Issue - meetings

Minute 625 refers

RESOLVED – that (A) the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy, February 2016, be approved as part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts District Plan;

(B)   the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy, February 2016, be approved to inform Development Management decisions; and

(C)   a Steering Group be set up, including representatives from East Herts Council, Hertfordshire County Council and Hertford Town Council, to agree an action plan to bring forward appropriate projects in the short, medium and long term for the improvement and enhancement of the County Town, with a report on an action plan and identified projects being submitted to the Executive.

(see also Minute 7)

Minute 21 refers

The Executive considered and supported the recommendations of the District Planning Executive Panel meeting held on 25 February 2016, on the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy, February 2016.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy, February 2016, be approved as part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts District Plan;

(B)      the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy, February 2016, be approved to inform Development Management decisions; and

(C)      a Steering Group be set up, including representatives from East Herts Council, Hertfordshire County Council and Hertford Town Council, to agree an action plan to bring forward appropriate projects in the short, medium and long term for the improvement and enhancement of the County Town, with a report on an action plan and identified projects being submitted to the Executive.

(see also Minute 634)

The Panel considered a report detailing the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy.

This had been developed by Tibbalds, a leading planning and urban design consultancy, working together with Hertfordshire County Council, East Herts Council and Hertford Town Council to develop a Vision and Urban Design Strategy for Hertford town centre.  Key elements of the study brief were to consider the future of major sites, the design and management of the street scene and transport issues for the town centre.

To inform the developing Strategy, Tibbalds’ expertise had been supplemented by property, retail, transport and landscape architectural specialists over the course of the project.  Following two rounds of public consultation, a finalised Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy (HTCUDS) had been produced and this was detailed at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted.

Various Members thanked the consultants, officers, the three councils and the public for their efforts and contributions.  Members spoke of the need for concrete actions to follow on from the Strategy.  To this end, an additional recommendation setting up a steering group to agree an action plan was supported.

In response to Members’ comments and questions, Officers advised on the distinction between an urban strategy and a neighbourhood plan within the context of considering a planning application.  The Panel noted that an adopted neighbourhood plan formed part of the development plan, whilst this Strategy did not, although it was a material consideration that could inform a planning application.

Officers also clarified the position on car parking spaces and advised that the Strategy provided a framework as a starting point for improving parts of the town centre.  Specific schemes brought forward would be subject to individual consultation, where any potential loss of on-street parking spaces would be considered at that stage.

The Panel supported the recommendations as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy, February 2016, be approved as part of the evidence base to inform and support the East Herts District Plan;

(B)      the Hertford Town Centre Urban Design Strategy, February 2016, be approved to inform Development Management decisions; and

(C)      a Steering Group be set up, including representatives from East Herts Council, Hertfordshire County Council and Hertford Town Council, to agree an action plan to bring forward appropriate projects in the short, medium and long term for the improvement and enhancement of the County Town, with a report on an action plan and identified projects being submitted to the Executive.