North Herts District Council Infrastructure Delivery Plan to support the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011 - 2031 September 2016 (Updated January 2018) Prepared by Rob Shipway. RS Regeneration, on behalf of North Herts District Council 2 Explanation on the January 2018 IDP Update This document was originally prepared in September 2016. In the 16 months since publication a number of things have changed, and in the summer of 2017, in the lead up to the Local Plan examination, the decision was made to undertake a partial refresh to enable a number of new points of evidence to be considered, in particuar: The reduction in housing growth figures (as they now appear in the submission version of the Local Plan and the subject of examination) compared to those assessed in the original IDP (which are some 4.4% higher) New evidence (including the October 2017 Transport Strategy and the 2016 Open Space Review and Standards) New funding opportunities that have emerged since 2016 (including annoucements nthe 2017 Spring and Autumn budgets) A clearer assessment of how the infrastructure that is required could be funded Specific evidence (including viability work) on the infrastructure needs associated with the 6 largest strategic sites Other minor textual changes to provide a clearer explanation or correct factual errors Text boxes at the start of each chapter provide a summary of the changes within that chapter The Update does not alter the conclusions of the original document, but provides further evidence to support those conclusions 3 Table of Contents Foreword ................................................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 6 2. Profile of North Hertfordshire ........................................................................ 11 3. Context and approach .................................................................................... 14 4. The Local Plan Growth Strategy ...................................................................... 24 5. Transport ......................................................................................................... 39 6. Education including extended schools ........................................................ 73 7. Healthcare ....................................................................................................... 94 8. Social Infrastructure ..................................................................................... 111 9. Emergency Services ..................................................................................... 126 10. Green Infrastructure ..................................................................................... 131 11. Waste and Recycling .................................................................................... 140 12. Utilities ........................................................................................................... 144 13. Infrastructure Funding & Delivery ............................................................... 159 Appendix 1 - Infrastructure Delivery Schedule ...... AError! Bookmark not defined. 4 Foreword This Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) as a document seeks to identify all relevant infrastructure needs that are anticipated over the whole plan period from this point starting forward and which can clearly be related to growth, so that there is clear evidence that such need is both known and actively being planned for. The content of this IDP is based on the potential implications of infrastructure need arising from meeting the district’s growth needs to 2031 together with any relevant development taking place in adjoining districts that might have significant infrastructure implications for North Hertfordshire. This report has been prepared on the basis that the development of circa 14,400 new dwellings is achieved over the plan period1. The infrastructure needs set out in chapters 5 to 12 and the projects set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Schedule in Appendix 1 are based on this figure. Identifying infrastructure need over a period of 15 years can be complex. Few infrastructure providers are actively planning over so lengthy a timeframe and for that reason alone, the identification of needs in the later years of the plan period include a degree of conjecture. The precise nature of what is needed in a range of services – is likely to be in a constant state of flux. This is influenced by a range of factors such as changes in demographics and movements into and out of local communities, the power and influence of new technology and new arrangements for planning and delivering structure not withstanding community’s expectations of what they need to be provided with – is also constantly shifting. To the mix must be added the historic infrastructure that has been identified but never provided – otherwise known as the infrastructure deficit. IDPs are rightly focused on what infrastructure is needed to make the emerging plan work and cannot expect to right past wrongs in terms of historic failures to provide what has been judged as necessary. However, the impact of already congested roads, underinvestment in health facilities and oversubscribed schools, for instance, cannot and must not be ignored. This IDP aims to achieve a presentation of a balanced, well considered view of future needs related to Plan activities and how they can be carefully planned, adequately funded and delivered in a timely fashion. The additional benefit arising out of such a document is that it allows all those with an interest in infrastructure provision to take stock and plan successful strategies to ensure that these needs become a reality. 1 The emerging strategy tested through this IDP was defined in advance of final decisions being taken on the sites and targets included in the draft Local Plan. 5 1. Introduction 1.1 The National Planning Policy Framework states that the planning system should “pro- actively drive and support sustainable economic development to deliver homes, business and industrial units, infrastructure and thriving local places that the country needs.” 1.2 Over the plan period from 2011 - 2031 North Herts district is, and will continue to be, the focus of substantial housing and employment growth, which will result in increased pressure on local infrastructure, services and facilities. Given this, it is crucial that new infrastructure is provided to support the delivery of new homes and jobs, and create sustainable and inclusive communities. Purpose of the IDP 1.3 The purpose of any IDP is to identify the infrastructure requirements arising out of an authority's Local Plan over the entire plan period, considering also the cost, timing, potential funding mechanisms and responsibilities for delivery. Those requirements will tend to be focused on the needs associated with housing growth, but also need to take into account the implications of other site allocations (particularly employment site requirements) and other local plan policies. 1.4 Infrastructure planning is a key part of the local plan in helping to demonstrate how its policies and site allocations can be delivered. Whilst it will not be necessary to provide a complete answer to all questions relating to this issue, it does allow the key challenges to be defined and the opportunities to be considered. 1.5 This process of defining infrastructure needs involves the local planning authority working closely with infrastructure providers to determine requirements over time. Such engagement is an important process as it will: enable infrastructure providers to give proper consideration on the scale, nature and location of growth, information which they can then factor into other elements of their service planning work; encourage such providers to think beyond the relatively short term and also less parochially and more holistically (to see their infrastructure planning work in a wider context); alert them as to the available public funding opportunities (such as section 106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)) and the opportunities that will exist to secure access to it. 1.6 The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) seeks to establish what additional infrastructure is required to support growth within the district from March 2016 to 2031. [As noted elsewhere in the document, the IDP is concerned with infrastructure needs going forward, not historic need associated with growth that has already taken place, so whilst the Local Plan covers the period 2011- 2031, a base date of March 6 31st 2016 has been selected; this document examines infrastructure need arising from development from that date until the end of the plan period – 2031] 1.7 The IDP aims to: Review existing infrastructure provision in the district and identify gaps in provision; Set out what infrastructure is required to support growth, where the infrastructure is needed and when it should be delivered; Detail the costs associated with the provision of infrastructure items in the district, identify potential funding sources, and highlight gaps in funding, where known; Identify mechanisms for delivering infrastructure and outline the key stakeholders involved in the delivery process. 1.8 A schedule of infrastructure projects required to support the delivery of the Council's Local Plan can be found in Appendix 1. What the IDP represents 1.9 It is important to set out precisely what