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A Town Centre Strategy for Letchworth Garden City
Adoption Statement
On 18th January 2007, Full Council adopted the Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). The aim of the strategy is to provide a comprehensive framework to promote integrated development and enhancement of the Letchworth town centre over the next 15 years.
The SPD is one of a number of documents in the Local Development Framework (LDF) that has been prepared following the introduction of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. This act requires Supplementary Planning Documents to provide more details on the interpretation of existing policy. This SPD expands and provides further guidance on policies 42 part (i) and Policy 58 in the current adopted District Local Plan No. 2 with Alterations. This is a ‘saved plan’ under the new legislation, until such time as it is replaced by new policies in the LDF. Policy 42 seeks to support and maintain shopping as the main activity in town centres and Policy 58 requires that in Letchworth development takes into account Garden City design principles.
The strategy comprises:
- a vision and aims for the town centre;
- a series of objectives whereby progress can be monitored; and
- a planning strategy for the centre including opportunity sites.
The strategy sets down, in terms of broad principles and examples of how these can be met, the approach towards:
- conservation management and urban design in the centre; as well as
- broad proposals for improving the public realm; and
- managing and improving transport.
It is not a fixed blueprint but a guide to action, part of a continuing process of town centre and conservation area management. It is informed by and will inform other strategies and approaches including those by other agencies. The strategy has an enabling role for partnership working to deliver projects. In particular this strategy should be seen as contributing towards the North Hertfordshire District Council Corporate plan.
The Draft SPD, its associated Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) were subject to a six-week public consultation period between October and December 2006. A summary of the main issues raised in the representations and how these have been addressed in the SPD are contained within the report to Full Council. Appendix 3 and 4 of the report tables the representations in more detail to the Draft Strategy and to the SA/SEA.
Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Strategy Part 1 Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Strategy Part 2a Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Strategy Part 2b Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Strategy Part 3 Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Strategy Part 4
Report to Full Council 18 January 2007 Appendix 1 to Full Council Report 18 January 2007 Appendix 2 to Full Council Report 18 January 2007 Appendices 3 and 4 to Full Council Report 18 January 2007
Sustainability Appraisal Main Report Oct 2006 Sustainability Appraisal Main Report Appendices 2 to 6 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Aug 2006
Hard copies of the adopted SPD, the Report to Full Council and associated documents are available for any interested parties that wish to refer to them at:
- The North Hertfordshire District Council Customer Service Centre, Main Council Offices, Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City; and
- The Letchworth Library on the corner of Broadway and Gernon Road, Letchworth Garden City.
Community involvement in the preparation of the Strategy
In order to ensure that the Letchworth Town Centre Strategy provided the right vision and guidelines for the town centre in the future, the Council involved and worked together with local businesses, organisations, schools, residents and key landowners on the Town Centre Strategy for Letchworth. This was achieved through a series of stakeholder workshops. Notes from these workshops are listed below.
The Council will continue to work in partnership with relevant organisations, including the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, Herts County Council, the Letchworth Garden City Town Centre Partnership and the Letchworth Garden City Town Council in progressing the Strategy.
Stakeholder Group Workshop notes - 18 January 2006
Stakeholder Group Workshop notes - 22 February 2006
Stakeholder Group Workshop notes - 30 March 2006
Bytes Youth Centre notes 26 January 2006
Fearnhill School Council notes 20 April 2006
Contact Details
If you have any queries about the Town Centre Strategy for Letchworth Garden City or about the SA/SEA, please contact the Planning Policy and Projects Group on 01462 474000.
The Strategy can also be purchased from the Council Offices as a hard copy or it can be made available on a CD Rom on request.
