Core Strategy April 2011 Foreword Foreword This Core Strategy was adopted by Worthing Borough Council on 12th April 2011. The document, part of the Local Development Framework (LDF), will help guide planning and development in the Borough for the next 15 years and will be used to inform decision making on all planning applications. Regeneration is the key focus of the document with the strategic development at West Durrington and 12 areas of change identified as major regeneration opportunities. The Core Strategy also outlines how development needs will be met with a series of policies on key issues such as housing, employment, retail and environmental protection. An independent examination of the plan was carried out and the Inspector concluded that, ‘There is a clear vision at the heart of the Core Strategy of a thriving, prosperous and healthy town that plays a central role in the wider sub region.’ The document is the result of a number of years of preparation and consultation and we are really pleased that all the hard work has paid off and the Inspector has approved our plan and has confirmed it is deliverable. The Core Strategy is incredibly important, as it helps us work towards delivering a thriving and stronger Borough. Bryan Turner Cabinet Member for Regeneration Adopted Core Strategy April 2011 1 Foreword 2 Adopted Core Strategy April 2011 Contents Section A - Introduction, Context and Vision 1 Introduction 6 2 Characteristics of the Borough 12 3 Issues and Challenges 20 4 The Vision and Strategic Objectives 32 Section B - Delivering the Vision 5 The Spatial Strategy - Where Should it Happen? 42 6 Delivering the Vision - Enabling Regeneration 48 7 Delivering the Vision - Housing & Infrastructure 84 8 Delivering the Vision - Sustainable Environment 96 Section C - Implementation and Monitoring 9 Implementation 112 10 Monitoring 116 Section D - Appendices List of Appendices 119 Appendix 1 - Monitoring Framework and Policy Linkages 121 Appendix 2 - Strategic Risk Appraisal 131 Appendix 3 - Core Strategy Key Stages 133 Appendix 4 - Evidence Base 135 Appendix 5 - Housing Trajectory 141 Appendix 6 - Saved Local Plan Policies 147 Appendix 7 - Glossary 149 Appendix 8 - Proposals Map 153 Adopted Core Strategy April 2011 Contents List of Policies Policy 1 West Durrington 50 Policy 2 Areas of Change 52 Policy 3 Providing for a Diverse and Sustainable Economy 73 Policy 4 Protecting Employment Opportunities 75 Policy 5 The Visitor Economy 77 Policy 6 Retail 81 Policy 7 Meeting Housing Need 86 Policy 8 Getting the Right Mix of Homes 87 Policy 9 Existing Housing Stock 88 Policy 10 Affordable Housing 90 Policy 11 Protecting and Enhancing Recreation and Community Uses 93 Policy 12 New Infrastructure 94 Policy 13 The Natural Environment and Landscape Character 98 Policy 14 Green Infrastructure 100 Policy 15 Flood Risk and Sustainable Water Management 102 Policy 16 Built Environment and Design 104 Policy 17 Sustainable Construction 106 Policy 18 Sustainable Energy 108 Policy 19 Sustainable Travel 110 Areas of Change Area of Change 1 Aquarena 53 Area of Change 2 Marine Parade: Stagecoach Site 54 Area of Change 3 Grafton Site 55 Area of Change 4 Union Place South 57 Area of Change 5 Teville Gate 59 Area of Change 6 Newland Street Superstore Site 61 Area of Change 7 British Gas Site - Lyndhurst Road 62 Area of Change 8 Land Adjacent to Martletts Way 63 Area of Change 9 The Warren - Hill Barn Lane 65 Area of Change 10 The Strand 66 Area of Change 11 Northbrook College, Durrington and Broadwater Sites 68 Area of Change 12 Decoy Farm 70 Adopted Core Strategy April 2011 1 Introduction Adopted Core Strategy April 2011 5 1 Introduction 1 Introduction 1.1 Worthing has much to offer its residents, working people and visitors. The town is located in very attractive surroundings between the English Channel and the South Downs. It is a safe place to live, with good housing, a wide choice of schools and colleges, low unemployment and a range of leisure, sporting and cultural opportunities. There is a lot to be proud of and much to cherish and protect. However, for a number of years there has been an underlying view that Worthing has, in some respects, lost its way – it used to be a genteel seaside town, but became unsure what it was and what it would like to be. 1.2 Working in partnership, the Council is seeking to address this by co-ordinating a framework for change and regeneration. A key objective is to maximise urban regeneration opportunities to revitalise the town centre and ensure that all areas of the Borough offer the right mix of housing, jobs, community and visitor facilities. To achieve this it is essential that a clear vision is adopted that sets out the kind of place that Worthing wants to become in the future. This vision must be shared by all appropriate agencies and individuals to ensure that all key partners work towards common goals. This Core Strategy, which forms a key component of Worthing’s Local Development Framework, plays a central role in this process. What is Spatial Planning? 1.3 ‘Planning’ in Britain has traditionally been associated with the use of land. Although this remains a key component of the planning system today a greater emphasis is now placed on the spatial approach which integrates policies for the development and use of land with other policies and programmes which influence the nature of places and how they function. This helps to ensure that the planning system focuses on delivering outcomes across sectors such as culture, health, regeneration and safety which are shared across a variety of strategies, policies and public and private sector interests. What is the Worthing Local Development Framework? 1.4 The Worthing Local Development Framework (LDF) is a new way of planning for the future of the Borough. It will set out a plan for how places are expected to change over a period of time and will reflect other relevant strategies and policies in the area. It will make clear where, what, when and how development will take place and in doing so it will establish a clear vision for the Borough that helps to create sustainable communities where people want to live and work, now and in the future. 1.5 The Local Development Framework will comprise a number of documents (called Local Development Documents) which will guide the future development of Worthing. The timetable for preparing these documents and an explanation of what they deal with is set out in a work programme called the Local Development Scheme. 1.6 In Worthing, the collection of Local Development Framework documents and associated plans that have been adopted or are being progressed include: the Core Strategy; the Statement of Community Involvement; Annual Monitoring Reports; Development Briefs and Strategies for the town centre and seafront; topic base guidance; and associated Sustainability Appraisals. The relationship between these documents is illustrated within the Local Development Scheme. 6 Adopted Core Strategy April 2011 Introduction 1 What is the Worthing Core Strategy? 1.7 The Core Strategy is the key document in the Local Development Framework as it sets out the overall vision and strategy for place-making and it will provide the context for all subsequent Local Development Documents and their policies. Put simply, the Core Strategy is the cornerstone document that sets out what we want to achieve in different parts of the Borough to 2026 and how we will go about doing that. 1.8 The Core Strategy is a strategic document that provides broad guidance on the scale and distribution of development and the provision of supporting infrastructure. It contains ‘higher level’ policies for delivering the spatial vision and sets out the criteria to be taken into account by the Local Planning Authority in determining proposals for the development and the use of land and buildings. It will ensure that decisions are not made in isolation, but are properly co-ordinated with a focus on promoting the principles of sustainable communities which meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. 1.9 A Sustainability Appraisal is published to inform and accompany all Development Plan Documents, including the Core Strategy. The Sustainability Appraisal is undertaken to inform the production of the Core Strategy so that the options being considered have been assessed in terms of their impact on social, economic and environmental objectives. 1.10 Sustainable development, that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, is now embedded within the planning process. For this reason the Core Strategy does not contain any specific objectives or policies that generally promote sustainable development. However, throughout the progression and implementation of the Core Strategy the Council will continue to support the principles of sustainable development and will remain committed to engaging with the community and promoting equality and inclusion. The Core Strategy has been the subject of an Equalities Impact Assessment. The Strategic Planning Context 1.11 The Core Strategy sits within a hierarchy of national, regional and local policies and strategies and the spatial planning objectives for the local area must be consistent with these. As such, this document has been prepared so that it is consistent with national planning policy and in general conformity with the Regional Spatial Strategy. A summary of the key elements is provided below. A table that includes ‘Policy Linkages’ is also included as Appendix 3. National Planning Policy 1.12 At the national level, the Government sets out the policy framework for how it expects regions and local areas to address key strategic issues.