Chapter 1 - Introduction CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Overview of Borough 1.1 Watford Borough was granted a Royal Charter in 1922. Traditionally a market town, it has developed into an attractive sub-regional shopping centre and important centre for cultural and recreational facilities. Watford has a catchment area population of approximately 500,000 within a travel time of 20 minutes from the town centre (CACI Ltd 2001).

Location 1.2 Situated in the South West of , Watford (see Context Plan, Map 1) has several locational advantages due to its excellent communication links. The M1 motorway, with direct links to the town centre, and the London to Glasgow railway pass through the Borough. London Euston can be reached in 20 minutes, 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 terminus adjacent to . A branch line railway serves St. Albans Abbey. During the period of this Plan, it is anticipated that the currently safeguarded for future development will reopen to connect Central London and Watford Junction by the Metropolitan Line.

Population 1.3 Watford Borough has a population of 80,500 (revised 2001 ONS Mid-Year Estimate) and covers an area of 2,142 hectares (8.3 sq. miles). The 2001 Census figures show that 14% of the population are from minority ethnic groups. 58% of the total population are under the age of 40 and 24% are under the age of 20 (Mid-Year Estimate). This will have implications for the type and number of dwellings provided to accommodate the existing population and the provision of and access to, other services such as health, education and leisure facilities.

The Economy and Employment 1.4 Watford is a major town in the region. It was traditionally a centre for the printing industry and now boasts the headquarters of a number of nationally known firms. Unemployment figures are well below Great Britain's average. However there are pockets of deprivation, characterised by a high concentration of minority ethnic groups, single parent families, low income households and a high incidence of long term health problems.

Character of the Area 1.5 The Borough of Watford is predominantly urban in nature. However, almost 20% of the Borough forms part of the Metropolitan Green Belt which encloses much of, but does not wholly surround, 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. The range of shopping facilities provided in the Harlequin Centre, High Street and Lower High Street dominate the centre of Watford, with residential and industrial areas of varying age and type surrounding the town centre. The historical character of the town is maintained by the designation of Conservation Areas and many buildings of local importance.

Watford District Plan 2000 (Adopted December 2003) – Written Statement 1 Chapter 1 - Introduction Policy Framework

National Policy 1.6 The Plan has been prepared within the strategic, national and regional guidance provided by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and other specific circulars and planning policy guidance notes, which set out the Government’s policies on various aspects of planning.

Regional Guidance 1.7 Regional Planning Guidance for the South East (published March 2001) has a vision of encouraging economic success throughout the region, ensuring a higher quality of environment with management of natural resources, opportunity and equity for the region’s population, and a more sustainable pattern of development. The focus is on enabling urban renaissance, promoting regeneration and renewal, concentrating development in urban areas, promoting a prosperous and multi-purpose countryside and promoting wider choice in travel options, thereby reducing reliance on the private car.

County Policy 1.8 The Structure Plan for Hertfordshire was adopted in April 1998 and it covers the period 1991- 2011.

1.9 Key Aspects of the Structure Plan in relation to Watford are: • Maintenance of the green belt (Structure Plan Policy 5) • Comprehensive Settlement Appraisals (Structure Plan Policy 3) • Provision of 4,700 additional dwellings in Watford between 1991 and 2011 (Structure Plan Policy 9) • The enhancement of the vitality and viability of Watford Town Centre (Structure Plan Policy 16) • Policy and guidance on business and commerce, transport, environmental assets, recreation and leisure • Enabling activities and development to be carried out consistently with the principles of sustainable development (Policy 1).

Purpose of the Plan 1.10 The purpose of this Plan is to: • Provide a detailed policy framework to protect and enhance Watford’s environment, to meet the development needs of its community and to reconcile potential conflicts between land uses in the public interest in accordance with sustainability principles. • Encourage and guide development to the right locations, encourage economic growth and vitality and to prevent development which is not environmentally, socially and economically sustainable. • Reflect the planning and land use aspirations of the people of Watford, to present policies of relevance to all and not to discriminate against any section of the community. • Interpret the policies of the Hertfordshire Structure Plan to meet local circumstances • Provide a firm basis for rational and consistent decisions for determining planning applications.

Watford District Plan 2000 (Adopted December 2003) – Written Statement 2 Chapter 1 - Introduction

Using the Plan 1.11 The District Plan must be in conformity with the County Council’s Structure Plan, Waste and Minerals Plan. Together they form the Development Plan for Watford.

1.12 Where the development plan contains relevant policies, Section 54A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 requires that an application for planning permission shall be determined in accordance with the plan, unless other material considerations indicate otherwise. Conversely, applications that are not in accordance with relevant policies in the plan should not be allowed unless other material considerations justify granting a planning permission.

1.13 The District Plan comprises this document, referred to as the Written Statement, and the Proposals Map.

1.14 The Written Statement is divided into chapters consisting of the Plan’s Vision, Principles and Aims and ten topic chapters on Environment, Transport, Employment, Housing, Shopping, Town Centre and Lower High Street, Leisure, Community Services, Urban Design and Conservation, and Implementation, Monitoring and Review. There are six Appendices, which set out the Sustainability Statement, Car and Cycle Parking Standards, the Prime Retail Frontage and Local Shopping Frontages, Allotments, Statutorily Listed Buildings and Locally Listed Buildings.

1.15 The Vision, Principles and Aims Chapter provides a policy context. It sets out a Vision for Watford against which the Plan has been prepared. The Plan has also been prepared against a set of Sustainability Principles, which along with the Vision are reflected throughout the Plan.

1.16 Topic chapters contain individual objectives, detailed policies against which to judge planning applications and reasoned justification. Policies are identified by being individually numbered and printed in bold. In addition certain parts of the Plan refer to Supplementary Planning Guidance. Supplementary Planning Guidance is published separately from the Written Statement and does not form part of the Plan. It supplements the Plan’s policies and proposals and is a material consideration in dealing with planning applications. The Council will, wherever necessary, carry out public consultation on new Supplementary Planning Guidance so as to enhance its planning status, and, if necessary, make related formal alterations to the adopted Plan.

1.17 The Proposals Map shows the area covered by the Plan and specific areas relating to certain policies (e.g. it identifies land in the green belt and primarily residential areas).

Watford District Plan 2000 (Adopted December 2003) – Written Statement 3 Chapter 1 - Introduction

Watford District Plan 2000 (Adopted December 2003) – Written Statement 4