Issue - meetings
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Meeting: 28/11/2024 - Council (Item 57)
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
To receive petitions, comments and questions from the public.
Decision:
Immediately before each of the respective Agenda Items, a presentation was received from Silke Gruner, Emanuele Lo Faro and Edward Keyner regarding Agenda Item 9 - Land North of Great Ashby (GA2) Strategic Masterplan Framework and from Richard Kelly regarding Agenda Item 10 - North Stevenage Strategic Masterplan Framework.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 23 minutes 12 seconds
N.B. Councillor Cathy Brownjohn left the Chamber at 20:33 and returned at 20:42.
The Chair invited Ms Silke Gruner, Mr Emanuele Lo Faro and Mr Edward Keyner to present to Council their presentation regarding Agenda Item 9 - Land North-East of Great Ashby (GA2) Strategic Masterplan Framework.
Ms Gruner thanked the Chair for the opportunity and provided a presentation for Members which included that:
· It had taken 10 years to get to this stage.
· This was a development of 600 homes including 250 affordable dwellings. The site would have a community centre and a primary school.
· This was a landscaped led development utilising the woodlands and providing an attractive edge to the site.
· The Masterplan had previously been described as excellent by Members and this reflected the preparation and commitment of the team. The team had worked with Officers and the Project Board to get to this point.
· Work was continuing with Officers on the pre application phase with an aim to submit an outline planning application in early 2025.
· There would be further details in the outline planning application including the housing mix and density and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
· There was ongoing work on a sustainable travel strategy linking the development, including improvements to bridleways.
· In coordination with the Highways Agency extensive modelling and assessment work had been completed regarding the traffic impact from the development
· There would be a primary school on the site and a community centre. There had been discussion regarding an NHS provision, but these were ongoing.
· The development would be implemented by a construction partner subsequent to any planning application.
· It was expected that the development including infrastructure would occur over a period of 5 years with 150 to 200 homes built each year.
The following Members asked points of clarification:
· Councillor Daniel Allen
· Councillor Ralph Muncer
· Councillor Tom Tyson
· Councillor Ruth Brown
· Councillor Laura Williams
· Councillor Steve Jarvis
· Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham
· Councillor Paul Ward
· Councillor Sam Collins
In response to points of clarification, Ms Gruner advised that:
· There would be active travel routes between Great Ashby and Stevenage, some of which would be dedicated cycle paths.
· There had been a question-and-answer session at the Community Hall in Great Ashby.
· Questions had been raised regarding any NHS facilities however, this was not something under their control, a site would be made available if successful.
· There was an emergency vehicle access point from Back Lane.
· This was an allocated site in the Local Plan, the Local Plan had been agreed with one site access. Highways had been consulted regarding this matter.
· There were ongoing discussions with Herts Badger Group regarding their concerns.
· There were ongoing discussions regarding an NHS facility. These would be progressed and a suitable location would be allocated if successful.
· Work was ongoing with the Highways team at Hertfordshire County Council regarding the access point with some minor alterations made to the geometry of the junction.
· The Highways team undertook computer modelling of ... view the full minutes text for item 57