Agenda item
Wembley Area Action Plan
This report explains that the Council has received an Inspector’s report into the Examination of the Wembley Area Action Plan Development Plan Document and that the Inspector finds the document sound subject to recommended changes being made. It asks Planning Committee to recommend to Cabinet and Full Council that the Area Action Plan be adopted with the changes incorporated.
Minutes:
The report explained that the Council had received an Inspector’s report into the Examination of the Wembley Area Action Plan (WAAP) Development Plan Document which she considered sound subject to recommended changes being made. The report also asked members to recommend to Cabinet and Full Council that the Area Action Plan be adopted with the changes incorporated.
Claire Jones (Policy Officer, Planning and Regeneration) in setting the background informed members that the WAAP was borne out of the need to bring up-to-date the UDP policy, particularly the Wembley Regeneration Area chapter, first drafted in 2000 and adopted in 2004. It was a logical step in drawing up the folder of Development Plan Documents (DPDs) that would make up the borough’s development plan and ultimately supersede the UDP.
Members heard that Wembley was designated as a Growth Area and was expected to deliver around 11,500 new homes, 10,000 new jobs and 30,000 sq.m of new retail floorspace. The strategic direction for development in Wembley including new infrastructure to support growth was set out in Core Strategy policy CP7 with details as to what, where, how and when the growth would be delivered provided in the Wembley Area Action Plan. The WAAP was subject to examination by an independent Inspector, who held hearing sessions to consider oral evidence in March 2014. A number of changes to the document were proposed both before and during the hearing sessions and these were made available during public consultation for a six week period commencing 15 May 2014.
The Policy Officer continued that following the Examination, the Inspector had found the WAAP sound subject to a number of recommended changes as set out in the Inspector’s report and summarised in paragraph 3.4 of the report from the Operational Director of Planning and Regeneration She emphasised that the changes recommended by the Inspector did not alter the thrust of the Council’s overall strategy for the regeneration of the Wembley area. That meant the Council could adopt the document with the changes incorporated.
During the ensuing discussion, members noted the deficiency in car parking facilities in the town centre, a situation which was felt likely to be worsened by various development proposals including plot W19 for 1500 units and asked officers to clarify measures which would be taken to address such situation. It was generally felt that development would be required around Wembley station area which would act as a catalyst to Chiltern Railways to increase the frequency of trains. The need for improving the frequency of bus routes 92 and 206, making the local car parks and pavement user friendly and signage was also highlighted.
In response, Stephen Weeks (Head of Planning) stated that it was a requirement that development proposals should provide car parking spaces but added that the key to addressing the parking situation was public transport accessibility. Claire Jones explained that due to the complexity of the site around the station, the change in levels between the High Road and Montrose Crescent (up to two storeys) and the multiplicity of ownership, a series of development schemes had not been progressed, resulting in steady decline of that area over a number of years. She added that Wembley West End site had a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) to support development on the site at the junction of Wembley High Road and Ealing Road. The council considers this area to be suitable for a mixed use redevelopment scheme, incorporating new residential and retail uses. This will develop the site as a key gateway to the town centre and create sufficient development to stimulate the regeneration of the west end of Wembley High Road, complementing the development of Central Square.
Aktar Choudhury (Operational Director of Planning and Regeneration) informed the Committee about the Council’s efforts in securing a Crossrail spur stop at Wembley Central and sought the Committee’s support in its endeavours. Members were unanimous in expressing their support to the Council in its efforts to seek a stop at Wembley Central.
RECOMMENDED:-
that the Cabinet and Full Council adopt, the Wembley Area Action Plan Development Plan Document subject to the recommended changes as set out in appendix 1 to the report from the Operational Director of Planning and Regeneration.
Supporting documents: