Foreword by Councillor Giles-Medhurst, Deputy Leader of the Council and Lead Member on the Local Plan and Infrastructure, Three Rivers District Council
Much has changed since we first started on the requirement laid down by government to agree a planning framework for Three Rivers, including the national planning system. Amongst these changes was the introduction of a national standard methodology for calculating the District's local housing need.
All Councils in England are required by the Government to plan for future population growth and the demand for homes and jobs. That's why we're preparing a new Local Plan for Three Rivers. It's a blueprint for how the District will develop till 2038.
Since 2017 we have undertaken a series of consultations on the emerging Local Plan. The most recent was the Regulation 18 Preferred Policy Options and Sites for Potential Allocation document in 2021. We received an overwhelming number of responses, which officers have been diligently analysing and reviewing.
As a result of this consultation, 18 additional and 3 former sites were submitted for the Council's consideration. Of these 21 sites, 6 have been identified by the Council as having potential for allocation in a Local Plan for housing whilst others were considered unsuitable.
We would welcome your views on these additional sites. Those views with those of the 2021 consultation will be considered later in the year before we finalise any plans. Your views will be useful evidence on the plan we must submit for government approval.
The Council has been clear that government's method of calculating the housing numbers resulted in an unacceptable high number for Three Rivers which we have objected to. We remain committed to getting this reduced.
The Secretary of State announcement on 5th December 2022 that the government will now consult on changes in calculating how many homes are needed in an area and that the figures will now be "an advisory starting point" means that Three Rivers will now bring forward a new Local Plan proposal not based on the government's calculated housing figure but one we think is best for Three Rivers and expect the government to agree with what we put forward.
So later in the year I expect the Council to consult you on what we think is the right new housing number for Three Rivers. Officers are starting work on this, looking at the effects of the global pandemic that redefined our expectations of many aspects of the lives we lead. It has changed the relationship we have with shops and services, increasing our reliance on delivery and online services, but also reconnecting us with local places and nature. We also consider population changes and the sustainability of any new developments along with strengthening our planning policies.
Please do let us have your views on this consultation on these potential new sites so we can consider those with earlier submitted views. This will help us in drawing up a final proposal which you will be consulted on. Finally, just to reassure you that NO DECISIONS have yet been taken to propose allocating the sites on the earlier consultation or this one.
Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst
How to Respond to this Consultation
We are interested to hear the views of everyone including residents, businesses, community groups and all other stakeholders. All comments received will contribute towards the new Local Plan that will be submitted to the Government next year.
This document and supporting documents can be viewed and downloaded from the Council's website at: www.threerivers.gov.uk/egcl-page/new-local-plan
You can send representations in the following ways:
By email to: localplanconsult@threerivers.gov.uk
By post to: Planning Policy, Three Rivers District Council, Three Rivers House, Northway, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1RL
The consultation period starts on 27 January 2023 and runs for a period of six weeks, ending at 5pm on 10 March 2023
Please note that Three Rivers will only consider comments by respondents who provide their name and address. Your name, organisation and response will be made publically available once we publish responses; any comments made in your response therefore cannot be treated as confidential (published comments will exclude your personal contact details).
Inappropriate, offensive or racist comments will not be accepted.
We cannot consider matters that are outside the boundaries of the planning process and are likely to be civil matters between parties. These include representations in relation to loss of property value, loss of view from property, private access rights, moral issues and restrictive covenants.
Decisions on sites will not solely be based upon how many responses of support or objection are received but will primarily be based on the impact of the development assessed against local and national policy and the requirements that a Local Plan must meet.
A sustainability appraisal working note has been prepared. This document appraises the environmental, social and economic implications of the additional sites and can also be viewed on the Council's website.
Notification of Future Consultations
If you would like your email address to be added to the Local Plan consultation database so that you are notified of future Local Plan consultations, please request this by emailing localplanconsult@threerivers.gov.uk including your full name and email address.