About the project

The Area Regeneration and Planning teams are in the early stages of developing a new ‘Area Framework’ for the Lea Bridge Strategic Location and we would like you to get involved.

We are running a public engagement from Monday 05 July  to Monday 26 July 2021. We want to know your thoughts, understand your ideas, and listen to your suggestions to improve and shape the unique area of Lea Bridge.

The aim of this Framework will be to provide informal planning guidance to emerging and future potential developments in the area and to highlight the core community and investment needs to be addressed over the next 15 years, in line with the adoption of the Local Plan Part 1: Strategic Policies (currently in examination) and the update and submission for adoption of Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations. 

Another key aim is for the Framework to link local priorities in Lea Bridge with the Council’s wider Economic Recovery work responding to the impact of Covid 19, Climate change commission as well as the Council’s emerging Corporate ‘Public Service Strategy’, which centres on four key themes:

1. Connecting People with Jobs
2. Safe and healthy lives
3. Our 15min neighbourhood
4. Confidence in our future

Why are we producing an Area Framework?

Developing an Area Framework for Lea Bridge will provide the opportunity to set out a vision for the area as well as co-ordinate and shape the type, nature and feel of development that happens within this area of growth and intensification but also secure and shape investment that this will bring.

The intention is for the Framework and any data gathered in its development is to provide an evidence base for future developer contributions and funding applications for the area by bringing together proposals for infrastructure, connectivity and public realm improvements.  

In Autumn 2020, the Council published its Infrastructure Delivery Plan and Infrastructure Delivery Schedule for the whole Borough.  An objective for this Framework is to be able to identify and co-ordinate the specific place-based unique needs of Lea Bridge. For example, the IDP identifies the requirements for a New Health Centre in Lea Bridge and as part of the work on this Area Framework will be to secure a suitable location and investment from new development required to deliver this.

What are the potential benefits of an Area Framework?

• Better co-ordination of development coming forward in Lea Bridge 
• Better co-ordination of the infrastructure investment required that is unique to Lea Bridge 
• More joined up communication of what development is happening and when 
• More opportunities for residents and businesses to engage in the planning and regeneration process 

• Ability to link to to the Borough’s wider Economic Recovery work as a result to Covid 19 and emerging Public Service Strategy priorities.
• To better reveal and celebrate the unique natural and historic assets of Lea Bridge

How can you get involved?

We want to produce the Area Framework for and with local people. The Council is at the information gathering stage and this is the first of three phases of public engagement for the Area Framework over the next 12 months. We will be using the outcomes of this engagement, plus the feedback the council received on the Local Plan 2: Site allocations DPD to inform the draft Area Framework proposals, for which there will be another public consultation in Autumn 2021. 

You can get involved in the first round of public engagement for the Area Framework by filling in our online survey or one of the physical questionnaires. We will also be hosting drop at Lea Bridge Library, where you can speak to us in person.

Proposed timeline for the Area Framework

The Council is at the information gathering stage and this is the first of three phases of public engagement for the Area Framework over the next 12 months. We will be using the outcomes of this engagement, plus the feedback already received on the Local Plan 2: Site Allocations to inform the draft Area Framework proposals. There will be another public engagement on the draft proposals in Autumn 20212. The full engagement timeline is shown below.