Tower Hamlets Draft Local Plan Managing growth and sharing the benefits Regulation 18 Consultation November 2016 CONSULTATION INFORMATION Overview 1 The “Tower Hamlets Draft Local Plan 2031: Managing Growth and Sharing the Benefits” (from here on, the “Draft Local Plan”) is being consulted upon under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Plan (England) Regulations (2012). The Draft Local Plan presents, for your consideration and comment, the Council’s draft spatial vision and objectives for development in the borough to 2031. They are followed by detailed draft planning policies and site allocations. Comments on the Draft Local Plan are invited from all those with an interest in the future of Tower Hamlets. All comments received will be taken into account and will inform the amended version called the Proposed Submission Local Plan, which will be published in Spring 2017. You will be able to find all information relating to this consultation, including the Draft Local Plan and supporting documents, on the Council’s website www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/localplan. Hard copies of the Draft Local Plan are also available at the Council Office at Mulberry Place and in all Tower Hamlets libraries and Idea Stores. When and How to Respond Public consultation on the Draft Local Plan will run from Friday 11 November 2016 to Monday 2 January 2017. Comments must be made in writing and received no later than 2 January 2017. In line with national regulations, please note that all comments received will be made available to the public and that anonymous responses cannot be considered. The Council encourages the use of our online consultation portal (http://towerhamlets-consult.objective.co.uk/portal) for electronic responses. This will the Council to better process and acknowledge your feedback. Any written representations should be sent to the following freepost address: FREEPOST Local Plan Consultation D&R Strategic Planning London Borough of Tower Hamlets PO BOX 55739 London E14 1BY For any help please contact the Plan Making Team via email: [email protected],or telephone 0207 364 5009 or via Twitter: @TowerHamletsNow During the consultation period there will also be a series of consultation eventsat various locations around the borough to further inform you about the content of the Draft Local Plan. Please see overpage for a list of the drop in sessions and workshops currently scheduled. CONSULTATION INFORMATION Public Consultation Events 2 Consultation Drop-ins Date Time Event Venue Thursday 24/11 12:30pm – 3:30pm Drop-in Idea Store Chrisp Street, 15 Market Square, E14, 6AQ Saturday 10am – 1pm Drop-in Idea Store, Bow 1 Gladstone Place, Roman Road, E3 5ES 26/11 Saturday 10am – 1pm Drop-in V & A Museum of Childhood (Bethnal Green), Cambridge Heath Road, E2 03/12 9PA Wednesday 5.30pm – 8.30pm Drop-in Alpha Grove Community Centre (Isle of Dogs), Alpha Grove, E14 8LH 07/12 Wednesday 5.30pm – 8.30pm Drop-in Idea Store, Whitechapel, 321 Whitechapel Road, E1 1BU 14/12 Consultation Workshops Please note that the workshop numbers are limited and to secure your place in advance, please book. For those who are unable to attend the events, all information will be made available on the website. Date Time Event Venue PLEASE PLEASE Workshop 1: Sub Please book via the Tower Hamlets CHECK THE CHECK THE Areas – Central and website: WEBSITE WEBSITE City Fringe www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/localplan PLEASE PLEASE Workshop 2: Sub Please book by via the Tower CHECK THE CHECK THE Areas – Isle of Dogs Hamlets website: WEBSITE WEBSITE and Lower Lea www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/localplan Valley MAYOR’S FOREWORD Mayor’s Foreword 3 At the end of last year, we consulted on ‘Our Borough, Our Plan: A New Local Plan First Steps’. This document provided an overview of the challenges and opportunities facing the borough, now, and as envisaged over the next 15 years. It also outlined an initial approach as to how to address these challenges and maximise our opportunities, through our planning approach. We received over 1,00 individual comments from a wide range of stakeholders including residents, community groups, businesses, developers and organisations. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for engaging with us during the consultation events and providing us with such useful feedback. The key concern raised, which I also share, is the scale and pace of development and how the planning process can ensure that Tower Hamlets can accommodate this level of growth and remain a liveable and thriving borough. Another concern was ensuring that all our residents benefit from the opportunities growth brings to the borough, through accessing housing, training or employment. ‘Tower Hamlets Draft Local Plan 2031: Managing Growth and Sharing the Benefits’, has been informed by these consultation responses and our emerging evidence base to take the development of our Local Plan one step further. This document contains our preferred spatial vision, planning strategy and policies. Within national and regional policy frameworks, we have sought to address our local challenges, whilst maximising our opportunities to the benefit of all our residents. This draft plan contains policies to ensure that new developments are accompanied by the required additional infrastructure and services, policies that protect and enhance the unique elements of our borough and policies which provide a wide range of employment space and homes. While this document looks more like a Local Plan, it is not the final document, and changes will be made to it, in rsponse to feedback we receive during this consultation. I would therefore encourage everyone interested in the future of Tower Hamlets to again let us know your views on the content of this document, so that we can ensure that the Council develops the best possible Local Plan, to help guide and manage future growth and development in our borough, to 2031. John Biggs Mayor of Tower Hamlets Contents CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 9 1.1 The Local Plan 9 1.2 A new Local Plan for Tower Hamlets 10 1.3 Scope of the New Local Plan: Area and timeframe 14 1.4 Producing the new Local Plan 16 1.5 The structure of the Draft Local Plan 21 1.6 Status of the Draft Local Plan 22 1.7 Monitoring the Draft Local Plan 23 1.8 Next Steps 23 CHAPTER 2 SETTING THE SCENE 24 2.1 The Borough Context 24 2.2 Place 24 2.3 People 27 2.4 Planning for the Future 29 CHAPTER 3 VISION, OBJECTIVES AND A SPATIAL STRATEGY 34 3.1 The Proposed New Vision for Tower Hamlets 34 3.2 A New Spatial Strategy for Tower Hamlets 37 3.3 Delivering the Vision for Tower Hamlets 38 CHAPTER 4 DRAFT POLICIES 40 4.1 Introduction 40 4.2 Sustainable Growth 41 4.2.1 Introduction 42 4.2.2 Policy SG1: Sustainable Growth in Tower Hamlets 42 4.2.3 Strategic Policy SG2: Planning and Construction of New Development 46 4.3 Design and Historic Environment 48 4.3.1 Introduction 49 4.3.2 Strategic Policy DH1: Good Design and Local Character and Historic Environment 50 4.3.3 Strategic Policy DH2: Attractive and Safe Streets, Spaces and Public Realm 52 Contents 4.3.4 Strategic Policy DH3: The Historic Environment 56 4.3.5 Policy DH4: World Heritage Sites 60 4.3.6 Policy DH5: Building Heights 61 4.3.7 Policy DH6: Density 67 4.3.8 Policy DH7: Amenity 68 4.3.9 Policy DH8: Noise Pollution 70 4.3.10 Policy DH9: Overheating 72 4.3.11 Policy DH10: Shopfronts 73 4.3.12 Policy DH11: Advertisements and Hoardings 74 4.3.13 Policy DH12: Telecommunications 75 4.4 Housing 76 4.4.1 Introduction 77 4.4.2 Strategic Policy H1: Delivering Housing 81 4.4.3 Policy H2: Mixed and Balanced Communities 85 4.4.4 Policy H3: Housing Standards and Quality 90 4.4.5 Policy H4: Specialist Housing 93 4.4.6 Policy H5: Gypsies and Traveller Accommodation 95 4.4.7 Policy H6: Student Housing 97 4.5 Economy and Jobs 100 4.5.1 Introduction 101 4.5.2 Strategic Policy EMP1: Investment and Job Creation 103 4.5.3 Strategic Policy EMP2: Employment Locations 105 4.5.4 Strategic Policy EMP3: Provision of New Employment Space 108 4.5.5 Policy EMP4: Protecting Employment 110 4.5.6 Policy EMP5: Redevelopment within the Borough’s Employment Areas 112 4.5.7 Policy EMP6: Providing Affordable Workspace 113 4.6 Town Centres 115 4.6.1 Introduction 116 4.6.2 Strategic Policy TC1: The Town Centre Hierarchy 117 4.6.3 Strategic Policy TC2: Protecting and Enhancing Our Town Centres 122 4.6.4 Policy TC3: Protecting and Enhancing Retail in Our Town Centres 125 4.6.5 Policy TC4: Managing and Supporting Retail Outside of Our Town Centres 127 4.6.6 Policy TC5: Financial and Professional Services 129 4.6.7 Policy TC6: Food, Drink, Entertainment and the Night-time Economy 130 4.6.8 Policy TC7: Short-stay Accommodation 134 4.6.9 Policy TC8: Offices within the Town Centre 136 4.6.10 Policy TC9: Markets 136 Contents 4.7 Community, Cultural and Social Facilities 138 4.7.1 Introduction 139 4.7.2 Strategic Policy CSF1: Supporting Community, Cultural and Social 140 4.7.3 Strategic Policy CSF2: Safeguarding Community Facilities 141 4.7.4 Policy CSF3: Pre-school Provision 143 4.7.5 Policy CSF4: Schools and Lifelong Learning 144 4.7.6 Policy CSF5: Health and Medical Facilities 145 4.7.7 Policy CSF6: Sports and Leisure 146 4.7.8 Policy CSF7: Community Centres and Places of Worship 148 4.7.9 Policy CSF8: Cultural Facilities 149 4.7.10 Policy CSF.9: Public Houses 150 4.8 Open Spaces 153 4.8.1 Introduction 154 4.8.2 Strategic Policy OS1: Creating a Network of Open Spaces 154 4.8.3 Strategic Policy OS2: Enhancing Water Spaces 157 4.8.4 Policy OS3: Open Space and Green Grid 159 4.8.5