Issue - meetings

Outline Application: Development of up to 600 residential dwellings (Use Class C3(a)), construction of a 5-bedroom property for childrens social care and supported living (Use Class C3(b)). Two vehicular access points from Little Green Lane and further pedestrian / cycleway accesses.  A one form entry primary school (Use Class F1(a)) (plus expansion land for a two form entry primary school).  A mixed use local centre including provision for NHS health and social care services (Use Class E(e)), community building (Use Class F2), retail and cafe provision (Use Class E(a-c)), car parking and associated infrastructure. A country park, areas for play and recreation, allotments, community orchard and landscaping with associated infrastructure including sustainable urban drainage systems. (Layout, scale, appearance and landscape as reserved matters) at Land To North Of Little Green Lane, Croxley Green.

Recommendations:

(1) that Members agree for officers to arrange a site visit prior to this application being presented to Planning Committee for a decision; and

(2) that the Committee notes the report, and is invited to make general comments with regard to the material planning issues raised by the application.

The Committee received a preliminary report on an outline application for development of up to 600 residential dwellings (Use Class C3(a)); construction of a 5-bedroom property for children’s social care and supported living (Use Class C3(b)); two vehicular access points from Little Green Lane and further pedestrian / cycleway accesses; a one form entry primary school (Use Class F1(a)) (plus expansion land for a two form entry primary school); a mixed use local centre including provision for NHS health and social care services (Use Class E(e)), community building (Use Class F2), retail and cafe provision (Use Class E(a-c)), car parking and associated infrastructure; a country park; areas for play and recreation, allotments, community orchard and landscaping with associated infrastructure including sustainable urban drainage systems. (layout, scale, appearance and landscape as reserved matters) at Land To North Of Little Green Lane, Croxley Green.

The Committee was invited to note the report, comment on any material planning issues raised by the application and consider undertaking a site visit.  The application would be brought back to the Committee in due course for determination.

The Planning Officer reported that since publication of the agenda, the applicant had submitted a revised Transport Assessment and Travel Plan, and also a new additional Active Travel Route Audit. These had been submitted in response to comments from Active Travel England, National Highways, Hertfordshire Highways and Transport for London.  These consultees had been notified and were reviewing the details provided.

A member of the public spoke against the proposal.

Councillor Paul Rainbow spoke on the proposal.

Councillor Ciarán Reed spoke on the proposal.

Councillor Narinder Sian spoke on the proposal.

Parish Councillor Guy Parks spoke on the proposal.

Members’ questions and comments on the proposal included the following:

·        Is the site Grey Belt or Green Belt?

·        Concerns were expressed regarding: access issues; capacity of Thames Water to manage the sewage from the site; the impact on local traffic and highways issues; harm to the Green Belt; whether there was sufficient health service provision (both GP and hospital) to support the development of 600 homes; transport accessibility and capacity (particularly at rush hour for trains and local road congestion); sufficiency of parking provision; potential impact on the wildlife at Whippendell Woods and other woodlands and hedgerows; and flood and heritage impacts.

·        Members questioned whether the one form entry primary school, if mainstream rather than SEN, was necessary given a recent decline in pupil numbers and the capacity available at existing schools.

·        Before the application is presented for determination, officers were asked to seek further information from Thames Water in relation to capacity; to continue to try to obtain responses from consultees who had not yet replied; and to consult with organisations and groups in adjoining areas such as Watford Borough Council, Watford Joggers, Rambling Associations, the Chiltern Society and the Chiltern Conservation Board. 

·        Officers were also asked to include within the committee report a detailed assessment of harm to the Green Belt; information regarding the sustainability of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14