Issues and Options Consultation Document 16 January-27 February 2017
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Review of the Local Plan for Slough Issues and Options Consultation Document 16 January-27 February 2017 Review of the Local Plan for Slough Issues and Options Consultation Document 16 January - 27 February 2017 Planning Policy and Projects Slough Borough Council 51 Bath Road Slough SL1 3UF Email: [email protected] Phone: 01753 477341 Published 16 January 2017 Issues and options consultation document 16 January-27 February 2017 Foreword Since becoming council leader I have been clear that I want our residents to have a bigger say in how our town works, how our town grows and how our town meets your needs. Our growth must be inclusive for all. Slough has changed, and will continue to change, but we must ensure local people feel the benefit of this change. We must ensure we have an offer to local residents that guarantees their place and their children’s place in Slough for years to come. This consultation gives you that say. By taking part you can influence how Slough changes over the next 20 years. We have some fantastic opportunities, but also real challenges. Our population is growing fast, we must provide housing for local people and ensure those living here continue to have access to fantastic job opportunities and improved leisure facilities. This document looks at a number of crucial issues facing Slough; from the numbers of new homes we can supply - ensuring these include genuinely affordable homes - to how we all move around our town, how we can grow our local economy and how we can make sure you see the benefit of this economic growth. We want residents to get involved in this mammoth challenge at the earliest opportunity. By getting involved now we can do things with you, and your ideas and comments will influence the plan we produce, steer our approach to tackling the issues that matter and shape the future of Slough. This is your chance to think about the big issues for Slough as a place to live, work, play and stay. So please send in comments, your ideas and possible solutions and let’s craft Slough’s future together. Sohail Munawar Leader of Slough Borough Council www.slough.gov.uk/localplan Issues and options consultation document 16 January-27 February 2017 Contents 1. Introduction 1.1. The Issues and Options Consultation 1 1.2. How does this feed into the Local Plan (2016-2036)? 1 1.3. What is this consultation about? 1 1.4. What will happen next? 2 1.5. What will happen to the council’s existing planning policies? 2 2. Section A: Context 2.1. Aim of the plan 4 2.2. Slough today 4 2.3. Past performance 6 2.3.7. Conclusion 7 2.4. Key drivers of change to 2036 7 2.4.2. Slough’s population will continue to increase 7 2.4.9. Shopping patterns are changing and Slough town centre is at risk 8 2.4.16. Heathrow Airport will continue to have a major impact on the way Slough develops 10 2.4.23. Slough has very little available land for growth, therefore a new approach to accommodating development is needed 11 2.5. Vision 12 2.6. Objectives 13 3. Section B: The big strategic issues 3.1. Overview 14 3.2. How can we meet as much of our objectively assessed housing need of 927 dwellings a year as close as possible to where these needs arise? 14 3.1.16. Conclusion 16 3.2. How can we offer a wide choice of high quality housing and create balanced communities? 17 3.2.27. Conclusion 20 3.3. How can Slough maintain its role as an economic powerhouse? 20 3.3.11. Conclusion 21 3.4. How can we support the creation of 15,000 additional jobs? 21 3.4.27. Conclusion 24 3.5. How we can revitalise slough town centre as a major retail, leisure and commercial centre? 24 3.5.15. Conclusion 25 3.6. How can we get the maximum benefit from growth at Heathrow Airport and mitigate for any adverse environmental effects? 25 3.6.12. Conclusion 26 3.7. How can we enable our suburban areas to continue to absorb the growth in population without losing the distinctive character of individual neighbourhoods? 27 3.7.12. Conclusion 28 3.8. How can we deal with the problem of traffic congestion to ensure that people can travel around Slough? 28 3.8.12. Conclusion 29 3.9. How can we enhance the quality of the built and green environment in Slough and improve the overall image of the town? 29 3.9.19. Conclusion 31 3.10. How can we provide the necessary infrastructure and facilities to support new housing and employment? 32 3.10.4. Education 33 GB/6430/04-01-17 www.slough.gov.uk/localplan i Issues and options consultation document 16 January-27 February 2017 3.10.9. Health Facilities 33 3.10.14. Recreation and Leisure 34 3.10.15. Community Facilities 34 3.10.16. Utilities 34 3.10.19. Flood Risk Mitigation 35 3.10.21. Conclusions 35 4. Section C: Policy response 4.2. Creating an environment for investment 36 4.2.4. Improving the image of Slough 36 4.2.6. Public investment leading the way 36 4.2.10. Optimising opportunities from Heathrow and Crossrail 36 4.2.15. Facilitating infrastructure development 37 4.2.18. Developer contributions and viability 37 4.2.21. The “Slough Pound” 38 4.2.23. Town Centre First 38 4.2.31. Supporting growth in jobs 38 4.2.36. Supporting education and workplace learning 39 4.2.38. Simplified planning for business 39 4.2.40. Support for new and growing businesses 39 4.2.43. Investing in digital infrastructure 39 4.2.45. Investing in housing 39 4.3. Meeting future housing need 39 4.3.2. Delivering enough homes 40 4.3.5. Higher density in new developments 40 4.3.8. Houses on small sites 40 4.3.10. Council’s led housing delivery 40 4.3.12. Options for strategic sites outside Slough Borough Council 41 4.3.15. Providing a choice of housing for residents 41 4.3.21. Releasing Green Belt land for housing 42 4.3.26. Providing affordable housing to those who need it most 42 4.4. Fostering choices for communities 43 4.4.2. Encouraging neighbourhoods to say what they need 43 4.4.6. Providing more housing within existing neighbourhoods 43 4.4.9. Enhancing the green environment 43 4.4.11. Living locally 44 4.4.14. Creating a sense of place in neighbourhoods 44 4.5. Making it easier to move around 44 4.5.5. Locating development in the most accessible locations 45 4.5.8. Using new development to create high quality public transport networks 45 4.5.11. Removing pinch points 45 4.5.14. Traffic management 45 4.5.17. Smart infrastructure strategies which improve traffic conditions 45 4.5.19. Travel planning 46 4.5.22. High quality efficient and affordable public transport system 46 4.5.24. Better bus service 46 4.5.29. Better rail service 46 4.5.36. Increased walking and cycling 47 4.5.42. Parking restraint 47 4.6. Insisting upon design quality and environmental standards 47 4.6.2. Good design is non negotiable 48 4.6.8. Enhancing key corridors and gateways 48 ii www.slough.gov.uk/localplan Issues and options consultation document 16 January-27 February 2017 4.6.12. Quality in other public realm 48 4.6.16. Design priorities in residential areas 48 4.6.18. Achieving a sense of place in new neighbourhoods 49 4.6.23. Residential standards 49 4.6.26. Environmental protection policies 49 4.6.28. Flood risk and watercourses 50 4.6.30. Ecology and biodiversity 50 5. Section D: Spatial Options 5.1.4. The Spatial Options 51 A. Expand the centre of Slough (upwards and outwards) 54 B. Expand the Langley Centre (to include land around the railway station) 59 C. Create a new residential neighbourhood on the Akzo Nobel and National Grid sites west of the Uxbridge Road 63 D. Regeneration of the selected areas: D1 - Canal basin 67 D2 - New Cippenham Central Strip, Bath Road 70 D3 - Chalvey regeneration 73 E. Estate Renewal 76 F. Intensification of the suburbs 78 G. Redevelop Existing Business Areas for housing 82 H. Release land from the Green Belt for housing (edge of Slough) 85 I. Release land from the Green Belt for employment (Heathrow related development in Colnbrook and Poyle) 89 J. Expansion of Slough J1 - Northern expansion into South Bucks (Garden Suburb) 92 J2 - Southern expansion into Windsor & Maidenhead (small sites) 97 K. Build in other areas outside of Slough 100 6. Section E: Questions Figures Figure 1: Slough in the region 5 Figure 2: Slough's neighbours 5 Figure 3: Slough Population Projections 2015-2036 8 Figure 4: Slough Population by Age and Sex 2014 9 Figure 5: Slough Population by Age and Sex 2036 9 Figure 6: Housing Trajectory 2013-2036 15 Figure 7: Options Index - location plan 53 Figure 8: Option A 58 Figure 9: Option B 62 Figure 10: Option C 66 Figure 11: Option D1 69 Figure 12: Option D2 72 Figure 13: Option D3 75 Figure 14: Option H 89 Figure 15: Housing Trajectory 92 Figure 16: Option J1 96 Figure 17: Option J2 99 Tables Table 1: Key statistics of Slough 7 www.slough.gov.uk/localplan iii Issues and options consultation document 16 January-27 February 2017 Abbreviations CC: County Council EDNA: Economic Development Needs Assessment GVA: Gross Value Added HFR: Housing Flow Reconciliation HGV: Heavy Good Vehicle LTP3: Local Transport Plan 3 MOVA: Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation NPPF: National Planning Policy Framework OAHN: Objectively Assessed Housing Need ONS: Office of National Statistics PRS: Private Rented Sector SCOOT: Split Cycle and Offset Optimisation Technique SEN: Special Education Needs SEP: Strategic Economic Plan SHMA: Strategic Housing Market Assessment SMaRT: Slough Mass Rapid Transit SME: Small and medium sized enterprises TVBLEP: Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership VOA: Valuation Office Agency WRAtH/WRLtH: Western Rail Link to Heathrow iv www.slough.gov.uk/localplan Issues and options consultation document 16 January-27 February 2017 1.