Agenda item

To consider the attached report (C-022-2018/19).

(1)       That the Garden Town Vision and Design Guide documents appended to the report be agreed as material planning considerations for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes for sites within the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town; and

(2)       That the Service Director Planning in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Garden Town Vision and Design Guide documents should there be any agreed changes proposed by the respective committees of East Herts, Harlow and Epping Forest District Council’s in order to ensure a consistent document

The Planning Services Portfolio Holder, Councillor Philip, introduced the report on the design guide for the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town. He proposed a slight amendment to recommendation 2; that the first sentence be altered to read: “That the Service Director Planning in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder…” this was so that any minor amendments could be made to fall in line with the other authorities that were also considering this document.

Harlow and Gilston was designated as a Garden Town by the Ministry for Homes, Communities and Local Government in January 2017 and would comprise new and existing communities in and around Harlow. East Herts, Epping Forest and Harlow District Councils are working together with Hertfordshire and Essex County Councils to ensure plans for the Garden Town support sustainable living and a healthy economy; provide a good quality of life for existing and future residents; and respond to local landscape and character.

Allies and Morrison were commissioned to support the Councils in developing a vision and design principles for the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town, through developing a strategic narrative, and establishing clear parameters for future masterplanning and consideration of planning applications across the Garden Town that will ensure a consistent high-quality approach to growth.

The vision and design principles have been reviewed and amended through public and developer consultation and the Garden Town Quality Review Panel. It was recommended that the Garden Town Vision and Garden Town Design Guide were agreed as material planning considerations, when assessing site specific masterplans, the emerging Gilston Area Charter, pre-application proposals, planning applications and for any other Development Management purposes. This would ensure that development proposals would achieve garden town ambitions, and that clear parameters were established for future masterplanning and consideration of planning applications across the Garden Town.

Councillor Lion noted that the report mentioned digital capabilities, was there a need for a Digital Masterplan to be put in before building started. Councillor Philip replied that we did have a work stream to look at the digital side, and this will also be looked at through the masterplan, the details would be considered later.

Councillor Chris Pond suggested that electric buses or Trolley buses should be considered for the new town. Also there was mention of the ‘four tracking’ of the West Anglian Mainline and he queried the accuracy of this. Lastly he asked if there had been any concordat with the other two councils on future boundary changes, if not then there should be. Councillor Philip said that they were working on a sustainable transport approach to the plans. As for four tracking, it does say only between London and Broxbourne. As for a concordat; we had an agreement with Harlow several years ago early on in our Local Plan process. Neither of us would look for boundary changes, so the places in Epping Forest, would stay in Epping Forest.

Councillor Grigg asked for any information on the possibility of a sustainable transport bus and the possibility it would link with Epping going through Thornwood. Councillor Philip replied that at this stage there was no more information, other than they were looking at sustainable transport options and did not want to create rat-runs into Thornwood and Epping.

Councillor Jon Whitehouse noted that the Garden Town Transport Strategy was to be published this year and he wondered when we would see this. Councillor Philip replied that they were looking for a sustainable shift in transport; unfortunately the transport strategy was running behind at present and would be brought forward for consultation once approved by the GT Member Board.

Decision:

(1)       That the Garden Town Vision and Design Guide documents appended to the report be agreed as material planning considerations for the preparation of masterplans, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes for sites within the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town; and

(2)       That the Service Director Planning in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Garden Town Vision and Design Guide documents should there be any agreed changes proposed by the respective committees of East Herts, Harlow and Epping Forest District Council’s in order to ensure a consistent document

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

To give the Garden Town Vision and Design Guide suitable planning weight by endorsing these documents as material planning considerations, to ensure that development proposals would achieve garden town ambitions, and that clear parameters were established for future masterplanning pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes within the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town

Other Options for Action:

Not to endorse the Garden Town Vision and Garden Town Design Guide as material planning considerations, would mean to adopt a reactive rather than pro-active approach to managing and overseeing development emerging within the Garden Town. This would increase the risk of uncoordinated development of poor quality, without the overarching value of the Garden Town and its holistic high-quality design and sustainable ambitions.