Agenda item

This report seeks the endorsement of the Council to a series of high-level development principles to guide the form of the development at BEW. 

            (Prior to consideration of the following item, Councillor Elkins declared a personal interest as a member of West Sussex County Council.)

            The Director of Place presented this report which sought endorsement of the Council to a series of high-level development principles to guide the form of development at Barnham/Eastergate/Westergate (BEW).  Appendix 1 to the report detailed these principles and Members were advised of some minor amendments to 5 of them.  In discussing the amendments, Members made further suggestions, particularly around SDP24 Low Carbon Energy and SDP29 Broadband and, for clarity, those amended principles are listed below with the amendments shown in bold and underlined:-

SDP 1 Access and Strategic Movement - The new community at BEW will have a permeable layout that integrates and maximises and prioritises sustainable patterns of movement, linking the area to the wider community.  The development will also make provision for parking and access to and from the Barnham Railway Station as well as seeking to improve local bus services. Key routes through the development will be wide enough to accommodate buses in addition to parked vehicles.

SDP 7 Place-Making Objectives - The allocation will exemplify high standards of urban, landscape and architectural design to create a distinctive and attractive place with legible character areas that maximise the potential for sustainable design and non-car-based travel.    There should be high quality public realm and public art resulting overall in a place where people will want to live, work and visit for generations to come. The layout should seek to avoid the physical coalescence of the allocation with the existing communities unless there is a sound place making objective to do so such as where part of the allocation may reasonably be regarded as an urban extension.  To reinforce the sense of creating a new community any development which is physically separate from the existing communities by means of the strategic open space being created,  should have a cohesive modern contemporary design approach for the whole of the new community.

SDP 13 Education - The allocation will facilitate the provision of a new Secondary School at Ford, at least two Primary Schools and nursery provision on site, where a need is identified by West Sussex County Council. These new facilities will be a significant focus for community life, playing a key role in fostering a new community through the development and education of younger people. and should be constructed so as to provide a climate-smart benchmark through use of technology, renewable energy and sustainable materials.

SDP 24 Low Carbon Energy - Development at the allocation will promote low carbon energy technologies and opportunities should be taken to incorporate renewable energy features on all buildings.  The development should also embrace the transition to electric vehicles. 

SDP29 Broadband – The allocation will ensure that all development has access to gigabit capable full fibre infrastructure and where appropriate make provision for future changes in technology, subject to viability.

The remaining high level principles were accepted without change.

            The Subcommittee

RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL

That the High Level Development Principles appended to the report and as amended at the meeting be endorsed to guide the form of the development at the Barnham / Eastergate / Westergate (BEW) Strategic Planning Allocation.