Part 2 (Items for Information) THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE INCLUDED ON THE AGENDA FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES. SHOULD A MEMBER HAVE ANY COMMENTS/QUESTIONS REGARDING ISSUES RAISED BY THE REPORT WOULD THEY PLEASE CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE OFFICER WHOSE NAME AND EXTENSION IS INDICATED AT THE END OF EACH REPORT. 1. PLANNING POLICY UPDATE Head of Planning and Development Purpose To update the Committee on development plan progress and significant national and local planning policy issues. Network Rail’s Greater Anglia Route Study Consultation The Greater Anglia Route Study, prepared by Network Rail, sets out a 30 year vision for the Greater Anglia Route including the West Anglia Mainline (WAML) in the Borough of Broxbourne. The focus is on investment priorities for the 5 year period from 2019-2024 in which it is proposed to improve the WAML by lengthening platforms to allow for 12 car trains. It identifies the need to four-track the WAML between Broxbourne and Tottenham Hale in the longer term but it is not considered to be financially justifiable at the present time unless there are other sources of funding available. It also highlights the need to close level crossings along the line. The Council’s response will set out concerns about the growth assumptions that have been factored into the document and the level of focus that the WAML has received compared to the East Anglia main line. It is considered that greater emphasis needs to be placed on four-tracking the WAML in order to support future growth, to encourage a modal shift to the use of public transport and to help deliver Crossrail 2. The response will also set out the Council’s ambitions for improvements to the Borough’s railway stations along the WAML, particularly the enhancement of access and parking. The Greater Anglia Route Study consultation ends 3 February 2015. The consultation document is available from: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/long-term-planning-process/anglia- route-study/ Department for Transport’s Crossrail 2 Safeguarding Consultation The Department for Transport has published a safeguarding direction for the Crossrail 2 route up to Tottenham Hale. Safeguarding aims to prevent any development proposals impacting adversely on the route of the project and ensure that Transport for London is consulted on any planning applications. The document does not safeguard land beyond Tottenham Hale but does identify the need to widen the West Anglia Mainline from Tottenham Hale to Cheshunt should Crossrail 2 extend beyond Tottenham Hale. The Council’s response will reinforce support for Crossrail 2, particularly the regional option, but would welcome early indication of the safeguarded route in the Borough so that this can be incorporated into the Council’s Local Plan. It will also highlight Network Rail’s Anglia P&R Cttee 1 27/01/15 Route Study (see above) which refers to four-tracking the line to Broxbourne Railway Station rather than Cheshunt Railway Station as alluded to in the consultation document. It is considered by officers that Broxbourne Railway Station should be the northern terminus of Crossrail 2. The Crossrail 2 Safeguarding consultation ends 29 January 2015. The consultation document is available from: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/crossrail-2- safeguarding-directions Department for Communities and Local Government Self-build consultation In December 2014, the Council responded to DCLG’s consultation on the implementation of a self-build register. A register would demonstrate what demand there is for self-build in a particular area and then, through primary legislation, ensure that local authorities find suitable sites for that demand. Although the introduction of a register would not place a significant burden on the Council, the identification and allocation of sites would, as this would also require authorities to prepare outline applications and design briefs for plots/sites, undertake valuations and negotiations, provide utilities and land remediation and undertake enforcement action if plots are sold on. The Council set out these concerns in a consultation response letter dated 17 December 2014. Further information on the DCLG consultation is available from here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/right-to-build-supporting-custom-and-self- build Lee Valley Regional Park Framework Proposals The 2000 Plan is in the course of being replaced by the Park Development Framework, which is a suite of documents that will collectively provide the blueprint for the Park Authority’s future proposals. The ‘Vision, Strategic Aims and Principles’ (July 2010) and the ‘Thematic Proposals’ (January 2011) set out development and management proposals on a broad Park-wide thematic basis. The Authority is now working to translate such thematic proposals onto area based maps. They have published for consultation area based maps for areas 6, 7 and 8 which constitute the area between the M25 and Ware. These maps are available from: http://www.leevalleypark.org.uk/go/678consult/ These maps include projects and proposals within the Borough including: the redevelopment of the Hazlemere Marina site in Waltham Cross for leisure and residential uses; the creation of an adrenaline sports hub at the Lee Valley White Water Centre; bringing back unwanted and unauthorised developments into Park use including Britannia Nurseries, Wharf Road and Turnford Surfacing site; improving connections from railway stations; and re-development of the former leisure pool site in Broxbourne. The Council’s response to this consultation, which ends 12 February 2015, will broadly support the principles of the proposals but will challenge projects which conflict with the Council’s ambitions e.g. redevelopment of Britannia Nurseries and Turnford Surfacing site. P&R Cttee 2 27/01/15 For local planning authorities such as Broxbourne, in whose boundaries the Regional Park lies, the importance of these proposals is that, once adopted by the Park Authority, section 14(2) of the Park Act requires their inclusion in the Local Plan. Broxbourne Local Plan Update Officers continue to prepare the new Local Plan containing strategic policies and site allocations and are holding duty to co-operate meetings with adjoining authorities and key statutory agencies. Consultants have been appointed to: prepare a new retail study of the borough; undertake a sustainability appraisal of the draft plan; and undertake traffic modelling of the main development options. Work is underway to progress the Waltham Cross Town Centre Strategy through to adoption. This is requiring a reappraisal of some of the proposals included in the draft Plan in order to ensure that the Strategy is up to date, and that due regard is paid to public consultation responses. Date Draft Local Plan consultation Spring 2015 Pre-Submission Local Plan Autumn 2015 Contact Officers: List of Background Papers: Mr D Cooper (Ext 5561) None Mrs V Forgione (Ext 5952) 2. PROGRESS ON MAJOR DEVELOPMENT Head of Planning and Development SITES Purpose To advise the Committee of progress on major development sites. Waltham Cross Durkan House, High St, Waltham Cross It is expected that works will proceed on the conversion of Durkan House into 60 apartments in the near future. Park Plaza The Co-op is marketing Park Plaza North with a view to selling it for a development that is compatible with the Development Brief for the site. Hazlemere Marina The planning application for the residential redevelopment of this site is expected to be submitted within the next month. P&R Cttee 3 27/01/15 Britannia Nurseries The Lee Valley Regional Park Authority’s judicial review against the Council’s decision to approve the scheme was heard in the High Court on the 2nd and 3rd December 2014. The outcome is still awaited. Cheshunt Cheshunt School A planning application has been submitted for an 88 house residential development on part of the school grounds and for the redevelopment of some of the school buildings. It is anticipated that this will be considered at the April meeting of the committee. Cheshunt South Reservoir The site is likely to be completed by this autumn. The implementation of the play area remains in dispute. Everest Site Crest is building out this housing site and completion is anticipated in 2015. The scheme for the new club house for Rosedale Sports Club is currently being tendered by Crest Nicholson. Once tenders are received, the parties will be able to identify the remaining funding gap, if any. It is still proposed that Rafles Nursery, which currently occupies the site of the proposed new club house, will move into the existing club house but financial agreement is still required. Former St. Mary’s School Site The section 106 agreement has been completed and planning permission has been issued. It is anticipated that development will commence later in the year. Cheshunt Football Club Work is progressing to create the new football pitches. Russells Ride Aldwyck Housing Association is now looking to progress the development of the garage courts at Russells Ride. Commencement of the housing is subject to a number of conditions including the phasing, management and safety of the proposed parking. Aldwyck has submitted a comprehensive set of planning applications for change of use from open space to private garden ground to assist this process. The Council’s urban designer will be drawing up a set of design guidelines to ensure a consistent approach. P&R Cttee 4 27/01/15 A10 The Broxbourne Transport Study will recommend the interventions required to mitigate against the transport impact of future developments within the borough. These will include improvements to the A10. The study is currently testing a number of development scenarios from the incipient Broxbourne Local Plan. The Local Plan which will set out the required improvements to the A10 prior to its finalisation and adoption. New River Arms A planning application for a mixed residential and retail scheme is considered elsewhere on this agenda.