Agenda item

To provide Members with an overview of the Stevenage Station Gateway Area Action Plan (AAP) Preferred Options Report public consultation; and to highlight to Members the next steps in the planning process with the AAP and Local Plan Review.

The Executive considered a report in respect of public consultation feedback on the Station Gateway Area Action Plan Preferred Options report.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the content of the Stevenage Station Gateway Area Action Plan (AAP) Preferred Options Report Consultation Statement, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be noted.

2.          That the content of Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Highways comments on the Preferred Options Report, as set out in the report, be noted.

3.          That the next steps for the AAP Preferred Options Report and Local Plan Review set out in the report, including agreeing to consult on Option 2 as the Preferred Option within the Local Plan Review in 2024, be approved.

4.          That the revised Local Development Scheme set out at Appendix D to the report be approved, and the timescales for a Local Plan Review be noted.

5.          That it be noted that the comments of the Planning & Development Committee will be sought and considered on both the Consultation Statement and the content of the report.

6.          That it be noted that informal engagement with key stakeholders will continue, ahead of incorporating the AAP into the Local Plan Review.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.

The Executive considered a report in respect of public consultation feedback on the Station Gateway Area Action Plan (AAP) Preferred Options report.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment & Performance referred to the 4 high level options for the Station Gateway area (the area adjacent to Stevenage Railway Station, incorporating the section of Lytton Way, between Swingate and Danesgate) which were:

·         Option 0 – Do nothing.

·         Option 1 – All traffic modes: reduced the central area of Lytton Way between Swingate and Danesgate to a single carriageway suitable for all modes of traffic.

·         Option 2 – Bus and Taxi only: reduced the central area of Lytton Way between Swingate and Danesgate to a single carriageway and restricted movement to buses and taxis only.

·         Option 3 – Pedestrianised Plaza: removed regular vehicle movement from the front of the station and Lytton Way ceased to be a through-route.  An access through-route would be retained for emergency vehicles needing to access and egress the station and immediate environs.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment & Performance drew attention to the relationship between the AAP and the Local Plan Review, as demonstrated by a diagram presented at the meeting.

The Assistant Director (Planning & Regulation) commented that Hertfordshire County Council Highways had expressed a preference for Option 2, for the reasons set out in the report.  Members were therefore being asked to agree to consult on Option 2 as the Preferred Option within the Local Plan Review in 2024.

The Planning Policy Manager referred to the revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) timetable, attached as Appendix D to the report, and commented that it was intended that an updated LDS and Local Plan Review report would be submitted to the Executive in late 2023.

The Portfolio Holder for Economy & Transport commented that he understood the themes that had emerged from the consultation exercise set out in Paragraph 4.7 of the report.  He supported the statement contained in Paragraph 4.24 of the report that the level of ambition in the Stevenage Sustainable Travel Town may make the level of mode shift achievable – however, without major behaviour change and modal shift, there were potential risks of causing significant congestion.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment & Performance advised that he had established a User Engagement Group on Active Travel.  He felt that the range and depth of consultation on the AAP had been good, but that he would be striving towards undertaking local level public engagement/consultation that was beyond the Town & Country Planning Institute guidelines.

It was RESOLVED:

1.          That the content of the Stevenage Station Gateway Area Action Plan (AAP) Preferred Options Report Consultation Statement, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be noted.

2.          That the content of Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Highways comments on the Preferred Options Report, as set out in the report, be noted.

3.          That the next steps for the AAP Preferred Options Report and Local Plan Review set out in the report, including agreeing to consult on Option 2 as the Preferred Option within the Local Plan Review in 2024, be approved.

4.          That the revised Local Development Scheme set out at Appendix D to the report be approved, and the timescales for a Local Plan Review be noted.

5.          That it be noted that the comments of the Planning & Development Committee will be sought and considered on both the Consultation Statement and the content of the report.

6.          That it be noted that informal engagement with key stakeholders will continue, ahead of incorporating the AAP into the Local Plan Review.

Reason for Decision:  As contained in report.

Other Options considered:  As contained in report.