The London Borough of Tower Hamlets has established a new Community Development Panel (CDP) for the Isle of Dogs & South Poplar (IoD&SP), managed by Frame Projects.
The IoD&SP Opportunity Area Planning Framework (OAPF) sets out a plan to manage and deliver sustainable growth, encouraging communities to participate in the process to ensure development delivers benefits for all residents in the area.
Established as part of the OAPF Delivery Plan, the CDP consists of 13 residents drawn from a cross-section of the local population from the area. Headed by an independent Chair, David Ubaka, it brings local knowledge to the forefront to provide insights into what the important outcomes of development are for those living within the OAPF area. The CDP will provide independent advice on planning, development, housing, transport, public and green spaces, and other priorities important to the Isle of Dogs & South Poplar.
The CDP reviews significant schemes at early pre-application stage, to influence their design development to better meet the needs of the area’s communities. It is an integral part of the pre-application process and an excellent opportunity for applicant teams to engage with local residents in a formal setting.
Discussions from the CDP are written up as formal reports within 10 working days of the meeting. The formal report will be material to the consideration of any subsequent planning application and the views of the Panel will be reported in any future Committee Report, for consideration by Members at planning sub- committee.
The CDP is managed by Frame Projects, an independent consultancy, to ensure it remains independent, properly briefed, and able to effectively communicate its views to the Council. Frame provides panel members with the support needed to fulfil their role, including training, to ensure they are able to engage effectively with proposals.
As schemes reviewed by the CDP are at pre- application stage, the discussions held and formal reports resulting from it are shared confidentially with applicants and the Council and are only made public once a full planning application has been submitted.
The CDP meets monthly on Tuesday evenings from 6.30-8.30pm.
Meeting dates 2024
- 30 January
- 27 February
- 26 March
- 30 April
- 28 May
- 25 June
- 30 July
- August – no meeting
- 24 September
- 29 October
- 26 November
- 10 December
The charge for CDP meetings for 2023 is £3,500+VAT. The meeting charge includes a £500 contribution to a pool which is used to fund development and training sessions for panel members, who are all volunteers, and future panel recruitment.
For more information about the CDP, and to discuss bringing a scheme to the panel, please contact Sally Fraser, Planning Team Leader (East), at sally.fraser@towerhamlets.gov.uk.