Dunton Hills Garden Village is the borough’s largest development site, which is set to deliver a new mixed-use community of approximately 4,000 homes and substantial employment, along with supporting infrastructure.

The site was allocated for development in the council’s new local plan 2016-2033 (i.e. removed from the Green Belt). Site specific policies set out what and how the development should be delivered. A key priority of the project is to ensure effective and viable long-term stewardship of spaces and community infrastructure for the new community.

This report sets out a set of expectations for long-term stewardship and legacy arrangements at Dunton Hills Garden Village. It explores six case study examples and reviews recent practice notes from respected bodies to inform a set of expectations for stewardship and legacy at the garden village (Appendix A of the report). Reviewing these case studies and learning from other garden community experience, some initial thoughts on what is likely to work at Dunton Hills Garden Village are provided (Appendix B of the report).

This informs four overarching and high-level key principles for long-term stewardship (Appendix C of the report). These key principles are recommended for approval by the committee in order that they can shape more detailed stewardship proposals to be brought back to the committee for approval in due course. The key principles mainly centre on need for a stewardship arrangement that is community led.

Agreement of the key principles is an important step in progressing a bespoke stewardship body for Dunton Hills Garden Village. These will help measures to be embedded as part of the determination of the current planning application for the majority of the site (Ref. 21/01525/OUT) and aim to address local plan policy requirements (Policy R01 (II)).

After a full discussion, Cllr Hossack MOVED and Cllr Pearson SECONDED the recommendations in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY.

Members are asked to:

Approve the overarching key principles for long-term stewardship at Dunton Hills Garden Village, as set out in Appendix C;

Use the key principles to inform specific stewardship measures to be brought to a future meeting of the Policy, Resources and Economic Development Committee, to address the related planning policy requirements including Local Plan (2022) Policy R01 (II).

Reasons for Recommendation

Agreement of the key principles is an important step in progressing a bespoke stewardship body for Dunton Hills Garden Village. These will help measures to be embedded as part of the determination of the current planning application for the majority of the site (Ref. 21/01525/OUT) and aim to address local plan policy requirements (Policy R01 (II)). Long-term stewardship will only be successful if it is owned by the local community.