ITEM CA7 - APPENDIX A

 

Eco-towns: Living a Greener Future

Joint report by Cherwell District Council and Oxfordshire County Council.

 

OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL / CHERWELL DISTRICT COUNCIL

 

JOINT TECHNICAL NOTE

 

 

WESTON OTMOOR ECO-TOWN PROPOSAL

 

 

1          Introduction

 

1.1      DCLG published Eco-Towns: Living a Greener Future on 3 April for consultation; this period concludes on 30 June.  This document provides an explanation of the key principles of the proposed settlements, an outline of the process for the assessment of candidate sites and a shortlist of 15 locations.  Further technical assessments are ongoing to enable the publication of a draft Eco-Towns PPS in July.  The wider technical assessment of the shortlisted proposals will continue until late September prior to the identification of up to 10 preferred locations within the final PPS in October.

 

2          Assessment of the Proposal

 

2.1      To provide views on the Weston Otmoor proposal; its location, the approach to the development, infrastructure requirements, the technologies involved and the likely impacts of the proposal.

 

2.2      The views of each Council will need to be considered and endorsed by the Cabinet in the case of OCC and the Executive in the case of CDC in advance of the end of the consultation period.  This provides a very short time window in which to identify issues and to undertake appropriate technical background work.  The key dates are as follows:

 

            OCC Cabinet – 24th June

            CDC Executive – 7th July

 

2.3      The consultation closing date of 30th June consultation will be a difficult one to meet as there has been little opportunity for the pre-planning of resources both inside and outside the two authorities.  There is a need to establish what resources (financial or otherwise) will be made available to the councils to pay for this significant technical work.

 

2.4      The table below provides a summary of the background technical work thought to be required to aid DCLG, OCC and CDC in their assessment of the Weston Otmoor proposal.

 

 

Transport

 

 

Method of Assessment

 

Transport Assessment

 

The transport impacts to be assessed will be set out in the specification to be provided by OCC.  It is unlikely that it will be possible to do a full TA in the time available.

 

Need to ensure TA work is integrated with work specified by Highways Agency.

 

The assessment of the TA will need to cover the following general issues but because of the nature of the proposal there are likely to be other issues that will also need to be addressed.:  Particular attention will need to be paid to proposed technologies; management, delivery and enforcement of the proposals; and risks relating to these issues.

 

  • Planning policy context of development proposal to include project fit.
  • Agreement on the catchments or study area for the proposed development.
  • Assessment years - year of opening and horizon year(s).
  • Assessment of public transport capacity and requirements, walking/cycling capacity and the road and rail network capacity.
  • Person trip generation and trip distribution methodologies and/or assumptions.
  • Measures to promote sustainable travel including robust travel planning.
  • Mitigation measures (where applicable) - scope and implementation strategy.
  • Management of the transport measures and how to secure them in perpetuity.
  • Delivery mechanisms.

 

 

 

 

Parkridge to fund preparation of Transport Assessment with OCC providing a lead on its specification.

 

 

Planning

 

Environmental Constraints

 

Assessment of impacts upon:

 

  • Green Belt
  • SSSIs
  • Other nature conservation sites
  • Ancient Woodland
  • Conservation Areas
  • Listed Buildings
  • Archaeological Sites and Monuments

 

 

 

CDC/OCC with assistance from outside agencies.

 

Drainage, Flooding and Water Resources

 

Assessment of current flood risk and preparation of Flood Risk Assessment.  An initial discussion with prospective consultants has revealed that an SFRA based approach is unlikely to be sufficient to meet the Environment AgencyÕs requirements.  The recommended approach would involve the preparation of a Water Cycle Study (WCS); however, the consultant has advised that it would be difficult to produce such a study within the current consultation timetable.

 

 

 

Consultants required to undertake this aspect with CDC input.  General issues could be addressed by CDC, but there is a need for additional resources for this aspect.

Housing Numbers

 

To assess overall impacts of revised housing numbers upon the LDF and the CouncilÕs housing strategy.

 

 

 

 

CDC with input from DCLG and GOSE.

Impact upon Settlement Patterns

 

To assess the exiting settlement pattern and the potential impacts of the proposal upon this.

 

 

 

CDC

Design Issues

 

To review information and comment upon the proposals.

 

 

 

CDC

Landscape Character

 

An assessment of impacts upon the wider landscape to consider the sensitivity of the wider landscape to change and impacts likely to arise from the proposal.

 

 

 

CDC, potential for involvement of Consultants.

Economic Impacts

 

To assess the potential negative and positive economic benefits that might arise from the proposal.  Particular regard should be had to potential impacts upon Bicester and the CouncilsÕ strategy to reduce levels of out-commuting and to improve the quality and quantity of employment opportunities within the town.

 

 

 

DCLG/Consultants with input from OCC/CDC.

Social Impacts

 

To consider the potential social impacts upon adjacent settlements, particularly Bicester and nearby villages, but .a proposal of this scale may also have significant effects upon Banbury (and other settlements beyond Cherwell District).

 

 

 

DCLG/Consultants with input from OCC/CDC.

General Infrastructure

 

To assess the overall level of infrastructure and supporting facilities to be provided.

 

An early initial assessment of other large settlements has indicated that the proposed site area does not appear sufficient to accommodate the intended land uses range of facilities required.

 

 

 

DCLG to examine within the wider technical assessment, but CDC/OCC will be expected to contribute to this process.

Land Ownership

 

To establish the pattern of land ownership and extent of existing options.

 

 

 

DCLG to examine within the wider technical assessment, but CDC will be expected to contribute to this process.

 

Assessment of Site against Eco-Town Criteria

 

To assess the characteristics of the site against DCLGÕs published requirements and to compare the characteristics of Weston Otmoor against other candidate locations.

 

 

 

DCLG to examine within the wider technical assessment, but CDC/OCC also to carry out their own appraisal of the proposal.

 

Potential for Future Growth

 

To consider future growth potential and the role of Eco-Towns in the future.

 

 

 

DCLG/CDC/OCC

Overall Viability

 

To assess the overall financial viability of the proposal to compare the value to be secured through the proposed development with the likely cost of the proposed infrastructure.

 

 

 

DCLG

Community Engagement

 

To consider how the affected communities surrounding the proposal can be effectively engaged.

 

 

 

Parkridge/CDC/OCC supplemented by DCLG if necessary

 

Phasing and Timescales

 

To assess the projected delivery of housing and its links to associated infrastructure.  This relates to issues within the development, but also to the resources available to outside agencies that would be responsible for other areas of infrastructure.

 

 

 

DCLG

Assessment of Environmental Credentials

 

To assess the stated environmental benefits of the proposal; in terms of green technology, carbon saving, etc.

 

 

 

Eco-Towns Challenge Panel.  Assessment of information provided by Parkridge with contribution from CDC/OCC.

 

Sustainability Appraisal

 

To respond to the publication of the Sustainability Appraisal when published in July.

 

CDC/OCC/Consultants

Planning Policy Statement

 

To respond to the consultation stage of the draft PPS.  There is a need to ensure that all relevant policy aspects and technical requirements are dealt with in the PPS.  The consultation timetable is currently unclear, but a draft is expected to be published in July with a final document in October/November.

 

OCC/CDC

Co-ordinate Publicity

 

Need to ensure that the CouncilsÕ positions are clearly communicated.  Need clear coordination of PR strategy and lead person to deal with press/media.  It should be noted that the CouncilsÕ views on the Eco-Town proposal is separate from the CouncilsÕ support for East West Rail.

 

Ensure all partners agree and abide by media stance.

 

DCLG has confirmed that all Parkridge information should be made available for assessment, with the exception of sensitive commercial and financial information.

 

OCC/CDC

Alternative Funding

 

There will be significant additional costs to the Councils in assessing the implications of the Eco-Town proposal.  This is likely to be a need to employ additional staff resources or to employ external consultants.  Advice has been sought from DCLG on the likely availability of additional resources.

 

DCLG

Other Issues

 

The proposal would have significant effects upon the progression of the current transport and land studies being undertaken as part of the evidence base for the Cherwell LDF.  An initial meeting was held on 30th April with CDC and OCC officers and Halcrow (the consultant) to discuss approach.  A strategic direction needed on whether we should assume this goes ahead and build it into ITS/Central Oxfordshire work.

 

CDC/OCC/Consultants