SOUTH WORCESTERSHIRE DEVELOPMENT PLAN - PREFERRED OPTIONS 2011: SCHEDULE OF ISSUES AND RECOMMENDED RESPONSES Row No.

Transcription

1 1. Positively Prepared Sites SWDP7/1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Worcester City Centre On paper it seems an excellent idea to encourage pedestrian flows with the refurbishment of many sites within the City. This will draw tourists and shoppers into the centre. It is to be hoped that all the refurbishment will be sympathetic to the character of the City and those architectural scars created in the 20th century will be removed. Endorse paras 5.31 and Endorse para 5.33 Endorse paragraph34 2. Not consistent with national policy Respondent supports the principals of SWDP7 and would encourage greater ambition for future growth and recognition of the need to expand the City Centre to create a vibrant mixeduse destination capable of accommodating modern retailing, leisure and tourist trends Agree: This policy will be implemented in conjunction with SWDP 25 and the new policy on historic environment Agree SWDP 7 supports re-development proposals for the listed opportunity zones providing they incorporate a genuine mix of land uses. 1 Council meetings 3 rd July 2012

2 Not positively prepared Improvements to Friar Street and the need to accommodate independent retail should be explicit within the SWDP 3. Not consistent with national policy SWDP7 should be extended to promote the redevelopment and reconfiguration of existing retail accommodation to accommodate occupier requirements 2598 Accept in part Although the City Centre Masterplan does not refer to specific improvements to Friar Street it does highlight: Areas for independent retail, including Friar Street, New Street and parts of Broad Street should be protected because of the special qualities and distinctiveness they bring to the city centre MASTERPLAN p31 Therefore the importance of protecting Friar Street is highlighted in the supporting Masterplan document, although specific sites are not mentioned explicitly in the SWDP document itself Accept in part Policies SWDP7/1 and SWDP7/2 allow for the opportunity for redevelopment and refurbishment of existing retail accommodation (Cathedral Plaza, Crown Gate / Angel Place / The Butts). There is opportunity for occupiers to become more involved in voicing their own requirements (i.e. those of modern retailing) through pre application/ further consultation Minor change Include wording under 5.17 to say specific sites that are protected can be found in the City Centre Masterplan Document. No consultation required 2 Council meetings 3 rd July 2012

3 on this site. However, occupier requirements for reconfiguration and redevelopment may not be possible in listed/historic buildings. 4. Not justified SWDP7/1 would benefit from being expanded to facilitate leisure uses and uses that would strengthen the City's leisure core Noted. SWDP 7/1 supports the re-development, refurbishment, expansion of the existing shopping centre and to provide greater connectivity with the Cathedral. The South Worcestershire Joint Retail Study Update 2010: We consider that any retail development in the centres should be welcomed and that it would be sensible to continue to identify sites which enable any such development, should the opportunity arise. Qualitative improvements in both the retail offer and the environment of centres will be important in enabling the centres to keep up with residents expectations and help retain their market share. Para 19 South Worcestershire Sports Facilities Framework Active leisure paid employment will increase by 21% between to 57,000, giving 3 Council meetings 3 rd July 2012

4 5. Inadequately Justified SWDP7 should promote the redevelopment and reconfiguration of existing accommodation above 10,000 additional jobs (Culture West Midlands 2008) The South Worcestershire Sports facilities framework does not, however, identify any suitable leisure facilities to be located within this part of the city centre. SWDP 7/1 has been allocated to allow for re-development, refurbishment, and expansion of the existing shopping centre and to provide greater connectivity with the Cathedral, as Cathedral Plaza is considered an important core area of the city centre retail. However, SWDP 29 states that within Secondary Shopping Frontages (of which Cathedral Plaza has a few) a change of use from retail to leisure is permitted providing certain considerations outlined. Therefore SWDP 7/1 could facilitate leisure uses, but would be determined at the application/development management stage Disagree This is covered in SWDP 28, which states that: Proposals for retail or leisure facilities will 4 Council meetings 3 rd July 2012

5 delivery of new space. 6. Inadequately justified SWDP7 Should be reconsidered and further weight given to the need for catering accommodation within the City Centre. 7. Not effective / not justified Whilst we broadly endorse the focus on these zones for redevelopment and the broad thrust of the proposals we would draw your attention to the extensive comments that the Society made on the City Centre Masterplan document from which this policy is derived. These points merit consideration in the development of the City Centre. need to demonstrate that they are: Making full use of the premises avoiding vacant floors over shops and providing a separate entrance for office or residential use of upper floors It is presumed that Catering accommodation is a reference to use classes A3, 4 and 5. Policies for these are included in Policies SWDP 28 and 29. Leisure uses, especially at ground floor level, would conflict with the intention of policy SWDP7/1 which relates to an important core area of the City Centre s retail offer. Where appropriate they are covered by Policy SWDP , 2112, Disagree 2114 The criteria of Policy SWDP 7 are clear in its approach to encouraging a mix of land uses. This is in accordance with the Framework paragraph 17 which states that planning should promote mixed use development. Furthermore SWDP 7 (under Table 11) refers to proposals for single uses within the opportunity zone allocations will be evaluated for their contribution and effect on 5 Council meetings 3 rd July 2012

6 Supplementary Planning Document (SWDP 7 p.72) Improvements: Mix of development should be promoted in Opportunity Zones. Should be clearer on how single use proposals will be judged, and whether it relates to Opportunity Zones or whole centre. the overall mix of uses in the area. 6 Council meetings 3 rd July 2012