RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

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Section 13 Sub-Areas and Key Centres for Development and Change
POLICY LA1: London Arc
(1) Within the London Arc the emphasis will be on:
(a) retention of long-standing green belt restraint, supported by more positive green infrastructure use of
neglected areas in accordance with green belt purposes; and
(b) urban regeneration, including the promotion of greater sustainability within the built-up areas, particularly
measures to increase the use of non-car modes of transport.
(2) Exceptions to the approach in (1) (a) are made at Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield where
strategic green belt reviews will be undertaken to permit these new towns to develop further as expanded key
centres for development and change.
(3) Other towns in the London Arc will retain and develop their existing individual roles within its polycentric
settlement pattern, recognising and making as much provision for new development within the built-up area as
is compatible with retention and, wherever possible, enhancement of their distinctive characters and identities.
(4) the local authorities should work with those in Greater London, especially Outer London, and to the north, and
those responsible for delivering strategic transport networks, to ensure that:
• opportunities presented by existing and developing public transport radial routes from London are exploited
to support sustainable development at nodal points along these routes, while ensuring that the strategic
function of radial routes is not overwhelmed by local movements; and
• a network-wide approach (particularly critical in the London Arc) is adopted towards increasing
opportunities for inter-urban journeys by public transport, in line with the Regional Transport Strategy.
13.36 The London Arc is a complex polycentric area of market towns, commuter settlements and twentieth century new towns
over which London has a powerful influence. Long-standing green belt policies have sought to restrain the outward
spread of the capital and preserve the existing urban structure. These areas face a particular set of issues and pressures,
which are distinct within the East of England but shared with parts of the South East.
13.37 The area is characterised by a generally buoyant economy, although there are pockets of poor performance and
deprivation, particularly within the new towns. There is very strong housing demand and development pressures are
intense. There is considerable pressure on the area’s road and rail networks reflecting both the high levels of movement to
and from London and the complex movements for shopping, employment, education, leisure etc between the towns.
There is a need to balance the priorities of restraining urban sprawl, enhancing the countryside and meeting development
needs in sustainable ways. This will be done by retention and enhancement of the green belt and by accommodating
development through effective use of the land within urban areas and selective green belt review.
13.38 With their history as new towns, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield have a good record of matching
new housing with employment and are well-placed on strategic communications routes, which makes them both
attractive for business growth and accessible to the London jobs market. The extent of national and regional housing
needs, coupled with the benefits of increasing the towns’ size, tying into existing infrastructure and tackling regeneration
issues, present exceptional circumstances justifying green belt reviews to enable their expansion.