PT GLOUCESTER CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE : PLANNING DATE : 7 th JANUARY 2014 ADDRESS/LOCATION : HEMPSTED APPLICATION NO. & WARD : 13/01187/NPA WESTGATE APPLICANT : HEMPSTED COMMUNITY FORUM PROPOSAL : DESIGNATION OF NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA REPORT BY : CLAIRE HASLAM NO. OF APPENDICES/ : 1. SITE PLAN OBJECTIONS 2. THE APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION 1.0 SITE DESCRIPTION AND PROPOSAL 1.1 The application is seeking approval for the designation of a neighbourhood area. 1.2 The application relates to the area outlined in red on the site plan attached to this report. The boundary of the proposed area is the Quedgeley Parish boundary to the south, the canal to the east, the River Severn to the west and Llanthony Road to the north. The area is to be known as ‘Hempsted Neighbourhood Planning Area’. 1.3 The application is referred to Planning Committee for determination as agreed by the process approved by Council on 19 th July 2012. 2.0 RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY None 3.0 PLANNING POLICIES 3.1 Neighbourhood planning is part of the Government’s Localism Agenda. The Localism Act and subsequent Neighbourhood Planning Regulations give communities greater power to plan and shape development in their local area.
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GLOUCESTER CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE : PLANNING DATE : 7th JANUARY 2014 ADDRESS/LOCATION : HEMPSTED APPLICATION NO. & WARD : 13/01187/NPA WESTGATE APPLICANT : HEMPSTED COMMUNITY FORUM PROPOSAL : DESIGNATION OF NEIGHBOURHOOD
AREA REPORT BY : CLAIRE HASLAM NO. OF APPENDICES/ : 1. SITE PLAN OBJECTIONS 2. THE APPLICATION FOR DESIGNATION 1.0 SITE DESCRIPTION AND PROPOSAL 1.1 The application is seeking approval for the designation of a neighbourhood
area.
1.2 The application relates to the area outlined in red on the site plan attached to this report. The boundary of the proposed area is the Quedgeley Parish boundary to the south, the canal to the east, the River Severn to the west and Llanthony Road to the north. The area is to be known as ‘Hempsted Neighbourhood Planning Area’.
1.3 The application is referred to Planning Committee for determination as agreed
by the process approved by Council on 19th July 2012.
2.0 RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY None
3.0 PLANNING POLICIES 3.1 Neighbourhood planning is part of the Government’s Localism Agenda. The
Localism Act and subsequent Neighbourhood Planning Regulations give communities greater power to plan and shape development in their local area.
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3.2 The power to designate an area as a Neighbourhood Area is exercisable under section 61G of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as amended by the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.
3.3 To be approved the application for the designation of a Neighbourhood Area
has to meet the following criteria.
A. It must be a valid application. A valid application includes:
a map which identifies the area to which the area application relates,
a statement explaining why this area is considered appropriate to be designated as a neighbourhood area, and
a statement that the body making the area application is a relevant body for the purposes of section 61G(2) of the 1990 Act.
B. It must not be an area already designated as a Neighbourhood Planning
Area.
C. The Local Planning Authority must consider whether the area is an ‘appropriate area’ to be designated.
D. The specified area must not be one that consists of or includes the whole
or any part of the area of a parish council. E. The application must be made by a ‘relevant body’ as defined in the
Localism Act. This means either a Parish Council or a body which is or is capable of being designated as a Neighbourhood Forum.
3.4 Under section 61H of the 1990 Act, whenever a local planning authority
exercises powers under section 61G to designate an area as a neighbourhood area, consideration must be given as to whether the authority should designate the area concerned as a business area.
3.5 Neighbourhood planning was introduced through the Localism Act 2011 which
can be viewed at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/20/contents/enacted .The Neighbourhood Planning Regulations can be viewed at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/637/contents/made Further information can also be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/giving-communities-more-power-in-planning-local-development/supporting-pages/neighbourhood-planning
4.0 CONSULTATIONS 4.1 As per the regulations the application for designation was publicised for a 6
week public consultation period from 15th November until 27th December.
4.2 Letters – a total of 190 notification letters were sent to business and residential properties in the area, where it was felt appropriate due to their location from the main residential hubs within the specified area.
5.0 PUBLICITY AND REPRESENTATIONS 5.1 Site Notices – a total of 19 site notices were erected at key locations through
out the proposed area. This included the Church, School, Post Office, Sainsburys supermarket, Llanthony Priory and the main residential hubs.
5.2 Online – as per the regulations details of the application were placed on the
City Council’s website for inspection. 5.3 Officers have received correspondence and telephone calls requesting further
information about the applications, but to date there have been no letters of objection or support received. A verbal update will be given at the Committee should any late material be received.
5.4 The full content of all correspondence on this application can be inspected at
Herbert Warehouse, The Docks, Gloucester, prior to the Committee meeting. 6.0 OFFICER OPINION 6.1 The application made by Hempsted Community Forum is considered valid
and contains the information required by the regulations. 6.2 This area in its entirety, or any part of this area, has not already been
designated as a Neighbourhood Planning Area. 6.3 I am of the opinion that the boundary to the specified area is appropriate as it
follows the river and canal which provide an obvious natural boundary to the area. In addition to this the southern boundary adjoins the Quedgeley Parish boundary, which neatly allows for potential complete coverage for neighbourhood planning purposes without any gaps between the two boundaries. To the north, Llanthony Road seems an appropriate boundary, as beyond this the area becomes the docks and city centre which are clearly not considered part of Hempsted but their own separate areas.
6.4 Relevant body – I am of the opinion that Hempsted Community Forum is a
relevant body and meets all of the criteria outlined in 61F subsection 5. It has a written constitution; it has been established for the express purpose of promoting or improving the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of the area; it meets the minimum membership requirements and is open to new members who live, work or are elected members of the area.
6.5 No part of the area falls within an existing parished area.
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6.6 When designating a neighbourhood area the Local Planning Authority is required to give consideration to the business nature of the area. If an area is wholly or predominantly business in nature, it ought to be designated as business area rather than a neighbourhood area. I have assessed the area and I am of the opinion that the specified area is not wholly or predominantly business in nature. Whilst there are areas of employment within the specified area there are also significant areas of residential development. As such I consider that it would be inappropriate to designate the area as a business area.
6.7 For these reasons I am of the opinion that the specified area without modification should be designated as a Neighbourhood Area for the reasons set out in the application and this report.
7.0 RECOMMENDATION 7.1 That the area as outlined in the application be designated as Hempsted
Neighbourhood Planning Area.
Decision: .................................................................................................................... Notes: ......................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................... Person to contact: Claire Haslam (Tel: 396825)
