A masterplan for the A96 Corridor – Dalcross should provide for distinctive ‘green’ Highland places where people can chose to live, learn and earn successfully. Collaboratively, all stakeholders will endeavour to deliver the masterplan through pioneering governance and commercial astuteness. Dalcross (A96 Corridor) Smart Growth Masterplan Phase 1 – Planning Report March 2005 Contents 1. Introduction 2. Objectives 3. Method 4. Stakeholder Expectations and Requirements 5. Technical Capacity Assessments 6. Case Studies 7. Outcomes – Vision 8. Outcomes – Development Principles 9. Outcomes – Urban Design Preferences 10. Outcomes – Development Model Options 11. Testing Development Model Options 12. Smart Growth Conformity 13. Vitality and Viability of Place 14. Traffic and Transport Considerations 15. Dalcross (A96 Corridor) Smart Growth Masterplan 16. SUDS Assessment List of Figures List of Appendices Figure 1 – Site Plan Appendix 1 – Governmental and Regulatory Figure 2 – Existing Infrastructure Stakeholders Attendees: Figure 3 – Landscape Character Collaboration for Success One Figure 4 – Landscape Capacity Appendix 2 – Business / Developer / Landowner Figure 5 – Landscape protection Stakeholders Attendees: Figure 6 – Indicative Illustration of Collaboration for Success One Settlement Heart Characteristics Appendix 3 – Stakeholders Attendees: Figure 7 – Indicative Illustration of Collaboration for Success Two Settlement Core Characteristics Appendix 4 – Smart Growth Sustainability Figure 8 – Indicative Illustration of Matrix Criteria Settlement Structure Principles Appendix 5 – A96 Corridor Capacity: Figure 9 – A96 Constraints Service Systems Report Figure 10 – Eastern Growth Appendix 6 – A96 Corridor Capacity: Figure 11 – Polar Growth Transportation Analysis Report Figure 12 – Island Growth Appendix 7 – A96 Corridor Capacity: Figure 13 – String of Pearls Land Use Study Report Figure 14 – Land Use Appendix 8 – A96 Corridor Capacity: Figure 15 – Transport Landscape Assessment Report Figure 16 – Landscape Appendix 9 – A96 Corridor Capacity: Figure 17 – Infrastructure Urban Design Guidance at A96 Corridor Figure 18 – 55 dBA Leq Contour for an Appendix 10 – A96 Corridor Masterplan Community Expanded Inverness Airport Consultation Report Figure 19 – Dalcross Smart Growth Masterplan Appendix 11 – Smart Growth Conformity Schedules Appendix 12 – A96 Corridor Capacity Assessment – Transportation Analysis (Supplementary Report) Appendix 13 – A96 Corridor Development – SUDS Assessment Appendix 14 – Indicative Urban Design Schemes 1. Introduction 1.1 This report provides an overview for the preparation of the Phase 1 – Planning for the Dalcross (A96 Corridor) Smart Growth Masterplan. The report is divided into 16 sections of: Introduction. This establishes the context and approach adopted. The over-all project objectives are set out. Objectives. This sets out the detail of objectives for this first part of the masterplan’s development. Method. This section outlines the method adopted for Stage 1. Stakeholder Expectations and Requirements. This section reports on the key expectations stakeholders have for the masterplanning of the Corridor. Technical Capacity Studies. This section outlines the capacity of the Corridor with regard to infrastructure, transport, land use, landscape and urban design. Case Studies. Five case studies are outlined that provide a context for considering options for the masterplanning of the A96 Corridor. Outcomes – Vision. A shared vision for the project is developed in this section. Outcomes – Development Principles. This section provides the foundation for the development of a Smart Growth masterplan. Outcomes – Urban Design Preferences. The characteristics of what make good places are discussed in this section. Outcomes – Development Model Options. Options for the masterplanning of the Corridor are outlined in this section. Testing Development Model Options. This section examines the development model options and reports on the testing applied. Smart Growth Conformity. The preferred option is subjected to a test to ensure that the Smart Growth principles have been addressed. Vitality and Viability of Place. This section provides some practical advice on requirements relating to education, social services, community infrastructure, open space, health, worship and retail provision. All these contribute to the vitality and viability of place. Traffic and Transport Considerations. Further considerations relating to the accessibility considerations for the preferred masterplanning option are discussed. The Dalcross (A96 Corridor) Smart Growth Masterplan. A full description of the masterplan is provided in this section. SUDS Assessment. This section provides an initial assessment of the implications for a sustainable urban drainage system. 1.2 The purpose of the project is to prepare a masterplan for the long-term development of the A96 Corridor between Inverness and Nairn as a whole (see Site Plan). This requirement emerges from the Highland Structure Plan (approved 2001). The emerging Inverness Local Plan and City-Vision (2003) reinforces the importance of the Corridor to accommodate this growth through a chain of new settlements linked to business opportunities and long term land management. 1.3 The project will adopt a Smart Growth approach. Smart Growth is an approach for the development of new places and the establishment of new communities. Smart Growth has been developed as an antidote to current bland and undistinguished suburban development patterns. Smart Growth taps into community expectations to create sustainable places, a strong environmental ethic and more nuanced views of growth. The result is both a new demand for, and a new opportunity to create, places for people. 1.4 Smart Growth recognises connections between development and quality of life. It leverages new growth to improve the community. Smart Growth is place centred, is transit and pedestrian oriented and promotes a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities. There is no "one-size- fits-all" solution. However, successful communities do tend to have one thing in common – a vision of where they want to go and of what things they value in their community – and their plans for development reflect these values. Figure 1 – Site Plan 2. Objectives 2.1 The overall project objectives are to: Collaboratively, prepare a masterplan for the long term sustainable development of the strategic A96 Corridor between Inverness and Nairn forming a comprehensive planning framework for the Corridor as a whole. Establish a complete living environment for the A96 Corridor that is of the comparatively highest standard and best quality. 2.2 This is supported by objectives that seek to: Identify suitable locations for the provision of new places to be provided over the long term. Ensure that new housing development is linked to business, servicing and employment resources through public transport facilities. Align long term land management with development opportunities through a green framework. Promote extensive consultation and engagement with statutory bodies, regulators, development agencies and other parties whose roles and responsibilities impinge on proposed Corridor developments. 2.3 Phase 1 – Planning of the project has three stages of proofing the concept, capacity assessment and masterplan preparation. 2.4 Stage 1 – Proof of Concept objectives are to: Test and scrutinise the development model for the Corridor against other alternatives. Make fully-evidenced recommendations as to the most appropriate way forward. 2.5 Stage 2 – Capacity Assessment objective is to: Bring forward a reasoned justification and recommendation regarding the capacity of the A96 Corridor to accommodate future population levels. 2.6 Stage 3 – Masterplan Preparation objectives are to: Create a spatial database for the whole of the A96 Corridor. Prepare a selection of land-use/transportation scenarios and comparative appraisal information. Select suitable mapping of a preferred masterplan solution. 3. Method 3.1 The method adopted was founded on three elements. These were to: Use Collaboration for Success (CfS) to consider and generate outcomes from stakeholders. Undertake technical capacity assessments relating to infrastructure, landscape, transport, land use and urban design. Consult with community councils and an appropriate sample of local people through focus groups. Collaboration for Success 3.2 CfS provides a framework for developing a culture of collaboration with stakeholders that is much more than a process of partnership. This allows agencies to work together to find solutions for the issues facing the masterplanning of the A96 Corridor. CfS was run through two sessions - CfS1 and CfS2. CfS1 involved parallel events for: Governmental and regulatory stakeholders (see Appendix 1 for attendees list). Business/developer/landowner stakeholders (see Appendix 2 for attendees list). 3.3 The CfS1 was spread over a day for each group. The programme covered: Introduction and establishment of the background to the project. Outline CfS approach. Undertaking a site visit along A96 Corridor. Stakeholders registering their expectations and requirements for the Corridor’s master planning. These are reported in Section 4 below. Establishing a commitment of stakeholders to work collaboratively. Outlining case studies of best practice from Germany, Denmark and USA. These are outlined