Agenda item

Report attached.

Councillor Loraine Cox, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Wellbeing, provided a report inviting the Cabinet to consider for approval the Huncoat Garden Village Masterplan Framework and Infrastructure Delivery Strategy.

Councillor L Cox provided a brief introduction to the report.  The Framework and Strategy formed part of the Council’s growth plans and its Corporate Strategy and was a major piece of work.  The project would deliver a new garden community of around 1,500 high quality sustainable homes, largely on brownfield sites.  Consultation had been undertaken with residents, land owners and developers at each stage of the planning process.

Key features included:

• Use of the former Huncoat Power Station site for housing;
• A reduction in the size of the individual development parcels of land, particularly in connection with the former colliery, in order to protect natural habitat;
• The creation of a new relief road to ease congestion;
• Proposed expansion of Huncoat Junior School.

This represented a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide a fabulous landscaped setting.  The project was a game-changing development and would hopefully enable existing residents to acquire improved accommodation and attract new, economically active households into the Borough.  The project would protect the environment through the application of rigorous housing standards.  It would also protect, conserve and enhance local habitats around the existing woodlands and watercourses.  The homes themselves would be of sustainable design and construction and would meet current decarbonisation priorities.

Councillor Miles Parkinson OBE, Leader of the Council, noted that it was only a few days away from the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, which would highlight the importance of the environment and natural habitats.  The current Masterplan had evolved over many years with appropriate consultation at each stage.  It represented a statement of intent to deliver cutting-edge housing and improve living standards locally.  Members were proud of the work carried out by officers, landowners and the community to reach this stage.  The Masterplan gave out a strong message and was a plan for beyond 2036.

Councillor Parkins indicated that Huncoat Junior School had recently indicated that they might wish to seek academy status next year, which could affect discussions around the school’s potential expansion.

Councillor Marlene Haworth, Leader of the Opposition, spoke highly of the plan and thanked the officers for their work.  She reiterated one concern expressed previously about the relief road, which relied on a grant being obtained from Homes England.  Without that road, the development could be limited to only around 300-400 homes.  Although some assurances had been received about the likelihood of receiving a grant, she enquired if there was a ‘Plan B’ in case the funding was not made available.  The Leader responded that Homes England would provide some money to develop the bid for an additional £20-£25M of Government funding.  The support of the MP would be useful in this regard.  However, local politicians were already working cross-party to secure this and on other matters such as the Levelling Up Fund bid.

Councillor Britcliffe was in favour of the Masterplan and believed that this was a good time to submit bids of this kind to Government, which was keen on Levelling Up.  Any new housing would be good for the local economy.  He suggested that discussions take place with Northern (rail operator) about service improvements.  Residents of the new homes might need to access Preston or Manchester for work.  A direct link to Manchester would be beneficial, since 400 homes might result in 800 cars on the road.  He was also pleased to see constructive cross-party working.  The Leader responded that cross-party discussions were also taking place with Lancashire County Council, which included potential M65 Junction 8 improvements.  This could unlock further potential in Huncoat, at Altham Industrial Estate and in neighbouring Simonstone.  A park and ride scheme at Huncoat would be discussed, as there was sufficient land available there.  Councillor Britcliffe acknowledged that the new leadership at LCC was more responsive to working with district councils and across political parties.

Councillor Harrison commented that the Labour Group locally had been lobbying hard for railway improvement for a number of years.  The Leader acknowledged the ongoing work by Skipton East Lancs Rail Action Partnership (SELRAP) to reconnect East Lancashire, via Colne to Skipton.

Councillor Dad noted that the relief road was critical to the development.  He also reported a good working relationship with his peers at Lancashire Council Council, including the new Portfolio Holder for Highways and Transport.

Councillor P Cox indicated that he was impressed that the project was taking on board environmental issues, low carbon emissions and sustainable housing.  These would become aspirational homes to encourage residents to stay in the Borough.  The new homes would complement the Council’s wider environmental work, such as electric vehicles and charging points, as the Council put its green agenda into practice.

The Leader indicated that the next phase would involve a bid to the Infrastructure Fund early in the New Year.  The Government was keen for any monies to be spent within the current Parliamentary term.  The Council had previously delivered smaller environmentally friendly schemes, but this was on a much larger scale.

Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

The full reasons were set out in the main report, which included information on the progress so far and the key components promoted by the Masterplan over the next 15 years, as follows:

• 1,504 new homes plus an additional 312 safeguarded for the next plan period beyond 2036.
• A new residential relief/distributor road linking Huncoat Garden Village directly with the A56.
• Provision to expand Huncoat Junior School (subject to some further work including discussions with Lancashire County Council and the Huncoat Junior School)
• A new village centre to be located at the junction of Lower Gate Road, Altham Lane and Station Road.  This will link the “old” Huncoat with the Garden Village area and will provide local shops, community buildings and car parking within walking distance of the new neighbourhoods as well as existing residential areas.
• Railway Station improvements including car parking facilities and cycling storage, improved access arrangements, live train information and increased security.
• Circa 40 hectares of improved open space including 24 hectares of safeguarded land for a potential Biological Heritage Site.
• In addition to the existing football / sport pitches off Bolton Avenue, a new state of the art 11 a side 4G pitch with flood lighting and a 9 a-side grass pitch
• 7 formal play areas and 7 informal play areas

Alternative Options considered and Reasons for Rejection

Six options had been developed and tested prior to finalising the preferred Masterplan option.  The initial three options (Options 1-3) had included a mix of residential uses but all three were rejected because the employment uses were found to have a detrimental impact on the Masterplan and to be not viable, and with very little support from local resident consultation.

A further three residential only options had been developed and tested:

• Option 4 – Small growth option (497 new homes)
• Option 5 – Medium growth option (1,110 new homes)
• Option 6 – Transformational growth option (1,793 new homes)

Option 4 had been rejected because it did not satisfy the emerging Local Plan housing numbers to be delivered in Huncoat.  A ‘hybrid’ of Option 5 and 6 had been selected to satisfy the emerging Local Plan housing numbers and, following detailed testing, to produce a deliverable Masterplan framework.

Detailed analysis of option development and testing was provided within the Stage 2 Option Testing and Development Report.

Resolved                                 -      That Cabinet notes and approves the Huncoat Garden Village Masterplan Framework and Infrastructure Delivery Strategy as per the final document (access to which is provided by website links in the report).