Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2031 PUBLIC Draft V1 October 2020 Welcome from the Chair of Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum In February 2016 when Roman Road Trust first tabled the idea for preparing a neighbourhood plan at a public meeting, it wasn’t the threat of large scale development that brought us together, but the opportunities that we all saw for engaging in a neighbourhood planning process that would create the means to bring new life to our high street and green spaces; to raise awareness about what is valuable about the community we live in - its ethnic diversity, its history of championing social change and the heritage of some of its architecture - public buildings, bridges, houses and pubs. We also recognised that the neighbourhood has some challenges: the impacts of traffic on air quality are also making walking and cycling less appealing; a shortage of genuinely affordable and good quality homes; a narrow range of shops, empty retail units and a struggling market. A neighbourhood plan could help to direct funding to address some of these challenges. The Covid-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on fissures that were already present in our neighbourhood’s fabric - more retail units are under threat, there is less funding available to improve open spaces and community facilities, at a time when these have become more valued. At the same time, wider issues of climate change create local consequences that the plan can help to address. This first draft of the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan is an opportunity to test with the community whether the policies and actions proposed here can withstand the added pressures facing our neighbourhood, and still shape and safeguard its physical fabric. We welcome your comments and feedback on the draft policies and actions we have set out, that are drawn from what you have told us is important over the last two years. Thank you for your support and engagement so far Alex Holmes Chair Roman Road Neighbourhood Forum Committee 1 Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan Public draft, version 1 Contents List of policies 7 Introduction 8 1.1 Purpose of the plan 8 1.2 Structure of the plan 8 1.3 Preparation of the plan 8 1.4 Wider policy context 9 1.5 Monitoring the Plan 10 Local context 12 2.1 History of Bow 12 2.2 Profile of the community today 13 2.3 Opportunities and challenges in Roman Road Bow 14 Vision and plan objectives for Roman Road Bow 18 Objective 1: Thriving high street and local economy 20 4.1 Summary of current issues 20 4.2 Encouraging flexible use of premises 20 4.2.1 Key issue 20 4.2.2 Policy 20 4.2.3 Conformity with other policies 20 4.2.4 Justification 21 4.3 Site-specific policy - Onyx House 22 4.3.1 Key issue 22 4.3.2 Policy 22 4.3.3 Conformity with other policies 22 4.3.4 Justification 23 4.4 Site specific action: Bow House Business Centre 23 4.4.1 Key issue 23 Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan Public draft, version 1 4.4.2 Action 23 4.4.3 Conformity with other policies 23 4.4.4 Justification 23 4.5 Support for job seekers and local businesses 24 4.5.1 Key issue 24 4.5.2 Action 24 4.5.3 Conformity with local policy 24 4.6 Local cross-sector collaboration 25 4.6.1 Key issue 25 4.6.2 Action 25 4.6.3 Justification 25 Objective 2: Green streets that encourage walking and cycling 26 5.1 Summary of current issues 26 5.2 Improving safe walking and cycling routes 26 5.2.1 Key issue 26 5.2.2 Policy 27 5.2.3 Conformity with other policies 27 5.2.4 Justification 28 5.3 Actions to improve walking and cycling provision 31 Objective 3: Beautiful public spaces 32 6.1 Summary of current Issues 32 6.2 Enhancing public realm spaces 32 6.2.1 Key Issue 32 6.2.2 Policy 32 6.2.3 Conformity with other policies 33 6.2.4 Justification 33 6.3 Designating Local Green Spaces 34 6.3.1 Key Issue 34 Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan Public draft, version 1 6.3.2 Policy 34 6.3.3 Conformity with other policies 35 6.3.4 Justification 36 Objective 4: New life for our heritage and community facilities 38 7.1 Summary of current Issues 38 7.2 Policy for public houses to become locally designated heritage assets 38 7.2.1 Key Issue 38 7.2.2 Policy 39 7.2.3 Conformity with other policies 39 7.3 Opportunities for new types of Public House 43 7.3.1 Key Issue 43 7.3.2 Action 43 7.4 Bow Heritage Trail 43 7.4.1 Key Issue 43 7.4.2 Action 44 7.4.3 Conformity with other policies 44 7.4.4 Justification 46 7.5 Policy for Bow Wharf waterway infrastructure conservation and enhancement 46 7.5.1 Key Issue 46 7.5.2 Policy 46 7.5.3 Justification 47 Objective 5: High Quality Housing Provision 49 8.1 Summary of current issues 49 8.2 Housing Needs Assessment 49 8.3 Site Allocations 50 8.3.1 Policy 50 8.3.4 Conformity with other policies 50 Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan Public draft, version 1 8.4 Designing for communities 51 8.5 Community-led housing 51 8.5.1 Key Issue 51 8.5.2 Policy 51 8.5.2 Justification 52 Objective 6: Resilient and well-networked community infrastructure 54 9.1 Summary of current issues 54 9.2 Creating a resilient network of community facilities 54 9.2.1 Action 54 9.2.2 Conformity with other policies 54 9.3 Community Asset Transfer 55 9.3.1 Action 55 9.3.2 Justification 55 9.3 Additional and improved sports and play facilities 56 9.3.1 Key Issue 56 9.3.2 Policy 56 9.3.4 Justification 56 9.4 Policy for new and improved youth work facilities 57 9.4.1 Key Issue 57 9.4.2 Policy 57 9.4.3 Justification 57 9.5 Policy to improve existing community centres 57 9.5.1 Key Issue 57 9.5.2 Policy 57 9.5.3 Conformity with other policies 57 9.6 Action to improve accessibility of health and social care facilities 58 9.6.1 Key Issue 58 9.6.2 Action 58 Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan Public draft, version 1 9.6.3 Conformity with other policies 58 10.0 Non-policy actions 60 11.0 Policies map 62 11.0 APPENDICES 63 Thriving local high street and economy 63 Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan Public draft, version 1 List of policies Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan Public draft, version 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the plan This is the Neighbourhood Plan for the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Area over the period from 2020 to 2031. The principal purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan is to guide development within the Neighbourhood Area. It also provides guidance to anyone wishing to submit a planning application for development within the Area. The plan defines a vision for the Neighbourhood Area focussing on the local economy, connectivity, open space, heritage, community facilities and housing, and sets out how that vision will be realised through planning and controlling land use and development change over the plan period. The Covid-19 pandemic has seriously impacted Bow and the local economy, whilst also demonstrating the resilience and cohesion of our local community. We believe the neighbourhood plan offers a framework that will help shape a sustainable future for Bow, whilst respecting our rich heritage. 1.2 Structure of the plan The Plan comprises a vision for the area, and a set of objectives in thematic chapters. Each of the objectives presents a summary of issues followed by the different policies, actions and aspirations. These are respectively accompanied by their conformity with other policies and a justification. The planning policies are in green boxes. Some of the Neighbourhood Plan policies are general and apply throughout the Plan area, whilst others are site or area-specific. In considering proposals for development, Tower Hamlets Council will apply all relevant policies in the Plan. It is therefore assumed that the Plan will be read as a whole, although some cross-referencing between Plan policies has been provided. The process of producing the Neighbourhood Plan has identified a number of aspirations and actions which have not been included in the policies’ sections. This is because these are not specifically related to land use matters and therefore sit outside the jurisdiction of a Neighbourhood Plan. These aspirations and actions will be addressed outside the Neighbourhood Plan process and are shown in yellow boxes. Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Plan Public draft, version 1 1.3 Preparation of the plan The Plan has been prepared by the community through the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Forum (RRBNF) Committee, formed in February 2016 after the first Neighbourhood Forum meeting, where the proposal to prepare a neighbourhood plan was put forward and discussed. Tower Hamlets Council, as the local planning authority, designated the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Planning Area in February 2017 and the Roman Road Bow Neighbourhood Planning Forum, (the body responsible for developing the plan), in August 2017. The different topic areas in the Plan reflect matters that are important to the Area’s residents, businesses and community groups.