Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE INTERIM DIRECTOR – PLACE

This report asks Full Council to approve and adopt the Strategic Masterplan for land around Baldock as a material planning consideration. This masterplan covers a number of sites allocated for development in the Council’s adopted Local Plan (Sites BA1, BA2, BA3 and BA10), along with other ancillary land, for housing, employment and supporting infrastructure. Taken together, these represent the single, largest development project in the Local Plan.

RESOLVED: That that Growing Baldock Strategic Masterplan, attached as Appendix A, was approved and adopted as a material planning consideration for relevant planning decisions related to the site.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

(1)  To set an agreed design framework for the delivery of a strategic site within the Council’s adopted Local Plan.

(2)  To provide a co-ordinated approach to the delivery of multiple planned sites around Baldock.

(3)  To accord with policy requirements of the Local Plan.

Audio recording – 24 minutes 33 seconds

Councillor Daniel Allen, as Leader of the Council, presented referral 5A from Cabinet on the report entitled ‘Growing Baldock Strategic Masterplan’ and advised that:

·       This referral was considered by Cabinet in March 2025, but had been delayed to allow for the County Council elections in May 2025.

·       These sites had been included in the adopted Local Plan, and included a new employment area, infrastructure, railway crossings, GP provision, a local centre and education provision.

·       The sites included BA1, BA2, BA3 and BA10 of the adopted Local Plan.

·       This was the largest development in the district for decades and would see another phase of implementation of the adopted Local Plan, which would prevent unwanted development elsewhere in the district.

·       Council Officers had worked with consultants and the developer team to produce this masterplan framework, with Urban and Civic working hard to involve the local community.

·       Certain aspects of the plan had changed through the consultation process, and were outlined in detail in the report, but included the proposed location of the GP surgery, the southern access to the site and the approach to secondary education provision.

·       The masterplan set the framework against which all planning applications for these sites could be considered.

The Principal Planning & Urban Design Officer provided a visual presentation of site plans and advised that:

·       The masterplan covered a set of sites around Baldock, which were included in the adopted Local Plan.

·       These were major areas of development and thorough engagement had taken place with Officers, the public and the design panel. This had led to changes regarding access to the site, a rationalisation of educational options, a proposed underpass to provide active travel across the rail line and a local centre to compliment, rather than compete with, the existing High Street.

·       BA1 would have primary education access, with two primary schools, Baldock Common would be an open greenspace to the north, Walls Field and other land to the south would be retained for open space provision.

·       The health hub, waste provision and employment provision would be within BA10.

·       The masterplan included a green infrastructure plan which outlined how humans and other species, and ecology, would benefit throughout the site. This included a Baldock greenway, which would be a 6 mile circular route around the town, Bygrave Common, a new park to the north and a new edge to the town, Walls Field would be taken out of agricultural use and there was a commitment to 10% Biodiversity Net Gain on site, which was currently expected to be exceeded.

·       The aim was for 50% of all journeys to be on foot, by cycle or through use of public transport.

·       There would be a new entrance to the north provided at Baldock station.

·       Parts of Bygrave Road would be improved and other provision throughout the site, including car hubs and bus stops, would be provided.

The following Members asked questions:

·       Councillor Matt Barnes

·       Councillor Tom Tyson

·       Councillor Michael Muir

·       Councillor Ruth Brown  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18