The Former Baltic Wharf Caravan Club Statement of Community Involvement
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The former Baltic Wharf Caravan Club Statement of Community Involvement For Goram Homes and Hill December 2020 1 Table of Contents 1. .............................................................. Executive Summary 3 2. ....................................................................... Policy Context 4 3 .................................................................. Consultation Plan 5 4 ................................................................ Stakeholders audit 6 5 ................................................................. Raising awareness 7 6 .......................................................Community Consultation 8 7 ............................................... Second round of consultation 9 8 ................................................................................ Feedback 9 8. .......................... How feedback has influenced the scheme 15 9. ............................................................................. Conclusion 15 2 1. Executive Summary Covid and social distancing has impacted the scheme but we’ve actually seen greater participation in the consultation process mainly due to it This document has been prepared by Cadence PR on behalf of Goram being easier and more convenient to access online. We recognise not all Homes and Hill in support of a Full Planning Application for the residential are online and the programme has included a community newsletter and development of 166 dwellings (open market and affordable) at Baltic alternative ways to get in touch to ensure all have access. Wharf Caravan Club Site, Cumberland Road, Bristol. Activity has included: stakeholder meetings, community newsletter (going The team recognise how sensitive development can be but also how out to nearly 3,000 residents), project website (visited by 699 people), important it is in the current housing and affordability crisis. Brown field, media coverage (in the Bristol Post), five interest group presentations and city centre locations like this are rare and making best use of the one public webinars, 150 calls and emails. opportunity, in an appropriate way, is crucial. Key areas of interest has been the: design and materials, height (from a Appropriate is very subjective and our approach has been to engage with local and neighbours perspective), parking, sustainability and ecology. the local and wider community to harness local views and test the emerging proposals. We’ve tried to be proactive, informative, responsive Key changes that have come from the feedback include: reducing the and considerate, combining the team’s technical expertise with local height, removing gables to improve light, increasing planting and knowledge to deliver a better, and we hope, more appropriate scheme. screening. This Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) summarises the activity, Feedback has been largely supportive of the principle, the open space, the community feedback received, how the team have responded to that ecology and climate change aspects. There have been concerns raised by feedback, and the key changes that have come from the consultation. neighbours around potential negative impacts, and questions around how the scheme would fit into the local context from the wider community. This consultation follows advice set out in Bristol City Council’s 2018 We have tried to address all points raised by the consultation. Statement of Community Involvement, as well as NPPF guidance and own professional experience. 3 2. Policy Context Goram and Hill recognises the importance on more effectively and efficiently with improved • Consider any responses before they finalise community involvement as part of the planning outcomes for the community. proposals and submit their applications. application process. • Account for how they have consulted the 16. Plans should be shaped by early, local community, what comments they The Government’s policy on community proportionate and effective engagement... have received and how they have taken involvement is set out in a number of statutory 39. Good quality preapplication discussion those comments into account. and non-statutory documents, including the enables better coordination between National Planning Policy Framework (2012, public and private resources and improved 2.3 Bristol City Council’s Statement of updated 2018), Planning Practice Guidance and outcomes for the community. Community Involvement (SCI) 2018. Localism Act (2011). In addition to national policy, 41. The more issues that can be resolved at Bristol City Council provides guidance on pre- pre-application stage, including the need to The SCI encourages applicants to undertake application consultation in its Statement of deliver improvements in infrastructure and consultation. The headline statement in the Community Involvement (2018). affordable housing, the greater the report is that: ‘The council’s aim is for the benefits... community to be able to shape and comment on 2.1 National Planning Policy Framework (2018) new development proposals and its planning 2.2 Localism Act (2011) policy documents. This reflects the council’s Sets out that the purpose of the planning system commitment to encourage every individual, is to help deliver sustainable development and in Provides the context within which the planning organisation, business and community to play an doing so it should be a collective enterprise. system currently operates. The Localism Act active role in the life of the city.’ (November 2011) sets out the Government’s The Framework specifically promotes pre- continuing intention of shifting power from BREEAM Communities technical manual, 2017 application engagement and the frontloading of central Government back into the hands of consultation. The purpose is to identify issues individuals, communities and councils. The aim is ensure the needs, ideas and knowledge that can be resolved at the pre- application stage, of the community are used to improve the quality thereby enabling the planning system to function Responsibility is placed on developers to: of stakeholder engagement, throughout the design, planning and construction process. 4 3 Consultation Plan The consultation plan aimed to: • To raise awareness, inform and involve the local community, encouraging feedback and improving understanding, both ways. • Be inclusive and provide various ways for people to get in touch. • Proactively involve interested parties including 1) councillors 2) direct neighbours, 3) the wider community 4) local groups and 5) local schools and GPs. • Discuss both the positives benefits and more contentious areas such as height or design. Independent facilitator Hill and Goram appointed Cadence PR to facilitate the consultation, a step away from themselves. Phases 1. Low level issues and opportunities consultation, August 2020 2. Public consultation on the emerging masterplan, September and October 2020 3. Revised scheme neighbour presentation, November 2020 4. Submission, December 2020. Community newsletter sent to nearly 3000 homes in the local area 5 4 Stakeholders audit Ahead of the consultation, a thorough stakeholder audit was carried out to help ensure key interest groups were informed. Their views and opinions helped the team gain a fuller understanding of the local area and respond to community-based issues and objectives. 1. Bristol City Council o Mark Wright, Lib Dem, Hotwells and Harbourside o Nicola Beech, Cabinet Member for Planning o Bristol City Council Planning Officers Goram Homes o Bristol City Council Planning Committee and Hill o Bristol City Council Political Party Representatives 2. Neighbours Planning Policy, o Residents (Baltic Wharf residents particularly) Statutory The o Businesses (The Cottage) Consultees & Development the Design Team o Users (All Aboard, sailing club…) Review Panel 3. Local stakeholder groups o Baltic Wharf – direct neighbour group, directors and managing agent o Hotwells and Clifton Wood Community Association o BS3 Planning Group Neighbours, o Destination Bristol stakeholders Technical o Bristol Tree Forum & the wider Study Findings 4. Design Community o Bristol Urban Design Forum o Bristol Civic Society The Housing 5. Local Media Market The main influencers 6 5 Raising awareness To publicise the proposals and consultation the following activity was carried out: • A newsletter was issued to nearly 3,000 homes in the area marked below • The consultation was promoted by the local media twice. Baltic Wharf Caravan site to have 'up to 190 new homes' (Bristol Post, Apr '20), The new homes coming to Baltic Wharf in Bristol (Bristol Post, Oct '20), and New apartments at Baltic Wharf in Bristol branded a 'monstrosity' (Bristol Post, Oct ’20) • Stakeholders were contacted and encouraged to circulate the information to their networks • It was promoted on both Facebook and Twitter 6. Summary of the community consultation 1. Pre-app Sept 2020 Meeting with Ward Councillor Design Review Panel Pre-app 2. First round of Consultation Oct 2020 Baltic Wharf Managing Agent Baltic Wharf Directors Website launched Destination Bristol Baltic Wharf Neighbours Hotwells and Clifton Wood Community Association BS3 Planning Group Public event Bristol Tree Forum 3. Second round of Consultation Nov 2020 Baltic Wharf residents Dec 2020 Harbourside Water users 7 6 Community Consultation The above newsletter was sent out to nearly 3,000 homes in the local area signposting people to the project website where they could find out more and register for a series of consultation events. Online