DEVELOPMENT POLICY COMMITTEE 26 July 2018

AGENDA ITEM 7

Subject HARLOW COUNCIL LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN PRE-SUBMISSION PUBLICATION

Report by DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES

Enquiries contact: Jeremy Potter – Planning and Strategic Housing Policy Manager 01245 606821 jeremy.potter@chelmsford.gov.uk Jenny Robinson – Senior Planning & Housing Policy Officer 01245 606265 [email protected]

Purpose

The report presents information on Harlow Council’s Local Development Plan Pre- Submission Publication which has been published for consultation, and seeks approval for the submission of the City Council’s response attached at Appendix 1 of the report.

Recommendation

That the Committee approves the consultation response to Harlow Council’s Local Development Plan Pre-Submission Publication set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

Corporate Implications

Legal: Councils have a legal duty to co-operate in their plan preparation. Financial: None Personnel: None Risk Management: It is important that the City Council reviews and comments on Harlow Council’s Local Development Plan Pre-Submission Publication to ensure key cross-boundary/strategic issues that may affect Chelmsford City Council’s administrative area have been considered.

Equalities and Diversity: It is expected that the Harlow Council’s Local Development Equalities and Diversity: Plan Pre-Submission Publication will be subject to Equalities (For new or revised Impact Assessment in accordance with Harlow Council’s policies or procedures normal practice. has an equalities impact assessment been carried out? Y/N) Health and Safety: None IT: None Other: None

Consultees CCC – Sustainable Communities Directorate

Policies and Strategies

The report takes into account the following policies and strategies of the Council:

Local Development Framework (LDF) Documents; specifically Core Strategy and Development Control Policies - Adopted DPD Focused Review of Core Strategy and Development Control Policies – Adopted DPD Chelmsford Town Centre Area Action Plan - Adopted DPD Site Allocations Development Plan Document – Adopted DPD Duty to Co-operate Strategy – Adopted Strategy Statement of Community Involvement – Adopted and Draft Documents

The Chelmsford Local Development Framework takes into account all published strategies of the City Council, together with the Sustainable Community Strategy published by The Chelmsford Partnership.

Chelmsford Draft Local Plan – Pre-Submission Document Regulation 19 – Publication Draft

Corporate Plan Priorities

The report relates to the following priorities in the Corporate Plan Attracting investment and delivering infrastructure  Facilitating suitable housing for local needs  Providing high quality public spaces  Promoting a more sustainable environment  Promoting healthier and more active lives  Enhancing participation in cultural activities 

1. Introduction

1.1 Harlow Council has published for consultation its Local Development Plan Pre- Submission Publication document which sets out the Council’s long term vision for Harlow, identifying land for development and protection, to accommodate housing, employment, and key infrastructure to support development.

1.2 The consultation has been published in accordance with Regulations 19 and 20 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

2. Background

2.1 The six-week period of consultation for the Pre-Submission Publication closed on 6 July 2018. Chelmsford City Council was not notified in time to bring the matter before Members, so an extension has been agreed to provide approved comments following the decision of this Committee.

2.2 The proposed response to the consultation is set out at Appendix 1. The consultation document together with the supporting evidence base can be viewed via www.harlow.gov.uk/local-plan-publication

2.3 Two previous stages of consultation were carried out in 2010 and 2014. This is the final version of the Harlow Local Development Plan for consultation before it is submitted to the Secretary of State for examination. When adopted, the new Local Development Plan will replace the Replacement Harlow Local Plan, adopted in 2006, and run until 2033.

3. Consideration

3.1 Harlow lies 20 miles to the west of Chelmsford, and is the smallest local authority area in Essex. While Harlow does not adjoin the City Council’s administrative area, it forms part of the adjoining Housing Market Area (HMA) of West Essex, which also includes Epping Forest, East Hertfordshire and Uttlesford councils. Chelmsford City Council has had ongoing engagement with the West Essex authorities as part of its duty to co-operate on Local Plan preparation.

Housing

3.3 The Pre-Submission Publication sets out an Objectively Assessed Housing Need (OAHN) for Harlow of 7,400 over the Plan period. A buffer of 1,800 has been added above the OAHN to boost supply and improve affordability.

3.4 The OAHN reflects principles set out in national policy, its Strategic Housing Market Assessment, and the Harlow Future Prospects Study. The work has been carried out jointly with Epping Forest, East Hertfordshire and Uttlesford councils which form the Housing Market Area.

3.5 One strategic housing site has been identified in Harlow Council’s area, providing 2,600 dwellings as part of a Garden Community which includes a further 750 homes in the adjoining Epping Forest district. The wider Harlow and Gilston Garden Town includes two further Garden Communities in Epping Forest district (1,050 and 2,100 homes), and one in East Hertfordshire district (3,000 with a further 7,000 beyond the plan period).

3.6 In addition, there are 5,558 housing completions and commitments, leaving 1,042 of the 9,200 homes to be allocated on new, smaller sites.

3.7 Harlow Council has not identified any Travellers, as defined by revised national policy, but has identified a need for 9 pitches for non-travelling travellers and those with unknown travelling status. These will be accommodated through the refurbishment of 12 existing vacant pitches, fully meeting its needs.

Employment

3.8 The Functional Economic Market Area (FEMA) for Harlow is broadly based around the Housing Market Area. The need for 20 hectares of employment floorspace has been identified, with 90% related to expansion of both Harlow’s Business Park, and the Enterprise Zone. These, along with the potential relocation and expansion of the Princess Alexandra Hospital, will particularly strengthen employment growth sectors of life science and MedTech.

3.9 An additional 18,100 sqm of comparison floorspace has been identified, to serve local residents and the wider sub-region, with 3,200 sqm convenience retail linked to housing development.

Strategic infrastructure

3.10 Strategic infrastructure to support housing and employment growth is identified in an Infrastructure Delivery Plan. The key items include a new junction 7a and improvements to junction 7 of the M11, and increasing the West Anglia Mainline to four rail tracks. Delivery of these will be closely linked to delivery of the wider Harlow and Gilston Garden Town.

3.11 Other infrastructure includes additional road crossings of the River Stort, access to new housing areas, and sustainable transport corridors across the town.

4. Comments

4.1 Officers have reviewed the Local Development Plan Pre-Submission Publication, and consider that the identified housing, employment and infrastructure needs for development in Harlow to 2033 will be met through delivery of the Plan. Officers are satisfied that the duty to co-operate has been met, and consider the plan to be sound. The full text of the Council’s proposed response is attached at Appendix 1.

5. Next Steps

5.1 Once approved, this authority’s comments along with others received, will accompany Harlow Council’s submission of the Local Development Plan to the Secretary of State, for independent examination hearing sessions to be arranged.

6. Conclusion

6.1 Although not an adjoining authority, the emerging Harlow Local Development Plan could have presented potential implications for Chelmsford. Officers consider it is important that this Council responds to the consultation with its comments to demonstrate that it has engaged effectively with the neighbouring Housing Market Area, which includes Harlow.

List of Appendices

Appendix 1 – Proposed Consultation Response

Background Papers

• Harlow Local Development Plan Pre-Submission Publication (May 2018) (and Evidence Base)