Previous consultation - You said, We did

• 119 people responded with ideas, suggestions and comments
• This included 92 survey responses and 48 ideas added to the interactive map
• 80% said that they wanted more places to meet people and socialise
• 65% said they wanted activities for young people and 46% said they wanted the library to be re-provided

We will: Ensure the proposal includes a flexible space for non-residential uses. This could include a local community space and/or learning facilities and/or commercial use.  

The planning application will not contain detail of the exact use of this space. We will look to work with the community and local partner organisations to determine the best use of this space, how it should be designed, how it will be managed and who will manage it on an ongoing basis.

We will: The planning application will allow potential for commercial, learning and community spaces within the flexible non-residential ground floor of block 1. 

The planning application will allow for new learning spaces which could be integrated into the current proposal. This will be done by providing flexible ground floor non-residential spaces on the ground floor of block 1. 

We will: Look to ensure that significant trees and hedgerows are retained on-site and design the development to avoid their root protection zones. 

We are working with landscape architects and ecologists to achieve a minimum 10% increase in biodiversity post-application in-line with recent planning policy. This will be achieved through increased tree planting, green roofs and incorporating native species into the landscape design. The existing Willow tree on Romney Avenue will be retained.

Unfortunately, this is not an option.

We have looked at the potential to reuse the existing buildings; however, the internal structure means that it would be difficult to provide any housing, or create a mixed-use flexible community space, whilst retaining existing structures. There is a desire from the Council to maximise the site’s potential for providing homes, increased ecology and non-residential space; to achieve these goals a new proposal for the site is required.