Paul RubinsteinService Director - Regeneration

Woodford BAE Systems Site

Bramhall and Cheadle Hulme South Area Committee

Thursday January 27th 2011.

Contents

• BAE Contract Update

• SPD Update

• Value to Whom? • Preliminary Findings from Work Streams

• SPD Draft Revised Programme

• Engagement Event 1 – March 2011

• Engagement Event 2 – September 2011

• Questions

BAE Contract Update

• July 2006 UK Government signed contract with BAE for production of 12 aircraft fleet of MR4A (Nimrod)

• This programme was due to run to 2012 / 2013

• Strategic Defence Review Oct 2010 terminated this contract

• Closure brought forward to end of Quarter 4 2011.

SPD Update

• Consultation Meetings– Woodford Community Council– Poynton Town Council– Cheshire East

• Evidence – Residential– Employment– Transport and Infrastructure– Community Facilities – education, health &

recreation/open space– Heritage– Local Retail

Value to Whom?

• The objective of the masterplanning process is to create maximum value out of the sites redevelopment, for

– The land owner

– The local community (existing and future)

– The Borough of Stockport

– Developers

– The environment (climate change, adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity, landscape quality)

– Sustainable development objectives

Preliminary Findings from Work Streams

• The continued large scale industrial activity on the site is unlikely.

• The probable cessation of aviation activities.

• The probable emphasis on family housing in the development, covering a range of sectors.

• The relationship between future development and existing development on the site, in terms of quantity, location, impact, traffic generation, etc.

Preliminary Findings from Work Streams

• The likelihood of new development being focussed on the north side, close to Woodford Village, restoring the south side to countryside.

• Much of the site will be returned to greenspace/countryside uses, including public access.

• Aspiration and opportunity for highly sustainable development, subject to market conditions and financial viability.

• Close relationship between value of development and public benefit/planning gain.

SPD Draft Revised Programme

• Ongoing Evidence Gathering

• February 2011 The Inspector’s Report on Core Strategy Examination in Public

• March 2011 Public Engagement Event 1

• April - August 2011 Detailed Option Development & Analysis

SPD Draft Revised Programme

• September 2011 Public Engagement Event 2

• October 2011 Production of draft SPD

• November 2011 Draft SPD Consultation period

• March 2012 SPD Adoption

• Summer 2012 Submission of Planning Application

We would welcome views on the creation of representative Advisory Groups of local residents through this process.

Engagement Event 1 March 2011

March 2011 range of possible broad options will have been developed

The event will allow the public to review and respond to the options that have been identified and will include;

1. Historical evolution of Woodford, locally and in a wider context.2. The future of aviation activity at Woodford.3. Policy background4. The site today – land use and development, access, visual character,

infrastructure.5. Development potential – a strategic opportunity.6. Initial development concepts.

We would welcome views on the nature, timing and structure of this event and how to communicate and promote effectively.

Engagement Event 2 September 2011

Presentation of master plan proposals showing;

• Type, location, quantum and scale of development • Phasing, delivery and flexibility • Design and sustainability principles

• Comprehensive analysis of impact – travel, infrastructure, community facilities

Question 1

Could someone please explain the relationship between the Area Committee and the Woodford Community Council, together with the justification for the duplication of effort and expense involved in their holding seemingly uncoordinated presentations and forums on the BAE issue?

The WCC has latterly shown itself to be ambivalent towards encroachment into the Green Belt to the north of Chester Road, which isn’t a reassuring stance given the scale of the BAE site redevelopment to the south of Chester Road.

Question 2

I would like to know who is going to fund the Bramhall Bypass now that the Government has put it on hold.  It is imperative that this Bypass is completed before any building work is carried out at BAE.  The only private companies who are able to fund the completion of the Bypass is people like Tesco and other big companies who will prosper from the completion of the Bypass.  Builders will not be able to fund it. 

I have also been informed by a Justice of the Peace that a prison has been allocated for the BAE site is this true and if so why weren't the residents informed.

Question 3.

The funding for the much needed A555 SEMMS project has yet to be given the formal approval from this government despite the previous governments pledging their support. If the BAE Woodford site is to be redeveloped can the residents of Bramhall, Woodford and Cheadle Hulme South be assured that such planning will be conditional upon the completion of the A555 bypass extension and hence protecting the residents of Woodford from construction traffic and also future traffic?