This section of the plan contains the site-specific policies for Henley-on-Thames. Henley had an estimated population of 9,718 in 2001. Between 1996 and 2001, 185 homes were completed and it is estimated that approximately 700 jobs were also created in the town during that period. Townlands Hospital is the only site in Henley allocated for housing in the South Oxfordshire Local Plan (1997) that was not completed. This allocation has been carried forward, therefore, into the present plan. In accordance with strategic planning policy explained in Section 5 there will be no significant housing growth in Henley. Henley has a strong employment base, particularly in the service sector. Provision of further sites for employment-generating development has been limited, therefore, so that economic growth does not create pressure for further housing growth.

Henley has a long standing problem of traffic congestion. This is caused by a mixture of commuting both into and out of the town, and through traffic which uses the town's bridge to cross the River Thames. A traffic study in the 1990s developed a strategy which has resulted in the pedestrianisation of part of Market Place and identified other supporting measures. This strategy is being reviewed to ensure that it meets the current and future needs of the town.

South East Oxfordshire Primary Care Trust has indicated that Townlands Hospital is in need of significant enhancement and the Trust is proposing a comprehensive scheme of development on the site that would involve new community hospital buildings and releasing some land for housing. Policy HEN1 allocates up to 1.5 hectares of land in the northern part of the site that the Council considers could accommodate up to 62 dwellings.

The oldest buildings on the northern part of the site, dating from the 18th century, are Grade 2 listed and are part of the former workhouse. The remaining buildings within this area are of no architectural distinction. The whole site lies within the Conservation Area. The Council considers that the most appropriate use for the retained listed buildings would be to convert them to residential use. A residential use would be in keeping with the residential neighbourhood around Townlands Hospital and would be likely to have the least harmful effect on the quiet atmosphere of the hospital.

The scale and height of new buildings must be in keeping with the scale and height of existing buildings adjacent to the hospital site. In this respect, the adjacent buildings are small in scale and do not exceed two-storeys in height. New development on the site should not dominate the immediate area. The design statement accompanying the planning application should assess the impact of new buildings on this prominent site from elsewhere in the town and from the high ground to the east of the Thames.

Building conversions will need to respect the fine quality and character of the existing buildings. The Council will require proposals to comply with the policies for achieving good design, reinforcing local distinctiveness, ensuring that development meets operational standards and for safeguarding amenity contained in Section 4 of the plan.

The Council will seek the provision of 40% of dwelling units as affordable housing in accordance with Policy H9. A mix of dwelling types and sizes must also be provided in accordance with Policy H7.

Access to the hospital will be taken from York Road and/or Mount View and access to the new dwellings taken from Clarence Road and/or Mount View. The Council will require a traffic and parking assessment of the development to be carried out and any off-site transport infrastructure improvements made necessary by the development or as a consequence of it will be secured in planning obligations.

In accordance with the recommendation contained in the South Oxfordshire Shopping Study 2000 the Council is proposing an expansion of Market Place Mews to create a mixed-use development that would provide a significant increase in retail floorspace in Henley town centre designed to meet modern business requirements. The Council will require the development to be implemented in accordance with a comprehensive scheme to ensure delivery of a development that functions well in terms of the layout and size of buildings, access and servicing facilities. The Council will expect the developer to acquire land by private treaty, but will be prepared to exercise its powers of compulsory land acquisition to overcome land ownership constraints if the Council considers it expedient to do so and where all costs involved in such action would be reimbursed to the Council.

The limitation on the amount of retail floorspace is justified having regard to the limited area of potential development land available in this area and to the retail floorspace capacity assessment contained in the Shopping Study. The number of retail service uses (Classes A2 and A3) in the new primary shopping frontages in Market Place Mews will accord with the provisions of Policy TC8 in Section 7 of the plan. The limitation on the amount of office floorspace is justified having regard to the requirements of Policy E2. It is also desirable to limit the size of the development in order that satisfactory access and servicing facilities may be made available to both new and existing premises, that the setting of listed buildings may be protected and in order that the development may enhance the character of the Henley-on-Thames Conservation Area.

The Council will permit minor and sympathetic works of demolition, alteration and refurbishment to be carried out to the listed buildings to allow the development to proceed. The Council will also permit the demolition of certain historic walls that follow burgage plot boundaries. In this case the provisions of Policy CON10 will be relaxed because the pattern of burgage plot boundaries is less well defined here than elsewhere in Henley town centre. The Council also considers that, in this instance, the conservation objective of Policy CON10 is outweighed by the need for development that would help to maintain and enhance the town centre's economy.

The size and scale of new buildings should be subordinate to that of the large and dominant listed buildings on the existing street frontages in order to respect the historic character and setting of those buildings. A key "gateway" building, however, is required at the entrance to the widened Market Place Mews from the car park. The design of new buildings and the public realm must be to a high standard on this prominent site in the Henley-on-Thames Conservation Area. Care must be taken to screen unsightly service areas from public viewpoints and to ensure that vehicular servicing arrangements do not adversely affect the amenity of neighbouring residents.

The development should not result in the loss of any existing car parking spaces in the Kings Road public car park or obstruct vehicular access to the car park or to neighbouring commercial premises.

Within the plan period there is scope for the redevelopment and physical enhancement of the southern part of the Reading Road Industrial Estate. The 5.19 hectares of land allocated in Policy HEN3 contain several areas of under-used land that detract from the appearance of the estate. Proposals for redevelopment will be permitted provided that they would not significantly worsen traffic conditions on Reading Road and that they comply with the relevant policies in Sections 4, 6 and 8 of this plan.

Whilst Mill Meadows provides a valuable and substantial area of open land for informal recreation it does not meet the needs of residents for informal recreation space and children's play areas close to their homes. Further provision will, however, be difficult to achieve because of the lack of open land within established residential areas. When proposals come forward for development or redevelopment, therefore, the Council will seek to include open land for informal recreation or children's play areas within such schemes, with suitable provision for maintenance. The Council will also support other initiatives to remedy this deficiency.