Agenda item

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth presented the Hatfield Forest Mitigation Strategy and Governance Arrangements report. She said that the forest was the finest example of a small medieval hunting forest in Europe and was in easy reach of East Herts residents. The council, in partnership with Uttlesford, Harlow and Epping Councils and the landowner, have worked to agree the mitigating impacts of detrimental increasing visitor numbers and agreed a tariff in the ‘Zone of Influence’ and transition of fee collection.

The Executive Member for Planning and Growth said that the tariff would be applied to all new residential developments within the zone of influence and that the zone had been designated based on visitor surveys. She said that the Gilston area was excluded from having to pay the tariff due to the extensive green area provided as part of that development.

Councillor Glover-Ward proposed that the recommendations in the report, be supported. Councillor Brittain seconded the proposal.

Councillor Hoskin said he liked the idea of protecting the unique forest and said this seemed ambitious. He asked if there were cost protection measures in place.

The Planning Policy Team Leader said he understood that the stakeholders would continue to meet to ensure the updating of circumstances around the tariff and revisit the zone of influence. He said he would come back to Members with a written answers about the tariff.

Councillor Hoskin asked if the forest would be free to access.

Councillor Glover-Ward said that was correct and it was a natural environment so there was no appetite to charge for entry.

Councillor Hopewell referred to Gilston being exempt from the tariff due to the green space in the development. She asked if this was because residents in Gilston were less likely to visit Hatfield Forest.

Councillor Glover-Ward said the masterplanning for the Gilston site had lots of green space and it was anticipation that residents would visit the green space on their doorstep, instead of travelling to Hatfield Forest.

Councillor Daar asked for clarification on who would pay the tariff.

Councillor Glover-Ward said that developers would pay the tariff.

The motion to support the recommendation, having been proposed and seconded, was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – to recommend to Council that:

(A)   The final version of the National Trust Hatfield Forest Mitigation Strategy (version 6, attached at Appendix A), which includes the Site Access Management and Monitoring Measures (SAMMS), is approved as a basis for seeking a financial contribution for mitigation at Hatfield Forest;

(B)   The apportionment of the SAMMS between the four LPAs via a hybrid method, taking equal account of both the percentage visitor impact and the proportion of new housing relative to existing within the ZoI, is approved;

(C)   The apportioned SAMMS tariff for East Herts District Council is set at £540.07;

(D)  The tariff is applicable to new residential dwellings with immediate effect, subject to transitional arrangements to agree appropriate legal, financial and administrative mechanisms being brought into place to allow the collection and transfer of funds;

(E)   The draft Governance Agreement (Appendix B) between the four local planning authorities and the National Trust as landowners is approved and delegated authority is given to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to work on the final version with an expectation that this is signed and sealed in Autumn 2025.