…towards sustainable development.

Monitoring report for 2001/2 and 2002/3 – summary

Suffolk’s Environment is a partnership project involving the eight local planning authorities of and other relevant organisations. The partnership monitors a range of social, economic and environmental indicators, which enables Suffolk’s progress towards sustainable development to be assessed. This project assists in the monitoring of policies contained in the seven District and Borough Local Plans and the Suffolk Structure Plan which, together with the Waste and Minerals Plans, comprise the Development Plan for Suffolk. The new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill, expected to receive Royal Assent in 2004, will retain the requirement for development plans, but in a new form. Suffolk’s Environment will continue to evolve to reflect these emerging requirements, enabling the project to maintain its central role in drawing together monitoring information at the county level.

What is sustainable Social progress which development? recognises the progress of everyone

Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic Sustainable Effective protection of the growth and employment Development environment

Prudent use of natural resources

February 2004 Housing

Since 1996, more than 17,500 dwellings have planning permission or are allocated have been built in Suffolk at an average in Local Plans. Although the overall rate of 2610 per annum. This is just below change in housing stock remains below the 2001 Structure Plan provision level of the target set in the Suffolk Structure Plan, 2650 dwellings per annum. Of the seven the availability of allocated sites means district / borough authorities, three (St that the last two years have seen an Edmundsbury, and Waveney) encouraging upturn in the overall completion have exceeded their expected provisions, three rate. Overall, only a minor increase in the (Babergh, Forest Heath and Ipswich) have rate of house-building is necessary to meet fallen short, while Mid-Suffolk is on target. the Structure Plan provision level of 337,600 dwellings by 2016. Suffolk has a healthy supply of housing land. More than 20,000 dwellings either

Housing completions on brownfield land In 2002/3 more than half of all housing Similarly, Suffolk’s figures are lower than completions in Suffolk were on brownfield those for the East of region land, an increase from both 2001/02 and because Suffolk is more rural than the 2000/01. This meets the target for the East average for the . Other of England. Ipswich has recorded the highest factors, including previous Local Plan number and proportion of housing greenfield allocations that are still being completions on brownfield land, reflecting implemented and the remedial costs the availability of this type of land in the associated with developing previously town. It is inevitable that the proportion of developed land, should also be considered developments occurring on brownfield land when viewing these figures. will be lower in Suffolk’s rural areas. Affordable housing Affordable housing is defined as ”housing permissions granted with no affordable housing for local households whose incomes are provision. An additional pressure, felt by all insufficient to enable them to purchase or rent authorities, is the large number of proposals accommodation locally on the open market ”. received where the development size is below the Government recommended threshold at The proportion of affordable housing unit which affordable housing is statutorily required. completions (i.e. those actually built) in Suffolk fell from 18% in 2000/1 to 9.4% in The total number of approved affordable 2001/2, although it rose slightly to 11.3% in housing units in 2002/3 rose from 2001/2, 2002/3. However, in Mid-Suffolk, Suffolk although totals for both monitoring years Coastal and Waveney districts, less than 7% of are lower than 2000/01. These figures show housing completed in 2001/2 and 2002/3 was that Local Authorities are unlikely to be able affordable. The figures for these districts are low to increase the supply of affordable homes due to a number of historic planning in the near future. Future housing requirements District Annual Housing Remaining Annual completion completion rate stock dwelling requirement rate 2003-2016 to meet 1/7/96- 31/3/03 31/3/03 1/4/03 – 30/6/16 2016 housing requirement

Babergh 320 36,740 4760 360 Forest Heath 160 24,870 4150 310 Ipswich 280 52,680 6110 460 Mid-Suffolk 410 37,590 5360 400 St Edmundsbury 500 43,570 5440 410 Suffolk Coastal 560 54,020 5610 420 Waveney 390 52,670 4050 310 Total 2610 302,150 35,380 2670

NB: Totals are rounded independently and may not sum

Percentage of housing completions on brownfield land 100 2000/2001 90 80 2001/2002 70 2002/2003 (%) 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 BDC FHDC IBC MSDC SEBC SCDC WDC Suffolk E of Eng

Affordable housing completions as a percentage of total housing completions

100 2000/2001 90 80 2001/2002 70 2002/2003 (%) 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 BDC FHDC IBC MSDC SEBC SCDC WDC Suffolk Built Environment

Conservation Areas Suffolk has approximately 16,000 listed buildings and 168 Conservation Areas. Only 0.8% of Suffolk’s listed buildings are on the Historic Buildings at Risk Register. This figure has fallen for the first time since 1995/6. Since 2001, three new Conservation Areas have been designated, all in St Edmundsbury (Hamlet Road and Queen Street (both Haverhill) and Hundon). Town Centres The average percentage of vacant shops in Suffolk’s town centres is 6%, well Meeting Walk, Hamlet Road below the national average of 11%. Conservation Area, Haverhill However, Brandon town centre has a vacancy rate of 13% (Brandon is Crime discussed in more detail in the Focus). Planning has a role in ‘designing out’ Southwold has the opposite problem of crime in new developments. Local having no vacant shop units due to Authorities work with the police and continuing demand for new retail other agencies to design developments premises but a lack of space within the which will reduce the potential for town centre. crime and the fear of crime (e.g. not Suffolk has an above-average percentage permitting enclosed alleyways). of shops (as opposed to financial services Despite a rise in the crime rate over the and food & drink outlets) within its town last two years, Suffolk remains one of centres, indicating good retail health. In the safest counties in the country. Levels 2002/3, only Brandon, with 45%, fell of burglary and criminal damage, two below the Suffolk target of having 50% crime categories that the planning of town centre premises as shops. system can influence by encouraging good design, both fell in 2002/3 when compared to the preceding twelve months. FOCUS

Brandon Brandon is a small market town that has problems unique in Suffolk, with a high number of shop vacancies and a decreasing number of retailers within the town centre. Brandon has a significant number of US service personnel living within the town, approximately 10% of the total Chilterns estate agents under restoration. population. They, and other service more shoppers to the town. At least personnel living in the surrounding £300,000 of work is to be undertaken area, are able to use alternative shops in Brandon over the lifetime of the scheme and services available at USAF bases at and the budget will be used to fund and Mildenhall. This may Historic Building Grants to commercial be a contributing factor to the diminished properties (to repair and restore them) demand for town-centre services. and for environmental enhancements To aid the regeneration of Brandon, in the town centre conservation area. Forest Heath District Council, Suffolk Other regeneration activities are also County Council, Brandon Communities taking place in Brandon, with the Keystone Partnership and English Heritage have Development Trust (which covers an joined together in a 3-year programme area based around Thetford) providing targeted at restoration called the grants, advice and support for local Brandon Heritage Economic Regeneration businesses and economic development. Scheme (HERS), with the aim of attracting Transport & Accessibility

Transport length of journeys-to-work were reflected in The 2001 Census results showed that 21% a higher proportion of ‘sustainable’ journeys. of journeys to work in Suffolk were made Accessibility by sustainable modes (walking, cycling Around one-third of Suffolk’s population and public transport), 60% travelled by car, live in parishes defined as ‘rural’. The while 10% worked at or from their home. proportion of the population living in such Travel Diary surveys undertaken by Suffolk parishes with access to five key rural facilities County Council in 1999 and 2001 showed (food shop/general store, post office, 28% and 23% respectively of journeys to pub, primary school and meeting place) work were undertaken by sustainable modes. varies dramatically across Suffolk, from In Ipswich and Waveney, greater access to just 4% in Forest Heath to 64% in Babergh, public transport, more developed cycle with the overall figure standing at 43%. route networks and the generally shorter

Journeys to work by mode of travel (figures taken from 2001 Census) 70 Car/ van drivers 60 Walk/cycle/ 50 public transport

40 Work from/ at home 30 Other

Mode Share (%) Mode Share 20

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0 aveney Suffolk Ipswich Babergh St W Mid Suffolk Forest Heath Forest Edmundsbury Suffolk Coastal Suffolk Employment

Suffolk continues to have unemployment “clean and green” (i.e. not contaminated, rates broadly in line with the East of England attractively landscaped etc). It is also average, but lower than the national due to pressure to develop brownfield average. There is considerable variation employment sites for housing, which within Suffolk. Over the two years 2001/2- normally generates a higher land value. 2002/3, rates ranged from about 1% in Recent Government guidance advises Forest Heath and Mid-Suffolk to 3.25% in local authorities to permit residential Waveney and Ipswich. development on allocated employment land if deemed surplus to requirements. The majority of employment development in the last two years has not been on brownfield land. This is partly due to companies preferring their sites to be FOCUS

Sunrise Project, Lowestoft In addition to physical regeneration activities, business support, heritage and The Sunrise Project is a five-year, tourism initiatives are also planned. It is £14.7m partnership involving, hoped the project will safeguard and amongst others, create a total of 800 jobs, attract 20 Council and Suffolk County Council. new business start-ups, bring 14 Its aim is to aid regeneration of derelict buildings back into use and Lowestoft town centre and the South attract 200,000 more visitors annually Beach area through transport and to Lowestoft. environmental improvements.

Rural Environment

Protection of Suffolk’s biodiversity - bats From a total of 45 planning applications For planning applications affecting known affecting known bat roosts in Suffolk during bat roosts, best practice is to request 2001-03, Babergh and Forest Heath were surveys prior to determining the planning the only authorities to request pre-decision application. This enables any necessary surveys (in total six were carried out). The mitigation measures to be identified at an figures also show that only a third of the early stage. An alternative approach is to planning approvals had an appropriate attach conditions to the planning condition attached. Local Authorities are permission to safeguard the roosts. working closely with conservation bodies such as English Nature and the Suffolk Wildlife Trust to improve this situation. Other Resources

Waste developments have suitable locations to During 2002/3 there was a big increase store the required additional bins. in the collection of ‘dry’ recyclables and Water Quality ‘green’ wastes. Although Suffolk’s The biological water quality of Suffolk’s 2002/3 target for recycling of 18.2% was rivers continues to rise. In 2003, over exceeded (20.8%), future years’ targets three-quarters of river reaches were are challenging. However, a change in classified as grade A or B (on a scale of A-F). waste management strategy and practice Suffolk’s estuaries continue to have almost is likely to bring the targets within reach. uniformly high water quality. Only one By 2010, it is hoped that at least 80% of section of the Orwell/Stour estuary, around Suffolk homes will have a three-bin the ports of Felixstowe and Harwich, collection (dry recylables; compostable was not of grade A quality in 2003. wastes; all other wastes). Future planning policies will need to ensure that new

Percentage of household waste recycled/composted 40 2000/2001

30 2001/2002

2002/2003 (%) 20

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0 BDC FHDC IBC MSDC SEBC SCDC WDC Suffolk Artist’s impression of the Ness Point wind turbine, wind Ness Point of the impression Artist’s of Excellence with the adjacent Centre Centre of Excellence for offshore wind Lowestoft. energy at Ness Point, Almost half the office space at the has a commitment from Centre already a local firm, and other academic and in firms involved commercial are energy generation renewable an interest in the remainder. showing orld. It is due to be constructed at Renewable energy Renewable progress some important 2002/3 saw of increasing the amount towards in Suffolk. energy generated renewable District Council granted Waveney In 2002, wind for two planning permission bigger of the The turbines in Lowestoft. turbines will, at 80m high and with two be one of the most 2.75MW of power, single wind turbines in the powerful w in 2004. in Lowestoft Ness Point Due in part to these permissions, has an opportunity to now Lowestoft become a regional centre for wind East of England The energy technology. has (EEDA) Agency Development agreed, subject to an acceptable business case, to locate the regional

FOCUS Did you find this leaflet useful? The full report can be viewed on Suffolk County Council’s website, www.suffolkcc.gov.uk/e-and-t/ We would like to know your views on this project. Please contact your Local Authority representative, or write to Belinda Godbold.

Belinda Godbold (Chair) Marie Edwards Environment & Transport Mid Suffolk District Council Suffolk County Council (01449) 727240 Endeavour House, [email protected] 8 Russell Road Andrew McCormack Ipswich, IP1 2BX Ipswich Borough Council (01473) 583000 (01473) 432938 [email protected] [email protected] Wilf Garford Liz Humphreys Suffolk Coastal District Council St Edmundsbury Borough Council (01394) 444290 (01284) 757364 [email protected] [email protected] Rich Cooke Desi Reed Babergh District Council Waveney District Council (01473) 825881 (01502) 523055 [email protected] [email protected] Hannah Springham Forest Heath District Council (01638) 719000 [email protected]

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This leaflet summarises the 6th and 7th years of monitoring, and includes results for the years 2001/2 and 2002/3.

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