Firgrove Parade – Rushmoor Borough Council’s
position 26.07.13
There have been a significant number of posts
to our Facebook page (Rushmoor Borough Council) and other pages over the last couple of days about the
removal of the trees at Firgrove Parade, Farnborough, as part of the
redevelopment of the site by the landowner, Bride Hall.
There are too many comments for us to be able
to respond individually but we do recognise that emotions are running high and
that there are strong feelings about the loss of the trees.
We have also seen a number of inaccurate
claims and allegations made about the Council and individual members of staff
relating to Firgrove Parade and we understand that some of these are a result
of those strong feelings.
We have previously published statements
setting out our position on both Firgrove Parade and its trees, but we would
like to respond to the latest comments with further clarification.
Sale of Firgrove Parade
The council identified Firgrove Parade as a
potential redevelopment site in the 1980s, providing a key gateway into the
town centre.
It sold the site in 1987 to Bride Hall for
£600,000 plus an obligation on the landowner to pay further sums on any future
redevelopment of the land.
A restrictive covenant was put in
place to secure payment of these further sums on any future
development.
The covenant was not intended to prevent
redevelopment or protect green space.
Revised financial arrangements
Given that 25 years have since passed, the
Council renegotiated the financial arrangements with the landowner earlier
this year.
Under the new arrangements, the Council – and
therefore the people of the borough – will receive 25% of
any increase in value of the Firgrove Parade site following
redevelopment.
As part of that arrangement, the
Council will also receive a nominal £1,000 payment up front.
This £1,000 has caused some confusion. To be
clear, the Council did not sell the land for £1,000 nor did
we release the existing covenant for £1,000.
As we’ve said previously, we sold the land
for £600,000 (plus the arrangements to receive further sums) in 1987. We agreed
to replace the existing covenant with a new restriction to secure the revised
financial arrangements, with a nominal £1,000 'up front'.
We took independent valuation advice on
these revised financial arrangements and the Cabinet agreed that
they would only be put in place if planning consent was
obtained.
Our position on the redevelopment of Firgrove
Parade and our planning policies
As we’ve already said, we identified Firgrove
Parade as a potential redevelopment site in the 1980 and our position since
then has been consistent and reflected in our planning policies for Farnborough
town centre.
Most recently, we identified Firgrove Parade
for potential redevelopment in the town centre masterplan that we published
last year following a month of public consultation, to which nearly 300 people
responded.
When we develop planning policies for the
borough, we look at how they will best serve our whole population of
94,400. These policies generally cover the long-term development of the
borough and are agreed by the Council following public consultation. We
understand that there may be a difference between what is best for the wider
population and for individuals and in making decisions on these policies, our
councillors aim to strike the right balance.
Firgrove Parade planning application
It can sometimes be difficult for those not
closely involved in the Council to understand that we have a number of
different roles and take decisions in different capacities. The Cabinet’s
decision to agree revised financial arrangements was taken entirely
separately from the Development Control’s decision to grant planning
consent for Firgrove Parade.
In considering any planning application,
the key question is whether the proposed development is in accordance with our
development plan. In the case of Firgrove Parade, Bride Hall’s
application met fully with our planning policies for the town centre, as we had
previously identified and agreed the site as suitable for redevelopment.
The Council would not have had the right to refuse planning consent for a
hotel simply because there is another one close by.
There have been a number of queries about the
report provided on the trees at Firgrove Parade. It is entirely proper
for the person applying for planning permission to commission an aboricultural
report for consideration by the Council as part of their planning application.
This was the case for Firgrove Parade and the report was
made publicly available as part of the consultation on the planning
application.
Comments and allegations against the Council,
its staff and councillors
There have been a number of comments and
allegations made about the Council, its staff and councillors relating to
Firgrove Parade. Again, we understand that feelings are high, but these
comments are very public and it is not easy for individuals, in particular, to
defend themselves. We believe the Council, its staff and councillors have
acted entirely properly.
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