Statement of Community Involvement
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Statement of Community Involvement Lowick March 2020 1 | Statement of Community Involvement – Canons Park Station Car Park 229 Donnefield Avenue, Edgware, HA8 6RL Lowick The News Building 3 London Bridge Street London, SE1 9SG [email protected] +44 (0)203 743 6250 2 | Statement of Community Involvement – Canons Park Station Car Park 229 Donnefield Avenue, Edgware, HA8 6RL Contents 1. Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 3 2. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 5 2.2. Stakeholder audit ................................................................................................................... 7 3. Consultation Aims ......................................................................................................... 8 4. Consultation activity and outcomes ....................................................................... 9 4.1. Demography and approach to consultation ............................................................. 9 4.2. Publicity (July 2019) .............................................................................................................. 11 4.3. Public exhibition (July 2019) ............................................................................................ 13 4.4. Survey responses (July 2019) ........................................................................................... 14 4.5. Publicity (October 2019) ................................................................................................... 20 4.6. Public exhibition (November 2019) ............................................................................. 22 4.7. Survey responses (November 2019) ............................................................................ 24 4.8. Stakeholder meetings ....................................................................................................... 28 5. Key issues and responses ......................................................................................... 31 6. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 36 Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 39 Appendix 1: Publicity flyer for July 2019 public exhibition ................................................ 41 Appendix 2: Advert featured in the 11 July Harrow Times ............................................... 42 Appendix 3: Site poster (July 2019) ............................................................................................. 43 Appendix 4: Public exhibition boards (July 2019) ................................................................ 44 Appendix 5: Survey (July 2019) ...................................................................................................... 53 Appendix 6: Publicity flyer for November 2019 public exhibition ................................ 57 Appendix 7: Advert featured in the 11 July Harrow Times ................................................ 58 Appendix 8: Site poster (November 2019) ............................................................................... 59 Appendix 9: Public exhibition boards (November 2019) ................................................... 60 Appendix 10: Survey (November 2019) ...................................................................................... 69 Appendix 11: Map showing approximate location of respondents to surveys ........ 73 3 | Statement of Community Involvement – Canons Park Station Car Park 229 Donnefield Avenue, Edgware, HA8 6RL 1. Executive Summary 1.1.1. This Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) has been prepared by Lowick to accompany an application for full planning permission for Canons Park Station Car Park, 229 Donnefield Avenue, Edgeware, HA8 6RL (“the site”); the re-development of the site to provide 118, 100% affordable homes while retaining 60 commuter car parking spaces. The application is submitted by Catalyst Housing Limited (Catalyst) and Transport for London (TfL) (“the applicant”). 1.1.2. The public engagement and consultation for the application was coordinated by Lowick, in conjunction with Catalyst, TfL and the wider project team. Since July 2019, there has been extensive discussions with neighbouring residents, businesses, local groups and societies, as well as elected members. The applicant has been particularly mindful of the need to engage closely with local residents, to ensure the proposals for Canons Park Station Car Park are respectful to the surrounding area. Figure 1: View of the proposed scheme looking north along Donnefield Avenue 1.1.3. Two rounds of public consultation have taken place, with exhibitions held in July 2019 focusing on the principles of development, and in November 2019 on the detailed 4 | Statement of Community Involvement – Canons Park Station Car Park 229 Donnefield Avenue, Edgware, HA8 6RL proposals for the site. 207 people attended the events including local residents, Canons Park commuters and car park users, and local groups. The public scheme website has seen significant interest and following the promotion of the scheme it has seen 1,932 unique visits and 407 comments1. 1.1.4. As the design has progressed, a number of ideas raised by stakeholders and the public have been incorporated into the scheme such as to the improvements to Donnefield Avenue, the location of the car park entrance and details of the façade and materials. 1.1.5. Overall, the majority of respondents have not supported the proposals, largely as they oppose the principle of development. Much of the feedback we have received has opposed the delivery of housing on this site (or in some cases any new housing in the area or affordable housing), opposed any reduction of commuter car parking, and opposed car-free development. In addition, some local residents and groups have expressed concern about the height and density of the plans, as ‘not in keeping’ with the suburban nature of the area. 1.1.6. There has been some support for the principle of providing affordable housing and the introduction of secure cycle spaces, encouraging commuters to take more active modes of transport. The architecture has been generally well received, with objections to the scale and form of the building rather than the façade design and materials. 1.1.7. Overall, the feedback has put the availability of parking for existing car-park users and residents as a higher priority than meeting the housing needs of the borough or taking action to encourage sustainable travel, the two primary goals of the scheme and much of current policy. The scheme addresses the Mayor of London and the London Borough of Harrow’s (LBH) aim to deliver more affordable housing in the borough, in sustainable, well-connected locations, as set out in detail in the Planning Statement. 1.1.8. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy sets a target of 80% of journeys on foot, by bicycle or by public transport, by 2041. Furthermore, the Intend to Submit version of the London Plan (December 2019) also requires all redevelopment to reduce parking and consider car-free as a starting point, especially when a site is so close to a transport hub as the site. The benefits and impacts of the reduction in parking are set out in the Transport Statement. 1.1.9. The applicant has undertaken a comprehensive and transparent pre-application consultation with the local community, in line with both guidance and best practice. Where possible, and when not in contravention of the core purpose of the scheme and policy, changes have been made to the scheme to resolve specific concerns. 1.1.10. The applicant has submitted proposals which will directly benefit the borough and local community by providing 118 high-quality 100% affordable homes, in a sustainable location, and fulfilled the requirements of both the Local Plan and the draft New London Plan. 1 Visitor and comments statistics to www.canonspark.commonplace.is as of 17 February 2020, 12:00. 5 | Statement of Community Involvement – Canons Park Station Car Park 229 Donnefield Avenue, Edgware, HA8 6RL 2. Introduction 2.1.1. This Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) has been prepared by Lowick to accompany an application for full planning permission for Canons Park Station Car Park, 229 Donnefield Avenue, Edgeware, HA8 6RL (“the site”); the re-development of the site to provide 118, 100% affordable homes while retaining 60 commuter car parking spaces. The application is submitted by Catalyst Housing Limited (Catalyst) and Transport for London (TfL) (“the applicant”). 2.1.2. This development will also include new landscaping, improvements to Donnefield Avenue, new secure commuter cycle hub spaces and 220 new residential cycle spaces. 2.1.3. An application for full planning permission is being submitted for the following: “Redevelopment of existing public car park to provide new residential accommodation (Use Class C3) and flexible ground floorspace and a public car park along with associated works” Figure 2: Axonometric overview of the proposals for Canons Park station car park 6 | Statement of Community Involvement – Canons Park Station Car Park 229 Donnefield Avenue, Edgware, HA8 6RL 2.1.4. The purpose of this report is to outline the community engagement undertaken by the applicant, and how the application submitted