Issue - meetings

Report of the Leader

The Cabinet Member Built Environment introduced the report. The report explained that on 27 July 2010 Cabinet had approved a consultation exercise on the proposed revisions of the North Place and Portland Street Development Brief and its associated technical appendix; the Cheltenham Civic Pride Urban Design Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). These revisions were considered necessary by the Cheltenham Development Task Force in order to reflect current market conditions and enable greater flexibility in the type and mix of uses that could be accommodated on the site.

He stressed that whilst the SPD was far more flexible than before, there would still be high standards set for the quality of the development.

Consultation had been key to the development of the brief and a wide range of comments had been received. He was pleased that many of the suggestions had now been incorporated. He thanked the Strategic Land Use Team for their work in carrying out the consultation and drafting responses.

In summary he said it was the most significant development scheme in the town in the last 30 years.  It would bring huge environmental improvements as well as creating jobs and boosting the local economy.

Councillor Fletcher declared an interest as a member of the board of trustees for Dowty House. She highlighted the need for the developers to take great care in this area particularly with regard to the distance between buildings.

A member suggested that the reference to underground car parking in 5.2 was not strong enough and developers would be unlikely to consider this if it was presented as an option. Forcing developers to introduce underground car parking would improve the environment and free up land.

Another member was concerned about the cost of underground car parking which could be as much as 10 times the cost of over-ground parking and asked where the council would get the money from. Another member suggested that if developers were forced to fund this, this would reduce the potential funding for other improvements paid for by the developer which the council might negotiate.

A member sought reassurance that land would not be sold for a supermarket in order to finance the rest of the development.  He also commented that the risk assessment in appendix 1 was inadequate and asked what would happen if the council did not get a developer for the site. Was that the end of Civic pride?

Other members made the following comments and questions:

• There was a reference to restricting the number of storeys in residential properties to 5, was there a similar intention to restrict the number of storeys in commercial properties?
• Would the 300 car parking spaces be in addition to car parking provided as part of a business or residential development?
• In reviewing the proposals members should be looking at the bigger picture and the vision for the next 20 years.
• It was important not to be too restrictive with developers and the council must be flexible and work with them.
• The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12

Report of the Cabinet Member Built Environment

RESOLVED THAT:

1.                        That the revisions to the Cheltenham Civic Pride Urban Design Framework Supplementary Planning Document and the North Place and Portland Street Development Brief be approved, subject to the additional amendments set out at (2) and (3) below, and that it be recommended that Council adopts them as amended

2.                        That the proposed wording at 3.39(ii) of the Supplementary Planning Document, “About 300 public car parking spaces” is not approved and that the previous wording be reinstated, namely:

“A minimum of 300 public car parking spaces.  Developers are likely to be asked to consider two different options for the public car park: one underground and the other over-ground.”

with consequent changes being made wherever the number of car park spaces is referred to in the Development Brief.

3.                        That the proposed wording of the Development Brief in Design Principle D, sub-section e. be amended as follows:

“A 6-bay bus node for local and national services, to include appropriate interchange and support facilities, will be accommodated at the southern end of the North Place/Portland Street site, potentially in North Place.

with a consequent change being made to Design Principle E, sub-section h(i) to delete the words “including the bus node”.

The Cabinet Member Built Environment introduced the report. The report explained that on 27 July 2010 Cabinet had approved a consultation exercise on the proposed revisions of the North Place and Portland Street Development Brief and its associated technical appendix; the Cheltenham Civic Pride Urban Design Framework Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). These revisions were considered necessary by the Cheltenham Development Task Force in order to reflect current market conditions and enable greater flexibility in the type and mix of uses that could be accommodated on the site.

He stressed that whilst the SPD was far more flexible than before, there would still be high standards set for the quality of the development.

Consultation formally took place between 23^rd August and 1^st October 2010 and the comments have now been considered and the documents revised accordingly. The key changes are set out under paragraph 4.3 of this report. A full schedule of the comments received and the proposed changes to each document is provided at Appendix A (for the SPD) and Appendix B (for the Development Brief).

This consultation had been key to the development of the brief and a wide range of comments had been received. He was pleased that many of the suggestions had now been incorporated. He thanked the Strategic Land Use Team for their work in carrying out the consultation and drafting responses.

He referred to the proposed amendments to the recommendations which had been circulated at the start of the meeting.  The first one related to car parking where he said it was important to maintain a stated minimum of public car parking spaces. The reference to underground car parking as an option had also been reinstated.  The second amendment was in response to comments from the Civic Society that Portland Street may not be the best site for the 6-bay bus node as it could impair the vision for this street becoming a green gateway into the town. The amendment gave flexibility to the developers by suggesting that the bus node could be located anywhere in the North Place/Portland Street site and potentially in North Place.

Members of Cabinet supported the Development brief and SPD. They welcomed the flexibility but emphasised that quality must not be compromised and good design was essential if the vision was to be achieved. 

RESOLVED THAT:

1.                        That the revisions to the Cheltenham Civic Pride Urban Design Framework Supplementary Planning Document and the North Place and Portland Street Development Brief be approved, subject to the additional amendments set out at (2) and (3) below, and that it be recommended that Council adopts them as amended

2.                        That the proposed wording at 3.39(ii) of the Supplementary Planning Document, “About 300 public car parking spaces” is not approved and that the previous wording be reinstated, namely:

“A minimum of 300 public car parking spaces.  Developers are likely to be asked to consider two different options for the public car park: one underground and the other over-ground.”

with consequent changes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6