Altrincham Neighbourhood Business Plan: Design Group
November 2018
Context
Neighbourhood planning is a new right for communities introduced through the Localism Act 2011. Neighbourhood Plans will become part of the local statutory development plan and will form the basis for determining planning applications in that area. They are a new way for local communities to decide the future of the places where they live and work.
Trafford Council adopted the Altrincham Neighbourhood Plan Forum Neighbourhood Plan (ANBP) for Altrincham town centre on 29th November 2017. It now forms part of Trafford Councils Development Plan and will be used by Trafford Council to help decide planning applications within the Altrincham town centre neighbourhood area.
The Forum is a statutory consultee for all planning applications within the ANBP boundary. The Design Group was set up by the Forum to review and comment on relevant planning applications on behalf of the Forum.
Links
The ANBP adopted plan
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/docs/Adopted-Plan.pdf
The ANBP Non Statutory Annex
http://www.trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/docs/Non-Statutory-Annex.pdf
Altrincham town centre boundary plan
https://www.trafford.gov.uk/planning/strategic-planning/docs/town-centre-inset-maps-nov17.pdf
Vision
Our vision is to improve and respect the quality of the built environment within Altrincham town centre.
The ANBP Design Group and the design review process is to be consistent with the Design Council ‘Design Review: Principles and Practice’ document https://www.designcouncil.org.uk/resources/guide/design-review-principles-and-practice
Objectives and role of the design group
- To provide design reviews and helpful constructive criticism on the architecture of individual buildings, their context and the public realm for proposed developments within Altrincham town centre. The Design Group remit is within the ANBP boundary only.
- Comments should be focussed around the quality of architecture and design.
- If a proposal is ‘marginal’ in ANBP objectives/policy terms, this will be highlighted by the Design Group.
- The Design Group is pro-development and pro-quality, commenting on design proposals as a ‘critical friend.’
- Appendix 3 of the ANBP document is a Supplementary Design Document which is the basis for comments.
- To support Trafford Planners by offering to discuss architecture and design issues to provide comments and advice where appropriate
- The Design Group would not seek to redesign schemes prepared by others, although there could be a potential contribution to future masterplans/design codes for areas of Altrincham town centre.
- Written/verbal feedback from the design group are comments and observations only. In any instance the comments, observations and information offered by the design group or its representatives bear no liability towards the success or failure of any subsequent planning application.
Methodology
- For comments on planning applications within the ANBP boundary, the Design Group should be the lead consultee and will co-ordinate with the other groups, e.g. Altrincham and Bowdon Civic Society. Should there be differences of opinion then the other groups can submit separate responses.
- For the Design Group to engage with developers/agents at planning pre-application stage is essential to ensure a constructive dialogue and to avoid potential abortive work and consequential delays. A strategy for raising the profile and awareness of the design group to developers will be required, with the help of Trafford Planners. Confidentiality is to be respected.
- Comments will be based on the design related principles section of the adopted ANBP document (p45-48) and the ANBP Vision, Objectives and Policies (p9-27)
- The format of the Design Group comments will be based on a pro-forma template and may include meetings with developers/agents for some proposed developments.
- Comments will be provided in written form to the individual Trafford Planning Officer and sent concurrently to the Head of Trafford Planning and to the Applicant and Agent.
- The design group will meet every 6-8 weeks, or as required.
- Representatives of the design group will have quarterly meetings with Trafford Planners to review the relationship between both parties and to discuss current and future projects.
- Should there be a conflict of interest (i.e. a Design Group member involved with a proposed development) that member will have to step out of all discussions regarding that proposal.
Membership
The Design Group members are voluntary individuals and include local residents and representatives from local businesses familiar with the character of Altrincham. All with the committed intention of encouraging the provision of the highest possible standards of design for all new developments in the town centre.
The current members of the Design Group are:
- Damian Utton, Architect, local business and Chair of the Design Group
- Jim Chapman, Visiting Professor of Architecture, local resident
- Rob Dawes, Developer, local business
- Rob Evans, Architect, local business
- Nigel Hinings, local resident
- Lindsey Humblet, Landscape Architect, local business
- Paulina Lewis, Vice Chair Altrincham & Bowdon Civic Society, local resident
- Neil Lucas, Town Planners, local resident
- Ewen Miller, Architect, local business
- Mike O’Callaghan, Engineer, local resident
- Amy Sharp, Town Planner, local resident