significant effects indicators. Core Output Indicators(‘COI’) aim to provide a standardised set of measurable activities that can be compared on a national basis, and are directly related to and a consequence of planning policy. In July 2008, the Government published guidance, as outlined in Appendix 4, amending the original core output indicators. (Full explanations can be Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 7
Introduction 2
found in ‘Core Output Indicators – Update 2/2008’ issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government(‘DCLG’)). There is also the option to develop local output indicators to monitor local issues which are not sufficiently covered by the core output indicators – we have currently elected to provide such indicators in the areas of housing, transport and the environment. Significant Effects Indicators are linked to the Sustainability Appraisal (‘SA’) objectives and should enable a comparison to be made between the predicted effects and the actual effects on society, the environment and the economy, during implementation of planning policies.
2.0.8 All Development Plan Documents (‘DPDs’) within Watford’s emerging Local Development Framework are subject to Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment(‘SEA’). As part of this process, objectives and targets should be developed for considering the sustainability of policies together with significant effects indicators in order to measure the effectiveness of the policies.
2.0.9 A draft SEA and SA Scoping Report was prepared and was published for consultation from 7 March 2006 to 11 April 2006. This was the first stage in an ongoing process – with a further SEA and SA Report being published alongside the Core Strategy Preferred Options consultation during February/March 2008. Also, significant effects indicators will be introduced as new policies are developed within the Local Development Framework. As the Core Strategy has been delayed (see Section 3 for explanation), it now appears unlikely that any will be included in the next AMR.
2.0.10 The SEA and SA Scoping Report was used to undertake Sustainability Appraisal of the draft Residential Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document (‘SPD’), and the resulting SA report was published for consultation alongside the draft SPD in March/April 2007. A final SA report will be produced for the adopted Residential Design Guide SPD.
2.0.11 The Local Development Scheme(‘LDS’) is the work programmefor the production of the LDF, and contains a timetable which outlines when Local Development Documents are scheduled to be produced. Due to various reasons, discussed in Section 3, the timetable is currently under review.
2.0.12 As the Council is still in the early stages of its Local Development Framework production the Annual Monitoring Report for 2007/08 focuses on monitoring the effects of ‘saved’ policies in the adopted Watford District Plan 2000.
2.0.13 Many of the Core Output Indicators serve that purpose and this report concentrates on updating the data, giving a year on year comparison where practical and analysis from the baseline figures provided by the previous AMRs; updating the contextual indicators, where new data is available; and adding ‘bundles’ of local output indicators on areas including housing, transport and the environment where additional local data is required. It is anticipated that the number of local output indicators will increase in future reports as policies emerge from new Local Development Documents.
2.0.14 A national standardised planning application form and associated requirements for validation of applications was actually introduced in April 2008. The new system is intended to simplify matters and gather all the data required for monitoring although it appears to be taking some time to be established and work effectively, as our Development Control Section report many enquiries for assistance from the public confused by the complexity of the new 8 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
2 Introduction
forms and/or insufficient information being submitted leading to rejection of the application. A new monitoring database and system is in the process of being developed at our own council level in order to record further data from planning application forms.
2.0.15 Watford Borough Council participates in the Hertfordshire County/District Information Liaison Group meetings, in which issues can be raised and relayed by the County Council to the Regional Research and Monitoring Group (AMR sub group) for clarification and response. Discussions concerning data collection and provision continue with Hertfordshire County Council, which liaises on behalf of the district councils with such providers as Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre (‘HBRC’), and progress is still being made in improving the data collection now required. Apart from other departments within the Council, the Planning Policy Section also initiates enquiries direct with external data sources, such as the Energy Saving Trust and the Environment Agency.
2.0.16 With regards to improvements to the Geographic Information System (‘GIS’) (the mapping system) that the Council employs, the progress to date has been considerable in building up the base data in general although this has little relevance specifically to the LDF. There is a continuing need for training and enabling access across the Council and measures to improve the functionality of the system. This will take place during the AMR 2009/10 period. With regards to the Open Space Strategy, the process of plotting and checking all Watford’s parks into GIS as part of the PPG17 study is largely completed but still in progress. This procedure has taken longer than anticipated due to lack of staff resources; but it is anticipated that it will be available during the first half of 2010.
2.0.17 This report is in respect of the previous monitoring year so data provided is for the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. Additional information that has subsequently become known with regard to more recent developments is supplied within the commentary where it is practical to do so, quoting the dates applicable, such as progress with the Local Development Scheme, in order to provide as up to date a picture as possible.
2.0.18 The legislation states that the document must be submitted to the Secretary of State (the Government Office for the East of England) by the end of December 2009 and it will also be published on the Council’s website at www.watford.gov.uk/planning.
2.0.19 Government guidance does not require formal public consultation in respect of Annual Monitoring Reports and time constraints between provision of the data and the requirement to submit and publish by the deadline above have prevented us from proceeding with a formal consultation period. However, we do welcome views on the AMR’s format and content so that we can make improvements on future reports and request that any comments be sent to:
Planning Policy Watford Borough Council Town Hall Watford WD17 3EX Alternatively, you can email comments to [email protected] Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 9
Local Development Scheme 3 10 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
3 Local Development Scheme 3 Local Development Scheme
3.0.1 The timetable setting out the programme for production of the new Local Development Documents is known as the Local Development Scheme (‘LDS’). All plan-making authorities were required to submit a first LDS to the Secretary of State for approval by the end of March 2005.
3.0.2 Annual Monitoring Reports are required to set out how progress with preparing LDFs during the monitoring year meets targets set in the LDS, and to set out whether changes to the LDS are required.
3.0.3 Watford Borough Council submitted its first Local Development Scheme to the Government Office for the East of England (‘GO-East’) by the statutory deadline in March 2005. GO-East advised us to revise the timetable because we had intended to progress one of its key Local Development Documents, the ‘Core Strategy’, ahead of the timetable for the preparation of the East of England Plan. A revised LDS was published in March 2006.
3.0.4 The LDS was then further revised, and approved by Government Office for the East of England in July 2007 before being published in November 2007. The reasons for further changes were set out in last year's AMR but included recognising the need for further work to produce a sound Core Strategy.
3.0.5 At the time of the last AMR we were reviewing the timetable once again due to a number of the potential risks identified in the current LDS occurring at once. Individually it may have been possible to continue despite this, but the combination of risks made this impossible. The particular risks that occurred were:
3.0.6 Staffing:
Staff leaving, and existing staff changing to part-time working. This led to: Insufficient staff until replacement staff appointed. This led on to another risk: First time staff have undertaken this work – newly appointed staff need to get up to speed with the process. Other priorities for planning staff – there continue to be other projects to work on, such as progressing major development schemes
3.0.7 External input/influence:
Slippage in timescales for external consultants working on behalf of the Council – timescales slipped significantly for the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA), Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) and the London Arc Employment Study. Slippage in the housing studies has a knock on effect on commencement of the Development Economics Study. This slippage occurred despite taking the mitigation measures identified in the risk assessment of working jointly with neighbouring authorities and phasing payments, being due largely to technical issues with data and forecasting methods. We did not consider it possible to produce a sound submission document without the information expected from these studies. Public/stakeholders not understanding the process/usefulness of representations – consultation on Preferred Options resulted primarily in comments on proof reading issues and specific wording rather than on the options proposed. Coupled with a new IT system, and staff shortages the responses received took longer then expected to process and Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 11
Local Development Scheme 3
respond to. On reflection the consultation process could have been more clearly explained. Insufficient LSP involvement - in retrospect, political desire to produce the Preferred Options consultation on time reduced the scope for liaising fully with the LSP, particularly given the LSP's already busy agenda. Steps were begun to redress this, including workshops involving the LSP in spring 2009. Outcome of consultation significantly changing policy direction – the outcome of consultation confirmed the need for more evidence to enable us to add detail to some of the policies, particularly quantitative information on retail, employment and housing.
3.0.8 Other resources:
Insufficient technical/IT resources – we did purchase a new system for managing the consultation but this was implemented fairly late on in the process and new staff did not receive training until well after the consultation ended. The majority of respondents did not use the online response portal this time.
3.0.9 Political Issues:
Uncertainty about further changes to the planning system – new regulations and PPS12 were published in summer 2008.
3.0.10 Since last year several of these issues have been ongoing : there have been further staff shortages with the Planning Policy Manager leaving and not being replaced, and other staff affected by sickness. There were ongoing delays with the completion of evidence studies, with the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) and Development Economics Study (DES) yet to be finalised at time of writing as well as new evidence requirements becoming apparent, including updating studies to account for the effects of the recession. It proved difficult to engage the LSP in all of the workshops and further work is to be done to involve the LSP. Details of all the studies being undertaken, and their progress are included at Appendix 2.
3.0.11 With all these issues ongoing, we have not yet agreed a revised timetable with the Government Office. However our revised LDS will now include a Town Centre Area Action Plan, and will no longer refer to the Residential Design Guide, as this has already been adopted. Table 1 below shows the Development Plan Documents we currently intend to produce:
Table 1 List of development plan documents to be prepared
Development Plan Document
Core Strategy
Site Allocations
Development Control Policies
Town Centre Area Action Plan
3.0.12 A summary follows of the progress of each document. The government's definition of the key milestones to be included in the LDS has changed, being reduced to 4 formal stages set out in regulations: "commencement ", now defined as the Scoping for the 12 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
3 Local Development Scheme
Sustainability Appraisal, Publication of a Submission Document (Reg 27), Submission to the Secretary of State (Reg 30) and Adoption. All interim stages of consultation and preparation, such as Issues and Options and Preferred Options are now "informal". Since the Scoping for the Sustainability Appraisal was done as a single report for all LDF documents, you will note that this stage is now shown as March 2006 for all documents, even though preparatory work was begun earlier for the Core Strategy. Reg 27 and 30 were previously a single stage so show the same target date in the adopted LDS. LDSs are now also only required to show the timetable for Development Plan Documents.
3.1 Core Strategy DPD
3.1.1 The Core Strategy will set out the Council’s vision for development and conservation in Watford to 2026 and is currently in preparation.
3.1.2 Preferred Options consultation on the Core Strategy took place in Feb/Mar 2008, roughly in line with the 2007 LDS target date of Jan/Feb 2008. However, the outcome of this consultation revealed a need for a considerable amount of further work to be done on the evidence base and, along with other reasons discussed above this resulted in slippage against the timetable, which remains under review.
Table 2 Core Strategy DPD milestones
Milestones 2007 LDS Planned Comments
Date Met?
Commencement (SA Mar 06 Y - Some consultation had Scoping) already taken place before this including Issues and Options and joint consultation with the Community Strategy.
Publication of Jul 08 N Jan 11 An interim consultation Submission Document is expected during (Reg 27) summer 2010 to allow consultation on the Submission to Jul 08 N Under evidence base. Secretary of State review (Reg 30)
Adoption Sep 09 N Under review
Source: Watford Borough Council, Planning Policy
3.2 Site Allocations DPD
3.2.1 The purpose of this document is to identify sites for development in accordance with the Core Strategy and give details of proposals and requirements for development. It will be informed by the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment published in November 2008. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 13
Local Development Scheme 3
Table 3 Site Allocations DPD milestones
Milestones 2007 LDS Planned Comments
Date Met?
Commencement (SA Mar 06 Y - Scoping)
Publication of a Aug 09 N Under We issued a call for Submission Document review sites during 2006 and (Reg 27) again in 2008. A Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) has been completed and will be consulted upon early in 2010. However, the focus is now on delivering the Core Strategy first.
Submission to Aug 09 N Under Secretary of State review (Reg 30)
Adoption Sep 10 N Under review
Source: Watford Borough Council, Planning Policy 14 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
3 Local Development Scheme
3.3 Development Control Policies DPD
3.3.1 This DPD will set out generic policies for Development Control.
Table 4 Development Control Policies DPD milestones
Milestones 2007 LDS Planned Comments
Date Met?
Commencement (SA Mar 2006 Y - Scoping)
Publication of Jun 10 - Under This will follow the Core Submission Document review Strategy. (Reg 27)
Submission to Jun 10 - Under Secretary of State review (Reg 30)
Adoption Sep 10 - Under review
Source: Watford Borough Council, Planning Policy
3.4 Residential Design Guide SPD
3.4.1 Changes to the Regulations removed the need to include Supplementary Planning Documents in Local Development Schemes and as such there are no longer key milestones to report. The Residential Design Guide was adopted on 17 November 2008 and officially published on 24 June 2009. It provides detailed advice on the design and layout of new housing developments and domestic alterations and extensions in 2 volumes: Building New Homes and Extending Your Home.
3.5 Town Centre Area Action Plan DPD
3.5.1 This is a newly proposed DPD which did not feature in the 2007 LDS. It will contain detailed policies and proposals for the regeneration of the Town Centre. The DPD will be informed by the Town Centre Study published in December 2005, and a Cultural Masterplan currently being prepared which concentrates on improving The Parade end of the High Street. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 15
Local Development Scheme 3
Table 5 Town Centre Area Action Plan DPD milestones
Milestones Planned/Actual Comments
Commencement (SA Mar 2006 A Town Centre Study was Scoping) published in December 2005.
Publication of Submission Under review Document (Reg 27)
Submission to Secretary of Under review State (Reg 30)
Adoption Under review
3.6 Proposals Map
3.6.1 The Proposals Map, part of the development plan, is updated on adoption of each DPD. As no new documents have yet been adopted which result in changes to the Proposals Map, no changes have yet been made to the Proposals Map that currently forms part of the adopted Watford District Plan 2000.
3.7 Evidence Base
3.7.1 Much of the evidence base for preparing the LDF has been completed and is published: this is listed in Appendix 2 along with information on additional work being undertaken to:
complete some outstanding studies; update studies that may be out-of-date or nearing the end of their shelf-life before relevant DPDs are submitted; and update or undertake new studies that are recommended or required by new national guidance, or for which guidance or procedures have changed.
3.8 Risks
3.8.1 The published LDS contains a table identifying risks, their potential impacts and possible mitigation measures. 16 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
3 Local Development Scheme Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 17
Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4 18 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford
4.0.1 The Borough of Watford is predominantly urban in nature and covers an area of 2,142 hectares (8.3 sq. miles). However, almost 20% of the Borough forms part of the Metropolitan Green Belt which encloses much of the built-up area. The Colne Valley Linear Park, the Gade Valley and Cassiobury Park, which extends almost into the centre of Watford, provide the main open space and nature resources in Watford.
4.0.2 Situated in the South West of Hertfordshire, Watford has several locational advantages due to its excellent communication links. The M1 motorway, with a direct link to the town centre, and the London to Glasgow railway pass through the Borough. London Euston can be reached in 20 minutes by rail, while the nearby M25 motorway has enhanced road access to the major airports at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted and Luton. Watford has major A-road links to adjoining areas and is also connected to the underground rail network with the Metropolitan Line terminus adjacent to Cassiobury Park.
4.0.3 Traditionally a market town, and a centre for the printing industry, it is now a major town in the region and accommodates the headquarters of a number of nationally known firms. It has developed into an attractive sub-regional shopping centre and important centre for cultural and recreational facilities.
4.1 Demographic Structure
4.1.1 The total resident population for the Borough at the 2001 Census was 79,726 (see Table 6) which is an increase of 5,160 persons or 6.9 per cent since 1991. This compares to an increase of 5.7 per cent across Hertfordshire and a 4.4 per cent increase in England overall.
Figure 1 Population pyramid for Watford – Census 2001
Source: Office for National Statistics 2001 Census Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 19
Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4
Table 6 Age and Sex of Population by numbers
WATFORD Total Resident Males Females
All Ages 79,726 39,227 40,499
0-4 5,117 2,570 2,547
5-9 5,305 2,651 2,654
10-14 5,053 2,585 2,468
15-19 4,380 2,191 2,189
20-24 5,004 2,373 2,631
25-29 7,206 3,556 3,650
30-34 7,528 3,822 3,706
35-39 7,093 3,706 3,387
40-44 5,783 3,032 2,751
45-49 4,807 2,424 2,383
50-54 4,781 2,370 2,411
55-59 3,871 1,985 1,886
60-64 3,249 1,618 1,631
65-69 2,866 1,373 1,493
70-74 2,587 1,168 1,419
75-79 2,177 864 1,313
80-84 1,480 534 946
85-89 936 297 639
90 and over 506 102 404
Source: Office for National Statistics 2001 Census
4.1.2 Watford’s population is comprised of 49 per cent male and 51 per cent female, which is broadly in line with the male/female ratio in the East of England and across England as a whole.
4.1.3 There is a significantly larger percentage than the national average of people who are aged 25 to 44 (34.6% in Watford compared with 29.3% of England as a whole - see Figure 1). Children under 15, at 19.4%, make up a higher proportion of the population than people aged 60 or over, at 17.3%, which is contrary to the county and national trend. The average age for Watford is 36.7 years as opposed to 38.6 years in England and Wales. 20 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford
4.1.4 Watford is the district with the greatest population density in Hertfordshire averaging at 3,751 people per square kilometre, compared with an average of 284 for the region and 380 per square kilometre for England overall.
4.1.5 The most recently published figure (August 2009) by the Office for National Statistics (‘ONS’), is the 2008 mid year estimate which is 81,000 (rounded to the nearest hundred in accordance with ONS requirements). This estimate has increased by 1,300 from the 2007 mid year estimate, and it is slightly above the population recorded in the 2001 census for Watford.
4.2 Comparison of projected population growth to 2031
4.2.1 In order to assist us in our planning objectives, we have considered the most recently available population projections, which are summarised in the table below.
Table 7 ONS projected population figures
ONS Revised 2004 based population projections ONS 2006 based population projections
Increase Increase 2029 2031 % Revised over 25 % increase 2006 over 25 projected projected increase 2004 base years 2004-2029 based years figure figure 2006-2031 2004-2029 2006-2031
Watford 79,500 85,700 6,200 7.8% 79,600 89,300 9,700 12.2%
Hertfordshire 1,044,800 1,198,100 153,300 14.7% 1,058,600 1,253,700 195,100 18.4%
Data Source: Office for National Statistics
4.2.2 The Office for National Statistics (ONS) published the 2006-based sub-national population projections on 12 June 2008. They are trend based projections using the recent trends in birth and death rates and migration and do not take into account the future effect of local, regional or national policy.
4.2.3 They are based on ONS’s Mid Year Estimates of population for 2006, and the trend in estimates over the preceding five years. The 2006-based population projections replace the corresponding set, the 2004-based (which were revised in September 2007).
4.2.4 The 2006-based projections suggest a rise in Hertfordshire’s population from the base of 1,058,600 in 2006 to 1,253,700 in 2031, a rise of 18.4% over the 25-year period. In comparison with the 2004-based projections, the 2006-based projections show a marked rise in the increase in population and proportional growth for Hertfordshire overall to 2031.
4.2.5 The highest proportional population growths are forecast for Welwyn Hatfield (33.2% and North Hertfordshire (26.0%) districts. The lowest projected growth is in Stevenage (9.5%) and Dacorum (10.4%). Watford’s projected growth is now estimated at 9,700 (12.2%) over the 25 year period, whereas the revised 2004-based projection was 6,200 (7.8%).
4.2.6 Population projections at district level especially must be viewed as indicative only. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 21
Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4
4.3 Projected Household Growth 2006-2031
4.3.1 The 2006-based household projections were published by Communities and Local Government on 11th March 2009. They are based on the 2006-based population projections, published by the Office for National Statistics in June 2008. The projections are published at national (for England only), regional and local authority level. These projections supersede the previous revised 2004-based projections.
4.3.2 The household projections are an indication of the likely increase in households given the continuation of recent demographic trends. They are not an assessment of housing need nor do they take into account the effect of future policies.
4.3.3 In comparing the DCLG 2006-based projections with the revised 2004-based projections, the main regional effect is growth increased from 31.5% to 35.4% over the period. In Hertfordshire, projected growth has increased from 26% to 27.6% over the period but for the districts there are wide differences in the projected growth with Watford falling by 3.7%, but Welwyn Hatfield increasing by 10.2%. Stevenage, Three Rivers, East Hertfordshire and St Albans also have decreases in projected growth between projections. Hertsmere, Dacorum, North Hertfordshire and Broxbourne also have increases in projected growth between projections.
Table 8 DCLG revised 2006 based household projections and comparison of % increase from 2006-2031 with revised 2004 based projections
2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 3031 Increase DCLG DCLG Difference 2006-31 revised revised between % % original & growth growth revised 2004-29 2006-31
Watford 33 34 35 37 38 39 6 18.18% 21.90% -3.72%
Herts 438 461 486 512 536 559 121 27.63% 26.0% 1.63%
Data Source: Communities and Local Government – for further information see http://www.hertsdirect.org/infobase/docs/pdfstore/houseproj06.pdf
Note: figures are expressed in whole thousands.
4.3.4 The average household size for Watford in the 2001 census was 2.43 and the DCLG population/household projection figures for Watford equate to an average household size of 2.24 in 2031, a decrease of 7.8%. 22 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford
Table 9 DCLG revised 2006 based Household Projections by household type.
Watford 2006 2011 2016 2021 2026 2031 Increase % increase Household Types 2006-31 2006-31
Married couple 14 13 12 12 12 12 -2 -14.3%
Cohabiting couple 4 5 5 6 6 7 3 75.0%
Lone parent 2 2 2 2 3 3 1 50.0%
Other multi-person 2 3 3 3 3 3 1 50.0%
One person 10 11 12 13 14 12 5 50.0%
All households 33 34 35 37 38 39 6 18.2%
Private households 78 80 82 84 86 88 10 12.8% population
Average household 2.39 2.37 2.34 2.30 2.26 2.23 1.67 size
Data source: Communities and Local Government
Note: Increase 2006 to 2031 in Average household size shows differential household size (increase in household population) / (increase in households).
Figures are expressed in whole thousands (excluding average household size and % increases). Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 23
Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4
4.4 Ethnicity
4.4.1 The non-white proportion of Watford’s population has increased from 10% in 1991 to 14% in 2001, which is higher than the national average of 9% and reflects Watford’s broad mix of cultures.
4.4.2 People identifying as Asian or Asian British amount to 8.2% in Watford, as compared with 3% overall in Hertfordshire. People identifying as Black or Black British total 2.7% in Watford as compared with 1.2% in Hertfordshire as a whole (see Table 10).
Table 10 Ethnic Composition of Resident Population in percentages
WATFORD % HERTS % ENGLAND %
White 86.0 93.7 90.9
White Irish 2.9 1.7 1.3
Mixed 2.1 1.4 1.3
Asian or Asian British 8.2 3.0 4.6
Indian 2.4 1.6 2.1
Pakistani 4.6 0.7 1.4
Bangladeshi 0.3 0.3 0.6
Other Asian 0.9 0.4 0.5
Black or Black British 2.7 1.2 2.1
Caribbean 1.5 0.6 1.1
African 1.0 0.5 1.0
Other Black 0.2 0.1 0.2
Chinese/Other Ethnic 1.1 0.8 0.9
Source: Figures from Office for National Statistics 2001 Census
4.5 Crime
4.5.1 A low level of crime was stated to be the most important issue in making somewhere a good place to live, from a list of Quality of Life issues, by 72% of the Watford Citizens Panel Community Survey 2004.
4.5.2 The Watford Best Value User Survey undertaken with local residents in autumn 2006 asked the question ‘Thinking generally, which of the things below would you say are most important in making somewhere a good place to live and which would you say most needed improving?’ - 63% (the highest percentage) of those surveyed believed that a low level of crime was most important in making somewhere a good place to live, and 40% stated that this needed the most improving. 24 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford
4.5.3 One of Watford Borough Council’s corporate objectives contained in the Performance Plan 2007-2012 (Objective 3 – a safer town) is to work in partnership as an effective member of the ‘Watford Community Safety Partnership’ by contributing to the delivery of the Community Safety Strategy through priority leads on tackling anti-social behaviour and reducing the fear of crime.
Number of recorded offences England and (Watford) Wales
Type of Crime 07/08 08/09 % Per 1,000 Per 1,000 difference population population (08/09) (08/09)
Violence against 1,676 1,262 -25 16 16 the person
Robbery 111 126 14 2 1
Domestic 445 465 4 14 12 Burglaries*
Vehicle Crime 1,081 865 24 11 10
* Please note the figures for domestic burglaries are given per 1,000 households.
4.5.4 It is encouraging to see that ‘violence against the person’ crimes have dropped by 25% in this monitoring period. However robbery, domestic burglary and vehicle crimes have all risen throughout the period.
4.6 Deprivation
4.6.1 The Government publishes an Index of Multiple Deprivation (‘IMD’), the most recent being the IMD 2007. This superseded the IMD 2004 and there was some expectation that meaningful comparison between the two datasets would be possible. However, more research is being done on this point and no agreement has yet been reached. The guidance notes from the DCLG website http://www.communities.gov.uk state:
4.6.2 ‘The Index scores from 2004 cannot be compared with those from 2007. Though the two Indices are very similar, it is not valid to compare the scores between the two time points.’
4.6.3 Comparing rankings over time can also be dangerous as the rank of any given area is dependent on the scores of all the others so we are not attempting to compare the two indices but are highlighting some results from the IMD 2007.
4.6.4 There are a number of measures calculated at regional, county and district level from the original scores based on the 32,482 Lower Super Output Areas (‘LSOAs’) in England. There are 3550 LSOAs in our region the East of England, 683 LSOAs in the county of Hertfordshire and 53 LSOAs in Watford. For comparison purposes within the IMD 2007, it is clearer and valid to compare rankings (1 being the most deprived) rather than scores.
4.6.5 To place results for Watford in context, none of the LSOAs in Hertfordshire rank among the most deprived 10% in England and only five rank among the 10% to 20% most deprived. These five are dispersed across five Districts – Three Rivers, Stevenage, Hertsmere, Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 25
Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4
Welwyn Hatfield and Broxbourne - none are in Watford. None of the ten districts as a whole rank among the 50% most deprived in England. Stevenage, the most deprived of the ten districts, ranks 191st out of 354 (among the least 50% deprived).
4.6.6 Watford, which is the third most deprived District in Hertfordshire, ranking 18th out of 48 districts, contains the highest proportion of deprived LSOAs. Three LSOAs rank among the most deprived 10% in the region and nine rank among the 10% to 20% most deprived (see Appendix 3). The most deprived LSOA is in Central ward, north of the Harlequin centre, and ranks 9th in Hertfordshire. Unusually, all four LSOAs in Central ward come within the worst 20% in Hertfordshire, although LSOAs in this category can be found all over Watford, not just around the centre. Only Nascot, Tudor and Park wards do not have any LSOAs within the worst 25% in the county and only Nascot, Tudor, Park and Vicarage wards do not have any LSOAs within the worst 25% in the East of England region.
4.6.7 Separate types of deprivation exist and contribute to the overall deprivation level. Watford is experiencing the highest level of Living Environment deprivation in the county, with seven LSOAs in the 10 most deprived in Hertfordshire in this category, ranking 111th of 354 local authorities in the country (just out of the most deprived 30%).
4.6.8 Ten LSOAs (1.5% of LSOAs in Hertfordshire) were ranked among the most deprived 10% in England as a whole on the Indices of Deprivation 2007 Crime Domain. This includes two LSOAs in Watford, both in Central ward in the town centre. Further more detailed information may be found in the Final Report dated August 2008 ‘Deprivation across Hertfordshire: Analysis for the Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement’ by the Oxford Consultants for Social Inclusion, from which much of the information supplied here has been provided.
4.6.9 It should be noted that the IMD has not been updated since 2007. The above analysis has therefore not changed from that contained in the previous AMR.
4.7 Economy
4.7.1 The Annual Business Inquiry 2007 shows that half the number of employee jobs in Watford is split between two main groups - the Banking, Finance and Insurance sector (31%) and the Distribution, Hotels and Restaurants sector (29%). The Banking, Finance and Insurance Sector in Watford, with 31% of employee jobs, was proportionately more than any other district in Hertfordshire and the East of England.
4.7.2 The number of employee jobs in Watford, 52054, decreased by 1,046 (-1.9%) since the previous year in 2006.
4.7.3 Major employers in the district include Haden Young Ltd, Mirror Colour Print Watford Ltd, Asda, Marks and Spencer, Tesco Stores Ltd, Watford Borough Council, J Sainsbury Plc, Total UK Ltd, John Lewis Watford and Royal Mail (Watford) Sorting and Delivery Office. Watford has an established office market concentrated around Clarendon Road in the town centre, with easy access via Watford Junction. 26 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford
Figure 2 Number of Employee Jobs by Industry Groups – Watford 2006
Data Source: Annual Business Inquiry (2007) – www.nomisweb.co.uk
4.7.4 Watford continues to have higher earnings than Hertfordshire in the latest 2007 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings and is by national and regional standards a healthy economy.
Table 12 Median earnings in pounds for employees living in area
Watford Hertfordshire Eastern GB (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) (pounds)
Gross weekly pay
Full-time workers (573.3)583.6 (543.7)398.5 (479.1)498.7 (459.0)479.3
Male full-time workers (628.3)669.6 (599.6)465.5 (531.8)550.0 (500.7)525.0
Female full-time workers (478.5)508.2 (463.3)331.1 (400.4)423.7 (394.8)412.7
Hourly pay
Full-time workers (14.73)15.65 (14.00)9.66 (11.94)12.44 (11.50)12.01
Male full-time workers (16.95)16.99 (14.90)10.37 (12.84)13.27 (12.17)12.72
Female full-time workers (12.38)13.79 (12.46)8.46 (10.62)11.26 (10.48)10.96
Source: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (2008 and 2007)
NB. Figures in brackets are from the 2006 survey Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 27
Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4
4.7.5 VAT registrations and de-registrations are the best official guide to the pattern of business start-ups and closures. They are an indicator of the level of entrepreneurship and of the health of the business population. Registrations are not as unusually high as they were in 2005 but the amount of start-ups still outnumber the closures.
Table 13 VAT Registrations/Deregistrations by Industry
Watford Watford Eastern GB (numbers) (%) (%) (%)
Registrations (325) 400 (10.7) 12.6 (8.9) 9.6 (9.4) 10.2
Deregistrations (280) 295 (9.5) 9.3 (7.1) 7.2 (7.4) 7.3
Stock (at end of year) (3,070) 3,175 - - -
Source: BERR - vat registrations/deregistrations by industry (2007) via http://www.nomisweb.co.uk
NB. % is a proportion of stock (at end of year) and figures in brackets are from the 2006 survey
4.7.6 There have been mainly positive increases in the overall number of VAT registered businesses for Watford over recent years with a substantial increase in number for 2005, and a small increase in 2006 and again, substantial growth in 2007.
Table 14 Number of and % change in VAT registered businesses for Watford
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
(2,855) 0.4% (2,845) -0.4% (3,005) 5.6% (3,030) 0.8% (3,175) 4.8%
Source: NOMIS, taken from the Inter-Departmental Business Register (IDBR) via http://www.areaprofiles.audit-commission.gov.uk
4.8 Labour Demand and Supply
4.8.1 High job densities are where there is at least one job for every working-age resident (e.g. 1.0). The job density in Watford has risen from 1.11 in 2004 to 1.17 in 2006, and is the highest job density of all the districts in the county; and within the region, only Norwich has a higher job density at 1.33. 28 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford
Table 15 Jobs density representing the ratio of total jobs to working-age population (includes males aged 16-64 and females aged 16-59)
Watford Herts Eastern GB (density) (density) (density) (density)
Jobs Density 1.15 0.87 0.81 0.83
Source: Jobs density (2007) – from http://www.nomisweb.co.uk 27/11/08
4.8.2 N.B. Jobs density – the number of jobs per resident of working age (16-59/64). The total number of jobs is a workplace-based measure and comprises employees, self-employed, government-supported trainees and HM Forces. The number of working age resident figures used to calculate jobs densities are based on mid-2001 population estimates.
4.8.3 There have been decreases in claimant count on a county basis, regionally and nationally over the past two years. Watford is showing the highest decrease of 0.7%.
Table 16 Claimant Count Comparison 2004-2008
Year Watford Hertfordshire East of England Great Britain
2004 1.9 1.4 1.8 2.5
2005 1.9 1.4 1.8 2.4
2006 2.1 1.6 2 2.6
2007 1.8 1.5 2 2.5
2008 1.4 1.3 1.7 2.2
2009 3.4 2.9 3.5 4.1
Source: National Statistics (NOMIS) HCC Unemployment Bulletins for Hertfordshire April 04-08,
N.B. Proportions for dates from 2006 onwards are calculated using the 2005 resident working age population.
4.8.4 The impact of the recession is clearly visible, with the total number of claimants in Hertfordshire from April 2008 increasing by 10,829 (130.6%). There have been increases across the county with Watford experiencing the 5th largest increase of 142.3% during this period. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 29
Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4
Table 17 Total Claimant Count and Change 2006-2008
Change Change 2007/09 2007/09
Herts County & No. % Districts Apr 2009 Apr 2008 Apr 2007
Herts 19,123 8,294 9,402 9721 196.7%
BROXBOURNE 1,942 836 975 967 200.8%
DACORUM 2,831 1,275 1,491 1340 211.3%
EAST HERTS 1,915 678 755 1160 165%
HERTSMERE 1,646 758 868 778 211.6%
NORTH HERTS 2,289 935 1,036 1253 182.7%
ST ALBANS 1,707 685 751 956 178.6%
STEVENAGE 2,074 1,048 1,119 1026 202.1%
THREE RIVERS 1,151 446 561 590 195.1%
WATFORD 1,735 716 932 803 216.1%
WELWYN/HATFIELD 1,833 917 914 919 199.5%
Data Source: Hertfordshire County Council Unemployment Bulletin for Hertfordshire Apr 09
4.9 Built Environment
4.9.1 The Council aims to conserve and enhance the built environment of the town through careful control of development and design, and protection of historic assets.
4.9.2 There are a total of 8 Conservation areas and 50 Historic Environment Character Zones in Watford. Listed buildings number 93 and there are over 200 locally listed buildings.
4.9.3 The Planning and Development Department is currently reviewing the existing conservation areas, preparing area appraisals and management plans for each area in accordance with government advice and evaluating the potential for new areas.
4.9.4 In June 2006, a new conservation area was designated in High Street/King Street and the final High Street/King Street Conservation Area Appraisal document was adopted by Council in March 2007.
4.9.5 Between 27 February to 10 March 2009, public consultation was held on draft character appraisal documents for the existing Civic Core and St Mary's Conservation Areas. Comments were evaluated and the document was subsequently reviewed. It was adopted in March 2009 and is now available on our website www.watford.gov.uk. This brings the number of completed character appraisals for 2008-09 to 4 out of the overall 8 Conservation areas. 30 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford
4.9.6 Conservation Area Appraisals for Nascot and Estcourt are nearing completion (November 2009) and public consultation will take place shortly.
4.10 Education, Skills and Training
4.10.1 In Watford, 6% of the resident population were school pupils or full-time students aged 16-74 years at the time of 2001 Census. This compared with 5.1% of the population in England and Wales.
4.10.2 Watford is within the Local Education Authority of Hertfordshire. In the academic year 2007/08, 75.3% of pupils in Watford achieved 5 or more GCSEs graded A* to C, compared to the England average of 65.3%.
Figure 3 GCSE and equivalent results for young people, all pupils at the end of KS4 achieving 5+ A* - C
Data Source: Department for Children, Schools and Families via http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk
4.10.3 Qualifications held by the working age population of Watford are given in the following table, together with Hertfordshire, the East of England, and Great Britain for comparison.
Table 18 Qualifications of working age population (males 16-64 & females 16-59)
Watford Watford Hertfordshire East of Great (numbers) (%) (%) England (%) Britain (%)
NVQ4 and above 13,200 26.0 32.4 26.1 29.0
NVQ3 and above 22,300 43.8 50.3 43.4 47.0
NVQ2 and above 29,900 58.8 69.0 62.8 65.2
NVQ1 and above 36,000 70.8 83.3 78.8 78.9
Other qualifications 8,900 17.5 7.9 9.3 8.7
No qualifications 6,000 11.7 8.8 11.8 12.4 Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 31
Contextual Characteristics of Watford 4
Source: Annual Population Survey Jan-Dec 2008, available from www.nomisweb.co.uk
NB: Definitions of qualification levels: NVQ4 and above: e.g. HND, Degree and Higher Degree level qualifications NVQ3 and above: e.g. 2 or more A levels, advanced GNVQ, NVQ3 NVQ2 and above: e.g. 5 or more GCSEs at grades A-C, intermediate GNVQ, NVQ2 NVQ1 and above: e.g. fewer than 5 GCSEs at grades A-C, foundation GNVQ, NVQ1 Other Qualifications: includes foreign qualifications and some professional qualifications No qualifications: no formal qualifications held
Figure 4 Qualifications of working age population in Watford, Herts, East of England, and nationally.
4.10.4 The graph shows that Watford has a skilled working population, the number of people of working age in Watford holding NVQ4 or above (26%) is in line with the regional average. Similar data was compiled from the 2001 census results and it was apparent that the 23.07% of people (aged 16-74) with a higher education qualification (NVQ4 and above) in Watford was significantly higher than the national average of 19.90%. This also shows that Watford has a high proportion of highly qualified people which has substantially increased over the last seven years.
4.10.5 The number of people in Watford with higher education qualifications has fallen compared with Hertfordshire and Great Britain as a whole. However, Watford has a significantly higher proportion of people with ‘other qualifications’ including foreign qualifications and some professional qualifications. 32 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
4 Contextual Characteristics of Watford Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 33
Local Output Indicators 5 34 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators 5 Local Output Indicators
5.0.1 Local output indicators are to be used to address the effects of policies not covered by the core output indicators and of importance locally. Preparation of the evidence base for the LDF indicates that transport/traffic congestion is considered one of Watford’s most important local issues, together with affordable decent housing and environmental issues.
5.0.2 Thus we are collecting ‘bundles’ of group indicators related to transport, environment and housing which may be added to or amended as our Core Strategy emerges, but are useful research to assist in ascertaining the effectiveness of our current policies and the development of new policies. For ease of reference, they have been combined with the relevant contextual data. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 35
Local Output Indicators 5
5.1 Transport
Amount and percentage of completed non-residential development within UCOs A, B and D complying with car-parking standards set out in the Watford District Plan 2000 (WDP 2000)
5.1.1 Policy T22 and Appendix 2 in the adopted Watford District Plan 2000 set out Watford’s car parking standards, which are based on maximum demand-based parking as set out in Structure Plan Policy 25: Car Parking, and reduced as appropriate in accordance with the principle set out in Hertfordshire County Council Car Parking Supplementary Planning Guidance: Parking in New Development (December 2000).
5.1.2 Car parking standards are in place to ensure that appropriate provision is made for car parking in relation to new development or in land use conversions. They are intended to restrict over provision, over capacity and to encourage the use of alternative transport modes.
Table 19 Percentage of completed non-residential development within UCOs A, B and D complying with car-parking standards set out in the WDP 2000
Use Class Order (UCO) No. of sites in each UCO Car parking spaces
A1 4 4
A2 2 2
A3 3 3
A5 3 3
B1a 8 7
B1C 1 1
B8 2 2
C1 1 1
C2 1 1
D1 4 4
D2 3 3
Total 32 31 (97%)
N.B. Where a Use Class within A, B and D has not been listed, no developments have completed in that category.
5.1.3 There have been 30 applicable developments (two sites had a mixture of uses on each site) which have been completed over the monitoring period of 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, 22 of which utilised existing car parking spaces. Out of the 8 schemes which applied for new or additional car parking spaces a total of 7 complied with the WDP2000 car parking standards. The council has noted the one scheme which did not comply with WDP2000 car parking standards and will take steps to ensure that all future schemes do comply. 36 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators
Accessibility - Percentage of new residential development within 30 minutes public transport time of a GP, hospital, primary and secondary school, employment and a major health centre.
5.1.4 (This indicator was previously designated COI 3b but has been removed from the core output indicator set. We will continue to monitor as accessibility is an important issue and integral to ‘better connectivity’ stated in the Regional Spatial Strategy (‘RSS’) Policy LA4: Watford Key Centre for Development and Change).
5.1.5 Accessibility planning is essential to effective spatial planning in order to identify whether people can get to jobs, education, health and other key activities.
5.1.6 ‘Accession’ is government-approved software which was funded by the Department for Transport to enable this and help local planning authorities and other agencies draw together transport, land use and socio-economic information. This software package is a Geographic Information System which is able to address all aspects of travel time and cost mapping using digital road networks and public transport timetable data, and enables specific locations to be mapped and analysed.
5.1.7 Hertfordshire County Council, as the highway authority in the county with the main responsibility for transport issues, has been provided with ‘Accession’ and they use the package on our behalf to input the locations of residential completions for Watford, in order to be able to check for accessibility to services as in the above indicator.
5.1.8 The following table shows the results provided by running the program on net residential development for the last three years. Much as expected in an urban area such as Watford, with good public transport, the result for this year is that 100% of net residential development is within 30 minutes public transport time of all services. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 37
Local Output Indicators 5
Table 20 Percentage of new residential development (net completions) within 30 minutes public transport time of services/key activities
% of Total Net Dwellings Completed
Service/key activity 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
GP 100% 100% 100% 100%
Hospital 98% 100% 100% 78%
Primary school 100% 100% 100% 100%
Secondary school 100% 100% 100% 100%
Areas of employment 100% 100% 100% 100%
Major retail centre 100% 100% 100% 100%
Data Source: Hertfordshire County Council/Watford Borough Council via Accession software
5.1.9 Accessibility to hospitals did not fare quite as well in 2006 with a result of 98% and a further drop in 2009 with 78%.
5.1.10 Investigation found that those addresses that came within the 22% affected were largely contained in the northern most part of Watford, around Woodside with one address to the east in Meriden. These areas are the furthest away from rail and underground stations and it must be recognised that they are accordingly not quite as accessible in this respect, as other parts of Watford. However, results can be affected because of the particular parameters set, bus/train timetables change and there has been no such repeated result in the last two years.
5.1.11 Nevertheless, accessibility and the congestion problem remain high on our agenda.
5.1.12 The county’s prosperity is reflected in the high levels of car ownership and the contribution that this makes to congestion, similar to Watford although Watford has lower cars per household (1.21) than the county average of 1.34 (see Table 21).
5.1.13 Vehicle ownership can provide an indication of the prosperity of an area and also the availability of other travel modes. A comparison between the 1991 and 2001 Census shows that average car ownership in Watford has increased from 1.06 per household to 1.21, a rise of 14%, although the average figure is one of the lowest in Hertfordshire bar Stevenage at 1.16, which could be due to their more urban nature and better, more frequent public transport than in some of the more rural districts. The overall average figure for Hertfordshire is 1.34 cars per household. 38 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators
Table 21 Car Ownership - % of households and total cars per household
Total cars per No car 1 car 2 cars 3 cars 4+ cars household
Watford 21.0 45.4 27.1 5.0 1.5 1.21
Herts 17.7 42.0 31.6 6.6 2.2 1.34
Data Source: 2001 Census, ONS
5.1.14 Watford has the highest employed resident population – 41,609 (all people aged 16-74 in employment who are usually resident in the area) and workplace population– 49,254 (all people aged 16-74 who are in employment and whose usual place of work is in the area) of all the settlements in Hertfordshire.
5.1.15 The number of people both living and working in Watford is 20,732, which is 49.4% of the employed resident population and 41.8% of the workplace population. There are 28,411 people working in Watford and living elsewhere, 37% more than the 20,731 people that live in Watford and work elsewhere. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 39
Local Output Indicators 5
Table 22 Method of travel to work - Watford
Method of Travel Employed Resident Workplace Population Population of Watford of Watford
Number % of Total Number % of Total
Home Works mainly 3,268 7.9 3,268 6.6 at or from home
Public Underground 1,098 2.6 583 1.2 Transport etc.
Train 2,995 7.2 2,189 4.4
Bus etc 1,787 4.3 2,764 5.6
Car Car driver or 25,101 60.3 32,856 66.7 passenger
Other Bicycle 966 2.3 1,010 2.1
On foot 5,553 13.3 5,755 11.7
Other 841 2.0 829 1.7
Total 41,609 100 49,254 100
Source: Census 2001 Workplace Table W203
5.1.16 Watford has the highest net in-commuting in Hertfordshire (the difference between employed resident population and workplace population) at 7,736 persons. Over 60% of people travel to work by car, either as a car driver or passenger, which contributes to the problem of traffic congestion in Watford (see Table 22).
5.1.17 The level of traffic congestion was identified in Watford’s Citizens’ Panel Community Survey 2004, as being the top ‘Quality of Life’ issue that needed the most improving. Road congestion and traffic growth was also identified as key issues by Hertfordshire residents in the Hertfordshire County Travel Survey 2005, together with maintaining existing roads and improving bus and rail facilities.
5.1.18 Hertfordshire County Council is the highway authority for all public roads in the county except the motorway and trunk road network, which is the responsibility of the Highways Agency (executive arm of the Department for Transport). The County Council’s main source of information is obtained from the ongoing Traffic Data Counting Programme which primarily monitors road traffic levels and vehicle type.
5.1.19 A large element of the motorway and trunk road network is of a long-distance nature so a comparison of traffic on just Hertfordshire County Council controlled roads (which excludes these) provides a measure of locally generated traffic change. 40 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators
Table 23 % Change in Total Vehicle Kilometreage on HCC roads in Watford
2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
- 0.4 % -0.6 % +0.5 % -0.6 % +1.04 -2.9 -1.35
Source: Hertfordshire’s Traffic and Transport Data Reports 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
N.B. + denotes an increase and – denotes a decrease in traffic flow levels.
5.1.20 Although there have been both slight increases and slight decreases over the past five years, the data does appear to indicate that traffic levels have been relatively stable in Watford. In most districts in Hertfordshire, traffic flows on the local network (HCC roads) decreased or remained relatively stable to 2006 levels.
5.1.21 The latest predictions from the National Trip End Model (TEMPRO version 5.3), Department for Transport (DfT), indicate that car traffic growth in Hertfordshire is now expected to grow at a faster rate than the national average.
5.1.22 There is considerable variation between districts in the predicted growth levels from the base year of 2001. Expected growth rates for some districts such as East Herts (25.1% by 2011 and 43.7% by 2021), North Herts and Stevenage are substantially above national projections and the county forecasts. These higher levels of traffic growth take into account the proposed increase in the number of new households and jobs in each of these districts identified within the current draft of the East of England Regional plan. Watford is predicted to grow more in line with forecasts for the county overall - from the base year of 2001, Hertfordshire’s traffic is predicted to grow by 20.1% by 2011 and 35.6% by 2021 and Watford’s traffic is predicted to grow by 20.5% by 2011 and 35.1% by 2021.
5.1.23 In the AMR 2007, we included data on ‘Annual average daily flow of cars across screenlines/cordons in Urban Regional Interchange Centres’ pertaining to a Target No. 35 contained in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy, which was to:
‘Stabilise car traffic levels in urban regional interchange centres (one of which is identified as Watford) at 1999 levels’.
This exact target/policy is not included in the adopted East of England Plan, neither is the appropriate data available in the East of England Monitoring Report.
5.1.24 However, earlier this year the government published a list of national performance indicators. One of these related to a Congestion Target (NI167). Hertfordshire County Council is following the preferred methodology for non-metropolitan authorities and is using the following indicator: ‘Vehicle journey time per mile during the morning peak on major inbound routes in the large urban centres, weighted by the relative traffic flow on those different routes’. To ensure consistency with other plans the main urban centres are those designated as Key Centres for Development and Change or Regional Transport Nodes in the East of England Plan and are Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Stevenage, Watford and Welwyn Garden City/Hatfield. Bishop’s Stortford has also been included (due to nearby potential growth at Stansted Airport). Journey time information from in-vehicle GPS devices Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 41
Local Output Indicators 5 has been supplied by the DfT, which will be analysed to identify a baseline journey time figure and thereafter updated. Once initial figures are obtained a performance target will be developed through the HCC Congestion Group.
5.1.25 In terms of tackling congestion, a congestion task group has been set up to cover the Watford and South West Hertfordshire area. The group will review and co-ordinate all relevant activities (in terms of highway design and the mitigation of impacts from new developments) in addition to identifying key pressure points in the network and suggesting potential engineering solutions for inclusion in future work programmes. It is the intention that in future similar forums are established in the other urban centres by the congestion target.
5.1.26 The adopted East of England Plan has 15 specific policies relating to transport but a clear priority is to increase passenger and freight movement by more sustainable modes, while reflecting the functionality required of the region’s transport networks.
5.1.27 Walking, cycling and public transport are important elements of the transport agenda making a contribution to a sustainable transport system. By increasing the attractiveness of sustainable transport methods, there is a real potential to reduce reliance on the car.
5.1.28 Watford Borough Council produced a Pedestrian Strategy for Watford in July 2003 aimed at encouraging people to walk and ensuring that we have an environment that is clean, safe and attractive to walk in. In line with Hertfordshire County Council targets, the aim is to ensure that by 2008, walking is the main travel mode in 33% of all journeys in Watford.
5.1.29 In the 2001 census, figures showed that Watford has a much higher proportion of residents walking to work than any other district in Hertfordshire (13.3%) and higher than the county average (1.8%) of those travelling to work by bicycle at 2.3%.
5.1.30 The 2005 County Travel Survey collected travel diary information. An analysis of trip purposes in the county overall shows that one in 5 (20%) of all outbound journeys were trips to work and a further 6% were transport connections, often as part of a journey to work. The other main reasons for journeys were shopping (14%) and recreation (13%) - returning home again accounted for 33%.
5.1.31 The highest levels of walking to work were found in Watford (18%). Walking is also the second most popular mode for food shopping (after car) and again the highest levels of walking to shops were found among Watford residents.
Table 24 Walking to work levels in Watford – proportion of all journey to work trips
1991 Census 2001 Census 2005 County Travel Survey
11.5% 13.3% 18%
Data source: Hertfordshire’s Traffic & Transport Data Report 2005 - base survey data (Report stated in error a figure of 22% which is the overall figure for all trips for walking rather than to work)
N.B. The County Travel Survey results are given in whole numbers only. 42 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators
5.1.32 Since the late 1960s, national cycling levels have been less than a quarter of the level of 1950. In the 2005 County Travel survey, overall 43% of adults surveyed owned a usable bicycle. Despite relatively high levels of ownership bicycles account for less than 2% share for usual work, food shopping and school journeys across the county. This is consistent with the 2001 Census which found that 1.8% of journeys to work were by bike in Hertfordshire, and 2.3% in Watford.
5.1.33 Although the travel diary provides useful information on cycling behaviour it is difficult to accurately ascertain overall levels of cycling from the information because of the reliance on a sample of residents recording their behaviour on one day of travel.
5.1.34 Hertfordshire County Council has a target of 11% increase by 2010/11, from the base 2004/05 year cycle level for number of cycle trips per day across the county.
5.1.35 Although Watford does not have an actual target at local level, there are four sites in Watford continuously monitored with automatic counters, with a one day manual count to validate the equipment (see Table 25).
Table 25 Watford’s cycle route usage – no. of trips per year and annual % change
Site Year Site 1 % Site 2 % Site 3 % Site 4 % Town change Radlett change Dalton change Ebury change Hall annually Rd annually Way annually Way annually
03-04 135,180 - 29,288 - 5,768 - 20,968 -
04-05 143,059 5.8% 39,395 34.5% 9,169 59.0% 30,087 43.5%
05-06 117,116 -18.1% 32,727 -16.9% 11,268 22.9% 37,954 26.1%
06-07 147,838 26.2% 38,158 16.6% 12,850 14.0% 42,705 12.5%
07-08 141,116 -4.5% 46,147 20.9% 17,217 34.0% 45,517 6.6%
08-09 151,070 7.0% 45,240 -2% 18,565 7.8% 48,633 6.8%
% change from 03-04 to 08-09 11.8% 54.5% 221.8% 131.9%
Data source: Watford Borough Council, Transport and Projects Section
NB. Percentages rounded to nearest one decimal place
5.1.36 As can be seen from the table, usage has increased at all sites over the last six years, with usage trebling at Dalton Way and more than doubling at Ebury Way sites over the same period. Usage dropped off very marginally at the Radlett Road site last year, but this is deemed to be statistically insignificant. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 43
Local Output Indicators 5
5.1.37 In the Council’s Medium Term Plan 2006-2011, a key corporate priority is to tackle traffic congestion and encourage less reliance on the car. Watford Borough Council is strongly committed to encouraging the use of cycles by developing a safe network of useable routes and improved storage facilities in Watford. One of the ways that Watford Borough Council intends to gauge their success is by having a target of implementing 3.8km of cycle route per annum and over the last six years 14.1 kilometres of new cycle route has been delivered in support of policy T9 and the Cycling Strategy (see Table 26). The lower than targeted levels of new cycle route output should be resolved by the recent restructuring and addition of new staff resources.
Table 26 Annual output for cycle routes in Watford
2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
4.3Km 6.1km 1.3km 0.5km 0km 1.9km
Data source: Watford Borough Council, Transport and Projects Section
5.1.38 However, apart from the cycle route target, there does appear to be a lack of quantifiable targets with regard to transport at a local level in order to be able to assess whether policies are working and this may need to be rectified when the Core Strategy is developed.
5.1.39 As part of the same corporate priority initiative, Watford Borough Council has also brought into practice a Green Travel Plan 2007 – 2010 (to be reviewed in 2010) for the Council, which sets out a comprehensive programme of initiatives to encourage and support green travel. Some of the things that we have already implemented include the establishment of www.watfordjourneyshare.com in September 2006, a car and journey sharing partnership with other major employers in the town which are currently West Herts College, Sanyo, West Herts Hospital Trust, Total UK, Leavesden Park, Croxley Green Business Park and Three Rivers District Council.
5.1.40 It has been calculated that 27.1 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide emissions have been saved through the car sharing scheme, between January 2009 and November 2009.
5.1.41 A range of incentives have been provided for Council staff to encourage the use of sustainable travel modes such as discounted season tickets for bus travel; interest free loans for train and bus season tickets and for bike purchase; £100 cash back on purchase of annual train or tube season tickets; an improved journey planning service; an improved bike pool for business use; staff showers and lockers and pool vehicles. Staff car parking charges have been introduced for all staff in central Watford, apart from essential car users, from April 2007 and the money raised is allocated to pay for the Green Travel Plan incentives.
5.1.42 The Council, in partnership with Hertfordshire Highways has been working to deliver the South West Herts Transportation Strategy. The original Strategy has been reviewed, the resulting Review document and Action Plan has recently been endorsed by the HCC Highways and Transport Cabinet Panel and is currently (October 2008) in the process of being finalised and adopted. The overall aims are to reduce congestion, enable infrastructure to support existing and proposed development, achieve a shift to more sustainable modes of travel, minimise the environmental impact of transport provision and to make the roads safer. 44 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators
5.1.43 For information purposes, two projects which have been identified as ‘Major Projects’ within the HCC Local Transport Plan are the Croxley Rail Link and Watford Junction Improvement.
5.1.44 The Croxley Rail Link is a scheme to extend the London Underground Metropolitan line to Watford Junction. The project is currently awaiting a funding approval ‘in principle’ decision from the Secretary of State. Once this is granted, HCC as the lead promoter will embark on a development programme and the current anticipated programme estimates that the Link could be operational by late 2013/early 2014.
5.1.45 The Watford Junction Improvement Scheme combines improved access for all modes to the station and Colonial Way Link Road. The scheme is currently being progressed through the necessary procedural steps by HCC toward a planning application and subject to the satisfactory completion of these processes, it is anticipated that the scheme would be implemented and operational by 20013/14. The funding window has been altered from that previously reported in the 2008 AMR to allow for the co-ordinated redevelopment of the Watford Junction Area.
Data sources: Hertfordshire’s Traffic & Transport Data Report 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, and 2003; Pedestrian Strategy for Watford, July 2003.
5.2 Environment
Air Quality
5.2.1 Traffic levels can have an adverse effect on the air we breathe and our Environmental Services Department carries out regular monitoring on traffic pollutant emissions. The Council completed an assessment in 2004, ultimately ratified by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), which suggested that there were likely to be six areas where the annual mean objective for Nitrogen Dioxide, contained in the Government’s National Air Quality Strategy, were unlikely to be met. It was then determined whether any residential premises were situated in these areas and after the public exposure assessment, a period of public consultation was undertaken and on 17 February 2006, the following 6 Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) were declared:
1. St Albans Road 2. Vicarage Road 3. Aldenham Road 4. Chalk Hill 5. A405/Horseshoe Lane 6. M1/Meriden
5.2.2 In partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, work on Action Plans to improve Air Quality in these areas is being developed. In 2009 the Council completed a further assessment of the air quality within these AQMAs. This study suggested that the boundaries of some of the AQMAs may have to change, particularly around the Bushey Arches junction and the Hornets Interchange (AQMAs 2, 3, and 4)
5.2.3 Local Authorities have to reassess air quality in their Districts on a regular basis, and compare the current and predicted concentrations of 7 pollutants against the national objectives every four years. The 2007 review was completed in August 2007 and ratified by DEFRA shortly after. It did not identify any areas of concern other than those detailed above. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 45
Local Output Indicators 5
The amount (in hectares) and percentage of total open space managed to Green Flag Award standards
5.2.4 (This indicator was previously designated COI 4c but has been removed from the core output indicator set. However, we will continue to provide this data as a local indicator, which is in accordance with new guidance from DCLG issued July 2008).
5.2.5 The 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. It was also seen as a way of encouraging others to achieve the same high environmental standards, creating a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas.
5.2.6 The total open space managed by the Council is currently estimated at 339.94 hectares, and the amount managed to Green Flag Award standards is estimated at 123.5 hectares which is 36.33% of the total. The Council has secured accreditation for 3 sites (Cassiobury Park, Cheslyn House and Woodside/Alban Wood) totalling 102.4 hectares which is 30.12% of the total. The amount of open space managed to Green Flag Award standards has increased from 97.06 hectares in 2007-08 as both Goodwood Recreation Ground and St Mary’s Churchyard are now managed to the standard.
5.2.7 Watford Borough Council was successful in winning a Green Flag Award in respect of both Cheslyn Gardens and Woodside/Alban Wood this year to add to Cassiobury Park which retains the standard awarded in August 2007. Objectives for 2009/2010 are to make changes to bring Callowland Recreation Ground, the northern part of the Colne Valley (Waterfields Recreation Ground, Radlett Road Playing Fields and Knutsford Playing Fields) and North Watford Cemetery up to the standard required to seek accreditation.
5.2.8 The Green Spaces Strategy was adopted by Cabinet on the 9 October 2006, and encompasses the aim of raising the quality of all our parks up to Green Flag Award standard within the following five years. However, we do not intend to make formal applications for all our parks, as it would be too costly and time consuming.
Table 27 Amount (hectares) of eligible open spaces managed to Green Flag Award standard
Alban Woods 3.31
Lairage Land 5.26
Harebreaks Woods 5.61
Cassiobury Park 75.77
Garston Park Nature Reserve 6.0
Cheslyn Gardens 1.11
Woodside Playing Fields (exc. Alban Wood) 22.21
Goodwood Recreation Ground 3.83 46 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators
St Mary’s Churchyard 0.4
Total 123.5
Data source: Watford Borough Council, Leisure and Community Services
N.B. See www.greenflagaward.org.uk for criteria of the Green Flag Award
N.B. Figures have been rounded to two decimal points
5.2.9 The mapping of all Watford’s parks into GIS as part of the PPG17 study still continues, which will mean definitive plotting of boundaries and accurate measurement data should be available next year. The study will provide a comprehensive audit of all publicly accessible open spaces within the Borough and identify the deficiencies which should be met by Section 106 planning contributions and the Green Spaces Strategy.
5.2.10 The good management, protection and enhancement of our green areas supports the RSS Policy ENV1: Green Infrastructure and RSS Policy ENV2: Landscape Conservation in order to maximise its biodiversity value and other environmental benefits together with making Watford an attractive place to live and work.
5.3 Housing
5.3.1 House prices in Watford, have seen a sharp decrease along with the rest of the Country, as shown in the graph of Mean House Prices January 2001 to March 2009, although house prices have experienced more dips over the last two years.
Figure 5 Mean House Prices January 2001-March 2009
Data source: Compiled by Watford Borough Council, Planning Policy, based on quarterly Land Registry data
5.3.2 The average house price in Watford decreased by 10.3% from the final quarter of 2007 to the final quarter of 2008, and prices for all house types have decreased during this period. Generally, prices for flats and maisonettes have decreased the most. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 47
Local Output Indicators 5
Table 28 Average House Prices in Watford 3rd quarter 2004-2008.
Watford Detached Semi-Detached Terraced Flat/Maisonette Overall
Av. Price Av. Price £ Av. Price Av. Price Av. Price
£ £ £ £
Oct-Dec 2004 414,497 251,446 204,592 176,414 211,237
Oct-Dec 2005 508,333 245,157 197,396 169,252 226,960
% change 22.6% -2.5% -3.5% -4.1% 7.4% 04-05
Oct-Dec 2006 449,498 273,266 219,990 169,895 231,333
%change -14.2% 11.2% 11.0% 0.4% 2.1% 05-06
Oct-Dec 538,878 299,762 235,180 201,864 250,138
2007 19.9% 9.7% 6.9% 18.8% 8.1%
% change 06-07
Oct-Dec 510,300 255,000 212,900 168,000 224,300
2008 -5.3% -14.9% -9.5% -16.8% -10.3%
% change
07-08
Data Source: Compiled by Watford Borough Council, Planning Policy – original data from Land Registry
N.B. Percentages have been rounded to nearest decimal point
5.3.3 Between the 1st quarter 2008 and 1st quarter 2009 the average price of all house types in Hertfordshire have significantly decreased, with detached houses experiencing the largest decrease of 13.75%. The volume of sale of flats/maisonettes has fallen by two thirds down from 95 to 31. 48 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators
Table 29 Average House Prices and Volume of Sales - all Properties in Watford 2008-09.
Detached Sales Semi-detached Sales Terraced Sales Flat/Maisonette Sales Total Total Averages Sales
Apr-Jun 512,823 17 291,628 76 237,479 122 198,629 196 240,354 411 2008
Jul-Sep 499,964 14 278,952 65 222,643 75 180,116 98 236,036 252 2008
Oct-Dec 510,300 12 255,000 48 212,900 85 168,000 70 224,300 215 2008
Jan-Mar 444,400 15 267,231 43 196,657 64 145,041 31 230,322 153 2009
Data source: Land Registry
5.3.4 Property purchase remains out of reach of many first-time buyers.
5.3.5 Generally, most first-time buyers struggle to save a deposit and historically, they have been allowed by the major banks and societies to provide a minimum 5% deposit. However, good value mortgages have become more difficult to find as borrowing rates have soared. Lenders have added more requirements for who they lend to, demanding bigger deposits.
5.3.6 For example, the median gross weekly pay of a full-time worker resident in Watford is £583.60, (Source: Annual survey of hours and earnings – resident analysis 2008) which equates to an annual gross salary of £30,347.20, far below the minimum required to fund a 90% mortgage of even a flat or maisonette (average price £145,041) at the general rule of thumb of 3.5 times salary.
5.3.7 Previously, before the recession people have been lent up to four and a half or five times income dependent upon whether this borrowing together with other outgoings has been assessed as affordable by the lending institution but even five times the current annual gross salary which would stretch most people, is not enough to buy a flat in Watford or indeed many parts of the country. Also, mortgage lenders are becoming more prudent with their lending and will not offer the higher multiples as a result of the current financial situation, hence the term ‘credit crunch’.
5.3.8 Annual Income required to fund 90% mortgage at three and a half times salary in respect of average property prices in Watford for period Jan-March 2009. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 49
Local Output Indicators 5
Figure 6 Annual Income required to fund 90% mortgage at three and a half times salary in respect of average property prices in Watford for the period Jan-March 2009.
Original Data Source: http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/propertyprice (Mortgage/income calculations by Planning Policy, WBC – assuming 3.5 times salary allowed)
5.3.9 Within Watford, 73 per cent of households live in owner-occupied accommodation, which is the same figure for Hertfordshire, with 13.7% in local authority housing; slightly less than the 14.4% for the county overall (see Table 30).
Table 30 Households and Tenure
Total Average Owner Local Housing Private Other Hseholds Hsehold Occupied Authority Assoc. Rented
Size
HERTS 420,650 2.42 72.5% 14.4% 4.4% 6.1% 2.5%
WATFORD 32,350 2.43 73.0% 13.7% 2.5% 9.0% 1.8%
Source: Office for National Statistics 2001 Census 50 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators
5.3.10 The housing completion trends by size and broad type have been summarised for 2002-09 as below:
Table 31 Watford Gross Housing Completions 2002-09 by type and no.of bedrooms
Dwelling Type Number of Bedrooms
Total by 1 2 3 4 5+ Unknown type
Total houses - all types inc. bungalows 17 90 216 145 52 4 524
Total flats - all types 775 1215 25 0 0 24 2039
Total by Bedrooms 792 1305 241 145 52 28 2563
% of All Completions 1 April '01-31 Mar '08 30.9% 50.9% 9.4% 5.7% 2.0% 1.1% 100%
Data Source: Planning Policy, WBC and HCC
5.3.11 This shows that more than 50% of the properties that have been built over this period are two bedrooms, 30% are one bedroom and fewer than 20% are three bedrooms or more. An increasing trend is that more flats than houses have been built, and since 2006, the amount of flats built is nearing 80% of total completions. However due to the recession this figure is down 10% from last year as flat are less viable than houses. (see following chart and table).
Figure 7 Watford Gross Completions 2002-08 (Years ending 31 March) % grouped by size and type.
Data Source: Planning Policy, WBC and HCC Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 51
Local Output Indicators 5
5.3.12 This trend has continued during 2008-09, with less than 25% of total housing completions being houses.
5.3.13 We can see that the majority of properties built since 2002 are two bedroom and mostly flats, which does appear to be a popular choice in terms of need and affordability. The 2001 census did not require information on number of bedrooms – the question asked was number of habitable rooms (not including bathrooms). Therefore, it is difficult to make comparisons with the existing housing stock in 2001 as regards number of bedrooms.
5.3.14 However, we can approximately compare how much of Watford’s housing stock has changed between the broad types of flats and houses – we have added the gross number of homes completed in Watford between 2002-08 to the stock figures from the 2001 census (2,563+33,352=35,915), and have calculated that the percentage of flats has increased from 26.70% to 31.93% (2563+8,905=11,468/35,914).
Table 32 Household Spaces
Total Detached Semi-Detached Terraced Flats Non-permanent Hsehold etc. Accommodation Spaces
HERTS 430,304 96,518 124,864 29.0% 126,532 80,350 2,040 22.4% 29.4% 18.7% 0.5%
WATFORD 33,352 3,875 10,249 10,276 8,905 47 11.6% 30.8% 26.7% 30.7% 0.1%
Source: Office for National Statistics 2001 Census
5.3.15 The increase couched in these terms does not appear so disproportionate, but it is as well to remember that Watford did have a significantly higher proportion of flats to start with in 2001 at 26.7%, compared to Hertfordshire at 18.7% (see Table 32), and also England and Wales at 19.2%. It is difficult to substantiate whether there will be a greater need for numbers of larger homes, given the current population and household projections, but it has been shown that there are relatively few three bedroom or more properties that have been built over the last seven years.
5.3.16 Bearing in mind accommodation needs for all, this leads to a concern that there is not enough family-sized homes being built for Watford’s needs, and families will have to increasingly move elsewhere. Although of course building larger housing may not help if it is out of financial reach of those currently overcrowded. 52 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
5 Local Output Indicators Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 53
Core Output Indicators 6 54 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
6 Core Output Indicators 6 Core Output Indicators
6.0.1 In July 2008 the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published guidance (Core Output Indicators – Update 2/2008), amending the original core output indicators (Appendix 4 highlights the key changes).
6.0.2 We have tried to provide data that would comply with both old and new indicators in this report, explaining which have been removed, replaced or just basically renamed, to ensure clarity and consistency.
6.1 Business Development
6.1.1 The following data on business development includes newly built floorspace as well as information concerning changes of land use to and from employment.
6.1.2 Employment use is defined by planning Use Class Orders:
B1 – Business, encompassing: * B1 (a) – Offices (other than those permitted in class A2 – Financial and Professional Services) * B1 (b) – Research and development * B1 (c) – Light industry B2 – General Industrial – carrying out an industrial process other than within class B1 B8 – Storage or Distribution B0 - used to indicate where a mix of 'B' Uses granted permission.
6.1.3 The Government replaced the original six Core Output Indicators (‘COI’) on Business Development, numbered 1a – 1f with four Core Output Indicators BD1 – BD4 for the 2007/08 AMR period and there have been no further changes to this reporting format.
6.1.4 The DCLG has specified that figures should be quoted as ‘gross internal floorspace which should be measured in square metres (sq.m.)’ and have provided a revised definition as follows:
6.1.5 ‘Gross internal floorspace is the entire area inside the external walls of a building and includes areas such as corridors, lifts, plant rooms, mezzanines, services accommodation e.g. toilets but excludes internal walls.’ For reference, the percentage difference between gross external and gross internal floorspace has been defined as 3.75%.
6.1.6 Information is sometimes not provided or was not previously recorded on the sub-types of B1 (Business) use class, so the breakdown of use classes cannot always be accurately supplied. However, where it has been possible to identify sub-types, these are quoted separately in the following tables, and do not form part of the total given for B1.
6.1.7 Please note that before 1st April 2008, sites below 235sqm were not included in monitoring information provided by Hertfordshire County Council. This threshold has been discontinued, but will still apply to historical data. However, there is some doubt about the reliability of monitoring beneath this threshold, given that some changes of use below 235 sq.m. do not need planning permission - we may not be aware of these changes.
6.1.8 Saved policies E1, E2, E3, E5, E6 and E8 in the Watford District Plan 2000 deal with safeguarding employment provision. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 55
Core Output Indicators 6
BD1 (i): Total amount (sq.m.) of additional employment floorspace in Watford – by type
6.1.9 (This indicator was previously known as COI 1a - Amount of floorspace developed for employment by type – the revised definition is broadly equivalent).
Table 33 Total amount (sq.m.) of additional employment floorspace in Watford – by type (BD1 (i))
Plan Use Gain Completed in Loss Completed in Class Year Year Net Completed in Year
B0 0 3400 -3400
B1 0 648 -648
B1a 1398 1997 -599
B1b 0 0 0
B1c 222 627 -405
B2 0 0 0
B8 1126 510 616
Totals 2746 7182 -4436
Data Source: Information Management Unit, HCC and Planning Policy, WBC
N.B. Category B1a is also captured under BD4 (previously the Local Services Indicator 4a) where the same figure is quoted.
6.1.10 Table 33 (BD1) illustrates the total gain and loss of employment floorspace (Gross internal floorspace in square metres – sq.m.) by type (Use Class) within Watford, completed during the year.
6.1.11 There has been a gross gain of 2,746 sq.m. and an overall net loss of employment floorspace in Watford of 7,182 sq.m.as per the above table which gives detailed figures per Use Class.
BD1 (ii) Total amount of additional employment floorspace in employment areas – by type
6.1.12 (This indicator was previously designated COI 1b and is no longer mandatory – local authorities can choose whichever policy areas need to be included under BD1 within the new Core Output Indicators - we are intending to continue to monitor employment areas by this indicator)
6.1.13 There are seven main blocks of land identified as employment areas within the Watford District Plan 2000 where the Council seeks to protect the land for employment use (saved policy E1) and the following table shows the amount of floorspace developed in those areas. 56 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
6 Core Output Indicators
Table 34 Total amount of additional employment floorspace in employment areas – by type (BD1 (ii))
Plan Use Gain Completed in Loss Completed in Class Year Year Net Completed in Year
B0 0 0 0
B1 0 592 -592
B1a 130 0 130
B1b 0 0 0
B1c 222 44 178
B2 0 0 0
B8 543 0 543
Totals 895 636 259
Data Source: Information Management Unit, HCC and Planning Policy, WBC Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 57
Core Output Indicators 6
BD2: Total amount (sq.m.) of employment floorspace on Previously Developed Land (‘PDL’) - by type (Use Class)
6.1.14 (This indicator was previously described as COI 1c - Amount and percentage of floorspace developed for Employment by Type (Use Class) on PDL – the revised definition is broadly equivalent)
BD2 (i) Total amount of employment floorspace on PDL - by type
6.1.15 The gross and net gains for employment floorspace on previously developed land are detailed in Table 35.
Table 35 Total amount of employment floorspace on PDL - by type (BD2 (i))
Plan Use Gain Completed in Loss Completed in Class Year Year Net Completed in Year
B0 0 3400 -3400
B1 0 648 -648
B1a 1398 1997 -599
B1b 0 0 0
B1c 222 627 -405
B2 0 0 0
B8 1126 510 616
Totals 2746 7182 -4436
Data Source: Information Management Unit, HCC and Planning Policy, WBC 58 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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BD2 (ii) Percentage of gross floorspace developed for employment on PDL - by type
6.1.16 Given the urban nature of the borough it is to be expected that most development takes place on previously developed land, and we can see (compare the identical amounts quoted in Table 35 with those quoted in Table 33) that 100% of employment development within Watford took place on previously developed land (see Table 36), as in 2007-08.
Table 36 Percentage of gross floorspace (sq.m.) developed for employment on PDL – by type (BD2 (ii))
Gain Completed in % Gain in Year on Plan Use Class Total Gain in Year Year on PDL PDL by UCO
B0 0 0 0%
B1 0 0 0%
B1a 1398 1398 100%
B1b 0 0 0%
B1c 222 222 100%
B2 0 0 0%
B8 1126 1126 100%
Totals 2746 2746 100%
Data Source: Information Management Unit, HCC and Planning Policy, WBC Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 59
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BD3 – Employment land available – by type
(Previously designated COI 1d – revised definition is broadly equivalent)
BD3 (i) Employment land available by type - sites defined and allocated in the LDF/Local Plan
6.1.17 Within the broad scope of the Employment Areas, there is a defined site allocated in the Watford District Plan 2000 for employment, which is Key Development Site number RA6. The site is identified in the Preferred options document as a mixed use site which will deliver a new urban area for the town as well as improved station and other public transport facilities. This site encompasses 14.8 hectares, and more information can be found in the Watford Junction Brief, published by Watford Borough Council, dated April 2004. This brief will be updated during 2010.
BD3 (ii) Employment land available by type - sites for which planning permission has been granted (but not implemented)
6.1.18 The total area of the relevant sites for which planning permission has been granted amounts to 4.5 hectares which is the combined total for all Use Classes as detailed in the Table 37.
Table 37 Employment land available by type - sites for which planning permission has been granted (but not implemented) in hectares (BD3 (ii))
Gain Use Class Outstanding Floorspace Area (Ha)
B0 7760 1.66
B1 262 0.09
B1a 13719 0.97
B1b 176 0.00
B1c 779 0.08
B2 2178 0.59
B8 3512 1.12
Totals 28386 4.50
Data Source: Information Management Unit, HCC and Planning Policy, WBC 60 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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BD4 – Total amount of floorspace for ‘town centre uses’
6.1.19 (This indicator was previously designated COI 4a and COI 4b, Local Services – the definition is broadly equivalent, and basically encompasses the completed amount of floorspace in respect of retail (A1), financial and professional services (A2), office (B1a), and leisure (D2) development, within the town centre and within the local authority area)
BD4 (i) Amount of completed retail, office and leisure development: within town centres
Table 38 BD4 (i) Amount of completed retail, office and leisure development: within town centres
Gain as % of Total Gain in Year Loss in Year Net Completed Gain in same UCO in Use Class (sq.m.) (sq.m.) in Year (sq.m.) Watford
A1 0 609 -609 0%
A2 133 224 -91 75%
B1a 489 252 237 35%
D2 0 0 0 0%
Data Source: Information Management Unit, HCC and Planning Policy, WBC
NB: Floorspace is specified as square metres, not confirmed as gross internal floorspace
Use Class A1, not expressed as net tradeable floorspace, data not available for historic applications
Category B1a includes permissions for B1 office
The figures in the above table re. town centres form part of the figures in the table below re. Watford Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 61
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BD4 (ii) Amount of completed retail, office and leisure development: within local authority area - Watford
Table 39 BD4 (ii) Amount of completed retail, office and leisure development: within local authority area - Watford
Gain in Year Use Class (sq.m.) Loss in Year (sq.m.) Net Completed in Year
A1 778 1044 -266
A2 177 224 -47
B1a 1398 1997 -599
D2 4955 0 4955
Data Source: Information Management Unit, HCC and Planning Policy, WBC
NB: Floorspace is specified as square metres, not confirmed as gross internal floorspace
Use Class A1, not expressed as net tradeable floorspace, data not available for historic applications
B1a includes permissions for B1 office 62 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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6.2 Housing
N.B. Please note that the text, tables and figures for Indicators H1 and H2 were amended in April 2010, in order to correct numerical inconsistencies. Also, the text for Indicator H6 was added.
6.2.1 The revised core output indicators for housing include two new indicators H5: Net additional pitches (Gypsy and Traveller) and H6: Housing Quality – Building for Life Assessments, the removal of COI 2c: Percentage of new dwellings completed at various housing densities, together with some clarified or revised definitions.
6.2.2 The original indicator COI 2a–Housing Trajectory, showing completions of dwellings, projected future supply, housing requirements and the revised annual rate required to be on target is largely replaced by H1, and H2(a) (b) (c) and (d)
H1: Plan Period and Housing Targets
6.2.3 We have considered the target quoted in the Structure Plan, the saved policies of which were valid during this monitoring period, together with the target contained in the East of England Plan, which forms the Regional Spatial Strategy and supersedes the Structure Plan but was not formally adopted until the 12 May 2008.
Structure Plan Target The Hertfordshire County Structure Plan covers the period 1991-2011, and the housing requirement for Watford over the 20 years is 4700 dwellings. East of England Plan Target There is an increased target contained in the East of England Plan for Watford covering the period 2001 and 2021. The requirement is 5,200 dwellings over 20 years, which taking into account the 1406 dwellings built up to 2005-06, equates to an annual average requirement of 253. (The East of England Plan has used rounded up totals of 1410 to 2005-06 and an annual average requirement of 250)
H2(a): Net additional dwellings – in previous years
6.2.4 The housing trajectory illustrates graphically the actual numbers of net annual completions and projected numbers of completions, and compares these to the targets for new housing.
Structure Plan Target Table 40 and Figure 8 show the number of dwellings completed (5,414) between 1991–2009 and the projected completions (1,255) for 2010-2011 against the Structure Plan requirement. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 63
Core Output Indicators 6
Table 40 : Net Housing Completions and Projected Completions @ 31 Mar ’09 against Structure Plan Target
Revised Net Annual Projected SP Annual Cumulative Year Completions Completions Requirement Rate Total
91/92 503 235 221 503
92/93 140 235 225 643
93/94 416 235 214 1,059
94/95 307 235 208 1,366
95/96 684 235 177 2,050
96/97 595 235 147 2,645
97/98 67 235 153 2,712
98/99 114 235 156 2,826
99/00 136 235 158 2,962
00/01 182 235 156 3,144
01/02 62 235 166 3,206
02/03 165 235 166 3,371
03/04 238 235 156 3,609
04/05 356 235 123 3,965
05/06 585 235 30 4,550
06/07 246 235 -24 4,796
07/08 291 235 -129 5,087
08/09 327 235 -357 5,414
09/10 495 235 -1,209 5,909
10/11 760 235 -1,969 6,669
Totals 5,414 1,255 4,700 -1,969 6,669
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC and Information Management Unit, HCC 64 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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Figure 8 2009 Housing Trajectory based on Structure Plan Target
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC and Information Management Unit, HCC
East of England Plan Target Figure 9 and Table 41 show the number of dwellings completed (2,270) between 2001-2009 and the projected completions (4,711) for 2009-2021, against the East of England Plan target. The housing trajectory has been extended beyond the RSS Plan period (2021 to 2025) to enable a 15 year trajectory to be provided. Over the 15 year trajectory period (2010-2025) 4,476 dwellings are projected to be completed (this does not include the 495 units forecasted for the ‘current’ year of 2009-10).
Table 41 : Net Housing Completions and Projected Completions @ 31 Mar '09 against East of England Plan Target - extended to 2025
Year Net Annual Projected East of Revised Cumulative Completions Completions England Annual Total Actual Plan Target Rate
01/02 62 260 270 62
02/03 165 260 276 227
03/04 238 260 279 465
04/05 356 260 274 821
05/06 585 260 253 1,406
06/07 246 260 253 1,652
07/08 291 260 251 1,943 Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 65
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Year Net Annual Projected East of Revised Cumulative Completions Completions England Annual Total Actual Plan Target Rate
08/09 327 260 244 2,270
09/10 495 260 221 2,765
10/11 760 260 168 3,525
11/12 603 260 117 4,128
12/13 582 260 61 4,710
13/14 93 260 57 4,803
14/15 31 260 61 4,834
15/16 146 260 44 4,980
16/17 450 260 -58 5,430
17/18 400 260 -210 5,830
18/19 400 260 -515 6,230
19/20 404 260 -1,434 6,634
20/21 347 260 -1,781 6,981
Sub-totals @ 2,270 4,711 5,200 2021
21/22 98 260 -1,879 7,079
22/23 54 260 -1,933 7,133
23/24 54 260 -1,987 7,187
24/25 54 260 -2,041 7,241
Totals 2,270 4,971 6,240 -2,041 7,241
6.2.5 Until housing growth targets have been decided through the planning process, it is proposed to continue the 260 dwellings per year target to 2025, as set out in Policy H1 of the East of England Plan. 66 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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Table 42 : A summary of Net Housing Completions and Projected Completions extended to 2025
East of England Revised Net Annual Projected Plan Annual Cumulative Year Completions Completions Target Rate Total
01/02 to 20/21 2,270 4,711 5,200 -1,781 6,981
21/22 to 24/25 260 1,040 2,041 260
Total 2,270 4,971 6,240 2,041 7,241
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC and Information Management Unit, HCC
6.2.6 Table 42 summarises the housing completions and projections for the period 2001-2021 and the plan period post- 2021. 7241 dwellings are projected to be completed by the monitoring year 2024/25.
Figure 9 2009 Housing Trajectory based on the East of England Plan Target
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC and Information Management Unit, HCC
6.2.7 Figure 9, outlines the performance of housing delivery against the Plan target 2001-2021. Post- 2021 performance is measured differently (i.e. against the new plan targets) for the remainder of the 15 year trajectory.
H2 (b): Net additional dwellings – for the reporting year Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 67
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6.2.8 This indicator is the same as the new National Indicator 154: Net additional homes provided.
Net additional dwellings against Structure Plan target Watford reached and exceeded the overall 2011 target in 2006-07 and including the 327 net completions for 2008-09, has now exceeded the 2011 target by 714 extra housing units. Net additional dwellings against East of England Plan target The net figure of327 completions for 2008-09 exceeds the 251 required to remain on target. Overall, if development continues in line with the projections calculated, we estimate that there will be 1,781 dwellings surplus to the target by 2021.
H2(c): Net additional dwellings – in future years
6.2.9 (Part of this information is needed to calculate National Indicator 159 relating to the five year supply of ready to develop housing sites.)
Structure Plan target Table 40 and Figure 8 show the number of dwellings completed (5,414) between 1991–2009 and the projected completions (1,255) for 2010-2011 against the Structure Plan requirement. East of England Plan target Figure 9 and Table 41 show the number of dwellings completed (2,270) between 2001-2009 and the projected completions (4,711) for 2010-2021, against the East of England Plan target. Local Planning Authorities are also required to identify fifteen year supply of deliverable sites. The housing trajectory has been extended beyond the RSS Plan period of 2021 to 2025. There are 260 projected completions for 2021-2025. A summary of the current housing commitments and projected annual completions for the whole trajectory period to 2025 is contained in Appendix 9.
6.2.10 A site specific list has been provided in Appendix 12 with regards to the five year assessment between 2010-15 although a site specific list of all commitments has not been included in order to reduce the volume of paperwork but is available upon request, from the Planning Policy team ([email protected]). Also provided in Appendix 10 is a list of the outstanding allocated sites without planning permission as at 31 March 2009, which shows the estimated likelihood of whether development will proceed and when figures for these sites are included in the projections. Additionally, a summary of all the Housing Sites allocated in the WDP 2000 and their current status is provided in Appendix 11.
6.2.11 There are a number of factors which could mean that development will not follow the projections outlined; for example, not every permission granted is implemented; once a permission is granted Watford Borough Council do not have any control over when development commences (therefore development may not happen in the year predicted) apart from that construction may not start once the planning consents have expired; building works may take longer than currently scheduled and more or possibly less windfall sites than expected may come forward for development.
6.2.12 For example, in the AMR 2008, the estimated figure for net completions in 2008-09 was 479, whereas the actual net completions figure was 327 net. Compiling the trajectory and phasing when dwellings are likely to be completed is never going to be an exact science. We have compared our estimate and the actual result and the bulk of the difference is due to the large development of 174 units at Willow Grange, Church Road. It was anticipated 64 68 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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units would be completed in 2008/09. However only 12 units had been completed by the developer within this time frame. Currently just under half of the development has been completed with the remainder of the units to be completed by June 2010. There has been delay in the completion owing to downturn in the housing market.
6.2.13 Similarly, it was anticipated that 80 units within the Watford Football Club development of 164 units were to complete in 2009/10. More accurate information has been provided from the developer and all the units in the scheme are now due to be completed in year 2010/11.
6.2.14 With regard to windfalls, Planning Policy Statement 3 (‘PPS3’) states that ‘Allowances for windfalls should not be included in the first 10 years of land supply unless Local Planning Authorities can provide robust evidence of genuine local circumstances that prevent specific sites being identified.’
6.2.15 Windfall describes those planning permissions that will come forward on unidentified sites in the future. Watford has a historic record of substantial windfall delivery.
Table 43 : Total Net Housing Completions by Allocated Site or Windfall Type 2001- 2009
Large Small No. of Housing No. of Windfall No. of Windfall Allocated Site Units Large Site Units Small Site Units Housing as % of Windfall as % of Windfall as % of Total Net Site Total Net Site Total Net Site Total Net Housing Year Units Completions Units Completions Units Completions Completions
2001/02 12 19% 19 31% 31 50% 62
2002/03 93 56% 30 18% 42 25% 165
2003/04 195 82% 12 5% 31 13% 238
2004/05 89 25% 216 61% 51 14% 356
2005/06 189 32% 300 51% 96 16% 585
2006/07 72 29% 123 50% 51 21% 246
2007/08 88 30% 118 41% 85 29% 291
2008/09 0 0% 251 77% 76 23% 327
Totals 738 33% 1069 47% 463 20% 2270
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC
6.2.16 For the AMR year 2008/9, there were “zero” units completed from Allocated Housing Sites. Compared with the previous year of 88 units, equivalent to 30% of net completions for that year. The absence of units completed on Housing Allocated sites is largely due to number of allocated sites coming forward for development in previous years. Whilst the remaining Housing Allocated sites are projected to come forward for development from 2010 to 2021. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 69
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6.2.17 However, as suggested in PPS3, no windfall allowance has been made for the first 10 years of housing supply, but from 2019-20 a windfall allowance in respect of 55 units per annum has been included. This allowance has been calculated as the average annual rate taking into account the preceding seven years results for ‘small’ sites only. No windfall allowance has been made for ‘large’ sites because the lower the number of sites involved, together with the larger number of completions gives a less dependable average, which may not be repeated and could distort the figures.
Assessment of a Five Year Housing supply
6.2.18 Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3): Housing requires Local Planning Authorities to assess and demonstrate the extent to which existing plans fulfil the requirement to identify and maintain a rolling 5-year supply of deliverable land for housing as this influences how planning applications are determined (see PPS3 paragraphs 68-73).
6.2.19 The criteria for assessing deliverability are laid down in PPS3. Paragraph 54 says that to be deliverable, sites should:
Be available – the site is available now Be suitable – the site offers a suitable location for development now and would contribute to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities Be achievable – there is a reasonable prospect that housing will be delivered on the site within five years
The specific sites in the Five Year Assessment are listed in Appendix 12.
6.2.20 The first year of the trajectory period, looking forward is 2009-10, which is the current year during which this AMR is compiled, and the expected number of dwellings likely to be completed has been identified as 495, the majority of which are developments already under construction.
6.2.21 However, recent advice in DCLG ‘Core Output Indicators – Update 2/2008’ states that the current year must not be included as part of the five year assessment, which should cover the following five years, between 2010-11 to 2014-15. Sites included in the five year assessment are a combination of sites under construction; sites with unimplemented planning permissions; allocated housing sites (only those likely to proceed); and other sites identified for housing since adoption of the WDP 2000. All those sites included have been assessed for deliverability against the criteria listed above.
6.2.22 The method used for phasing – estimating which year each site will be completed – is based on such factors as whether the development has started, when planning permissions will expire, discussions with developers and whether or not a site allocated in the Plan but without planning permission as yet, is likely to proceed.
6.2.23 The East of England Plan requirement is 5,200 dwellings over 20 years and taking into account the total completions of 2,270 units between 2001-09, (5200-2270=2930/12=244) this equates to a residual annual requirement of 244 dwellings, which corresponds to 1220 dwellings over a five year period.
6.2.24 As can be seen from the site specific listing for the five year assessment, Watford can demonstrate that it has a five year supply of deliverable sites, as the number of projected completions between 2010-2015 has been identified as 2069 (x), 70 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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which exceeds the East of England Plan planned housing provision target of 1220 (y) dwellings by 849 units. The five year land supply (in line with National Indicator 159 formula) is calculated as (x/y) *100 and therefore Watford’s 5 year land supply is (2069/1220)*100=169.6%.
6.2.25 Therefore, there is no need to consider options for increasing the supply of deliverable sites in the short term, but the undeveloped sites allocated in the WDP 2000 together with additional sites that come forward will be reviewed, published for consultation in the future and then further sites will be allocated as part of the Site Specific Allocations DPD process.
6.2.26 Planning applications will be considered and determined having regard to PPS3 (in particular paragraph 69) Development Plan policies and other material considerations.
H3: New and converted dwellings – on previously developed land
(This indicator was previously known as COI 2b and the revised definition is broadly equivalent)
6.2.27 Saved policies H5 (Development on Previously Developed Land) and SE1 (Making Development Sustainable) of the Watford District Plan 2000 prioritise and encourage development on brownfield sites, policy H5 seeks to ensure that at least 80% of all residential development is on previously developed land. There were 369 completed dwellings (gross) in total during the year, of which 100% were on previously developed land against our target of 95% (see Table 44). The national target is that 60% of gross completions should be on previously developed land by 2008.
Table 44 :Percentage of new and converted homes (gross) on previously developed land (H3)
2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
100% 100% 97.89% 100% 99.66% 100% 100%
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC, based on Watford Borough Council BVPI results.
H4: Net additional pitches (Gypsy and Traveller) - there have been no additional pitches delivered.
(Information on Gypsy and Traveller provision has always been required and has previously been provided as Section 7 of Watford’s AMR; the definition of the data required has been updated under the new guidance and is now to be included as a specific numbered indicator)
6.2.28 Watford Borough Council currently accommodates a 10-pitch public gypsy/traveller site at Tolpits Lane in the south of the town, managed by Hertfordshire County Council. It also contains two privately-owned travelling show people’s sites in the north. There are no transit sites in Watford. The number of unauthorised encampments in the Borough has fallen from 22 in 1998 to no unauthorised encampments since 2004.
6.2.29 While the reduction in encampments could in part be attributed to a loss of land accessible to travellers, particularly due to the redevelopment of premises in the Lower High Street area in the late 1990’s, there remain sites that could physically be occupied by travellers, and the lack of unauthorised encampments can therefore be taken as evidence of a lack of demand. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 71
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6.2.30 In accordance with Circular 1/2006 it is required that achievable, fair and reasonable criteria are used when allocating Gypsy and Traveller sites. Watford’s Core Strategy Preferred Options draft states that Gypsy and Traveller sites will generally be assessed using the same criteria as proposals for other types of residential properties. However, due to their nature they can not be subject to the same locational constraints. At present the Core Strategy has not been submitted for examination and extra consultation is planned in 2010.
6.2.31 Detailed Regional policy on Gypsy and Traveller sites is being progressed through the RSS Single Issues Review. It has been subject to consultation (February – May 2008), examined by an independent Panel of Inspectors (October 2008) and the Panel’s Report published (December 2008). The Panel has recommended a revised policy, the key points being:
the immediate provision of 10 pitches; a total long-term provision of 31 pitches up to 2031; and a need to consider the provision of transit pitches across South and West Hertfordshire in addition.
H5: Gross affordable housing completions
(This indicator was previously designated COI 2d – affordable housing completions. The previous planning definition measured affordable housing dwellings newly built only but the revised definition includes the number of dwellings completed through new build together with acquisitions and conversions. This indicator is the same as the new National Indicator 155: Number of affordable homes delivered.)
6.2.32 Saved policy H17 (Provision of Affordable Housing) of the Watford District Plan 2000 states that generally, all new housing developments consisting of 25 or more dwellings or on sites over 1 hectare are expected to provide a proportion (at a minimum of 30%) of affordable housing.
6.2.33 The total number of affordable housing units completed this year is 48 units which are in proportion to Watford Borough Council’s existing policy guidelines – 27 were social rented housing , 15 were on a shared ownership basis (classed as ‘intermediate’ housing) and 6 were intermediate rent, (also classified as ‘intermediate’) housing. The total originates from three developments this year where the policy H17 would apply; 28 affordable units, (30%) from a development totalling 94 dwellings at 1-3 Derby Road and 17 affordable units, (31%) from a development totalling 55 dwellings. 72 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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6.2.34 As at March 31st 2009, only 3 of the planned 51 affordable units (equivalent to 30%) were completed from the Willow Grange development.
Table 45 : Affordable Housing Units completed 2008-09 (H5)
Planning Address No. of Application No. Affordable Housing Units
02/00770/FUL 1-3 Derby Road 28
06/01648/FULM Willow Grange, Church Road 3
07/00440/REM Former Meriden School, Harvest End 17
Total 48
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC
6.2.35 There have been additional planning applications agreed as at 31 March 2008 that include an element of affordable housing but construction was either in progress or had not yet commenced, and these are detailed below in Table 46. This indicates that a substantial amount of affordable housing, currently totalling 609 dwellings, is due to be built over the next few years.
Table 46 Affordable Housing Commitments as at 31 March 2009
Planning Number of Application affordable Status as at 31 No. Address housing units March 2009
48 outstanding (3 units completed Development in 06/01648/FULM Willow Grange, Church Road 08-09 - total 51) progress
Development in 07/00498/FULM 12-14 St Albans Road 37 progress
Development in 06/00195/FULM 26 Exchange Road 40 progress
Approval of reserved matters re. 06/00310/OUTM – Alban Wood Junior School, Development in 08/01273/REM Newhouse Crescent 9 progress
Watford Football Club,
Vicarage Road Development in 07/00022/FULM 164 progress Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 73
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Former Sun Chemicals (part),
Cow Lane Development in 07/01602/REM 69 progress
Former Sun Chemicals (part),
Cow Lane Development in 08/01493/FULM 18 progress
East Section of Tinsley Development in 07/00512/FULM Estate, Queen Mary’s Avenue 37 progress
Outlook Place,
103 Langley Road Development in 07/01467/FULM 37 progress
Approval of reserved matters re. Fire & Ambulance Station, 03/00602/OUTM – 08/00440/REM 562-572 Whippendell Road 27 not started
Detailed permission 06/01335/FULM 52a-56 High Street 17 not started
Watford Springs,
Lower High Street Detailed permission 07/01398/FULM 39 not started
West Herts College
Cassio Campus Detailed permission 08/01378/FULM 67 not started
Total affordable housing commitments 609
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC
6.2.36 The East of England Plan sets an expectation that 35% of housing that is delivered will be affordable. In these terms, the 48 affordable units delivered this year represent 15% of the total 327 net housing completions. However locally, Watford has a consistent trend of single units and small developments (those under 10 units) and as previously stated, only two developments completed this year where our policy H17 would apply. Targets for Watford will be set through the Core Strategy and will be informed by the findings of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) that has been commissioned in partnership with neighbouring local authorities. The final report was due from the consultants in May 2008 but has been delayed and is not now expected until early in 2010.
H6: Housing Quality – Building for Life Assessments
6.2.37 This indicator was introduced for the last AMR report period for the purpose of showing the level of quality in new housing development. The definition is the number and proportion of total new build completions on housing sites of 10 or more dwellings, reaching 74 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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very good, good, average and poor ratings against the Building for Life criteria. The CABE Building for Life criteria is a government –endorsed assessment benchmark developed by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.
6.2.38 We do not have any data to report with regards to 2008-09 as other work pressures have prevented the member of staff who is trained (training completed in 2008-09 period) as an accredited assessor from undertaking any assessments of relevant completed schemes. It is hoped that this situation will have improved and that this indicator can be used to assess schemes completed in the 2009/10 monitoring period.
6.2.39 Details of the Building for Life assessment criteria can be viewed at the following link: www.buildingforlife.org.
6.3 Environmental Quality
E1: Number of planning permissions granted contrary to the advice of the Environment Agency on flooding and water quality grounds
6.3.1 (This indicator was previously known as COI7 and the revised definition is broadly equivalent).
6.3.2 Within the adopted Watford District Plan 2000, there are saved policies (namely SE 26 to SE 30) that include requirements for flood prevention and defence and the safeguarding of water quality.
6.3.3 The Environment Agency produce yearly reports of their objections lodged with Local Authorities on the grounds of Flood Risk and Water Quality – the reports for 2007/08 can be found on their website http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/
6.3.4 Between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009, no objections have been received on the grounds of water quality from the Environment Agency.
6.3.5 Also, according to the Environment Agency's records, Watford Borough Council approved no applications against their advice between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009.
6.3.6 With regard to development and flood risk in general, and following requirements set out in Planning Policy Statement 25 (‘PPS 25’) and associated directives, Watford Borough Council together with three neighbouring local planning authorities, Dacorum Borough Council, St Albans City and District Council and Three Rivers District Council commissioned a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment study to be carried out by Halcrow consultants in February 2007. The purpose of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment is to assess and map all forms of flood risk from ground water, surface water, sewer and river sources together with giving policy advice for the LDF.
6.3.7 The study was successfully completed for all four Councils in October 2007 and it is a requirement by the Environment Agency that the study is updated every three years. The study is available on our website http://www.watford.gov.uk under the planning/local development framework article.
6.3.8 Watford Borough Council is planning to commission the first stage of a Water Cycle Study (WCS) together with four neighbouring local planning authorities in West Hertfordshire, namely Dacorum Borough Council, St Albans City and District Council, Three Rivers District Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 75
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Council and Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council. The aim of the WCS is to investigate the current state and potential in the water supply, drainage and waste water treatment systems in the area under both aspects, effects of future development and expected changes in weather pattern under the effects of climate change. The first stage of the WCS is expected to be completed in summer / autumn 2010 (a draft report is expected early next year) and to inform both, the Core Strategy and the Site Allocations DPD.
6.3.9 The Council is working on further Climate Change adaptation evidence and polices. Climate change adaptation is a mechanism of addressing the impacts and the opportunities arising in a changing climate as there will still be some degree of unavoidable climate change stemming from our historic greenhouse gas emissions. In the LDF we will investigate how new river restoration and flood defence policies as well as improvements to water quality, river corridors, floodplains and other open water areas could be supported by policy and implemented. Also, we will look into Climate Change in housing design and development processes, such as SUD systems and flood resilient housing. This process will be supported by other Council activities and processes, such as Flood Resilience Planning and Surface Water Management Planning in the future.
E2 – Change in areas of biodiversity importance – no change
6.3.10 (This indicator is broadly equivalent to COI 8 (ii) change in areas designated for their intrinsic environmental value including sites of international, national, regional, sub-regional or local significance)
6.3.11 The saved policies SE32, SE33, SE36, SE37 and SE 39 support the safeguarding of natural habitats important for priority species or rare species and the enhancement of biodiversity.
6.3.12 The total number of County Wildlife sites has remained unchanged during the last monitoring year. The total size of the sites is subject to verification as the mapping for the PPG 17 Study still continues and it is hoped that accurate measurement data should be available in 2009. At present, we can provide the numbers and areas of Wildlife Sites as per Table 47.
Table 47 Number and area of wildlife sites in Watford (E2)
December December December December December Watford 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Number of Wildlife Sites 32 32 33 33 33
Area in hectares 280 280 282 282 282
Source: Compiled by Planning Policy, WBC - figures supplied by Leisure and Community Section
N.B. The areas of wildlife sites were refined in 2002 and ‘species wildlife sites’ were given an area of 0.00 ha, whereas previously they may have had an area in the region of 3.25ha each. 76 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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6.3.13 Watford has four Local Nature Reserves (LNRs): Albans Wood, Cassiobury Park, Harebreaks Wood and Lairage Land and we aim to declare Garston Park a 5th LNR within the next year.
6.3.14 Although there are no Sites of Special Scientific Interest within Watford, there is a site with this designation that is managed by Watford Council, which is Whippendell Woods – it is adjacent to the Borough boundary in Three Rivers District.
Change in priority habitats and species (by type)
6.3.15 (This indicator, previously designated COI 8 (i) has been removed from the new set of Core Output Indicators although it has been recommended that it be used as a contextual indicator to be reported less frequently)
6.3.16 The saved policies SE32, SE33, SE36, SE37 and SE 39 support the safeguarding of natural habitats important for priority species or rare species and the enhancement of biodiversity.
6.3.17 Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre (‘HBRC’) have endeavoured to provide those statistics presently available, including changes in bird populations and changes in butterfly numbers and species, although data is not available in all cases down to district level, and some data needs improving to increase coverage if possible – we have supplied here some data relevant to Watford’s locality. It is also worth remembering that administrative boundaries are not ecologically based and have no real relevance to natural processes, other than influencing land use planning, development and, where relevant, management within their areas.
6.3.18 It should be noted that the surveys to obtain the data on birds and butterflies are carried out by volunteers and enthusiasts in their own time. It would seem impractical for districts to attempt to calculate the precise loss of particular species to development, due to a lack of resources including time, money and expertise although the possible site-specific impact of development, both directly (loss of habitat) or indirectly (disturbance, pollution – light, noise, air particles) should always be considered.
6.3.19 However, knowledge of the different species which are on the increase or decline by whichever data that is available on a county or regional basis can only be beneficial in raising awareness of the potential impact of development or other impact e.g. agricultural intensification, lack of woodland management.
Birds
6.3.20 The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) was launched in 1994 with the aim to improve the geographical scope of UK bird monitoring. The BBS survey reports are published annually and show population changes down to regional level i.e. the East of England, which includes Hertfordshire, for three groups of birds:
Farmland (19 species) Woodland (32 species) Urban (2 species)
6.3.21 Each group of species is divided into two sub-sets; Generalist species, which do not have particular habitat and food requirements and Specialist species, which do have particular habitat and food requirements, which puts them more at risk. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 77
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Regional population trends for the period 1994 – 2005 are as follows:
6.3.22 Farmland birds Generalist species: 5 increasing – woodpigeon, jackdaw, rook, greenfinch and reed bunting and 2 declining – yellow wagtail and kestrel. Specialist species: 2 increasing – lapwing and whitethroat; 9 declining – grey partridge, stock dove, turtle dove, skylark, starling, goldfinch, linnet, yellowhammer and corn bunting and 1 species where there was insufficient data to draw a conclusion, the tree sparrow.
6.3.23 Woodland birds Generalist species: 7 increasing – dunnock, robin, blackbird, long-tailed tit, blue tit, great tit, and chaffinch; 2 declining – song thrush and lesser whitethroat and 1 stable, the wren. Specialist species: 6 increasing – green woodpecker, blackcap, chiffchaff, goldcrest, coal tit and jay; 4 declining – sparrowhawk, garden warbler, willow warbler and bullfinch.
6.3.24 Urban birds This group is made up of two species; one specialist, the swift and one generalist, the house sparrow, both declining.
Recent population changes for priority breeding birds in Hertfordshire 2003-2004
6.3.25 Recent monitoring data is available for UK priority species of breeding birds in Hertfordshire via the annual Hertfordshire Bird Reports. HBRC cannot provide statistically valid district figures from the 70 Breeding Bird Survey squares recorded annually in Hertfordshire as these are provided for assessing national changes, but data is provided where possible at county level. Unfortunately, not many species are recorded in all the squares surveyed, which means that population changes cannot be calculated for all the breeding bird species in the county.
Farmland birds: skylark – increasing Woodland, Urban birds: dunnock, song thrush – both declining Farmland (grass), Urban birds: starling - declining
NB: Too few records were collected for other priority species that regularly breed in the county for reliable population indices to be calculated, which in itself indicates very low populations of these species
6.3.26 Recent population changes in Farmland and Woodland birds breeding birds in Hertfordshire 2003-2004 are as follows:
6.3.27 Farmland birds Generalist species: 3 increasing – collared dove, jackdaw and carrion crow; 4 decreasing – woodpigeon, chaffinch, magpie and greenfinch. Specialist species: 1 increasing – whitethroat; 1 declining – swallow.
6.3.28 Woodland birds Generalist species: 1 increasing –, blackbird, 5 decreasing – wren, robin, long-tailed tit, blue tit and great tit; Specialist species: 3 increasing – great spotted woodpecker, chiffchaff and blackcap; 0 declining
6.3.29 Butterflies 78 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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The butterfly data on numbers and species is best provided for each district by the ‘Summary transect data’, the average figures being the best guide to change over time as recorded on the transects within that district. Watford does not currently have any transects recorded within them, and thus no data can be provided whilst others have very few or are recorded very intermittently. HSBC hope to encourage increased recording in these areas if at all possible, although as such recording is very onerous and usually dependent upon the availability of local butterfly enthusiasts, this may not be achievable.
6.3.30 As background information, where figures are provided for certain districts, please note that the figures are based on imperfect data and have not been subject to any statistical analysis. Transects are not chosen at random nor on any formal sampling methodology. However they should reflect broad trends in butterflies within the transects themselves, and more broadly within districts and ultimately across the county. For example, migratory species are often recorded within numerous transects as and when they fly through, whilst major declines or increases should be reflected by changes in species presence or numbers as recorded on transects. However no comparison should be made between districts as the nature of districts may vary considerably in terms of presence of habitats or management as preferred by butterflies, reflecting wide variation in the nature of the transect sites themselves.
6.3.31 Wider contextual information is given by the county data, which amalgamates the district totals to provide average figures. Very broadly it can be seen that within most districts and the county as a whole, numbers of species have remained relatively stable over the past 6 years, while there may have been a slight increase in the numbers of butterflies themselves. Certainly improved recording techniques will contribute to higher numbers, but longer term figures would be required to demonstrate any real change in populations, as well as any reasons for this.
6.3.32 Priority species are those identified within the county Biodiversity Action Plan, and there are three - Chalkhill Blue, Grizzled Skipper and Purple Emperor. Two of these are difficult to survey accurately and all of these species have a limited distribution and are consequently only found in certain locations – it is simply good fortune that some of these coincide with transect sites. Grizzled Skipper and Purple Emperor are not accurately reflected by the transect methodology, requiring more focused monitoring which has yet to be implemented in any meaningful way across the county. This is also time-consuming for most volunteers. Where it is currently available, Grizzled Skipper seems to be being maintained on existing sites, whilst large numbers of Chalkhill Blue continue to be present on their county stronghold at Therfield Heath. Purple Emperor are probably maintaining numbers as far as the weather allows, although they remain a difficult butterfly to monitor.
6.3.33 Although data is very limited, it does at least reflect changes from year to year as recorded, and serves to show the extent of the transect recording effort across the county. We include the summary data for reference in Appendix 8.
Local biodiversity information
6.3.34 With regards to biodiversity developments specific to Watford, information has been provided locally by our Leisure and Community Department.
6.3.35 Two major surveys of flora and invertebrates took place at Cassiobury Park during this monitoring period. The full botanical survey has not revealed any nationally rare species although some bryophytes (tiny plants including mosses, liverworts and hornworts) recorded are nationally uncommon. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 79
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6.3.36 It has been previously ascertained that Watford has two populations of Great Crested Newt, a species which has legal protection and has declined over recent years within the U.K.
6.3.37 The ponds inhabited (both approximately 25 square metres) are at Paddock Road allotment and Cassiobury Park. Great Crested Newt surveys were subsequently carried out at Paddock Road Allotment in May and June 2006 and the population there is significant with at least 100 individuals. A survey was carried out at Cassiobury Park in May 2006, where the population is less than 5.
Figure 10 Great Crested Newt
6.3.38 Two new sites were identified between April to June 2006 as having Stag Beetles, which is a globally threatened species and listed as a priority for the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. These sites are Harebreaks Adventure Playground and Callowland Recreation Ground. Population sizes are unknown but the area where they have been found in the Adventure Playground and the adjacent Local Nature Reserve, are under biodiversity management, which will benefit the Stag Beetle population. Further surveys are scheduled for 2009.
Table 48 Stag Beetle
E3: To show the amount of renewable energy generation by installed capacity and type
6.3.39 (This indicator was previously known as COI9 – Renewable energy capacity installed by type) The revised definition has been expanded on and states that: 80 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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Installed capacity should be reported for a) renewable energy developments / installations granted planning permission and b) completed renewable energy developments/installations
6.3.40 Within the adopted Watford District Plan 2000, there are saved policies (namely SE4, U1 and U2) which support and encourage the use of renewable energy sources and the new RSS Policy ENG2 quotes that renewable energy should be supported with the aim that by 2010 10% of the region’s energy and by 2020 17% of the nation’s energy should come from renewable sources.
6.3.41 Not all renewable energy installations require planning permission and we have made enquiries with the Energy Savings Trust and sought out various other sources, but collated information has not been found available at district level other than from our own local knowledge, but we expect this will improve in the future.
6.3.42 Data at local authority level is not currently available from the new database operated by BERR (Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform) which aims to track the progress towards achieving the European Union targets for electricity generation from renewable energy sources. However, supplied below is a table providing national and regional figures for ‘Installed Capacity of Sites generating electricity from renewable sources’ to give an idea of the wider picture.
Table 49 Installed capacity of sites generating electricity from renewable sources (MW), 20071
Hydro Wind Landfill Other Total gas biofuels
England 27.4 757.9 767.1 679.2 2,231.5
East Midlands 5.4 70.1 60.8 39.5 175.8
East 0.3 184.5 182.2 110.7 477.7
North East 6.3 38.3 31.4 78.7 154.8
North West 5.4 276.4 159.4 36.6 477.7
London - 3.7 - 113.2 116.9
South East 0.1 93.4 149.9 90.4 333.8
South West 8.4 51.2 73.8 16.0 149.4
West Midlands 0.6 - 49.5 132.2 182.4
Yorkshire and the Humber 0.8 40.2 60.1 61.9 163.1
Wales 146.6 363.2 41.3 7.7 558.8
Scotland 1,339.5 1,149.7 92.2 92.2 2,673.6
Northern Ireland 11.4 203.1 - 3.0 217.5
Total 1,524.9 2,473.9 900.6 782.0 5,681.4 Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 81
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Solar photovoltaics2 18.0
Micro wind generation 3.8 3.8
UK Total 2,477.7 5,703.3
Co-firing3 247.6
- Nil or less than half the final digit shown
1 At the end of December 2007.
2 These figures were not available when DUKES 2008 was published at the end of July 2008 and estimates of 14.3 MW and 11.0 GWh were used. Consequently the UK totals in this table are higher than the figures published in DUKES.
3 This is the proportion of non-fossil fuelled capacity used for co-firing of renewables based on the proportion of generation accounted for by the renewable source. This estimate has not been disaggregated into region values because to do so could disclose data that relate to individual companies.
Notes: Solar photovoltaics (PV) have not been included in Table 49 because they are estimated on a UK-wide basis that cannot readily be broken down into regional components. In total, solar PV amounts to only 14.3 MWe (megawatt electrical) capacity and 11.0 GWh (gigawatt hour) of generation.
6.3.43 Three applications that have been granted planning permission in 2007/8 with some elements of renewable energy that have been meanwhile implemented:
07/00546/FUL approved 3/7/07 - Watford Woodside Sports & Leisure Centre, Horseshoe Lane – Installation of 60 solar thermal panels, supporting metal gantry and external cladding to Leisure Centre (other renewable measures included); 07/00543/FUL approved 3/7/07 - Watford Central Baths, 15 Hempstead Road– Installation of 80 solar thermal panels to roof (other renewable measures included); and 07/00669/FUL approved 13/7/07 – residential property in Sheepcot Lane– Installation of hot water solar panels on front elevation of roof.
6.3.44 Watford Woodside Sports & Leisure Centre was completed in March 2008. It involved the regeneration of an existing 1970’s sports centre to upgrade existing dry side facilities and to extend it to accommodate a competition standard swimming pool.
6.3.45 Overall the integration of low and zero-carbon technologies means the building is expected to outperform current Building Regulations by at least 35%, giving lasting energy and cost savings. This reduction in energy consumption has been achieved by making good use of passive solar energy, high-efficiency heat recovery systems for pool water, natural ventilation, shower and other controls, photocell lighting and a high standard of air tightness and thermal insulation.
6.3.46 Further carbon savings come from the heating and rain-water harvesting systems. The heating system is based on a ground-source heat pump, solar thermal array water-source VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system and condensing gas-fired boilers all combined into 82 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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one system. In addition, the buffer and storage capacity of the swimming pools have been exploited by operating the heat pump on night-rate electricity. The combined technologies are carefully controlled and optimised by a BMS (Building Management System).
6.3.47 Watford Central Bath was a re-build and was completed in September 2008. It has been designed to deliver the clients aspiration for low energy design in a traditionally energy intensive facility, demonstrating low and renewable energy technologies. The building will achieve energy reduction of at least 35% over current Building Regulations. The sustainable elements of Watford Central include high insulation levels, rainwater recycling, solar panels and ground-linked heat recovery systems to reclaim heat from air and water. The solar thermal array consists of a total of 180m2 of flat panel solar collectors. The heat collected is primarily used to pre-heat the domestic hot water but can also be used to input heat into the heating network for general heating within the building. The large volume of water provided by the swimming pools is utilised as a thermal buffer and storage facility. A ground coupled heat pump with 30 vertical U-tubes, bored 80m deep into the underlying chalk aquifer, provides a further low carbon heat source and heat sink. Again the thermal buffer and storage facility created by the swimming pools is exploited by allowing the heat pump to operate on night rate electricity and warm the pools without overheating.
6.3.48 A water source VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) system is coupled to the ground loop and low temperature water heating system. Heat is recovered from the VRF system to the heating system when there is demand, or rejected to the ground when surplus heat requires it. Gas-fired condensing boilers make up the residual heating demands with 5-10% increase in system efficiency delivered by running the boilers at a lower than normal temperature. Rainwater is collected from the roof and stored below ground for use in flushing the WCs, reducing water demand for each leisure centre by 60%. The combination of these technologies are all carefully controlled and optimised by a BMS (Building Management System) which also monitors the energy use of the buildings.
Table 50 Calculated CO2 emissions and reductions from Watford Leisure developments
Development Calculated Target Building CO2emission Ratio CO2 completed in CO2 CO2 CO2 reductions BER/TER emission financial year emission Emission Emission above reductions 2008/09 rate from Rate (TER) Rate (BER) notional above notional in in building statutory building in KgCO2/m2 KgCO2/m2 (Bldg. Reg requirement KgCO2/m2 annum annum 04) (Bldg Reg annum 06)
Central Bath & 190.87 141.07 114.92 40% (39.98%) 0.81 19% Leisure Centre
Woodside 144.68 105.85 85.43 40% (40.96%) 0.81 19% Leisure Centre
6.3.49 The owners of the residential property in Sheepcot Lane have successfully installed hot water solar panels on their roof and had been reducing their energy bills for the last 2 years. However, they expressed their disappointment, that at the time of their application they did not qualify for any grants or funding scheme and hence did not feel inclined to provide more details to their installations. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 83
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6.3.50 Although no residential or commercial renewable energy projects were approved in Watford Borough Council in the monitoring year 2008/9, it is expected that there will be some contributions to renewable energy capacity by small-scale domestic installations. However, it is more difficult to access the level of contributions that come from this source as small scale installations may be considered permitted development under the General Permitted Development Order, 1995 (as amended), and with applications where the contributed capacities from renewables often have not been provided. Also, it seems, in Watford Borough Council, neither private households nor enterprises have applied for Government grants or funds in the monitoring year 2008/09.
6.3.51 However, we are already encouraging this – the Watford Springs Planning Brief states that the Council is seeking a scheme that demonstrates best practice in environmentally responsible development which should aim to achieve as near a zero carbon value as possible. The Planning Statement pre-assessing the ability of the site to achieve an Ecohomes ‘Excellent’ Rating (for more information see http://www.breeam.org ) submitted as part of the Planning Application 07/01398/FULM for Watford Springs, which was approved on the 15 May 2008, certifies that the proposals fulfil Watford Springs Planning Brief section 4.5 ‘Environmentally Responsible Design‘, and ‘Buildings for Life’- section 17.
6.3.52 A condition has been attached to the planning permission that ‘no dwelling…shall be occupied until a certificate demonstrating that that phase of the scheme has achieved ‘Ecohomes Excellent’ rating has been submitted to and acknowledged in writing by the Local Planning Authority’. The Watford Spring development has not been implemented in the monitoring year 2008/09.
6.3.53 The use of renewable energy sources for the Council’s own buildings and fleet fits in with the Council aim to manage carbon emissions in the Council’s own premises, and across the town. In 2007, a Carbon Management Strategy has been developed with the aim of helping Watford achieve the carbon reduction target of 9.6% savings on a 2004 baseline by 2010.
6.3.54 A new Carbon Management Strategy has been adopted in 2008 by the Environmental Service to achieve an overall Carbon reduction of 25% compared with a 2004 baseline by 2011 for all residential and commercial buildings in Watford Borough Council. In addition, a draft Climate Change Strategy has been approved by Watford’s Cabinet, together with an adopted Climate Change policy. It states: “The Declaration [Nottingham Declaration] recognises the central role of local authorities in leading society's response to the challenge of climate change. This Policy sets out Watford Borough Council’s commitment to:
Act as a leader in tackling the causes of climate change and preparing for it’s impacts, encouraging all sectors of the community to commit and take the opportunities presented; Systematically addressing the causes of climate change by setting and meeting carbon dioxide emission reduction targets based on local priorities and to maximise benefit for our community; Continuing to lead by example by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from Council operations and ensuring this is a key consideration in all appropriate plans and strategies; Assessing the risks associated with climate change for Council services and the wider community, enabling necessary adaptation to take place. Annually monitoring progress and publishing the findings. 84 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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6.3.55 The Carbon Management Strategy and Action Plan details carbon emission reduction targets and identifies specific actions to be undertaken in order to achieve these. The Strategy and Action plan are reviewed, approved by Cabinet and republished annually.”
6.3.56 Watford Borough Council will be seeking to raise the profile of renewable energy in the LDF, such as by taking over the 25% Carbon target from the Carbon Management Strategy for new developments. In consultation with stakeholders and specialists, Watford Borough Council does work on more detailed policies on Climate change and Carbon reductions that take into account developments of different size, location and other factors. To support this process a study has been commissioned to AECOM in Hertfordshire. The study aims to identify further opportunities for reducing energy demand, further potentials for decentralised, renewable or Low Carbon energy generation and to test previously identified targets and drafted policy at local level. One aspect the study will focus on is the identification of opportunities and locations for CHS (Community Heating Systems), such as CHP, CHCP and heat networks.
Building Futures
6.3.57 Building Futures: A Hertfordshire Guide to Promoting Sustainability in Development is a non-statutory technical document which has been jointly commissioned by the eleven local authorities of Hertfordshire and was established in 2003.
6.3.58 Building Futures is a web-based guide, which provides practical and user-friendly guidance for planning officers, developers and the general public on how to make development in Hertfordshire more sustainable and of a higher quality in design terms. It has therefore been produced for everyone involved in the preparation of development proposals, for local authorities and other agencies in assessing those proposals and for individuals with an interest in development in the County.
6.3.59 To date the guide contains nine topic modules, each covering a sustainable building topic area. These are air, design, energy, landscape & biodiversity, materials, noise, safety, waste and water. The Energy module provides guidance on different low energy solutions and renewable energy options, drawing specific attention to considerations relevant to different sectors.
6.3.60 Although the Building Futures guide is a useful tool for providing an overview of the measures that could be applied by a development, it may not be fully appropriate for assessment of sustainability and energy statements. The content of the guide is very generic in order to reach a range of audiences and consequently does not contain technical information for analysing data such as energy calculations. Additionally, it is unable to reflect individual local policies on climate change and thus has limitations on how far it can be used by DC officers in determining compliance with the LPAs planning requirements.
6.3.61 In order to promote Sustainable Design and the Building Futures guide the Building Futures partnership has set up the Building Futures Awards for Hertfordshire. This award scheme is an opportunity for the best of Hertfordshire’s sustainable schemes to get the recognition they deserve. Winning an award will enable local companies or organisations to gain the recognition that they deserve as champions of sustainable design and construction in the county and will help the guide to find that local Best Practice that could serve as examples of design innovation for new projects. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 85
Glossary of Terms 1 Appendix 1 Glossary of Terms
ABI Obtained from the Office of National Statistics the Annual Business Inquiry (ABI) estimates cover for all UK businesses registered for Value Added Tax and/or Pay as You Earn, classified to the 1992 or 2003 Standard Classifications.
Accessibility The ability of everybody to go conveniently where they want, particularly in relation to services and facilities.
Affordable Housing Affordable housing includes social rented and intermediate housing, provided to specific eligible households whose needs are not met by the market (PPS3). It does not include low-cost market housing.
The Act – The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 came into force in September 2004 and has set in place a series of changes to the planning system.
AMR – Annual Monitoring Report The Council will publish a monitoring report every year to assess the progress that has been made in achieving the timetable set out in the Local Development Scheme. It looks at how successful the policies in the Local Development Documents have been at achieving their aims and if the preparation of the Local Development Framework is running to schedule.
COI – Core Output Indicators A mandatory standardised set of indicators originally introduced in 2005 by the government in order to monitor the effectiveness of policies and enable national comparison. In July 2008 the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) published guidance (Core Output Indicators – Update 2/2008), amending the original core output indicators (Appendix 4 highlights the key changes).
Core Strategy This Development Plan Document is a required development plan document, which sets out the long-term spatial vision for the Borough, along with the core policies and proposals that will be required to deliver that vision. All other Development Plan Documents must conform to the Core Strategy.
DCLG – Department for Communities and Local Government The DCLG was created on 5 May 2006, with a powerful remit to promote community cohesion and equality, as well as responsibility for housing, urban regeneration, planning and local government.
DES - Development Economics Study A study that assesses the economic viability of land for housing within the District taking account of risks to delivery and likely levels of finance available for affordable housing.
DPD – Development Plan document Any Local Development Document that forms part of the Development Plan. They are subject to independent examination by a Government appointed Inspector. Development Plan Documents include the Core Strategy and Area Action Plans. 86 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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EERA – East of England Regional Assembly EERA is the Regional Planning Body for the East of England. A key area of regional planning work for EERA is the preparation of regional planning guidance for the East of England in the form of a ‘Regional Spatial Strategy’, to provide broad guidance on the future development of the region, including housing and transportation issues.
G.I.S – Geographic Information System Computerised mapping system.
GO-East – Government Office for the East of England The regional government office that is responsible for implementing national policy in the Eastern region, and ensuring our policies and plans accord with national guidance.
HBRC - Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre Conducts biological recording and manages an extensive database with information on habitats, species and sites across the county. Also provides an ecological advisory service.
IMD – Index of Multiple Deprivation The Government publishes an Index of Multiple Deprivation combining individual indices for the following domains: income deprivation; employment deprivation; health deprivation and disability; education, skills and training deprivation; barriers to housing and services; crime; and living environment deprivation into an overall measure of deprivation, the most recent being the 2007 IMD.
LDF –Local Development Framework The replacement for Local Plans. A portfolio of policy documents which will provide the framework for delivering the spatial planning strategy for Watford.
LDS – Local Development Scheme A document setting out a 3 year programme for the preparation of the different documents that make up the Local Development Framework. The LDS must be regularly reviewed and is part of the Local Development Framework, but not a Development Plan Document.
LSOAs –LowerSuper Output Areas Administrative areas designated in the 2001 Census, having relatively uniform numbers of residents (around 1,500). There are 32,482 LSOAs in England as opposed to 8,414 local authority wards.
LSP – Local Strategic Partnership The ‘One Watford’ partnership, Watford’s LSP, brings together different parts of the public, private, community and voluntary sectors so that they can work together as one body and be more effective in making an impact on improving life in Watford. The partners are Watford Borough Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Police Authority, John Lewis Watford, Safer Watford Partnership, Watford and West Herts Chamber of Commerce, Watford Community Housing Trust, Watford Council for Voluntary Services, Watford District Children’s Trust Partnership, Watford Football Club, Watford Observer, Wenta Business Services, West Hertfordshire NHS Primary Care Trust and West Herts College.
ODPM – Office of the Deputy Prime Minister The Government department with responsibility for planning and local government prior to 5 May 2006. Responsibility then passed to the DCLG.
PDL – Previously Developed Land Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 87
Glossary of Terms 1
Previously developed land is that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural or forestry buildings) – see Annex B of PPS3 for a full definition.
PPG17 – Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (ODPM: 2002) see http://www.odpm.gov.uk
PPS3 – Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing (DCLG: Nov 2006) see http://www.communities.gov.uk this replaces Planning Policy Guidance 3: Housing (PPG3) published in March 2000.
PPS12 – Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning (DCLG: June 2008) see http://www.communities.gov.uk this replaces Planning Policy Statement12: Local Development Framework (PPS12), published on 7 September 2004, and Creating Local Development Frameworks: A Companion guide to PPS12, published on 2 November 2004.This also replaces Planning Policy Guidance 12: Development plans (PPG12) published on 14 December 1999.
PPS25 – Planning Policy Statement 25: Development and Flood Risk (DCLG: Dec 2006) see http://www.communities.gov.uk this replaces Planning Policy Guidance 25: Development and Flood Risk (PPG25) published in July 2001
PV – Photovoltaic Photovoltaic means electricity from light. Photovoltaic systems use daylight to power ordinary electrical equipment e.g. household appliances, computers and lighting. The PV process converts solar energy directly into electricity. A PV cell consists of two or more thin layers of semi-conducting material, most commonly silicon. When the silicon is exposed to light, electrical charges are generated and this can be conducted away by metal contacts as direct current (DC).
RPG 9 – Regional Planning Guidance 9 Regional Planning Guidance for the South East, covering the period up to 2016 and forming the Regional Spatial Strategy for the region (which previously included Watford, now under the East of England) until superseded by the East of England Plan, published in May 2008. The purpose of RPG 9 was to provide a regional framework for the preparation of local authority development plans and to provide the spatial framework for other strategies and programmes.
RSS – Regional Spatial Strategy The RSS covering Watford is the ‘East of England Plan’ (E of E Plan) which was formally published on the 12 May 2008, and was prepared by EERA, the East of England Regional Assembly. The E of E Plan sets out the strategy to guide the planning and development of the East of England to 2021. It sets out the policies which the LDF must conform to, and will form part of Watford’s development plan.
SA – Sustainability Appraisal An assessment of the social, economic and environmental impacts of the policies and proposals contained within the Local Development Framework.
SCI – Statement of Community Involvement A document (part of the Local Development Framework but not part of the Development Plan) that sets out how the Council will engage with the community in preparing and reviewing the Local Development Framework, and also in major development control decisions. In 88 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
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effect it is the Council’s planning policy on consultation. A statement demonstrating how the local planning authority has complied with the Statement of Community Involvement will be required for all local development documents that the Council produces.
SEA – Strategic Environmental Assessment The European ‘SEA Directive’ (2001/42/EC) requires a formal ‘environmental assessment’ of certain plans and programmes, including those involving planning and land use. The assessment will examine the potential impacts of policies and proposals on the environment, and includes proposals for the mitigation of these impacts.
Section 106 Planning Agreement Section 106 Planning Agreements are legal agreements between the planning authority and the applicant/developer. They tend to apply to major development schemes and are often made in order to secure contributions towards community infrastructure to meet the needs of residents in new developments and/or to mitigate the impact of new developments upon existing community facilities.
SP – Structure Plan Hertfordshire Structure Plan – adopted Structure Plan produced by the County Council, due to be replaced by the draft Regional Spatial Strategy, produced by the East of England Regional Assembly.
Spatial Planning Spatial planning goes beyond traditional land use planning to bring together and integrate policies for the development and use of land with other policies and programmes which influence the nature of places and how they function. This will include policies which can impact on land use by influencing the demands on, or needs for, development, but which are not capable of being delivered solely or mainly through the granting or refusal of planning permission and which may be implemented by other means.
SPD – Supplementary Planning Document These are the replacements for Supplementary Planning Guidance. They will be part of the Local Development Framework and subject to specified regulations for preparation, but still not part of the Development Plan.
Sui Generis A Latin phrase meaning “of its own kind”, which in planning refers to any use that does not fall within a specified Use Class, and therefore always requires permission for a change of use; it includes nightclubs, motor car showrooms, retail warehouse clubs, taxi or vehicle hire businesses, laundrettes, amusement centres, petrol stations, hostels and theatres.
Watford Community Safety Partnership – partners are Hertfordshire Constabulary, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, Hertfordshire Police Authority, Watford Borough Council and Watford & Three Rivers Primary Care Trust.
WDP 2000 – Watford District Plan 2000 The adopted Local Plan for Watford, which sets out policies on land use development and conservation. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 deemed that adopted local plan policies are only ‘saved’ until 27th September 2007 or until they are replaced by new policies under the LDF prior to that date. If the LDF had not progressed far enough, application had to be made to the Secretary of State to extend the validity of any policies required. The Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 89
Glossary of Terms 1
Secretary of State agreed Watford’s list of ‘saved’ policies on 14 September 2007 (attached as Appendix 7), which should be read in context with the supporting text, tables and appendices of the WDP 2000 and the relevant Supplementary Planning Guidance. 90 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
1 Glossary of Terms Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 91
List of Studies which act as the LDF Evidence Base 2 Appendix 2 List of Studies which act as the LDF Evidence Base
The following documents have been or are being prepared to inform the policies of the Local Development Framework:
Housing
Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment*
November 2008. In partnership with Dacorum Borough Council (DBC) and Three Rivers District Council (TRDC), with consultants Llewelyn Davies Yeang
Updates and replaces the 2005 Urban Capacity Study. Identifies and assesses potential residential development sites, which could potentially accommodate around 6,200 units up to 2031 (although in reality some sites will be needed for other uses.) Publication expected spring 2010, after consultation.
Housing Needs Survey*
2004 (update of 2001 study), David Couttie Associates
Assesses the need for affordable housing. Will be replaced by the ‘Strategic Housing Market Assessment’.
Strategic Housing Market Assessment*
In partnership with Planning and Housing departments in HCC, DBC, TRDC, Hertsmere Borough Council (HBC), St Albans City and District Council (SACDC) and Welwyn Hatfield Council (WHC), with consultants Opinion Research Services (ORS). Will update the 2004 Housing Needs Study, and identify what types of housing need to be provided, including how to provide affordable housing. This will be published for consultation in Jan/Feb 2010.
Development Economics Study*
In partnership with other authorities.
Supports the Strategic Housing Market Assessment by providing information on how to ensure provision of affordable housing is financially viable. Publication expected shortly. Suggests 30-35% affordable housing to be viable on almost all sites in Watford and that lowering the threshold to 15 units would be practical.
Employment
South West Herts Employment Space Study*
January 2005, Roger Tym & Partners with King Sturge
Assesses the quality and quantity of employment premises and the need for new floorspace. This is now becoming out of date and will be updated by a local Employment Land Review.
London Arc Employment Study
March 2009, Roger Tym and Partners, in partnership with other Hertfordshire authorities in the London-Arc sub region. 92 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
2 List of Studies which act as the LDF Evidence Base
This wider study goes some way towards updating the 2005 South West Herts Employment Space Study following the targets for employment provision set out in the East of England Plan published in May 2008. Suggests that in future Watford may have a surplus of industrial/warehousing sites but a larger shortage of office accomodation.
The forecasts in this study are already be considered out of date due to the effects of the recession - a more local Employment Land Review will be prepared using the most recent forecasts.
Watford Employment Land Review
This will take a more local look at our employment land stock and future requirements. To be produced by Council staff with assistance from local agents (to be appointed). Expected in mid-2010.
Retail and local centres
Sustainable NeighbourhoodsMapping Exercise/Neighbourhood Centres Study
October 2005, GVA Grimley(currently unpublished)
Identifies potential locations for neighbourhood centres.
Further work has been done this year including surveys of all our retail areas - this has been written up and will be published once the retail forecasts have been updated.
Town Centre Study
December 2005, Building Design Partnership with CBRE and MVA
Wide-ranging vision for the development of Watford Town Centre.
St. Albans Road Study
November 2005, GVA Grimley
Vision for the future enhancement of the St Albans Road area.
Watford Retail Study 2005, and 2007 update
November 2005, March 2007, CBRE
Assesses the need for new retail development up to 2021.
An update to take account of the recession and to take the end date forward again will shortly be commissioned.
Infrastructure
Hertfordshire Infrastructure and Investment Strategy
Oct 2009, Atkins and Roger Tym and Partners, in partnership with other Hertfordshire authorities Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 93
List of Studies which act as the LDF Evidence Base 2
This sets out future infrastructure requirements for Hertfordshire and the extent to which these could be funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy. The recommendation is around £23k per new dwelling. It also identifies the historic infrastructure deficit. Further work is being done locally to produce a Local Infrastructure Plan.
Transport
South West Herts Transport Plan (Review and Action Plan)
Nov 2008, Hertfordshire County Council.
Further work is to be done locally to produce our own transport strategy.
Open Spaces
Open Spaces (PPG17) Study
The study will identify surpluses and/or shortfalls in provision of open space of all types across the Borough.
An initial piece of work was undertaken by consultants, jointly with the Council's Leisure department. Further survey work is now being done to complete this study.
Gypsies and Travellers
Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers*
April 2005, Centre for Urban and Regional Studies (University of Birmingham)
Estimates the need for gypsy and traveller sites.
Accommodation Needs of Gypsies and Travellers in South and West Hertfordshire* Stage 2 – Identification of potential Gypsy and traveller Sites in the study area September 2006, Scott Wilson
Identifies potential sites to meet the need for gypsy and traveller accommodation.
Climate Change and Water
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) Volumes 1 and 2*
August 2007, Halcrow Group Limited
Assesses and maps all forms of flood risk.
Hertfordshire Climate Change Study*
A stage 1 report was produced in October 2009 to assess planning authorities' understanding of climate change issues and application of requirements. Further work has been commissioned to provide evidence for Local Development Frameworks - this will provide technical evidence to support policies relating to low and carbon neutral development, and meeting the Code for Sustainable Homes. To report in spring 2010.
Water Cycle Study* 94 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
2 List of Studies which act as the LDF Evidence Base
A scoping report has been commissioned with some other Hertfordshire authorities to assess water supply and disposal. A full study may be required depending on the outcome.
Historic Environment
Character of the Area Study
This piece of work will be done by Council officers and will provide a context for development in the different parts of the town.
General
A Portrait of Watford
November 2008. One Watford. The evidence base for the review of Watford’s Sustainable Community Strategy – contains a wide range of data about the borough. Some will be updated in this AMR.
* These studies were/will be undertaken in partnership with other neighbouring local authorities. Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 95
2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation 3 Appendix 3 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation
Rank (where 1 is most deprived)
Local Super East of Output Area IMD Watford Herts England England (LSOA) Code Ward Score rank rank rank rank
E01023860 Central 33.14 1 9 253 6936
E01023876 Meriden 32.13 2 11 281 7327
E01023865 Holywell 31.04 3 15 322 7769
E01023861 Central 29.95 4 19 370 8217
E01023891 Stanborough 29.92 5 20 372 8230
E01023883 Oxhey 28.17 6 27 429 9017
E01023866 Holywell 27.90 7 28 434 9132
E01023857 Callowland 24.12 8 54 611 11120
E01023873 Meriden 23.76 9 58 640 11334
E01023906 Woodside 23.64 10 60 646 11407
E01023859 Central 23.26 11 63 667 11662
E01023870 Leggatts 22.95 12 68 685 11849
E01023877 Meriden 21.76 13 82 782 12626
E01023862 Central 20.86 14 96 843 13232
E01023899 Vicarage 20.64 15 99 855 13382
E01023864 Holywell 20.60 16 101 860 13416
E01023868 Leggatts 20.29 17 106 888 13685
E01023905 Woodside 19.59 18 123 950 14235
E01023869 Leggatts 18.77 19 137 1033 14886
E01023903 Vicarage 17.35 20 164 1182 16024
E01023904 Woodside 16.77 21 175 1240 16528
E01023888 Park 16.37 22 189 1295 16924
E01023901 Vicarage 15.96 23 197 1334 17288
E01023867 Holywell 15.75 24 200 1359 17478
E01023855 Callowland 14.77 25 223 1471 18414 96 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
3 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation
E01023874 Meriden 14.47 26 233 1508 18699
E01023892 Stanborough 14.23 27 239 1547 18971
E01023900 Vicarage 13.74 28 249 1609 19488
E01023858 Callowland 13.24 29 258 1667 20015
E01023871 Leggatts 13.22 30 259 1671 20039
E01023880 Nascot 13.10 31 262 1686 20168
E01023863 Holywell 13.07 32 263 1690 20202
E01023886 Park 12.73 33 272 1735 20569
E01023902 Vicarage 12.65 34 274 1741 20635
E01023884 Oxhey 11.24 35 304 1941 22229
E01023872 Leggatts 10.86 36 318 2018 22716
E01023879 Nascot 10.68 37 325 2054 22949
E01023875 Meriden 10.28 38 339 2134 23464
E01023856 Callowland 9.93 39 348 2201 23913
E01023907 Woodside 9.67 40 354 2253 24260
E01023890 Stanborough 9.64 41 357 2260 24293
Rank (where 1 is most deprived)
Local Super East of
Output Area Watford England England
(LSOA) Code IMD rank Herts rank rank Ward Score rank
E01023882 Oxhey 9.58 42 358 2269 24377
E01023897 Tudor 9.42 43 364 2306 24616
E01023893 Stanborough 9.13 44 374 2364 24964
E01023881 Nascot 7.55 45 431 2649 26936
E01023895 Tudor 6.79 46 461 2793 27891
E01023896 Tudor 6.62 47 470 2830 28103
E01023894 Stanborough 6.14 48 497 2927 28642
E01023885 Oxhey 6.08 49 498 2936 28721
E01023898 Tudor 5.73 50 510 2995 29126 Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 97
2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation 3
E01023878 Nascot 4.19 51 576 3255 30745
E01023887 Park 3.83 52 596 3307 31065
E01023889 Park 2.68 53 648 3462 31936
Source: Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Indices of Deprivation 2007
N.B. The LSOAs within Watford number 53, there are 683 within Hertfordshire, there are 3,550 within the East of England and there are 32,482 within England (1 being the most deprived)
The shaded areas show the LSOAs that come within the worst 20% in the county, region and country respectively.
Some extracts are provided from ‘Using the English Indices of Deprivation 2007: Guidance’ as background information: please refer to the full document for further guidance.
The IMD 2007 is the most detailed (part of the ID 2007) and should be used to pinpoint pockets of deprivation or to highlight variations within a wider geographical area. The district and county council summaries are useful when only a broad overview is required. The ID 2007 is a relative measure of deprivation and therefore it cannot be used to determine ‘how much’ more deprived one LSOA is than another. For example, it is not possible to say that LSOA X, ranked 20 is twice as deprived as LSOA Y, which is ranked 40. However, it is possible to say that X is more deprived than Y. The ID 2007 identifies concentrations of deprivation and it is important to note that not all deprived people live in deprived areas and conversely, not everyone living in a deprived area is deprived. The ID 2007 is not a measure of affluence. The indicators which have been used have been chosen because they represent different aspects of deprivation. A lack of deprivation does not necessarily equate to affluence. Therefore the LSOAs with the highest ranks (i.e. close to 32,482 within England) are not necessarily affluent, just less deprived. The Index scores from 2004 cannot be compared with those from 2007. Though the two indices are very similar, it is not valid to compare the scores between the two time points. An area’s score is affected by the scores of every other area; so it is impossible to tell whether a change in score is a real change in the level of deprivation in an area or whether it is due to the scores of other areas going up or down. 98 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
3 2007 Index of Multiple Deprivation Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 99 Comparison of New Core Output Indicators with Original Core Output Indicators 4 Appendix 4 Comparison of New Core Output Indicators with Original Core Output Indicators
NB. The following table highlights key changes to the Core Output Indicator Set - we have endeavoured to show where indicators are broadly equivalent, and which are being removed. Please see Communities and Local Government ‘Core Output Indicators – Update 2/2008’ published July 2008 for full definitions and explanations (owing to the timing of this publication, it was understood that not all changes could necessarily be made in time for the 2008 AMR) Please note that minerals and waste core output indicators are not shown as they are the reporting responsibility of Hertfordshire County Council.
New Core Output Indicator Original Core Output Indicator
Reference No. and Description Reference No. and Description
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND TOWN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND TOWN CENTRES CENTRES
BD1 (i) Total amount of additional employment 1a Amount of floorspace developed for floorspace - by type - in local authority area employment by type – in local authority area
BD1 (ii) Total amount of additional employment 1b Amount of floorspace developed for floorspace - by type – in employment areas employment by type, in employment (or N.B. Local authorities can apply information re. regeneration) areas BD1 for whichever policy areas need to be N.B. Watford does not have any reported on designated regeneration areas so that part of this indicator will no longer be included in our AMR
BD2 Total amount of employment floorspace 1c Amount of floorspace by employment on previously developed land – by type type, which is on previously developed Definition updated to be consistent with PPS3 land PDL definition
BD3 Employment land available by type 1d Employment land available by type
BD4 (i)Total amount of floorspace for ‘town See LOCAL SERVICES centre uses’ within town centres 4b Amount of completed retail, office and BD4 (ii) Total amount of floorspace for ‘town leisure development in town centres centre uses’ within local authority area 4a Amount of completed retail, office and leisure development
Indicator to be removed 1e Losses of employment land in (i) employment / regeneration areas and (ii) local authority area
Indicator to be removed 1f Amount of employment land lost to residential development 100 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009 4 Comparison of New Core Output Indicators with Original Core Output Indicators
HOUSING HOUSING
H1 Plan period and housing targets 2a Housing trajectory showing: H2(a) Net additional dwellings – in previous (i) net additional dwellings over the years previous five year period or since the start H2(b) Net additional dwellings – for the of the relevant development plan reporting year (which is 07-08, previously known document period, whichever is the longer as the current year) (ii) net additional dwellings for the current H2(c) Net additional dwellings – in future years year – (which is 07/08, now defined as the H2(d) Managed delivery target ‘reporting year’) (iii) projected net additional dwellings up Main changes to the end of the relevant development Dwelling and Net addition definition changes plan document period or over a ten year The addition of five year housing supply period from its adoption, whichever is the information as part of the housing trajectory longer (where the expected number of completions for (iv) the annual net additional dwelling the ‘current year’ 08/09 is not be included in the requirement; and supply figures) (v) annual average number of net additional dwellings needed to meet overall housing requirements, having regard to previous year’s performance
H3 New and converted dwellings – on 2b Percentage of new and converted previously developed land dwellings on previously developed land
Indicator to be removed 2c Percentage of new dwellings completed at: (i) less than 30 dwellings per hectare; (ii) between 30 and 50 dwellings per hectare; and (iii) above 50 dwellings per hectare.
H4 Net additional pitches (Gypsy and Traveller) Gypsy and Traveller Provision Section
H5 Gross affordable housing completions 2d Affordable housing completions
New indicator H6 Housing Quality – Building for Life Assessments
*This has not previously been monitored and no data is available for 07-08. This may be a difficult matter to organise if sites applicable are to be physically evaluated at the end of the development process, requiring both staff training and resources.
TRANSPORT Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 101 Comparison of New Core Output Indicators with Original Core Output Indicators 4
Indicator to be removed 3a Amount of completed non-residential development within UCOs A, B and D complying with car-parking standards set out in the local development framework This will continue to be included in Watford’s AMR within a bundle of Local Output Indicators on Transport
Indicator to be removed 3b Amount of new residential development within 30 minutes public transport time of: a GP; a hospital; a primary school; a secondary school; areas of employment; and a major retail centre(s) This will continue to be included in Watford’s AMR within a bundle of Local Output Indicators on Transport
LOCAL SERVICES
See BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT 4a Amount of completed retail, office and BD4 (ii) Total amount of floorspace for ‘town leisure development centre uses’ within local authority area
BD4 (i) Total amount of floorspace for ‘town 4b Amount of completed retail, office and centre uses’ within town centre leisure development in town centres
Indicator to be removed 4c Amount of eligible open spaces managed to Green Flag award standard This will be included within a bundle of Local Output Indicators on the Environment
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY FLOOD PROTECTION AND WATER QUALITY
E1 Number of planning permissions granted 7. Number of planning permissions contrary to Environment Agency advice on granted contrary to the advice of the flooding and water quality grounds Environment Agency on either flood defence grounds or water quality
BIODIVERSITY
Indicator to be removed 8. Change in areas and populations of biodiversity importance, including: (i) change in priority habitats and species (by type) This will be included within a bundle of Local Output Indicators on the Environment 102 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009 4 Comparison of New Core Output Indicators with Original Core Output Indicators
E2 Change in areas of biodiversity importance ii) Change in areas designated for their – to show losses or additions to biodiversity intrinsic environmental value including habitat sites of international, national, regional, sub-regional or local significance.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
E3 Renewable Energy Generation - by installed 9. Renewable energy capacity installed capacity and type by type Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 103 Local Development Scheme Timetable and Milestones – the LDS approved by Government Office July 2007 5 Appendix 5 Local Development Scheme Timetable and Milestones – the LDS approved by Government Office July 2007
Residential Site Design Guide Year Date Core Strategy Allocations DC DPD SPD
Additional Issues and Issues Consultation on Options work, and draft (began in 2007 Apr including further work Options March) on evidence base stage 2007 May
2007 Jun
2007 Jul Preparation of Preferred Options, 2007 Aug and initial SA/SEA Report 2007 Sep
2007 Oct
2007 Nov
Adoption and 2007 Dec Publication
2008 Jan Consultation on Preferred Options 2008 Feb and SA/SEA Report
2008 Mar Preparation of submission DPD and 2008 Apr SA/SEA Report 2008 May Preparation of 2008 Jun Preferred Options Submission of DPD and initial 2008 Jul and SA/SEA Report SA/SEA 2008 Aug Report
2008 Sep
2008 Oct
Pre-examination Issues and Options 2008 Nov meeting stage
2008 Dec 104 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009 5 Local Development Scheme Timetable and Milestones – the LDS approved by Government Office July 2007
2009 Jan Consultation on Examination hearings Preferred begin Options and SA/SEA 2009 Feb Report
2009 Mar Preparation of 2009 Apr Submission Preparation of DPD and Preferred Options and 2009 May SA/SEA initial SA/SEA Report 2009 Jun Report
2009 Jul
Submission of DPD and SA/SEA 2009 Aug Report
2009 Sep Adoption
2009 Oct Publication Consultation on Preferred Options and 2009 Nov initial SA/SEA Report
Pre-examination Preparation of 2009 Dec meeting Submission DPD and SA/SEA Report 2010 Jan
2010 Feb
Examination hearings 2010 Mar begin
Later
Submission of DPD and SA/SEA Report June 2010
Pre-examination meeting Oct 2010
Examination begins January 2011
Adoption Sep 2010 Adoption Aug 2011 Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 105
Watford Context Map 6 Appendix 6 Watford Context Map
Figure 11 106 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009
6 Watford Context Map Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 107 List of WDP 2000 Saved Policies agreed by Secretary of State’s Direction dated 14 September 2007 7 Appendix 7 List of WDP 2000 Saved Policies agreed by Secretary of State’s Direction dated 14 September 2007
DIRECTION UNDER PARAGRAPH 1(3) OF SCHEDULE 8 TO THE PLANNING AND COMPULSORY PURCHASE ACT 2004
POLICIES CONTAINED IN WATFORD DISTRICT PLAN 2000
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in the exercise of the power conferred by paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 8 to the Planning and Compulsory Act 2004 directs that for the purposes of the policies specified in Schedule 1 to this direction, paragraph 1(2)(a) of Schedule 8 to the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 does not apply.
Signed by the authority of the Secretary of State
Alex Plant Deputy Regional Director of Development & Infrastructure Government Office for the East of England 14th September 2007 108 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009 7 List of WDP 2000 Saved Policies agreed by Secretary of State’s Direction dated 14 September 2007 SCHEDULE 1
POLICIES CONTAINED IN WATFORD DISTRICT PLAN 2000
SE1 Making Development Sustainable SE4 Energy Efficient Design SE7 Waste Storage, Recovery and Recycling in New Devt SE9 Green Belt: New Development SE12 Visual Amenity of the Green Belt SE13 Major Developed Sites in the Green Belt SE14 Leavesden Studios Site SE18 Colne Valley Linear Park SE19 Grand Union Canal Corridor SE20 Air Quality SE21 Air Quality Management Areas SE22 Noise SE23 Light Pollution SE24 Unstable and Contaminated Land SE25 Potentially Hazardous or Polluting Devt SE26 Watercourses SE27 Flood Prevention SE28 Groundwater Quality SE29 Utilities Infrastructure SE30 Surface Water Run-Off, Water Conservation and Sustainable Drainage Systems SE32 Sites of Nature Conservation Importance SE33 Nature Conservation and Biodiversity Enhancement SE34 Watling Chase Community Forest SE36 Replacement Trees and Hedgerows SE37 Protection of Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows SE39 Tree and Hedgerow Protection in New Development SE40 Landscape Character Assessment SE41 Green Zones SE42 Home Zones T1 South West Hertfordshire Transportation Strategy T2 Area Based Strategies T4 Transport and New Development T5 New Development and Green Travel Plans T6 Pedestrian Facilities T7 Pedestrian Facilities in Development T8 Bridleways T9 Cycling T10 Cycle Parking Standards T11 Passenger Transport and New Development T15 Taxi Provision T16 Rail Use T20 Transport Proposals T21 Access and Servicing T22 Car Parking Standards T23 Non-Residential Development T24 Residential Development T26 Car Free Residential Development Annual Monitoring Report 2009 Watford Borough Council 109 List of WDP 2000 Saved Policies agreed by Secretary of State’s Direction dated 14 September 2007 7 T27 Car Park Location and Design T29 Powered Two-Wheelers H1 No Loss of Housing H2 Housing Need Structure Plan Requirements H5 Development on Previously-Developed Land H6 Town Centre Mixed-Use Development H7 Primarily Residential Areas H8 Residential Standards H9 Back Garden Development H10 Planning Agreements for Educational and Community Facilities H11 Housing Mix H12 Housing Density Standards H13 Conversions H14 Conversions: Provision of Family Sized Units H15 Non-Residential Proposals in Residential Areas H16 Retention of Affordable Housing H17 Provision of Affordable Housing H22 Housing for Older People (Sheltered) H23 Special Needs Housing E1 Employment Areas E2 Employment Use Outside Identified Employment Areas E3 Small Units E5 Environmental Considerations E6 Change of Use from Use Class B Outside Employment Areas E8 Facilities for Employees S1 New Retail Development S4 Shop Design, Access and Facilities S5 Non-Retail Uses in Prime Retail Frontage S6 Non-Retail Uses within the Harlequin Shopping Centre S7 Secondary Retail Frontage S9 Non-Retail Uses in North Watford Shopping Centre/Local Shopping Frontages S10 Shopping Policy Areas S11 Use Class A3 Food and Drink S12 Planning Conditions for Use Class A3 Food and Drink S13 Litter Management S14 Provision of Litter Bins S15 Litter Management Strategy TC1 Town Centre Strategy TC2 Developer Contribution in the Town Centre LHS1 Types of Devt LHS3 Public Paths LHS4 Residential Frontage L1 Leisure/Cultural Strategy L2 Dual Use L4 Open Space Protection L5 Playing Fields L6 Provision of Additional Open Space L8 Open Space Provision in Housing Devt L9 Children’s Play Space L11 Maintenance of Open Spaces, Play Areas and Pocket Parks L12 Allotments 110 Watford Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report 2009 7 List of WDP 2000 Saved Policies agreed by Secretary of State’s Direction dated 14 September 2007 L13 Arts, Culture and Entertainment L14 Tourism and Hotels CS1 Location of Facilities CS3 Loss of Community Facilities CS6 Childcare Facilities CS8 Change of Use/Redevelopment (Education) CS9 Health Provision CS10 Residential Social Care U1 Quality of Design U2 Design and Layout of Devt U3 Integration of Character U4 Community Safety U5 Access (In developments for the disabled) U6 Landscape Design U10 Setting of Listed Buildings U11 Change of Use of Listed Buildings U12 Alterations and Extensions to Listed Buildings U13 Demolition of Listed Buildings U14 Repair and Maintenance of Listed Buildings U15 Buildings of Local Interest U16 Conservation Areas U17 Setting of Conservation Areas U18 Design in Conservation Areas U19 Small Scale Developments in Conservation Areas U20 Demolition in Conservation Areas U21 Historic Parks and Gardens U24 Shopfronts U25 Advertisements and Signs U26 Telecommunications – Submission of Applications U27 Telecommunications – Siting Considerations U28 Temporary Buildings IMR1 Identification of Sites for the Preparation of Planning Briefs IMR2 Planning Obligations Summary Appendix 8 Summary Butterfly Conservation Transect Data (Total Butterflies and Total Species) By District 200-2006
YEAR Butterfly DISTRICT 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006
Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot Tot butts spp butts spp butts spp Tot butts spp butts spp butts spp butts spp Conservation
DISTRICT
Broxbourne ND ND ND ND 369 14 506 16 ND ND ND ND ND ND
Dacorum 10694 143 8036 113 9479 146 12851 172 10993 160 14124 175 13655 159 T otal
East Herts 7909 144 5426 95 5562 101 7003 98 8388 125 9574 118 4409 82 T ransect
Hertsmere 2836 39 1923 17 ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND Species) Annual
North Herts 6421 74 10216 187 6680 76 9470 130 15231 195 11747 156 8685 166 Monitoring Data St. Albans DC 6114 161 3791 124 4341 151 6776 152 7915 157 5354 109 4798 97 By Report Stevenage 888 20 912 17 1051 18 1566 19 2515 19 1851 20 2125 24 (T District otal Three Rivers ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND 2009 Butterflies
Watford ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND ND W atford 200-2006 Welwyn Hatfield 4368 103 3218 63 1508 46 2441 70 2144 76 2751 78 2839 102 Borough COUNTY Council Transect totals 39230 684 33522 616 28990 552 40613 657 47186 732 45401 656 36511 630 and 8 1 1 1 1 12 W and 8 atford
No. transects 36 36 35 35 29 29 34 34 37 37 34 34 32 32 Summary Borough Ave 1089.7 19 957.8 17.6 999.7 19 1194.5 19.3 1275.3 19.8 1335.3 19.3 1141 19.7 T otal Council Species) Butterfly Annual Monitoring By Conservation District Report 2009 200-2006 T ransect Data (T otal Butterflies Summary Appendix 9 Summary of Housing Commitments at 31/3/09 and Projected Annual Completions
Appendix 9. Summary of Housing Commitments @31/3/09 and projected annual completions
Total of
by Housing 1 status 1/12 12/13 13/14 14/15 15/16 16/17 17/18 18/19 19/20 20/21 21/22 22/23 23/24 24/25 09/10 10/1 1 Development 476 605 78 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1159
in progress Commitments
Detailed 19 159 332 384 11 29 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 935 permission not started
Outline 0 10 0 0 39 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51 permission at
(known Annual details) 31/3/09 Monitoring Allocated 0 0 38 0 0 0 45 50 0 0 0 47 0 0 0 0 180 housing sites and
– estimated Report figures Projected 2009 Other 0 0 155 198 43 0 100 400 400 400 404 300 98 54 54 54 2660 Completions identified W atford sites –
estimated Borough
figures (eg Annual planning brief) Council 9 1 13 1 14 W Completions 9 atford
Windfalls 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Summary re.small sites Borough Projected 495 774 603 582 93 31 146 450 400 400 404 347 98 54 54 54 4985 Annual Council completions of – Annual Housing Total by year Monitoring Commitments Report 2009 at 31/3/09 and Projected Annual Outstanding Appendix 10 Outstanding Allocated Sites without Planning Permission at 31/3/09 Allocated Net gain where known or Estimated Likelihood of 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Site ID.No Address estimated gain proceeding / Current Use /10 /11 /12 /13 /14 /15 /16 /17 /18 /19 /20 /21 /22 /23 /24 /25 Totals Hse 3 (SHLAA - Unlikely - no developer Unlikely-not rejected site NAS 16)1-22 Bromet Close 30 interest & lapsed P/P included Hse 12 (SHLAA 2 (revised -
accepted site CEN SHLAA Uncertain - lapsed p/p & Sites 80) Ladys Close estimate) currently car park 2 2 Residue of Hse Site 96 (revised - 14 (SHLAA accepted Metropolitan Stn SHLAA Yes, possibly - if Croxley rail
site PAR 34) Approach estimate) link going ahead 46 50 96 without 47 (WBC Uncertain/private house & estimate as grounds (N.B. WBC would Hse 16 (SHLAA opposed to require low density accepted site NAS Rounton, Nascot larger SHLAA housing & substantial 18) Wood Road estimate) open space) 47 47 Hse 21 (SHLAA R/O Red Lion Planning accepted site part of Garage, Vicarage Annual VIC 17/18) Road 4 Uncertain - in use as office 4 4 Yes - 08/01378/FULM Cassio College, approved 9/3/09 for 223 Hse 24 Langley Road 223 units 50 85 88 223 Monitoring Hse 25 (SHLAA 85 (revised - No, retained as WBC depot Permission accepted site OXH SHLAA (P/P 01/00427/DC Unlikely-not 11) Council Depot Site estimate) withdrawn 26/10/04) included
Hse 26 (part of Yes, pre-application Report SHLAA accepted siteAdj 28-34 The discussions ongoing & OXH 24) Larches 38 application expected 38 38
Hse 28 (SHLAA 6 (revised - 2009 accepted site WOD SHLAA Possibly but no recent
35) Adj Leveret Close estimate) developer interest 6 6 W atford Hse 29 (SHLAA Opposite Reeds 170 (revised - Uncertain - BT site - BT at accepted site CEN Orphanage, SHLAA appear to be intending to 28) Orphanage Road estimate) develop further for BT use 50 50 70 170 31/3/09 Borough Yes, but delayed by economic downturn - Watford Springs, 07/01398/FULM application
RA5 Lower High Street 129 approved 15/5/08 50 79 129 Council
RA6 (part of SHLAA Yes - community 10 accepted site CAL Site around consultation by developers 30/31) Watford Junction 1500 Feb '08 and figures revised 300 300 300 300 300 1500 1 15 1 16 W Totals 0 38 100 164 88 0 52 350 300 350 350 423 2215 10 N.B. 'Hse' sites are the outstanding undeveloped Housing Proposal Sites (see Appendix 11 for updated list of the original contained in Watford District Plan 2000. Page 69) atford
N.B. RA5 and RA6 are Key Development Sites (see Watford District Plan 2000. Page 146) and included here where a potential housing element has been identified Outstanding
N.B SHLAA site reference numbers are quoted where identified in SHLAA (Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment - Oct 2008) - sites are broadly comparable or form part of a larger site, as indicated. - SHLAA Borough capacity estimates used where housing sites are comparable but not where housing sites form only part of a larger SHLAA site or where WBC has more up to date information) Council Annual Allocated Monitoring Report Sites 2009 without Planning Permission at 31/3/09 Appendix 11 Housing Sites listed in Watford District Plan 2000 – Status at 31/3/09
Actual 2008/ Comment as at 31/03/09 (sites Housing Housing Proposal Approx. Units 2003/ 2004/ 2005/ 2006/ 2007/ 09 which have not been developed WDP2000 Site Address capacity (where 04 05 06 07 08 are in bold and are also listed known) separately under Appendix 10)
2 Watford Fields 51 59 ------Completed 2002-03 Sites Pumping Station
3 1-22 Bromet Close 30 LP LP LP LP LP LP Lapsed planning permission & listed no developer interest (appears unlikely to proceed) in
5 103-111 Queens 16 24 C - - - - - Completed 2003-04 W
Avenue atford
7 111 Langley Road 14 24 - - C - - - Completed 2005-06 Annual
8 R/O 285-289 Sheepcot 9 7 C - - - - - Completed 2003-04 District
Lane (previously R/O Monitoring 277-289 Sheepcote Lane) Plan Report 9 201 & adjacent High 10 17 ------Completed 2001-02 Street 2000 2009
12 Lady’s Close 2 LP LP LP LP LP LP Lapsed planning permission W (uncertain – in current use as atford – 31/3/09 Borough
car park ) Status Council 1 at 1 1 17 1 18 W 31/3/09 1 atford 14 Metropolitan Station 210 305 UC UC UC C - - 271 completed 05/06 and 34 1
Approach completed 06/07.(Planning Housing application 01/00320/FUL granted Borough 28.3.03 & 05/00072/FUL granted
5.4.05) Council Sites Resi -due Strip of land (by 96 No applications received – of 14 railway) at Met. (could possibly proceed, if Annual
Station App. Croxley Rail Link goes ahead – listed longer term, after 2015) Monitoring
15 (part of) Abattoir Site, 26 86 - - - UC C - Completed 2007-08 in Vicarage Road, now Report known as EDF site, W atford Vicarage Road 2009
16 Rounton, 28 Nascot 47 No applications received
Wood Road (uncertain, but longer term District possibility)
17 59-63 Langley Road & 13 22 - P UC C - - Planning application
1 Langwood Gardens 04/00670/OUTM granted 27.9.04 Plan – completed 06-07
18 North Orbital Road 76 UC C - - - - Completed 2004-05 2000
19 Watford College 26 50 C - - - - Completed 2003-04 Annex, Gammons – Lane Status
20 790-794 St. Albans 7 16 - P UC C - Planning application Road 04/00549/FULM granted 26.8.04 at
- completed 06-07 21 R/O Red Lion Garage, 4 LP LP LP LP LP LP Uncertain – currently an office Vicarage Rd (but longer term possibility)
24 Cassio College, West 135 223 PB PB PB PB PB P Planning Brief approved – Housing Herts Site 08/01378/FULM approved 9/3/09 for 223 dwellings (likely to proceed – 2012 onwards) Sites 25 Council Depot Site, 85 S106 WDN - - - - Planning application Wiggenhall Road 01/00427/DC withdrawn 26/10/04
(as of 2007, this will remain the listed Council Depot, so will not proceed as a Housing Site) in 26 Site bordering 38 No applications received W Hertsmere and (pre-application discussions atford Railway (adjacent ongoing and application expected 2009 - estimated
28 -34 the Larches) comp.2011) Annual District Monitoring 27 139-143 21 14 - P P UC UC UC Planning application Rickmansworth Road 04/01189/FULM granted 21/03/05
and 06/00170/VAR granted Plan Report 10.8.06 – development in progress (2 completed 2007-08 and 8 2000 2009 completed 2008-09 – 10 in total complete – 4 remaining) W atford – 31/3/09
28 Adj. Leveret Close 6 No applications received Borough Status (possibly but no recent developer interest) Council 1 at 1 1 19 120 W 31/3/09 1 atford 29 Site opposite Reeds 170 No applications received 1
Orphanage (uncertain – BT site developing Housing further for BT use ) Borough
30 112-114 Langley Road 5 ------Completed 2001-02 Council Sites
Key: Annual listed
LP Lapsed permission UC Under construction Monitoring
P With planning permission or resolution to grant subject to S106 C Completed in WDN Planning application withdrawn PB Planning Brief Report W atford 2009 District Plan 2000 – Status at Appendix 12 Summary of 5 Year Assessment of Housing Supply
Total residual Total Total Planning Current number of Not number number of application Status of dwellings inc in 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Address of net net Summary ref/DPD Permission under 5 year /11 /12 /13 /14 /15 dwellings completions policy ref or Site construction, figures proposed to date permitted/ allocated* of 5
Detailed Y
Cassio ear 9137808 permission Langley Road 223 0 223 111 112 College not started Assessment Detailed
Watford Lower High Annual 9139807 permission 129 0 129 65 64 Springs Street not started Monitoring Detailed Fire & 562-572 9044008 permission Ambulance Whippendell 90 0 90 45 45 of
not started Station Road Report Housing
Detailed Former Sun 2009 9149308 permission Chemical Site Cow Lane 59 0 59 19 40 W
not started (part) atford Supply
Detailed Borough 52a-56 High 9133506 permission 56 0 56 0 0 56 Street not started Council 12 121 122 W 12 Detailed Strathay & 2 atford 48, 48a & 50 9092308 permission Alexandra 47 0 47 47 Summary
The Avenue Borough not started Road
132-136a Detailed Council High St, 3-9 9167107 permission 17 0 17 17
King St, 13 of not started Annual Smith St 5 Y Detailed Former Monitoring ear 9032608 permission Highwayman Tolpits Lane 17 -1 18 0 18
not started P H Assessment Report Detailed 765 St
9113608 permission 16 0 16 16 2009 Albans Road not started
Detailed Watford Nascot Wood
9038008 permission School Of 14 0 14 14 of Road not started Music Housing
Detailed 58-68 The 9039507 permission High Street 13 0 13 13 Parade not started Supply Detailed 60-62 9154108 permission 9 0 9 9 Queens Road not started
Detailed 6-10 9122708 permission Whippendell 10 0 10 10 not started Road R/O Detailed R/O 154 271,273,275 9056807 permission 11 0 11 11 Ridge Lane + Gammons not started Lane
Detailed
148 Queens Summary 9102908 permission 11 0 11 11 Road not started
Detailed 166 9082808 permission Leavesden 9 0 9 9
not started Road of
Detailed Watford 5 Nascot Wood Y
9038008 permission School Of 9 0 9 9 ear Road not started Music Assessment Detailed 990-996 &
9023008 permission R/O 988 St 5 0 5 5 Annual not started Albans Road Monitoring Detailed 14 Rosslyn 9034308 permission 9 0 9 3 6 Road not started of Report Detailed Housing
69-71 High 2009 9053608 permission 5 0 5 5 Road
not started W atford
Detailed 16 Supply 9027203 permission Roughwood 5 0 5 5 Borough not started Close Council 12 123 124 W 12 Detailed Dome atford
9082108 permission Service Dome Garage 6 0 6 6 Summary not started Station Borough
Detailed 24-26 Market Council 9066108 permission 6 0 6 6 Street
not started of Annual
Detailed 5
80 Sotheron Y 9028606 permission 6 0 6 6 Monitoring Road ear not started Assessment
Detailed 182 Report 9139708 permission Whippendell 4 0 4 4
not started Road 2009
Detailed 84 & 84a 9061108 permission 4 0 4 4 Queens Road
not started of
Detailed R/O 4-12 Housing 9031708 permission Purbrock 5 0 5 5 not started Avenue
Detailed Supply 4 & R/O 6 9039608 permission 4 0 4 4 Green Lane not started
Detailed 215 St 9001708 permission 3 0 3 3 Albans Road not started Detailed 11 King 9144708 permission 3 0 3 2 1 Street not started
Detailed 255 St 9144808 permission 4 0 4 4
Albans Road Summary not started
Detailed 1a &1b 9031508 permission Brightwell 3 0 3 3 not started Road of Detailed
30 Langley 5 9018008 permission 4 0 4 4 Road Y
not started ear
Detailed 266-268 St Assessment 9097708 permission 4 0 4 4 Albans Road
not started Annual
Detailed 60 Mildred Monitoring 9114308 permission 3 0 3 3 Avenue not started of Detailed Report 87-89 Market Housing 9046708 permission 4 0 4 4
Street 2009 not started W
Detailed atford 47/49 Durban
9138508 permission 2 0 2 1 1 Supply
Road East Borough not started Council 12 125 126 W 12 Detailed atford 462 St 9021508 permission 4 0 4 4 Summary
Albans Road Borough not started
Detailed 269 St Council 9058808 permission 3 0 3 3 Albans Road
not started of Annual
Detailed R/O 722-724 5 Y 9109408 permission St Albans 3 0 3 3 Monitoring ear not started Road Assessment
Detailed Report 121b St 9006607 permission 3 0 3 3 Albans Road
not started 2009
Detailed 9146108 permission 1 Lea Road 2 0 2 2
not started of
Detailed 508-510 Housing 9040208 permission Whippendell 3 0 3 3 not started Road
Detailed Supply Contract 19a Watford 9005907 permission 3 0 3 3 House Heath not started
Detailed 135 St 9088607 permission 2 0 2 2 Albans Road not started Detailed 18 Capel 9057806 permission 2 0 2 2 Road not started
Detailed Land R/O 9080108 permission 208-210 St 3 0 3 3 not started Albans Road Summary
Detailed 18 Stanmore 9013206 permission 1 0 1 1 Road not started of Detailed
88 Queens 5 9109507 permission 1 0 1 1 Road Y
not started ear
Detailed R/O 123 Access Assessment 9102106 permission Cassiobury 2 0 2 2 Cottage Close
not started Drive Annual
1b Detailed Monitoring Shakespeare Shakespeare 9158806 permission 2 0 2 2 Industrial Street not started Estate of Report Detailed Housing
11 Chester 2009 9128506 permission 1 0 1 1 Road
not started W atford
Detailed Supply
48 Liverpool Borough 9082006 permission 1 0 1 1 Road not started Council 12 127 128 W 12 Detailed Adj 30 atford
9047908 permission Chestnut 2 0 2 1 1 Summary not started Walk Borough
Detailed 2 Cardiff Council 9035905 permission 1 0 1 1 Road
not started of Annual
Detailed R/O 44-46 5 Y 9069407 permission Rickmansworth 1 0 1 1 Monitoring ear not started Road Assessment
Detailed 63 Report 9117004 permission Beechwood 1 0 1 1
not started Rise 2009
Detailed 201 St 9115904 permission 2 0 2 2 Albans Road
not started of
Detailed Housing 436 St 9056705 permission 1 0 1 1 Albans Road not started
Detailed Supply 41 Middle 9080806 permission 1 0 1 1 Ope Road not started
Detailed 257 9130308 permission Whippendell 1 0 1 1 not started Road Detailed 16 Chester 9110408 permission 1 0 1 1 Road not started
Detailed 36 Harwoods 9086108 permission 1 0 1 1
Road Summary not started
Detailed 81 Regent 9020108 permission 1 0 1 1 Street not started of Detailed 9024707 permission 73 High Road 1 0 1 1 5 Y
not started ear
Detailed 22 Eastlea Assessment 9127408 permission 1 0 1 1 Avenue
not started Annual
Detailed 2 & 2a Briar Monitoring 9084207 permission 0 0 0 0 Road not started of Land At Report Detailed Housing Capel House
9163507 permission Temple Close 1 0 1 1 2009 & The Small not started
House W atford
Detailed R/O 24 Supply 9045407 permission Denewood 2 0 2 2 Borough not started Close Council 12 129 130 W 12 Detailed Adj 10 atford
9061508 permission Nascot Wood Bay Tree Walk 2 0 2 2 Summary not started Road/ Borough
Detailed 53 Council 9083408 permission Cassiobridge 1 0 1 1
not started Road of Annual
Detailed 5
6a Market Y 9142608 permission 1 0 1 1 Monitoring Street ear not started Assessment
Detailed Report 9089308 permission 6 Duke Street 1 0 1 1
not started 2009
Detailed 30 Holywell 9129508 permission 1 0 1 1 Road
not started of
Detailed Housing 167 Chester 9137208 permission 1 0 1 1 Road not started
Detailed Supply 36 Chester 9130808 permission 1 0 1 1 Road not started
Detailed 2 9134208 permission Whippendell 1 0 1 1 not started Road Detailed 70 Euston 9037908 permission 1 0 1 1 Avenue not started
Detailed 226-228 St 9047408 permission 2 0 2 2
Albans Road Summary not started
Detailed 140 9121008 permission Harwoods 1 0 1 1 not started Road of Detailed
42 Gammons 5 9000609 permission 1 0 1 1 Lane Y
not started ear
Detailed 33 Cardiff Assessment 9065007 permission 1 0 1 1 Road
not started Annual
Detailed 206 Hagden Monitoring 9129308 permission 1 0 1 1 Lane not started of Detailed Report 136a High Housing 9064608 permission 2 0 2 2
Street 2009 not started W
Detailed atford 14 Chestnut
9107407 permission 1 0 1 1 Supply
Walk Borough not started Council 12 131 132 W 12 Detailed 103 North atford
9132207 permission Western 0 0 0 Summary not started Avenue Borough
Detailed 49 Council 9111307 permission Kensington 1 0 1 1
not started Avenue of Annual
Detailed 5
51a Market Y 9000208 permission 1 0 1 1 Monitoring Street ear not started Assessment
Detailed Report 563 St 9019907 permission 1 0 1 1 Albans Road
not started 2009
Detailed 65 Euston 9040407 permission 1 0 1 1 Avenue
not started of
Detailed Housing 2 Southwold 9172107 permission 1 0 1 1 Road not started
Detailed Supply 48 Casio 9035807 permission 1 0 1 1 Road not started
Detailed 173 9052608 permission Hempstead 1 0 1 1 not started Road Detailed 141 9103008 permission Horseshoe 0 0 0 not started Lane
Detailed 225 St 9059607 permission 1 0 1 1
Albans Road Summary not started
Between Detailed 38-40 Upper 9141008 permission 1 0 1 1 Paddock not started
Road of
Detailed 5 Adj 83 Y
9143206 permission 1 0 1 1 ear Harebreaks not started Assessment Detailed R/O 40 The
9062306 permission 0 -1 1 1 Annual Gardens not started Monitoring Detailed 9056508 permission 2 Green Lane 0 -1 1 1
not started of Report R/O 57-59 Housing
Detailed 2009 Upper 9143808 permission 1 0 1 1
Paddock W
not started atford Road Supply Detailed 62b Borough 9055607 permission Harwoods 1 0 1 1
not started Road Council 12 133 134 W 12 Detailed atford Adj 141 9152106 permission 1 0 1 1 Summary
Ridge Lane Borough not started
Detailed 110 Leavesden Council 9095208 permission Ground Floor 1 0 1 1 Road
not started of Annual
Detailed 5
Adj 47 Ross Y 9038908 permission 1 0 1 1 Monitoring Crescent ear not started Assessment
Detailed R/O 33 Report 9098704 permission Tunnel Wood 1 0 1 1
not started Road 2009
Detailed 132 High 9091308 permission 1 0 1 1 Street
not started of
Detailed Adj 130 Housing 9007808 permission Fourth 1 0 1 1 not started Avenue
Detailed Supply Adj 107 The 9120408 permission 1 0 1 1 Phillipers not started
Detailed 374a St 9078204 permission 1 0 1 1 Albans Road not started Detailed 117c St 9019304 permission 1 0 1 1 Albans Road not started
Detailed Adj 88 9093008 permission 1 0 1 1
Langley Road Summary not started
Detailed Adj 122 Briar 9053808 permission 1 0 1 1 Road not started of Detailed R/O 241 9082005 permission Hempstead 1 0 1 1 5 Y
not started Road ear
Detailed Adj 480 Assessment 9022605 permission Whippendell 1 0 1 1
not started Road Annual
Detailed Land Adj 80 Monitoring 9081808 permission 1 0 1 1 Ridge Lane not started of Detailed Report 126 Queens Housing 9034608 permission 1 0 1 1
Road 2009 not started W
Detailed R/O 13 atford
9124908 permission Harwoods 1 0 1 1 Supply not started Road Borough Council 12 135 136 W 12 Detailed atford R/O 51-53 9032908 permission 1 0 1 1 Summary
Malden Road Borough not started
Detailed 2 Woodhurst Council 9009004 permission 0 0 0 Avenue
not started of Annual
Detailed 5
61 The Y 9056304 permission 0 0 0 Monitoring Avenue ear not started Assessment
Detailed Report 137-139 9098106 permission -2 0 -2 -2 Queens Road
not started 2009
Detailed 70 9146608 permission Leavesden -1 0 -1 -1
not started Road of
Detailed Housing King George V 9047807 permission The Lodge -1 0 -1 -1 Playing Fields not started
Detailed Supply The Flag 9066706 permission Station Road -3 0 -3 -3 Public House not started
Total for detailed permission not started 924 -3 927 19 152 332 379 11
25-31 King R/O 139-143 Development 9118904 Georges Rickmansworth 14 10 4 4 in progress Avenue Road Former Sun Development 9160207 Chemicals Cow Lane 223 0 223 68 77 78 in progress (part)
Development Willow 9164806 Church Road 174 12 162 22 140 in progress Grange Summary Development Watford 9002207 Vicarage Road 164 0 164 164 in progress Football Club
Development 26 Exchange 9019506 134 0 134 134 in progress Road of
Development 12-14 St 5 9049807 122 -1 123 123 in progress Albans Road Y ear East Section
Development Queen Marys Assessment 9051207 Of Tinsley 60 -2 62 62 in progress Avenue Estate Annual 63-67
Development Monitoring 9057606 Hempstead 45 -3 48 48 in progress Road of
Development Outlook 103 Langley Report
9146707 37 0 37 37 Housing in progress Place Road 2009 Development Alban Wood Newhouse
9127308 29 0 29 29 W
in progress Junior School Crescent atford Supply
Former Borough Development Meriden 9118308 York Way 22 0 22 22 in progress Nursery Council
School 12 137 138 W 12 31-35 atford Development St Martins 9067207 Clarendon 22 0 22 22 Summary
in progress House Borough Road
25-27 Development Council 9099206 Rickmansworth 18 -2 20 20 in progress
Road of Annual
Watford 5
Metropolitan Y Development Grammar Monitoring 9012207 Station 17 4 13 13 ear in progress School For Approach
Boys (site A) Assessment Report 223-229 Development
9110508 Lower High 14 0 14 14 2009 in progress Street
5 & 6 Development
9066507 Bramble 10 -2 12 12 of in progress Close Housing
Development 55 & 57 9105808 5 -2 7 7 in progress Langley Road
Development 7 Tolpits Supply 9002307 5 -1 6 6 in progress Lane
Development 27 Essex 9055108 5 0 5 5 in progress Road
165 North Development 9136206 Land West Of Western 4 0 4 4 in progress Avenue 102 Leggatts Development 9121108 Wood 3 -1 4 4 in progress Avenue
Development 66 Gammons 9139207 3 0 3 3 in progress Lane Summary Development 19 Westland 9007108 4 0 4 4 in progress Road
Development 56 Bedford 9033508 2 0 2 2 in progress Street of
Watford 5 Shepherds Development Grammar Y 9012107 Road/Cassiobury 3 0 3 3 ear in progress School For Park Avenue Boys Assessment Development 224 St 9161606 2 0 2 2 Annual in progress Albans Road
Development 11 Cowper Monitoring 9033808 2 0 2 2 in progress Court of
169 Report
Development Housing 9002908 Leavesden 2 -1 3 3 in progress Road 2009 W
Development 2 Victoria atford 9170407 2 0 2 2 in progress Passage Supply Borough Development 56 Radlett 9156507 1 0 1 1 in progress Road Council 12 139 140 W 12 Development 1 Bridge atford 9147607 1 0 1 1 in progress Place Summary Borough Development 3 Willow 9046408 1 0 1 1 in progress Lane Council
Development 49 Water 9091708 1 0 1 1 of in progress Lane Annual 5 Y Development 48 Perivale Monitoring
9087804 1 0 1 1 ear in progress Gardens
Development 28 Market Assessment 9053200 2 0 2 2 Report in progress Street
Development 5 Queens 2009 9138008 1 0 1 1 in progress Place
Development 98 Newhouse
9115404 1 0 1 1 of in progress Crescent Housing Development 13 Hemming 9076907 1 0 1 1 in progress Way
Development 48 Tucker 9028607 1 0 1 1 in progress Street Supply
R/O 80 Lower Development 9125206 Paddock 2 1 1 1 in progress Road
Development 43 Fuller 9066807 1 0 1 1 in progress Road Development 22 St Johns 9127306 1 0 1 1 in progress Road
Development 33a Church 9142707 0 -1 1 1 in progress Road
Development 49 Water Summary 9128708 1 0 1 1 in progress Lane
Development Adj 20 9056907 1 0 1 1 in progress Langley Way
R/O 201 of Development 9132108 Horseshoe 1 0 1 1 5 in progress Lane Y ear Development 45 Gladstone
9066008 1 0 1 1 Assessment in progress Road
Development Adj 57 Annual 9127106 1 0 1 1 in progress Louvian Way Monitoring 157 Development 9183008 Leavesden 1 0 1 1 in progress of Road Report Housing
R/O 316-318 2009 Development 9063608 St Albans 1 0 1 1
in progress W
Road atford Supply
Adj 1 Borough Development 9070705 Purbrock 1 0 1 1 in progress Avenue Council 12 141 142 W 12 Prince atford Development 9012708 Michael Of Stratford Road -6 0 -6 -6 Summary
in progress Borough Kent Court
1 & 2 Development Council 9105306 Simmons Colne Way -2 -1 -1 -1 in progress
Cottages of Annual
Totals for development in progress 1162 10 1152 476 598 78 5 0 29 5 Y Monitoring Estimated Metropolitan ear 9 96 0 96 site Stn Approach Assessment Report Estimated Nascot Wood 9 Rounton 47 0 47 site Road 2009
Estimated Adj 28-34 9 38 0 38 38 site The Larches
Totals for estimated sites 181 0 181 0 0 38 0 0 0 of Housing Future Site identified in Watford 9 Station Road 1500 0 1500 SHLAA or Junction UCS Supply Future Site Watford identified in Health 9 General 504 0 504 SHLAA or Campus Hospital Site UCS
Future Site North Western identified in Leggatts 9 Avenue/Leggatts 230 0 230 115 115 SHLAA or Campus Way UCS Future Site Pinner identified in Former J R 9 Road/Aldenham 84 -2 86 43 43 SHLAA or Tagger Road UCS
Future Site identified in Rainbow Summary 9 24 Water Lane 80 0 80 40 40 SHLAA or House UCS
Future Site
identified in of 9 Queens Road 3 0 3 SHLAA or 5
UCS Y ear Future Site The Artichoke
identified in Assessment 9 Pub and the 21 0 21 SHLAA or Parade UCS Annual
Future Site Monitoring identified in 501 St 9 9 0 9 SHLAA or Albans Road of
UCS Report Housing Future Site 2009 identified in Rickmansworth 9 11 0 11 SHLAA or Rd W atford UCS Supply Borough Future Site identified in Land rear of
9 216 0 216 Council SHLAA or Imperial Way UCS 12 143 144 W 12 Totals for other identified sites 2658 -2 2660 0 0 155 0 43 0 atford Summary
Outline Borough permission 1-5 Tolpits 99 Hagden 9012608 14 0 14 14 (known Lane & Lane Council details) of Outline Annual
756 758 & 5 permission
9135807 758a St 11 0 11 11 Y (known Monitoring Albans Road ear details) Assessment
Outline Report Land Adj permission 9058908 Woodside Kingsway 9 0 9 9
(known 2009 Leisure Park details)
Outline Loates
permission of 9080103 Lane/Lord 6 0 6 6 (known Street Housing details)
Outline permission 37c St Johns 9001407 4 0 4 4 (known Road Supply details)
Outline Land At 53 & permission R/O 53-61 & R/O 12 9101608 5 0 5 5 (known Nascot Wood Ridge Lane details) Road Outline permission 5 Rosecroft 9025208 1 0 1 1 (known Drive details)
Outline permission 96 Sheepcot Summary 9109908 Land R/O 1 0 1 1 (known Lane details)
Total for outline permission 0 10 0 0 39 2 of 5 year total 10/11-14/15(760+603+582+93+31) =2069 4976 5 4971 495 760 603 582 93 31 5 Y
Assessment of a Five Year Housing supply ear
Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3): Housing requires Local Planning Authorities to assess and demonstrate the extent to which existing Assessment plans fulfil the requirement to identify and maintain a rolling 5-year supply of deliverable land for housing as this influences how planning applications are determined (see PPS3 paragraphs 68-73). Annual
The criteria for assessing deliverability is laid down in PPS3. Paragraph 54 says that to be deliverable, sites should: Monitoring
Be available – the site is available now of
Be suitable – the site offers a suitable location for development now and would contribute to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities Report
Be achievable – there is a reasonable prospect that housing will be delivered on the site within five years Housing 2009 The first year of the trajectory period, looking forward, is 2009-10, which is the current year during which the AMR 2009 is compiled, and the W expected number of dwellings likely to be completed has been identified as 495, the majority of which are developments already under atford construction. Supply Borough Council 12 145 146 W 12
However, recent advice in DCLG ‘Core Output Indicators – Update 2/2008’ states that the current year must not be included as part of the atford
five year assessment, which should cover the following five years, between 2010/11 to 2014/15. Sites included in the five year assessment Summary are a combination of sites under construction; sites with unimplemented planning permissions; allocated housing sites (only those likely to Borough proceed); and other sites identified for housing since adoption of the WDP 2000. All those sites included have been assessed for deliverability against the criteria listed above. Council
The method used for phasing – estimating which year each site will be completed – is based on such factors as whether the development of has started, when planning permissions will expire, discussions with developers and whether or not a site allocated in the Plan but without Annual planning permission as yet, is likely to proceed. 5 Y Monitoring ear The East of England Plan requirement is 5,200 dwellings over 20 years and taking into account the total completions of 2270 units between 2001/02 and 2008/09, (5200-2270=2930/12=244) this equates to a residual annual requirement of 244 dwellings, which corresponds to 1220 Assessment dwellings over a five year period. Report
As can be seen from the site specific listing for the five year assessment, Watford can demonstrate that it has a five year supply of 2009 deliverable sites, as the number of projected completions between 2010-2015 has been identified as 2069, which exceeds the East of England Plan target of 1220 dwellings by 849 units (2069-1220=849). The five year land supply (in line with the formula for National Indicator 159) is calculated as (x/y)*100 and therefore Watford's 5 year land supply is (2069/1220)*100=169.6%. of
Therefore, there is no need to consider options for increasing the supply of deliverable sites in the short term, but theallocated sites in the Housing existing WDP 2000 were proposed to control development only up to April 2006 and the undeveloped sites allocated in the District Plan together with additional sites that come forward will be reviewed, published for consultation in the future and then further sites will be allocated as part of the Site Specific Allocations DPD process.
Planning applications will be considered and determined having regard to PPS3 (in particular paragraph 69) Development Plan policies and Supply other material considerations.
Large print versions of this document can be produced on request: Tel 01923-278970
Planning Policy, Watford Borough Council, Town Hall, Watford, WD17 3EX [email protected] www.watford.gov.uk/planning