After eight years of planning and refinement, the Broxbourne Local Plan was formally adopted at a meeting of the Council on 23 June 2020.
The Local Plan sets out the framework for development in the Borough from 2018-2033. The Plan has been through extensive public and partner consultation, and a detailed examination in public overseen by a Government appointed Planning Inspector. It was found to be ‘sound’ on 14 April 2020 based on criteria set out in national policy.
Millions of pounds worth of investment will be made into the area over the plan period as a result of the implementation of the Plan’s proposals and some of this is already underway. By the end of the period the Plan would have enabled the delivery of 8,000 new homes, the creation of more than 6,000 permanent jobs and many more during the construction.
The local economy will be strengthened by creating a range of job opportunities in business parks, town centres and elsewhere, with a focus on high-value jobs in landscaped new business campuses around the A10.
The Brookfield Riverside development will combine the Brookfield Centre and Brookfield Retail Park into a new and expanded town centre with shops, cafes, restaurants, leisure attractions, homes and a civic centre for the Borough.
Brookfield Garden Village will sit alongside the new town centre and will build a brand new community within a woodland environment. New suburban communities will also be created with the development of High Leigh Garden Village and Rosedale Park.
Transport improvements will help to manage traffic and reduce congestion on the A10 and other local roads, assisting in the improvement of air quality. The Council is supportive of plans to widen the West Anglia mainline and the Crossrail 2 proposals, and is confident that improved bus services, more electric vehicle charging points, cycling and walking routes will make significant contributions to healthier lifestyles.
Leader of Broxbourne Borough Council, Councillor Lewis Cocking said “It has been a difficult and delicate balance to plan for all of this new development whilst protecting Broxbourne’s highly valued environment of parks, woodlands, countryside and green belt. But this plan delivers that balance with strong policies to protect and improve our cherished open spaces and to provide new parklands.
“I am determined that Broxbourne will be a pleasant, prosperous, safe, healthy and green place where people want to live, work, do business and spend their leisure time. This Plan is an important milestone on that journey”.
Councillor Keith Brown, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration said “The Local Plan contains plans for new homes, employment, parks and open spaces and new infrastructure to support the Borough’s ambitions for growth.
“The Council can rightly be proud of successfully navigating its way through this long, detailed and complex process which many other councils have been unable to achieve”.
Owing to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, printed copies of the Plan and adoption documents are not currently available for public viewing at Council sites. However, copies of the adopted plan can be viewed online at www.broxbourne.gov.uk/localplan.