CHAPTER 3: SPATIAL VISION AND STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

Spatial Vision

Looking forward to 2026 and beyond, the District will remain a prosperous, safe and healthy place where people want and are able to live and work.

The priorities for the future are:

1. To provide growth required to support local communities and provide for their needs in the most sustainable way possible
2. To locate growth in the most sustainable locations in terms of access to services and transport networks and impact on the environment
3. To improve access to housing and affordable housing for communities across the whole District
4. To provide opportunities for local employment and maintain the vitality and viability of existing centres across the District, reducing the need to travel
5. To promote sustainable transport options to improve access for all communities and reduce dependence on the car
6. To support growth with appropriate investment in infrastructure to ensure that new and existing communities can access services that they require
7. To reduce inequalities across the District, in particular through regeneration of the South Oxhey area
8. To recognise opportunities to make the best use of land whilst minimising adverse impacts on the character of the District and minimising harmful changes to the built, historic and natural environment
9. To recognise opportunities to improve and enhance the built, historic and natural environment wherever possible
10. To limit changes to the Green Belt that will be necessary to accommodate some growth required to locations which result in the least harm to Green Belt and sustainability objectives.

All growth will need to be sustainable so that the present needs of residents and businesses in Three Rivers can be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. New development will need to mitigate its impact on the causes of climate change and should be resilient to climate change impacts. Opportunities to reduce the impacts on the environment of existing built stock will be supported.

In essence, future development must secure a balanced provision between homes and jobs that also safeguards and enhances the environment, maintains the Green Belt, secures good services and facilities for all and achieves a sustainable transport system. Growth required in the District will maintain or improve the quality of life of Three Rivers' communities.

S1. To ensure that development in Three Rivers recognises and safeguards the District's distinctive character of small towns and villages interspersed with attractive countryside and Green Belt, through sustainable patterns of development

Development in the District needs to be achieved whilst protecting the very assets that make Three Rivers unique and help maintain a high quality of life. There will remain a strong commitment to the protection of the Green Belt which occupies 77% of the area of the District, although it is recognised that some minor adjustments to the Green Belt boundary may be necessary over the plan period to meet development needs, prevent over-development in some areas and generally promote a sustainable pattern of development.  Changes to the Green Belt will be on the edges of existing urban areas. Change will be limited to locations which result in the least harm to Green Belt and to sustainability objectives. Changes will not result in the loss of more than 1% of the total Green Belt area in the District.

S2. To make efficient use of previously developed land

The re-use of land in the urban area is necessary to act as a stimulus for existing settlements, to concentrate development in the most accessible areas and to protect more open parts of the District. It may also facilitate the remediation of any areas of contaminated land. Continuing to achieve at least 60% of new development on previously developed land (PDL) will remain a priority for Three Rivers. However, some previously developed land can be constrained by biodiversity interest and other factors. Therefore it cannot be assumed that all previously developed land is appropriate for redevelopment. Opportunities for regeneration in South Oxhey mean that a higher proportion of development in this area may be on previously developed land.

S3. To reduce impacts on the environment by reducing waste, pollution and energy consumption, by promoting the use of renewable energy, and the conservation of water resources and by designing development to take into account future changes to the climate

There is little doubt that the burning of fossil fuels is contributing to long-term changes in the climate and to pollution generally. It is important that the problem is tackled at all levels including the local. This means designing, constructing and reusing buildings and materials to minimise the use of natural resources and reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. It also means dealing with the effects of extreme weather and potential flood risk through appropriate design and siting of development. The nature of the District does not lend itself to large-scale wind energy developments; however there are opportunities for smaller-scale wind and other renewable and low carbon energy opportunities.

S4. To balance the community's need for future homes and jobs by providing sufficient land to meet a range of local housing needs and to maintain a prosperous local economy

This will include making appropriate provision for the required numbers of homes and jobs to meet local needs in line with the East of England Plan. For housing, this means delivering housing to meet local needs in terms of size, type and tenure of units including affordable, special needs and Gypsy and Traveller accommodation. For employment, this means meeting local needs in terms of the type of jobs and employment sectors. The proximity and influence of the London job market may affect the potential for improving the homes to jobs ratio within Three Rivers. However, 'balance' between the provision of new homes and jobs is needed in order to redress the relatively high daily outflow of commuters from Three Rivers into adjoining areas. We anticipate that to meet needs in Three Rivers the number of new homes provided should be matched by the number of new jobs at a ratio of

S5. To increase levels of affordable housing in the District, prioritising the provision of social rented and larger family-sized homes

A step-change in the provision of affordable housing is needed in order to seek to meet the large identified need for affordable housing in the District. House prices are high relative to incomes in the District and a significant proportion of the population, particularly the young and those within the less affluent parts of the District, are unable to access housing in the general market. The lack of suitable and affordable housing within the District also has impacts on the ability of the District to attract and retain workers with impacts on key services and the local economy.  There is a very high need for affordable housing within the District but viability considerations mean that it will not be possible to meet all of this need within the period to 2026. The priority will therefore be social rented homes and larger family sized homes, as these are required to meet the most urgent housing needs within the District. Rural affordable housing will also be provided within the villages of Bedmond and Sarratt where this would meet identified local needs.

S6. To facilitate the provision of services and infrastructure to meet the needs of existing development and new development by working on cross-boundary issues with adjoining authorities, service providers and the development  industry

It is important that all residents, particularly vulnerable groups and those within the pocketed areas of deprivation in the District, have good access to services including health, education, transport and emergency services and that this is maintained or improved in the future. Potential deficiencies will need to be addressed through planning obligations and other funding regimes as part of new development proposals. The Council will continue to foster relationships with neighbouring Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire Districts and with London. It will also continue to work with the Local Strategic Partnership as well as public, private and voluntary sectors in order to tackle deprivation and to reduce inequalities between areas.

S7. To deliver improved and more integrated transport systems and reduce the need to travel by locating development in accessible locations

Although levels of car ownership are high within Three Rivers, not everyone has access to a car and nor is it necessary or desirable to use a car for all trips, particularly for short journeys. Providing alternatives to car travel through better public transport, better opportunities for cycling or walking, and by locating development at locations with good access to services, employment and a range of transport options, will be major contributors to achieving a more sustainable District. In particular, implementation of the Croxley Rail Link is supported, recognising its potential to enable more sustainable transport choices in the area. It will also be important to integrate transport networks to enable people to change easily between road, rail, bus and cycle travel.

S8. To maintain and enhance the viability, vitality and variety of shops and services within the Principal Town and Key Centres and retain shops and services in other smaller settlements

Ensuring that Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Croxley Green, Rickmansworth, South Oxhey, Mill End and Leavesden and Garston provide a good range of goods and services across the District will reduce the need to travel to centres further away, especially to meet everyday local needs, and will support local businesses. Retaining services in other smaller settlements will help to enable these settlements to meet some of the day-to-day needs of their communities.

S9. To conserve and enhance the countryside and the diversity of landscapes, wildlife and habitats in the District within a coherent network of Green Infrastructure to support the natural environment and human health

Three Rivers has visually attractive landscapes and important habitats for wildlife. There is however scope to develop the District's Green Infrastructure through improving the diversity and connectivity of landscape and habitats, and through the conservation and enhancement of natural assets. The Chilterns AONB, and the District's Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Local Nature Reserves, wildlife sites, the Colne Valley Park, the Grand Union Canal and all river corridors including the Rivers Chess, Colne and Gade are particularly important assets to be conserved and enhanced as they provide connections across the whole District and into adjoining areas. However it is recognised that they are not the only important elements for Green Infrastructure within and around the District.

S10. To conserve and enhance the historic environment by resisting the loss of, or damage to, heritage assets including important buildings and to ensure that new development respects the unique character and identity of the towns and villages in the District

Three Rivers has a rich historic environment including many historic buildings, archaeological sites, historic structures, historic landscapes, spaces and conservation areas. It will be important to conserve heritage assets and their settings through appropriate control of development but also to enhance the historic environment where opportunities arise.

S11. To provide accessible and varied opportunities for leisure, arts, sport and recreational activities in order to promote healthy lifestyles

The Local Development Framework can make a significant contribution towards improved levels of health by supporting the location and provision of suitable open space, children's play space and sports facilities to increase opportunities to exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle for the whole community.

S12. To promote safety and security as a high priority in the design of new developments in order to create attractive and safe places in which to live, work and play

Reducing crime, fear of crime and anti-social behaviour are key community priorities that can be addressed by the Local Development Framework by promoting good design, securing contributions towards increased police resources and improving access to training facilities provided by the Learning and Skills Council and other agencies.

The main emphasis for future development is to continue to focus development within the existing urban area through development of previously developed land and appropriate infilling, recognising potential for mixed use development to contribute to the development of sustainable communities. This will be followed by development at the most sustainable locations on the edge of existing settlements.

In order to achieve the Spatial Vision for Three Rivers and meet Objectives for the District:

1. New development will be directed towards previously developed land (including surplus employment land) and appropriate infilling opportunities within the urban areas of the Principal
2. Town (Rickmansworth) and Key Centres (South Oxhey, Croxley Green, Abbots Langley, Chorleywood, Leavesden and Garston and Mill End) as these have been identified as the most sustainable locations in the District.
3. More limited new development will take place on previously developed land (including surplus employment land) and appropriate infilling opportunities within the Secondary Centres (Kings Langley, Carpenders Park, Eastbury, Oxhey Hall, Maple Cross, Moor Park).  This recognises that these settlements are not generally as sustainable as the Principal and Key Centres but that they do provide some access to services and facilities and are generally close to larger settlements. Some growth will also help to sustain the vitality and viability of these settlements.
4. Limited development to meet local needs will take place in the villages of Bedmond and Sarratt, recognising the need to sustain these more rural areas.
5. To meet development needs, it will be necessary to review the boundaries of the Green Belt at the edge of existing settlements within Three Rivers. Specific Green Belt sites and indicative phasing for development will be identified through the Site Allocations Development Plan Document, and release will be informed by regular monitoring. Sufficient land will be identified to meet development requirements throughout the plan period. In identifying sites within the Green Belt, priority will be given to previously developed sites over greenfield sites and will be identified at the most sustainable locations on the edge of the Principal Town, Key Centres and Secondary Centres as defined in the settlement hierarchy.
6. All development sites will be identified having regard to a criteria-based approach, taking into account whether development on the site:
   • Will be accessible to public transport, services and facilities
   • Will not have a significant impact on the environment including in terms of impacts on the Green Belt, visual amenity, heritage assets, transport and environmental quality including wildlife, flood-risk and water pollution
   • Is likely to come forward over the plan period.
   More detailed criteria for the selection of future housing sites are listed in Appendix 2.

7. All development will be required to make provision for necessary infrastructure including (but not exclusively) for transport, education, health, Green Infrastructure, utilities, waste facilities, waste water, leisure and community facilities.