LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK Central Telford Area Action Plan Public Participation Statement June 2009 (Statement pertaining to Regulation 24(2) of the Town & Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008) - 1 - If you need any of the information contained within this document in your preferred language, in large print, Braille or recorded on tape, please contact us on 01952 384212 to discuss the options available. - 2 - Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Initial public participation 3.0 Central Telford Preferred Options Appendix 1 List of organisations and interest groups notified of initial public participation events Appendix 2 Summary of main issues raised in initial public participation Appendix 3 How the main issues raised in initial public participation events have been addressed in the Central Telford Area Action Plan Appendix 4 ‘Specific consultation bodies’ / ‘relevant authorities’/ ‘general consultation bodies’ sent copies of Central Telford Area Preferred Options Report (October 2007) Appendix 5 Organisations notified of consultation on Central Telford Area Preferred Options Report (October 2007) Appendix 6 List of those responding Central Telford Area Preferred Options Report (October 2007) Appendix 7 Summary of main issues raised in Central Telford Area Preferred Options consultation (October 2007) and how the main issues have been addressed in the Central Telford Area Action Plan. If you require any further information please contact: Development Plans Team Environment & Regeneration Telford & Wrekin Council Darby House PO Box 212 Lawn Central Telford TF3 4LB Telephone: 01952 384247 E-mail: [email protected] Telford & Wrekin Council Central Telford Area Action Plan April 2009 Public Participation Statement 1. Introduction 1.1 This document accompanies the Central Telford Area Action Plan (CTAAP). The CTAAP sets out a spatial development strategy and set of planning policies to manage spatial development in the central area of Telford, which includes Telford town centre and the localities of Hollinswood, Malinslee, Central Park and Old Park. It covers the period to 2016. 1.2 A published version of CTAAP has now been prepared for a 6 week engagement exercise, after which, if appropriate, it will be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination. 1.3 Regulation 25 of The Town & Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 (“the Regulations”) establishes the legal requirements for public participation in the preparation of Local Development Framework Development Plan Documents. The CTAAP represents a Development Plan Document intended to be included within the Telford & Wrekin Local Development Framework. It is therefore subject to the legal requirements of Regulation 25. 1.4 In accordance with Regulation 24(2) of the Regulations, this statement represents the “proposed submission document” that explains the participation of the public in the preparation of CTAAP. 1.5 The Action Plan has been prepared in accordance with the Telford & Wrekin Local Development Framework Statement of Community Involvement (SCI),(May 2006). The SCI can be viewed at: http://www.telford.gov.uk/Environment+and+planning/Planning/Local+Develop ment+Framework+-+Statement+of+Community+Involvement+%28SCI%29.htm 2. Initial public participation 2.1 The long term spatial development of the Central Telford area was first discussed with members of our local communities at a series of public meetings and workshops on the Local Development Framework held in 2004. These events were based on “Issues and Options” papers produced by the Council, which structured the Borough’s spatial development issues around four spatial development themes - ‘Neighbourhoods’; ‘Jobs & Prosperity’; ‘Accessibility’; and ‘Environment’. These themes were identified at earlier “visioning” events, held in 2003. A fifth paper entitled ‘Consultation’ was included in the workshops to ensure that community engagement in the Local Development Framework was also discussed. 2.2 In excess of 400 individuals, organisations and interest groups received personal invitations to attend the events. Information was placed on the Council’s website, and a press release was issued prior to the events to advertise their importance. A list of all organisations and interests groups notified at this initial stage in the preparation of the Local Development Framework is included in Appendix 1. A further 130 local residents / individuals also received invitations. In total, more than 250 people attended the events. Details of the initial participation events are set out in Table 1 below. 1 Telford & Wrekin Council Central Telford Area Action Plan April 2009 Public Participation Statement Table 1 – Initial participation events Where What When Who Approx Nos. Oakengates Local June 26th Key stakeholders, 50 Theatre Development 2004 Members and LSP Forum (4-7pm) representatives Ellerdine Village Public July 5th Members of the 42 Hall Workshops 2004 Public, Interest (7-9pm) groups & others Civic Offices, Developers July 7th Developers, 43 Telford Workshops 2004 Housebuilders and (10am – landowners 12.30pm) Civic Offices, Public July 7th Members of the 38 Telford workshops 2004 Public, Interest (7-9pm) groups & others Cosy Hall, Public July 20th Members of the 82 Newport workshops 2004 Public, Interest (7-9pm) groups & others 2.3 All the initial events were carried out with the assistance of Planning Aid (West Midlands), whose volunteers acted as workshop facilitators. A report documenting the discussions was produced subsequently entitled “Report of informal consultation on LDF Issues & Options, August 2004”. This report can be viewed at: http://www.telford.gov.uk/Environment+and+planning/Planning/Local+Develop ment+Framework+-+Statement+of+Community+Involvement+%28SCI%29.htm 2.4 Notwithstanding the initial participation events having taken place prior to the enactment of the Regulations, the Council considers that in contributing to the preparation of the CTAAP, the public participation events fulfil the requirements of the current Regulation 25. Such practice has been recognised as acceptable under the transitional arrangements to the Local Development Framework Planning system. Appendix 2 and Appendix 3 contain a summary of the main issues identified at this initial stage of public participation, and an outline of how they have been addressed in the April 2009 CTAAP. 3.0 Central Telford Preferred Options 3.1 Subsequent to the enactment of the current Regulations, an initial Central Telford Area Preferred Options Report was published 14th September 2005 – 25th October 2005. Subsequent to consultation on the Report, the decision was taken to discontinue progress on the document, and reissue a further Options Report at a later date. This decision was communicated to all participants who had commented / made representation, and those who were initially invited to 2 Telford & Wrekin Council Central Telford Area Action Plan April 2009 Public Participation Statement comment. Comments / representations were used to inform additional Options development. 3.2 A further Central Telford Area Preferred Options Report was published for a six week period of public consultation, 25th September 2007 – 6th November 2007. The document was made available on the Council’s website and distributed to the following locations within the Borough: • Telford & Wrekin Council offices (Darby House & Civic Offices); • Libraries; • Post Offices; • Community Centres; • Wrekin Housing Trust (Housing Association) shops. 3.3 Copies of the document were available to view at these locations, together with details of how, where and when to submit comments. Copies of a summary note were made available to take away, and Freepost response forms provided on which respondents were encouraged to make their comments. 3.4 Copies of the Preferred Options report were sent together with details of how to make comments, a response form, the sustainability appraisal and a statutory notice to: • Telford & Wrekin Council Members; • Parish Councils within the Borough of Telford & Wrekin; • Local Authorities adjoining the Borough of Telford & Wrekin; and • Specific consultation bodies (as defined Regulation 2 of 2004 Regulations). 3.5 In addition, all individuals, organisations and interest groups whose details were recorded on the Council’s Local Development Framework database were personally and directly notified in writing of the availability of the report, to comment. Details of how, where and when to submit comments, were included in the correspondence. More than 205 local residents / individuals were personally notified. 3.6 Details of specific consultation bodies / relevant authorities / general consultation bodies sent copies of Central Telford Preferred Options Report are included in Appendix 4. The statutory consultation period was advertised in the local newspaper (The Shropshire Star) on 20th September 2007. Exhibitions, manned by Planning Officers, were held in Telford Shopping Centre on 5th and 6th October 2007. Specific workshops were held with The Dawley & Malinslee Regeneration Partnership on 27th September 2007, and to Oakengates Town Council on 15th October 2007. A session was offered to The Hollinswood Centre Regeneration Scheme but as no mutually convenient date could be arranged, presentation material was provided. 3.7 460 comments / representations were received during the Preferred Options Report consultation period. 113 of comments were supportive,