Issue - meetings

(Place – Cllr N Bedford) To approve the draft East of Harlow Masterplanning Guidance SPD for formal public consultation planned for summer 2023 (C-008-2023-24). Please note Appendix A is attached separately to this agenda.

(1)           That the Cabinet approved the draft East of Harlow Masterplanning Guidance SPD (Appendix A) for formal public consultation planned for summer 2023.

(2)           That the Cabinet agreed that the HGGT Director, in consultation with the Chair of HGGT Board be authorised to make minor amendments to the draft East of Harlow Masterplanning Guidance SPD prior to publication for consultation.

(3)           That the Cabinet noted that, following consultation and any subsequent revisions, it was intended that the final East of Harlow Masterplanning Guidance SPD would be considered by Cabinet for adoption as a material planning consideration for assessing planning applications, pre-application advice, and any other development management purposes within the East of Harlow Masterplan Area.

The Place Portfolio Holder introduced the report for East of Harlow which was one of HGGT’s strategic sites. Located across the Harlow District (HDC) and Epping Forest District Council (EFDC) border, 2,600 homes were proposed within Harlow and 750 homes within Epping Forest District, as allocated in the adopted EFDC Local Plan (2023). It also included the proposed site for the new Princess Alexandra Hospital and was covered by Essex County Council (ECC) as the Highways Authority. Since the masterplanning of the site had lacked sufficient progress, which could result in a potential impact on delivery timescales for homes and infrastructure on the site, the HGGT Partnership had agreed to produce a document for the East of Harlow site to provide masterplanning principles. The Place Portfolio Holder and I Braddick answered members questions.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendation and the decision.

Decision:

(1)           That the Cabinet approved the draft East of Harlow Masterplanning Guidance SPD (Appendix A) for formal public consultation planned for summer 2023.

(2)           That the Cabinet agreed that the HGGT Director, in consultation with the Chair of HGGT Board be authorised to make minor amendments to the draft East of Harlow Masterplanning Guidance SPD prior to publication for consultation.

(3)           That the Cabinet noted that, following consultation and any subsequent revisions, it was intended that the final East of Harlow Masterplanning Guidance SPD would be considered by Cabinet for adoption as a material planning consideration for assessing planning applications, pre-application advice, and any other development management purposes within the East of Harlow Masterplan Area.