Agenda item

Planning and Sustainability – (C-075-2020-21) - This report sets out the changes proposed to be made to the draft Green Infrastructure Strategy that was agreed by Cabinet for the purposes of consultation on 15 April 2020.  

Appendices to this report will be distributed separately.

(1)        The Cabinet agreed the Green Infrastructure Strategy as a material planning consideration for the preparation of Strategic Masterplans, Concept Frameworks, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management and implementation related purposes within the District; for submission to the Local Plan Inspector; and used to inform the Council’s update to the Habitats Regulations Assessment to support the emerging Local Plan, subject to review with the Woodland Trust;

(2)        The Cabinet agreed that contributions would be sought from residential developments in the parishes of Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Theydon Bois towards site specific projects to mitigate the impact of recreational pressure on Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation in the sum of £716 per dwelling;

(3)        The Cabinet agreed the Green Infrastructure Strategy as a framework for guiding partnership working and investment in green and blue infrastructure as part of the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency; and

(4)        The Cabinet agreed that the Planning Services Director, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Green Infrastructure Strategy, including any mapping and links and the addition of a glossary, prior to publication.

The Planning and Sustainability Portfolio Holder, Councillor Bedford introduced the report on the Green Infrastructure Strategy.

The Council’s emerging Local Plan sets out policies in relation to the provision and enhancement of Green and Blue Infrastructure, the protection of the District’s ecological assets and achieving high quality design. To support these policies and address the requirement to provide suitable avoidance or mitigation measures to manage any potential impacts of growth on protected sites, including the Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the Council had developed a Green Infrastructure Strategy (‘the Strategy’). The Strategy would ensure that high quality Green and Blue Infrastructure, including the provision of Suitable Alternative Natural Green Space (SANG) and Infrastructure Enhancement Projects, was delivered alongside the growth proposed in the District as part of the emerging Local Plan.

This report sets out the changes proposed to be made to the draft Green Infrastructure Strategy that was agreed by Cabinet for the purposes of consultation on 15 April 2020.   The consultation was undertaken in June and July 2020.

Councillor Philip had a couple of questions. One came from one of his residents to which he had made councillor Bedford aware of. The second question came from the Chairman of the Theydon Bois Parish Council that they were surprised to learn that the Woodland Trust had not been included in the consultation and asked that they have sight of the proposal before it was approved. Councillor Bedford said that he would send a full response to the resident’s question sent to Councillor Philip. This was about a walking route from Debden to Theydon Bois which a lot of councillors and officers had walked and making it more accessible to everyone. As for the comment on the Woodland Trust, the strategy did mention that it would have ongoing consultation with partners, including the Woodland Trust, and he would ask officers to look into this. Councillor Philip asked if a recommendation could be altered to take this into account by adding, at the end of recommendation 1, “subject to review with the Woodland Trust”. This was agreed.

Councillor Heap said that it had been a hard read and asked who was in the Quality Review Panel and did any of them write the report. And, there was mention of charging residents of Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Theydon Bois, but Chigwell was not included, and asked why should we be taxed living here in an urban environment. Councillor Bedford said the quality review panel was an independent body giving independent advice. As for Loughton and Buckhurst Hill they contribute to it as it was done by distance from the SAC, so those closest to the SAC would contribute more. Mr N Richardson confirmed that was the case and that Chigwell was that bit further away.

Councillor Chris Pond said that this report was better than its first version and had been done reasonably well. He assumed that this would be part of the documents we would submit as part of the Local Plan. He agreed with Councillor Bedford that we did need to help people access and enjoy our countryside but was surprised to hear that the Woodland Trust had not been consulted. In considering the Woodland Trust site of the Theydon Bois woods (on page 175 of the supplementary agenda), he noted that it was  to the east of the built up area, but he considered a better way into the area would be to make use of the Loughton Shores linking up with the woods by reinstating a bridge or subway linking up the two areas.  Councillor Bedford agreed and asked Councillor Pond to supply a more detailed plan on what he had just said, they would consider it, as it sounded to him to be an ideal way to link the two areas together.

Councillor Wixley said that he had discussed this route at the last council meeting before lockdown and had asked Councillor Bedford to accompany him to walk this route. His offer was still there. On this route there was unfortunately a precarious footbridge that had partially fallen away. He then noted that the Loughton Shores mentioned were owned by Essex County Council so we may need to negotiate with them as well.

Councillor Wixley carried on to say that page 170 of the supplementary agenda mentioned two cricket clubs saying the one to the north was not as indicated the Loughton Cricket Club. That was not correct, it should be South Loughton Cricket Club, and this should be corrected. The other thing he wanted to bring up was in reference to improvements to Roding Valley Recreation Ground, and he indicated that he may have an interest here as he chaired the recreation Committee on this for the Town Council, responsible for this section of the recreation ground. He wanted to know if this support included financial support, as they had a number of projects there, they would like to get on with but could not at present. He would like to know if financial support was available and when it would be available. SANGs had been mentioned and wondered that when they were chosen, if Jessel Green could receive protection as a Trust Status, which he knew had been applied for. As for Blue infrastructure, there was no reference made to the Environmental Agency who are responsible for cleaning up the brooks.

Councillor Bedford noted his comments and wondered if Country Care could be asked to fix the broken bridge mentioned. The name of the Cricket Club can be amended on the report. He was not in a position to comment on town council financial support. The Rodding Valley Recreation Ground was part of the improvement body for the SANG area. Councillor Wixley noted that the footpath with the broken footbridge was probably the responsibility of ECC and Country Care would have to talk to them.

Councillor Jon Whitehouse said that there was a lot to like in this, he noted that there was also an athletics club that used the Roding Valley Recreation Ground. The South Epping SANG, the diagram was not specific and need to be clear about what they were to be used for. And also, it was not well explained why the Town Centre developments in Epping did not have provision for a green space. Clarity on this would be helpful. Councillor Bedford noted the athletics club mentioned. The South Epping site was not site specific and was not coming until 2028 and we would look at it in the future. And, Epping was right next to the forest and it would be getting a new leisure centre. But your comments would be taken on board.

Councillor McCredie noted that Country Care was now back at work and could help with repairing the bridge.

Councillor Heap suggested that the Council borrowed the £1million needed, but was told by Councillor Philip that the council did not need to borrow the money. We had a structure for a levy on developments occurring in those areas as part of the Local Plan. It was not an additional tax burden on the residents of those areas.

Councillor Lea thought that the money from the developers would eventually come down to the residents via the house prices for local people. Councillor Philip replied that the overall contribution per dwelling would not significantly affect the purchase price to a future resident.

Decision:

(1)        The Cabinet agreed the Green Infrastructure Strategy as a material planning consideration for the preparation of Strategic Masterplans, Concept Frameworks, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management and implementation related purposes within the District; for submission to the Local Plan Inspector; and used to inform the Council’s update to the Habitats Regulations Assessment to support the emerging Local Plan, subject to review with the Woodland Trust;

(2)        The Cabinet agreed that contributions would be sought from residential developments in the parishes of Loughton, Buckhurst Hill and Theydon Bois towards site specific projects to mitigate the impact of recreational pressure on Epping Forest Special Area of Conservation in the sum of £716 per dwelling;

(3)        The Cabinet agreed the Green Infrastructure Strategy as a framework for guiding partnership working and investment in green and blue infrastructure as part of the Council’s response to the Climate Emergency; and

(4)        The Cabinet agreed that the Planning Services Director, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder be authorised to make minor amendments to the Green Infrastructure Strategy, including any mapping and links and the addition of a glossary, prior to publication.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

•           To give the Strategy planning weight by endorsing it as a material consideration in the planning process This would ensure that development proposals would achieve the Council’s ambitions for the provision of Green and Blue Infrastructure, and that clear parameters were established for the development of masterplans and concept frameworks, the provision of pre-application advice, the assessment of planning applications and any other development management and implementation related purposes within the District.

•           To comply with the Council’s general obligations as a competent authority under the Habitats Directive [article 6(3)] and the Species and Habitats Regulations 2018 [Regulation 9(1)].

•           To respond to the Local Plan Inspector’s Advice dated 2 August 2019 (ED98) following the hearing sessions of the Local Plan examination in relation to mitigating the effects of recreational pressure upon the Epping Forest SAC.

Other Options for Action:

Not to agree the Strategy and endorse it as a material consideration in the planning process would mean that there would be no mechanism to support the delivery of development proposals and achieve the vision and objectives set out in the Council’s emerging Local Plan, or the application of the policies within it. In addition, there would be no overarching framework in place to achieve the implementation of important initiatives intended to support the Council’s response to the Climate Crisis.