North Norfolk District Council Cabinet meeting 7th June 2010
CETAG members were present today at NNDC cabinet meeting whose agenda included an item to respond to the MOJ's (Ministry of Justice) masterplan for the former RAF Coltishall site and whether to approve moving to consultation on designating parts of the site as a conservation area.
The agenda item in the meeting started with the Chair introducing the purpose of the Item and focused entirely on the Conservation Area and missed out the MOJ master plan.
Peter Freer representing the MOJ spoke against the motion to support the application for the conservation area to go to a consultation stage, saying that this would put off potential buyers as a 'shadow of uncertainty' would be casr over the site.
Jason Hughes of CETAG then spoke and used the limited time to speak of CETAG's desire to be fully engaged and to act as a conduit for communication with the local community. He highlighted CETAG's concerns over infrastructure and environmental impact and the desire for the whole site to be utilised, ideally, by a single developer. Jason indicated that the majority of CETAG members supported the site for Aviation on the basis of limited use and that CETAG supported the conservation proposal.
Steve Blatch provided an overview of the Master Plan Options. Steve spoke of the constraints of the site of highway access and utilities eg availability of water and of the strong views of the local community and ex service personnel.
He asked cabinet to endorse the consultation on conseravtion which would go out to consultatio in July and be brought back to cabinet in September.
The Cabinet then considered the whole recommendation.
Cllr Stockton stated that the Master Plan was in line with the discussion thus far and therefore not contentious, but that he found it difficult to see the need for a Conservation area. However, as the recommendation was to move only to consultation he would support it.
Cllr Wilkins then spoke to clarify her reasons for the need for the Conservation area and viewed it as a gift to the community. A unanimous vote was then taken to support both recommendations.
Jason Hughes of CETAG then took the opportunity to make a 1 minute follow up comment to expand earlier rematks that CETAG welcomed the Cabinet decision as CETAG supports the idea of a conservation area and the intention to consult with local communities.
The information and maps from the MOJ's exhibition on the master plan for the rest of the site at the former RAF Coltishall
Plan A
Explanation of Plan AFORMER RAF COLTISHALL PROPOSED MASTERPLAN – OPTION A
Introduction
During a site visit on the 4th February 2008 at the time that the proposals for a new prison on the former RAF Coltishall were first announced, the then Prisons Minister – David Hanson M.P. – gave an undertaking to the Councillors and residents of North Norfolk District Council and Broadlands District Council, that a Masterplanning exercise would be organised by the Ministry of Justice Custodial Property (MOJCP) for the remainder of the land at former RAF Coltishall.
The MOJCP appointed their Property and Planning Consultants, Lambert Smith Hampton, acting in conjunction with Atkins to undertake this task. A workshop was held in August 2009 at which a number of options were put forward and discussed with Local Councillors and members of the Coltishall Task Group.
As a result of further research and discussion, the MOJCP and their advisors have summarised the proposals in two options, namely
Option A – the Aero Park
Option B – the Resources Park
OPTION A – THE AERO PARK
It is acknowledged that the Former RAF Coltishall still has the potential to be used for aviation purposes. Option A – the Aero Park – reflects this.
Together with the existing uses of the site, a range of proposed, complimentary uses is illustrated in the attached Masterplan, namely:
HMP BURE (area coloured red)
The new prison is illustrated in red. This plan is not a planning application plan, but shows the extent of MoJ’s operational and retained land in this colour.
Access to HMP Bure is from Hautbois Road, coming in from the west, with the former Officers’ Mess to the left and a landscaped area to the right. This is the main vehicular and pedestrian entrance to HMP Bure.
PRISON LANDSCAPING (area coloured mid green)
This area is covered per the Planning Consent of HMP Bure.
FORMER OFFICERS’ MESS (area coloured purple)
This building and the adjoining land is shown as having potential for an hotel and / or conference centre. We have seen such uses come in at other former RAF bases (please see comments re airfield use below).
FORMER SERGEANTS’ MESS (area coloured yellow)
This plot is accessed from the main entrance coming in from Tunstead Road. By virtue of its location adjacent to the northern boundary of the site, it is thought that this part of the site has potential for residential use.
PROPOSED COMMUNITY WOODLAND (area coloured dark green)
This area is also linked to the planning permission for HMP Bure. This required a plantation of 12 hectares, in recognition of the number of trees felled to make way for HMP Bure. The proposed community woodland was originally anticipated as being adjacent to the northern end of the runway. However, this would compromise future aviation use and so the alternative location proposed is on the site of the former sportsfields.
As a requirement for the community woodland is ease of access for the Public, it is considered that access from Tunstead Road into this area (from a car park to be provided) will be for more convenient than access to the northern end of the Runway.
POSSIBLE POLICE TRAINING AREA (area coloured dark blue)
This area would be approached via the main entrance from Tunstead Road. It is a rectangular area including one of the main hangars, other buildings and adjacent land. Such an area could be used by local police forces for training purposes, etc.
EMPLOYMENT LAND (area coloured mid blue) and AIRFIELD (area coloured mid green)
It is anticipated that the 3 other main hangars, the Jaguar simulator building and other buildings, e.g. the Control Tower could all be used for aviation related purposes. The main Runway, hardstandings, and perimeter tracks are in good order and capable of being used by a mixture of aircraft, including jet powered airliners and helicopters.
Plan B
Explanation of plan B
FORMER RAF COLTISHALL PROPOSED MASTERPLAN – OPTION B
Introduction
During a site visit on the 4th February 2008 at the time that the proposals for a new prison on the former RAF Coltishall were first announced, the then Prisons Minister – David Hanson M.P. – gave an undertaking to the Councillors and residents of North Norfolk District Council and Broadlands District Council, that a Masterplanning exercise would be organised by the Ministry of Justice Custodial Property (MOJCP) for the remainder of the land at former RAF Coltishall.
The MOJCP appointed their Property and Planning Consultants, Lambert Smith Hampton, acting in conjunction with Atkins to undertake this task. A workshop was held in August 2009 at which a number of options were put forward and discussed with Local Councillors and members of the Coltishall Task Group.
As a result of further research and discussion, the MOJCP and their advisors have summarised the proposals in two options, namely
Option A – the Aero Park
Option B – the Resources Park
OPTION B – THE RESOURCES PARK
The uses proposed under Option B are similar in many ways to those contained in the Option A Masterplan. A description of all the areas and uses illustrated on the Option B Masterplan is as follows:
HMP BURE (area coloured red)
The new prison is illustrated in red. This plan is not a planning application plan, but shows the extent of MoJ’s operational and retained land in this colour.
Access to HMP Bure is from Hautbois Road, coming in from the west, with the former Officers’ Mess to the left and a landscaped area to the right. This is the main vehicular and pedestrian entrance to HMP Bure.
PRISON LANDSCAPING (area coloured mid green)
This area is covered per the Planning Consent of HMP Bure.
FORMER OFFICERS’ MESS (area coloured purple)
This building and the adjoining land is shown as having potential for an hotel and / or conference centre. We have seen such uses come in at other former RAF bases (please see comments re airfield use below).
FORMER SERGEANTS’ MESS (area coloured yellow)
This plot is accessed from the main entrance coming in from Tunstead Road. By virtue of its location adjacent to the northern boundary of the site, it is thought that this part of the site has potential for residential use.
PROPOSED COMMUNITY WOODLAND (area coloured dark green)
This area is also linked to the planning permission for HMP Bure. This required a plantation of 12 hectares, in recognition of the number of trees felled to make way for HMP Bure. The proposed community woodland was originally anticipated as being adjacent to the northern end of the runway. However, this would compromise future aviation use and so the alternative location proposed is on the site of the former sportsfields.
As a requirement for the community woodland is ease of access for the Public, it is considered that access from Tunstead Road into this area (from a car park to be provided) will be for more convenient than access to the northern end of the Runway.
POSSIBLE POLICE TRAINING AREA (area coloured dark blue)
This area would be approached via the main entrance from Tunstead Road. It is a rectangular area including one of the main hangars, other buildings and adjacent land. Such an area could be used by local police forces for training purposes, etc.
THE EMPLOYMENT USES LAND (area coloured mid blue)
The range of buildings include 3 main hangars, the Jaguar simulator building and other buildings. The hangars have potential for storage given their size, height and large loading doors, with ancillary office accommodation at the side. There is also room for parking areas and hardstanding uses.
BROWNFIELD AREA (area coloured mid green)
It has been pointed out that a number of the buildings and structures on the eastern side of the airfield have secure storage potential, given their location and construction.
AIRFIELD (area coloured light green)
This area has the potential for range of technologies to provide renewable energy, including wind turbines, bio-mass and aerobic digestion.
There is also potential for large areas of the airfield to be returned to agricultural use.
CETAG (24.05.10)
CETAG committee is meeting on 27th May to discuss the MOJ's proposals for the rest of the former RAF Coltishall site.
If you wish to make any points on the master plan exhibition to be taken into consideration at our meeting on 27th May please do contact us via the contact section on this site.
Anyone interested in the future of the site is encouraged to attend North Norfolk District Council's Planning Committee meeting on 7th June 2010.Bure Wind Energy Project-Update
An update of the present situation is that the company's application for putting up a wind monitoring mast (or test mast) at the Bure site was approved by North Norfolk DC Planning Committe on 20th May. In view of the Ministry of Justice's master plan for the rest of the site being under discussion, the company have decided to wait until there is further clarity and continue with their bird monitoring and ecology studies of the site in the meantime.
MOJ Public Exhibition
The Ministry of Justice are holding a public Exhibition showing their masterplan for the former Raf Coltishall
The exhibition takes place at The Gate House Raf Coltishall on Friday 21st May from 1pm -8pm and Saturday 22nd May from 10am to 1pm
CETAG members are urged to attend and there follows a CETAG meeting on 27th May (see Calendar) to agree CETAG's formal response to the proposals.
Please send in your points of view via our contact section on this site.
Latest article from EDP on TAG Aviation and Wind Turbine proposals in press section 21.01.10
CETAG Meeting 14th January 2010 included a presentation by A. Verdon (of BFLX Consulting Ltd.) on behalf of TAG Aviation Consortium, on a proposal for a possible use of the remaining part of the former RAF Coltishall site.
CETAG views on potential future use of the RAF Coltishall site:-
CETAG continues to work with partners towards finding an appropriate use for the RAF Coltishall site.TAG Aviation is leading a consortium of aviation interests exploring the possibility of using the whole of the site for aviation servicing and decommissioning of aircraft.
Still at a very early stage, these proposals have been presented to CETAG members as part of the lead up to seeking planning consent for change of use of the site.
It is hoped the process to dispose of the site will be confirmed by the site owners, the Ministry of Justice, in March / April of this year. AS far as CETAG is aware, any scheme proposed by TAG AViation will need to be considered as part of that process.
At the CETAG meeting on 14th January 2010 it was agreed that the proposal by the TAG Aviation consortium was very promising and that there was an agreement in principle to support the scheme, to encourage further development of the proposal and to work with the project proposers, Coltishall Task Force and the local authorities to ensure full and proper consideration of the scheme as a possible use of the site.
In specific terms CETAG noted that initial consideration at this early stage suggested:
• The site would remain largely unchanged, making good use of existing facilities and site layout without the problems of breaking the site up for multiple uses / users
• A relatively low traffic impact with minimal HGV movement and lower levels of traffic than experienced when the site operated as an RAF base
• The existing road and transport infrastructure can cope with only small improvements required
• There would be minimal air traffic movement with no intention of becoming an operational airfield/airport. Air traffic would be solely maintenance / recycling related
• There would be significant employment opportunities over a five year period with over 300 jobs created, many of them locally sourced and with significant training and apprenticeship opportunities
• There is an a clear identifiable business benefit for the proposer in seeking the scheme. Use of the whole site is crucial to the business plan with no reliance on other unrelated business use to create a viable scheme.
• There are important amenity benefits including protection and enhancement of the RAF heritage on the site through community access to parts of the site and through the offer of museum facilities
• This significant economic and social scheme would effectively block the potentially unpopular wind turbine proposal associated with the prison development. The environmental benefits of the turbine scheme can be delivered successfully through alternative means. (Sustainable development must consider economic and social benefits as well as environmental ones)
While CETAG members supported the proposals in principle there was some concern that the original proposals could expand to include leisure flying and /or a helicopter operational base / service centre. There would be considerable community concern if these operational activities were to take place and they cannot be supported by CETAG if they were to form part of the proposal
CETAG January 2010
For further information on TAG Aviation please click here
Investigation of Renewable Energy Potential – Bure Wind Energy Project
Partnerships for Renewables is currently working with the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) to explore the feasibility of siting a wind energy scheme at the former RAF base at Coltishall in Norfolk, on land adjacent to the newly-built Bure Prison.
Partnership for Renewables were established by the Carbon Trust to work specifically with public sector bodies, such as the National Offender Management Service (NOMS), to develop renewable energy projects on public sector-owned land which offer benefits to both the public sector organisation in question and the local community.
When NOMS obtained planning permission for Bure Prison, it agreed with the planning authority to actively investigate the development of renewable energy at the Bure site to ensure that it was a sustainable development. Partnerships for Renewables is working with NOMS on this investigation
Partnerships for Renewables and NOMS organised a meeting for representatives of CETAG, parish councillors, borough councillors, county councillors and MPs who represent the area in the vicinity of the site.
The purpose of the meeting was to introduce themselves to representatives of the local community and key stakeholders in person, and to discuss the project in more detail, as well as answer any questions they may have at this stage.
For more information on this company please click here
Presentation on Bure Wind Energy Project given to local representatives on 20th January click here
A New Role for CETAG
The Coltishall Eco Town Action Group (CETAG) was established by local parish and town
councils to oppose the eco town scheme originally proposed for the RAF Coltishall site.
This threat has now passed with an alternative scheme now being located at Rackheath.
The long term use of the Coltishall site still needs to be agreed and CETAG has decided to
continue meeting and focus on finding appropriate future uses for the site. This will
continue to involve a wide range of partnerships with other interested parties and will help
ensure local communities have a say in this important decision / project.
Although the role has changed, we intend to retain the ʻCETAGʼ name as a well known
local brand associated with the site, however, the terms of reference for the group have
been updated to reflect the new role.
A copy of the updated terms of reference are also on this on the web site
Glyn Williams
Chair CETAG -
Focussing one ensuring appropriate future uses of the RAF Coltishall site
Link to CETAG updated terms of reference
link to Aerial Photograph of RAF Coltishall and surrounding village
