Hockley Area Action Plan - Issues and Options

Hockley Area Action Plan Issues and Options

Thank you for your email of 20 February consulting The Theatres Trust on the issues and options for the Hockley Area Action Plan.

The Theatres Trust is The National Advisory Public Body for Theatres. The Town & Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995, Article 10, Para (v) requires the Trust to be consulted on planning applications which include 'development involving any land on which there is a theatre.' It was established by The Theatres Trust Act 1976 'to promote the better protection of theatres'. This applies to all buildings that were either built as theatres or are used for theatre presentations, in current use, in other uses, or disused.

Due to the specific nature of the Trust's remit we are concerned with the protection and promotion of theatres and therefore anticipate policies relating to cultural facilities.

Objectives
We support the Objective to provide a mix of uses for the benefit of the local community. PPS6 states on page 12 (2005 version) that 'A diversity of uses in town centres makes an important contribution to their vitality and viability. Different but complementary uses, during the day and in the evening, can reinforce each other, making town centres more attractive to local residents, shoppers and visitors. Local planning authorities should encourage diversification of uses in the town centre as a whole, and ensure that tourism, leisure and cultural activities, which appeal to a wide range of age and social groups, are dispersed throughout the centre.'

3.4 Development Options

We very much support the proposal for a new community hub at sites L1 and L2 as a cultural venue to provide a focus for young people (and others) to take part in activities for social and intellectual development. Any new community facility should be multi-purpose in nature providing indoor space for leisure, arts, community and entertainment events with a performance space if possible. Such facilities should be centrally located, integrated with the existing library and with good access and parking for pedestrians, cyclists and car drivers (parking noted on Figure 8).

To support an evening economy, future venues for leisure and cultural activities should be located within the town centre and be part of a successful mixed-use environment so that participants can enliven the surrounding area in the evening and provide regular custom for local bars and restaurants outside normal working and shopping hours.

We look forward to being consulted on further LDF documents especially the Submission Core Strategy, Development Control Policies, Planning Obligations and any other town centre Area Action Plans.

Hockley Area Action Plan Issues and Options

Thank you for your email of 20 February consulting The Theatres Trust on the issues and options for the Hockley Area Action Plan.

The Theatres Trust is The National Advisory Public Body for Theatres. The Town & Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995, Article 10, Para (v) requires the Trust to be consulted on planning applications which include 'development involving any land on which there is a theatre.' It was established by The Theatres Trust Act 1976 'to promote the better protection of theatres'. This applies to all buildings that were either built as theatres or are used for theatre presentations, in current use, in other uses, or disused.

Due to the specific nature of the Trust's remit we are concerned with the protection and promotion of theatres and therefore anticipate policies relating to cultural facilities.

Objectives
We support the Objective to provide a mix of uses for the benefit of the local community. PPS6 states on page 12 (2005 version) that 'A diversity of uses in town centres makes an important contribution to their vitality and viability. Different but complementary uses, during the day and in the evening, can reinforce each other, making town centres more attractive to local residents, shoppers and visitors. Local planning authorities should encourage diversification of uses in the town centre as a whole, and ensure that tourism, leisure and cultural activities, which appeal to a wide range of age and social groups, are dispersed throughout the centre.'

3.4 Development Options

We very much support the proposal for a new community hub at sites L1 and L2 as a cultural venue to provide a focus for young people (and others) to take part in activities for social and intellectual development. Any new community facility should be multi-purpose in nature providing indoor space for leisure, arts, community and entertainment events with a performance space if possible. Such facilities should be centrally located, integrated with the existing library and with good access and parking for pedestrians, cyclists and car drivers (parking noted on Figure 8).

To support an evening economy, future venues for leisure and cultural activities should be located within the town centre and be part of a successful mixed-use environment so that participants can enliven the surrounding area in the evening and provide regular custom for local bars and restaurants outside normal working and shopping hours.

We look forward to being consulted on further LDF documents especially the Submission Core Strategy, Development Control Policies, Planning Obligations and any other town centre Area Action Plans.