1. www.wgcsoc.org.uk1 Tesco Broadwater

2. www.wgcsoc.org.uk2 Tonight’s meeting ► Chairman: Terry Mitchinson Editor Welwyn Hatfield Times ► Presenters: Shaun O’Reilly, Malcolm Day and Will Davis for the Welwyn Garden City Society

3. www.wgcsoc.org.uk3 Tesco current application Application submitted 04/10/10 Period for objection ends 03/11/10

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32. www.wgcsoc.org.uk32 Current position of WGC Society An initial analysis

33. www.wgcsoc.org.uk33 Overview: in whose interest? ► Is this proposal driven by the economic interest of a supermarket… ► Or the public interest of our town? ► Any agreed development plan should strike the right balance between these factors.

34. www.wgcsoc.org.uk34 Our approach ► We look at Tesco’s stated opportunities ► We look at Tesco’s stated objectives ► We touch upon a few facts ► We make some comparisons …and we draw some conclusions.

35. www.wgcsoc.org.uk35 Tesco’s stated opportunities ► New development can link the two sides of the town together ► Railway bridge can provide new links and connections across town ► “Through the integration of the redevelopment, a new centre will be established to benefit the town as a whole”

36. www.wgcsoc.org.uk36 The irritators ► Hatifield, Bassemer Road, Park Way, Louis de Soissions; where is Debenhams; Morrisons is in WGC not Hatfield, etc, etc ► “a considerable amount of interest in a doctor’s surgery connected to the town centre” ► Extra care home

37. www.wgcsoc.org.uk37 Tesco’s stated objectives ► Overall aim of “proposed retail is intended to enhance the attractiveness of WGC as a retail destination” ► Securing the listed buildings ► Better linkage to Peartree ward ► New homes and new leisure facilities ► All within the WGC ethos

38. www.wgcsoc.org.uk38 Tesco’s stated conclusions ► It will have no adverse effect on town ► It will enhance the town centre ► It follows the WGC ethos

39. www.wgcsoc.org.uk39 Some facts ► Tesco store 4,646 m² (gross 8,027m²) ► Town’s need for another supermarket not proved ► Apparent local dominance issue not addressed ► Most customers will come by car ► Footbridge length reduced by 30% ► Still half a mile walk from Tesco to John Lewis ► Town centre retail space increased by 6.4%

40. www.wgcsoc.org.uk40 Benefits of edge of town supermarkets ► University of Southampton paper says that edge of town supermarkets enhance the attractiveness of town centres as a retail destination ► Not with a mainline railway between and a inadequate bridge ► The site will remain an island unless it is properly linked

41. www.wgcsoc.org.uk41 Challenge to the Council ► Everyone was consulted over the plan ► Input was invited ► Plan now challenged as “unviable” ► Viability not raised before ► Plan suggests an expensive legal challenge ► Financial justification made is incomplete

42. www.wgcsoc.org.uk42 Community involvement ► Tesco stated its commitment towards consultation and engagement ► The current application bears little resemblance to the original outline ► The original and only consultation was on regeneration of the site ► Little notice has been taken of the original comments from the public ► No changes following Development Forum

43. www.wgcsoc.org.uk43 Comparison with Sainsbury’s development ► WGC Society was involved ► Many exchanges of emails ► Multiple meetings ► Most Society comments, including many involving complete redesign, successfully incorporated.

44. www.wgcsoc.org.uk44 The goodies ► In the original outline plan the Shredded Wheat production hall contained a 50m swimming pool ► The production hall is now the supermarket and the pool has shrunk to a 25m leisure pool ► Heritage Museum ► YMCA building

45. www.wgcsoc.org.uk45 Access to the site ► Access to the supermarket enabled by new road ► Footbridge over the railway is weakest link ► Footbridge is shorter but with a lift

46. www.wgcsoc.org.uk46 The bridge: Tesco picture

47. www.wgcsoc.org.uk47 The bridge: the reality

48. www.wgcsoc.org.uk48 The planned link

49. www.wgcsoc.org.uk49 Access (cont) ► The other access problem not addressed by the submission is the strip of land between the Tesco site and the railway ► There is right of access across the public recreation area to the old BRS site ► The current owners are not playing ball on this or the footbridge ► We think this is a show stopper

50. www.wgcsoc.org.uk50 A flight of fancy

51. www.wgcsoc.org.uk51 Design ► Silos beautifully exposed ► Office buildings well enhanced ► New buildings on site appear uncoordinated ► Dubious architectural linkage to the original ► Association with WGC ethos unconvincing ► Housing style – “moderne” rather than “neo-georgian” ► Density more ghetto than garden

52. www.wgcsoc.org.uk52 WGC Style ► Trees and green space alone do not define what this town stands for ► Some vistas are poor ► Housing compared with Newham College, Cambridge, Holland Park Mews ► Where exactly is the WGC idiom?

53. www.wgcsoc.org.uk53 Main points ► High quality submission ► Case not made for enhancement to town centre trading ► An island site cut off from the town centre ► Does not follow or develop the Garden City style ► Danger of a “Tesco town”

54. www.wgcsoc.org.uk54 The way forward ► Pressure for rejection has to come on two fronts ► By everyone putting in their objection to the Planning Dept by 03 November ► By putting pressure on your local councillor. The application is expected to go to the January Planning Committee.

55. www.wgcsoc.org.uk55 Line to take with councillors ► Technically the application should be thrown out ► Councillors are concerned over the possibility of a continued wasteland if they do not approve ► ….And getting the blame ► The land is valuable and will be developed at some time, either for housing or small scale industry, science park etc ► We must push councillors for the right decision

56. www.wgcsoc.org.uk56 Meanwhile back in the Big Society ► Changes are coming for town planning ► Local communities are to have a bigger say in local planning decisions ► Our local MP Grant Shapps is Housing Minister ► Pressure needs to be applied to both the local MP and the Council Cabinet by us all

57. www.wgcsoc.org.uk57 Response to this application ► Essential that everyone who wants to see the plans improved must send in an objection by 3 November ► Society will lodge a comprehensive response ► Numbers speak volumes to Planners ► Object by letter or online on Council website ► Sign our online petition

58. www.wgcsoc.org.uk58 The decision is in your hands Act now to throw out this planning application

59. www.wgcsoc.org.uk59 Tesco Broadwater