Agenda item

The Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport submitted a report that introduced the Employment Land Review 2013, which had updated the previous review undertaken by Halcrow in 2008.  The report also proposed that Officers of the Council explore the viability and feasibility of resourcing the key recommendations detailed in the report.

Members were advised that, following a decision by the Executive to identify priority funding for the Council’s Prosperity theme, a temporary Officer had been recruited to report on the stock of employment land in East Herts.  The subsequent report had identified areas and projects that might be appropriate for Council investment.

Members were advised that, since the 2008 Halcrow Report, the amount of employment land lost to other uses had been minimal.  Members were also advised that the suggested way forward was that the Authority consider undertaking a targeted and proactive programme of interventions designed to raise the quality of existing employment areas.

The Council would, for example, work with landowners, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and Hertfordshire Highways to improve access to and signage for the Raynham Road Estate in Bishop’s Stortford, to take advantage of its location close to Junction 8 of the M11 and Stansted Airport.

The Council might also consider work with landowners, HCC and other agencies to overcome the current access constraints on further development at Mead Lane and bring forward brownfield land for development in accordance with the Draft Mead Lane Urban Design Framework.

The Council might also continue to pursue the provision of a vehicular link between the Foxholes Estate and Caxton Hill as a first stage in restructuring uses at Caxton Hill, Hertford.

In response to a query from Councillor G Williamson regarding the next steps, Members were advised that a report would ultimately be submitted to the Executive for a full discussion regarding the sites where resources could be considered in support of the Council’s Corporate Priority in respect of Prosperity.  The Executive Member for Strategic Planning and Transport advised that large capital sums might be required to ensure that certain key employment sites in East Herts worked to their full potential.

Councillor S Bull expressed concerns that there was a need for new employment areas in Buntingford.  The Executive Member stated that the former Sainsbury’s depot in Buntingford had previously been intended for an entirely commercial use but this had now fallen through.  The likely future use of the site could not solely be residential and a mix of commercial and industrial use had to be the way forward.

Councillor E Bedford commented that the busy industrial site at Marsh Lane in Ware needed tidying up and, in particular, improved signage was needed at the entrance to this site.  He stated that a more thoughtful approach to this site was needed without a significant impact in terms of the capital required.

The Economic Development Manager advised that this was an accurate description of the

issues common to industrial estates across the District and was precisely the kind of low cost deliverable improvement the report was referring to in terms of opportunities for environmental enhancements.

Councillor J Ranger commented that capital should be invested in signage, particularly in town and rural employment/industrial sites to encourage employment opportunities.  He also referred to the possibility of a survey of rural employment areas in East Herts.

The Economic Development Manager advised that a serious consideration of resources, and not just costs, would need to be made to the Executive.

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that (A) the following actions from the Employment Land Review 2013 be supported:

·               The Council should undertake a targeted and proactive programme of interventions designed to raise the quality of existing employment areas by working with tenants and landowners to improve signage and environmental conditions;

·               the Council should work with landowners, Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and Hertfordshire Highways to improve access to and signage for the Raynham Road Estate in Bishop’s Stortford, to take advantage of its location close to Junction 8 of the M11 and Stansted Airport;

·               the Council should work with landowners, HCC and other agencies to overcome the current access constraints on further development at Mead Lane, Hertford and bring forward brownfield land for development in accordance with the Draft Mead Lane Urban Design Framework;

·               the Council should continue to pursue the provision of a vehicular link between the Foxholes Estate and Caxton Hill as a first stage in restructuring uses at Caxton Hill, Hertford; and

·               the Council should undertake a separate review of all rural employment land;

(B) the Economic Development Manager identify the resources required to achieve the outcomes detailed in the Employment Land Review 2013 with a priority on signage and the rural review; and

(C) the Executive be advised to consider the resources required to achieve the outcomes detailed in the Employment Land Review 2013 where a sustainable and manageable outcome is indicated by the detailed business case.