Euston Area Plan proposed submission consultation

Overview

The Euston Area Plan (EAP) has been prepared to shape change in the Euston area up to 2031 years. It is being prepared jointly by the London Borough of Camden (LBC), the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Transport for London (TfL). The plan area is centred around Euston Station and covers Regent’s Park Estate to the west and part of Somers Town to the east. To the north, the plan boundary includes Mornington Crescent station, as well as the railway tracks running up to Parkway. To the south, the plan boundary includes Euston Road.

The Euston Area Plan is being produced to respond to the proposed new High Speed Two (HS2) rail link, as well as reflecting and updating previous plans and aspirations for development in and around the station.  The plan seeks to ensure that, whether or not HS2 goes ahead, despite Camden Council’s strong opposition, we can get the best possible future for residents, businesses and visitors to Euston by setting out planning principles to guide new development here. To find out more about the content and plan area please visit: www.eustonareaplan.info/about

We asked you what you thought of the draft plan objectives in late 2012 and your comments informed the production of a draft EAP which we asked for your comments on this summer. These have been taken into account where possible and a revised version of the EAP, known as the proposed submission EAP, has been produced. The main change made to the plan, responding to community concerns, is that it now contains clear illustrations of different potential approaches to station design with key principles which will be applied to any proposals for station redevelopment.  A consultation report is available on the EAP website which summarises the other key changes that have been made in response to consultation comments.

The updated version of the EAP, the proposed submission version, Sustainability Appraisal and accompanying background documents, have been published for review until 5pm on Wednesday 5^th March 2014.

Why your views matter

The publication of the proposed submission draft EAP is the opportunity for you to make comments on the plan by making formal representations to the Planning Inspector about the EAP’s “soundness” based on the criteria set out below.

What makes a plan ‘sound’?

When the plan is examined by a planning inspector s/he will look at whether it is “sound” and also meets legal and procedural requirements. More information can be found on what the tests of soundness and the legal process in the guidance note below but in brief the government’s National Planning Policy Frameworks states that for a plan to be sound it needs to be:

• Positively prepared – based on a strategy which seeks to meet objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements;
• Justified – the most appropriate strategy, when considered against the reasonable alternatives;
• Effective – deliverable over its period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities; and
• Consistent with national policy – should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework.

For your comments to be considered as formal representations at public examination, you need to tell us:

• Whether you think the Plan is “sound” or “unsound” and why, along with any changes you think that could make the plan sound;
• If you think the plan is not legally compliant and why (for more information on legal compliance refer to the guidance note below);
• Whether you want to appear at a hearing as part of the public examination. You may only be able to do this if you indicate that the Plan is either unsound or not legally compliant.

Please let us know if you would also like to be notified when the plan is submitted for examination; when the Inspector’s recommendations are published; and, or, on the adoption of the local plan.

Please use the online representation form (link below) to submit your representation(s) on the EAP contents and you can also make any other comments at the end of the form.

What happens next

Following this publication period, we will send the EAP to the Government for public examination by a Planning Inspector. We will also prepare and send a list of the Council’s suggested changes to the Plan to respond to comments and representations received.

An examination in public is anticipated to be held in mid 2014 and following this it is hoped that the EAP will be adopted, subject to the Inspector's recommendations and/or modifications. It will then formally be part of Camden's Local Development Framework.