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Core Strategy

The Council is pleased to announce that the Core Strategy was adopted at the Full Council meeting on 17 October 2011 and now forms part of the Development Plan for the area. The Core Strategy sets out in broad terms how we will plan for, and deal with, future development in Three Rivers. It contains important policies to help address the pressing need for affordable housing and sufficient services such as schooling in the area as well as promoting more sustainable development in general.

Review of parts (a) and (e) of Core Strategy Policy CP4: Affordable Housing 

The Council considers that whilst we must take into account the content of the NPPF as a material consideration in any planning decision, current evidence concludes that there is a continued pressing need for new additional affordable housing in Three Rivers. Sites falling below the 10 unit and 1,000 sqm threshold should continue to make a valuable contribution towards increasing the number of affordable units in the District.

In the light of the evidence, the Council will continue to fully apply parts (a) and (e) of Core Strategy Policy CP4 when determining all relevant planning applications and as such, sites delivering one or more dwellings will be required to contribute to affordable housing provision.

First Homes – Policy Position Statement

On 24th May 2021, the Government published a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) to set out the Government’s plans for the delivery of First Homes defining the product and changes to planning policy. Following publication of the WMS, Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) was updated to reflect the WMS and will now form a material consideration in decision making.

As a result of the introduction First Homes, the tenure mix for affordable housing under Policy CP4 of the Core Strategy (2011) will be:

  • 25% First Homes
  • 70% social rented, and
  • 5% intermediate.

The position statement below sets out the further key information relating to First Homes and how it will relate to the implementation of Policy CP4 Affordable Housing in the adopted Core Strategy (2011).

Examination in Public

The Core Strategy was submitted to the Government for Examination to determine its 'soundness'.  The Examination into the Core Strategy was formally closed on receipt of the Inspector's Final Report  on 16 September 2011. The Inspector's binding report and further details of the adoption procedure can be viewed on the Examination Page.

The Submission documents can be downloaded below:

Previous consultations

Changes to the Core Strategy Proposed Submission

The Council published its Local Development Framework: Changes to the Core Strategy Proposed Submission on the 29 October 2010. These changes were not considered to alter the overall strategy for the District but were considered necessary to ensure that the Core Strategy is the most appropriate for the area.

Although we are not accepting any further comments, the Changes to the Proposed Submission Core Strategy documents can be downloaded below:

Core Strategy Proposed Submission

The Council published its Local Development Framework: Proposed Submission Core Strategy for consultation between the 11 June 2010 and 23 July 2010 prior to its submission to the Secretary of State.

The Proposed Submission Core Strategy set out the basic principles and spatial framework for delivering development and change needed to realise the vision for the District up to 2026. The Proposed Submission Core Strategy does not contain detailed housing or other site allocations. These will be covered in a separate Site Allocations Development Plan Document and will be subject to further public consultation.

The policy approaches set out within the Proposed Submission Core Strategy were developed through a series of consultations and a comprehensive and wide ranging evidence base.

Although we are not accepting any further comments, the Proposed Submission Core Strategy documents can be downloaded below.

Previous consultation on the Core Strategy has been carried out in 2006, 2007 and 2009. Information on these consultations can be viewed below.

Core Strategy Further Preferred Options Consultation

The Council undertook public consultation on possible future housing sites across the District between 9 November 2009 and 15 January 2010. These were put forward in response to meeting the Government's targets for housebuilding over the next 15 years. There was a large response with almost 1900 questionnaires, letters and e mails being returned. The headline results can be downloaded below which give a simple indication of support/objection in relation to each of the sites we consulted on.

The more detailed comments received are also available in the following document.
The Council notes the levels of public support and opposition in relation to each of the sites put forward. A special Member Working Party will now be reconvened to consider all the responses carefully and make recommendations to the Council as to which sites should be taken forward. It is important to note that no decisions have yet been made and there are still further stages in the planning process to go through before any sites are finalised. This may involve further public consultation at a later date should this be necessary.

Although we are not accepting any further comments the Core Strategy Further Preferred Options document and Draft Sustainability Appraisal can be downloaded below.

Core Strategy Further Preferred Options Full Document

Draft Sustainability Appraisal

Core Strategy Preferred Options Consultation

We received over 600 responses to our consultation on the Core Strategy Preferred Options which took place between February and March 2009. The summary and headline results can be viewed below.
Although we are not accepting any further comments the Core Strategy Preferred Options document and Draft Sustainability Appraisal can be downloaded below.

Core Strategy Preferred Options Full Document

Draft Sustainability Appraisal

Previous Consultations

The Council prepared an Issues and Options document and consulted on this during 2006 and again in 2007. Whilst consultation on this document has now ended, the documents and the report of the public consultation can be downloaded below.

Keeping informed

If you would like to be kept informed of progress on the Core Strategy or any part of the LDF, and you are not already on our database, please let us have your details:

E mail: trldf@threerivers.gov.uk
Telephone: 01923 727106
In writing: Development Plans Service, Three Rivers District Council, Northway, Rickmansworth WD3 1RL.

Core Strategy

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