PRESS RELEASE
Shaping Our Community Consultation – protecting the Green Belt and supporting the local economy and community
Crucial issues affecting St Albans city and district, including protecting the Green Belt while balancing the need to provide new housing, jobs and leisure opportunities are to be debated as part of a major community consultation exercise on the future planning strategy for the area.
People living and working in the district are being invited to have their say on key issues that affect long term planning strategy. As well as protecting the Green Belt, views are being sought on, for example, whether St Albans city centre needs a new supermarket, the proposed locations for schools and youth clubs and new transport measures aimed at reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. The consultation will feed into work to produce the Local Development Framework – a set of planning documents which set the direction of planning policy until 2026. The context for the document is set by the Sustainable Community Strategy for the District, which has just been revised and is being published at the same time. The priorities of the Local Development Framework are taken from the Sustainable Community Strategy.
The consultation runs from July until 28 September 2009 with opportunities for residents, business and community groups to air their views in a variety of ways, including a touring exhibition, online survey and the offer of public meetings in local wards on request.
Cllr Robert Donald, leader of St Albans City and District Council, commented: “Nine out of ten St Albans residents rate our district as a good place to live. This consultation is an important opportunity to help ensure the district continues to develop and flourish, maintaining its unique mix of city, towns and villages, its urban and rural environment and its diverse heritage, while providing new opportunities to support the local economy and community.
“The council attaches great importance to protecting the Green Belt and will continue strongly to resist any government requirement to encroach upon it. It was for this reason that we successfully legally challenged some of the housing numbers in the East of England Regional Plan earlier this year.
“But residents need to be aware that despite this resistance, we have to prepare for the possibility that the government will require an increase in the number of new houses that have to be built in the district and if this happens we may need to consider building in the Green Belt. So this strategy also invites views about some of the difficult choices which – if required to – we might need to make in future.”
The key issues the community will be asked to comment on include:
Green Belt – protecting and improving the Green Belt is an over-riding priority which runs throughout the core strategy. We want to introduce a more pro-active Green Belt management strategy while also balancing the need for future provision of homes, jobs and recreation.
New jobs and homes – existing and new areas of employment have been identified for growth in line with the council’s commitment to attract new, well paid jobs into the district to encourage economic self containment. Possible new sites for homes that have been agreed and for additional ones beyond 7200 which may eventually be imposed on us centrally are indicated and density issues are also covered.
Shopping provision – two prospective city centre sites are indicated for a new supermarket market for St Albans. While new retail growth is earmarked for St Albans city and Harpenden town centre.
New recreational opportunities – new leisure centres at Westminster Lodge and London Colney are proposed together with easier access and leisure opportunities in the Green Belt and open spaces.
Schools and youth facilities – locations for junior and senior schools are proposed to ensure all children have the opportunity to attend their neighbourhood school. A new site for a youth club has been identified in St Albans and re-provision of Harpenden Youth Centre.
Reducing the District’s carbon footprint and reducing traffic congestion – more emphasis on buses, cycling and walking combined with a mini park-and-ride scheme are proposed to help ease congestion. A new western orbital road is also in the draft proposals.
Green living – to meet the challenge of climate change the core strategy looks at how local communities can become more self sufficient by using eco renewable energy and sustainable building design.
Portfolio holder for planning and conservation, Cllr Chris Brazier says: “We want to hear residents’ views on the important issues raised in the Shaping Our Community consultation. There are lots of opportunities for everyone to take part so please come along to the exhibition or visit our website.”
Following the feedback, the council will revise the document and produce the final Core Strategy. The aim is to submit the document formally to the Government in July 2010 and to adopt it, following approval, in June 2011.