24 Sep Still time to have your say on Harlow design guide
There is one week left for Harlow residents and businesses to have their say on new planning policies Harlow Council wishes to adopt as it consults on its Design Guide.
In particular, the council is inviting views on building heights in the town centre, privacy and overlooking, amenity space, householder guidance and climate change. Documents can be viewed on the council’s website – www.harlow.gov.uk/spd – with comments invited via an online survey, by email or in writing.
The council already has a Design Guide adopted in 2011, which is used when examining design principles in assessing planning applications. Although dated, most of the content of the existing Design Guide is still relevant, but it does not include guidance on a range of subject matters in the recently-updated national planning policy and guidance.
The Design Guide policy addendum will address such issues to assist the delivery of the design, amenity and climate change policies in the recently-adopted Harlow Local Development Plan and is made up of the following sections:
Tall Buildings
Privacy & Overlooking
Amenity Space & Gardens
Updated Householder Guidance
Climate Change
Councillor Michael Hardware, portfolio holder for strategic growth, said: “It is important that residents and businesses have their say and give us their comments on this document, which will be used to help determine future planning applications, as well as inform pre-application discussions. It is especially important as the town is going develop significantly in the future with Harlow and Gilston Garden Town and the regeneration of the town centre. The document has particular relevance for the town centre, where tall buildings are being proposed. We want to ensure developers take into consideration appropriate height, scale, massing and materials for tall buildings, as well as overshadowing and light requirements both for occupiers and street level pedestrians. The tall buildings section also addresses the potential impact of buildings on the landscape setting of Harlow and views across the town that could change over time as tall buildings are built.
“Another important area for this consultation is climate change and ensuring the protection of the local environment is considered and the protection of the global environment.”
The consultation will close on Friday 1 October 2021. Documents can be viewed online at www.harlow.gov.uk/spd and at the Civic Centre and in all Harlow libraries. Comments can be submitted via an online survey, or email to [email protected] or can be posted to: Forward Planning, Harlow Council, Civic Centre, The Water Gardens, Harlow CM20 1WG.
