Sites and Placemaking and Development Management ... · 1.6.6 SA has the advantages of being a transparent process as a result of consultation with the statutory consultees (Natural

Sites and Placemaking and Development Management Development Plan

Documents- Draft Joint Sustainability Appraisal Report

Tower Hamlets Borough Council

May 2010

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Methodology 9

3 SA of the Development Management DPD 11

4 Summary and Next Steps 33

Appendix A Proposed SA objectives and supporting criteria

Appendix B The ‘Givens’

Appendix C Key Issues

Appendix D Appraisal Matrices for the Development Management DPD

Appendix E Appraisal Matrices for Sites and Placemaking DPD

15718-002/3 Sustainability Appraisal Joint DM and Site Allocations DPDs Draft SA Report May 2011

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1 Introduction

1.1 BACKGROUND

1.1.1 The London Borough of Tower Hamlets (LBTH) is in the process of developing two Development Plan Documents (DPDs) applicable to the borough. One DPD is concerned with sites and placemaking, to ensure site allocations are delivering regeneration aspirations. The other DPD is concerned with development management, which is a relatively new and emerging concept.

1.1.2 WSP Environmental, in partnership with Alliance Planning, Ben Cave Associates, Regeneris and Marilyn Taylor have been appointed to undertake the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) of documents produced by the borough and members of the team have worked on the SA of these DPDs.

1.1.3 The first stage in the SA process was production of a Scoping Report for the DPDs. A joint scoping report was produced due to the synergies between both DPD documents. The Scoping Report was consulted on in 2010.

1.2 CONTEXT

1.2.1 Tower Hamlets covers almost 8 square miles of inner East London. The borough is bounded by the River Thames to the south and the London Boroughs of Newham (east) Hackney (north) and the City of London (west). Tower Hamlets is one of London’s smallest but most strategically important boroughs because of its close association with the City and its location at the western beginning of the Thames Gateway growth corridor. It is the second most densely populated London Borough, with net housing completions in 2008/09of 2,805 dwellings (London Plan Annual Monitoring Report 6, February 2010).

1.2.2 The borough has a rich history and cultural diversity. Its ship building heritage led to significant growth and development in the 18th century. This led to a legacy of factory buildings and terrace housing, with pockets of greenspace having survived including Victoria Park, Stepney Green, Bethnal Green Gardens and Island Gardens. Recently the borough has seen huge expansion and as part of this process the physical environment has undergone a major transformation.

1.2.3 The borough has an ethnically diverse population that has rapidly grown, with an increase in over 35,000 people since 1991. According to the 2001 census almost half of the borough’s population is made up of different ethnic groups. The largest of this group is the Bangladeshi community (33%).

1.2.4 The borough has one of the youngest populations in London: 25% of Tower Hamlet’s residents are aged 19 years or younger (Office of National Statistics mid-year estimate 2008) while 48% of the population was aged under 30 years.

1.2.5 Life expectancy in men and women in Tower Hamlets is lower than the national average, 2.1 and 1.3 years less respectively. It is a local priority to reduce the gap in life expectancy with the rest of England (Tower Hamlets Primary Care Trust).

1.2.6 Over the past 10 years the borough’s economy has undergone major structural changes, with significant employment growth in the banking and financial service sector. This now represents over 40% of all employment within the borough. However, whilst average incomes are above national averages, the borough is ranked 3rd in the indices of multiple deprivation (IMD, 2007). Areas within the centre and north east of the borough are the most deprived.


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1.2.7 Many of the key infrastructure projects proposed by the Mayor will directly affect Tower Hamlets. Transport proposals such as Crossrail, the extension of the East London Line and increased capacity of the Docklands Light Rail, will make the borough even more accessible for people and business. The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a key driver for much of the regeneration, particularly within Leaside, as a part of the Lower Lea Valley.

1.3 PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENTS

1.3.1 A brief explanation of each DPD is provided below.

1.4 DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT DPD

1.4.1 This DPD is a key tool for delivering the vision of the Core Strategy in the borough. It will set out guidance for the planning application process and consists of detailed policies used to inform the process of application assessment.

1.4.2 The DPD complements the Core Strategy through:

The provision of detailed guidance to ensure the right type of development and uses proposed is delivered in the right place and to the highest standards;

Setting detailed guidance specific to the issues of the borough and which is not included in other national/regional policies; and

Guidance to ensure development delivered reflects infrastructure already in place or proposed.

1.4.3 Development Management was a concept promoted by the previous Government. Development management is the term used to “include the range of activities and interactions that together transform the ‘control of development and the use of land’ into a more positive and proactive process which fits better with the ethos of spatial planning and better supports local authorities in their role as place shapers.” (Planning Advisory Service).

1.4.4 The Coalition Government is in the process of reviewing policy at the national level and whether or not the concept of development management is retained it will still be in the interests of the borough to have a clear suite of policies in place. The Coalition Government has said that it will introduce a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development.’ In those instances where a development plan was not in place, or did not have adequate policy coverage, projects would be assessed against national policy and if they accorded with it the presumption would be that they would be approved. The detail of the presumption is being worked out and a draft will be produced while the DPDs are out to consultation. The Coalition Government’s proposed approach emphasises the importance of having a comprehensive suite of policies at the local level.

1.5 SITES AND PLACEMAKING DPD

1.5.1 The Sites and Placemaking DPD aims to help to deliver the spatial vision set out in the Core Strategy. It is being developed together with the Development Management DPD to guide development across the borough and will be used to inform the Fish Island AAP and Poplar AAP (for further information regarding document timescales refer to the LDS).

1.5.2 The Sites and Placemaking DPD looks to delivers the placemaking components of the Core Strategy. It seeks to provide a clear understanding for how each specific place within Tower Hamlets, as well as the borough as a whole, will change as a result of regeneration.

1.5.3 The key issues that the DPD will cover are summarised in Table 1.1 below:

Table 1.1 Key issues covered by the Site and Placemaking DPD


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Topic Coverage

Site allocations

Location and distribution of critical uses required to deliver the visions set out in the Core Strategy and Community Plan. The critical uses are:

Large scale housing developments

Health facilities

Leisure facilities

Strategic open space

Waste management facilities

Primary schools

Secondary schools

Idea Stores

District heating facilities

Spatial policies areas

Spatial Policy Areas are defined geographical areas used to implement specific policies relating

To uses, activities and / or locations

Town centres and Activity Areas

Strategic industrial locations

Local industrial locations

Preferred office locations

Local office locations

Transport interchange areas

Thames Policy Area

Clear Zone

Placemaking elements.

Placemaking elements are the components which complement the site and spatial policy area suggestions:

Urban design and built heritage

Public realm improvements

1.5.4 There will be individual placemaking guidance for each of the places within Tower Hamlets. These places are set out in Table 1.2 by Local Area Partnership (LAP) area:

Table 1.2 Local Area Partnership Areas and Places

Local Area Partnership 1 and 2




Shoreditch

Spitalfields

Tower of London

Aldgate

Bow

Mile End

Poplar

Poplar Riverside


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Bethnal Green

GlobeTown

Whitechapel

Wapping

Shadwell

Stepney

Limehouse

Victoria Park

Bow Common

Bromley-by-Bow

(NB Fish Island will have specific guidance in the form of the Fish Island Area Action Plan)

Leamouth

Blackwall

CanaryWharf

Millwall

CubittTown

1.5.5 The DPD will describe where development sites are located and their respective size and importance. It will also demonstrate how they follow a pattern of regeneration and show how they link the key areas of regeneration set out in Table 1.2. 1.6 SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL AND STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

1.6.1 A Strategic Environmental Assessment of the DPDs is required by Directive 2001/42/EC on the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment, commonly known as the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive.

1.6.2 Under Section 39(2) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is mandatory for new or revised Development Plan Documents..

1.6.3 Government guidance promotes undertaking a joint Strategic Environmental Assessment/SA as the two are very similar in process, with the SA having a broader scope to include social, economic and environmental issues equally whereas Strategic Environmental Assessment focuses on the environment with a view to sustainable development.

1.6.4 This Report accords with Government guidance provided in ‘Sustainability Appraisal of Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Documents’ published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister in November 2005. The SA as a whole will also be carried out in accordance with the requirements of The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (the Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations, SI 1633), which transposes Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive into UK legislation.

1.6.5 The purpose of SA is to provide a comprehensive assessment of the social, economic and environmental impacts that the two DPDs may have.

1.6.6 SA has the advantages of being a transparent process as a result of consultation with the statutory consultees (Natural England, English Heritage and the Environment Agency), the public and other key stakeholders. SA is an iterative process which provides the opportunity for significant improvement in the sustainability performance of plans and programmes over time as the outcomes of one plan – as identified through monitoring – can be input into the next iteration.

1.6.7 The objective of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive is (Article 1):

“To provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans with a view to promoting sustainable development”

1.6.8 The Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive identifies a range of factors that need to be considered, the Directive makes it clear that this list is not exhaustive. The factors identified are as follows:


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Biodiversity;

Population;

Human health;

Fauna;

Flora;

Soil;

Water;

Climatic factors;

Material assets;

Cultural heritage;

Landscape.

1.6.9 SA expands on the list above by requiring a broader range of social and economic issues to be assessed. Government guidance on SA does not specify what those issues should be, however it is the role of this report to identify the scope of issues to be assessed by the SA and presented in the Sustainability Report.

1.6.10 An Equalities Impact Assessment will also be undertaken for both DPDs.

1.7 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

1.7.1 The Government outlined the United Kingdom’s approach to sustainable development in the ‘UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy’ (March 2005). Within this document the Government identifies five guiding principles with which the United Kingdom’s sustainable development strategy would be developed:

Living within Environmental Limits;

Ensuring a Strong Healthy and Just Society;

Achieving a Sustainable Economy;

Promoting Good Governance; and

Using Sound Science Responsibly.

1.7.2 The guiding principles are further explained in the diagram below which is taken from the Government’s strategy.


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1.7.3 Living within environmental limits is one of the guiding principles identified in the UK Strategy. An integral concept to this is ‘One Planet Living’. The term One Planet Living is used to encapsulate the concept of everyone living within the earth’s resources and reducing our ecological footprint to enable this. Put simply, if everyone around the world consumed natural resources as we currently do in the UK, we would need three planets to support us1.

1.7.4 The challenge will be to ensure that growth and development occur in ways that are consistent with the concept of One Planet Living. There is growing recognition that cities with a lower ecological footprint could have an economic advantage in the future.

1.7.5 The previous Government also produced a definition of sustainable communities http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/sustainablecommunities/whatis/)

1.7.6 Sustainable communities are:

“Places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all.”

1.7.7 It continues:

1 For more information see “Towards a One Planet Economy – A Prospectus,” Joe Ravetz et al, WWF, June 2006.

http://www.communities.gov.uk/communities/sustainablecommunities/whatis/


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“Sustainable communities embody the principles of sustainable development, they:

Balance and integrate the social, economic and environmental components of their community;

Meet the needs of existing and future generations; and

Respect the needs of other communities in the wider region or internationally also to make their communities sustainable.”

1.8 OVERVIEW OF THE SA PROCESS

1.8.1 The SA process consists of the following stages:

Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the scope

Stage B: Developing and refining options;

Stage C: Appraising the effects of the DPDs;

Stage D: Consulting on the plan and the SA Report; and

Stage E: Monitoring Implementation of the DPDs.

1.8.2 The tasks associated with these stages are shown in Figure 1.1 overleaf.

1.9 PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT

1.9.1 This report forms part of Stage C of the assessment process. It assesses the draft DPDs and was informed by discussion with the authors of the document and the SA team.

1.9.2 The remainder of this report is structured as follows:

Section 2 discusses the method used to undertake the SA;

Section 3 sets out the results of the SA of the Area Action Plan vision and objectives;

Section 4 presents the results of the SA; and

Section 5 presents the conclusions of the SA.


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2 Methodology

2.1 INTRODUCTION

2.1.1 This section provides additional detail on the methodology for undertaking the SA beyond that set out in the Scoping Report. This is because the final format of the DPDs was still under consideration when the Scoping Report was prepared. The DPDs are themselves also still under development. The purpose of this section is to explain how key aspects of the SA method have been applied to the assessment of the DPDs at this stage.

2.1.2 This section considers:

The SA Objectives;

The key issues for the SA;

Key assumptions (givens);

Further details on the approach to the assessment.

2.2 THE SA OBJECTIVES

2.2.1 The SA objectives were consulted on as part of the Scoping Report. The SA objectives are attached at Appendix A and are consistent with those used to assess the Core Strategy.

2.3 GIVENS

2.3.1 The Scoping Report presented a series of assumptions or givens under relevant SA objectives. Their role is to help make the SA more efficient, transparent and consistent.

2.3.2 Appendix B presents the givens. Since the Scoping Report was produced, the givens have been expanded to take account of relevant policies in the Core Strategy. This will help the SA avoid making recommendations on matters that are already adequately covered at the higher tier.

2.4 KEY ISSUES FOR THE SA

2.4.1 The Scoping Report presented a draft set of key issues; these were consulted on and amended in response to comments. The key issues are presented in Appendix C.

2.5 FURTHER DETAILS ON THE APPROACH TO THE ASSESSMENT

2.5.1 Prior to undertaking the full SA, and initial review paper was drawn up based on an early draft of the DPDs. The purpose of this paper was to ensure that comments and recommendations on the sustainability performance of the DPD were taken on board from the earliest opportunity.

2.5.2 It’s true for all plans that that require SA that in deciding the most appropriate tier of the assessment and assessment methodology, there are three key questions that need to be answered:

Where can the assessment be of most value in informing the decision-making process?

How can the assessment best reflect how the plan in question will function on the ground?

How can the assessment be of most value to the public?

2.5.3 To expand on the second point, there can be a tendency within SA to break down the plan being assessed into its constituent parts, such as individual policies, and assess each of them individually. However it is rare for any given constituent part of a plan to act entirely in isolation from the other parts. Indeed, it is generally intendant in the writing of the plan that it act as a cohesive whole whilst ensuring it isn’t over generalising.


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2.5.4 Making sustainability appraisals understandable to the public has been an issue since they became a legal requirement. Proposed changes to the planning system introduced under the Localism bill have put an increased emphasis on community participation in the planning process. The public need to be involved in the plan development process from an increasingly early stage and the approach taken to preparation of the DPDs reflects this.

2.5.5 The SA methodology must also reflect the changing approach to planning in the same way that the DPDs have. For this reason, the SA provides a high level evaluation of the DPDs.

ASSESSING THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT DPD

2.5.6 A thorough assessment has been undertaken to identify what the expected affects are, and these are reported in a series of matrices for the Development Management DPD, taking each policy in turn.

2.5.7 The Development Management DPD includes options and alternative policy approaches for different topics, e.g. town centre management. The options are not necessarily mutually exclusive but have been assessed individually where they occur. We have numbered them for transparency but note that they are not mutually exclusive.

ASSESSING THE SITES AND PLACEMAKING DPD

2.5.8 The SA of the Sites and Placemaking DPD is comprised of three major components:

Assessing the site suggestions for important uses:

The important sites have been assessed through a matrix in Appendix E. All site types have been assessed together and this is considered the best method of reflecting how they function on the ground in creating a cohesive community. For example, when viewed in isolation schools may seem well distributed across the borough, but if they are not located near to new housing demand then the sustainability would be in question.

Assessing the spatial policy areas:

The spatial policy areas have been assessed in a matrix in Appendix E. The key aspects of this assessment were to identify both the significant effects of the spatial policy areas against the SA objectives and the interactions between them.

Assessing the placemaking elements:

The document sets out a number of questions for each place to inform the development of placemaking elements (public realm improvements and urban design & built heritage). As such is has not been possible to carry out a detailed assessment on the actual placemaking elements on a place-by-place basis. Therefore an assessment has been undertaken on the approach to placemaking to ensure that the principles underpinning the approach are sustainable and in turn identify any gaps, mitigation measures or potential enhancements.

2.5.9 The Sites and Placemaking DPD presents a broad range of optional sites and approaches to placemaking. These are not ‘either/or’ options, but rather a comprehensive list of all available options. As a result of the level of detail provided about each site, the SA provides a comprehensive overview of all of the options, commenting on individual sites where relevant.

2.5.10 It should be noted that for both the SPM DPD and DM DPD this is only the first stage of the main Environmental Assessment and that further assessment will be undertaken following consultation on the Engagement Document. It is anticipated that this assessment will include assessment of the DPDs which will have been developed by this point.


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3 SA of the Development Management DPD

3.1 INTRODUCTION

3.1.1 The Development Management DPD has been assessed from two perspectives; firstly bottom up – this involved assessing individual spatial policy areas and associated options. The second approach was top-down. This involved consideration of the need for any additional policies under each theme.

3.1.2 Results are presented below using the spatial policy themes set out in the DPD. Detailed matrices for each policy are presented in Appendix F. Recommendations are shown in bold.

3.2 REFOCUSING ON OUR TOWN CENTRES

3.2.1 The following are discussed in the DPD under this spatial policy theme:

DM1 Development within the town centre hierarchy;

DM2 Markets; and

DM3 Local Shops.

3.2.2 These have been assessed against the SA objectives and the results are discussed below. DM1 Development within the town centre hierarchy 3.2.3 The DPD identifies the following approaches (these are not all mutually exclusive, for example DM1A could be combined with DM1Bi and BM1Bii):

Option DM1A: Introducing a policy which reinforces the role and nature of major, district and neighbourhood centres and sets out what would be acceptable in terms of appropriate development depending on their position in the hierarchy. This could also be done for Central Activity Zone (CAZ)and the two Activity Areas in the borough;

Option DM1Bi: Setting a minimum percentage of certain town centre uses e.g. shop (use class A1) units to ensure that the essential shops and services required are protected;

Option DM1Bii: Also include in the policy a limit on the number of consecutive non-retail units; for those uses that, in concentration, could cause some negative amenity impacts, for example the operation of hot food takeaways. This policy would also help to ensure that shops remain as the main uses within our town centres;

Option DM1C: An alternative approach would be to look at each town centre separately to recognise their individual character. This could involve setting different levels of town centre uses in each of our town centres e.g. shops (A1), banks and betting agents (A2), restaurants (A3), pubs (A4) and takeaways (A5). This would allow more flexibility in town centres such as Brick Lane where uses such as restaurants (A3) are more prominent and serve as an essential part of the town centre, particularly in the evening; and

Option DM1D: In major and district centres – such as Canary Wharf and Bethnal Green –main or primary shopping areas could also be identified, where a stronger approach to protecting A1 uses could be taken. The Sites and Placemaking DPD suggests boundaries for each Town Centres within which the Council would look to operate this policy.


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Assessment Results for DM1 3.2.4 The assessment of results is shown in the matrix at Appendix F. The key points are:

Where there is a relationship between options and the SA objectives there is little to choose between the options. This reflects the strategic nature of the SA objectives;

Option DM1D performs strongly because of the stronger approach to protecting A1 uses;

Protecting centres would contribute to a number of objectives reflecting the benefits of concentrating uses in centres; opportunities for travel by non-car modes for example. Relevant objectives include: 4) Climate Change, 5) Air Quality, 6) Energy, 7) Waste, 10) Accessibility, 11) Regeneration and 12) and 13) on the economy; and

There is an uncertainty around the impact the policy options would have on older buildings and whether or not it would limit the ability to find uses for them if they were not suitable for A1 for any reason.

DM2 Markets 3.2.5 The DPD discusses a policy to ensure that any development proposal will need to have consideration for the function and character of the particular market it is near.

3.2.6 Rather than have a separate market policy, there is the option to use other Development Management policies to deal with the impact of developments on street markets. For example, policy DM24 – Streets, Places and Public Realm for People, could ensure that any new development does not have a negative impact on servicing for existing uses in the area, including the market. Similarly, DM1 – Development within the Town Centre hierarchy, could be expanded to include markets. Assessment Results for DM2 3.2.7 For the purpose of SA the results of the exercise are neutral because the options being discussed are around where the provisions would be best accommodated, rather than the policy direction that should be taken. The assessment recognises the wider contribution that markets make to a range of sustainability objectives. We would suggest that DM24 is a more natural home for the policy envisaged rather than DM1, which is focussed more on the mix of uses in town centres.

3.2.8 Protecting markets would contribute to a number of objectives reflecting the benefits they bring in terms of the ability to source goods locally. Relevant objectives include: 3) Resource use, 4) Climate Change, 5) Air Quality, 6) Energy, 7) Waste, 10) Accessibility, 11) Regeneration and 12) and 13) on the economy.

3.2.9 Given the contribution that markets make to meeting retail needs and their wider role as part of the make-up of the Hamlets it is suggested that a policy around their protection and enhancement is included. This will help contribute to a range of SA objectives.

DM3 Protecting Local Shops 3.2.10 The DPD highlights the need for a policy to protect existing local retail provision and ensure that any new provision is local in nature and scale. There is also a risk that larger retail developments could come forward outside of designated centres. Two options are put forward (these are not mutually exclusive):

Introduce a policy to ensure that local shops (A1 uses) are protected outside of town centres where they are important in meeting the basic local shopping needs of existing


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or future residents. In considering any planning application which would involve the loss of a local shop, we could take into account the availability of similar local shops within walking distance, as well as the location of the nearest town centre.

As part of considering an application for a local shop outside of a town centre, the policy could also provide guidance in respect of size and type of proposal coming forward. For example, it is important that the new proposal serves an existing or future un-met local need, is suitable in terms of local provision and would take into consideration matters of amenity, character, existing provision in the immediate area, as well as the impact on the area’s town centres.

Assessment Results for DM3 3.2.11 Protecting local shops would contribute to a number of objectives reflecting the benefits they bring in terms of the ability to source goods locally. Relevant objectives include: 3) Resource use, 4) Climate Change, 5) Air Quality, 6) Energy, 7) Waste, 10) Accessibility, 11) Regeneration and 12) and 13) on the economy;

3.2.12 Criteria for new facilities (as proposed under DM3B) could help ensure sustainable outcomes, however it could also be seen as micro-management restricting enterprise. In terms of assessing the two options against the SA objectives there is insufficient detail at this time to differentiate the two approaches – this is also partly a reflection of the high level nature of the SA objectives.

3.3 STRENGTHENING NEIGHBOURHOOD WELL BEING

DM4 Delivering the borough’s housing requirements 3.3.1 The draft DM DPD discusses the following approaches (again to aid transparency in the assessment we have numbered these). These approaches are not mutually exclusive, with the exception of DM4D and DM4E:

DM4A: Introduce a policy to make sure we secure affordable housing at every opportunity. This would include securing affordable housing on: sites that are capable of providing 10 or more homes; sites which are adjoining or part of a larger development; and applications which would result in an increase in existing housing numbers above the threshold of 10 units;

DM4B: To ensure new housing contributes to creating socially balanced and inclusive communities, we could confirm that our preference is for affordable housing to be provided on site. We would also expect that affordable housing is built to the same standards and shares the same amenities as private housing. Off-site affordable housing on another site would only be considered if it could be demonstrated that it provided a better overall outcome for both of the sites and not result in too much of any type of housing in one local area. We could also require that the other site is located in the same locality to ensure that future residents living on both sites use and benefit from the same local services;

DM4C: In applications proposing redevelopment of existing homes we need to make it clear that there must not be a loss of housing, and in particular no loss of family and affordable homes. Where there is an increase in the amount of housing, we will require any existing affordable housing to be replaced as well as requiring the appropriate level of additional affordable housing;

DM4D: In terms of ensuring we secure the right amount of larger family homes, of 4 bed and above, we could introduce specific targets for private and affordable tenures which each development would need to comply with, based on the most up to date Housing


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Needs Assessment. The current Housing Needs Assessment (2009) states that 10% of private and 10% of social rented housing should be 4 bedroom or above; and

DM4E: An alternative approach would be to identify certain areas within the borough which are suitable for these larger family homes. This guidance could be included in the Sites & Placemaking DPD.

Assessment Results for DM4 3.3.2 All of the approaches set out above contribute to a range of SA objectives as identified in the matrix. There is a clear positive link with objectives relating to 9)housing, 10) Accessibility, 11) Regeneration 12) Economy and others. Providing off-site affordable housing may be appropriate in some instances if it allows housing to be provided in areas of particular need. DM4D and DM4E cannot be differentiated against at this point in time, providing dedicated locations for family housing would be acceptable provided they were in good locations with access to an appropriate range of facilities, public transport etc. A target number of such dwellings (as a minimum) would also be useful. DM5 Housing standards and amenity space 3.3.3 This section of the DPD discusses the need for additional policies relating to indoor and outdoor space and other standards. Assessment Results for DM5 3.3.4 Such standards are judged to contribute to a range of SA objectives, including 2) water, 4) climate change, 8) historic environment, 9) housing, 11) regeneration 18) health and wellbeing and others.

3.3.5 Rather than developing specific standards for some issues an alternative approach would be to rely on Supplementary Planning Guidance: Providing for Children and Young People’s Play SPG, Mayor of London, 2008 and other existing policy and to signpost this in a policy. 3.3.6 Other topics that could be covered are (note some of these may be covered in DM27):

Daylight and sunlight, this could include the need to ensure that existing homes are not affected by new development;

Compliance with standards relating to noise;

10% of new housing is designed to be wheelchair accessible; and

The Development Management DPD should clarify if Lifetime Home standards (referred to in the Core Strategy) apply to all dwellings or, if not, the proportion that should be built to such standards in any development;

An alternative approach would be to signpost any relevant Supplementary Planning Guidance or other sources of guidance on such factors.

DM6 Supported Housing 3.3.7 Specialist and supported housing provides accommodation for many different vulnerable groups within the borough in differing forms including hostels, sheltered housing and care homes.

3.3.8 The DPD discusses introducing a policy to ensure existing specialist and supported housing, including hostels, sheltered housing and care homes, are protected subject to the strategies/programmes of providers of such accommodation. The development of this type of


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housing could also be supported where there is a need and there is no detrimental impact on the amenity of residents in the area. Assessment Results for DM6 3.3.9 Protecting existing facilities and supporting new ones in appropriate locations would contribute to a range of objectives. These primarily relate to 9) housing, 11) regeneration,18) health and wellbeing. DM7 Student accommodation 3.3.10 The DPD discusses the need for policy relating to the provision and location of student accommodation. The approaches discussed are, in summary:

DM7A: Introduce a policy which sets a borough target i.e. understanding the borough’s identified and justified need for students arising from Higher Education establishments located in Tower Hamlets;

DM7B: Working to a London or sub-regional target so that Tower Hamlets plays a part in meeting the strategic need of student accommodation; and

DM7C: The Site and Placemaking DPD could work to provide additional detail to the Core Strategy with regards to defining locations in the borough suitable for student housing. Any student housing outside of these locations would not be supported.

Assessment Results for DM7 3.3.11 A specific policy relating to student accommodation is supported because this is a type of accommodation that can impact on amenity. Student accommodation in the right locations can contribute to the local economy so there are also benefits to consider. 3.3.12 Working with institutions in the borough to identify likely need and accommodating that need within the borough is considered likely to result in a more sustainable outcome than working towards a sub-regional target, which could see students having to travel further between where they live and study.

3.3.13 Whichever approach is adopted it is recommended that the Development Management DPD also includes criteria that schemes can be determined against, this could include considerations around the management of accommodation (for example having clear procedures for responding to any complaints about anti-social behaviour) and measures to address any problems associated with impacts on amenity. These could be complemented by the Site and Placemaking DPD identifying suitable broad locations for student accommodation.

DM8 Short stay accommodation 3.3.14 The DPD discusses the need for policy in relation to hotels and serviced accommodation. The following approaches are discussed:

DM8A: A policy to manage the provision of visitor accommodation through ensuring they are in the right locations. For example large scale hotels and serviced apartments would be directed to the City Fringe, the borough’s Activity Areas and Canary Wharf whereas smaller hotels and serviced apartments would be encouraged in the borough’s district centres, such as Whitechapel and Crossharbour; and

DM8B: To maintain the long term economic potential of employment areas, resist the loss of hotels and serviced apartments to non-employment uses. Within the borough’s economic hubs of the CAZ and Canary Wharf, any change of use would be to an employment use.

Assessment Results for DM8


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3.3.15 A policy on short stay accommodation is supported. Directing such uses to appropriate locations will contribute to a range of SA objectives including:9)housing, 10) Accessibility, 11) Regeneration 12) Economy.

3.3.16 DM8B could be expressed a little more flexibly, recognising that mixed use redevelopment schemes that provided employment equivalent to or greater than the previous use might be acceptable. Hotels typically employ one person per 1.25 to 3 bedrooms, depending on the type of hotel, so it would be possible to calculate the employment provision associated with an existing or previous use.2 DM9 Contributing to healthy and active lifestyles 3.3.17 The DPD discusses the need for policy relating to the protection of social infrastructure and the location of food outlets. The following approaches are discussed:

DM9A: For social infrastructure provision (such as for health, community, leisure and recreation), introduce a policy which would prevent the loss of existing facilities and ensure new facilities proposed, including any rationalisation and consolidation of facilities, meet an identified need and are located in appropriate locations in terms of accessibility and amenity. The Sites and Placemaking DPD will identify sites for major new facilities.

DM9B: Include a policy that guides the location of food outlets, such as restaurants and takeaways, to existing town centres which allows residents a wider choice of outlets to choose from. Include in the policy that any new hot food takeaway outside of designated town centres would not be supported.

DM9C: An alternative approach would be to restrict new takeaways in sensitive locations, for example, in close proximity to schools.

Assessment Results for DM9 3.3.18 The protection of social infrastructure is supported and contributes to a range of objectives relating to 9) housing 9), 10) Accessibility,11) Regeneration and 18) Health.

3.3.19 Restricting hot food takeaways (or providing them in locations that promote choice) is also supported. Experience of other London Boroughs may be the best way of determining which policy approach is likely to be most effective. DM10 Improving the borough’s air quality 3.3.20 The following are discussed in relation to air quality:

DM10A: Introduce a policy which requires that a new development results in a reduction in harmful emissions (from existing levels on site) throughout the construction and lifetime of the building. Where the site is vacant, the developer could work with the Council to understand the general air quality in the area. The policy could also require that Air Quality Assessments are submitted as part of larger development proposals.

DM10B: As transport is a significant contributor to poor air pollution through emissions from combustion engines, we could also include in the policy, or have a separate policy, requiring that the number of vehicle movements associated with the development is reduced, for example through the implementation a low emission strategy. Further to this, the policy could include requirements to encourage the use of vehicles that don’t emit, or emit less, harmful products, for example, electric vehicles.

2 Employment Densities Guide 2nd Edition 2010, Homes and Communities Agency


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DM10C: An alternative approach would be to implement air quality standards throughout the borough which could help us manage emissions and strive for the lowest levels possible throughout the borough.

Assessment Results for DM10 3.3.21 The development of low emission strategies for sites is supported. The Development Management DPD would need to provide adequate guidance on what was needed to meet this requirement. The reality is that a mix of approaches will be required, addressing issues associated with new development and issues associated with existing sources of poor air quality, for example through traffic associated with the A12.

3.3.22 Addressing issues around air quality contribute to a range of SA objectives. Including those relating to: 1) biodiversity 4) climate change 5) air quality, 6) energy, 8) historic environment and those objectives relating to the economy, health and equality. 3.3.23 The role of the LDF as a whole in addressing air quality standards at the Borough wide level could be discussed in the DPD. It is likely that other mechanisms like the Air Quality Strategy may have more leverage than the LDF.

3.3.24 The Habitats Regulations Assessment for the Core Strategy recommended that sources of point source pollution that would require Environmental Impact Assessment should consider the potential for impacts on European sites. The Development Management DPD could highlight this need. DM11 Protecting existing public open spaces 3.3.25 The DPD discusses the following approaches:

DM11A: Introduce a policy to clarify that we will protect all open space from all development other than development purely ancillary to the use and enjoyment of the open space, such as changing grooms to support the use of football pitches;

DM11B: As part of the policy, require all new development to contribute to the expansion, enhancement of, and mitigation against intensification of, publicly accessible open spaces. This could include contributing to: the enhancement of links between public open spaces; usability of and accessibility to open spaces; and way-finding to and between open spaces, in accordance with the Council’s Open Space Strategy and Green Grid Strategy; and

DM11C: Work with developers and Registered Social Landlords to convert and improve open spaces currently with restricted access into publicly accessible open space which the wider community can use.

Assessment Results for DM11 3.3.26 The benefits of a strategic approach to green infrastructure are now widely accepted. All the proposed approaches are supported. The policies support a range of SA objectives, including those relating to: 1) biodiversity 2) water 4) climate change 5) air quality, 6) energy, 8) historic environment and those objectives relating to the economy, health and equality.

3.3.27 It is recommended that the DPD could go further, e.g. identifying specific targets and standards that proposals should work towards. 3.3.28 It is also recommended that the DPD consider the potential to promote participation in the management of local facilities and open spaces? DM12 Biodiversity and living buildings


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3.3.29 The DPD discusses the following policy approaches to ensure that new development contributes to greening the built environment and protects and enhances biodiversity:

DM12A: Include a policy that requires development to contribute to biodiversity enhancement within the borough through the provision of ‘living elements’ within the development, such as living roofs and living walls. These would be areas of planting or habitat, designed into the external structure of the building. Where practical, it would be beneficial that users of the building (and possibly the public)would have access to these areas to enable interaction with the natural environment;

DM12B: The policy could also include requirements for habitat enhancements for particular species that might exist or can be accommodated in the area, drawing on the Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan and the London and UK plans;

DM12C: An alternative approach could be to require a minimum area of biodiversity provision to be set aside in each development site; and

DM12D: A further alternative could be to rely on the green and blue grid Development Management policies requiring only sites located within these areas to provide for biodiversity and green space.

Assessment Results for DM12 3.3.30 Greening the built environment will contribute towards a range of SA objectives, including: 1) biodiversity 2) water 4) climate change 5) air quality, 6) energy, 8) historic environment and those objectives relating to the economy, health and equality.

3.3.31 It is suggested that a combination of options DM12A and DM12B would optimise outcomes.

3.3.32 A further option would be to consider the potential for contributions towards off-site enhancement (in addition to on-site provision), effectively pooling contributions to assist larger schemes. 3.3.33 The potential for local management and maintenance of schemes and inclusion of interpretation boards or other ways of letting people know why a site is important could also be considered.

DM13 Water spaces and flood prevention 3.3.34 The DPD discusses the need for a policy to protect and safeguard all existing water spaces and their surrounds within the Blue Ribbon Network and the Thames Policy Area from inappropriate development and activity. Further potential areas of policy are discussed as follows:

DM13A: As part of this, developments would be expected to demonstrate principles of sustainability, high quality design and connectivity, with a mix of appropriate uses;

DM13B: Within the policy request a risk assessment for the application to cover impacts on navigation, hydrology and biodiversity. While it would be expected that any impacts to these will be avoided, where this is not possible, proposed mitigation and compensation measures should be identified. In addition, require that development should seek to enhance the watercourse’s value for biodiversity and measures to achieve this should be proposed as well as mitigation measures for identified impacts; and

DM13C: Resist developments that impede the use of waterways and inhibit access to the waterside.

Assessment Results for DM13


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3.3.35 Protecting and enhancing water spaces will contribute to a range of SA objectives, including: 1) biodiversity 2) water 4) climate change 5) air quality, 6) energy, 8) historic environment and those objectives relating to the economy, health and equality.

3.3.36 No additional recommendations arose from the assessment of the options.

DM14 Minimising waste and maximising recycling 3.3.37 The DPD discusses the need for a policy requiring a Waste Reduction Management Plan to be submitted for all new developments. This would need to demonstrate: how the development will make appropriate and adequate provision for the storage and collection of waste and recyclable material; how development will reduce and manage construction, excavation and demolition waste (including recycling of materials from one new development to another); and how the development will allocate space for composting, where suitable.

3.3.38 The DPD notes that provision of individual and internal and external storage spaces for recyclables in developments and retrofitting facilities would encourage individuals to participate in the waste reduction drive.

3.3.39 LBTH’s Waste Management Strategy will help set out the framework for collection, treatment and disposal of municipal waste. Assessment Results for DM14 3.3.40 Requiring new developments to prepare a Waste Reduction Management Plan to be submitted could help work towards borough targets. The DPD should confirm the format this is required in (or confirm that separately). The policy would help achieve a number of objectives, relating not only to resource use but also employment as it could help stimulate recycling and symbiosis of resources (the sharing of by-product resources among industrial actors in order to add value, reduce costs and improve environment).

3.3.41 The role of the Development Management DPD relative to the Sites and Placemaking DPD needs to be understood. The Mayor is in the process of developing revised apportionment targets for the Boroughs and the Development Management DPD could demonstrate how these will be met once available. DM15 Managing waste in the borough 3.3.42 The requirement to significantly reduce locally produced waste going to landfill sites outside the borough will initially be addressed through the Sites and Placemaking DPD, which identifies sites in appropriate locations to accommodate these facilities.

3.3.43 For other waste management facilities proposed, the DPD discusses a policy that provides further guidance on what would be deemed appropriate for this type of development in the form of a criterion based policy. Assessment Results for DM15 3.3.44 The assessment highlights the opportunity for the policy to provide a comprehensive suite of criteria. These could include effects relating to biodiversity (including consideration of impacts on European sites), water, air quality and health but also climate change (using the carbon footprint of the proposals as a proxy for other greenhouse gases). The assessment also flagged up the opportunity for schemes to achieve wider benefits, for example local recruitment and the provision of education and visitor facilities where this is appropriate.


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3.3.45 As the DPD notes, the Sites and Placemaking DPD includes sites for facilities that are key to meeting the waste management strategy, but the Development Management DPD criteria could also be applied to such schemes, recognising that location is only one factor in determining the suitability of schemes.

3.4 ENABLING PROSPEROUS COMMUNITIES

DM16 Local job creation and investment 3.4.1 The DPD discusses the need for a policy relating to the future of employment uses outside of main designations. It also discusses the need for standards for the design of new business space.

Assessment Results for DM16 3.4.2 Having a policy that seeks to protect existing firms (whether they stay in-situ or are relocated) and replace employment capacity that would otherwise be lost locally is supported because it will help provide sustainable communities and provide benefits not only for the economy but also help provide choice, with potential benefits in relation to climate change and air quality. 3.4.3 A further factor to consider might be whether or not existing employment uses are impacting on existing (or planned) uses. If they are there would still be a need to demonstrate that consideration has been given to re-location.

3.4.4 Standards to ensure that the needs of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are met may be appropriate if it is judged that the development industry is currently failing to adequately provide for them. DM17 Office locations 3.4.5 The DPD discusses a policy that:

Ensures that designated office sites are rigorously protected;

In Preferred Office Locations (POL) require there is no net loss of office floorspace in any redevelopment proposal;

In Local Office Locations (LOL) consider proposals for redevelopment and/or change of office floorspace, where a marketing report demonstrates that the office has remained vacant over a period of at least two years and there is no realistic prospect of the building being used as office in the future. Following this, any redevelopment proposal would still need to demonstrate that employment is the main use within a mixed-used redevelopment scheme; and

Require opportunities for training which will help local residents access some of the jobs being created.

Assessment Results for DM17 3.4.6 The approach to loss of floorspace in POLs and LOLs will benefit employment and the local economy but also help achieve wider objectives in relation to climate change and air quality because they are in locations with transport choice. 3.4.7 The DPD could however be clearer in terms of the objective of the policy in POLs; is it to retain employment capacity or floorspace? Research undertaken on the need for office space in London3 shows that employment densities are increasing, as work practices change. It is therefore conceivable that a reduced amount of floorspace could have the same

3 London Office Policy Review 2009, Mayor of London, November 2009


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employment capacity as the preceding building. For the policy to be future proofed it may need to be expressed differently.

3.4.8 Whilst training and local recruitment associated with such development is supported it may be worth having these provisions in a policy that relates to all development that has an employment element.

DM18 Local industrial locations 3.4.9 The DPD discusses the need for a policy on acceptable uses within Local Industrial Locations (LIL). This could include a requirement for no net loss of industrial employment floorspace and that any residential use within the scheme does not compromise the integrity of the industrial designation.

Assessment Results for DM18 3.4.10 The proposed approach will contribute to a range of SA objectives, including those relating to employment and the economy but also wider objectives associated with the ability to access employment locally.

3.4.11 As with Policy DM17 the intentions behind a policy seeking to avoid the loss of floorspace need to be made clear. If the issue is retention of employment capacity and / or existing activities (which is supported) it may be that this could be achieved through a loss of floorspace, for example if older industrial buildings were being used inefficiently or new buildings allowed more efficient practices. If the policy is too rigid it may block schemes that would be otherwise acceptable. How would land that is being used for open storage or warehousing be treated, these can cover large areas but have relatively low employment density. If the uses are no longer viable or are being relocated it may be that historic employment levels can be replaced with a reduced amount of floorspace on site. DM19 Delivering a network of schools and lifelong learning 3.4.12 The DPD discusses the need to introduce a policy to ensure that any development or re-development gives careful consideration to the requirements of the pupils attending that school in terms of layout, play space provision and demonstrate that pupils can safely access the school. In response to the Government led initiative on free schools the policy could also require that there is a demonstrated need for the school outside of that which LBTH has already identified in the Core Strategy.

Assessment Results for DM19 3.4.13 The assessment highlighted the potential for the policy to encourage the achievement of a broader range of factors associated with the design of schools.

3.4.14 It is a condition of capital funding from Department for Children, Schools and Families that new build and refurbishment projects achieve a ‘Very Good’ rating under BREEAM Schools. The requirement covers:

All major new-build projects valued at over £500,000 (primary schools) and £2million (secondary schools); and

All refurbishment projects valued at over £500,000 (primary schools) and £2million (secondary schools) and affecting more than 10% of the floor area of the school.

3.4.15 The policy could suggest the use of BREEAM for Schools – as one way of ensuring good design for those schemes that fall below the DfES threshold. 3.4.16 The policy could cross reference Core Strategy Policy SP07 in order to encourage dual use of facilities – so that they are also suitable for use by the wider community.


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3.4.17 The policy could include additional criterion relating to biodiversity, water management, energy and travel planning, DM20 Further (FE) and higher education (HE) in the borough 3.4.18 The DPD discusses having a policy to ensure that any development or re-development gives careful consideration to whether there is a local need for this type of educational use and the evidence that might be required in support of applications. Accessibility of sites is also identified as a factor, along with the scope for co-operation with existing establishments. Assessment Results for DM20 3.4.19 The way the policy is cast means that it contributes to a range of SA objectives. Sustainable FE and HE facilities (i.e. those that are viable in the long-term) would contribute to a range of objectives, including 16) education and skills. Ensuring they are in suitable locations will contribute to objectives around 4) climate change mitigation and 10) accessibility. Protecting sites for other uses will contribute to objectives relating to housing provision, 12) and 13) relating to the economy, 11) regeneration and land use and 20) equality.

3.5 DESIGNING A HIGH QUALITY CITY

DM21 Integrating development with a sustainable transport network 3.5.1 The DPD discusses the need for a policy requiring developments to demonstrate how they are properly connected with the transport network, having no unacceptable impact on capacity. The DPD discusses the following approaches:

DM21A: As part of this, the policy would aim to ensure that the highest levels of accessibility and inclusiveness are considered and implemented for all users. Any policy will require developers to submit Transport Assessments for all major developments or Transport Statements for minor developments, setting out an assessment of the impact on the transport network, including consideration of the cumulative impacts from other development, and the measures to mitigate these;

DM21B: For all development where existing transport capacity is not sufficient to meet the demands of the new developments, the DPD could have policy requiring developers to directly contribute to increasing the capacity of the transport network to meet additional demand; and

DM21C: policy seeking to improve the immediate area around transport interchanges as shown in the Sites and Placemaking DPD engagement document (known as Transport Interchange Areas) could also be implemented. This would help to make changing between different modes of transport easier and increase the accessibility of these interchanges.

Assessment Results for DM21 3.5.2 The policy and approaches discussed perform well against the SA objectives. Reducing the impacts of traffic brings potential for wider environmental benefits on sensitive elements of the environment, including people, biodiversity and built heritage.

3.5.3 Ensuring that the transport network has capacity to accommodate development will contribute to objectives associated with the economy. Promoting transport choice and enhancing transport interchanges will contribute to objectives around liveability and equality, amongst others.


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The policy could also set a target for journeys by alternatives to the car (e.g. a target of achieving a 20% shift from single occupancy car trips for new developments). The target could be based on achieving a reduction from the baseline scenario.

3.5.4 The policy could also encourage alternative forms of fuel from sustainable sources. DM22 Sustainable transport of freight 3.5.5 The DPD discusses a policy with the following elements:

DM22A: Ensure developments which generate a significant volume of freight – either during construction or when completed – demonstrate how the impacts on the transport network, the environment and on amenity will be minimised and mitigated. This could be demonstrated through transport assessments, construction logistics plans and delivery and service plans;

DM22B: To reduce the number of freight journeys, the policy could support the creation of freight consolidation centres, as supported regionally, in appropriate locations such as industrial areas and existing identified wharves, where this is viable. These would be centres serving construction sites and town centres and would help to reduce the amount of freight movement by consolidating small loads before delivery;

DM22C: Promotion of sustainable forms of freight movement and require developments to prioritise freight movement by methods of transport such as by water and rail as well as by using low emission and electric vehicles; and

DM22D: In addition to the above, the policy could require that developments that are adjacent to wharves do not have a negative impact on their operation.

Assessment Results for DM22 3.5.6 The assessment of the policy demonstrates that it performs well against the SA objectives.

3.5.7 Freight consolidation centres could have local dis-benefits and strategic benefits. Their impacts would depend on where they were located and the amount of journeys they would generate in the locality relative to those that would be generated if there was no centre. In principle they would bring benefits associated with 1) biodiversity 4) climate change 5) air quality, 6) energy, 8) historic environment and those objectives relating to the economy, health and equality.

DM23 Parking 3.5.8 The DPD discusses a policy with the following attributes:

DM23A: In order to minimise parking, the need for parking and promote sustainable transport options, introduce a policy to ensure developments do not benefit from on-street parking permits in areas well served by public transport accessibility or where on-street parking is already at capacity;

DM23B: Maximum car parking standards for residential, employment and other uses, taking into account access to public transport with minimal parking being provided in town centre locations and other areas well served by public transport;

DM23C: For residential development a minimum requirement for disabled parking would be set; Where off-street parking is provided, a proportion of this must be for family and affordable homes within the development;


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DM23D: The policy could also give support and encourage the use of car club schemes that provide communal-use cars by providing car club parking spaces within developments as a priority. Support would also be given to electric charging points and car parking spaces for electric vehicles to encourage the use of low emission vehicles; and

DM23E: Minimum standards would be set for cycle parking in all developments. Assessment Results for DM23 3.5.9 The policy recognises parking’s role in promoting transport choice. This could help bring benefits in terms of improvements to air quality, or at least avoidance of poorer air quality. It could also help bring wider environmental benefits. The policy has potential to benefit the economy, by helping to maintain a functioning transport system. There will also be benefits associated with liveability and accessibility.

DM24 Streets, places and public realm for people 3.5.10 The DPD discusses the need for a policy with the following attributes:

Proposals for major development make improvements to the existing pedestrian infrastructure as a priority and that they assess, enhance and improve how the site is connected to its surrounding context. This could be demonstrated by setting out in the policy that all major developments have to provide an ‘urban design analysis.’ This would address issues that could include paving, street illumination design, lighting levels/types, street furniture, trees & planting and any other elements of the public realm that the community consider important;

Where development proposals are near the borough boundary, they would additionally be expected to provide analysis of connectivity to the neighbouring borough. As part of the provision of public realm improvements, it would also be necessary to demonstrate how these add to the safety of the borough and provide access for all; and

There are other aspects of public realm that this policy could address, such as the provision of public art as part of major development proposals and the ability of new development to de-clutter some of the existing public realm and build on the identity of places in the borough.

Assessment Results for DM24 3.5.11 The need to consider connectivity to sites and cross-borough issues is supported. This could result in positive outcomes. The policy has a role in helping to promote walking (and potentially cycling), with associated benefits in terms of improved air quality and reduced use of non-renewable energy sources. Improvements to the public realm could also improve the liveability of areas. If schemes tackle significant barriers to movement there could be benefits to the wider community.

3.5.12 It may be that the urban design analysis can be adequately covered in the Design and Access Statement, with the policy highlighting the need for the topics identified to be covered.

3.5.13 Pedestrian routes could have a role with mitigating the urban heat island effect and provide shading. The policy could highlight consideration of this.

3.5.14 The policy could ask proposals to comment on the potential for shared spaces, providing space for cyclists where feasible.

DM25 Tower of London World Heritage Site 3.5.15 The DPD discusses the need for a policy with the following attributes:


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Ensures that any new development in the borough does not negatively affect the UNESCO World Heritage Site status of the Tower of London and must be tested for its impact on the site’s outstanding universal value relating to its historical, architectural and cultural importance;

As part of this policy, developments would also demonstrate that they do not have a negative effect on the Tower’s setting, including any strategic or local views to and from it; and

For proposed developments in the vicinity of the Tower of London, the policy could further require that the development demonstrates how local access routes to the Tower and signage to help visitors navigate their way to it are being improved.

Assessment Results for DM25 3.5.16 The policy clearly makes a contribution to the SA objective relating to the historic environment but also to additional objectives relating to accessibility, safety and liveability. DM26 Heritage and the historic environment 3.5.17 The DPD discusses the need for a policy that:

Sets out guidance around how development proposals can protect and enhance the borough’s heritage assets, their setting and their significance as key elements of developing a sense of place;

In acknowledging that sometimes changes to heritage buildings, spaces and features may occasionally be necessary and beneficial, the policy can consider any proposals in the context of such things as; the contribution being made to the existing character or appearance of the area; the wider benefits of the proposed use; the potential for enhancement of architectural or historic interest; and the contribution to the local economy;

Criteria to ensure that changes to built heritage can deliver energy efficiencies and make heritage assets fit for contemporary use, all the while not compromising the intrinsic qualities of the building/asset itself; and

In addition to these criteria, the policy would require that any proposals for development in Conservation Areas should demonstrate how it preserves and enhances the character of the conservation as set out in the relevant Conservation Area Appraisal. Furthermore, for proposals in/ adjacent to Archaeological Priority Areas, an Archaeological Evaluation Report would also need to be produced.

Assessment Results for DM26 3.5.18 This policy is supported as it seeks to protect and enhance important buildings and recognises that finding a sustainable (long-term) use for them is the best way of securing their future. Doing so will help to achieve broader objectives associated with liveability and regeneration and land use and others as identified in the appraisal matrix.

However, it is suggested that the policy is recast to reflect the principles set out in Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment, 2010(paragraph 7 includes the following:

To conserve England’s heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance by ensuring that:–– decisions are based on the nature, extent and level of that significance, investigated to a degree proportionate to the importance of the heritage asset; and


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Wherever possible, heritage assets are put to an appropriate and viable use that is consistent with their conservation.

DM27 Sustainable neighbourhoods and place sensitive designs 3.5.19 The DPD discusses a policy that:

DM27A: Sets out details regarding what developments will need to consider in terms of protecting amenity and promoting high quality design;

DM27B: Specifically for amenity, there could be a requirement that the proposal considers such things as; the impact of the development on visual privacy and overlooking; sense of enclosure; loss of sunlight and daylight; noise and air pollution; and any significant effects on microclimate;

DM27C: In terms of design, key considerations should be the character, setting, scale and form of development and its relationship to the surrounding area; the quality and appropriateness of materials to be used; the existing public realm and how it can be enhanced; and the appropriate form of amenity space to be provided. As part of the design, it would be expected that all developments meet the highest standards of access and inclusion; and

DM27D: The policy might also include the requirement that development must comply with measures set out in the Zero Carbon policy (DM29), specifically regarding the integration of design techniques to reduce the impacts of climate change, such as limiting water run-off, reducing domestic and commercial water usage, containing air pollution and using landscaping for purposes of natural shading and cooling.

Assessment Results for DM27 3.5.20 The policy contributes to a range of SA objectives; including those around the natural environment, liveability, regeneration and land use and equality.

DM28 Tall buildings 3.5.21 The DPD discusses a policy that:

DM28A: In addition to the two locations identified appropriate for tall buildings (Canary Wharf and Aldgate), introduces further guidance in the form of robust criteria based policy to be applied to all developments to ensure the design and context of the building is of the highest quality and is in keeping with the local context. Examples of the criteria to be applied to a tall building development could include: achieving high architectural quality and innovation in the design of the building; no adverse impact on important views including strategic London wide views and important local views; no adverse impact on biodiversity, open spaces or the public realm; positive contribution to the social and economic vitality of the surrounding area; seek high levels of access to the buildings; and ensure transport serving the building is adequate;

DM28B: An alternative option could be to give guidance about heights of buildings across the borough. This could mean defining appropriate heights for each different place in the Sites and Placemaking DPD;

DM28C: Another way of achieving this would be to link tall buildings to the town centre hierarchy with the tallest buildings at Canary Wharf and the CAZ and smaller scale buildings at district centres and at transport interchanges; and

DM28D: In formulating the policy criteria for a proposal which is replacing an existing tall building which was a legacy from past development may also be needed. It may be


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that it is not considered a precedent for acceptability of tall building forms, especially if it would no longer be considered an appropriate location for a tall building.

Assessment Results for DM28 3.5.22 From a sustainability point of view none of the alternative approaches is judged to perform better than any other. The type of policy selected could therefore be based on the anticipated pressure for tall buildings. A criterion based policy may suffice if pressure is not judged to be high. More prescriptive place specific approaches might be needed if there is pressure across the borough but these should still include more general criteria against which suitability will be assessed, not just height.

3.5.23 Additional criteria to consider include:

Climate change adaptation and impact on microclimate;

Adoption of sustainable design and construction techniques, including heating/cooling, waste and water management; and

Encouraging an appropriate mix of uses within the building.

DM29 Zero-carbon borough 3.5.24 The DPD discusses a policy that:

DM29A: Ensures that new developments within the borough will only be supported when they are in accordance with the London Plan Energy Hierarchy. In doing so they are showing how they will meet the 2016 zero-carbon target.

DM29B: Alternatively, introduce a policy that requires any future or new development within the borough to exceed the regional targets, making Tower Hamlets a leader in the push to prevent contributions to global warming.

DM29C: As part of any zero carbon policy, include requirements to encourage the use of more sustainable energy production and modes of transport, such as solar energy, district heating schemes and electric vehicles.

DM29D: The policy could also include a requirement for developers to lower the carbon dioxide emissions attributed to existing buildings when undertaking renovations and redevelopments, by requiring improved insulation for example.

DM29E: A requirement that all development not proposing connection to an existing or proposed decentralised heat and/or energy system should be future proofed with connection provisions to allow connection into decentralised heat and/or energy systems when they become available within the area. The potential locations of these decentralised energy systems are being developed by the Council with the Mayor of London and are suggested within the Sites and Placemaking DPD engagement document.

Assessment Results for DM29 3.5.25 A policy of this nature will contribute towards climate change adaptation and mitigation and also achieve wider objectives around innovation and equality, for example by helping to address fuel poverty.

3.5.26 This policy provides the opportunity to achieve broader sustainability goals, not just those relating to carbon. For example standards across a range of other factors could be achieved by:

Requiring new residential developments to achieve specified Code for Sustainable Homes levels as a minimum;


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Requiring conversions to residential development to achieve a specified Eco-homes level as a minimum;

Requiring commercial developments to achieve a specified BREEAM standard as a minimum;

Require all schemes over a specified threshold to work towards a specified BREEAM Communities level as a minimum; and

Cross reference the Mayors Sustainable Design and Construction Supplementary Planning Guidance (2006).

3.6 CUMULATIVE AND SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS

3.6.1 Potential cumulative and synergistic effects are identified in Table 3.1 below. These effects were identified by considering each SA objective in turn.

3.6.2 It is clear from the table that cumulative effects are anticipated over a range of objectives and the majority are positive in nature. Examples include:

Objective 1 (Biodiversity) and Objective 2 (Water) - the Green Grid and Blue Grid provide benefits;

Objective 3 (Natural Resources), 6 (Energy) and 7 (Waste) – promoting zero carbon development across the Borough constitutes a potential cumulative effect;

3.6.3 There is also potential for significant positive cumulative and synergistic effects associated with the regeneration of areas. These relate to a range of objectives, including:

Objective 10. (Accessibility / Availability);

Objective 11. (Regeneration & Land Use); and

Objective 15. (Liveability and Place).


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Table 3.1 – Cumulative and synergistic effects

SA Objective Borough wide effects

1. Biodiversity. To conserve and enhance natural habitats and wildlife and bring nature closer to people.

The Green grid and Blue grid sit across localities and provide the potential for positive cumulative effects associated with enhancement of biodiversity.

2. Water Quality & Water Resources. To improve the quality of surface waters and groundwater and To achieve the wise management and sustainable use of water resources.

Efforts to improve the relationship of development to rivers and canals will provide potential positive cumulative effects across localities and across the Borough as a whole. The use of SUDS in all development will have a potential positive cumulative effect on water quality and attenuation of run-off.

3. Natural Resources. To minimise the global, social and environmental impact of consumption of resources by using sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products.

Promoting zero carbon development across the borough will provide a positive cumulative effect.

4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts.

Promoting zero carbon development across the borough will provide a positive cumulative effect. The provision of waste to energy facilities will also contribute to this objective.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. Various policies work towards improving air quality and ensuring that development does not contribute to the problem.

6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.

The proposed CHP network will provide cumulative benefits across the borough and potentially a cumulative benefit with adjoining authorities, e.g. by extending the heat main to adjoining authorities.

7. Waste. To minimise the production of waste across all sectors and increase reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and recovery rates.

The measures relating to waste management provide a potential positive cumulative effect by helping to increase the capacity for more sustainable forms of waste management.

8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way.

There is potential for positive cumulative effects on the built and historic environment if the measures identified in various polices are adopted.

9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners have access to good quality, well-located, affordable housing that promotes liveability.

The provision of family housing across the borough could have a positive cumulative effect. The provision of housing for special needs


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groups could have positive cumulative effects across the Borough.

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car).

Various policies seek to improve the existing situation and ensure that new developments enhance accessibility.

11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

This is a key aspect of the Core Strategy and thematic policies and the Development Management DPD should act in combination to provide positive cumulative and possibly synergistic effects. The Development Management DPD seeks to provide the basis for regulating a number of land uses that might impact on the ability to accommodate priority uses; these include control of student accommodation, FE and HE facilities, hotels and serviced accommodation and out of centre retail.

12. Employment. To offer everyone the opportunity for rewarding, well-located and satisfying employment.

Town centre redevelopment and key sites should act in combination to provide a positive cumulative effect. Issues around displacement of existing employment are addressed in the Development Management DPD.

13. Stable Economy. To encourage a strong, diverse and stable economy and to improve the resilience of businesses and their environmental, social and economic performance.

The DPD includes a number of policies that could provide cumulative and synergistic benefits, for example protecting and enhancing existing employment areas.

14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector).

Provision is made for the creative sector, green technology and spin-offs from the Universities in key places in the Core Strategy and together with relevant thematic policies in the Development Management DPD there is potential for positive cumulative and synergistic effects.

15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place.

Various policies in the DPD provide the potential for positive cumulative effects in relation to this objective by seeking to improve the public realm, ensuring a range of services and facilities are available and that transport choice is provided.

16. Education and Skills. To maximise the education and skills levels of the population.

Policies seek to accommodate new education facilities and protect existing ones. There is potential for a positive cumulative effect as children are able to move through the education system.

17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at

No cumulative effects identified.


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neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London.

18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health.

Policies relating to the Green Grid, enhanced centres, public realm, health facilities and liveability should act in combination to provide positive cumulative effects. Standards relating to open space and play space should also contribute cumulatively to this objective.

19. Safety and Security. To enhance community safety by reducing crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear of crime.

Improvements to streets, centres and the public realm together with management of the night time economy should have positive cumulative effects.

20. Equality and diversity. To ensure equitable outcomes for all communities, particularly those most liable to experience discrimination, poverty and social exclusion.

Improvements to existing estates and their connectivity, the focus on centres, provision of housing etc. provide the potential for cumulative and synergistic effects.

3.7 ARE THERE ANY POLICY GAPS IN THE DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT DPD?

3.7.1 Suggestions for additions to policy have been made under relevant policies. Set out here are suggestions for additional policies:

It is suggested that the Development Management DPD includes a list of matters that planning applications will need to address and how they should be addressed, for example in relation to climate change adaptation and mitigation – including the contribution that schemes might make to exacerbating or mitigating the urban heat island effect. This information checklist will be important because there have been planning appeals associated with policies around sustainable design and construction where the Inspector has not given the policy weight because of a lack of detail on what applicants needed to do to meet the policy. The Core Strategy and Development Management DPD combined have a number of requirements that applications will need to provide and a list of these would help ensure that these are not undertaken as afterthoughts; and

The Development Management DPD should consider the need for a specific policy relating to major hazards and the implications for development near them (Policy 5.22 of the Draft Replacement London Plan refers).

3.8 CONCLUSIONS

3.8.1 The Core Strategy contains a comprehensive suite of policies, both thematic and area specific. The role of the Development Management DPD is to provide more detail where it is needed and to ensure that more detailed topics are covered. The Sites and Placemaking DPD also has a key role. The challenge is to avoid repetition and duplication between the Core Strategy and these other DPDs but at the same time to ensure that the high level policies in the Core Strategy are better developed, where they need to be, in order to ensure that the high level objectives are translated into development on the ground. LBTH also need to be satisfied that the DPDs contain the necessary policy hooks for the SPDs it intends to adopt.

3.8.2 This review of the emerging Development Management DPD against the SA objectives suggests that it is building appropriately on the Core Strategy. Detailed recommendations and potential gaps have been identified above. The most significant gaps (or


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areas for clarification) are around sustainable design and construction, climate change adaptation and the information required for planning applications.

3.8.3 The Habitats Regulations Assessment for the Core Strategy recommended that sources of point source pollution that would require Environmental Impact Assessment should consider the potential for impacts on European sites. The Development Management DPD could highlight this need.


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4 Assessing the Sites and Placemaking DPD

4.1 INTRODUCTION

4.1.1 The Sites and Placemaking DPD has been assessed in three sections;

The site suggestions for important uses;

The spatial policy areas; and

The placemaking elements.

4.1.2 Results are presented below using the spatial policy themes set out in the DPD. Detailed matrices for the site suggestions and spatial policy areas are presented in Appendix E. Recommendations are shown in bold.

4.2 THE SITE SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPORTANT USES

4.2.1 The assessment identified largely positives from the sites selections process. The assessment focussed on the impacts resulting from the spatial distribution of the various sites, rather than the effects of any given type of developments. So for example the assessment did not look in detail at the effects intrinsic to housing development, but rather whether the proposed distribution of housing would give rise to any significant effects.

4.2.2 Significant positives against the environmental objectives included the effects on energy, due to the identification of 8 district heating facilities focus areas. In addition, the majority of sites were recognised for their potential to deliver district heating even if they were not within the focus areas. The two proposed waste management facilities were also found to be significant positives. Further assessment of the Fish Island proposed waste management facility can be found in the SA of the Fish Island Area Action Plan.

4.2.3 Significant social positives were identified against both the housing and regeneration objectives. The sites suggestions identify a number of large scale housing developments across the borough. When combined with the other sites identified for development, the DPD represents a significant regeneration plan for the borough. Liveability is at the heart of the approach undertaken to sites suggestions, through promoting mixed use communities.

4.2.4 Economic and employment related objectives were assessed as a part of the spatial policy areas (see section 4.3). As such, they were not assessed for the sites suggestions to avoid double counting.

4.2.5 The only minor negative identified was against the climate change and flood risk objective. Much of the borough is already designated as Flood Zone 3 and a large amount of development has been suggested within this area. With climate change expected to increase the frequency and severity of flood events, the risk will increase over time. However, there is the mitigation measure of the area being behind tidal flood defences and each of the final sites within the forthcoming proposed submission version of the Sites and Placemaking DPD will be assessed for its flood risk. As such, only a minor negative has been identified.

4.3 THE SPATIAL POLICY AREAS

4.3.1 The table on page 104 of the Sites and Placemaking DPD document cross refers to page 26 of the DPD for a definition of Spatial Policy Areas.

4.3.2 Significant environmental benefits included the adoption of the Clear Zone boundary, which seeks to mitigate climate change and improve air quality through multi-agency


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partnerships. Improvements to transport interchanges would also be expected to improve air quality. The Thames Policy Area requires LBTH (and other relevant boroughs) to prepare detailed appraisals of their stretches of the river and its environs. This would be a significant benefit to LBTHs waterside environment.

4.3.3 The main benefits focussed on improved accessibility and significant regeneration opportunities. Accessibility would be increased through borough-wide improvements to existing transport interchanges including improvements to connectivity and wayfinding. Regeneration is at the core of the Sites and Placemaking DPD and the Spatial Policy Areas designate large areas of land for employment-led regeneration.

4.3.4 The main thrust of the Spatial Policy areas is to create jobs and improve the economy. To this end, significant positives were identified on both counts. Preferred Office Locations are identified at Canary Wharf and along the City Fringe to support existing employment in those areas. It should be noted that much of the content of the Spatial Policy Areas is putting into place the policies of The London Plan, rather than introducing new concepts. It should be noted that specific boundaries will not be defined for the creative industries through the Sites and Placemaking DPD; the Development Management DPD provides guidance on this.

4.4 THE PLACEMAKING ELEMENTS

4.4.1 The placemaking elements of the SPM DPD complement the sites and spatial policy areas assessed in the preceding two sub-sections and as such the assessments should be read together. The placemaking elements will provide guidance on the design of a given place. Placemaking can include, but is not limited to, the following aspects:

Identifying locations for public realm improvements;

Removing barriers to peoples movement across an area (often referred to as severance lines); and

Removing obstructions to local views;

4.4.2 This should be viewed in light of Section 7: Delivering Placemaking and Annex 9: Delivering Placemaking of the Core Strategy. Section 7 sets out the strategic objective and spatial policy for placemaking. Spatial policy 17 states:

Improve, enhance and develop a network of sustainable, connected, well-designed places across the borough through:

a) Ensuring places are well-designed, so that they offer the right layout to support the day-to-day activities of local people.

b) Retaining and respecting the features that contribute to each places’ heritage, character and local distinctiveness.

c) Ensuring places have a range and mix of dwelling types and tenures to promote balanced, socially mixed communities.

d) Ensuring places have access to a mixed-use town centre that offers a variety of shops and services.

e) Ensuring places have a range and mix of high-quality, publicly accessible green spaces that promote biodiversity, health and well-being.

f) Promoting places that have access to a range of public transport modes in order for local people to access other parts of the borough and the rest of London.

g) Ensuring places provide for a well-connected, safe, and attractive network of streets and spaces that make it easy and pleasant to walk and cycle.


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h) Ensuring places promote wider sustainability and assist in reducing society’s consumption of resources and its carbon footprint.

i) Ensuring development proposals recognise their role and function in helping to deliver the vision, priorities and principles for each place.

4.4.3 This policy is then expanded on place by place in Annex 9. In particular, it gives the vision for each place which provides the overarching direction of change for each place based on, among other issues, its historic uses and character.

4.4.4 Each place has a list of consultation question alongside it. These questions can be divided into two categories;

A general list of questions asked for virtually all places; and

Place-specific questions relating to either the boroughs specific existing features (for example a historic building or area of open space) or potential future uses.

4.4.5 The questions applicable to virtually all places ask the following:

1. How would the suggested plan proposals affect the place?

2. Do you have any preferred locations and types of public realm improvement?

3. Where and how would you create and improve walking and cycling routes and facilities?

4. Do you have any suggestions for building heights and scales?

5. Are there any local views you would like protected?

6. Are there any heritage assets that should be protected?

7. Are there any documents that could be used to inform the next iteration of the SPM DPD or other council documents?

4.4.6 Table 4.1 compares questions 1-7 above with requirements a-i of spatial policy 17.This is to identify whether the general scope of questions is appropriate in covering the issues set out in the Core Strategy and whether there are any gaps in coverage.

4.4.7 The table shows a high degree of compatibility between the two, with no conflicts identified. Two of the gaps are subsections c) and d), but these relates to potential future uses and have been addressed through specific questions where relevant to each place. Only the general questions have been used as they provide the framework for placemaking.

4.4.8 Table 4.2 identified public transport as addressed under subsection f) of spatial policy 17 as a gap. Strategic guidance on public transport is set out in core Strategy Spatial Policy 08. LBTH’s Transport Strategy is currently being developed and it is anticipated that the outcomes of this study will feed into the Sites and Placemaking DPD and the Development Management DPD. As such, this issue will be reviewed again in the next iteration of the Environmental Report.

Table 4.1 – Cross comparison of placemaking questions can spatial policy 17 subsections

General questions

Spatial policy 17 subsections

a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i)

1. 2. 3.


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4. 5. 6. 7.

Key to table 4.1

Compatible

Conflicting

4.4.9 Table 4.2 takes the general questions and cross refers them against the SA objective to identify which objectives have been addressed by the general questions. Overall, the coverage can be seen to be relatively narrow, with 7 of the 20 objectives addressed. A further 7 have been identified as non-applicable, in as much as addressing the objective falls outside the scope of placemaking or is covered by place specific questions.

Table 4.2 - SA objectives and whether they are addressed by the general questions

SA objective SA

objective SA objective SA objective

Biodiversity Energy N/A Regeneration and land use Education

and skills N/A

Water quality and

water resources

Waste N/A Employment N/A Ownership

and participation

Natural resources N/A

The built and historic environment

Stable economy N/A Health and

wellbeing

Climate Change Housing N/A

Creativity and

innovation N/A Safety and

security

Air quality Accessibility / availability Liveability

and place Equality

and diversity

N/A

4.4.10 The majority of the objectives addressed are social objectives. The gaps remaining are primarily environmental objectives. 4.4.11 A key question is the extent to which the placemaking element of the DPD has a role in addressing environmental issues. Can it complement the policies in the Core Strategy, Development Management DPD and other elements of the Sites and Placemaking DPD? Possible areas for inclusion might be:


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Climate change adaptation; and

Sites suitable for small scale renewable energy (to complement the district heating facilities).

4.5 CUMULATIVE AND SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS

4.5.1 Potential cumulative and synergistic effects are identified in Table 4.3 below. These effects were identified by considering each SA objective in turn. Potential cumulative effects within each of the three assessment categories were considered as an intrinsic part of the assessment. Cumulative effects identified here are as a result of interactions between the three assessment categories.

4.5.2 As can be seen from Table 4.3, the cumulative effects identified are minimal. This is because the area of focus of the Sites Allocations, Spatial Policy Areas and Placemaking elements it is quite deliberately different (otherwise they would be duplicating each other). As such, the cumulative affects identified are typically those objectives that have a broader scope, such as Regeneration and Land Use as well as Liveability and Place; these are more akin to synergistic effects.

Table 4.3 – Cumulative and synergistic effects

SA Objective Borough wide effects


No cumulative effects identified.


All three sections of the Sites and Placemaking DPD offer the opportunity to improve different areas of the waterside environment. Between them, the waterside environment could be comprehensively improved.


No cumulative effect identified.


The Clear Zone, extensive decentralised energy and measures to promote public transport will provide cumulative mitigation against climate change.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. Various policies work towards improving air quality and ensuring that development does not contribute to the problem.


The proposed CHP network will provide cumulative benefits across the borough and potentially a cumulative benefit with adjoining authorities, e.g. by extending the heat main to adjoining authorities.


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Together the sites allocations and Spatial Policy Areas provide for a cumulatively very substantial borough-wide regeneration programme.








Here in particular, the sites allocations and Spatial Policy Areas address the liveability aspect, whereas the placemaking section addresses the place aspect of the objective. Together, they provide comprehensive cumulative coverage of the objective.


New schools, idea stores and employment opportunities can all come together to provide a synergistic benefit in terms of lifelong learning.


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17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London.

Across all aspects of the Sites and Placemaking DPD, a range of questions have been set out to engage with the public and provide a sense of ownership.


The sites and Placemaking DPD addresses both promoting healthy lifestyles and ensuring healthcare is available to all.




All aspects of the Sites and Placemaking DPD have improving equalities as a central focus.


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5 Summary and Next Steps

5.1 SUMMARY

5.1.1 The Core Strategy contains a comprehensive suite of policies, both thematic and area specific. The role of the Development Management DPD is to provide more detail, where it is needed, and to ensure that more detailed topics are covered. The Sites and Placemaking DPD also has a key role. The challenge is to avoid repetition and duplication between the Core Strategy and DPDs but at the same time to ensure that the high level policies in the Core Strategy are better developed, where they need to be, in order to ensure that the high level objectives are translated into development on the ground. LBTH also need to be satisfied that the DPDs contain the necessary policy hooks for the SPDs it intends to adopt.

5.1.2 This review of the emerging Development Management DPD against the SA objectives suggests that it is building appropriately on the Core Strategy. Detailed recommendations and potential gaps have been identified above. The most significant gaps (or areas for clarification) are around sustainable design and construction, climate change adaptation and the information required for planning applications.

5.1.3 The Sites and Placemaking DPD is primarily concerned with the location of development and it is the locational aspects that the SA has sought to focus on to avoid overlapping with the Development Management DPD. The assessment has also been shaped by the fact that whilst the DPD focuses on identifying various sites, relatively little detail is known about each site at this stage beyond its proposed boundaries. As such, the SA has sought to understand the ‘big picture’, rather than attempt to analyse detail that is not yet clear.

5.1.4 This review of the Sites and Placemaking DPD identified a broad range of sustainability benefits across the objectives. Whilst some uncertainties remain, it is expected that these will be picked up as a part of the latter assessment stages. The only negative identified was that of significant development in an area of existing high flood risk, namely the Isle of Dogs, which will be exacerbated as a result of climate change. However, this area is also protected by tidal flood defences.

5.1.5 Throughout the Sites and Placemaking DPD a number questions had been asked to ensure that the DPD engages with public and provides for a sense of ownership. This is particularly important in light of the Localism Bill, which seeks to get the public more involved in the planning system and empower them to make their own decisions with regards to the development of their community. The placemaking element could potentially provide an important first step in ensuring that neighbourhood plans function in compliance with the Local Development Framework, which they will be required to do.

5.2 NEXT STEPS

5.2.1 This document will be submitted to the Statutory Consultees, advertised in public local newspapers, as well as being made available on the Council’s website to view and download. This will enable relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Sustainability Appraisal Report is satisfactory and if not, comments will be addressed in later stages of the work.


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5.2.2 Please send comments to:

FREEPOST RRBK - TZER - UTAU

LDF DPD Consultation

D&R Strategic Planning

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

PO Box 55739

London

E14 1BY

5.2.3 The consultation for the report runs from the 9th of May to 15th July 2011. The comments on the Report will then be reviewed and, if necessary, elements of the report will be amended and incorporated in subsequent work. Comments will be taken into account in undertaking the later stages of the SA process.

Appendix A: SA Objectives and Supporting Criteria

Overall objective We will achieve environmental, social and economic development simultaneously; the improvement of one will not be to the detriment of another. Where trade-offs between competing objectives are unavoidable, these will be transparent and minimised.

SA Objective Appraisal Criteria specific to the DPDs

Managing Resources 1. Biodiversity. To conserve and enhance natural habitats and wildlife and bring nature closer to people.

Will it conserve and enhance habitats and species in accordance with the Local Biodiversity Action Plan. In particular, will it avoid harm to national or London priority species and designated sites and habitats and species identified in the Local Biodiversity Action Plan)? Will it provide for the long-term management of natural habitats and wildlife? Will it provide opportunities to enhance the environment and create new conservation assets (or restore existing wildlife habitats) for example by integrating the creation of new habitats into the design of new buildings and areas? Will it protect and enhance the Borough’s waterbodies to achieve a good ecological status? Will it promote, educate and raise awareness of the enjoyment and benefits of the natural environment? Will it bring nature closer to people, especially in the most urbanised parts of the Borough, for example through the use of green and brown roofs? Will it improve access to areas of biodiversity interest? Will it enhance the ecological function and carrying capacity of the greenspace network?


Will it improve the quality of waterbodies? Will it reduce discharges to surface and groundwaters? Will it support sustainable urban drainage? Will it improve the water systems infrastructure (e.g. water supply/sewerage)? Will it reduce abstraction form surface and groundwater sources? Will it reduce water consumption? Will it encourage the consideration of the water cycle?


Will it reduce the demand for natural resources and raw materials from unsustainable sources? Will it encourage the prudent and efficient use of natural resources? Will it encourage the use of local sustainable products? Will it reduce the Borough’s ecological footprint per capita?


Will it minimise emissions of greenhouse gases? Will it help London meet its emissions targets? Will it protect the Borough from climate change impacts? Will it avoid exacerbating the impacts of climate change? Will it minimise the risk of flooding from rivers and watercourses to people and property? Will it manage existing flood risks appropriately and avoid new flood risks?

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality.

Will it improve air quality? Will it reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by reducing energy consumption? Will it help to reduce emissions of PM10, NO2? Will it help to achieve national and international standards for air quality (for example, those set out in the Air Quality Regulations 2000 and (Amendment) Regulations 2002? (See objective 10 for further details on transport criteria including the provision of infrastructure to achieve a modal shift)


Will it reduce the demand and need for energy? Will it promote and improve energy efficiency (e.g. buildings)? Will it increase the proportion of energy both purchased and generated from renewable and sustainable resources?


Will it minimise the production of household and commercial waste? Will it promote reuse and recycling (e.g. in the design of housing or promoting recycling schemes in existing building stock etc.) particularly in high density developments?

Getting Results 8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way.

Will it protect and enhance sites, features and areas of historical, archaeological and cultural value/potential? Will it conserve and enhance the townscape/cityscape character including the protection of views and landmark buildings? Will it promote high quality design and sustainable construction methods? Will it respect visual amenity and the spatial diversity of communities? Will it enhance the quality of the public realm? Will it protect and enhance areas of open space? Will it improve access to open space and improve the quality and quantity of publicly accessible greenspace?


Will it reduce homelessness? Will it reduce overcrowding? Will it increase the range and affordability (both upfront and over its lifetime) of housing (taking into account different requirements and preferences of size, location, type and tenure)? Will it ensure that appropriate services and facilities are in place for the new population? Will it provide housing that ensures a good standard of living and promotes a healthy lifestyle? Will it improve the quality of housing? Will it increase use of sustainable design and sustainable building materials in construction? Will it improve energy efficiency and insulation in housing to reduce fuel poverty and ill health? Will it provide housing that encourages a sense of community and enhances the amenity value of the community? Will it improve the wider built environment and sense of place?

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle

Will it encourage a modal shift to more sustainable forms of travel as well as encourage greater efficiency (e.g. through car-sharing)? Will it provide the infrastructure required to achieve a modal shift to more sustainable forms

and by foot (relative to those taken by car). of transport? Will it reduce the overall need for people to travel by improving their access to the services, jobs, leisure and amenities in the place in which they live? Will it promote locally-based employment? Will it improve accessibility to work by public transport, walking and cycling?


Will the regeneration have immediate and long-term benefits for deprived areas? Will it help to make people feel positive about the area they live in? Will it help to create a sense of place and ‘vibrancy’? Will it help reduce the number of vacant and derelict buildings? Will it minimise the loss of soils to development? Will it improve soil quality?


Will it generate satisfying and rewarding new jobs? Will it help to provide employment in the most deprived areas and stimulate regeneration? Will it reduce overall unemployment, particularly long-term unemployment? Will it encourage flexibility of work, including voluntary and part-time work? Will new employment opportunities be well served by public transport?


Will it improve sustainable business development? Will it help to diversify the economy? Will it prevent the loss of indigenous businesses? Will it encourage business start-ups and support the growth of businesses? Will it safeguard the best of the employment land portfolio?


Will it help to diversify the economy? Will it encourage investment in new technologies, new solutions, new plans and new ideas that contribute to achieving progress towards sustainability?

Taking Responsibility 15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term

Will it create and sustain vibrant and diverse communities and encourage increased engagement in recreational, leisure and cultural activities?

social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place.

Will it provide opportunities for people to choose an active, fulfilling life? Will it increase the provision of key services, facilities and employment opportunities? Will it positively enhance and promote the perceived sense of place held by the community? Will it protect and enhance the provision of open space? Will it encourage a mix of land uses? Will it reduce the urban heat island effect associated with increasingly dense development?


Will it provide the infrastructure to help increase the levels of participation and attainment in education? Will it help improve employee education/training programmes? Will it help reduce skills shortages? Will it promote multiple uses of schools?


Will it promote social cohesion and encourage engagement in community activities? Will it increase the ability of people to influence decisions? Will it support civic engagement and encourage the involvement and participation of a diverse range of stakeholders?

Developing Respect 18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health.

Will it reduce poverty and health inequalities? Will it improve access to high quality public services (including health facilities)? Will it address the causes of key health issues including high rates of cardio-vascular disease and lung cancer? Will it create an environment that will promote and support physical activity and other healthy behaviours?? Will it improve access to high quality public services (including health facilities) with particular emphasis on access by active travel means such as walking, cycling and public transport?


Will it reduce the fear of crime? Will it reduce actual noise levels and disturbances from noise?


Will it reduce poverty and social exclusion in those areas and communities most affected?

Appendix B: The ‘Givens’

It is proposed to use a set of givens, or assumptions to inform the SA. This includes givens from the Core Strategy. This should help reduce uncertainty, increase transparency and reduce the need for repetition in the SA. These are presented in the table overleaf

SA Objective The SA work will assume that…

Managing Resources


The two Local nature reserves in Tower Hamlets will be managed in line with The National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949.

The locally designated sites of nature conservation importance originally listed in the adopted Unitary Development Plan (Chapter 2, Table 1) will be given equal status and at least equal protection

LBTH will continue to deliver the objectives and associated actions set out in the LBTH Biodiversity Action Plan.

Core Strategy SPO4 seeks to protect and enhance biodiversity value through: The design of open space and buildings and ensure development protects and enhances areas of biodiversity value in order to achieve a net gain in biodiversity.

It also seeks to protect and enhance the ecological and biodiversity value of water spaces.

Core Strategy SP12 seeks to ensure places have a range and mix of high-quality, publicly accessible green spaces that promote biodiversity, health and well-being.

Core Strategy SP13 identifies the potential for planning obligations to be used to secure


biodiversity enhancements.

The priorities for Leamouth include: To protect and enhance the ecological value of East India Basin and ensure new development enhances biodiversity value.

The vision for Blackwall includes: A new green space will be provided through the redevelopment of Robin Hood Gardens, and East India Dock Basin will see accessibility and biodiversity improvements.

2. Water Quality & Water Resources. To improve the quality of surface waters and groundwater and to achieve the wise management and sustainable use of water resources.

LBTH will continue to deliver the objectives and associated actions set out in the LBTH environmental strategy with regards to water, these relates to the Council’s own activities rather than developments in the Borough.

Core Strategy Policy SO3 Achieving wider sustainability includes the following - Working pro-actively to protect and enhance the quality of the environment. Improving air, land and water quality by minimising air, noise, land and water pollution.

Core Strategy SPO4 - Improving the quality, usability, accessibility of the environment of water spaces including the immediate area and water quality

And f) all new developments must aim to increase the amount of permeable surfaces, including SUDS, to improve drainage and reduce surface water run-off.’

The Blue Grid: A network consisting of the River Thames and the rivers, streams, canals, docks and other open water spaces throughout the borough and the land alongside them – is a concept that is featured in the Core Strategy and Core Strategy SO12 seeks to create a high-quality, well-connected and sustainable natural environment of green and blue spaces that are rich in biodiversity and promote active and healthy lifestyles..

3. Natural Resources. To minimise the global, social and environmental impact of

LBTH will continue to deliver the objectives and associated actions set out in the LBTH environmental strategy with regards to procurement.


consumption of resources by using sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products.

Core Strategy SO1 Fulfilling our environmental responsibilities to protect our natural environment, manage and reduce flood risk, and live within the environmental limits of the region.

Core Strategy SO3 seeks to minimise the use of resources.

Core Strategy SP12 h) Ensuring places promote wider sustainability and assist in reducing society’s consumption of resources and its carbon footprint. Ensuring development proposals recognise their role and function in helping to deliver the vision, priorities and principles for each place.


Core Strategy SO3 Mitigating and adapting the built environment to climate change by limiting carbon emissions from development, delivering decentralised and renewable or low carbon energy and minimising vulnerability to a changeable climate.

Core Strategy SP11

Implement a borough-wide carbon emission reduction target of 60% below 1990 levels by 2025.

Ensure that all new homes are built in-line with government guidance to reach zero carbon by 2016, and that all new non-domestic development reaches zero-carbon by 2019.

Promote low- and zero-carbon energy generation through:

Safeguarding existing renewable energy decentralised energy systems.

Implementing a network of decentralised heat and energy facilities that connect into a heat and power network, including working with the LDA to link with the Olympic Park Energy Centre and the wider East London Heat Network.

Promoting the development of new decentralised energy facilities that have the potential to link into a wider sub-regional network.


Exploring the use of waste-to-energy facilities, particularly in the east of the borough, to support the borough’s waste management and recycling targets.

Working with partners inside and outside the borough to explore ways of implementing decentralised energy systems.

Supporting development that uses intelligent design to make use of renewable-energy technologies.

Reducing carbon emissions in non-domestic buildings by:

Working with partners to implement ways to reduce carbon emissions particularly large businesses in the borough

Supporting non-domestic developments that promote the use of renewable energy technologies

Reducing the carbon emissions of all public buildings in the borough

Implement an area-based approach in which new development should achieve higher levels of carbon reductions than elsewhere in the borough.

Maximising the energy efficiency of existing housing stock by:

Working with housing providers to ensure regeneration of existing housing stock and redevelopment promotes carbon emissions reductions and is adapted for climate change.

Seeking to establish Energy Opportunity Areas in places likely to be affected by fuel poverty.

Require all new developments to provide 20% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through on-site renewable energy generation where feasible.

Ensure the built environment adapts to the effects of climate change. Please refer to SP04 and the Development Management DPD for more detail.



LBTH will continue to deliver the key action set out in the Air Quality Action Plan 2003 to improve air quality in the Borough.

Core Strategy SPO3 Address the impact of noise and air pollution in the borough by:

Continuing to promote the use of public transport and reducing reliance on private motor vehicles.

Managing and improving air quality along transport corridors and traffic-congestion points by working with Transport for London.

Implementing a “Clear Zone” in the borough to improve air quality.


LBTH will continue to deliver the objectives and associated actions set out in the LBTH environmental strategy with regards to energy.

Core Strategy SP11

Implement a borough-wide carbon emission reduction target of 60% below 1990 levels by 2025.

Ensure that all new homes are built in-line with government guidance to reach zero carbon by 2016, and that all new non-domestic development reaches zero-carbon by 2019.

Promote low- and zero-carbon energy generation through:

Safeguarding existing renewable energy decentralised energy systems.

Implementing a network of decentralised heat and energy facilities that connect into a heat and power network, including working with the LDA to link with the Olympic Park Energy Centre and the wider East London Heat Network.

Promoting the development of new decentralised energy facilities that have the potential to link into a wider sub-regional network.

Exploring the use of waste-to-energy facilities, particularly in the east of the borough, to


support the borough’s waste management and recycling targets.

Working with partners inside and outside the borough to explore ways of implementing decentralised energy systems.

Supporting development that uses intelligent design to make use of renewable-energy technologies.

Reducing carbon emissions in non-domestic buildings by:

Working with partners to implement ways to reduce carbon emissions particularly large businesses in the borough

Supporting non-domestic developments that promote the use of renewable energy technologies

Reducing the carbon emissions of all public buildings in the borough

Implement an area-based approach in which new development should achieve higher levels of carbon reductions than elsewhere in the borough.

Maximising the energy efficiency of existing housing stock by:

Working with housing providers to ensure regeneration of existing housing stock and redevelopment promotes carbon emissions reductions and is adapted for climate change.

Seeking to establish Energy Opportunity Areas in places likely to be affected by fuel poverty.

Require all new developments to provide 20% reduction of carbon dioxide emissions through on-site renewable energy generation where feasible.

Ensure the built environment adapts to the effects of climate change. Please refer to SP04 and the Development Management DPD for more detail.

7. Waste. To minimise the Waste generation in the borough will be reduced during major construction projects (over


production of waste across all sectors and increase reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and recovery rates.

£300,000) as they will require a Site Waste Management Plan in line with the Site Waste Management Plan regulations.

LBTH will continue to deliver the objectives and associated actions set out in the LBTH environmental strategy with regards to waste associated with its own activities. Core Strategy SO14 To plan for and manage the borough’s waste efficiently, safely and sustainably, by minimising the

Amount of waste produced, maximising recycling, and managing non-recyclable waste using treatment methods other than landfill. Core Strategy SP05 1. Implement the waste management hierarchy of reduce, reuse and recycle, by:

a) Ensuring that local residents reduce and manage their waste effectively.

b) Requiring non-waste developments to appropriately design and plan for waste storage and recycling facilities.

c) Requiring all developments to reduce and reuse waste from construction and demolition.

d) Supporting developments that use recycled materials.

2. Plan and provide for the total waste generated in the borough, in line with the apportionment targets set out in the London Plan, by:

a) Safeguarding all existing sites used for waste management, unless a suitable and available alternative site can be found that is more sustainable and does not affect the borough’s capacity for waste management.

b) Identifying four areas of search that are suitable to accommodate a waste management facility and working with partners to deliver the Waste Strategy and Sites and Placemaking DPD:


Fish Island

Poplar Riverside and Bromley by Bow

Blackwall

c) Working with the Olympic Delivery Authority to connect any energy-generating waste facility with the Olympic Energy Centre in Fish Island.

d) Developing an interconnected network of waste management facilities that can respond to changing technologies, demands and have the scope to generate energy.

3) Ensure that any new waste management facility can accommodate a range of waste management technologies, including waste-to-energy facilities, with the potential to be linked into a borough-wide heat and power network.

4) Ensure any new waste management facility is integrated into its surroundings, is modern, innovative and well designed. The facility should minimise negative environmental, transport and amenity impacts on the surrounding area (including within neighbouring boroughs). It should be flexible enough to alter its operation and capacity as circumstances change without materially increasing these impacts. Further criteria will be set out in the Development Management DPD.

Core Strategy Fish Island Priorities - To deliver a waste management facility in Fish Island, and explore potential to link with the Olympic Energy Centre.

Core Strategy Blackwall Priorities - To continue to protect Northumberland Wharf for cargo-handling uses including the transport of waste. Development that prejudices the operation of the wharf for these purposes will not be supported

Getting Results

8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and

Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas listed in the adopted Unitary Development Plan (Chapter 2, Map 2) will continue to be protected.


protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way.

Core Strategy SO22 Protect, celebrate and improve access to our historical and heritage assets by placing these at the heart of reinventing the hamlets to enhance local distinctiveness, character and townscape views.

Core Strategy SP10

1) Protect, manage and enhance the Tower of London World Heritage Site, its setting, and surrounding area, as well as the buffer zone and setting of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site through:

a) The respective World Heritage Site Management Plans and associated documents.

2) Protect and enhance the following heritage assets and their settings:

- World Heritage Sites

- Statutory Listed Buildings

- Conservation Areas

- London Squares

- Historic Parks and Gardens

- Scheduled Ancient Monuments

- Archaeological Remains

-Archaeological Priority Areas

- Locally Listed Buildings

-Local Landmarks

- Other buildings and areas that are identified through the Conservation Area Character


Appraisals and Management Guidelines

3) Preserve or enhance the wider built heritage and historic environment of the borough, enabling the creation of locally distinctive neighbourhoods, through:

a) Promoting and implementing placemaking across the borough to ensure that the locally distinctive character and context of each place is acknowledged and enhanced.

b) Protecting, conserving, and promoting the beneficial reuse of, old buildings that provide suitable locations for employment uses, including small and medium enterprises.

c) Encouraging and supporting development that preserves and enhances the heritage value of the immediate and surrounding environment and the wider setting.

d) Working to reduce Heritage at Risk.

4) Ensure that buildings and neighbourhoods promote good design principles to create buildings, spaces and places that are high-quality, sustainable, accessible, attractive, durable and well-integrated with their surrounds. This will be achieved through ensuring development:

a) Protects amenity, and promotes well-being (including preventing loss of privacy and access to daylight and sunlight);

b) Uses design and construction techniques to reduce the impact of noise and air pollution;

c) Respects strategic and local views and their role in creating local identity and assisting in wayfinding;

d) Respects its local context and townscape, including the character, bulk and scale of the surrounding area;

e) Contributes to the enhancement or creation of local distinctiveness;

f) Is flexible and adaptable to change;


g) Uses high quality architecture, urban and landscape design;

h) Assists in creating a well-connected public realm that is easy and safe to navigate.

5. The following locations are where tall buildings will be acceptable:

- Canary Wharf

- Aldgate

a) The above locations are identified as they meet the following criteria:

i) Be part of an existing economic cluster and respond to existing built character of the area.

ii) Have a large floor-plate office building typology.

iii) Be in areas of high accessibility.

b) Appropriate sites for tall buildings will be identified within the Sites and Placemaking DPD. All tall buildings including those outside of the above locations will be assessed against criteria set out in the Development Management DPD.

Places section also identifies areas where the historic environment is a key consideration, including:

Spitalfields;

Bethnall Green

Globe Town and

Whitechapel


The London Plan also sets out the following requirement for housing:

all homes to be built to ‘lifetime homes’ standard

10% of new homes to be wheelchair accessible


LBTH will continue to seek to meet the requirements of the Decent Homes program.

Core Strategy SO3 – high quality housing in the context of achieving wider sustainability.

Core Strategy SO7 - Deliver housing growth to meet general and specialised housing demand in line with London Plan housing targets. Core Strategy SO8 - Ensure housing contributes to the creation of socially balanced and inclusive communities by offering housing choice reflecting the Council’s priorities for affordable and family homes.

Core Strategy SO9 - Ensure that all housing in Tower Hamlets is high quality, well designed, energy efficient, sustainable and durable.

Core Strategy SPO2: 1) Seek to deliver 43,275 new homes (equating to 2,885 per year) from 2010 to 2025 in line with the housing targets set out in the London Plan. This will be achieved by:

a) Focusing the majority of new housing in the eastern part of the borough, in the following places:

Millwall

Canary Wharf

Cubitt Town

Poplar Riverside

Poplar

Leamouth

Blackwall

Bromley-by-Bow


Fish Island

b) Direct public investment in housing, in line with the Housing Strategy, to facilitate the delivery of new housing in the following places:

Poplar Riverside Bromley-by-Bow Blackwall Poplar Stepney Globe Town Mile End Bethnal Green Shoreditch

c) Supporting infill development elsewhere in the borough where it meets an identified need and contributes to creating sustainable communities.

d) Working with our housing partners to support the regeneration of housing estates, and ensure that homes are brought up to at least Decent Homes Standard.

2) Ensure new housing assists in the creation of sustainable places, by: a) Ensuring new developments optimise the use of land. b) Corresponding the distribution and density levels of housing to public transport accessibility levels and the wider accessibility of that location. c) Corresponding the distribution and density levels of housing to the hierarchy and proximity of the nearby town centre, so that higher densities are promoted in and around town centres that are higher up in the hierarchy, and lower densities in town centres lower down in the hierarchy.

3) Set an overall strategic target for affordable homes of 50% until 2025. This will be achieved by:

a) Requiring 35%-50% affordable homes on sites providing 10 new residential units or more (subject to viability).


b) Securing additional affordable homes from a range of public-sector initiatives directly with Housing Associations as identified in the Housing Strategy. c) Bringing long-term vacant properties back into use.

4) Require an overall strategic tenure split for affordable homes from new development as 70% social rented and 30% intermediate. 5) Secure a mixture of small and large housing by:

a) Requiring a mix of housing sizes on all sites providing new housing. b) Requiring an overall target of 30% of all new housing to be of a size suitable for families (three-bed plus), including 45% of new social rented homes to be for families.

c) Identifying locations within the Sites and Placemaking DPD and Development Management DPD where larger family housing sizes (four-bed plus) will be sought. These include:

i) Areas outside of town centres where there is an existing residential community ii) Where there is good access to open space iii) Where there is good access to local services and infrastructure, including primary schools.

6) Ensuring all housing is appropriate, high-quality, well-designed and sustainable. This will be achieved by:

a) Setting housing design standards. b) Working with housing partners to facilitate existing homes to be brought up to at least the Decent Homes standard. c) Requiring new developments to comply with accessibility standards, including “Lifetime Homes” requirements. d) Requiring adequate provision of housing amenity space for new homes (including specialist homes where appropriate), including private amenity space in every development, and communal amenity space for developments providing 10 units or more. e) Requiring sites that are providing family homes to provide adequate space for play space for children.


f) Requiring new homes to respond to climate change, including achieving a stepped-target for carbon emissions standards in-line with government guidance.

Further detail will be developed through the Development Management DPD and other guidance, including Supplementary Planning guidance. 7) Provide for the specialist housing needs of the borough through: a) Working with the borough’s universities to enable the appropriate provision of student accommodation that meets identified need by: i) Focusing student accommodation supporting London Metropolitan University at Aldgate or in locations that have good public transport accessibility (PTAL 5 to 6) ii) Focusing student accommodation supporting Queen Mary University London in close proximity to the university. b) Safeguarding the existing Gypsy and Traveller site at Eleanor Street, and identifying requirements for new sites through the Sites and Placemaking DPD, to meet targets set in the London Plan. New sites should meet the following criteria: i) Those that have been identified as suitable for housing ii) Have good means of access from roads and be near bus routes and other transport modes iii) Not be located in areas of high flood risk (Flood Risk Zone 3). c) Working with partners to facilitate the appropriate amount of specialist and supported housing to cater for the homeless, vulnerable and the elderly. Core Strategy SPO9 bii) Working in partnership with Housing Associations to improve connectivity through housing estates which suffer from poor integration and accessibility Core Strategy SP13 – affordable housing is identified as a priority for planning obligations.

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and

LBTH will continue to implement, and benefit from, the policies and actions set out in The Mayors Transport Strategy. This will be delivered through Tower Hamlets Local Implementation Plan and the scheme proposals therein. LBTH will continue to deliver the objectives and associated actions set out in the LBTH environmental strategy with regards to transport and accessibility.


by foot (relative to those taken by car).

Core Strategy SO2Regenerating Fish Island to facilitate a better connected place that re-sponds to its surroundings by connecting Bow to the Olympic Legacy area, Stratford City and wider transport links. (See Fish Island vision p.102). Core Strategy SP02b) Corresponding the distribution and density levels of housing to public transport accessibility levels and the wider accessibility of that location. SPO2 7i) applies similar principles to Student Accommodation. 7bii) relates to provision for Gypsies and Travellers. Core Strategy SPO4g - Using waterspaces for movement, including passenger and freight transport. Core Strategy SPO7 includes transport provision as a locational requirement for educational facilities with different considerations set out for different types of facility. Core Strategy SO19 Deliver an accessible, efficient, high quality, sustainable and integrated transport network to reach destinations within and outside the borough. Core Strategy SP08 1) Provide for a hierarchy of integrated transport interchanges that offer access to a range of public transport modes across the borough. This will be achieved by:

International interchange a) Improving and maximising accessibility to Stratford International station from Tower Hamlets, principally through improving the strategic and local connectivity to, and through, Fish Island and High Street 2012. Sub-regional interchanges b) Seeking to improve the capacity, quality and accessibility of existing sub-regional interchanges, particularly at:

Whitechapel and Canary Wharf with the delivery of Crossrail

Improve accessibility to interchanges outside of Tower Hamlets, including, Canning Town


and Stratford interchanges.

District interchanges c) Seeking to improve the capacity, quality and accessibility of existing district interchanges and the creation of new district interchanges at:

Hackney Wick and Bromley-by-Bow, in order to support regeneration and population growth in the eastern part of the borough.

Crossharbour, to support the growth and enhancement of the District Centre and surrounding population. Local interchanges d) Seeking to improve the capacity, quality and accessibility of existing local interchanges and creating a new local interchange at East India DLR Station. e) Locating transport interchanges in town centres that are appropriate in scale to the town centre hierarchy and surrounding population density.

f) Promoting the good design of public transport interchanges to ensure they are integrated with the surrounding urban fabric, offer inclusive access for all members of the community, and provide a high-quality, safe and comfortable pedestrian environment. 2) Work with Transport for London to ensure the capacity of the public transport network meets the demands of current population needs and future growth. This will be achieved by the delivery of strategic transport projects including: Crossrail. London Overground extension with new/improved stations at Shoreditch, Whitechapel,

Shadwell and Wapping.

Interchange improvements at Bromley-by-Bow and Hackney Wick.

Extension of the London Cycle Hire Scheme across the borough in the longer-term, alongside delivery of Cycle Superhighways.

TfL Crossing projects across the River Thames.


Capacity, design and junction improvements to the A12 road

network.

3) Improve public transport in, and accessibility to, identified growth areas. This will be achieved by: a) Supporting growth in the east of the borough by providing improved bus connections, bridges, and pedestrian and cycling routes to existing surrounding public transport interchanges, including: Hackney Wick / Fish Island

Bromley-by-Bow

Langdon Park

All Saints

East India

Blackwall

Canning Town (in Newham)

West Ham (in Newham)

b) Supporting growth on the Isle of Dogs by working in partnership to deliver Crossrail, improve bus connections to, and through, the area and improve pedestrian and cycling routes to existing public transport interchanges, which include: Heron Quays

Canary Wharf

South Quay

Crossharbour


Mudchute

Island Gardens

c) Continuing to work with neighbouring boroughs and TfL to explore and deliver cross-boundary public transport projects. 4) Promote the sustainable transportation of freight (including waste). This will be achieved by: a) Promoting and maximising the movement of freight by water and rail to take the load off the strategic road network.

b) Safeguarding the following identified wharfs for cargo handling and to enable the future transportation of waste through water freight:

Orchard Wharf in Leamouth

Northumberland Wharf in Blackwall

c) Safeguarding Bow West Rail Depot. 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

The London plan identifies 4 opportunity areas in Tower Hamlets. They are:

Bishopsgate/South Shoreditch;

Whitechapel/Aldgate;

Isle of Dogs; and

Lower Lea Valley.

Regeneration and stimulating an urban renaissance are at the heart of the Core Strategy so it is difficult to capture all relevant policies and aspects of the document but key points include:

Core Strategy vision statement (extract): Tower Hamlets will play a significant part in developing London as a successful, sustainable,


global city. It will prosper through sustainable regeneration which stems from the major economic hubs of Canary Wharf, the City and Stratford.

Core Strategy SO1 Sitting successfully in a regenerated east London, Tower Hamlets will contribute to the regional role of London and the Thames Gateway, by: Positioning Tower Hamlets within London’s global offer to ensure it continues to be a place

of diversity, enterprise and cultural significance.

Fulfilling our gateway role in the Thames Gateway, supporting Canary Wharf, Stratford and the Lower Lea Valley as key drivers of sub-regional growth.

Optimising the use of land to deliver the growth agenda and targets as defined by the London Plan.

Ensuring growth is supported by all types of infrastructure, (including CTRL and Crossrail) to help Tower Hamlets develop as a liveable, sustainable and healthy area of inner London.

Fulfilling our environmental responsibilities to protect our natural environment, manage and reduce flood risk, and live within the environmental limits of the region.

Ensuring large developments of regional significance are planned to maximise benefits for local people and the region as a whole.

Working in partnership to deliver a long-term and proactive approach to the regeneration of east London and Tower Hamlets.

Tower Hamlets will maximise the benefits and opportunities offered by 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and its legacy through: Working closely with the appropriate authorities including neighbouring boroughs, ODA,

GLA, CLG, LTGDC and the LDA to ensure a collaborative approach to the planning and implementation of the Olympic Legacy.

Regenerating Fish Island to facilitate a better connected place that responds to its


surroundings by connecting Bow to the Olympic Legacy area, Stratford City and wider transport links. (See Fish Island vision p.102)

Delivering High Street 2012 as a series of linked physical improvement projects, economic development, marketing and cultural projects.

Assisting in the creation of the Lea River Park to link the Olympic Legacy area and Lea Valley Regional Park with the Thames through a series of public open spaces and footpaths.

Significant investment in Victoria Park as a green space of regional importance.

Taking full advantage of people visiting the borough as the “playground of the Olympics”, to stimulate the local economy.

Supporting our communities in participating in activities, sports and opportunities linked with the Olympics and the Olympic Legacy.

Stimulating economic regeneration through the creation of new local employment, enterprise and business opportunities.

Core Strategy SPO1 (extract) New district centres at Bromley-by-Bow: to support wider regeneration

Core Strategy SPO2: Working with our housing partners to support the regeneration of housing estates, and ensure that homes are brought up to at least Decent Homes Standard.

Core Strategy SPO6: Working with the GLA and partners to coordinate a managed, phased release of strategic industrial land in Fish Island North and Fish Island Mid, only once the Fish Island Area Action Plan is in place to deliver the wider regeneration set out in the place vision.

Core Strategy SPO7: Supporting London Metropolitan University as a key regeneration anchor in the City Fringe area and major contributor to the academic, creative and cultural


and knowledge economy prosperity of that area. This will be achieved through working with LMU through the continued implementation of the Aldgate Masterplan.

Core Strategy SPO8: New district interchanges at Hackney Wick and Bromley-by-Bow, in order to support regeneration and population growth in the eastern part of the borough.

Annex 9 Delivering Placemaking also contains specific proposals for regeneration that will be referred to in undertaking the assessment.


Core Strategy SO2 [Olympic Legacy – benefits maximised by] Stimulating economic regeneration through the creation of new local employment, enterprise and business opportunities.

Core Strategy SO15: To support the thriving and accessible global economic centres of Canary Wharf and the City Fringe which benefit the regional and local economies.

5a) Support the wider skills training and education of residents within the borough by:

Supporting the role and growth of Idea Stores and libraries in accessible locations, and providing new Idea Stores in the following places:

Shadwell

Bethnal Green

Crossharbour

b) Supporting and working with the Skillsmatch job brokerage service to increase the


number of local people obtaining access to employment opportunities.

c) Support local universities and colleges, which provide further opportunities for improving skills and training for local people.

d) Support developments that promote local enterprise, and the employment and skills training of local residents.

Core Strategy SP10 3 b): Protecting, conserving, and promoting the beneficial reuse of, old buildings that provide suitable locations for employment uses, including small and medium enterprises.

Core Strategy SP13: Planning Obligations Training, employment and enterprise

See also policies under SA Objective 13 below.


LBTH will continue to develop the Central Area Zones (indicated on the adopted plan proposals map) in line with adopted plan policies CAZ1 – CAZ4 and Industrial Employment Areas in line with EMP11 – EMP13.

Core Strategy SO16 To support the growth of existing and future businesses in accessible and appropriate locations.

Figure 33 shows spatial strategy based on:

Core Strategy SPO6 1)Seek to maximise and deliver investment and job creation in the borough, by:

a) Supporting, maximising and promoting the competitiveness, vibrancy and creativity of the Tower Hamlets economy; the three economic anchors of the City of London, Canary Wharf and Stratford; and their role in delivering job growth across the region and sub-region. b) Promoting the creation of a sustainable, diversified and balanced economy by ensuring a sufficient range, mix and quality of employment uses and spaces, with a particular focus on the small and medium enterprise sector.


c) Ensuring job opportunities are provided in each place in, and at the edge of, town centres.

2) Focus larger floor-plate offices and intensify floorspace in Preferred Office Locations (POL) in the following areas which will be defined in the Site and Placemaking DPD: Canary Wharf

Bishopsgate road corridor

Aldgate

Around Tower Gateway public transport interchange

a) These locations are not appropriate locations for housing. b) Development in POL will need to conform to criteria set out in the Development Management DPD.

3) Support the provision of a range and mix of employment uses and spaces in the borough, by:

a) Designating locations through the Site and Placemaking DPD in Whitechapel, Mile End and Blackwall as Local Office Locations (LOL) to accommodate additional demand for secondary office space in the borough. b) Retaining, promoting and encouraging flexible workspace in town centre, edge-of-town centre and main street locations.

c) Encouraging and retaining the provision of units (of approximately 250sq m or less) suitable for small and medium enterprises.

4) Concentrate hotels, serviced apartments and conference centres, to attract visitors and promote tourism in the borough, in the following locations: Central Activities Zone (CAZ)

City Fringe Activity Area

Canary Wharf Activity Area


Major and district centres

5) Ensure a managed approach to industrial land for the borough in order to assist in creating sustainable communities. This will be achieved through:

a) Safeguarding and intensifying industrial land in the following areas: Fish Island South (SIL)

Empson Street / St. Andrews Way (SIL)

Gillender Street (LIL)

Poplar Business Park (LIL)

The Highway (LIL)

b) In the case of LIL, intensification through a mixed use approach will only be acceptable if:

i) There is no overall net loss of employment floorspace; ii) There is no detrimental impact upon the quality and usability of that floorspace; and iii) Appropriate access arrangements; and iv) Mitigation of environmental impacts have been considered from the outset.

c) Continuing to implement the consolidation and managed release of industrial land in the following places:

Bromley-by-Bow

Poplar Riverside

Poplar (Limehouse Cut)

Bow Common (Limehouse Cut)

Leamouth

d) Working with the GLA and partners to coordinate a managed, phased release of


strategic industrial land in Fish Island North and Fish Island Mid, only once the Fish Island Area Action Plan is in place to deliver the wider regeneration set out in the place vision.

e) Work with partners across the sub-region, to deliver a phased, managed and co-ordinated release of 20 to 50 Ha of industrial land, over the lifetime of the plan.

Core Strategy SP07: Promoting universities as employment hubs for the innovation sector and the wider knowledge economy.

See also policies under SA Objective 14 above.


LBTH will continue to deliver the policies set out in Section 9 of the Cultural Strategy, acting as a partner to and facilitating cultural activities.

Core Strategy SP07: Promoting universities as employment hubs for the innovation sector and the wider knowledge economy.

Core Strategy SP11 – set out in full above under SA Objective 6.

Core Strategy SPO6: Supporting, maximising and promoting the competitiveness, vibrancy and creativity of the Tower Hamlets economy; the three economic anchors of the City of London, Canary Wharf and Stratford; and their role in delivering job growth across the region and sub-region.

Taking Responsibility

15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable

Core Strategy SP04 (see SA Objective 1) Core Strategy SP12 (see SA Objective 1) Core Strategy Policy SO3 (see SA Objective 2) Core Strategy SO12 (see SA Objective 2) Core Strategy SO1 (see SA Objective 3) Core Strategy SO3 (see SA Objective 3 ,4 and 9)


lifestyles and a sense of place. Core Strategy SP11 (see SA Objective 4 and 6) Core Strategy SPO3 (see SA Objective 5) Core Strategy SP05 (see SA Objective 7) Core Strategy SO22 and SP10 (see SA Objective 8) Core Strategy SPO2 (see SA Objective 9) Core Strategy SP08 (see SA Objective 10) Core Strategy SP13: Planning Obligations


Core Strategy SP07 1) Support investment for the continued improvement and expansion of existing primary and secondary schools through:

a) The Building Schools for the Future programme. b) The Primary Strategy for Change Programme. c) Seeking to secure improvements for all schools in the borough by utilising planning obligations from developments.

2) Increase provision of both primary and secondary education facilities to meet an increasing population by:

a) Identifying three areas of search for a new secondary school: in Fish Island; Mile End; and Bromley-by-Bow. b) Identifying areas of search to deliver at least four new primary schools in the following places:

Fish Island

Bromley-by-Bow

Poplar Riverside

Cubitt Town / Millwall

c) Using the Sites and Placemaking DPD to identify the most suitable sites for new schools within the areas of search, and secure these sites through:

i) Using Compulsory Purchase Order Powers (CPO) where necessary, and


justified. ii) Using Corporate Assets where required. iii) Working with local education providers to secure land and deliver new schools.

d) Using the Pupil Place Planning process and the Population Growth and Change Model to identify future needs for additional school places throughout the lifetime of the plan, as part of the plan, monitor and manage approach.

e) Developing a network of Children Centres that combine childcare and nursery education, alongside family support and health and well-being services for young people aged 0-5 years old.

3) Ensure school facilities and Children Centres are located in order to maximise accessibility for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, and ensure they promote inclusive access for all users. In addition:

a) Primary schools should be located to be integrated into the local movement routes, the neighbourhood they serve, and be easy to access on foot or by bicycle. b) Secondary schools should be located in highly accessible locations, to be integrated into the secondary and main movement routes, as they generate trips from a wider catchment area. c) Support the co-location and clustering of services within multiuse facilities to maximise the potential of sites, particularly the use of schools after hours.

4. Support the growth and expansion of further and higher education facilities in the borough through:

a) Promoting universities as employment hubs for the innovation sector and the wider knowledge economy. b) Supporting London Metropolitan University as a key regeneration anchor in the City Fringe area and major contributor to the academic, creative and cultural and knowledge economy prosperity of that area. This will be achieved through working with LMU through the continued implementation of the Aldgate Masterplan. c) Promoting the area around Queen Mary University London as a place for local office and the knowledge economy, to help reinforce the academic role of this area.


d) Work with universities to better integrate buildings and campuses into the surrounding areas to improve accessibility.

5. Support the wider skills training and education of residents within the borough by: a) Supporting the role and growth of Idea Stores and libraries in accessible locations, and providing new Idea Stores in the following places:

Shadwell Bethnal Green Crossharbour

b) Supporting and working with the Skillsmatch job brokerage service to increase the number of local people obtaining access to employment opportunities. c) Support local universities and colleges, which provide further opportunities for improving skills and training for local people.

d) Support developments that promote local enterprise, and the employment and skills training of local residents.


LBTH will continue to improve safety and security in the Borough in line with the mandatory objectives, targets and indicators set out in the Local Area Agreement

LBTH will continue to improve safety and security in the Borough in line with the mandatory objectives, targets and indicators set out in the Local Area Agreement

Developing Respect


LBTH will continue to deliver the priorities for development set out in the Improving Health and Wellbeing Strategy and work towards the long term indicators of progress.

Core Strategy SO1 Ensuring growth is supported by all types of infrastructure, (including CTRL and Crossrail) to help Tower Hamlets develop as a liveable, sustainable and healthy


area of inner London.

Core Strategy SO3Planning for healthy environments that recognise the important, interrelated health benefits of: Well designed neighbourhoods;

High quality housing;

Access to employment opportunities;

Access to open space; and

Shops and services.

Core Strategy SO10: To deliver healthy and liveable neighbourhoods that promote active and healthy lifestyles and enhance peoples wider health and well-being.

Figure 29 has spatial strategy for facilities. Core Strategy SPO3: 1) Support opportunities for healthy and active lifestyles through:

a) Working with NHS Tower Hamlets to explore new ways to improve opportunities for healthy and active lifestyles. b) Providing high-quality walking and cycling routes. c) Providing excellent access to leisure and recreation facilities. d) Seeking to reduce the over-concentration of any use type where this detracts from the ability to adopt healthy lifestyles. e) Promoting and supporting local food-growing and urban agriculture.

2) Address the impact of noise and air pollution in the borough by: a) Minimising and mitigating the impact of noise in identified hot spots, such as along main vehicular routes. b) Managing the impact of noise caused by the night-time economy though town centre and building design, and planning controls. c) Continuing to promote the use of public transport and reducing reliance on private


motor vehicles. d) Managing and improving air quality along transport corridors and traffic-congestion points by working with Transport for London. e) Implementing a “Clear Zone” in the borough to improve air quality.

3) Provide a hierarchy of accessible, high-quality health facilities, services and premises to meet the needs of the existing and future population by:

a) Identifying areas of search for new health facilities in the following locations: i) One new facility in Cubitt Town / Millwall ii) Three or four new facilities in the eastern part of the borough

iii) Two or three new facilities in the western part of the borough

b) Improving the quality, usability and accessibility of existing health facilities, particularly in the following locations:

Millwall

Bromley-by-Bow

Bethnal Green

Bow Common

Poplar Mile End

c) Encouraging the co-location and integration of health services in order to improve access to a wide range of health services for local communities. d) Supporting the redevelopment of the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel to deliver a hospital of regional and national importance by 2015, providing district general and specialist tertiary services. e) Working with NHS Tower Hamlets and others to secure investment and funding, achieve good design and deliver excellence for health facilities and services in the borough.

4) Provide high-quality leisure centres to meet the needs of the existing and future


population in accessible locations through: a) Identifying areas of search for new and improved leisure centres in the following three areas:

i) Shadwell and Wapping

ii) Poplar

iii) Cubitt Town

b) Improving the quality, usability and accessibility of existing leisure centres. c) Encouraging the co-location of leisure services in multi-use facilities. d) Improving access to the open spaces and sporting facilities of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their legacy.

5) Provide high-quality social and community facilities by: a) Maximising opportunities to deliver facilities as part of new developments.

b) Locating such facilities in accessible locations in order that local people can easily use them.

6) Proactively plan for the needs and requirements of a multi-faith burial ground. Identifying the most appropriate site (or sites) will be done through the Sites and Placemaking DPD. Any multi-faith burial ground should meet the following criteria:

i) Site must be of an appropriate size that ensures sufficient burial space for an appropriate number of years. ii) Site must be accessible to all sections of the community.

iii) Sites must be suitable for the purpose of burial.

SP04 g) Creating new green corridors and enhancing existing ones to connect publicly accessible open spaces to main destination points, such as town centres, schools, health facilities, other publicly accessible open spaces, and also to, and along, waterspaces.

SP07 e) Developing a network of Children Centres that combine childcare and nursery


education, alongside family support and health and well-being services for young people aged 0-5 years old. SP13 – health identified as a priority for planning obligations.


LBTH will continue to improve safety and security in the Borough in line with the Council’s Strategic Plan 2009-2012.

Core Strategy SP04 Ensuring that new development responds positively and sensitively to the setting of waterspaces while respecting and animating waterspaces to improve usability and safety.

SP09 Ensure new development has no adverse impact on the safety and capacity of the road network.

Annex 9 includes specific comments on places and safety including Shoreditch and Victoria Park.


LBTH will continue to deliver the aims set out in its Gender Equalities Scheme, Disability Equality scheme, Race Equalities Scheme and Equalities Action Plan.

Core Strategy SP03 - Proactively plan for the needs and requirements of a multi-faith burial ground. Identifying the most appropriate site (or sites) will be done through the Sites and Placemaking DPD

Appendix C: Key Issues

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities

Management DPD Site Allocations DPD

Biodiversity There are four Sites of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation (SMI) in Tower Hamlets; Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, Mudchute Farm, The Lea Valley and The River Thames and Tidal Tributaries.

As Tower Hamlets has few statutorily designated habitats, the locally designated sites of nature conservation importance are of additional value to the Borough.

There are two Areas of Deficiency for Nature Conservation (AODs) in the Borough.

Stakeholder engagement (including with local communities) and partnership working can help identify key sites and areas for biodiversity gain and enhancement.

This could also identify community benefits such as using biodiversity initiatives as an educational resource.

Biodiversity benefits can be derived from embedding good design covering, indicatively:

Spatial layout

Connectivity and access

This will also help identify where key pieces of green infrastructure are to be located which can also have biodiversity benefits.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


Previously developed land and buildings can have features of local ecological importance and they need to be protected and enhanced. This is particularly relevant along the waterway corridors.

Water Resources and Water Quality

Maintaining adequate sewerage infrastructure.

There are increased long-term flood risk as a result of climate change.

The quality of the biological and chemical river water is varied, with some parts of the borough improving and other parts getting worse.

Need to maintain water supplies to accommodate new development.

Need to reduce per capita use of water (particularly with the levels of planned housing and

Collaborative working can identify practical solutions for specific areas.

The DPD will address sustainable design including flooding as well as resource efficiency.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


employment growth).

Need to account for and manage rising groundwater.

Natural Resources Need to reduce ecological footprint to be in line with One Planet Living concept. This will mean reducing the use of non – renewable forms of energy, reducing water consumption and making greater use of renewable forms of energy.


Potential for design considerations to reduce resource consumption including: connectivity and access (to services; amenity areas etc) by sustainable transport modes in order to reduce car use and fuel consumption.

Climate Change The built form of our cities contributes to around 60% of our total carbon emissions, if we include transport this raises to 75% a massive proportion of our emissions.

Energy use in London’s homes accounts for approximately 38% of total emissions, making it the single largest contributor of carbon dioxide. The majority of these emissions come from


Potential to influence design as well as proximity to key infrastructure and services, including averting development away from areas of potentially significant flood risk; reducing the need to travel, through promoting access and connectivity and mixed development by sustainable forms of transport.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


space and water heating.

In Tower Hamlets the commercial and industrial sector account for 65% of the borough’s emissions.

Need to adapt the built environment to cope with a changing climate – including the urban heat island effect. Masterplan may result in increase in carbon dioxide emissions through new residential and commercial developments.

Air quality Whole Borough was designated as an Air Quality Management Area in December 2001. Pollutants are primarily (80-90%) from road traffic.

Potential increase in traffic flows associated with development and


Potential to reduce reliance on car use through promoting good access and mixed development and identification of where key pieces of infrastructure are to be located (social, physical and green):

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


new development.

Energy Much of the existing housing stock in Tower Hamlets has poor levels of energy efficiency.

Current energy supply for the Borough is from centralised sources (the national grid).

Currently low levels of renewable energy generation in the borough.


Potential to promote renewable energy developments / community heating schemes.

Waste Waste recycling rates much lower than national or regional average, reflecting difficulties of recycling in flats, high density developments.

Levels of waste generation are increasing.


Potential to promote waste management and recycling facilities / storage areas in new developments.

Should identify where key waste infrastructure should be best located.

Built Environment The public realm and built environment in the Borough is often fragmented, disconnected


Potential to promote well connected green and blue spaces- which can have a

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


and poor quality.

Conservation Areas, Listed Buildings and their settings and other locally important historical features should be preserved and, where possible, enhanced.

The Tower of London is a World Heritage Site.

Street lighting is currently insufficient to create a safe community.

range of benefits, including health and amenity; as well as enhancing the built environment.

Housing A large proportion of Local Authority housing is below the ‘decent homes’ standard (baseline data).

Lack of affordable housing suitable for local people (LBTH draft Sustainable Community Strategy May 2008).


Potential to influence the location and distribution of broad land uses, including affordable housing.

Accessibility Tower Hamlets has one of the highest proportions of population who walk to work. This should be encouraged to continue.


Potential to make a number of infrastructural improvements in key areas of need.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


Current development patterns have given priority to vehicular traffic over the pedestrian in Tower Hamlets.

Some of the key streets that run through the borough are inhospitable, unattractive and poorly designed (for example multiple cul-de-sacs).

There is an opportunity to maximise benefits from planned improvements to public transport including Crossrail, the Docklands Light Railway - Three-Carriage Capacity Enhancement Project and East London Line extension. These improvements will directly affect the accessibility of some areas of the borough, for example by having a new integrated station for Crossrail at Whitechapel.

Consulting with local people will also help maximise impact.

Potential to improve accessibility to key services and facilities.

Potential to impact positively on urban design and public realm to deliver regeneration benefits.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


Regeneration and land-use

Accommodating land use allocations identified in the London Plan (including housing, employment, and waste).

Ensure sufficient land and provision is available for required infrastructure to accommodate this growth and avoid lag in provision.

Tackling the legacy of contaminated land.


Consulting with local people will also help maximise impact.

Potential to make infrastructural improvements as well as in regenerating areas suffering blight through good design, discouraging car use and provision of well-connected neighbourhoods.

Potential to promote reuse of buildings and land.

Employment Major employment opportunities at Canary Wharf, the City of London and the Olympics need to be maximised by the local community.

There is a Strategic Industrial Location identified by the London Plan (and the East London SRDF) in Fish Island.

Despite high levels of economic


Consultation should also be made with private (local) companies/corporations/Higher education to understand future employment demand.

Potential to influence location and distribution of broad land uses, including:

Retail & Leisure (present typologises - ground floor, basement, inner/outer)

Office (present typologises - large floor plate, small and medium spaces)

Industrial (present typologises - mix and non-mix types) - should also

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


growth, Tower Hamlets continues to have the lowest employment rate in the country (54.6%) compared to that of London’s 69.3% and the UK at 74.1%.

Need to provide opportunities for small businesses and provide business hubs.

As with many areas of East London, there is often a shortage of flexible space for new enterprises and especially for growing businesses looking for ‘move on’ or ‘graduation’ space.

specify the need for start-up/live/work units and grow on space.

Also potential to reduce reliance on car use through co-location of facilities; better connectivity and through promoting mixed use development. Consideration of live work units and the needs of start-ups should also be incorporated into the document.

Economy The Borough has the highest proportion of economic inactivity residents (36.6%), and amongst women in the Borough this increases to 48.8%.

Consultation should also be made with private (local) companies/key interest groups/ corporations/Higher education to help tackle economic inactivity and gender issues.

Potential to influence Location and distribution of broad employment land uses.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


Need to provide lively, safe night time economy.

Engaging with crime partnerships can help avoid safety issues associated with increased night time economies.

Consultation on scope for more night time activity with local communities and business will help identify the most appropriate sites.

Innovation There is an opportunity to shift to a green economy.

Need to provide jobs for the local workforce as the economy shifts towards the technology sector.

There is a need to significantly upgrade the local skills base, through further provision of flexible and easily accessible learning, in order to promote access to these opportunities.


Consultation should also be made with private (local) companies/corporations/FE/ Higher education to understand future employment demand.

Potential to deliver more learning facilities in key locations and facilitate access to these.

Potential to provide co-location of educational establishments / spin off units with industry clusters to facilitate knowledge transfer and employment opportunities.

Liveability Many of the town centres in the Borough do not offer a vibrant and diverse mix of employment,

Consultation with local communities and business will help identify the most appropriate development.

Potential to make infrastructural improvements to promote sustainable access

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


shopping, civic, cultural and recreational uses to support the community.

There is pressure and demand for increased provision of eating, drinking and evening and night-time economy uses across the Borough.

Tower Hamlets is highly deficient in open space provision, particularly around the areas of Spitalfields, Aldgate and around Poplar.

Open space is unevenly distributed throughout the Borough. Even in areas of high provision, access is often limited.

Need for all areas to have access to a range of high quality, flexible, safe, usable and robust

to key services and facilities.

Potential to provide further facilities in appropriate locations.

Can deliver key public realm and open space improvements in areas of most need.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


open spaces that reflect the needs of the whole community.

There is substantial pressure on existing open space to provide multi uses.

Need to balance growth with environmental and quality of life requirements.

Education and skills The decline of the Manufacturing sector is causing a shift in the economy creating both opportunities and challenges for the Borough.

A quarter (24.5%) of LBTH working age residents have no formal qualifications.

Poor transition between education and training and obtaining employment as highlighted by the 3rd highest level of unemployment (17%) amongst 16-24 year olds in London. The Borough also has a very high proportion of young


Consultation should also be made with private (local) companies/corporations/Higher education to understand future employment demand.

A number of initiatives can be used as an educational resource (e.g. biodiversity and built/historic environment enhancements) and developed with key stakeholders and

Potential to deliver more learning facilities in key locations and facilitate access to these.

Potential to provide co-location of educational establishments / spin off units with industry clusters to facilitate knowledge transfer and employment opportunities.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


people not in education, employment or training (NEET).

Need for skills match training.

Need to make multiple uses of schools.

the local community.

Civic identity Some places in the borough have lost their identity, centre and sense of place.

Emphasis on the need to help young people play a more positive role in the community (Tower Hamlets Young Persons Communities Plan).

A number of initiatives can be developed with key stakeholders and the local community- with a particular emphasis in consulting young people.

Potential to create a sense of place through good design.

Health Ensuring that major new developments promote health (London Plan Policy 3A.23).

Need to promote physical activity.

Consultation with key organisations such as the PCT will help identify development and initiatives most appropriate to local circumstances.

Potential to promote access by sustainable modes of travel.

Potential to improve green and blue space provision for the

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


Life expectancy in men and women in Tower Hamlets is lower than the national average, 2 and 1.2 years less respectively.

amenity benefit of local people.

Potential to provide appropriate healthcare facilities to match local need.

Crime Crime rates in Tower Hamlets are above the London and England averages.

Some areas are territorialised, reducing permeability and safety.

There are significant ‘perception of crime’ issues, especially in and around neighbourhood centres and on many estates. There are significant perceived issues around anti-social behaviour.

Engaging key partners can help identify appropriate solutions (physical and social) to match local circumstances.

Good design will help design out crime as well as promoting Secure by Design principles in all new development.

Equality and diversity

Continual development of a global economy on the City Fringe and Isle of Dogs may result in polarisation of

Engaging key stakeholders will help identify optimum solutions for local areas.

Can help deliver employment space appropriate to the needs of specific sites and

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


communities if the benefits are not effectively harnessed.

There are particular issues in Tower Hamlets in terms of unemployment and general worklessness amongst young people – the Borough has some of the highest rates in London.

There is a need for additional employment support for young people that reflects the diversity and socio-economic circumstances of the local population.

Worklessness in Tower Hamlets is related to multiple factors including skills, health, crime, housing and environment. Interventions seeking to increase economic activity must therefore reflect a multi-agency and joined

areas.

SA Topic Key Issues

Opportunities


up approach.

Appendix D: Assessing the Development Management DPD

Key to Matrix Potential for a significant positive effect ++ Potential for a minor positive effect + Potential for a minor negative effect - Potential for significant negative effect -- No significant effect or no relationship Uncertainty – outcome dependent on what is done, how and where

?

Effects are permanent and of Borough wide significance unless indicated otherwise in the commentary box.

DM1 Development within the town centre hierarchy Option DM1A: Introducing a policy which reinforces the role and nature of major, district and neighbourhood centres and sets out what would be acceptable in terms of appropriate development depending on their position in the hierarchy. This could also be done for Central Activity Zone (CAZ) and the two Activity Areas in the borough; Option DM1Bi: Setting a minimum percentage of certain town centre uses e.g. shop (use class A1) units to ensure that the essential shops and services required are protected; Option DM1Bii: Also include in the policy a limit on the number of consecutive non-retail units; for those uses that, in concentration, could cause some negative amenity impacts, for example the operation of hot food takeaways. This policy would also help to ensure that shops remain as the main uses within our town centres; Option DM1C: An alternative approach would be to look at each town centre separately to recognise their individual character. This could involve setting different levels of town centre uses in each of our town centres e.g. shops (A1), banks and betting agents (A2), restaurants (A3), pubs (A4) and takeaways (A5). Option DM1D: In major and district centres – such as Canary Wharf and Bethnal Green –main or primary shopping areas could also be identified, where a stronger approach to protecting A1 uses could be taken. The Sites and Placemaking DPD suggests boundaries for each Town Centres within which the Council would look to operate this policy.

SA Objective Policy Option Scores Comments and Recommendations DM1A DM1Bi DM1Bii DM1C DM1D

1. Biodiversity. To conserve and No significant relationship and/or

enhance natural habitats and wildlife and bring nature closer to people.

results for options


No significant relationship and/or results for options




+ + + + ++ Protecting town centres will help reduce climate change emissions by ensuring that development is located in areas with transport choice. Concentrating development in centres will also reduce the need to travel. Option DM1D could make the biggest contribution by

identifying main or primary shopping areas and protecting them.


+ + + + ++ Protecting town centres will help avoid impacts on air quality by ensuring that development is located in areas with transport choice. Concentrating development in centres will also reduce the need to travel. Option DM1D could make the biggest contribution by identifying main or primary shopping areas and protecting them.


+ + + + ++ Concentrating activities in centres will help create demand/potential for local heating/cooling.

7. Waste. To minimise the production of waste across all sectors and increase reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and

+ + + + ++ Concentrating activities in centres could help create demand/potential for local waste management facilities.

recovery rates. 8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way.

? ? ? ? ? Protecting existing centres, reflecting their established role will help achieve this objective however limiting uses in town centres might make it harder to find uses for older buildings.


+ + + + ++ Protecting town centres will help ensure that existing and new housing areas have access to facilities by means other than the car.


+ + + + ++ See comment above.


+ + + + ++ Optimising the use of land in centres will contribute to this objective by reducing need for land elsewhere.


+ + + + + Protecting town centres will help achieve this objective, given the importance of employment in the retail and wider service sectors.


+ + + + ++ Protecting town centres will contribute to this objective by avoiding leakage of spend out of the Borough.

14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean


technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector). 15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place.

+ + + + ++ Vital and viable town centres contribute to this objective.





18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce

+ + + + ++ Limiting the amount of fast food outlets could contribute to this objective.

inequalities in health. 19. Safety and Security. To enhance community safety by reducing crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear of crime.

+ + + + ++ Vital and viable town centres contribute to this objective.


+ + + + ++ Accessible town centres contribute to this objective by allowing all members of the community access to convenience and comparison goods and services.

DM2 Markets Policy focuses on: Markets - to ensure that any development proposal will need to have consideration for the function and character of the particular market it is near.

SA Objective Comments and Recommendations

Bespoke Policy

Put in other Policy






+ + Markets can contribute to this objective.

4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through minimising the emissions

+ + Markets can contribute to this objective by allowing goods to be purchased locally and existing markets are close to public transport facilities.

of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts. 5. Air Quality. To improve air quality.

+ + As above


+ + As above


+ + The policy will contribute to this objective by ensuring that existing and future waste management facilities associated with markets are taken account of in future developments.


+ + Markets contribute to the built and historic environment.

9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners have access to good quality, well-located, affordable

+ + Markets can contribute to this objective by allowing goods to be purchased locally.

housing that promotes liveability. 10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car).

+ + As above


+ + Markets can contribute to this objective – helping to maintain economic vitality in areas.


+ + Markets provide employment opportunities.


+ + Markets can contribute to this objective by helping to retain spending in the local area.

14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and innovation in the environmental and social

+ + Markets can contribute to concepts like co-operatives.

economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector). 15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place.

+ + Markets contribute to liveability and sense of place.






+ + Markets can be a local source of healthy and nutritious foods.


+ + Markets contribute to a lively street scene, encouraging natural surveillance.

20. Equality and diversity. To ensure equitable outcomes for all

+ + Markets can contribute to this objective by providing a local source for convenience and comparison goods.

communities, particularly those most liable to experience discrimination, poverty and social exclusion.

DM3: Local Shops DM3A:Introduce a policy to ensure that local shops (A1 uses) are protected outside of town centres where they are important in meeting the basic local shopping needs of existing or future residents. In considering any planning application which would involve the loss of a local shop, we could take into account the availability of similar local shops within walking distance, as well as the location of the nearest town centre. DM3B: As part of considering an application for a local shop outside of a town centre, the policy could also provide guidance in respect of size and type of proposal coming forward. For example, it is important that the new proposal serves an existing or future un-met local need, is suitable in terms of local provision and would take into consideration matters of amenity,

SA Objective Comments and Recommendations DM3A DM3B






+ + Local shops can contribute to this objective.


+ + Local shops can contribute to this objective by allowing goods to be purchased locally and existing markets are close to public transport facilities.


+ + As above


+ + As above

7. Waste. To minimise the No significant relationship and/or results for options

production of waste across all sectors and increase reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and recovery rates. 8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way.

+ + Local shops could contribute to this objective where they provide a suitable use for existing buildings of merit (whether or not they are listed).


+ + Local shops can contribute to this objective by allowing goods to be accessed locally.

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by

+ + Local shops help provide choice in terms of how food and other goods are accessed. Local provision will encourage walking and cycling.

public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car). 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

+ + Using existing buildings to provide local shops or accommodating them in new development could contribute to this objective by contributing to regeneration and ensuring access to facilities.


+ + Local shops are a source of employment.


+ + Local shops can contribute to this objective by helping to capture spend in the local economy.

14. Creativity and Innovation. To No significant relationship and/or results for options

promote creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector). 15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place.

+ + Local shops contribute to liveability and sense of place.






+ + Local shops can be a local source of healthy and nutritious foods.


+ + Local shops can contribute to a lively street scene, encouraging natural surveillance.


+ + Local shops can contribute to this objective by providing a local source for convenience and comparison goods.

DM4: Delivering the Borough’s Housing Requirement DM4A: Introduce a policy to make sure we secure affordable housing at every opportunity. This would include securing affordable housing on: sites that are capable of providing 10 or more homes; sites which are adjoining or part of a larger development; and applications which would result in an increase in existing housing numbers above the threshold of 10 units; DM4B: To ensure new housing contributes to creating socially balanced and inclusive communities, we could confirm that our preference is for affordable housing to be provided on site. We would also expect that affordable housing is built to the same standards and shares the same amenities as private housing. Off-site affordable housing on another site would only be considered if it could be demonstrated that it provided a better overall outcome for both of the sites and not result in too much of any type of housing in one local area. We could also require that the other site is located in the same locality to ensure that future residents living on both sites use and benefit from the same local services; DM4C: In applications proposing redevelopment of existing homes we need to make it clear that there must not be a loss of housing, and in particular no loss of family and affordable homes. Where there is an increase in the amount of housing, we will require any existing affordable housing to be replaced as well as requiring the appropriate level of additional affordable housing; DM4D: In terms of ensuring we secure the right amount of larger family homes, of 4 bed and above, we could introduce specific targets for private and affordable tenures which each development would need to comply with, based on the most up to date Housing Needs Assessment. The current Housing Needs Assessment (2009) states that 10% of private and 10% of social rented housing should be 4 bedroom or above; DM4E: An alternative approach would be to identify certain areas within the borough which are suitable for these larger family homes. This guidance could be included in the Sites & Placemaking DPD.

SA Objective Comments and Recommendations DM4A DM4B DM4C DM4D DM4E









5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. No significant relationship and/or results for options








++ ++ ++ ++ ++ All options contribute to this objective.


+ + DM4B would help ensure that new affordable houses have at least as good access to services as those provided on site. DM4E provides the opportunity to factor in proximity to services when locations are identified for family housing.


+ + + + + All of the options are considered to work towards this objective.




+ + + + + Affordable housing helps enable a stable economy by helping to reduce costs and allows people to live and work in Tower Hamlets.



15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of

++ ++ ++ ++ ++ All of the options would contribute to this objective.

place. 16. Education and Skills. To maximise the education and skills levels of the population.



+ + + + + Affordable housing provision contributes to this objective by providing housing on a long term basis.


+ + + + + Good quality housing contributes to health and well-being.


+ + + + + The policies seek to avoid a concentration of one type of housing in a particular area in the interests of encouraging social balanced and inclusive communities.


+ + + + + This is a central theme of the policies.

DM5: Housing Standards and amenity space Discusses the need for additional policies relating to indoor and outdoor space and other standards

SA Objective DM5 Comments and Recommendations


? If the policy encourages multifunctional spaces it could contribute to this objective.


+ Open spaces can help with surface water attenuation.


No significant relationship

4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse

+ Open spaces can assist with mitigating the urban heat island effect and provide shading.

gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts. 5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. No significant relationship 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.





+ New and enhanced spaces could help enhance the setting of heritage features and could also include interpretation material.

9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners have access to good quality, well-located,

+ Open spaces are key to liveable housing.

affordable housing that promotes liveability. 10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car).

+ Accessible open spaces will contribute to this policy.


+ Provision of open space and improvements to existing spaces can contribute to this objective.



13. Stable Economy. To encourage a strong, diverse and stable economy and to improve the resilience of businesses and their environmental, social and

+ Open spaces can contribute to the quality of employment areas.

economic performance. 14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector).



+ Open spaces are key to achieving liveable places.


+ Play spaces provide educational benefits through social interaction etc.


? There could be scope for local people to be involved in the design and management of open spaces.

18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of

+ Open space provision could contribute to mental and physical well –being.

the population and reduce inequalities in health. 19. Safety and Security. To enhance community safety by reducing crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear of crime.

+ Well designed and well used open spaces would contribute to this objective.


+ Open space provision and enhancement of existing spaces will contribute to this objective.

DM6 Supported Housing The DPD discusses introducing a policy to ensure existing specialist and supported housing, including hostels, sheltered housing and care homes, are protected subject to the strategies/programmes of providers of such accommodation. The development of this type of housing could also be supported where there is a need and there is no detrimental impact on the amenity of residents in the area.








4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through


minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts. 5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. No significant relationship 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.





+ Supported housing could provide a potential use for older buildings.

9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners + Protecting and accommodating supported housing supports this

have access to good quality, well-located, affordable housing that promotes liveability.

objective.


+ Accommodating supported housing in appropriate locations will contribute to this objective.


+ As above



13. Stable Economy. To encourage a strong, diverse and stable economy and to improve the resilience of businesses


and their environmental, social and economic performance. 14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector).



+ Accommodating supported housing in appropriate locations will contribute to this objective.


+ Supported housing provides opportunity to link in better with education and training needs.



18. Health and Well-being. + Supported housing will contribute to mental and physical well –being

To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health.

and allow health needs to be met.


+ Providing supported housing for vulnerable members of society will contribute to this objective.


+ As above

DM7: Student Accommodation DM7A: Introduce a policy which sets a borough target i.e. understanding the borough’s identified and justified need for students arising from Higher Education establishments located in Tower Hamlets; DM7B: Working to a London or sub-regional target so that Tower Hamlets plays a part in meeting the strategic need of student accommodation; and DM7C: The Site and Placemaking DPD could work to provide additional detail to the Core Strategy with regards to defining locations in the borough suitable for student housing. Any student housing outside of these locations would not be supported

SA Objective Comments and Recommendations DM7A DM7B DM7C







4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its


impacts. 5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. No significant relationship and/or

results for options 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.







+ + + All options contribute to this objective.

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by

+ +/? + All options contribute to this objective. DM7B may not perform as well as DM7A but that would depend on the

bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car). location of the accommodation. 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

+ + + All of the options could work towards this objective.




+ + + Student accommodation can contribute to the wider economy.




+ + + All of the options would contribute to this objective.


+ + + Student accommodation enables access to education.

17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic No significant relationship and/or

participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London.

results for options


+ + + Good quality accommodation contributes to health and well-being.


+ + + The policies seek to avoid a concentration of student accommodation in a particular area in the interests of encouraging social balanced and inclusive communities.



DM8: Hotels and Serviced Accommodation DM8A: A policy to manage the provision of visitor accommodation through ensuring they are in the right locations. For example large scale hotels and serviced apartments would be directed to the City Fringe, the borough’s Activity Areas and Canary Wharf whereas smaller hotels and serviced apartments would be encouraged in the borough’s district centres, such as Whitechapel and Crossharbour. DM8B: To maintain the long term economic potential of employment areas, resist the loss of hotels and serviced apartments to non-employment uses. Within the borough’s economic hubs of the CAZ and Canary Wharf, any change of use would be to an employment use.

SA Objective Comments and Recommendations DM8A DM8B





3. Natural Resources. To No significant relationship and/or results for options

minimise the global, social and environmental impact of consumption of resources by using sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products. 4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts.






7. Waste. To minimise the production of waste across all


sectors and increase reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and recovery rates. 8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way.

+ + Hotels and serviced accommodation could contribute to this objective where they provide a suitable use for existing buildings of merit (whether or not they are listed).


+ + Directing hotels and serviced accommodation to appropriate locations will contribute to this objective by avoiding sites that would be suitable for housing.

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and

+ + Directing hotels and serviced accommodation to appropriate locations will contribute to this objective.

by foot (relative to those taken by car). 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

+ + As above


+ + Protecting existing uses will contribute to this objective but the policy could recognise that schemes that involve the loss of accommodation may be acceptable provided they replace the employment capacity that has been lost.


+ + Hotels and serviced accommodation contribute to this objective

14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and innovation


in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector). 15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place.

+ + Directing hotels and serviced accommodation to appropriate locations will contribute to this objective





18. Health and Well-being. No significant relationship and/or results for options

To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health. 19. Safety and Security. To enhance community safety by reducing crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear of crime.

+ + Directing hotels and serviced accommodation to appropriate locations will contribute to this objective



DM9 Contributing to healthy and active lifestyles DM9A: For social infrastructure provision (such as for health, community, leisure and recreation), introduce a policy which would prevent the loss of existing facilities and ensure new facilities proposed, including any rationalisation and consolidation of facilities, meet an identified need and are located in appropriate locations in terms of accessibility and amenity. The Sites and Placemaking DPD will identify sites for major new facilities. DM9B: Include a policy that guides the location of food outlets, such as restaurants and takeaways, to existing town centres which allows residents a wider choice of outlets to choose from. Include in the policy that any new hot food takeaway outside of designated town centres would not be supported. DM9C: An alternative approach would be to restrict new takeaways in sensitive locations, for example, in close proximity to schools.








4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate No significant relationship and/or

change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts.

results for options

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. No significant relationship and/or results for options




No significant relationship and/or results for options. Although it is recognised that takeaways can be a source of litter.





10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the + + + As above

accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car). 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

+ + + As above


+ + + Social infrastructure and food outlets are a source of employment and the policy seeks to accommodate them in appropriate locations.




15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a


sense of place. 16. Education and Skills. To maximise the education and skills levels of the population.





++ + + Protecting existing social infrastructure will contribute significantly to this objective. The other options could make a contribution towards improved diet.


+ + + The policies seek to avoid a concentration of student accommodation in a particular area in the interests of encouraging social balanced and inclusive communities.


++ Protecting existing social infrastructure will contribute significantly to this objective.

DM10 Improving the borough’s air quality

DM10A: Introduce a policy which requires that a new development results in a reduction in harmful emissions (from existing levels on site) throughout the construction and lifetime of the building. Where the site is vacant, the developer could work with the Council to understand the general air quality in the area. The policy could also require that Air Quality Assessments are submitted as part of larger development proposals. DM10B: As transport is a significant contributor to poor air pollution through emissions from combustion engines, we could also include in the policy, or have a separate policy, requiring that the number of vehicle movements associated with the development is reduced, for example through the implementation a low emission strategy. Further to this, the policy could include requirements to encourage the use of vehicles that don’t emit, or emit less, harmful products, for example, electric vehicles. DM10C: An alternative approach would be to implement air quality standards throughout the borough which could help us manage emissions and strive for the lowest levels possible throughout the borough.



+ + + Poor air quality can impact on sensitive habitats.






+ + + Addressing emissions would contribute to this objective.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + + + This is central to the policy. 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.

+ + + Encouraging electric and other vehicles could work towards this policy – depending on the source of the energy that is used.


No significant relationship and/or results for options.


+ + + Emissions impacts on the historic environment.



10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the + + + As above

accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car). 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

+ + + As above




+ + + Poor air quality can detract from the attractiveness of an area as a location for economic activity.


+ + + Encouraging alternative fuel sources and other low emission technologies will contribute to this objective.



16. Education and Skills. To maximise the education and No significant relationship and/or

skills levels of the population. results for options 17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London.



+ + + Poor air quality impacts on health.


+ + + No significant relationship and/or results for options


+ + + Policy seeks to secure equitable outcomes in terms of air quality.

DM11 Protecting existing public open spaces DM11A: Introduce a policy to clarify that we will protect all open space from all development other than development purely ancillary to the use and enjoyment of the open space, such as changing rooms to support the use of football pitches. DM11B: As part of the policy, require all new development to contribute to the expansion, enhancement of, and mitigation against intensification of, publicly accessible open spaces. This could include contributing to: the enhancement of links between public open spaces; usability of and accessibility to open spaces; and way-finding to and between open spaces, in accordance with the Council’s Open Space Strategy and Green Grid Strategy. DM11C: Work with developers and Registered Social Landlords to convert and improve open spaces currently with restricted access into publicly accessible open space which the wider community can use.



+ + + Green infrastructure can contribute to biodiversity objectives if well designed and appropriately located.


+ + + Green infrastructure can assist with surface water attenuation.




+ + + Green infrastructure can provide cooling, shade and surface water attenuation.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + + + Green Infrastructure can assist with the dispersal of pollutants if atmospheric conditions are favourable.






+ + + Green Infrastructure can enhance the setting of historic buildings

9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners have access to + + + All options contribute to this objective

good quality, well-located, affordable housing that promotes liveability. 10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car).

+ + + As above


+ + + All of the options could work towards this objective




+ + + The availability of Green Infrastructure, alongside other aspects of the environment can be a locational factor for businesses



15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote

+ + + All of the options would contribute to this objective

long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place. 16. Education and Skills. To maximise the education and skills levels of the population.



+/? +/? +/? Scope to promote participation in the management of local facilities and open spaces?


+ + + Green infrastructure can contribute to physical and mental well-being


+ + + Well designed, used and managed spaces will contribute to this objective


+ + + Protecting existing spaces and seeking to enhance provision will contribute to this objective

DM12 Biodiversity and living buildings DM12A: Include a policy that requires development to contribute to biodiversity enhancement within the borough through the provision of ‘living elements’ within the development, such as living roofs and living walls. These would be areas of planting or habitat, designed into the external structure of the building. Where practical, it would be beneficial that users of the building (and possibly the public) would have access to these areas to enable interaction with the natural environment. DM12B: The policy could also include requirements for habitat enhancements for particular species that might exist or can be accommodated in the area, drawing on the Council’s Biodiversity Action Plan and the London and UK plans. DM12C: An alternative approach could be to require a minimum area of biodiversity provision to be set aside in each development site. DM12D: A further alternative could be to rely on the green and blue grid Development Management policies requiring only sites located within these areas to provide for biodiversity and green space.

SA Objective Policy Option Scores Comments and Recommendations DM12A DM12B DM12C DM12D


++ ++ + + Assessed on the basis that DM12A and B optimise outcomes across the Borough because of the link to the BAP.

2. Water Quality & Water Resources. To improve the quality of surface waters and groundwater and to achieve the wise

+ + + + Green infrastructure can assist with surface water attenuation.

management and sustainable use of water resources. 3. Natural Resources. To minimise the global, social and environmental impact of consumption of resources by using sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products.



+ + + + Green infrastructure can provide cooling, shade and surface water attenuation.


+ + + + Green Infrastructure can assist with the dispersal of pollutants if atmospheric conditions are favourable.






+ + + + The policies would contribute towards ensuring that new buildings are appropriately designed.


+ + + + Provision for biodiversity in developments will contribute towards the wider aims of this objective.

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and

+ + + + A network of accessible spaces will contribute to this objective.

amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car). 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

+ + + + Enhanced biodiversity has a role in regenerating areas.


+ + + + Opportunities for employment associated with creation and maintenance of spaces and features.


+ + + + The availability of Green Infrastructure, alongside other aspects of the environment can be a locational factor for businesses.




+ + + + All of the options would contribute to this objective.


+ + + + Opportunity to include interpretation boards etc. at schemes.

17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in

+ + + + Scope to promote participation in the management of local schemes?

London. 18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health.

+ + + + Green infrastructure can contribute to physical and mental well-being.


+ + + + Well designed, used and managed spaces will contribute to this objective.


+ + + + Protecting existing spaces and seeking to enhance provision will contribute to this objective.

DM13 Water spaces and flood prevention DM13A: As part of this, developments would be expected to demonstrate principles of sustainability, high quality design and connectivity, with a mix of appropriate uses. DM13B: Within the policy request a risk assessment for the application to cover impacts on navigation, hydrology and biodiversity. While it would be expected that any impacts to these will be avoided, where this is not possible, proposed mitigation and compensation measures should be identified. In addition, require that development should seek to enhance the watercourse’s value for biodiversity and measures to achieve this should be proposed as well as mitigation measures for identified impacts. DM13C: Resist developments that impede the use of waterways and inhibit access to the waterside.



+ + + All the approaches would contribute to the achievement of this objective.


+ + + All the approaches would contribute to the achievement of this objective, DM13B in particular.




+ + + All the approaches would contribute to the achievement of this objective,

gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts.

DM13B in particular.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + + + Protecting the use of waterways could contribute to this objective.






+ + + Water spaces are intrinsically linked with the built and historic environment.



10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase

+ + + As above

the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car). 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

+ + + Water spaces can play a key role in regeneration. All of the options could work towards this objective.


+ + + Protecting access to waterways could contribute to this objective.


+ + + Protecting access to waterways could contribute to this objective.










+ + + Water spaces can contribute to physical and mental well-being.


+ + + Well designed, used and managed development around water spaces will contribute to this objective.


+ + + Protecting existing water spaces and seeking to enhance provision will contribute to this objective.

DM14 Minimising waste and maximising recycling The DPD discusses the need for a policy requiring a Waste Reduction Management Plan (WRMP) to be submitted for all new developments.







+ Promoting WRMPs could contribute to this objective by helping to reduce waste and promote recycling and re-use.


+ Promoting WRMPs could contribute to this objective by helping to reduce waste and promote recycling and re-use, thereby avoiding waste management methods that can contribute to greenhouse gases.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. No significant relationship 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.



+ Promoting WRMPs is central to this objective.






+ Promoting WRMPs could contribute to this objective by making recycling facilities available.


+ Promoting WRMPs could contribute to this objective through management of waste associated with the construction phase on all projects – not just those caught by legislation.


+ Resource management is a source of employment.


+ Encouraging efficiency in resource use could contribute to wider economic objectives, e.g. by reducing costs and providing business opportunities associated with resource management.

14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote + As above

creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector). 15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place.

+ The policy could contribute towards more sustainable lifestyles.


+ The policy provides an opportunity for education around resource management.


+ The policy promotes participation in schemes associated with resource management at the development level.




+ If plans included an educational element they could help reduce problems associated with littering and fly – tipping.



DM15 Managing waste in the borough The requirement to significantly reduce locally produced waste going to landfill sites outside the borough will initially be addressed through the Sites and Placemaking DPD which identifies sites in appropriate locations to accommodate these facilities. For other waste management facilities proposed, the DPD discusses a policy that provides further guidance on what would be deemed appropriate for this type of development. In the form of a criterion based policy.

SA Objective Section score

Comments and Recommendations


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion relating to biodiversity


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion relating to water quality and resource use.


+/? Outcome depends on what technologies come forward.

4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through

+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion requiring schemes to demonstrate their carbon footprint.

minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts. 5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. +/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion relating to air

quality 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.



+/? As above


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion relating to the built and historic environment.


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion relating to impact on existing and future housing.


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion relating to optimising transport of materials by water and rail.


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion to ensure that proposals are compatible with other uses proposed in the area.


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion to ensure that local employment is optimised.

13. Stable Economy. To encourage a strong, diverse and stable economy and

+ Encouraging efficiency in resource use could contribute to wider economic objectives, e.g. by reducing costs and providing business

to improve the resilience of businesses and their environmental, social and economic performance.

opportunities associated with resource management.




+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion to ensure that proposals are compatible with other uses proposed in the area.


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion to highlight the opportunity for schemes to include education/visitor facilities.


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion to highlight the opportunity for schemes to be overseen by the local community, e.g. through citizens panels or similar.


+/? Assessed on the basis that the policy includes a criterion to ensure that proposals are assessed for their potential impacts on health.


+ A network of facilities in the borough could help avoid issues associated with fly-tipping etc.


+/? Assessed on the basis that a comprehensive criterion based policy should lead to equitable outcomes.

DM16 Local job creation and investment The DPD discusses the need for a policy relating to the future of employment uses outside of main designations. It also discusses the need for standards for the design of new business space.

SA Objective Section score

Comments and Recommendations








+ Retaining employment locally could help reduce the need for travel and associated greenhouse gas emissions.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + Retaining employment locally could help reduce the need for travel 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.







+ Retaining local employment capacity could help achieve this objective.


+ As above


+ The policy seeks to optimise outcomes for new and existing uses.


+ Encouraging schemes to replace employment capacity and consider relocation of existing uses contributes to this objective.


+ As above

14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote + Policy encourages such uses to be accommodated in schemes.

creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector). 15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of place.

+ Retaining existing employment capacity, thinking about the compatibility of existing uses and their potential relocation will contribute to this objective.


+ Retaining existing employment potential and seeking to accommodate or relocate existing uses will help retain existing skills.




+ Removing bad neighbour uses could contribute to this objective – as will retaining employment capacity.


+ Bringing sites back into use contributes to livelier frontages – potentially contributing to this objective.


+ Retaining existing employment capacity, thinking about the compatibility of existing uses and their potential relocation will contribute to this objective.

DM17 Office locations The DPD discusses a policy that:

Ensures that designated office sites are rigorously protected. In Preferred Office Locations (POL) require there is no net loss of office floorspace in any redevelopment

proposal. In Local Office Locations (LOL) consider proposals for redevelopment and/or change of office floorspace, where

a marketing report demonstrates that the office has remained vacant over a period of at least two years and there is no realistic prospect of the building being used as office in the future. Following this, any redevelopment proposal would still need to demonstrate that employment is the main use within a mixed-used redevelopment scheme.

Require opportunities for training which will help local residents access some of the jobs being created. SA Objective DM17 Comments and Recommendations





3. Natural Resources. To minimise the global, social and environmental impact of consumption of resources by using


sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products. 4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts.

+ Retaining POLs and LOLs could help reduce the need for travel and associated greenhouse gas emissions and provide transport choice.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + As above 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.




8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape


and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way. 9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners have access to good quality, well-located, affordable housing that promotes liveability.



+ Retaining POLs and LOLs could help reduce the need for travel and associated emissions and provide transport choice.



12. Employment. To offer everyone the opportunity for rewarding, well-located

+ Encouraging schemes to replace employment capacity in LOLs contributes to this objective.

and satisfying employment. 13. Stable Economy. To encourage a strong, diverse and stable economy and to improve the resilience of businesses and their environmental, social and economic performance.

+ The POLs and LOLs contribute to the economy.


+ Such uses could be accommodated in schemes where office capacity in LOLs is given over to other employment uses..


+ Having a degree of flexibility in LOLs contributes to this objective.


+ The policy seeks to encourage local recruitment.

17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals,


groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London. 18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health.

+ Employment can contribute to health and well-being.


+ Bringing buildings back into use contributes to livelier frontages – potentially contributing to this objective.


+ Retaining existing employment capacity and providing employment opportunities through schemes that encourage local recruitment contributes to this objective.

DM18 Local industrial locations The DPD discusses the need for a policy on acceptable uses within Local Industrial Locations (LIL). This could include a requirement for no net loss of industrial employment floorspace and that any residential use within the scheme does not compromise the integrity of the industrial designation.








4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is

+ Retaining LiLs could help reduce the need for travel and associated greenhouse gas emissions and provide transport choice.

prepared for its impacts. 5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + Retaining LILs could help reduce the need for travel and associated

greenhouse gas emissions and provide transport choice. 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.









+ Retaining LILs could help reduce the need for travel and associated greenhouse gas emissions and provide transport choice.




+ Encouraging schemes to replace employment capacity in LILs contributes to this objective.


+ LILs contribute to the economy.


+ The policy allows for such uses to be introduced into LILs in the right circumstances.


+ Having a degree of flexibility in LILs contributes to this objective.


+ Retaining existing uses could help protect skills.




+ Employment can contribute to health and well-being.


+ Bringing buildings back into use contributes to livelier frontages – potentially contributing to this objective.


+ Retaining existing employment capacity and providing employment opportunities through LILs contributes to this objective.

DM19 Delivering a network of schools and lifelong learning The DPD discusses the need to introduce a policy to ensure that any development or re-development gives careful consideration to the requirements of the pupils attending that school in terms of layout, play space provision and demonstrate that pupils can safely access the school. In response to the Government led initiative on free schools the policy could also require that there is a demonstrated need for the school outside of that which the Council has already identified in the Core Strategy.



+/? The policy could include a criterion relating to biodiversity enhancement.


+/? The policy could include a criterion relating to water management.



4. Climate Change. To address the +/? The policy could include criterion relating to local energy generation

causes of climate change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts.

and climate change adaptation – with schools providing practical examples of adaptation measures that could be incorporated in lessons.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + The policy identifies access to schools as an issue – avoiding the need to travel by car will help avoid significant impacts on air quality.


+/? The policy could include criterion relating to local energy generation


+/? The policy could include criterion relating to waste management – for example composting on site.

8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed

+/? The policy could include criterion relating to impact on the historic environment, particularly in relation to free schools.

and constructed in a sustainable way. 9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners have access to good quality, well-located, affordable housing that promotes liveability.

+ The policy seeks to manage the impact of schools on the amenity of areas and providing schools in appropriate locations will contribute to the wider aims of the objective.


+ Providing schools in appropriate locations will contribute to the wider aims of the objective


+ Schools can contribute to this objective.


+ Schools are also a source of employment in the local community.

13. Stable Economy. To encourage a + Assessed on the basis that good schools provide the basis for a skilled

strong, diverse and stable economy and to improve the resilience of businesses and their environmental, social and economic performance.

workforce.


+/? Scope for facilities to be provided on school sites that contribute to this objective. Larger schemes will need to achieve BREEAM Very Good.


+ The policy works towards this objective for those of school age and those living near schools.


+ Assessed on the basis that good facilities provide the basis for learning.

17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood,


borough and regional levels in London. 18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health.

+ Well located schools enable access by walking and cycling.


+ Well located and designed schools would contribute to this objective.


+ Assessed on the basis that good facilities provide the basis for learning for all.

DM20: Further and Higher Education in the Borough The DPD discusses having a policy to ensure that any development or re-development gives careful consideration to whether there is a local need for this type of educational use and the evidence that might be required in support of applications. Accessibility of sites is also identified as a factor, along with the scope for co-operation with existing establishments.









+ The policy includes a criterion relating to accessibility that will contribute to this objective.

gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts. 5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + As above 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.





+/? The policy could include criterion relating to impact on the historic environment, particularly in relation to new build schemes. FE and HE facilities that can be accommodated in older buildings could provide a sustainable long-term use, provided they meet the criteria in the policy.


+ The policy seeks to manage the use of land – protecting it for other higher priority uses, including housing.


+ The policy includes a criterion relating to accessibility that will contribute to this objective.


+ The policy seeks to manage the use of land – protecting it for other higher priority uses,


+ The policy seeks to manage the use of land – protecting it for other higher priority uses. Sustainable HE and FE facilities are also a source of employment.




+ Sustainable HE and FE facilities could contribute to this objective, depending on the topics taught.




+ Sustainable HE and FE facilities could contribute to this objective, depending on the topics taught.




+ Well located facilities enable access by walking and cycling.





DM21: Integrating development with a sustainable transport network DM21A: As part of this, the policy would aim to ensure that the highest levels of accessibility and inclusiveness are considered and implemented for all users. Any policy will require developers to submit Transport Assessments for all major developments or Transport Statements for minor developments, setting out an assessment of the impact on the transport network, including consideration of the cumulative impacts from other development, and the measures to mitigate these. DM21B: For all development where existing transport capacity is not sufficient to meet the demands of the new developments, the DPD could have policy requiring developers to directly contribute to increasing the capacity of the transport network to meet additional demand. DM21C: policy seeking to improve the immediate area around transport interchanges as shown in the Sites and Placemaking DPD engagement document (known as Transport Interchange Areas) could also be implemented. This would help to make changing between different modes of transport easier and increase the accessibility of these interchanges.



+ + + All the approaches would contribute to the achievement of this objective by helping to reduce the impacts of traffic on the environment.






+ + + All the approaches would contribute to the achievement of this objective, by promoting transport choice.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + + + All the approaches would contribute to the achievement of this objective by helping to reduce the impacts of traffic on the environment.


No significant relationship and/or results for options. The policy could include something on promoting sustainable alternative fuel sources for vehicles.



8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect + + + All the approaches would contribute to

the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way.

the achievement of this objective by helping to reduce the impacts of traffic on the environment.




+ + + All options contribute to this objective. DM21B and DM21C have the potential to secure wider benefits from development.


+ + + As above


+ + + Improved accessibility helps improve access to the labour market.


+ + + An efficient transport system is key to stable economy.

14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and No significant relationship and/or

innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector).

results for options








+ + + Ensuring that sites are accessible by a range of modes will contribute to this objective. DM21B and DM21C could help improve access to health related facilities.


+ + + Ensuring that the transport network has sufficient capacity could help reduce transport related accidents and improvements to interchanges

could help reduce crime and fear of crime.


+ + + Ensuring that sites are accessible by a range of modes will contribute to this objective. DM21B and DM21C could help improve access to health related facilities.

DM22 Sustainable transport of freight DM22A: Ensure developments which generate a significant volume of freight – either during construction or when completed – demonstrate how the impacts on the transport network, the environment and on amenity will be minimised and mitigated. This could be demonstrated through transport assessments, construction logistics plans and delivery and service plans. DM22B: To reduce the number of freight journeys, the policy could support the creation of freight consolidation centres, as supported regionally, in appropriate locations such as industrial areas and existing identified wharves, where this is viable. These would be centres serving construction sites and town centres and would help to reduce the amount of freight movement by consolidating small loads before delivery. DM22C: Promotion of sustainable forms of freight movement and require developments to prioritise freight movement by methods of transport such as by water and rail as well as by using low emission and electric vehicles. DM22D: In addition to the above, the policy could require that developments that are adjacent to wharves do not have a negative impact on their operation.



+ + + + Reducing freight traffic in the Borough and using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions.

2. Water Quality & Water No significant relationship and/or

Resources. To improve the quality of surface waters and groundwater and to achieve the wise management and sustainable use of water resources.

results for options


+ + + + Reducing freight traffic in the Borough and using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing resource use associated with the movement of goods and materials.


+ + + + As above


+ + + + Reducing freight traffic in the Borough and using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related

emissions. 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.

+ + + + Using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions.


+ + + There could be potential for reducing waste if freight consolidation centres and construction logistics plans are utilised.


+ + + + Reducing freight traffic in the Borough and using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions. Wharves are part of the heritage of the borough and the policy also seeks to protect them.

9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners have access to good

+ + + + Reducing freight traffic in the Borough and using lower emission

quality, well-located, affordable housing that promotes liveability.

vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions.


+ + + + If the policies reduce the amount of freight traffic on the roads this will help free up road space for other journeys and encourage cycling.


+ + + + Freight consolidation centres could provide a temporary beneficial use for sites.


+ + + + Freight consolidation centres could provide a temporary / permanent source of employment


+ + + + If freight consolidation centres reduce the costs of transport goods and materials they could contribute to this objective.




+ + + + All of the options would contribute to this objective by reducing impacts associated with the movement of goods and materials.


+ + + + Scope for employment in logistics.

17. Ownership and Participation. No significant relationship and/or

To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London.

results for options


+ + + + Reducing freight traffic in the Borough and using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions and perhaps reduce accidents involving HGVs.


+ + + + See comment above in relation to safety.

20. Equality and diversity. To ensure equitable outcomes for all communities, particularly those most liable to experience discrimination, poverty and social

+ + + + Reducing freight traffic in the Borough and using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related

exclusion. emissions and perhaps reduce accidents involving HGVs.

DM23 Parking The DPD discusses a policy with the following attributes: DM23A: In order to minimise parking, the need for parking and promote sustainable transport options, introduce a policy to ensure developments do not benefit from on-street parking permits in areas well served by public transport accessibility or where on-street parking is already at capacity; DM23B: Maximum car parking standards for residential, employment and other uses, taking into account access to public transport with minimal parking being provided in town centre locations and other areas well served by public transport; DM23C: For residential development a minimum requirement for disabled parking would be set. Where off-street parking is provided, a proportion of this must be for family and affordable homes within the development; DM23D: The policy could also give support and encourage the use of car club schemes that provide communal-use cars by providing car club parking spaces within developments as a priority. Support would also be given to electric charging points and car parking spaces for electric vehicles to encourage the use of low emission vehicles; and DM23E: Minimum standards would be set for cycle parking in all developments.



+ + + + + Reducing traffic in the Borough and using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions.







5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + + + + + As above 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.

+ + + + + As above

7. Waste. To minimise the production of waste No significant relationship

across all sectors and increase reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and recovery rates.

and/or results for options




+ + + + + Ensuring housing has good access to transport choice will contribute to the wider aims of this objective.


+ + + + + As above

11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in

+ + + + + Reducing the land-take associated with parking frees up land for other uses.

land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings. 12. Employment. To offer everyone the opportunity for rewarding, well-located and satisfying employment.



+ + + + + The policy seeks to limit parking in areas where there is transport choice and should not therefore harm the economy.




+ + + + + The policy seeks to limit parking in areas where there is transport choice and should promote liveability.






+ + + + + The policy seeks to promote transport choice, including provision for cycle storage.


+ + + + + Well designed parking can contribute to this objective.


+ + + + + The policy seeks to ensure provision of parking facilities for those in most need.

DM25 Tower of London World Heritage Site The DPD discusses the need for a policy with the following attributes: Ensures that any new development in the borough does not negatively affect the UNESCO World Heritage Site status of the Tower of London and must be tested for its impact on the site’s outstanding universal value relating to its historical, architectural and cultural importance. As part of this policy, developments would also demonstrate that they do not have a negative effect on the Tower’s setting, including any strategic or local views to and from it. For proposed developments in the vicinity of the Tower of London, the policy could further require that the development demonstrates how local access routes to the Tower and signage to help visitors navigate their way to it are being improved.






3. Natural Resources. To minimise the global, social and environmental impact of consumption of resources by using


sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products. 4. Climate Change. To address the causes of climate change through minimising the emissions of greenhouse gases and ensuring that London is prepared for its impacts.


5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + Improved pedestrian routes could help encourage walking 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.

+ As above



8. Built and Historic Environment. To enhance and protect the existing built environment (including the architectural distinctiveness, townscape/landscape

++ This is a central objective of the policy

and archaeological heritage), and ensure new buildings are appropriately designed and constructed in a sustainable way. 9. Housing. To ensure that all Londoners have access to good quality, well-located, affordable housing that promotes liveability.



+ User friendly pedestrian routes will contribute to this policy.


+ The policy seeks to ensure that existing development contributes to an urban renaissance that respects this key asset.

12. Employment. To offer everyone the opportunity for rewarding, well-located


and satisfying employment. 13. Stable Economy. To encourage a strong, diverse and stable economy and to improve the resilience of businesses and their environmental, social and economic performance.

+ This policy will help retain the attractiveness of the Tower as a tourist facility.




+ Good quality pedestrian routes and associated improvements to the street scene will contribute to this objective for the benefit of all – not just visitors to the Tower.



17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals,


groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London. 18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health.



+ Well designed and well used streets would contribute to this objective.



DM26 Heritage and the historic environment The DPD discusses the need for a policy that: Sets out guidance around how development proposals can protect and enhance the borough’s heritage assets, their setting and their significance as key elements of developing a sense of place; In acknowledging that sometimes changes to heritage buildings, spaces and features may occasionally be necessary and beneficial, the policy can consider any proposals in the context of such things as; the contribution being made to the existing character or appearance of the area; the wider benefits of the proposed use; the potential for enhancement of architectural or historic interest; and the contribution to the local economy; Criteria to ensure that changes to built heritage can deliver energy efficiencies and make heritage assets fit for contemporary use, all the while not compromising the intrinsic qualities of the building/asset itself; and In addition to these criteria, the policy would require that any proposals for development in Conservation Areas should demonstrate how it preserves and enhances the character of the conservation as set out in the relevant Conservation Area Appraisal. Furthermore, for proposals in/ adjacent to Archaeological Priority Areas, an Archaeological Evaluation Report would also need to be produced.




2. Water Quality & Water Resources. To improve the quality of surface waters and groundwater and to achieve the wise management and sustainable use of

+ Scope for schemes to achieve water efficiency measures.

water resources. 3. Natural Resources. To minimise the global, social and environmental impact of consumption of resources by using sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products.



+ Scope for schemes to include energy efficiency measures

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. No significant relationship 6. Energy. To achieve greater energy efficiency and to reduce reliance on fossil fuels for transport, heating, energy and electricity.

+ Scope for schemes to include energy efficiency measures




++ This is a central objective of the policy


+ The policy helps provide the basis for older buildings to accommodate housing.


+ The policy helps provide the basis for older buildings to accommodate uses that could contribute to this objective.

11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of

+ The policy helps provide the basis for older buildings to accommodate development that could contribute to this objective.

previously developed land and existing buildings. 12. Employment. To offer everyone the opportunity for rewarding, well-located and satisfying employment.

+ As above


+ As above


+ The policy helps provide the basis for older buildings to accommodate development that could contribute to this objective.


+ As above

16. Education and Skills. To maximise the education and skills levels of the


population. 17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London.





+ Ensuring buildings are appropriately uses could contribute to this objective.



DM27 Sustainable neighbourhoods and place sensitive designs DM27A: Sets out details regarding what developments will need to consider in terms of protecting amenity and promoting high quality design; DM27B: Specifically for amenity, there could be a requirement that the proposal considers such things as; the impact of the development on visual privacy and overlooking; sense of enclosure; loss of sunlight and daylight; noise and air pollution; and any significant effects on microclimate; DM27C: In terms of design, key considerations should be the character, setting, scale and form of development and its relationship to the surrounding area; the quality and appropriateness of materials to be used; the existing public realm and how it can be enhanced; and the appropriate form of amenity space to be provided. As part of the design, it would be expected that all developments meet the highest standards of access and inclusion; and DM27D: The policy might also include the requirement that development must comply with measures set out in the Zero Carbon policy (DM29), specifically regarding the integration of design techniques to reduce the impacts of climate change, such as limiting water run-off, reducing domestic and commercial water usage, containing air pollution and using landscaping for purposes of natural shading and cooling.



+ + + + Elements of the policy should contribute to this objective.

2. Water Quality & Water Resources. To improve the quality

+ + + + Water management is covered in the policy.

of surface waters and groundwater and to achieve the wise management and sustainable use of water resources. 3. Natural Resources. To minimise the global, social and environmental impact of consumption of resources by using sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products.

+ + + + As above


+ + + + Issues around climate change adaptation and mitigation are covered in the policy.


+ + + + Impacts on air pollution are covered in the policy.


+ + + + Natural shading and cooling is covered in the policy.


Waste management is not discussed in the policy.


+ + + + The policy includes impact on the wider area as a design consideration.


+ + + + The policy seeks to avoid impacts on existing areas and ensure that new ones are built to a high standard.

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and

+ + + + Access and inclusion are identified as design considerations.

amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car). 11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

+ + + + The policy seeks to avoid impacts on existing areas and ensure that new ones are built to a high standard.




+ + + + A good quality environment contributes to the economic attractiveness of an area.

14. Creativity and Innovation. To + + + + The policy encourages innovation in

promote creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector).

relation to water management and climate change adaptation.


+ + + + All of the options would contribute to this objective by reducing impacts associated with new development and ensuring new developments are of a high quality.






+ + + + Measures to incorporate cooling and shading into developments could contribute to this objective.


+ + + + Encouraging a well designed public realm will contribute to this objective.


+ + + + The policy seeks to make developments inclusive.

DM28 Tall Buildings: DM28A: In addition to the two locations identified appropriate for tall buildings (Canary Wharf and Aldgate), introduces further guidance in the form of robust criteria based policy to be applied to all developments to ensure the design and context of the building is of the highest quality and is in keeping with the local context. Examples of the criteria to be applied to a tall building development could include: achieving high architectural quality and innovation in the design of the building; no adverse impact on important views including strategic London wide views and important local views; no adverse impact on biodiversity, open spaces or the public realm; positive contribution to the social and economic vitality of the surrounding area; seek high levels of access to the buildings; and ensure transport serving the building is adequate. DM28B: An alternative option could be to give guidance about heights of buildings across the borough. This could mean defining appropriate heights for each different place in the Sites and Placemaking DPD. DM28C: Another way of achieving this would be to link tall buildings to the town centre hierarchy with the tallest buildings at Canary Wharf and the CAZ and smaller scale buildings at district centres and at transport interchanges. DM28D: In formulating the policy criteria for a proposal which is replacing an existing tall building which was a legacy from past development may also be needed. It may be that it is not considered a precedent for acceptability of tall building forms, especially if it would no longer be considered an appropriate location for a tall building.


1. Biodiversity. To conserve and enhance natural habitats and wildlife and bring nature closer to

+ + + + Biodiversity is identified as a factor.

people. 2. Water Quality & Water Resources. To improve the quality of surface waters and groundwater and to achieve the wise management and sustainable use of water resources.

Water management could be covered in the policy.




Issues around climate change adaptation and mitigation could be covered in the policy.


+ + + + The policy includes consideration of transport accessibility which should help protect air quality.


Energy conservation and local generation of heating/cooling could be considered in the policy.


Waste management could be covered in the policy.


+ + + + The policy includes impact on the wider area as a design consideration.

9. Housing. To ensure that all + + + + The policy seeks to avoid impacts

Londoners have access to good quality, well-located, affordable housing that promotes liveability.

on existing areas and considers the social impact of schemes, which would also include their contribution to local housing need.


+ + + + Access is identified as a consideration.


+ + + + The policy seeks to avoid impacts on existing areas and ensure that new tall buildings are built to a high standard.


+ + + + The policy includes social and economic impacts as considerations.


+ + + + The economic impacts of the building are identified as a factor.


+ + + + The policy encourages innovation in architecture and design.


+ + + + All of the options would contribute to this objective by reducing impacts associated with new development and ensuring new developments are of a high quality.



17. Ownership and Participation. No significant relationship and/or

To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood, borough and regional levels in London.

results for options




+ + + + Encouraging a well designed public realm will contribute to this objective.


+ + + + The policy includes social and economic impacts as considerations.

DM29 Zero-carbon borough DM29A: Ensures that new developments within the borough will only be supported when they are in accordance with the London Plan Energy Hierarchy. In doing so they are showing how they will meet the 2016 zero-carbon target. DM29B: Alternatively, introduce a policy that requires any future or new development within the borough to exceed the regional targets, making Tower Hamlets a leader in the push to prevent contributions to global warming. DM29C: As part of any zero carbon policy, include requirements to encourage the use of more sustainable energy production and modes of transport, such as solar energy, district heating schemes and electric vehicles. DM29D: The policy could also include a requirement for developers to lower the carbon dioxide emissions attributed to existing buildings when undertaking renovations and redevelopments, by requiring improved insulation for example. DM29E: A requirement that all development not proposing connection to an existing or proposed decentralised heat and/or energy system should be future proofed with connection provisions to allow connection into decentralised heat and/or energy systems when they become available within the area. The potential locations of these decentralised energy systems are being developed by the Council with the Mayor of London and are suggested within the Sites and Placemaking DPD engagement document.



+ + + + + Encouraging lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions.

2. Water Quality & Water Resources. To improve the quality of surface waters and


groundwater and to achieve the wise management and sustainable use of water resources.

The policy could encourage schemes to manage water




++ ++ ++ ++ ++ This is a central objective of the policy.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + + + + + Using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions.


++ ++ ++ ++ ++ This is a central objective of the policy.

7. Waste. To minimise the production of waste No significant relationship

across all sectors and increase reuse, recycling, remanufacturing and recovery rates.

and/or results for options


+ + + + + Using lower emission vehicles could assist with this objective by reducing impacts associated with transport related emissions.


+ + + + + The policy could help address fuel poverty by promoting local generation and energy efficiency.



11. Regeneration & Land Use. To stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in

+ + + + + The policy seeks to ensure that schemes are future proofed in terms of their ability to connect to

land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

decentralised energy systems and that refurbishments adopt sustainable design and construction methods in relation to carbon emissions.




+ + + + + The policy could help stimulate employment in green technology.


+ + + + + As above

15. Liveability and Place. To create and sustain liveable, mixed use physical and social environments that promote long- term social cohesion, sustainable lifestyles and a sense of

+ + + + + The policy will contribute towards sustainable lifestyles in terms of energy use but could be extended to cover

place. other aspects of sustainable design and construction..


+ + + + + The policy could help stimulate employment in green technology.




+ + + + + Promoting electric vehicles could help reduce air pollution and contribute to this objective. Energy efficient housing will also contribute to this objective.



20. Equality and diversity. To ensure equitable outcomes for all communities, particularly those most liable to experience discrimination,

+ + + + + Energy efficient housing will also contribute to this objective and could help

poverty and social exclusion. address fuel poverty.

Appendix E: Assessing the Sites and Placemaking DPD

Key to matrix

Potential for a significant positive effect ++ Potential for a minor positive effect + Potential for a minor negative effect - Potential for significant negative effect -- No significant effect or no relationship Uncertainty – outcome dependent on what is done, how and where

?

Effects are permanent and of Borough wide significance unless indicated otherwise in the commentary box.

Assessment of the site suggestions for important uses: Large scale housing development Strategic open space Idea stores Health facilities Leisure facilities Primary school Secondary school District heating facilities Waste management facilities

SA Objective Score Comments and Recommendations


+ The site suggestions identify a number of new strategic open spaces that would be expected to enhance biodiversity. It is noticeable that the sites on the west/north-western and east/north-eastern borough boundaries, with no sites designated in central and southern areas of the borough. The Isle of Dogs for example has approximately 7 housing sites with no strategic open space. Biodiversity enhancement measures could also be integrated into suggested sites that do not qualify as strategic open space, but this is primarily addressed through the Development Management DPD

2. Water Quality & Water Resources. To + Major developments close to existing waterways have the potential to

improve the quality of surface waters and groundwater and to achieve the wise management and sustainable use of water resources.

create either accidental or diffuse pollution impacting local water courses. However, new development can also be the catalyst to promote new riparian regeneration and to improve the waterside environment. It is anticipated that new development will include sufficient mitigation measures in accordance with the givens to minimise the risk to waterways.


The use of natural resources will not be significantly affected by the location of the development.


- The site suggestions act to mitigate climate change in two primary ways. Firstly, through the appropriate distribution of developments types throughout the borough the demand for travel will be reduced. Secondly 8 district heating facilities focus areas have been identified, all of which have the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The majority of the southern half of the borough is currently within Flood Zone 3 and is a flood warning area as set out in Figure ST1 and Figure 3 of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (August 2008). Fish Island in the north east is also within Flood Zone 3. With climate change considered to increase the

risk of flooding, it is anticipated that flood risk in these areas will increase. The site suggestions place several large scale housing developments within this area. It must be noted that this area is protected by tidal flood defences and final sites for the Proposed Submission version of the DPD will be subject to flood risk assessments.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. + Through the appropriate distribution of developments types throughout the borough the demand for travel will be reduced, particularly use of the private car. In turn this will reduce air pollution.


++ The vast majority of sites identified have also been identified as having potential for district heating facilities. It is noted that Chrisp Street town centre has been identified for large scale housing development and a district heating facility, but the proposed Poplar Baths leisure facility immediately opposite the Chrisp Street development across East India Dock Road has not been linked to district heating. As a leisure facility, it’s heating and cooling profile would be expected to complement any existing heat network. If the leisure facility were to include a pool, this could act as a significant heat sink. Given the proximity of some of the focus areas to each other, such as the Canary Wharf and Blackwall areas, it would be useful to understand whether the intention would be to link the individual areas together in the longer term to create a broader network.


++ Fish Island and Ailsa Street have both been identified as potentially suitable areas for waste management facilities. The implications of waste management of Fish Island have been assessed in detail as a part of the SA of the Fish Island Area Action Plan. Ailsa Street is already home to a waste transfer facility as has been designated as an area of search within the Core Strategy. As such, it is considered a suitable location for the proposed facility


Individual site plans are not shown in enough detail within the DPD to be able to undertake an assessment of the suggested sites effects on the built and historic environment.


++ The significant provision of new housing and its distribution throughout the borough will be a cornerstone of delivering new housing within the borough. High levels of affordable and family housing have been identified.

10. Accessibility / Availability (Transport).To maximise the accessibility to key services and amenities and increase the proportion of journeys made

+ The majority of the borough is highly accessible, with a PTAL rating of 6, particularly the more western areas. The Isle of Dogs is more varied, with Canary Wharf being PTAL 6 and the level of accessibility reducing the further south you go. The majority of the suggested

by public transport, by bicycle and by foot (relative to those taken by car).

housing sites on Fish Island would be expected to be within a PTAL 4 area or above. Blackwall is also a highly accessible area. It is the suggested sites in the north east of the borough that would have the lowest accessibility ratings. The severance issues on Fish Island are well known and will be addressed through the Fish Island Area Action Plan. Other areas such as Bromley by Bow and Ailsa Street may need improvements to the existing public transport networks.


++ This objective is at the core of the Sites and Placemaking DPD and as such the suggested sites together promote significant levels of regeneration.


The sites and Placemaking DPDs approach to employment is assessed as a part of the spatial policy areas. As such, it is not assessed here to avoid double counting.

13. Stable Economy. To encourage a strong, diverse and stable economy and to improve the resilience of businesses

The sites and Placemaking DPDs approach to the economy is assessed as a part of the spatial policy areas. As such, it is not assessed here to avoid double counting.

and their environmental, social and economic performance. 14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and innovation in the environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector).

The sites and Placemaking DPDs approach to the economy and suitable sites for the creative industries is assessed as a part of the spatial policy areas. As such, it is not assessed here to avoid double counting.


++ The sites suggestions include a number of mixed use developments, helping to create a balanced community. The distribution of sites across the borough is considered appropriate. The sense of place aspect has been assessed separately as a part of the placemaking assessment.


++ The suggested sites allocate 7 sites for schools, including primary, secondary and combined primary/secondary schools. Much of this will be needed to address the increased demand resulting from large scale housing development. Four new idea stores are also distributed across the borough

17. Ownership and Participation. To promote civic participation, ownership and responsibility and enable individuals, groups and communities to contribute to decision-making at neighbourhood,

++ Several key consultation questions have been asked for each of the proposed site suggestions to engage with the public and ensure a sense of ownership.

borough and regional levels in London. 18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in health.

+ The suggested sites include new strategic open space as well as new leisure facilities. New health facilities are also planned across the borough. Together, these sites address act to both improve health and fitness. Their distribution throughout the borough should help to tackle health inequalities.


Safety and security has been addressed through the placemaking assessment.


+ The distribution of new housing and infrastructure across the borough will help to ensure equal access for all, minimising inequalities.

Assessment of the Spatial Policy Areas: Town centre activity areas Preferred office locations Local office locations Strategic industrial locations Local industrial locations Transport interchange areas Thames policy area

SA Objective Score Comments and Recommendations


+ The improvements to transport interchanges include improvements to the public realm. In is anticipated that this will include some landscaping and planting.


++ The Thames Policy Area requires LBTH (and other relevant boroughs) to prepare detailed appraisals of their stretches of the river and its environs. The assessments are required to incorporate a number of factors under London Plan policy 4C.18 including flood risk, sites of ecological importance and opportunities for environmental improvement. This will be a significant benefit to LBTHs waterside environment. It is recommended that similarly rigorous standards are applied

across the boroughs waterways, not just the River Thames. 3. Natural Resources. To minimise the global, social and environmental impact of consumption of resources by using sustainably produced, harvested and manufactured local products.

The use of natural resources will not be significantly affected by the Spatial policy areas.


++ The Clear Zone aims to address climate change and improve air quality through multi agency partnerships. The proposed boundary for the clear zone has previously been set out in the LBTH Clear Zone Plan (2010). The Clear zone will act as a test zone for incremental, innovative, sustainable transport and public realm improvement measures and its adoption as a part of the DPD would be expected to lead to a significant improvement in air quality.

5. Air Quality. To improve air quality. ++ See discussion of Clear Zone above. In addition, the improvements as a result of the transport interchange areas will promote the use of public transport, reducing the use of the private car and in turn improving air quality.


Energy efficiency and renewable energy generation have been assessed as a part of the sites allocation appraisal and have also been assessed through the Development Management DPD.


Waste management has been assessed as a part of the sites allocation appraisal.


Individual site plans are not shown in enough detail within the DPD to be able to undertake an assessment of the suggested sites effects on the built and historic environment.


Housing has been assessed as a part of the sites allocation appraisal.


++ The transport interchange areas are already accessible areas in terms of public transport, however their designation as a Spatial Policy Areas will provide for better connections and wayfinding. This affects a considerable number of bus stops, underground stations, overground stations and DLR stations.

11. Regeneration & Land Use. To ++ This objective is at the core of the Sites and Placemaking DPD.

stimulate regeneration and urban renaissance that maximises benefits for the most deprived areas and communities and to improve efficiency in land use through the sustainable reuse of previously developed land and existing buildings.

Together, the Spatial Policy Areas are expected to promote a significant level of employment-led regeneration.


++ The Spatial Policy Area proposals would be expected to create a significant number of new jobs of various types, distributed across the borough. The exception is the north western hamlets running from Shoreditch to Bow. The proposed employment distribution would be expected to reinforce many of the existing commuting patterns, such as large volumes of people commuting in and out of the Canary Wharf area. New employment opportunities will also be created through the Central Activities Zone (CAZ) and supporting Activities Areas.


++ Four Preferred Office Locations have been identified. These reflect the boroughs existing business profile, with Canary Wharf identified as one of the Preferred Office Locations and the other three are situated in Spitalfields, Aldgate and Tower of London, putting them in close proximity to the City. Local Office Locations have been identified in Blackwall, Mile End and Whitechapel, in keeping with existing

commercial uses in these areas. Strategic Industrial Locations have been identified in Fish Island and Bromley by Bow, with local industrial locations in Limehouse, Blackwall and Poplar Riverside, forming a belt across the northern side of the Isle of Dogs. Together, these sites form a comprehensive economic regeneration programme spanning much of the borough. Sites have typically been chosen based on existing used and proximity to existing businesses. Given their distribution, the local industrial and principal office locations would be expected to provide space for businesses ancillary to those in the principal locations. The Central Activities Zone and the Isle of Dogs Opportunity area (northern half) are at the centre of London’s World City offer offering. The growth of the CAZ will be driven by jobs but the CAZ has a broader remit including improving the environment to attract visitors to the area. The Central Activities Zone in Aldgate and supporting City Fringe and Canary Wharf activity areas follow much the same principles as the CAZ, as prescribed by The London Plan.

14. Creativity and Innovation. To promote creativity and innovation in the

Space for the creative industries will be addressed through the Development Management DPD.

environmental and social economy (including new clean technologies, renewable energy, pollution control and the skills sector).


++ The majority of Spatial Policy Areas, such as the Central Activities Zone, Activity Areas, Major/District/Neighbourhood Centres and Thames Policy Area all have at their core the desire to create a mixed use community that is well integrated into the surrounding area and improves the local environment. The sense of place aspect has been assessed separately as a part of the placemaking assessment.


+ This objective is dealt with more directly in the sites allocations appraisal, however increased employment opportunities is expected to increase the skills level of the population, particularly in the local industrial locations.


++ Three key consultation questions have been asked for each of the proposed Spatial Policy Areas to engage with the public and ensure a sense of ownership.

18. Health and Well-being. To maximise the health and well-being of the population and reduce inequalities in

Health and wellbeing has been assessed as a part of the sites allocation appraisal.

health. 19. Safety and Security. To enhance community safety by reducing crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear of crime.

Safety and security has been addressed through the placemaking assessment.


+ The distribution of new employment opportunities and infrastructure across the borough will help to ensure equal access for all, minimising inequalities.