Issue - meetings

That the sites listed in Parts 1 of the Brownfield Land Register (BLR) as drafted in Appendix 1 be approved and delegate authority to the Assistant Director (Planning, Development and Regeneration) to finalise the site specific information before publication and note that no sites are recommended for inclusion in Part 2.

Decision

That the sites listed in Parts 1 of the Brownfield Land Register (BLR) as drafted in Appendix 1 be approved and delegate authority to the Assistant Director (Planning, Development and Regeneration) to finalise the site specific information before publication and note that no sites are recommended for inclusion in Part 2.

Monitoring Officer comments  

This report considers the Council’s statutory requirement to review its Brownfield Land Register at least once every year.  It is noted that no sites are recommended for approval in Part 2 of the register and therefore approval of Part 1 remains an Executive decision to be made by the Council’s Cabinet.

Deputy S.151 Officer comments

This report meets with the statutory requirement to review the Brownfield Land Register to highlight the use of brownfield sites in the borough.

Advice

Councillor G Sutton introduced the report to members and said this report was the annual review of the Brownfield Land Register. The list of sites are reducing every year due to an increase in development but four sites have been added: Symbio House, the Plough roundabout car wash site, 66-72 Wood Lane End and the residual land left over after the development of West Herts College.

Councillor Birnie asked if offices being converted into housing formed part of the land register.

J Doe said the aim of the register was to capture sites where there was prospect of it coming forward for housing. The council has served an Article 4 direction on some office sites in the Borough’s main employment areas including Maylands Business Park and part of Hemel Hempstead town centre and this is something that will be kept under review.

S Mendham added that the sites on the register meet its criteria and this position could change over time.

Councillor Williams said his understanding was that brownfield sites were those that would be available for reuse not reconfiguring. He noted that some housing in the town centre were part of a building and not stand alone.

J Doe said the purpose of the register is to try and identify more sites for housing whether that is building it or converting an existing building.

Councillor Williams said there is very little office space left in the town centre and Dacorum hasn’t been a prime site for office space in the last 10-15 years.

Councillor Griffiths noted it was difficult to read the register but asked when sites come off the register and pointed out a few sites that had already been developed.

S Mendham said it was the timing of the reporting cycle and these sites would be removed in the next reporting cycle. There is talk of a new national brownfield land register and this may affect how things are added or removed.

J Doe reassured members that office sites converted into housing does contribute towards the housing numbers in respect of the Local Plan.

Recommendations agreed.