So, we had a bit of a setback on issuing the 'Regulation 14'
Draft Neighbourhood Plan for consultation a few weeks ago as, when it went to Hertford Town Council, Development and Leisure Committee on the 4th October, it didn't pass the committee because KNP had not confirmed that we would include the amendments suggested by the Town Council and also East Herts District Council*.
Yesterday evening an Extraordinary Meeting of the Leisure and Development Committee was convened** and it was confirmed that the Pre Submission Regulation 14 version was now approved given that most of the changes had been incorporated into the document providing that KNP amend two typos remaining in the Draft Plan.
So, a 20 page Summary of the main plan (which is over 100 pages!) has been sent to the printers this morning and we will be delivering the summary to every dwelling in Kingsmead from this weekend. The consultation will open at midnight on the 7th November and close at midnight on the 20th December.
Yes the 20 page summary only has key points and all of the Policies; But don't panic! We will post the full plan on this website so you can download and view on line and there will be hard copies of the full plan available at the Library in town and also the Tourist Information Office from the 7th November onwards.
Material amendments to the policies in the document as a result of the comments received are:
We have removed all references to affordable housing
Hartham Common has been removed as a Local Green Space as it is already a 'Local Green Finger' and this would duplicate designation elsewhere. The boundary of the Local Green Space on Pinehurst has been adjusted so it doesn't incorporate the small green in front of the Community Centre
Removal of Sustainable Urban Drainage requirements where they replicate those within the District Plan. The additional requirements are still included given the issues with insufficient/poorly maintained storm drains within Kingsmead
We have retained the requirement for a health centre within Kingsmead at Regulation 14 but we will have to show that the NHS CCG requires a Health Centre so, despite there being considerable support for a local health provision it is likely that we will have to remove this at the next stage as the CCG appears to be concentrating all GPs in Hertford town centre despite the issues with travel and parking
We have retained the requirement to provide local school places for any developments over 10 dwelling but have been asked to obtain a statement that Hertfordshire County Council require local school places to be considered so again, this may be removed at the next stage if the required statement of support is not provided.
There will be further changes to the policies/Action Plan and the overall Neighbourhood Plan document as a result of the Regulation 14 consultation as this is when the District and County Council plus other consultees like developers get their chance to make comments on the contents of the document. We will also be taking into account comments from everyone that lives in Kingsmead so make sure that you make the comments/queries and amendments - good, bad or indifferent.
* This was a slightly unusual 'pre Regulation 14' commentary from East Herts as they would normally comment on the Regulation 14 documents
** Very unusual to call an Extraordinary Meeting but the Chair, Councillor Sartin, did this so we were not delayed by three months which is much appreciated. Big thanks from the KNP team