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Focus on: Housing

The London Plan has identified Old Oak and Park Royal as an area with the potential to deliver 25,500 new homes. These homes will be built over the next 20 plus years and will create a new suburb and community in London.

OPDC is the Local Planning Authority for the area and our role is to make sure that new housing is in the right places and is supported by the correct levels of transport infrastructure, schools and health facilities. In order to achieve this ambition, we need to hear from you on are the type of housing that’s built, how affordable it is and whether it is should be for renting or buying.

There are 10 housing policies in the draft Local Plan, which set out what we think is needed to secure the housing and the long-term sustainable future of the area and communities proposed.

We need your feedback on these policies and we also want to capture any further ideas that you think OPDC should be considering to make this area an attractive place where people will want to live for generations to come. The 10 Housing policies are: (Click on any of the policy headings to find out more and leave your thoughts and feedback on the plans)

H1: Strategic Policy

  • Encourages the delivery of new housing
  • Encourages developments of a mix of housing types and tenures
  • Developments should be flexible and adaptable to meet future housing needs and innovation (e.g. smart technology)
  • H2: Housing Supply

  • Setting an annual target Promotes development on sites that are identified in the draft Development Capacity Study
  • Will seek supply from a range of sources (e.g. conversions, returning empty dwellings to use, new build, etc.)
  • Will support development of potential sites that have not yet been identified, these are called ‘windfall’ sites
  • H3: Housing Mix

  • New developments should aim to deliver a mix of housing of both affordable and homes for sale
  • Affordable housing mix should aim to achieve the mix identified in the draft Local Plan
  • Designs of new housing should be of the highest quality, deliver ‘lifetime neighbourhoods’ and provide for accessible and adaptable dwellings
  • H4: Affordable Housing

  • Sets out a number of principles for delivering affordable housing
  •  Explores a range of options for how affordable housing could be secured
  • H5: Existing Housing

  • Will work with the local boroughs to bring empty homes back into use
  • Resist the net loss of existing homes
  •  Permit conversions of existing homes under particular circumstances
  • H6: Housing in the Private Rented Sector

  • Professionally managed Private Rented Sector (PRS) is to supported, especially in the early stages of the development
  • New PRS will need to include an element of affordable housing
  • New PRS developments should be provided for a defined period with a review mechanism
  • H7: Housing with shared facilities

  • Should be delivered where there is an identified local need
  • Located in areas which can support the more intensive occupancy rates
  • H8: Specialist Housing

  • Contribute to the mix of housing in an area (e.g. sheltered housing schemes and extra care)
  • Support older people to live as independently for as long as possible in their own homes and then move to supported accommodation
  • H9: Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation

  • Needs to be a sufficient number of pitches/plots to meet existing and future needs
  • Support the health and wellbeing of occupiers of the site
  • Be accessible to transport and other support infrastructure
  • H10: Student Accommodation

  • Be of high quality design and size
  • Should be close to transport nodes
  • Must not result in the over-concentration of student accommodation in any one area and should be accompanied with management plans
  • Consultation Questions

    For each of the policy areas in the OPDC Local Plan, we need your views on the preferred policy option and/or whether any alternative options should be considered.

    Your feedback on housing is crucial to Old Oak and Park Royal’s future. So please provide comments on these policies online using this consultation platform . We would like your views across all of these policy options, but would like to highlight a few key policies that we would like your thoughts on specifically:

    H1: Strategic policies : What type of housing would you like to see at Old Oak and who do you think will/should live in this housing? 

    H2: Housing supply : What do you think will be the challenges with delivering (the type of housing you have identified in the previous question) over the next 20 years and what do you think we could do to overcome the challenges?

    H4: Affordable housing : Which of the four options for delivering Affordable Housing do you prefer? And why?

    Provide comments against these policies today .

    Posted on 24th March 2016

    by OPDC Team

    OPDC Local Plan exhibition boards: Thematic Policies

    As the OPDC draft Local Plan gets closer to finishing on 31st March, it's time to share the last two visual boards that have been on display over the last 7 weeks at all of our drop-in sessions. 

    These final two boards focus on 'Thematic Policies' as outlined in the draft Local Plan. Read more about these areas so you can give us your feedback on the proposals before the consultation closes.

    The first board includes:

  • Sustainable development
  • Design
  • Housing
  • Employment
  • The second board covers:

  • Town Centre uses
  • Social infrastructure
  • Transport
  • Environment and utilities
  • You can also read and view the other boards available online, covering a general introduction, spatial vision and spatial policies and places in Old Oak and Park Royal ..

    After you’ve reviewed them, do post your comments online here , send us an email, call us, or drop as a letter. Alternatively, you can take part in our live lunchtime Twitter session on 30th March, both at 1.30pm, using #OPDClocalplan.

    Get in touch:

    Twitter @OldOakParkRoyal #OPDClocalplan

    Facebook

    Call: 020 7983 5732

    Email: localplan@opdc.london.gov.uk

    Post: OPDC, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, More London Riverside, London SE1 2AA

    Posted on 23rd March 2016

    by OPDC Team

    Focus on: Environment and open spaces

    Environmental sustainability and open spaces are often topics which people are passionate about – and rightly so. The transformation of Old Oak and investment in Park Royal present unrivalled opportunities to sensitively improve existing parks and open spaces and try to address current environmental issues such as air quality and land contamination. This regeneration project also provides the ability to create new areas of thriving and sustainable spaces, that could include: new parks, station squares and canal side spaces. When it comes to town planning ‘environment’ can be combined with: internet access and broadband, waste management and noise pollution.

    OPDC is ambitious to ensure that the Old Oak and Park Royal regeneration project is recognised for best practice sustainable development that uses the highest standards of design, delivery and operation to create a green part of London to be enjoyed and accessed by everyone who lives, works or visits the area.

    To ensure we do this important aspect of the regeneration project well, we need your feedback to further inform the plans for your neighbourhood and place of work. We have thought through and proposed a number of options about how we think this could be achieved. To read these proposals in further detail, you can read the Draft Local Plan , especially Overarching Spatial Policy 3 (pg.38) and chapter 12 (pg.289).

    Key sections:

    Overarching Spatial Policy 3: Connections and open spaces (pg 38)

    This policy sets out the underpinning objectives of development in the area, focussing on connections and open spaces to deliver an integrated street network and a range of open spaces which celebrates existing assets, such as the Grand Union Canal and Wormwood Scrubs

    Chapter 12: Environment and utilities (pg 289)

    Due to the significance of the environment, the ‘Environment and Utilities’ chapter contains 12 policy options that we need to get your feedback on, which cover the following: (Click on any of the policy headings to find out more and leave your thoughts and feedback on the plans)

    EU1: Strategic Policy for environment and utilities  

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of ensuring that the area has the highest environmental standards, and high quality utilities, that meet everyone’s needs 
  • EU2: Smart technology  

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of positioning Old Oak and Park Royal as a world-leading location for implementing technological innovations to the advantage of the area. For example, technology that can help solve local problems, such as smoothing traffic flow
  • EU3: Water  

  • OPDC has a preferred policy option in terms of responding to limited water drainage capacity
  • EU4: Waste management  

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of safeguarding the existing Twyford Waste Transfer Station, Quattro and Powerday waste sites
  • EU5: Circular economy and resource efficiency   

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of how well their designs minimise waste generation, and maximise the use of recycled or ‘secondary’ materials
  • EU6: Decentralised energy

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of delivering a decentralised energy network
  • EU7: Digital communications infrastructure   

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of whether they deliver innovative digital communications infrastructure, such as high speed internet access
  • EU8: Green infrastructure and biodiversity  

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of protecting, enhancing, creating or connecting areas of nature that are important to the area. The technical terms for these are ‘high biodiversity’ and ‘green infrastructure’
  • EU9: Extraction of minerals  

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of whether they include mineral extraction, and if so, how this is managed
  • EU10: Air quality  

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of managing air quality during construction and operational activities
  • EU11: Noise

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of minimising the adverse effects of noise on people using buildings in the future
  • EU12: Land contamination  

  • This policy sets out how planning applications will be assessed in terms of managing land contamination
  • Consultation Questions

    For each of the policy areas in the OPDC Local Plan, we need your views on the preferred policy option and/or whether any alternative options should be considered. Your feedback on the environment, open spaces and other planning topics, are crucial to Old Oak and Park Royal’s future. So please provide comments on these policies online using this consultation platform.

    We are seeking your views across all of these policy options, but would like to highlight a few key questions that we would like your thoughts on specifically:

  • EU1 Strategic policy for environment and utilities : Do you agree with these areas identified for setting environmental and sustainability performance targets for the development and infrastructure? If not, what other areas should be identified? Which of these areas do you see as a priority and why?
  • EU2 Smart technology : Are there any other challenges and opportunities in addition to those stated in the draft Smart Strategy that ‘smart city technology’ could address? Should the Local Plan and OPDC provide stronger requirements for proposals to provide relevant and open data?
  • EU3 Water : Do you agree with the preferred water management option identified in the Integrated Water Management Strategy (IWMS)? What might you change? Please refer to the IWMS for additional information if required. Where might features be located outside the core development area to help water management?
  • EU7 Digital communications : Are there any specific areas within Old Oak and Park Royal that currently have issues with access to digital internet services. Are there any other issues relating to access to internet services?
  • EU8 Green infrastructure and biodiversity : Where could new green infrastructure be incorporated into the new buildings and spaces in the OPDC area? Are there any biodiversity designations which could be amended and/or removed?
  • Provide comments against these policies today .

    Posted on 18th March 2016

    by OPDC Team

    Focus on: Transport

    The moment you mention transport in and around Old Oak and Park Royal to most local residents or businesses, there is always something to say – and it is often not positive. But as a planning body, we understand that transport has the potential to unlock growth and with the planned arrival of Crossrail and HS2, the area will have fantastic transport links. These new stations along with the OPDC Local Plan proposals including roads, cycling and buses, will all work together to for the continued success of Park Royal as Europe’s largest industrial estate and the transformation of Old Oak.

    OPDC is committed to ensuring that the transport provision in the area meets the needs of people living, working and visiting Old Oak and Park Royal now, and in the future. A specific chapter (11) of the draft Local Plan explains how we think this will be achieved. To do this well, we need your feedback to further inform of plans for your neighbourhood and your place of work.

    Due to the significance of transport infrastructure, the subject area contains 10 policy options that we need to get your feedback on, which cover the following: (Click on any of the policy headings to find out more and leave your thoughts and feedback on the plans)

    T1: Strategic Policy for Transport

  • Delivering a state of the art, safe and accessible transport system, connecting communities and enabling growth
  • Prioritising sustainable transport modes
  • T2: Walking

  • Providing high quality, safe and accessible walking networks through new and enhanced walking routes to support healthy lifestyles
  • T3: Cycling

  • Providing modern cycling infrastructure to enhance existing, and provide new, cycle routes to encourage more cycling
  • Creating signage to improve cycle wayfinding and legibility
  • Promoting safety and security measures for cyclists, such as lighting
  • Ensuring secure, integrated, convenient and accessible cycle parking facilities
  • T4: Rail

  • Aiding the delivery of a number of rail proposals including the new HS2, Crossrail and Great West Mainline interchange station (Old Oak Common station), two new London Overground stations and improvements to North Acton and Willesden Junction stations
  • T5: Buses

  • Facilitating improvements to the bus network; including increased frequencies, improved journey reliability, better quality bus stops that are sheltered and clean, and a more environmentally friendly bus fleet
  • T6: Roads and Streets

  • Providing a range of new streets and bridges that help overcome barriers to movement, such as railway tracks, the canal and the A40 and optimise connectivity
  • Enhance existing streets and junctions to reduce the impact of the proposed housing developments and general increase in road use in the area
  • Ensuring streets give priority to pedestrians, cyclists and buses
  • Promoting effective and integrated management of streets to allow for innovations in technology, such as variable speed limits and road capacity changes at peak times
  • T7: Car Parking

  • Ensuring the OPDC development area is an exemplar of low carbon development and promoting a shift towards more sustainable modes by enforcing strict car parking limits
  • Promoting the use and uptake of electric vehicles
  • T8: Freight, servicing and deliveries

  • Ensuring freight and heavy vehicle activity is managed by introducing and facilitating a range of measures, such as lorry holding areas
  • T9: Construction

  • Creating measures to reduce construction trips, including encouraging maximum use of rail and water, and ensuring construction activity is planned and coordinated
  • T10: Transport Assessments and Travel Plans

  • Ensuring all major developments’ evaluate the impact their plans will have to the transportation infrastructure in the area, especially how people who live and work in the area will travel
  • Consultation Questions

    For each of the policy areas in the OPDC Local Plan, we need your views on the preferred policy option and/or whether any alternative options should be considered. Your input on transport and other planning topics, are crucial to Old Oak and Park Royal’s future. So please provide comments on these policies .

    We also ask some specific questions against certain policies and we would like your thoughts on these issues:

  • T2 Walking : Do you agree with the proposed indicative walking connections set out in figure 105? If not, do you have any alternative suggestions for new walking connections?
  • T4 Rail : Do you have any suggestions of additional rail connections to the OPDC area that should be provided?
  • T5 Buses : Do you have any suggestions for how the bus network could be developed in the future to serve the OPDC area? Should OPDC seek to encourage low emission and zero emission buses?
  • T7 Car Parking : Do you agree that all parking spaces should include an electric charging point? Should the level of car parking for commercial space be increased?
  • T8 Freight, servicing and deliveries : Do you think the HS2 work sites could be a suitable location for a construction and freight consolidation? Are there any other potential sites within the OPDC area that you would suggest could operate as a construction and freight consolidation centre?
  • To provide comments against these policies click here .

    Posted on 8th March 2016

    by OPDC Team

    OPDC Local Plan exhibition boards: The Places - Old Oak and Park Royal

    As mentioned in our earlier article , the Local Plan Consultation began on 4th February and we’ve now held 14 drop-in and workshop sessions. During these meetings we illustrate the various proposals visually using big boards, as well as having members of the OPDC planning team on hand to answer any of your questions and receive your feedback on the Local Plan.

    We are continuing to make these boards available online for those who are unable to attend a workshop or drop-in session. Please do review them and leave your thoughts on the Local plan proposals.

    The five boards cover the proposed places in and around Old Oak and Park Royal:

  • Old Oak North & Old Oak South
  • Old Oak High Street & Grand Union Canal
  • Scrubs Lane & North Acton
  • Park Royal & Park Royal Centre
  • Wormwood Scrubs & Old Oak West
  • After you’ve reviewed them, do post your comments online here , send us an email, call us, or drop as a letter. Alternatively, you can take part in our live lunchtime Twitter session on 8th and 30th March, both at 1.30pm, using #OPDClocalplan.

    The final set of boards still to be released cover: thematic policies.

    Get in touch:

    Twitter @OldOakParkRoyal #OPDClocalplan

    Facebook

    Call: 020 7983 5732

    Email: localplan@opdc.london.gov.uk

    Post: OPDC, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, More London Riverside, London SE1 2AA.

    Posted on 8th March 2016

    by OPDC Team

    Focus on: Town Centres

    Town centres are often the core of thriving communities and this article is focused exclusively on them as outlined in the OPDC draft local plan. Town Centre uses is a technical planning term, but it broadly covers the businesses you would expect to find on a high street: cafes, shops, cinemas, banks etc. It does not include residential and industrial uses of an area.

    What we want to find out through this consultation is how these possible uses can help to meet the needs of those living, working or visiting Old Oak and Park Royal and how they can help to create the identity and feel of the place. We want Old Oak and Park Royal to be a place that the whole community – and surrounding neighbourhoods – want to come to meet friends, do their shopping, have a coffee and generally want to visit and see as an asset to the area.

    If you are enjoying the technical part of this consultation, then Town Centre uses are defined as:

    “Retail development (including warehouse clubs and factory outlet centres); leisure, entertainment facilities; the more intensive sport and recreation uses (including cinemas, restaurants, drive-through restaurants, bars and pubs, night-clubs, casinos, health and fitness centres, indoor bowling centres, and bingo halls); offices; and arts, culture and tourism development (including theatres, museums, galleries and concert halls, hotels and conference facilities).”

    The section on Town Centres contains 7 policy options covering the following: (Click on any of the policy headings to find out more and leave your thoughts and feedback on the plans)

    TC1: Strategic Policy for town centre uses

  • Supporting uses that will kick-start the area and town centre to serve the community needs
  • Delivering a network of vibrant town centres that complements nearby existing centres
  • TC2: Town centre hierarchy

  • Designating Old Oak High Street as a major centre
  • Designating North Acton and Park Royal as two smaller Town Centres
  • Outlining the approach for assessing the acceptability of out of centre retail
  • TC3: Vibrancy

  • Supporting uses that add to the vitality of town centres and that create and activate the streets and open spaces
  • Promoting the establishment of Small and Medium Enterprises and retailers
  • Controlling the negative impacts of betting shops, payday loan shops, games arcades and takeaways
  • TC4: Retail and eating and drinking establishment needs

  • Identifying the need for these businesses
  • Identifying how they should be distributed across the town centres
  • Ensuring that there are strategies in place to minimise the impact on surrounding centres
  • TC5: Culture, sports and leisure facilities

  • Supporting the creation of a cultural, sporting and leisure destination at Old Oak, serving both the local community and appealing to a London-wide catchment as well
  • Ensuring that any negative impacts of these uses are minimised for the surrounding neighbourhoods
  • Securing affordable pricing structures
  • TC6: Visitor accommodation

  • Supporting the creation of hotels in designated areas
  • Requiring this provision of hotels to meet a range of affordabilities and access
  • TC7: Evening night time economy uses

  • Controlling the hours of operation of night time business activities so that any disturbances are minimised
  • Consultation Questions

    For each of the policy areas in the OPDC Local Plan, we need your views on the preferred policy option and/or whether any alternative options should be considered. Your input is crucial to Old Oak and Park Royal’s future.

    So please provide comments on these policies online .

    We also ask some specific questions against certain policies and we would like your thoughts on these issues:

  • TC3 Vibrancy : What restrictions should be identified for betting shops, pay-day loan shops, games arcades and takeaways?
  • TC5 Culture, sports and leisure facilities : What culture, sports and leisure uses do you think OPDC should look to attract to the area?
  • TC5 Culture, sports and leisure facilities : Where should such uses be located and why?
  • TC7 Night-time economy uses : If OPDC were to adopt the proposed alternative policy, what locations might be suitable for more flexible hours of operation for businesses that operate in the night?
  • Posted on 1st March 2016

    by OPDC Team

    2 weeks in to the Local Plan Consultation and 6 completed sessions.

    Posted on 18th February 2016

    by OPDC Team