Statement of Community Involvement Lowick April 2020 1 | Statement of Community Involvement – Rayners Lane Station Car Park 5 High Worple, Rayners Lane, HA2 9SJ Lowick The News Building 3 London Bridge Street London, SE1 9SG [email protected] +44 (0)203 743 6250 2 | Statement of Community Involvement – Rayners Lane Station Car Park 5 High Worple, Rayners Lane, HA2 9SJ Contents 1. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................... 3 2. Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 5 2.2. Stakeholder audit ............................................................................................................................. 8 3. Consultation Aims .................................................................................................................. 9 4. Consultation activity and outcomes .............................................................................. 10 4.1. Demography and approach to consultation ..................................................................... 10 4.2. Publicity (July 2019) ....................................................................................................................... 13 4.3. Public exhibition (July 2019) ...................................................................................................... 15 4.4. Survey responses (July 2019) ..................................................................................................... 16 4.5. Publicity (November 2019) ........................................................................................................ 23 4.6. Public exhibition (November 2019) ....................................................................................... 25 4.7. Survey responses (November 2019) ...................................................................................... 26 4.8. Stakeholder meetings .................................................................................................................. 31 5. Key issues and responses .................................................................................................. 33 6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 37 Appendices ....................................................................................................................................... 40 Appendix 1: Publicity flyer for July 2019 public exhibition ........................................... 41 Appendix 2: Advert featured in the 11 July 2019 Harrow Times ............................... 43 Appendix 3: Site poster (July 2019) ........................................................................................ 44 Appendix 4: Public exhibition boards (July 2019) ........................................................... 45 Appendix 5: Survey (July 2019) ................................................................................................ 54 Appendix 6: Publicity flyer for November 2019 public exhibition ........................... 58 Appendix 7: Advert featured in the 7 November 2019 Harrow Times ................... 59 Appendix 8: Site poster (November 2019) .......................................................................... 60 Appendix 9: Public exhibition boards (November 2019) .............................................. 61 Appendix 10: Survey (November 2019) ................................................................................. 70 Appendix 11: Map showing approximate location of respondents to surveys .. 74 3 | Statement of Community Involvement – Rayners Lane Station Car Park 5 High Worple, Rayners Lane, HA2 9SJ 1. Executive Summary 1.1.1. This Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) has been prepared by Lowick to accompany an application for full planning permission for Rayners Lane Station Car Park, 5 High Worple, Rayners Lane (“the site”); the re-development of the site to provide 128, 100% affordable homes while retaining 75 commuter car parking spaces., a commuter Cycle Hub, and public realm improvements. The application is submitted by Catalyst Housing Limited (Catalyst) and Transport for London (TfL) (“the applicant”). 1.1.2. The public engagement and consultation for the application was coordinated by Lowick, in conjunction with Catalyst, TfL and the wider project team. Since July 2019 there has been extensive discussions with neighbouring residents, businesses, and commuters, as well as elected members. The applicant has been particularly mindful of the need to engage closely with local residents. Figure 1: View of the proposed scheme looking west along new street (to update). 1.1.3. Two rounds of public consultation have taken place, with exhibitions held in July 2019 focusing on the principles of development, and in November 2019 on the detailed proposals for the site. 121 people attended the events including local residents, businesses, councillors, and Rayners Lane commuters and car park users. The public 4 | Statement of Community Involvement – Rayners Lane Station Car Park 5 High Worple, Rayners Lane, HA2 9SJ website has seen significant interest and following the publicity for the scheme it has received 2,056 unique visits and 225 comments.1 1.1.4. Comments from the London Borough of Harrow (LBH) as local planning authority, the Design Review Panel (DRP), stakeholders and the public have all contributed to the submitted scheme and resulted in a number of changes. For example, there has been a reduction in height of the building closest to the station, additional public realm works on High Worple, alterations to the car park layout and revisions to the façade and materials to preserve neighbouring residents’ privacy. 1.1.5. Overall, the majority of comments from members of the public were negative, with views expressed on the reduction of parking, the principle of a car free development and the need for housing. There was some opposition to the principle of development due to the reduction in parking at Rayners Lane Station and a number of respondents seemed concerned about the increase in the local population and impacts on local services in the area. A theme of the feedback we have received has been opposition to the delivery of new housing in the local area (or in some cases affordable housing in particular). In addition, some local residents, particularly those with homes on High Worple, have expressed concern about the height and density of the proposals as ‘not in keeping’ with the suburban nature of the area. 1.1.6. There has been support for the principle of providing affordable housing and the introduction of secure cycle spaces, encouraging commuters to take more active modes of transport. Supportive comments often referenced the housing crisis and climate emergency as key challenges. The architecture has been generally well received, with objections generally to the scale of the buildings rather than the façade design and materials. 1.1.7. The scheme addresses the Mayor of London and the London Borough of Harrow’s (LBH) aim to deliver more affordable housing in the borough, in sustainable, well- connected locations, as set out in detail in the Planning Statement. 1.1.8. The Mayor’s Transport Strategy sets a target of 80% of journeys on foot, by bicycle or by public transport, by 2041. Furthermore, the Intend to Publish version of the London Plan (December 2019) also requires all redevelopment to reduce parking and consider car-free as a starting point, especially when a site is so close to a transport hub. The benefits in terms of reduced vehicle trips, and potential impacts of the reduction in parking are set out in the Transport Statement. 1.1.9. The applicant has undertaken a comprehensive and transparent pre-application consultation with the local community, in line with both guidance and best practice. Where possible, and when not in contravention of the core purpose of the scheme and policy, changes have been made to the scheme to resolve specific concerns. 1.1.10. The applicant has submitted proposals which will directly benefit the borough and local community by providing 128 high-quality 100% affordable homes, in a sustainable location, and fulfilled the requirements of both the Local Plan, the Intend to Publish version of the draft London Plan (December 2019) and relevant aspects of the London Plan (2016, as amended). 1 Visitor and comments statistics to http://www.raynerslane.commonplace.is/ as of 18 February 2020, 11:00. 5 | Statement of Community Involvement – Rayners Lane Station Car Park 5 High Worple, Rayners Lane, HA2 9SJ 2. Introduction Figure 2: View of proposed entrances to blocks A, B and C 2.1.1. This Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) has been prepared by Lowick to accompany an application for full planning permission for Rayners Lane Station Car Park, 5 High Worple, Rayners Lane, HA2 9SJ (“the site”), the re-development of the site to provide 128, 100% affordable homes while retaining 75 commuter car parking spaces. The application is submitted by Catalyst Housing Limited (Catalyst) and Transport for London (TfL) (“the applicant”). 2.1.2. This development will also include improved access and public realm to the car park from High Worple, new landscaping and a new secure commuter Cycle Hub with 82 spaces and plus secure residential cycling spaces for new residents. 2.1.3.