Decision details

The purpose of this report is to advise the Executive of the outcome of the public consultation exercise on the Masterplan options for the Locks Heath District Centre and to seek approval for the next steps.

A public consultation exercise was carried out during October and November 2012 at which a series of Masterplan options for the future regeneration of the Locks Heath District Centre were presented.  These options all included the provision of a new food store and a new swimming pool and leisure centre.  Nearly 1000 people attended the four consultation events held at the Lockswood Community Centre, 354 response forms were returned and a number of letters and e-mails were received from individual residents and interested organisations.

The responses to the consultation indicate that a majority are in favour of redevelopment proposals which extend beyond the current boundary of the District Centre including a new food store and a swimming pool.  Those who supported such a development were excited by the proposals and felt that they were long overdue.

However, a significant minority are opposed to any development extending beyond the current Centre boundaries.  Opposition was mainly on the grounds of loss of open space and a view that the current Centre serves the population well and does not need to expand.  More detail about the views expressed on the various options proposed are set out in the following Briefing Paper.

The Borough Council now needs to decide how to move forward in the light of the results of the consultation. This report recommends that the Locks Heath District Centre section of the pre-submission draft of the Development Sites and Policies Plan is further refined to provide an appropriate planning policy framework for any future development. 

It is anticipated that this will be considered by the Executive in the summer of 2013.  To inform this further, it is proposed to examine in more detail, potential development scenarios for the regeneration of the District Centre which take into account the views expressed during the public consultation and the continuing dialogue with interested parties.

(a)     That the Executive notes the results of the public consultation on the future of the Locks Heath District Centre.

(b)     That the Development Sites and Policies Plan is further refined to provide an appropriate planning policy framework for the regeneration of the District Centre. This will be informed by an examination of more detailed potential development scenarios for the regeneration of the District Centre which take into account the views expressed during the public consultation and the continuing dialogue with interested parties.