Agenda item
Local Development Framework - Wembley Area Action Plan Preferred Options for Public Consultation
Having considered responses to consultation on the Wembley Area Action Plan Issues and Options document in September last year, it is now proposed to consult on the Council’s Preferred Options. This is effectively a draft new Development Plan for Wembley. This report provides a summary of the main consultation responses, explains the contents of the draft Plan and recommends that this is made available for public consultation for eight weeks commencing on 13 August 2012.
The Wembley Area Action Plan Preferred Options document is to follow.
Minutes:
Ken Hullock (Policy Manager – Planning and Development, Regeneration and Major Projects) introduced the report that summarised the responses to the Wembley Area Action Plan issues and options document consultation and outlined the preferred options of the Area Action Plan with a view to including them as part of the Development Plan for Wembley. The document provided more weight to guidance about specific sites in Wembley, whilst also explaining how the preferred options were deliverable. Ken Hullock referred to the summary of consultation responses at the issues and options stage as set out in the report which included a list of the organisations that had responded. He then provided a summary of the preferred options with particular reference to the following:-
· Urban design and placemaking
· Business, industry and waste
· Town centres, shopping, leisure and tourism
· Transport
· Housing
· Social infrastructure
· Climate change
· Open space, sports and wildlife
Ken Hullock advised that that there were also a number of sites identified for more detailed planning guidance for potential development. He added that some developers had already expressed an interest in respect of developing sites at the Chiltern Line cuttings north and south. Members also heard that in respect of the Brent House and Copland School site, the preference was for a large food store as this was seen as a good location for a town centre supermarket. There was also to be a new policy that would prevent any new hot food takeaways being within 400m of schools and to make up no more than 7% of the total retail units for particular stretches of roads. Transport improvements would be undertaken through a variety of measures, including junction improvements, whilst car parking standards would be tightened to encourage use of other modes especially public transport. In respect of housing, a new policy for affordable rents was proposed in line with the new Government policy that affordable rents should have regard to local market rates. Student accommodation, which was already plentiful in the area, would be capped at 20% of the new population as there was a need to provide capacity for the projected increase in population in the area in future years. Ken Hullock confirmed that consultation of the preferred options would commence in August 2012, followed by a pre-submission consultation of the Action Plan in December 2012. The formal submission of the Action Plan would take place in March 2013 and examination hearings in July 2013 with a view to formally adoption the Action Plan in December 2013.
During discussion, Councillor R S Patel enquired if there were any proposals to improve traffic flow and parking provision in Wembley High Road and increase the number of public conveniences in the Wembley area. Councillor John commented that the developer in respect of the Chiltern Line cuttings sites had been shrewd in approaching Network Rail to obtain their prior support in any proposals that may be submitted. She enquired how many parking spaces were envisaged at the Brent House site. In respect of public conveniences, although she acknowledged that there was some need for these for Wembley Stadium visitors, they were not a particularly desirable option for most people and it was important that such facilities were properly maintained. She felt that public conveniences could be better provided by ensuring that there was the appropriate match up in terms of premises such as restaurants providing such facilities. Councillor Daly added that there was a need for more female public conveniences. She also commented that that Chiltern Railways had recently been scaling back the number of trains stopping at Wembley Stadium station and sought assurances that the company were committed to Wembley.
Councillor Cummins suggested that it would be beneficial to include street names on the maps included in the preferred options document circulated to Members. He commented that some sites proposed for development could impede views of Wembley Stadium and he sought further observations in respect of this. Councillor Cummins also stated that in New Zealand, local cafes and restaurants were responsible for maintaining public conveniences and as this system worked well it should come under consideration in Wembley too. Councillor Cheese welcomed the proposals in respect of car parks to discourage use of cars and he felt that this should be emphasised to potential developers.
The Chair enquired if a betting shops threshold could be set and where was it proposed to locate the swimming pool. In respect of junction improvements, he sought confirmation as to whether Wembley Triangle would remain.
In reply to the issues raised, Ken Hullock advised that views of Wembley Stadium would be taken into account when considering any development proposals. He explained that a balance needed to be struck in respect of parking, stating that if there were too many restrictions, this could discourage retailers. It was intended to provide parking spaces at each end of Wembley High Road, with the Brent House site accommodating around 250-300 parking spaces. Members were advised that it was difficult to restrict betting shop provision as they came under the commonplace A2 use which included services such as banking. Ken Hullock added that he was not aware of any other local authority that had attempted to introduce betting shop restrictions. The proposed swimming pool location was on a site that currently had outstanding consent for student accommodation and if an alternative site was needed then a different funding source would need to be sought. In respect of Wembley Triangle, Ken Hullock advised that the favoured option was for a T junction requiring acquisition of a small piece of land involving bridge widening and it was anticipated that this could be undertaken without the need for a compulsory purchase order.
Chris Walker advised that there was on-going dialogue with Chiltern Railways and it was being emphasised to them that Wembley was a growing destination in order to encourage them to increase the number of trains stopping at Wembley Stadium station. He informed Members that Chiltern Railways were making adjustments to their timetable due to the increased traffic on the line, however they were an ambitious company who were looking at ways of increasing capacity on the line. New public conveniences were proposed off Empire Way and the public conveniences along Quintain Way were to be re-established off Olympic Way, whilst longer term other options were being considered around the vicinity of Wembley Stadium. Members noted that the public conveniences at Central Square had also re-opened. Chris Walker confirmed that there would be more food and restaurant outlets appearing in the Wembley area.
The Chair requested that larger copies of the maps enclosed with the Wembley Area Action Plan document be circulated to Members both electronically and in paper form.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the Preferred Options of the Area Action Plan (attached) be agreed for public consultation commencing on 13 August 2012 be recommended to the Executive; and
(ii) that the Assistant Director, Planning & Development be authorised to make further editorial changes to the document prior to finally issuing it for public consultation.
Supporting documents: