SMOKE AND MIRRORS?
Exactly what is intended by way of this application by the owners for a change of designation to none residential educational from residential use? Any intention to subsequently pass the site on to the University of Chester is certainly not declared in the application (find this to judge for yourself on the CWAC Planning site by searching for application 14/04193/FUL). The only real evidence we have of alleged disposal to the University (that just a few weeks ago was reported as having no interest in acquiring any site in Handbridge) is found in that David Holmes article in last week's Chronicle based on his conversation with P.J.Livesey. Reg Barritt of Chester Community Voice and Handbridge Residents Council says: “The key planning argument against the University getting hold of this site for its educational use is that it already has enough undeveloped land available at its 5 acre Glen Esk site. That site is conveniently located next door to the main campus on Parkgate Road, for which they have already paid we understand some £2.64m on which to develop new estate to meet the University’s growing needs”. He says: “ The Glen Esk site has been designated to be taken out of the Green Belt for the purposes of educational use by the University in agreement with the LA. Its proposed use is encapsulated as a policy in the existing Chester City Local Plan (retained Policy DF2). This Local Plan remains active until the new Local Plan Part 2 is agreed, and that is some way off yet”. He adds: “Therefore the Handbridge site is not actually required to meet such educational need, but on the other hand Chester does have an assessed shortfall of sites available to meet demand in the City for market and affordable (none student hostel) housing as is highlighted in the incoming Local Plan, with this site designated as it stands to meet that need. This Application is threatening to compromise that necessary use. Of great concern to the community of Handbridge is the threat of studentification of our streets over the years that would follow any such university expansion here, with the same fate awaiting us as we have already seen the demise of the Garden Quarter in Chester and similar areas in many other UK towns and cities. The Local plan seeks to support regeneration of City areas with mixed residential development as well as to protect those already here. Yet the way HE need is being catered for outside the stated aims and objectives of our Local Plan is currently repeatedly happening in conflict with meeting these agreed aspirations”. IMPACT OF STUDENTIFICATION The Local Development Framework Panel is meeting on the 24th November (5.30 PM at HQ, Room G1)to hold an open discussion between the LA, University, and other interested parties including the public the impact of Higher Educational expansion on Chester. Those with an interest in this matter are urged to attend. Meeting details can be found on the CWAC website at this link. FOOTNOTE: CCV UK tell us they will be presenting a draft strategic and control policy document to CWAC at this meeting that is intended to ensure sound management of the impact of developing studentification of Chester. They say they have had to spend much time and effort in producing this because, despite the long process of developing the new Local Plan the LA has been through and CCV UK’s persistent efforts to have the issue addressed in that process, CWAC itself has no such policy in place or even proposed to deal with this key matter. Avril Coady of CCV UK says: “unlike in some other university cities it has been left to us to press the matter on the LA rather than for them to have willingly deal with it”.”What we have found in our work on this issue is Government evasion and indifference to such concerns about impact on local communities. They seem to be doing all they can to massage thorough university expansion across the nation with little or no regard for impact on local people, and indeed many other agreed aims and objectives in Local Plans .The best the various authorities seem to do is to try piecemeal to keep the lid on the pressure cooker of problems this growth in HE is causing; and of course that is bad governance”. Article submitted by Reg Barritt of Chester Community Voice and Handbridge Residents Council.
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May 2019
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