Agenda item

This report sets out the consultation process carried out and the representations made on the draft Alperton Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (“the draft SPD”). The report also sets out the proposed officer responses to the consultation representations and proposed changes to the draft SPD as a consequence.

Beth Kay, Regeneration Officer (Major Projects) introduced the report that set out the consultation process carried out and the representations made on the draft Alperton Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (“the draft SPD”) and the proposed officer responses to the consultation representations. She reminded the Committee that the Alperton “growth area” was a strip of brownfield land along the Grand Union Canal from Middlesex House in the west to the border with the Northfield Industrial Estate in the east, encompassing some of the poorest quality industrial land in the borough.  She continued that the council owned very little of the land identified and so cannot physically deliver the change on its own and therefore the draft SPD was a planning document developed to inform and influence developers in the types of development the council would consider appropriate in Alperton.

She drew members’ attention to a number of responses received following the consultation and officer responses as set out in the report which included social and physical infrastructure, housing and overcrowding, transport congestion and improved public transport and the requirement to work with the community through to completion.  Beth Kay added that the responses had been incorporated into the draft for which members’ support was being sought.

In the ensuing debate, Councillor McLennan enquired as to whether the vision would conflict with the wider regeneration proposals for the Wembley area and whether health facilities would be provided for the Alperton growth area.  Councillor Kabir in reference to the canal emphasised the need for partnership working with British Waterways and in the same vein, the Chair enquired about the use of the canal for transportation.

In responding to the above, Dave Carroll Major Projects Manager clarified that Wembley and Alperton would maintain different emphasis with the Alperton growth area which currently comprised of industrial units focussing on lower level family housing units of 1 or 2 bedroom dwelling units aimed at young families.  He continued that in addition to the local Primary Care Trust (PCT) discussions would be held with potential developers with a view to getting them to fund the health facilities within the area.  Members were advised that the vision had the support of the British Waterways and that opportunity for exploring the transport use of the canal was being explored subject to viability issues. Dave Carroll confirmed that the vision was envisaged to be completed in stages and in partnership with landowners who were keen to see the Masterplan progressed to adoption.  He advised members that there were no plans within the vision for a free school to be built on the site and in response to the Chair’s enquiry on transport improvements, stated that such improvements tended to take place after new homes had been built.

RESOLVED:

(i)        that the proposed responses to the consultation representations and amendments to the draft masterplan SPD as outlined in section 4.0 and detailed in appendix 3 of the report be supported;

(ii)       that the council’s Executive be recommended to adopt the Alperton Masterplan as a Supplementary Planning Document to the Councils Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy.