Decision details

Watford Town Centre Strategic Framework

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Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The Town Centre is a thriving retail and leisure destination with an established character and there are a number of redevelopment opportunities identified in the Local Plan, which reflect the evolving nature of the area. Because the town centre has such importance to the borough economically, socially, and culturally, the Council has prepared a Watford Town Centre Strategic Framework building upon the Local Plan, to provide clear guidelines for development, whilst enabling flexibility of uses in the town centre – to be able to accommodate economic change and to make the town centre a place for everyone.

Decisions:

Cabinet received a report of the Principal Planner which set out the Watford Town Centre Strategic Framework.

 

The Mayor thanked officers for the amount of work that had gone into developing the framework.  The report built on the Local Plan agreed last year.  It set out the council’s plan for the town centre as a major retail and leisure destination for the region.  The council had consulted widely; a range of views to develop the framework.  It was great to see the number of young people who got involved.   The engagement made it clear how important the public realm was for people.  Many had identified St Mary’s Churchyard as a town centre asset, which would benefit from improvement.  It could become a peaceful contrast to the adjacent High Street and a major public green space.  Other issues raised included affordable work space, space for creative industries and that traffic and congestion was tackled.  If approved formal guidance would be developed.

 

The Principal Planner informed members that there would be ongoing projects, including public artwork.  The framework also linked into the Travel in Watford plan.  An annual report on progress would be produced and a more detailed planning guide would follow.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Town Centre Strategic Framework be adopted.

Report author: Ellen Higginson

Publication date: 22/03/2023

Date of decision: 13/03/2023

Decided at meeting: 13/03/2023 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: