Issue - meetings

REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL ESTATES SURVEYOR

This reports is to consider whether the Council should not progress development or disposal of the site. Instead, the Council should consider capitalising on the site’s biodiversity, with a view to improving public use of the site and exploring the site’s value as part of a habitat bank.  

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

(1)   Approved that the land should no longer be declared surplus, and development of the site should not be pursued.

(2)   Approved progressing with plans to improve management of the land with the intention to provide a habitat bank, or similar, with improved public access as appropriate. Officers from Green Space, Estates and other services to work jointly to manage and deliver the project, reporting back to the Executive Members for Enterprise, Resources and Environment.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   Difficulty providing a suitable access to the site, with a significant associated capital cost to achieve.

(2)   Hertfordshire County Council has advised local planning authorities that the Herts Ecological Networks Map should be used to assess the strategic importance of habitats, and this site has been noted as being strategically significant - the highest rating.

(3)   The need, as part of the planning allocation, for the reprovision of the priority orchard habitat elsewhere in North Herts, in addition to the new Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements. BNG makes sure that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were before the development and is now mandatory.

(4)   A biodiversity baseline assessment of the site in July 2024 identified a high baseline biodiversity value due to the presence of the strategically significant Priority Habitat Traditional Orchard, with mixed scrub and mature and irreplaceable trees.

(5)   Since the allocation of the site in the Local Plan the Council has declared both an ecological and climate emergency.

(6)   Settle Group concluded that a small development on the eastern section of the site with access from the garage site on Radburn Way would not be viable.

(7)   A financial assessment attached at Appendix B of the Part 2 Report, indicates residential development of the site is not viable either with access from a third-party ownership on Radburn Way or via Freeman Drive, given the additional costs of developing the site in accordance with planning and climate change requirements.

Audio recording – 2 hours 10 minutes 1 second

Councillor Tamsin Thomas, as Executive Member for Enterprise, presented the report entitled ‘Radburn Way, Letchworth Garden City – Part 1’ and advised that:

·       The report was to consider not to progress with the development or disposal of the site at Radburn Way, Letchworth and instead to capitalise on the rich biodiversity of the site, with a view to using part of the site as a habitant bank and improving public use of the site.

·       This report would resolve a longstanding question about the future of this green space and the orchard within it.

·       The Council owned the area of land between the Baldock Road and Radburn Way in Letchworth Garden City as shown on the plan in the report.

·       This area of 0.94 hectares was allocated for residential development in the North Hertfordshire Local Plan under policy LG6 along with the adjoining land owned by Hertfordshire County Council.

·       The site contained a priority orchard including veteran trees which were a precious and protected resource.

·       The Local Plan allocation required the reprovision of a change of habitat within the land to delivery 10% of biodiversity net gains on the site.

·       Taking up this recommendation would enable the Council to restore this green space to the public and uphold the commitment of the Council to both climate and ecological diversity.

·       This orchard had a priority status and it would be a significant challenge to reposition the orchard elsewhere.

·       The intention would be to restore and enhance the site using volunteer groups with the help of local residents where possible.

·       There would be an opportunity to sell biodiversity units to receive capital receipts on council sites elsewhere.

·       For these gains to be realised it would be necessary for the site to be restored, enhanced and maintained for a period of no less than 30 years.

The following Members took part in the debate:

·       Councillor Amy Allen

·       Councillor Mick Debenham

·       Councillor Daniel Allen

Points raised during the debate included:

·       There were no alternative sites available elsewhere.

·       This land should not be allocated for housing and a habitat bank would help the biodiversity gain for the Council.

·       This was a benefit for the whole district and for a fairer greener North Hertfordshire.

Councillor Tamsin Thomas proposed and Councillor Mick Debenham seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:

(1)   Approved that the land should no longer be declared surplus, and development of the site should not be pursued.

(2)   Approved progressing with plans to improve management of the land with the intention to provide a habitat bank, or similar, with improved public access as appropriate. Officers from Green Space, Estates and other services to work jointly to manage and deliver the project, reporting back to the Executive Members for Enterprise, Resources and Environment.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   Difficulty providing a suitable access to the site, with a significant associated capital cost to achieve.

(2)   Hertfordshire County Council has advised local planning authorities that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20