Agenda item
Spatial Planning and Health - Refreshing the Local Plan for Tower Hamlets
Lead Officers:
Tim Madelin, Senior Public Health Strategist
Adele Maher, Strategic Planning Manager
Minutes:
The report was presented by Ellie Kuper Thomas (Strategic Planning, LBTH)
and Tim Madeline (Public Health, LBTH).
The report summarised the new Local Plan which set out a vision, strategic
priorities and a planning policy framework to guide and manage development
in the Borough for the next 10 to 15 years, in line with the planning policy
requirements set out by national and regional government.
The Board noted that it was important for the Borough to have an up to date
plan in place with a clear vision, objectives and planning policies to guide
development decisions. Together with the London Plan, the Local Plan was a
critical tool for a planning authority to plan proactively and positively for
development by focusing on the community needs and opportunities in
relation to places, housing, economy, infrastructure, local services and other
areas. It also sought to safeguard the environment, adapt to climate change
and enhance the natural and historic environment.
Officers highlighted the Key Issues for the new local plan. It was noted that the current Local Plan had strengthening Health and Wellbeing as a key strategic cross cutting objective. Officers considered that this should be retained and reiterated in the new plan. Specific issues for consideration in the new Local Plan in relation to health and wellbeing were noted as follows:
· Open and Green Space:
· High Streets which promote wellbeing
· Healthcare Infrastructure
· Housing Design
· Active travel and air quality
It was necessary to consider strategic planning solutions such as higher buildings to ensure the efficient use of space, enhancing transport links and bring routes together, ensuring appropriate level of use of premises by limiting numbers of particular premises on the high street, providing new health facilities to improve the health and wellbeing of residents, improving air quality by encouraging car free housing, cycling and walking over car use.
The Board received an outline of the strategic planning policy in addition with the national plan and how the environment was shaped in the Borough. The policy was to reflect residential partnerships. Evidence was required to prove local need as it would be robustly challenged. The Board heard that officers would generally consult until April 2016, engaging with stakeholders such as the CCG and external public partnerships. The consultation exercise also asked for omissions identified. Early engagement would be beneficial and the the development of the health and wellbeing strategy would be included.
Members asked a number of questions and made various comments in relation to the report. The following points were noted:
· That although secondary schools had a good amount of open spaces and playing fields, primary schools lacked such spaces.
· That with respect to new spaces, there was a disparity of views between of users and design architects. This was due to the differences in the needs of users e.g young residents would have different uses of space from families. There was therefore the need to have a balance of different types of accommodation and the most appropriate use of space which would meet the needs of the communities.
· That there was evidence of disenfranchised communities within the health sector and therefore the need to work with health care partners such as Barts Health.
The Chair thanked all Members and partners of the Health and Wellbeing Board for attendance and contributions and commitment to the next stage of the refreshing of the Local Plan.
RESOLVED
- That the scope, process and timescales for the new Local Plan be noted.
- That the impact of the wider physical and socio-economic environment on health be noted.
- That the key health issues identified in the discussion of the report that should be addressed in the new Local Plan be noted.
Supporting documents: