1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 FROM STAGE 1 TO STAGE 2

1.2 PURPOSE

1.3 HOW TO READ THE REPORT

The neighbourhood of Fortune Green and West Hampstead is a successful area with a widely appreciated village character, a variety of amenities and excellent transport links. However, recent development has raised a number of concerns in the local community, with the height of new buildings and their appearance being key issues. As higher policy plans exist for further development in the ‘West Hampstead Growth Area’, the population is expected to increase significantly while adding to the existing infrastructure, employment and housing pressures of the neighbourhood. To retain and protect the positive features of Fortune Green and West Hampstead, this Plan takes on these future challenges and aims to facilitate sustainable growth in the Area.

1.1 FROM STAGE 1 TO STAGE 2

Stage 1 analysed and assessed the ‘2015 Fortune Green & West Hampstead Neighbourhood Development Plan’ (2015 NDP). Although positive features were identified, the resulting report was in general highly critical of the 2015 NDP:

Clarity was one of the main issues of the document. The structure of the 2015 NDP confuses the reader as the objectives do no correspond with the classification of policies. Also, the 2015 NDP struggles with differing area-wide from site-specific ambitions and policies. ‘Growth Area’ and ‘Other Sites’ is discussed on the same level as ‘Housing’ and ‘Transport’, leading to repetition and lack of legibility. A more analytical approach by listing objectives, policies and allocated areas in a consistent way would have increased the likelihood of delivery.

Issues and concerns were highlighted well in the 2015 NDP, however, these were not addressed comprehensively. The 2015 NDP tries to cover all aspects of the neighbourhood – ‘Housing’, ‘Design & Character’, ‘Economy’, ‘Transport’, ‘Public and Community Infrastructure’, ‘Natural Environment’, ‘Other Sites’, ‘Growth Area’ –rather than focussing on the key issues and sites. As a result, the policies are too superficial with some of them being merely a repetition of higher policies of the Camden Local Plan or the London Plan. The tools of the 2015 NDP itself were in general perceived as being ineffective. The approach was mostly guiding, lacking variety to achieve a variety of goals: no incentives, no partnerships, no masterplans or SPD’s.

Building on the 2015 NDP and the assessment of Stage 1, Stage 2 develops a proposition for the future of Fortune Green and West Hampstead. Several starting considerations were taken into account:

The format of a Neighbourhood Development Plan has been kept, as it will facilitate the sort of development that the Forum desires. The objectives and aspirations are founded upon the desired outcomes of the Neighbourhood Forum. However, the issues identified in Stage 1 require the vision and objectives to be altered in order to achieve ‘ideal outcomes’ for the Area (cf. 4. Vision & Objectives). The area boundary of the 2015 NDP (referred to as the Area) is adopted. However, a proposition will be made to collaborate with the bordering Redington and Frognal Neighbourhood Plan to rethink Finchley Road.

1.2 PURPOSE

The purpose of Stage 2 is to develop a proposition for Fortune Green and West Hampstead with a clear statement of the ‘ideal’ outcomes. As a first step, the new vision and objectives will be defined and serve as guidelines throughout the entire plan. Crucial however, is the actual delivery of the vision and objectives. Potential approaches and tools will be identified and their impact assessed. With Stage 1 in mind, the purpose is to make an ‘improved’ Neighbourhood Development Plan. This Plan aims to be more detailed and more effective through neighbourhood specific and evidence-based policies. Working with a slimmer structure, the purpose of this ‘improved’ 2015 NDP is to increase the likelihood of successful implementation.

1.3 HOW TO READ THE REPORT

The structure of the 2015 NDP was a major issue, therefore a clear yet comprehensive approach is taken here. With Stage 1 in mind, a general introduction to the Area context is not included in the report. A brief overview of each section:

Section 2 reviews in detail things to be taken forward from the 2015 NDP and lists the main future challenges of the Area.

Section 3 discusses the importance of consultation and proposes a different approach to achieve more success.

Section 4 is the core of this Plan with the vision and objectives.

Section 5 lists the used tools and stakeholders that are going to be used and referenced throughout the objectives.

Sections 6-9 consist of the policies and accompanying evidence for each of the four objectives.

Section 10 adds Growth Area. area-specific policies for the

Section 11 is an evaluation of likely performance of the tools that have been selected. 2. REVIEW

Challenges

1. INTRODUCTION

4. VISION, OBJECTIVES 3. CONSULTATION Statement

6. Objective 1 TRANSPORT

Policy 1a. Policy 1b.

5. Tools

Stakeholders

7. Objective 2 GREEN & GREY OPEN SPACE

Policy 2a. Policy 2b.

5. Tools

Stakeholders

8. Objective 3 DESIGN & CHARACTER

Policy 3a. Design Guide Policy 3b.

5. Tools

Stakeholders

9. Objective 4 HOUSING

Policy 4a. Policy 4b. Policy 4c.

5. Tools

Stakeholders

10. GROWTH AREA

Policy 5. Conceptual Framework

5. Tools

Stakeholders

11. DELIVERY: EVALUATION

12. CONCLUSION

Recent development of 203 housing units on 187-189 West End Lane is a major cause of concern for the NDF.