EAST HERTS COUNCIL

NON-KEY DECISION 11/03

REPORT BY EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR PLANNING POLICY AND TRANSPORT

HARLOW CORE STRATEGY ISSUES AND OPTIONS CONSULTATION (NOVEMBER 2010)

WARD(S) AFFECTED: High Wych, Hunsdon, Much Hadham, Sawbridgeworth, Stanstead Abbotts

Purpose/Summary of Report

·  To inform Members of Harlow Council’s Local Development Framework Core Strategy Issues and Options Consultation, which addresses amongst other issues, the possible expansion of Harlow into East Herts District;

·  To seek authorisation to submit the attached responses to Harlow Council as an official response from East Herts Council, prior to the end of the consultation period on 28th January 2011.

RECOMMENDATION FOR DECISION BY THE EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR PLANNING POLICY AND TRANSPORT: that in respect of the Harlow Council Core Strategy Issues and Options Consultation Document, November 2010, Harlow Council be advised that East Herts Council:
(i) / maintains its total opposition to any development north of Harlow, in East Hertfordshire District, for the growth of Harlow, as contained in the East of England Plan 2008;
(ii) / considers it premature to base the Harlow Core Strategy on the provisions of the recently re-instated East of England Plan 2008, in the light of the Government’s intention to abolish Regional Spatial Strategies, and reform of the planning system embracing the localism agenda;
(iii) / considers that given the assumptions underlying the top-down direction under which much of the existing evidence base was prepared, it is now necessary to re-examine the case for growth north of Harlow from the bottom-up.
(iv) / submits the response contained at Essential Reference Papers ‘B’ and ‘C’ to this report.

1.0 Background

1.1 Harlow Council is currently consulting on its LDF Core Strategy Issues and Options document. The consultation closes on Friday 28th January 2011.

1.2 The Issues and Options consultation is the first public consultation in preparing the Core Strategy. It sets out key issues and strategic choices for Harlow. The next full public consultation will be the Preferred Options, which will present Harlow Council’s draft Core Strategy including preferred development strategy options.

2.0 Report

2.1 The Consultation document contains 31 questions across seven chapters. Suggested responses to each question are set out in Essential Reference Paper ‘C’.

2.2 it is considered that further explanation and context is required as a basis for the direct responses to the consultation in ERP’C’. Therefore, an overview response has also been prepared, which is attached at Essential Reference Paper ‘B’.

2.3 The basic argument of the proposed response at ERPs ‘B’ and ‘C’ is that, since the scope of much of the evidence base for the expansion of Harlow into East Herts was limited by the top-down policy direction of the now moribund East of England Plan, it is essential for Harlow Council to address the limitations of this evidence from the bottom-up, in order to be able to develop a plan which will be fit for the new planning system under the Localism agenda.

2.4 It is therefore argued that it is premature for Harlow Council to express a preference for urban extensions into East Herts district north of Harlow.

3.0 Implications/Consultations

3.1 Information on any corporate issues and consultation associated with this report can be found within Essential Reference Paper ‘A’.

Background Papers

The consultation documents are available on Harlow Council’s website at

http://harlow.jdi-consult.net/ldf

Essential Reference Paper ‘B’: East Herts Council’s response to Harlow Council’s Core Strategy Issues and Options Consultation: Overview

Essential Reference Paper ‘C’: East Herts Council’s response to Harlow Council’s Core Strategy Issues and Options Consultation: Response to Consultation Questions.

Contact Member: Councillor M G Carver, Executive Member for Planning Policy and Transport

Contact Officer: Kevin Steptoe, Head of Planning and Building Control– Contact Tel Ext No 1407

Report Author: Martin Paine, Senior Planning Officer


ESSENTIAL REFERENCE PAPER ‘A’

Contribution to the Council’s Corporate Priorities/ Objectives (delete as appropriate): / Caring about what’s built and where
Care for and improve our natural and built environment.
Shaping now, shaping the future
Safeguard and enhance our unique mix of rural and urban communities, ensuring sustainable, economic and social opportunities including the continuation of effective development control and other measures.
Leading the way, working together
Deliver responsible community leadership that engages with our partners and the public.
Consultation: / Internal consultation with relevant East Herts Council Officers and the Executive Member.
Legal: / None
Financial: / None
Human Resource: / None
Risk Management: / Failure to take account of the issues raised in the report could lead to East Herts Council failing to influence the policy process, and consequent failure to influence the nature and location of development in the district.

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