A key planning document is now in place which will guide and help secure the future regeneration of Staple Tye.
The Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which provides a clear, robust and deliverable development framework was adopted at the council’s last Cabinet meeting in December.
The document will be used to make the Staple Tye neighbourhood centre and surrounding area an even better place to live, work and visit.
A public consultation on the SPD was carried out in autumn 2022. The responses received from residents, businesses and organisations were taken into account and a number of amendments have been made to the document.
The main issues raised in the consultation which required amendments include:
- Reference to the provision of a mobility hub and consideration of speed limits
- Clarification that the Neighbourhood Service Area is known as Staple Tye Mews
- Ensuring that work towards the provision of electric charging points in the area is set out
- Improvements needed on crossings and junctions across the area
Amendments have now been made to the SPD to address these issues during any regeneration works.
The Staple Tye SPD outlines a strategy for the Staple Tye neighbourhood centre and surrounding area. It focuses on the following four key areas:
- Redevelopment opportunities
- Public realm improvements
- Connectivity improvements
- Retention of key uses
The SPD will now be a material consideration when planning applications are considered.
The document's vision for the enhancement of Staple Tye is: "Staple Tye will continue to provide a healthy, vibrant and active neighbourhood centre where residents, visitors and employees will want to work, shop, relax, eat and socialise within a 20-minute walk of homes."
The vision goes on to say that "residents and visitors will feel a sense of pride for the Staple Tye area through enhancements to the public realm including improved landscaping, streetscapes, building designs and provision of play space."
Employment and housing also feature in the vision: "New employment opportunities will be provided within the development opportunity sites” and “The supply of housing will be increased through several development opportunities. This will deliver a wider choice of high-quality affordable homes in Staple Tye."
Councillor Michael Hardware, cabinet portfolio holder for regeneration and strategic growth and a ward councillor for Staple Tye, said:
"The adoption of this planning framework is a key decision by the council that will have a huge, positive impact on the Staple Tye area. It provides us with the structure we need to provide real change for the ward.
"Staple Tye is an area with great potential in terms of regeneration opportunities; when you look at the housebuilding sites on Perry Road and Parnall Road, the scope for new business units and flexible workspaces which can be made possible thanks to the Towns Fund, and the work that can be done to improve the ward's infrastructure including its cycleways, I feel we are heading into an exciting period of progress for the area, which will make it an even better place to live and work.
"I want to thank all the residents and organisations that responded to our consultation on the SPD and gave us valuable input which has helped us to finalise this framework."