As updated in June our Grant applications were successful and both the required assessments: Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) as recommended by Natural England and a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) have been commissioned using expert consultants via Locality.org.uk., both assessments are progressing. We are due to receive an initial ‘first stage’ SEA scoping report for review before the full assessment can proceed.
Following our grant application last month we are pleased to advise that the Gerrards Cross Neighbourhood Plan has been awarded a grant in the sum of £2,472.00. This Grant has been funded by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC).
This Grant will go directly towards the costs involved in commissioning the required Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) as recommended by Natural England. During ongoing investigations into this assessment the Steering Group were advised that a Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) is now also required. Both these important assessments have now been commissioned and once completed will be incorporated into our Neighbourhood Plan.
We are currently busy working on:
- Obtaining a grant from Locality to cover the Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) as recommended by Natural England plus commissioning said Assessment
- Preparing ‘next steps’ towards a final draft in preparation for Regulation 14 a six week Pre-Submission Consultation
Following approval from Gerrards Cross Town Council the Draft Plan was forwarded to Buckinghamshire Council for the formal screening process. The provisional opinion of Buckinghamshire Council highlighted the need for the following :
- Recommended by Natural England – a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA) is required use link for more information https://www.gov.uk/guidance/habitats-regulations-assessments-protecting-a-european-site
- Following the above HRA our updated Draft Plan will need to include a policy to cover development mitigation measures in line with the new Burnham Beeches Supplementarity Planning Document as Gerrards Cross is within 5.6km of The Burnham Beeches Special Area of Conservation (SAC) use link below for details:
https://www.chiltern.gov.uk/burnhambeeches
The updated Draft Plan is now ready for the screening process via our Local Planning Authority. To start this process the Steering Group provided Gerrards Cross Town Council with the Draft Plan for their prior review & approval. Once approved the Clerk will forward to Buckinghamshire Council for the formal screening process.
Steering Group Meeting at 18.30 via Zoom. The main purpose of this meeting was to carry out a review of Draft 4 of the GX Neighbourhood Plan- for details see full minutes.
Steering Group Meeting at 18.30 via Zoom. The main purpose of this meeting was to carry out a review of Draft 3 of the GX Neighbourhood Plan ; some corrections, deletions and additions were made. A Final Draft will be reviewed in a few weeks time. It was agreed that a design code was not required; The Townscape to be used as a guide. Some actions for SG members were identified ; a report on shop signage size and shuttering currently in our retail areas plus identify our ‘core retail’ area. Final list of Green Gap areas between Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield plus Gerrards Cross and Denham needed and a map to be provided.
The ‘ next steps’ were detailed as our Draft Plan is nearing completion and once ready it will be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for a ‘health check’ and Strategic Environmental Assessment to ensure it meets all Basic Conditions.
The Steering Group having reviewed the Draft Plan have updated to include a list of all current retail outlets in the Town Centre and a list of Heritage Assets. Awaiting updated Draft for further discussion and review at our next meeting in September 2021
Draft Plan circulated to Steering Group for review and discussion
Steering Group Meeting held on Zoom at 6.30pm
Discussions and updates in respect of:
Call for Sites – assessments and final agreed sites
Housing Design Guide to be discussed and finalised and a grant is available to help with this
Community Assets discussed and reviewed including the process
Heritage Assets to be listed and agreed
Doctor Surgery is more complex than merely finding suitable premises
After so much time it was agreed that the Steering Group must urgently review an up-to-date Draft Plan