Strategic policy - Supporting inclusive growth
The council will take a positive approach to development, and will proactively engage with the local community, landowners, developers and other key stakeholders to deliver the council's vision and objectives for the borough.
Extensive and larger scale development in the borough will take place in in the borough's regeneration areas. These Regeneration Areas (as shown on the Policies Map) offer the potential for higher density and taller development.
All proposals for development in the borough will be expected to:
a) provide new exemplary sustainable communities, delivered to the highest standards of urban design, respect for the historic environment, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, and local context;
b) contribute to making the borough the most inclusive and accessible borough in the country by ensuring that all residents have equitable access to services and opportunities;
c) maximise the delivery of housing to meet local housing needs and enable local residents to access affordable homes to buy or rent;
d) contribute to growing the borough's economy, delivering jobs and providing a range of skills and competencies and supported by initiatives to enable local residents to access employment and training in line with the council's industrial strategy;
e) deliver new physical, social and environmental infrastructure that meets the needs of new residents as well delivering tangible benefits for surrounding communities;
f) ensure the phased and timely delivery of social and economic infrastructure across larger sites.
Map - Collective Regeneration Areas
3.0 The Local Plan provides a framework to achieve sustainable development in the borough and to plan positively for its future, by ensuring that the right types of development are built in the borough, in the right location, at the right time in order to meet the needs of people living and working in Hammersmith and Fulham.
3.1 The council is seeking to ensure that growth in the borough is inclusive and improves the lives of residents. This means that all residents should benefit from new development; from new homes to the development of new industries and jobs, cycle lanes and everything in between. All residents should feel that growth in the borough improves their lives socially and financially, reduces inequalities and creates opportunities for everyone to participate and thrive.
3.2 When considering development proposals, the council will take a positive approach that reflects the policies set out in this document and the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The council will seek to work proactively with applicants to find solutions which mean that proposals can be approved where possible, and to secure development that improves the economic, social and environmental conditions in the area. This does not necessarily mean however, that development that is unacceptable in principle or causes harm will be granted permission.
Regeneration areas
3.3 The majority of growth in the borough will be directed to the borough's regeneration areas. The council has identified four regeneration areas which are expected to be the key focus for growth and change in the borough over the next 20 years. Together, these regeneration areas will have the potential to deliver the majority of new homes and jobs in the borough and tackle physical barriers and social deprivation.
3.4 The regeneration areas represent an opportunity for significant new sustainable place-making and will provide the focus for new development in the borough. For each of the regeneration areas the council has set out the overall strategy for the area and the proposals for sites of strategic importance. In taking forward these proposals, the council will aim to involve all sections of the community in the development of policies and proposals for the regeneration of the borough and in planning decisions. Development in each of the regeneration areas will need to respect and enhance the existing townscape context and heritage assets both within and around the area.
Old Oak and Park Royal
3.5 Old Oak lies within the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC). The OPDC act as the planning authority for this area, and make decisions on planning applications in the OPDC area. LBHF remains heavily involved; as a partner in the development of the area and on the decision of planning applications. The council will seek to ensure that the needs of the borough, including affordable housing and job opportunities for local people, are appropriately met as part of any redevelopment of the area.
3.6 Whilst the OPDC is the planning authority for the OPDC area the council remains responsible for day to day services, such as waste collection, street cleansing, and highways maintenance.
3.7 The OPDC area also includes a major new interchange station with connections to the Midlands, the North and Scotland, as well connections into central London, Heathrow Airport the West Country and South Wales. Located just north of Wormwood Scrubs as part of the High Speed 2 (HS2) project, the new station will act as a catalyst to create thousands of new homes and jobs, by capitalising on the connections that HS2/Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) station will create.
All development
3.8 It is recognised that growth is required across the borough to meet the changing needs of the population. Development - particularly affordable housing, the provision of jobs, social and community facilities – are required to ensure that the borough remains a sustainable place to live and work.
3.9 All development within the borough will be expected to be of the highest standards, and planning applications should be accompanied by sufficient detail that demonstrates how the proposal addresses the relevant criteria in the policy.
3.10 Promoting and protecting high standards of design is a key element of ensuring sustainable growth in the borough, and will be a major consideration when determining development proposals. Although this will need to be assessed alongside the environmental, social and economic benefits that development can bring, all proposals will be expected to adhere to the principles of good urban design. These are not only applicable to the quality of individual buildings, but also to the arrangement of buildings in their environment, how they relate to their context, the spaces they create and also to the way an area functions.