Meeting documents

1 THE ISSUE

1.1 The report sets out the response to consultation on the Radstock Regeneration Principles and seeks approval of the principles subject to minor amendment.

2 RECOMMENDATION

2.1 The Executive is asked to:

1) Agree the principles as amended as a basis for helping to guide regeneration in Radstock town centre and to be taken into consideration in producing future statutory planning policy for the town.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1 This report does not raise any specific financial implications.

4 THE REPORT

4.1 A set of regeneration principles were agreed by the Executive in February as a basis for consultation. The purpose of the principles is to provide a context for the subsequent development of a physical regeneration framework for Radstock town centre. They do not put forward specific proposals for development. Any specific development proposals that come forward will need to be considered against approved planning policy. It will be for the promoters of such proposals to take responsibility for financial viability of schemes.

4.2 Consultation has been undertaken by sending the draft principles direct to key stakeholders and through a public exhibition held for a week in Radstock town centre. The list of consultees (in addition to the general public) is set out in Appendix 2. The exhibition material, document sent direct to consultees and the response form are attached as Appendices 3, 4 and 5.

4.3 The comments received and the office responses are set out in Appendix 1. Many of the comments were either supportive or raised points outside the scope of the principles. A number of comments have however, raised concerns over access and traffic congestion. It is therefore proposed that the principle on connection and the public realm is amended to address this. In order to avoid the principles being perceived as prescriptive in relation to the economy, a minor change is also proposed to refer to service activities appropriate to a town centre location, as well as environmentally friendly business activities. The amended principles are set out in Appendix 6.

5 RISK MANAGEMENT

6 RATIONALE

6.1 A coherent and co-ordinated approach is vital for successful regeneration. The draft Local Plan allocates the former railway and associated land in the town for development. Whilst there is not currently a physical regeneration framework or masterplan for the town centre, a significant amount of regeneration work has been undertaken. Drawing upon this work to establish a set of regeneration principles will provide a starting point for development of a physical regeneration framework for the town centre. These principles can be taken into account in any subsequent production of formal planning documents for the town. Minor amendment of the draft principles previously agreed by the Executive is proposed following consultation.

7 OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

7.1 Then option of relying on current policies and strategies has been considered. This has been rejected because of the lack of a forward looking and holistic context for physical regeneration risks failure to realise the town's potential. Consideration has been given to deferring further work until commencement of formal planning documents within the Local Development Framework process. This has been rejected because of the need to guide and facilitate regeneration on the shorter term. The proposed principles can be taken into account in any subsequent development of formal planning policy.

8 CONSULTATION

8.1 Ward councillor, Executive councillor, Town council, Other B&NES Services, Local residents, Community Interest Groups, Stakeholders/Partners, Other public sector bodies, Section 151 Finance Officer, Chief Executive, Monitoring Officer

8.2 Consultation has been carried out as detailed in the report. In addition, a copy of this report has been circulated to the Executive Member, Ward Members, other Council Services, Section 151 Officer, Chief Executive and Monitoring officer.