The Heanor Town Centre Area Action Plan 'Options for Change' consultation provides the opportunity for you to comment on the future for Heanor Town Centre.
This leaflet summarises a range of options for the future of the town centre based on a number of development objectives and possible growth options and hence seeks to encourage public debate on the issues facing the town centre.
Please consider the options outlined below, visit the exhibitions at the Methodist Church (Market Street, Heanor) on Friday/Saturday 8/9 December and submit your comments by completing the form below and clicking on the Submit button. If you would prefer to submit your comments by post, please bring up a copy of the leaflet by clicking here and printing off the leaflet. All comments should be received by 31 January 2007.
The following is a summary of the development principles and growth options which will help to set out the issues and provide background information to enable you to respond to the options for change matrix:-
Vacant Property and Underutilised Land .... to significantly reduce the levels of both vacant property and underutilised land hence breaking the spiral of decline and rebuilding confidence in Heanor town centre making it a place where business is eager to invest.
Accessibility .... to improve accessibility into and within the town centre for all journeys whether on foot, by public transport or by car.
Significant Sites .... to ensure the most efficient and effective use of key sites within the town centre, including through redevelopment or new development where appropriate, to assist the regeneration of the town centre.
Spending Power .... to increase the level of disposable income within the Heanor area hence providing the opportunity for local traders to sustain their businesses and continue to provide essential services to the community.
Traffic Congestion .... to secure a clear decision on the completion of the Heanor Relief Road and create greater certainty as to the scope to address problems of traffic congestion, the potential for further development to the north of the town centre and establish a more stable environment for investment.
Market Place to establish a new role for the Market Place that will make the most of its character and maximise its potential to play a central role in the regeneration of the town centre.
Town Centre Shopping .... to embrace the complementary roles of multiple centres in providing a wide range of services and shopping opportunities for the residents of Heanor as a basis of stability and growth.
Quality and Design of Buildings and Public Spaces .... to ensure the quality and design of buildings and public spaces are central to any development or improvement initiatives and make a positive contribution in creating both an attractive and safe town centre environment.
These principles will be assessed against the following growth options:-
Minimal Intervention
This option, would see relatively low levels of intervention to effect change in the town centre, with policies developed to facilitate opportunities for change in a largely reactive way. Change would be supported in principle but would depend on the level of market activity. Ongoing management of services, facilities and events within the town centre would be maintained, subject to support from local businesses and other key stakeholders.
Active Town Centre Management
This option would see a more proactive approach taken by the local authority, in partnership with key stakeholders within the public, private and voluntary sectors. It would seek to build on the strengths and opportunities within the town, but would recognise the reality of the current trading position of the town and would accept that it cannot expect to compete with city centre shopping locations and also perhaps other local centres within the area. It would acknowledge that recent investment in the town centre has effectively created ‘town centres’ within the town, but would seek to integrate these locations and develop better links between them, recognising that specific locations within the town centre can have different, but complementary roles. It would seek to develop the distinctiveness of specific locations, building on the strengths of each location.
Major Growth
This option would see major intervention to actively boost the role and function of Heanor town centre in the retail hierarchy, whilst retaining consistency with established planning policies relating to town centres and shopping at regional, county and local level. It would actively promote measures to address traffic congestion and achieve further environmental enhancements. It would identify a number of sites for new retail and other commercial development and would actively promote new housing development to increase spending power within the town centre.
"Options for Change" Matrix
Please indicate your preferred "vision" (A, B, or C) for the future of Heanor Town Centre and your support or otherwise for the options for change listed under the appropriate heading, selecting to agree, don't know or agree.
Visions/Options
(* indicates that the field must be completed before the form can be sent)
