Joint Henley and Harpsden Neighbourhood Development Plan Consultation Statement
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Joint Henley and Harpsden Neighbourhood Development Plan Consultation Statement May 2015 JHHNP Consultation Statement Contents 1. BOUNDARY PLAN OF THE JOINT HENLEY & HARPSDEN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN AREA 2. INTRODUCTION 3. PUBLIC OPINION DAYS 4. ISSUES CONSULTATION 5. VISION, OBJECTIVES AND OPTIONS CONSULTATION 6. WORKING GROUPS AND SITE ALLOCATIONS / POLICY DEVELOPMENT 7. REGULATION 14 CONSULTATION (2014) 8. REGULATION 14 CONSULTATION (2015): Description of who was consulted and how the consultation was undertaken 9. REGULATION 14 CONSULTATION (2015): Summary of the main issues and concerns raised by the persons consulted 10. REGULATION 14 CONSULTATION (2015): How the issues and concerns have been considered and, where relevant, addressed in the JHHNP 11. CONCLUSION APPENDICES Appendix A: List of statutory consultees Appendix B: Further consultees Appendix C: Public Opinion Days Results: 2012 - 2013 Appendix D: Issues Consultation Results: September 2013 Appendix E: Vision, Objectives and Options Consultation Results Appendix F: School Consultation Appendix G: College Consultation Appendix H: Business Consultation Appendix I: Regulation 14 Consultation Results: May – July 2014 Appendix J: Focus Group Nov 2014 Results Appendix K: Regulation 14 Consultation: February – March 2015 i) Consultation Report: Regulation 14 Stage Questionnaire Analysis ii) South Oxfordshire District Council comments and JHHNP response table iii) Statutory consultee comments and JHHNP response table iv) Non-statutory consultee comments and JHHNP response table 2 JHHNP Consultation Statement 1. BOUNDARY PLAN OF THE JOINT HENLEY AND HARPSDEN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN AREA 3 JHHNP Consultation Statement 2. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW 2.1 This Consultation Statement has been prepared to fulfil the legal obligations of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012. Section 15(2) of Part 5 of the Regulations sets out that a Consultation Statement should set out: (a) details of the persons and bodies who were consulted about the proposed neighbourhood development plan; (b) explain how they were consulted; (c) summarise the main issues and concerns raised by the persons consulted; (d) describe how these issues and concerns have been considered and, where relevant, addressed in the proposed neighbourhood development plan. 2.2 Alongside fulfilling the above, this document provides a narrative on the overall process of producing this neighbourhood development plan, and can be used as aid to those interested in its story. 2.3 The preparation of the submission version of the neighbourhood development plan for the parishes of Henley on Thames and Harpsden, known as the Joint Henley and Harpsden Neighbourhood Plan (JHHNP), has taken over two years and involved numerous stages of public engagement. This document summarises these stages and the resulting outcomes, with more details appended in the reports that were produced at the time. Particular detail is provided on the pre-submission consultation (Regulation 14) and the how the issues and concerns raised have been addressed. The pre-submission consultation was undertaken in 2015, although a previous pre-submission consultation was held in 2014. 2.4 As an overview, the following key stages of consultation were undertaken in the development of the JHHNP, which are explored in more detail in the proceeding chapters and appendices: • Public opinion days held throughout 2012 and 2013 facilitated by Henley Town Council; • ‘Issues’ consultation in September 2013; • Ongoing working group meetings, particularly in autumn / winter 2013 and spring 2014, with further meetings in autumn 2014. • ‘Vision, Objectives and Options’ consultation from December 2013 / January 2014; • Session with Gillotts School in November 2013; • Survey of students at Henley College in Feburary 2014; • First Pre-Submission Regulation 14 consultation from May 2014; • Focus group in November 2014; • Second Pre-Submission Regulation 14 consultation from February 2015; 2.5 Working groups were formed early in the process, comprising self selecting residents identified in September 2013. These were been responsible for developing the JHHNP vision(s), objectives and policies, including site selection for residential and other allocations. Each group met at facilitated workshop sessions, as well as all being invited to presentations by site promoters through the process. Working groups were formed to cover the following topics: • Housing • Traffic and transport • Social infrastructure • Environment, sustainability and design quality • Retail, town centre and economy 4 JHHNP Consultation Statement • Overview 2.6 The preparation of the JHHNP was overseen by a Governance Committee comprised of Town and Parish Councillors, being: • Councillor D Hinke (Chair) (Henley TC) • Councillor M Akehurst (Henley TC) • Councillor W Hamilton (Henley TC) • Councillor D Nimmo-Smith (Henley TC) • Councillor S Gawrysiak (Henley TC) • Councillor K George (Harpsden PC) • Councillor M Plews (Harpsden PC) 2.7 The committee met regularly throughout the Neighbourhood Plan process with the role of overseeing and monitoring the Plan progress against the timetable and agreed method, established with the consultant team. Minutes of these meetings can be found http://www.jhhnp.co.uk/evidence-base/ alongside other relevant neighbourhood plan information. The Governance Committee were supported by Henley on Thames Town Council officers, namely Mike Kennedy (Town Clerk) and Paula Price Davies (Event Co-ordinator / Committee Administrator). 2.8 Nexus Planning, town planning consultants, with Kevin Murray Associates, were appointed to Henley on Thames Town Council in May 2013, to assist in the production of the JHHNP. Nexus Planning facilitated working group meetings and attended many of the consultation events, collating feedback and producing documentation. 2.9 The remainder of this report comprises the following chapters: • Chapter 3: Public Opinion Days • Chapter 4: Issues Consultation • Chapter 5: Vision, Objectives and Options Consultation • Chapter 6: Working Groups And Site Allocations / Policy Development • Chapter 7: Regulation 14 Consultation (2014) • Chapter 8: Regulation 14 Consultation (2015): Description of who was consulted and how the consultation was undertaken • Chapter 9: Regulation 14 Consultation (2015): Summary of the main issues and concerns raised by the persons consulted • Chapter 10: Regulation 14 Consultation (2015): How the issues and concerns have been considered and, where relevant, addressed in the JHHNP 5 JHHNP Consultation Statement 3. PUBLIC OPINION DAYS: 2012 - 2013 3.1 Prior to the designation of the JHHNP area, Henley on Thames Town Council ran public opinion days (PODs) in June 2012, September 2012 and June 2013, the latter being in conjunction with Harpsden Parish Council at the Harpsden Fete. The purpose of the PODs was to establish initial views from the public on housing sites and other issues in Henley. The following summarises feedback: 9th June 2012: 150 replies and 300 comments. Strong opposition to housing development at Lucy’s Farm or Gillotts. Various comments relating to transport, parking and infrastructure. Various additional sites suggested. 1st Sept 2012: 77 replies. Comments on traffic, parking, infrastructure and individual sites. Site preferences were not surveyed. Various additional sites were suggested. 16th June 2013: Comments on traffic, infrastructure and individual sites. Site preferences were not surveyed. Various additional sites were suggested. 3.2 These early comments were useful in the preparation of the baseline report and in guiding material for the early consultations. 3.3 The summary of the comments received on the public opinion days can be found appended (appendix C). 6 JHHNP Consultation Statement 4. ISSUES CONSULTATION: SEPTEMBER 2013 Details of who was consulted and how they were consulted 4.1 This was the first public consultation event for the Joint Henley and Harpsden Neighbourhood Plan following the area’s designation. The aim of the consultation was to identify the issues that residents of Henley on Thames and Harpsden would like to be taken into consideration in the Neighbourhood Plan, alongside the key challenge for the Plan established in the Core Strategy, to identify land for at least 400 homes at Henley and Harpsden. 4.2 Events took place on the following days which were facilitated by Henley Town Council and consultants, Nexus Planning: Saturday 7th September, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Henley Market Place Saturday 14th September, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. The Henley Show, Greenlands Farm Henley Town Hall, 19th, 20th, 21st September. 4.3 The aim of this initial consultation was to consult with as many local residents as possible and the events were advertised in the following ways: A postcard drop via Royal Mail to all households in the Neighbourhood Plan area during the last week of August, promoting the events on September 7th and 14th; A double page spread in the Henley Standard promoting the events on the 19th, 20th and 21st, including a copy of the questionnaire; Notices around the town square; Updates on Twitter, Facebook and the JHHNP website; and Issues questionnaire forms available at all events and also available to download from the website. Responses could be dropped off or posted to the Town Hall or emailed in. 4.4 Exhibition boards were displayed explaining the purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan as well as identifying possible topics that the Neighbourhood Plan could consider. There was reference to a baseline