Issue - meetings

[Report of the Assistant Director for Planning.To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion, and Sustainability.]The Cabinet will be asked to approve the Wood Green Area Action Plan for consultation in Feb-March 2017.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability introduced the report which requested review and approval of the “preferred option” Area Action Plan for Wood Green set out in appendix B. This would be the key planning document governing the regeneration of the Wood Green (including Haringey Heartlands) area, providing a statutory framework for the determination of all new development proposals within the area.

The Cabinet Member advised that the Wood Green AAP was being renewed to take forward economic opportunities offered by potential inclusion of Wood Green station in the Cross Rail route which would help make Wood Green the heart of North London. The AAP set out plans for: growing manufacturing in the area, expanding the town centre offer, providing an office based offer for more businesses and workplaces to locate to the borough, in turn creating more jobs town centre and including 8000 new homes.

Councillor Doron was invited to present Regulatory Committee comments on the AAP. Cabinet noted the following:

• Important to be ambitious with green space and take a good look at incorporating green buildings in plans and a sustainable drainage systems.
• Haringey felt to be lacking the sense of place.-Wood Green area action plan offers positive opportunity to address this issue.
• Concerning to hear the current trends of a declining retail offer in the Town Centre and welcomed scale of ambition.
• The current maps in the agenda pack were very small and officers would need to make sure these were accessible and seen by residents.
• Strong re- assurance needed for residents potentially involved in a decant process where demolition of homes is taken forward. Council need to provide this assurance strongly and clearly.
• How the potential loss of the supermarket is discussed in the documentation–some re-assurance on this to residence. Concerns on wording / language on Lordship Lane area investment, leading to concerns that this part of Wood Green is potentially ignored.
• Addressing issues on the traveller’s site to gain maximum value for the Civic Centre site.
• Turnpike Lane has a strong identity for specialist Asian shops and it was suggested the AAP take this into consideration.

In response to questions from Councillor Newton, the following information was noted.

• 40% of affordable housing will be low rents.
• Important to look at how many nearby boroughs have pools and what can be reasonably be achieved. Funding limited – a zero sum- so Planning Committee and Cabinet would need to consider how this fits in with the priorities of the regeneration i.e. housing, employment or leisure space and also considering whether there is better access to open swimming offer
• Surprised if government looking at productivity as a zero sum , government likely to  look at growing all infrastructures. The plan was about an economic heart in North London.
• Plan not solely reliant on Crossrail 2, the Piccadilly line upgrade also helps make the case for enhanced density levels.

Councillor Goldberg stressed the importance on consultation with tenants on housing in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160