St Claire’s update

Note from district council

A meeting was held with St Peter’s Ward Councillors , David Bogle and myself. It was agreed to send out the following agreed headlines to the Residents’ Association, St Claire’s Action Group and those residents who have contacted us with questions or comments.

  1. A meeting will be held next week between the Council and Hightown to discuss whether a lower density proposal with Council support through a grant is possible.
  2. If agreement is not reached between Council and Hightown on a lower density proposal, and if the Council decides not to support the original proposal then Hightown would look at alternative options for the building.
  3. In terms of further engagement with residents, Ward Councillors will continue to liaise with all residents in order to represent all views and be a point of contact for queries. The Council will assist with questions and keep the Residents Association and Action Group updated. Depending on how the above progresses this could include a further event an example of which might be an exhibition at which questionnaires could be made available.

One week left to comment on draft Strategic Local Plan

Message from the district council

The public are being asked for their views on a plan for what can be built and where in the District based on work done by independent consultants.

Responses to this consultation on St Albans City and District Council’s draft Strategic Local Plan need to be submitted by Sunday 23 November.

The consultation began on 10 October. Any feedback in writing will be used to help the Council inform its decision making process.

A copy of the consultation draft Strategic Local Plan is available on the Council’s web portal at: www.stalbans.gov.uk/slp.

A public information booklet setting out key issues and questions has also been produced and is on the online portal, along with supporting technical documents. Printed copies of the information booklet are available through libraries, and District, Town and Parish Council offices.

Update on St Claire’s planning application

Note from Chris White

1. Meeting with Hightown Praetorian

I had a meeting with the Chief Executive of Hightown Praetorian and explained to him that a two hour exhibition without any previous attempt to talk to stakeholders or councillors was hardly the way to proceed. He agreed to have a meeting with the Residents’ Association committee and this will be happening at some point next week.

2. The District Council

I have made it clear to officers of the council and its ruling group that the matter has so far been poorly handled. As a result a senior officer of the council will also be talking to the residents’ association. (more…)

Draft Strategic Local Plan out for six week public consultation

St Albans City and District Council is carrying out a public consultation on a draft Strategic Local Plan for the District of St Albans.  The six week consultation begins on Friday 10 October.  It ends on Sunday 23 November. A Strategic Local Plan, when adopted, provides overarching policies and principles for what can be built and where.  All local authorities are required to have such a plan for future development. There is a web consultation portal on the Council’s website where people can give their views (http://stalbans-consult.limehouse.co.uk/portal). (more…)

Council set to challenge Secretary of State’s rail freight interchange planning decision in the High Court

 

St Albans City and District Council has lodged a claim in the High Court.  The claim challenges the Secretary of State’s* decision to grant planning permission for a rail freight terminal at Park Street, near St Albans.

The Council’s claim concerns the legality of the Secretary of State’s decision on 14 July 2014 to allow an appeal brought by Helioslough Limited.  Helioslough Limited’s appeal concerned the Council’s refusal of planning permission for a strategic rail freight interchange on the former Radlett aerodrome site.

The Council is challenging the decision on three points of law.  The first is concerned with the legality of the Secretary of State’s approach in taking his decision.

The second relates to the misapplication of wording in the National Planning Policy Framework, a document that sets out planning policy nationally.

The third ground for challenge relates to procedural irregularity and inconsistency on the rail freight interchange decision. This follows the Secretary of State’s recent refusal of planning permission for a waste incinerator plant, also on Green Belt land, at nearby New Barnfield, in Hatfield.

Michael condemns office conversions

St Peters Liberal Democrat councillor Michael Green has condemned the increasing number of planning applications to convert prime office space to residential accommodation.  The conversion of Ridgmont Plaza in Ridgmont Road has already been approved while a decision is pending for conversion of the West Wing of the Ziggurat in Grosvenor Road.  Both buildings are in St Peters ward.

“Inadequate office accommodation will clearly hit local employment opportunities,” said Michael, “and will risk St Albans turning into a dormitory town.  High density housing also impacts nearby residents by increasing pressure on parking and worsening traffic congestion on roads that are unable to handle current traffic volumes at peak hours.”

 

Green belt review published

The independent Green Belt Review for St Albans District has now been completed and the final report published by St Albans City and District Council.

The final version of part two of the Green Belt Review was reported to the Council’s Planning Policy Committee on 4 March and is available at: http://www.stalbans.gov.uk/planning/Planningpolicy/. The document provides an assessment of the eight sites in the Green Belt which had been identified for further investigation in part one of the review.

Decision by Herts County Council’s Cabinet Panel regarding freight terminal site

The Cabinet Panel unanimously recommended to HCC’s Cabinet that HCC:

1.disagrees with the conclusions of the Secretary of State in his minded to decision letter dated 20 December 2012 that the factors weighing in favour of permitting the SRFI outweigh the harm that it will cause

2.nonetheless acknowledges that it is obliged to accept that the conclusion of the SoS is binding on it and must act consistently with that conclusion even though it disagrees with it

3.agrees to enter into a section 106 planning obligation in respect of its land at the former Radlett Airfield site in connection with the proposed SRFI scheme  (but in doing so does not imply its support for the development) and authorises the DeputyChief Executive in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources & Transformation and the Chief Legal Officer to finalises the terms of the s106 Agreement 

4.urges the SoS to review his conclusion in his minded to letter and to reconsider all the evidence available taking account of

a) any change in circumstances since 20 December 2012 including the impact of London Gateway on the potential container business for the Park Street site

b) all representations received by him since 20 December which might influence his conclusions on the balance of benefit and harm

c) the relative merits of alternative suites including any new sites which may have emerged

and

d) views the Section 106 obligations as currently drafted are inadequate

5. defers any decision on the possible disposal of its land pending an absolute decision by the SoS and the final outcome of any legal challenge to such decision 

6. recognises that should a lawful planning consent be granted, HCC will make any decision on the disposal of its land at the appropriate time having regard, in particular, to the purposes for which it holds the land, any alternative uses then available and its fiduciary duty.  Notwithstanding that if in such circumstances the Council is under a legal duty to dispose of its land, this duty might not require the Council to dispose of its land for use as a SRFI if a rational alternative was then available

The Panel’s recommendations were reported to HCC’s Cabinet who unanimously agreed the recommendations above.

District council spends £1.4 million defending against Helioslough application

Commenting on the news that Herts CC Cabinet looks set to give in to Helioslough, Cllr Anthony Rowlands, leader of the Liberal Democrats on SADC, said:

‘This is bitterly disappointing news. For the past six years the District Council has fought tooth and nail to defeat this devastating proposal. In that time, the Council has spent £1.4 million of public money on external consultants, counsel fees, court order costs, public enquiry costs and other court fees. This has been incurred on two appeals by Heliolough, including representations to the Secretary of State and three High Court orders. This would have been enough to create 10 new  children’s’ play areas.

‘Now we learn the Tory led  County Council is preparing to capitulate. Assertions from County Council leaders that  they are interested in what is known as ‘partnership working’  with  District Councils are clearly just a smokescreen.  Given an opportunity to fill their coffers, they just take the money and run, leaving our District’s residents to suffer the consequences of this massively damaging proposal.’