Issue - meetings

During February 2018 the Borough Council commenced work on a Masterplan.  It will function alongside the new Local Plan and provide a supplementary planning policy framework that will facilitate the transformation of Epsom & Ewell into the 2040s.  The Committee is asked to consider the Masterplan and agree for it to be taken before the Strategy and Resources Committee for approval.

The Committee:

(1)            Agreed to the preparation of a Masterplan that would contribute to the transformation of the borough and the preparation of the new Local Plan

(2)            Agreed that a request for funding of the Masterplan be brought before the Council’s Strategy and Resources committee.

Work on a Masterplan for the borough commenced in February 2018 and the Committee received a report outlining the preparation process and scope of the Masterplan.  Members were informed that the document would run alongside the new Local Plan and could subsequently be further developed and adopted (following the adoption of the new local plan) as a supplementary planning policy framework to facilitate the transformation of Epsom & Ewell into the 2040’s. 

It was agreed that the views of local residents in relation to design were important.  However alongside their views the Council needed to be mindful of the government’s objectively assessed housing figure for the borough which could only be met by increasing density and height of future developments.  The Committee was assured that as these matters progressed there would be opportunities for Members to comment.

The considerations that would need to be taken in account in preparing the Masterplan specification were discussed and it was agreed that as well as good quality design and visually pleasing architecture, the Council’s approach to the preservation of conservation areas and heritage were also essential requirements. 

It was envisaged that the preparation and production of the Masterplan would take 12 months, and following the commissioning of consultants a timetable with more precise timescales could be produced.  It would also provide more detail on how and when the consultations would take place.

The complimentary link between the Masterplan and proposed ‘Visioning’ exercise was highlighted although it was pointed out that visioning looks beyond Town Planning issues that are the focus of the Masterplan. 

The Committee noted that the Council had previously implemented a successful masterplan for the development of the hospital cluster and whilst that piece of work was similar, the new Masterplan would be on a much larger scale.  It will also have the objective of transforming the borough in much the same way as the post war housing developments did.

It was emphasized and noted that the Masterplan should also reflect the need for young people accommodation with associated infrastructure i.e. recreational areas, open space and schools.

Accordingly the Committee:

(1)            Agreed to the preparation of a Masterplan that would contribute to the transformation of the borough and the preparation of the new Local Plan

(2)            Agreed that a request for funding of the Masterplan be brought before the Council’s Strategy and Resources committee.