Issue - meetings

Minute 444 refers

Minute 21 refers

The Executive considered and supported the recommendations of the District Planning Executive Panel meeting held on 8 December 2014, on the Bishop’s Stortford Goods Yard Update Report.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the District Council work in partnership with the Neighbourhood Plan team to inform on an emerging policy for the Goods Yard site in order to agree a set of priorities for the site and work in conjunction with the site promoters to agree cost/value inputs to inform development choices based around an agreed priority list be approved; and

(B)   the updated policy context for the planning application be provided by a revised District Plan Policy on the Goods Yard, subject to further public consultation and be closely aligned with any emerging Neighbourhood Plan Policy for the site be approved.

(see also Minute 454)

The Panel considered a report that provided an update on progress with a planning framework for the Bishop’s Stortford Goods Yard, including a suggested way forward towards a planning application, which the site promoters had stated was anticipated in September 2015.  The report also explained that there were likely to be difficult trade-offs between the various aspirations for the site, given the need to ensure deliverability of development, and that these should be addressed through the Neighbourhood Plan group.  Finally, the report recommended that current Local Plan policy be struck through and replaced with a new policy context provided by the emerging District Plan and Neighbourhood Plan.

Various Members questioned the need to delete policy now and expressed concern that the process appeared to be led by the developers referring to their views on the proposed link road and the need for further consultation.  The role of the neighbourhood planning team was raised and whilst appreciation was expressed for the Council’s level of engagement with them, some concern was expressed at whether their aspirations matched those of the general public.

The Panel Chairman reiterated that planning policy was agreed by the Council and not developers.  He commented that the current policy was restrictive and did not provide a suitable framework for a deliverable development.  He referred to the change in circumstances that had now unlocked the site and the Council need to demonstrate an evidence base for a balanced development that was deliverable, of which the transport interchange was a critical part.

Officers explained the role of the neighbourhood planning process and the need for developers to give weight to the process.  The current policy was hampering the process and favoured car traffic.  Officers referred to the advice of Peter Brett Associates (PBA) on sustainable transport aspirations that encouraged bus, cycle and pedestrian use and the need to ensure that car journeys had the town centre as their destination. 

In respect of the role of developers, Officers explained the need to engage with them at an early stage to ensure that the question of viability was addressed.  Ultimately, what was deliverable, sustainable and viable on this site would be determined by the planning process.  Nevertheless, in recognition of Members’ concerns, the Panel agreed to delete recommendation (A) and to amend recommendation (C) by replacing the word “new” with the word “updated”.

The Panel supported the amended recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) to inform emerging policy for the Goods Yard site, the District Council should work in partnership with the Neighbourhood Plan team to agree a set of priorities for the site, and working in conjunction with the site promoters to agree cost/value inputs to inform development choices based around an agreed priority list; and

(B)      the updated policy context for the planning application be provided by a revised District Plan Policy on the Goods Yard, subject to further public consultation, and closely aligned with any emerging Neighbourhood Plan policy for the site.