Authority Monitoring Report 10 April 2014-March 2015

Part of the Blackburn with Darwen Local Development Framework

January 2016 Covering monitoring period 1st April 2014-31st March 2015

BLACKBURN WITH DARWEN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK AUTHORITY MONITORING REPORT 10

January 2016

Growth and Prosperity Department Town Hall Blackburn BB1 7DY

www.blackburn.gov.uk

Table of Contents 1. Introduction...... 4 2. An Introduction to Blackburn with Darwen ...... 5 3. Local Development Scheme (LDS): Milestones ...... 10 4. Duty to Co-operate ...... 12 5. Land supply for business development in higher value sectors ...... 16 CS2: Typology of Employment Land ...... 16 CS3: Land for Employment Development ...... 19 CS4: Protection and Re-Use of Employment Sites ...... 20 6. Quantity, quality and mix of housing ...... 21 CS5: Locations for New Housing ...... 22 CS6: Housing Targets ...... 23 CS7: Types of Housing...... 24 CS8: Affordable Housing Requirements ...... 25 CS9: Existing Housing Stock...... 26 CS10: Accommodation for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople ...... 26 7. Range and Quality of Public Facilities ...... 27 CS11: Facilities and services ...... 27 CS12: Retail development ...... 27 8. Protecting and Enhancing the Environment...... 29 CS13: Environmental Strategy ...... 30 CS14: Green Belt ...... 32 CS15: Protection and Enhancement of Ecological Assets ...... 32 9. Quality of Place ...... 36 CS16: Form and Design of New Development ...... 36 CS17: Built and Cultural Heritage ...... 36 CS18: The Borough’s Landscapes...... 37 CS19: Green Infrastructure ...... 38 CS21: Mitigation of Impacts/Planning Gain ...... 39 10. Access to Jobs and Services ...... 40 CS22: Accessibility Strategy ...... 40 CS23: Tackling Worklessness ...... 44 11. Monitoring the Borough’s Supplementary Planning Documents ...... 48 12. References ...... 49 13. Glossary...... 50 Appendix 1: Neighbouring Local Planning Authorities in the Duty to Cooperate ...... 53 Appendix 2: Cross boundary matters relating to Duty to Cooperate ...... 54 Appendix 3: Summary of engagement with neighbouring authorities and other prescribed bodies on strategic issues ...... 58 Appendix 4: Requests for cooperation from neighbouring authorities and other prescribed bodies ...... 62 Appendix 5: Cooperation on Planning Applications with Cross Boundary Implications to Neighbouring Local ...... 67 Appendix 6: Cooperation on Planning Applications with Cross Boundary Implications from Neighbouring Local Planning Authorities ...... 69

1. Introduction

1.1. The Authority Monitoring Report (AMR) measures various indicators to assess the performance of planning policies set out in the adopted development plan and provides a general portrait of the social, economic and environmental conditions in the Borough. The AMR also assesses the Council’s progress in producing its development plan documents against the timetable set out in the Local Development Scheme (LDS).

1.2. This AMR covers the monitoring period 1st April 2014 – 31st March 2015.

1.3. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has made considerable progress on the production of its development plan. The Core Strategy, which establishes the strategic vision and policies for the district, was adopted in January 2011; and the Blackburn with Darwen Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies was adopted in December 2015. The Local Plan Part 2, alongside the previously adopted Core Strategy (which will become Part 1 of the Local Plan), aims to shape the future development of Blackburn with Darwen in order to create jobs, attract and retain a skilled labour force, and strengthen the borough's competitive position in the North West. It identifies strategic land allocations which are essential to delivering these objectives; and sets out development management policies which will be used in assessing planning applications.

1.4. The Duty to Cooperate places a legal duty on Local Planning Authorities, County Councils in England, and identified public bodies to engage constructively, actively and on a continuing basis to maximise the effectiveness of Local Plan preparation in the context of strategic cross boundary matters. Blackburn with Darwen has submitted a Duty to Cooperate Statement as part of the evidence documents supporting the Local Plan Part 2 and can be viewed here. Going forward, this will be monitored in the Authority Monitoring Report.

1.5. We welcome any comments you have on this year’s Authority Monitoring Report. You can contact the Forward Planning team on (01254) 585356 or at email: [email protected]

2. An Introduction to Blackburn with Darwen

2.1 Blackburn with Darwen, surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in Britain, is a key geographical and cultural gateway to Pennine Lancashire. It is located between the high land of the Metropolitan Borough boundaries of Bolton and Bury in the south, and Mellor ridge to the north. The West Pennine Moors form a natural barrier to Chorley and to the east a barrier to Rossendale. Within this dramatic landscape, the Borough covers an area of 13,700 hectares.

2.2 Population - As graph 1 below highlights, the population of Blackburn with Darwen had been steadily declining between 2006- 2009. However, there was a significant increase between 2010 and 2011, and the current mid- year estimate in 2014 puts the population of the Borough 146,743, a slight decline of 626 from the 2013 figure of 147,369. Figure 1 - Blackburn with Darwen in Context Map

150000 Population 148000

146000

144000

142000

140000 Population

138000

136000

134000 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Year

1 Graph 1: Mid-Year Population Estimates 2004-2014

1 Source: Office for National Statistics (ONS) link here.

2.3 Ethnicity - The latest available figures from the Census data for the Borough’s ethnicity show that white residents make up 69.2% of the borough’s population, down from 77.9% in 2001. Since then, the Indian population has risen from 14,654 (or 10.7%) to 19,791 (or 13.4%), which is the 11th highest proportion of any local authority in England. The Pakistani population has risen from 12,020 (8.7%) to 17,801 (12.1%), which is the 6th highest.

Graph 2 - Ethnicity: Comparison of Blackburn with Darwen, NW and England, 2011 (showing counts for Blackburn with Darwen)

2.4 Deprivation - The Indices of Deprivation is a useful indicator of all types of deprivation across the country. The most up to date figures, detail that in 2015 the Borough was the 15th most deprived of the 326 districts in England (rank of average score)2. The Indices of Multiple Deprivation are derived at Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA).

2.5 Blackburn with Darwen has the second highest level of deprivation in Pennine Lancashire (see Graph 3). In developing a stronger economy, the Local Plan aims to deal with the challenges associated with multiple deprivation including high levels of worklessness, low incomes and poor educational attainment in order to attract and retain investment and skilled labour.

350 Graph 3: Pennine Lancashire Authorities: Index of Multiple Deprivation Scores 2015 (Using rank average of score) 300

250

200

150

100

50 15 9 26 38 292 108 0 Blackburn with Darwen Burnley Hyndburn Pendle Ribble Valley Rossendale

2 Source: Office of the National Statistics see here.

2.6 The SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats) Analysis below identifies the strengths and weaknesses of the Borough whilst also examining the opportunities and threats present:

Strengths Weaknesses . Location – set within Pennine Lancashire with . High levels of deprivation; opportunities for cross-boundary working; . Low educational attainment; . Good access to cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds; . Mortality rate higher than the national average; . Heritage assets in the built environment; . High proportion of economically inactive residents; . Strong internal connectivity; . Poor housing mix/condition in the Borough; . High quality shopping centre . Shortage of affordable housing; . New bus station . High levels of Worklessness; . Cathedral Quarter coming forward . Poor life expectancy and ill-health; . University Centre . Low skills level. . Strong and innovative advanced manufacturing sector. . Good sports facilities . High quality new housing Opportunities Threats . Part of Pennine Lancashire with MAA in place; . Recession . Tourist trade . Lack of funding for projects; . Increasing connectivity to Manchester, Preston and Leeds; . Climate change; . Blackburn College University Centre offering degree . Younger members of the population leaving the area; courses; . Higher wage earners leaving the area; . Housing and Employment Growth Agenda . Poor external image and perception of the area; . Competition from growth centres.

3. Local Development Scheme (LDS): Milestones

3.1 The LDS sets out any new and revised planning policy documents the Council intends to produce. This monitoring report reviews progress on Blackburn with Darwen BC’s LDS and indicates whether the timetable and milestones are being achieved. An updated timetable based on the LDS, including achievements and slippages is set out within this section. The local development scheme was published December 2013.

Document Title Brief Description Publication of Pre-submission Submission to Adoption Comments Sustainability “Publication” Secretary of Appraisal Scoping consultation on DPDs State (DPDs Report (DPDs (Reg 27) or only) only) consultation on draft SPD (Reg 17) Development Plan Documents Core Strategy – Sets out vision, Complete Complete February 2010 January Adopted. “Local Plan Part 1” objectives and spatial 2011 development strategy including a Key Diagram

Site Allocations and Sets out more detailed January 2014 January 2014 July 2014 December Adopted. Development policies building on the 2015 Management Core Strategy, including Policies – “Local Plan identifying specific areas Part 2” of land for development. Statement of Sets out the method of N/A December August An update note relating to Community consultation 2005 2006 consultation on the Local Involvement (SCI) Plan Part 2 was published (2006) January 2014. A comprehensive review of the SCI will commence in 2016. Supplementary Planning Documents / Character Appraisals Environmental See Local Plan N/A 2015 N/A 2015 Working Progress 10

Protection Planning for Health See Local Plan N/A 2015 N/A 2015 Working Progress Green See Local Plan N/A 2015 N/A 2015 Working Progress Infrastructure, Ecological Networks and Open Space Blackburn Town See Local Plan N/A 2015 N/A 2015 Working Progress Character Darwen Town See Local Plan N/A 2015 N/A 2015 Working Progress Character Hoddesden See Local Plan N/A 2015 N/A 2015 Working Progress Conservation Area Appraisal Onshore Oil and Gas See the Minerals and N/A 2015 N/A 2015 Working Progress Exploration, Waste Local Plan Production and Distribution Housing Delivery See Local Plan N/A 2016 N/A 2016 To be commenced Travel Planning See Local Plan N/A 2016 N/A 2016 To be commenced Wind Turbine See Local Plan N/A 2017 N/A 2017 To be commenced Development Developer See Local Plan N/A 2017 N/A 2017 To be commenced Contributions Master plans Gib Lane North Blackburn East of Heys Lane The intention is to introduce Master plans in accordance with the Local Plan Part 2. Roe Lee East Darwen

4. Duty to Co-operate

4.1 In accordance with the requirements set out in planning regulations3 local planning authorities must give details to their communities in their Authority Monitoring Reports of the actions they have undertaken under the duty to cooperate. This needs to include details of the actions taken to respond constructively to requests for cooperation from neighbouring planning authorities and other bodies covered by the duty.

4.2 The Localism Act 2011 places a legal duty on local planning authorities, county councils in England and other public bodies (prescribed bodies) to cooperate with each other to address strategic planning priorities that cross local boundaries in the preparation of their development plan and other local development documents. Section 33A of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 defines the duty in relation to planning for sustainable development and sets out the requirement for all identified bodies to engage constructively, actively and on a continuing basis to ensure effective planning in relation to the strategic matters in their Local Plans. The scope of strategic matters includes the planning and delivery of supporting infrastructure. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)4 and the Planning Practice Guidance5 provides additional advice and guidance on the requirements of the duty. NPPG paragraph 0126 notes that cooperation should continue through Plan delivery and review.

4.3 Prescribed Bodies and other Organisations - The following organisations are subject to the duty in relation to strategic planning in Blackburn and Darwen. The plans within Appendix 1 shows the positions of neighbouring authorities included in the duty and adjacent local authority partnerships.

Local planning authorities/county councils: -  Ribble Valley Borough Council  Hyndburn Borough Council  Rossendale Borough Council  Bury Council  Bolton Council  Chorley Borough Council  South Ribble Borough Council  Preston City Council7  Lancashire County Council

‘Prescribed’ bodies: -  Environment Agency  Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England (known as Historic England)  Natural England

3 The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, regulation 34 part 6 4 National Planning Policy Framework, paragraphs 178-181 5 Planning Practice Guidance - Duty to cooperate section. Paragraphs 020 022 accessed 6 October 2015 6 Accessed 6 October 2015 7 Preston City Council is not strictly a neighbouring local planning authority as defined in planning legislation. However there has previously been cooperation on a number of cross boundary strategic matters which warrants their involvement in the preparation and delivery of the Blackburn with Darwen development plan.

 Civil Aviation Authority  Homes and Communities Agency  BwD Clinical Commissioning Group  NHS England Lancashire Area Team  Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM)  Highway authority (LCC and Highways England)

 Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership  Lancashire Local Nature Partnership

4.4 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and Local Nature Partnerships (LNPs) are not subject to the requirements of the duty. However local planning authorities (LPAs) and those organisations that are subject to the duty must cooperate with LEPs and LNPs in preparing their Local Plans. LEPs and Local Nature Partnerships are prescribed for this purpose in planning legislation8.

4.5 A number of the public bodies identified in the guidance are not relevant to BwD including:-  The Mayor of London/Transport for London;  Office of Rail Regulation. BwD does not deal with any operational matters concerning health and safety on the rail network.  Marine Management Organisation. BwD does not have any coastline with the sea or tidal waterways that would require cooperation with this agency.

4.6 In addition BwD considered it crucial during plan preparation to engage with several other bodies and organisations on cross boundary issues relating to infrastructure planning and delivery. The outcome of this cooperation is set out in the ‘Local Plan Part 2: Infrastructure and Delivery Plan (June 2014). The Council and these organisations are committed to ongoing engagement throughout plan delivery; the Infrastructure and Delivery Plan will be updated on a regular basis to reflect these discussions and resultant requirements. The following organisations are therefore also included in the Council’s duty to cooperate activities:

 Network Rail  Energy/utility providers (United Utilities, National Grid, Electricity North West)  Sport England  the Emergency Services  Mobile Operators

4.7 Scope of Duty to Cooperate Activities - NPPF paragraph 156 sets out the scope of strategic policies that should be covered in Local Plans including policies to deliver: -

 the homes and jobs needed in the area;  the provision of retail, leisure and other commercial development;

8 The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012

 the provision of infrastructure for transport, telecommunications, waste management, water supply, wastewater, flood risk and coastal change management, and the provision of minerals and energy (including heat);  the provision of health, security, community and cultural infrastructure and other local facilities; and  climate change mitigation and adaptation, conservation and enhancement of the natural and historic environment, including landscape.

4.8 Activities Undertaken between April 2014 and March 2015 - Using the above scoping as a guide Appendix 2 sets out a summary of the strategic cross boundary planning priorities between BwD and each of the neighbouring local planning authorities and other organisations identified in paragraphs 4.3-4.6. These strategic planning priorities were identified at plan preparation stage and will continue to be monitored throughout plan delivery.

4.9 The Council’s AMR 9 covering the period 01 April 2013 – 31 March 2014 set out the main activities undertaken and the outcome/next stages in cooperation under the 4 key headings listed below. The commentary noted that the principal area of joint working over this 12 month period related to the preparation of the Council’s new Local Plan Part 2 and supporting technical studies/reports.

1. Preparation of the Local Plan

2. Cooperation on key strategic cross boundary matters

3. Development Management Policies

4. Joint Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Plan

4.10 This cooperation and engagement has continued through the current AMR period. In July 2014 the Council submitted its draft Local Plan Part 2 for examination by a Planning Inspector. The package of accompanying documents included a ‘Statement of Compliance with the Duty to Cooperate (July 2014) which explains and evidences how the Council had met the requirements of the duty in the preparation of the draft plan. Public hearing sessions were held 02-11 December 2014. These sessions provided the opportunity for all who had responded to the consultation on the Publication version plan during January–April 2014 and who had expressed a desire to present their comments to the Inspector to do so. Full details of all of the information and statements prepared and exchanged at submission stage and through the examination period is available on the Council’s website including the exchange of correspondence with the inspector following the closure of the hearings: http://www.blackburn.gov.uk/Pages/Local-plan-part-2.aspx.

4.11 The Inspector’s report was received 26 October 2015.

4.12 An update on the outstanding actions from AMR 9 and activities during AMR 10 under the above four headings is set out in Appendix 3.

4.13 In addition to the activities listed in Appendix 3 there is regular contact and joint working with neighbouring local authorities on a variety of issues via well-established and constituted local governance structures that operate across Pennine Lancashire and the wider Lancashire area and on individual planning applications that have cross boundary implications. The local governance structures in place include: -

 PLACE (Pennine Lancashire Authorities Chief Executives)  PLPOG (Pennine Lancashire Planning Officer Group)  PLHP (Pennine Lancashire Housing Partnership)  Regenerate Pennine Lancashire  LEP (Lancashire Enterprise Partnership)/Lancashire Local Transport Board (Transport for Lancashire (TfL))  DPOG ( Development Plan Officers Group)  LCOG (Lancashire Conservation Officers Group)  DCOG (Development Control Officers Group)

4.14 Requests for Cooperation- A summary of the requests for cooperation from neighbouring planning authorities and other bodies covered by the duty is set out in Appendix 4. Similar to the above this indicates actions taken/outcomes and next stages in cooperation.

4.15 Appendices 5 and 6 set out the cooperation on planning applications with cross boundary implications. Appendix 5 provides a summary of the requests from BwD to neighbouring local planning authorities and Appendix 6 the requests to BwD.

4.16 All of the above will continue to be monitored and reviewed as part of the ongoing preparation, examination and delivery of the Local Plan.

5. Land supply for business development in higher value sectors

Core Strategy Policy Indicators 2013-2014 2014-2015 Ha developed for B1, B2, B8 2.7ha 1.66ha B1 – 100m² B1 – 580m² B1, B2, B8 floor space completed B2 – 570m² B2 – 2489m² B8 – 0m² B8 – 2863m² Median earnings of employees in CS2: Typology of £469.70 per week £467.30 per week the area Employment Land No. of jobs created/safeguarded 3,000 1900 No. of new businesses 190 335 established Average earnings of residents in £451.30 Gross pay per £454.10 gross pay per the Borough week week Ha of new land developed for 2.6ha 1.66ha CS3: Land for Employment employment use Development Total amount of additional 670m² 5932m² employment floor space CS4: Protection and Re-Use Ha change of use of existing 0 0.4 of Employment Sites employment sites

5.1 The Core Strategy’s Targeted Growth Strategy sets out the overarching aim of raising economic performance, average wage levels and GVA generation in the Borough, while minimising or eliminating net environmental impact. This will be achieved through new development and other activity by the Council, and partners, on factors including land supply for business development in higher value sectors.

5.2 Employment land policies in the Core Strategy focus on three main issues:

 Typology of Employment Land  Land for Employment Development  Protection and Re-Use of Employment Sites

5.3 It is critical planning policies continue to support the delivery of appropriate and flexible business premises to assist economic recovery.

CS2: Typology of Employment Land

5.4 In terms of employment land, the Core Strategy highlights the need to ensure the most appropriate range of sites is available to encourage investment in the sectors we wish to attract. It is therefore important to monitor the amount and type of employment land developed in the Borough to ensure we are fulfilling the requirements of the Core Strategy.

5.5 In total, 5932m² of employment land has been developed in the Borough in 2014-15. This is an 88% increase from the previous period and demonstrates that economic activity in the borough is improving. Furthermore, there is a good variety of employment uses being development, as demonstrated in Chart 1 – Floor Space Created 2014-2015 by Use Class.

Chart 1 – Floor Space Created 2014-2015 by Use Class

B2 B8

5.6 Median earnings of employees in the area - The Core Strategy Targeted Growth Strategy seeks to attract investment in higher-wage, higher-value-added sectors of the economy, whilst recognising the continuing importance of traditional sectors.

5.7 Gross weekly earnings (median) of people who work full time in Blackburn with Darwen in 2014/15 was £467.30, a drop of £2.40 from the last year. This is £15.20 less than the regional average (£480.30) and £52.90 less than the national average (£520.20). The gap between Blackburn with Darwen, the North West and Great Britain has increased compared to last year, particularly between Blackburn and the North West which went from £10.80 to £15.10.

Blackburn with Darwen North West Great Britain Gross weekly pay (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) Full-time workers 467.30 482.50 520.20 Male full-time workers 470.00 517.50 560.60 Female full-time workers 436.70 437.80 462.50

Source: Nomis (http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157069/report.aspx?town=blackburn#tabjobs) Note: Median earnings in pounds for employees working in the area.

5.8 Gross weekly pay (median) of people who live in Blackburn with Darwen has increased by since the last period by £2.80. Although this is a small increase, it is still a good sign for the Borough.

Gross Weekly Pay - Full Blackburn with Darwen North West Great Britain Time Workers (pounds) (pounds) (pounds) 2013 451.30 480.30 517.90 2014 454.10 484.60 520.80 Source: Nomis (http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157069/report.aspx?town=blackburn#tabjobs) Note: Median earnings in pounds for employees living in the area

5.9 Number of jobs created/safeguarded – 1900 new jobs have been created/safeguarded according to the Business Register and Employment Survey. This has been a year on year increase since 2011, and shows that the borough is increasing in productivity.

Table 1 - Total number of jobs in BwD per year9

Total employee jobs in Year Blackburn with Darwen 2008 62,600 2009 60,800 2010 58,700 2011 56,900 2012 59,900 2013 62,900 2014 64,800

Graph 4 - Total number of jobs in BwD per year

66,000

64,000

62,000

60,000

58,000

56,000

54,000

52,000 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

5.10 Number of new businesses established - Figures obtained from the Inter Departmental Business Register show that in 2014, 185 new businesses were created in Blackburn with Darwen.

5.11 This information provides an indication of the level of entrepreneurship and the health of the business population which will provide useful information when assessing the effectiveness of Core Strategy policies over time. Table 2: Blackburn with Darwen Business Counts Year Blackburn with Darwen Business Counts 2010 3,760

2011 3,680

2012 3,790

2013 3,800 2014 3,985

9 Source: ONS Business Register and Employment Survey

CS3: Land for Employment Development

5.12 The Targeted Growth Strategy seeks to bring about a transformation in the Borough’s economy. A key way to achieve this is to ensure an ongoing supply of land for employment development.

5.13 There has been development of 1.66 hectares of gross new employment land completed for employment use in the 2014-2015 monitoring period.

Table 3 - Blackburn with Darwen Employment Land Take‐up 2005/6 – 2014/15

Gross Completions Completions with Net Completions Year (ha) no net gain (ha) (ha)

2005/6 1.08 0.00 1.08 2006/7 3.93 2.78 1.15 2007/8 16.90 1.72 15.18 2008/9 7.77 1.92 5.85 2009/10 3.54 0.18 3.36 2010/11 5.00 0.85 4.15 2011/12 2.82 2.70 0.12 2012/13 13.23 12.14 1.08 2013/14 2.7 2.6 0.1 2014/15 1.66 0 1.66 Total 58.63 24.89 33.73

Average Annual Take‐up (ha/year) 5.86 2.49 3.37

18 Graph 5: Employment Completions 16

0 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Gross Completions (ha) Net Completions (ha)

5.16 Blackburn with Darwen’s employment land supply for 2011‐2026 is comprised of available capacity within existing quality sites plus identified new employment sites, a proportion of identified development opportunity sites and part of the Whitebirk Strategic Employment Site in Hyndburn.

5.17 The Emerging Local Plan Part 2 proposes a target of 66ha to be developed for employment uses between 2011 and 2026, as set out in the 2013 Employment Land Review.

5.18 Both the Core Strategy and the Local Plan Part 2 propose that an element of the Borough’s numerical employment land target will be met through development outside the Borough boundary, at the Whitebirk Strategic Employment Site in Hyndburn. This approach is reflected in Hyndburn’s Core Strategy.

5.19 The Whitebirk Strategic Employment Site comprises approximately 32ha of land in total. The Council proposes a proportion of 12.8 ha to be attributed to Blackburn with Darwen’s employment land target.

CS4: Protection and Re-Use of Employment Sites

5.20 This policy aims to make the most efficient use of existing employment land by protecting and re-using employment sites. These sites represent an important source of local employment and the Core Strategy emphasises the importance of protecting these sites from loss to other forms of development, either through the redevelopment of individual sites or through the incremental loss of sites in larger areas of employment.

5.21 Change of use of existing employment sites - During the monitoring period, there has been one development which resulted in the loss of employment land, being Moorgate Mill; a site which was no longer viable as an ongoing employment site due to poor accessibility.

6. Quantity, quality and mix of housing Core Strategy Indicators 2013-2014 2014-2015 Policy No. of dwelling completions in inner urban areas 170 155 (gross) No. of dwelling completions outside inner urban 67 53 areas (gross)

No. of larger family housing development 2 111 completions in urban area

No. of dwelling completions in town centre 50 43

CS5: Locations for % of housing developments on Brownfield Land 100% 100% New Housing 21 dwellings in % of dwellings outside inner urban areas for outer urban area See text below higher market and 12 in rural area with 3+ beds

Average density of housing developments 28.13 DPH 26.25 DPH outside inner urban area

The no. of new houses completed on land 20 126 formerly owned by the Council

Planning permissions 290 264 Completions Rates No data No data 15 year supply of housing land allocated See Graph 6 See Graph 6 £711,800 £1,030,263 Made up of: Made up of: £381,800 Annual £897,060 Annual Amount of New Homes Bonus received CS6: Housing Allocation and Allocation and £330,000 – One off £133,203 – One Targets Allocation off Allocation The no. of long-term empty properties (six 152 207 months vacant or more) brought back into use No. of new dwelling completions (net) 219 208 Total housing delivery (net new dwellings + net conversions + long-term empty homes brought 377 420 back into use) % of total gross dwelling completions within 85%10 86%11 inner urban areas % of houses : apartments completed 66% : 34% 69% : 31%

% of 1/2/3/4/5+ bed dwellings completed See Table 5 See Table 5 CS7: Types of No. and type of homes built within inner urban Housing 170 155 areas % of the Borough’s dwelling stock with Category 20.7% (Figures not 20.7% (Figures 1 hazards updated) not updated) No. of dwelling completions in town centres 50 43

10 This figure assumes that all the long-term empty properties (six months vacant or more) brought back into use are within the inner urban area. 11 This figure assumes that all the long-term empty properties (six months vacant or more) brought back into use are within the inner urban area.

No. of affordable units developed in the Borough 159 60

No. of affordable houses completed 159 60 The amount of developer contribution towards £16,000 £8,500 CS8: Affordable affordable housing % of development providing affordable housing No data No data Housing contribution Requirements % intermediate housing 19% 6.6% % social rented housing 81% 93.3%

No. of demolitions 18 0 CS9: Existing No. of empty homes 1,267 3,319 Housing Stock No. of properties with Category 1 hazards in the 12,300 (Figures not 12,300 (Figures Borough (measure of ‘unfitness’ is no longer updated) not updated) used by the council) CS10: Accommodation for Gypsies, Travellers and Net additional Gypsy and Traveller pitches 0 0 Travelling Show people

6.1 The Council acknowledges that housing delivery is a key element in achieving its strategy for economic transformation and growth as set out in Core Strategy Policy CS1: A Targeted Growth Strategy.

6.2 The Council is proactively promoting itself as ‘open for business’ and is keenly encouraging housing development across the borough by the use of its housing policies and complementary tools including partnership schemes with developers to bring forward housing schemes on Council owned land. The Core Strategy’s housing policies seek to enable and encourage a more balanced housing market. The current housing stock is predominantly characterised by a limiting mix of house types which it is acknowledged can be a constraint to growth. The strategy’s approach is based on market evidence that a more balanced offer, i.e. one that includes a greater choice of quality larger and higher market homes, will make a fundamental contribution to stimulating growth.

CS5: Locations for New Housing

6.3 208 new build dwelling completions in total; 155 units in the inner urban area (including the town centre) and 53 outside the inner area.

6.4 Core Strategy Policy CS5 details that the preferred location for new housing, where market conditions permit its delivery, will be the inner urban areas of Blackburn and Darwen. Given that 86% of the dwellings delivered have been within the inner urban area, it is considered that the locations for new housing have been largely compliant with CS5.

6.5 A flexible approach to application of housing policies recognising the impact and implications to delivery of local market characteristics. In part this has been addressed in the package of housing land allocations and supporting policies contained in the Local Plan Part 2; the allocations include a number of greenfield sites in Blackburn and Darwen which will open up

a broader choice of sites and offers the opportunity to establish a higher value housing product and market.

Table 4 - Density of Housing Developments outside Inner Urban Area

Total No. Current year Density Sites Area (ha.) Outstanding Approved completions (DPH) 45 Parsonage Road 0.04 1 1 0 25 Blackburn Hazelhurst, 351 0.17 3 1 2 18 Chapeltown Road, Turton

Land at Halley Road 0.14 2 1 1 14

Moorgate Mill, Mill Hill 0.8 20 20 0 25

Newhaven, Ashleigh St. 0.29 14 1 6 48 Darwen

Pearl Street, Blackburn 0.55 14 14 0 25

Salisbury Road, Darwen 0.02 1 1 0 50

Springfield, Crowthorn 0.4 6 6 0 15 Village Springvale Garden Village 0.06 3 3 0 50 Darwen

Sunnyhurst Farm, Darwen 0.03 1 1 0 33

The Sidings, Station Rd 0.2 1 1 0 5 Chapeltown Victoria Mill, Station Road 1 7 3 4 7 Chapeltown

CS6: Housing Targets

6.6 Total housing delivery for the borough, taking account the net new dwellings, long-term empty properties (six months vacant or more) brought back into use and the net conversions, there has been a total housing delivery of 420 dwellings over the monitoring period.

6.7 The Core Strategy set an annual requirement of 530 during the period 2011-2016. Overall, including 2014-2015, there has been a continuing year on year shortfall of housing completions against requirements owing to the challenges of local housing market conditions in Blackburn and Darwen; including in particular the impact on scheme viability. The implications for housing delivery have been factored into the housing targets and accompanying land supply calculations in the Local Plan Part 2.

6.8 The details and updated position including information on the 5-year housing land supply are provided in the Housing Position Paper. The Council is currently updating this document. The most up-to-date version is available on the Council’s website.

6.9 Graph 6 shows the completions and the forecast completions year on year to the end of the Local Plan period against the housing target set out in the Core Strategy.

6.10 A number of complementary tools to enable the Council to be more proactive in supporting housing delivery have now been put in place and are set out in ‘Blackburn with Darwen Housing Toolkit: Blackburn with Darwen’s Housing Implementation Strategy’ (January 2014).

Graph 6 - Blackburn with Darwen’s Housing Trajectory (March 2015) 1600

1400 Completions 1200

1000 Total 800 Projected Completions 600 Plan targets 400

200

CS7: Types of Housing

6.11 Core Strategy set a target of 65% of new housing to be on previously developed land. During the monitoring period, 100% were on previously developed land. 6.12 Table 5 provides details of the breakdown of housing completions by housing type. This shows that 24 (11.5%) of the gross total 208 units were larger homes (4 bed+).

Table 5 - Breakdown of new build housing completions by bed and house type12 House Type Completions % of total 1 bed terraced 1 0.48% 2 bed terraced 22 10.58% 3 bed terraced 56 26.92% 4 bed terraced 15 7.21% 5 bed terraced 0 0.00% 1 bed semi detached 4 1.92% 2 bed semi detached 19 9.13% 3 bed semi detached 5 2.40% 4 bed semi detached 5 2.40%

12 Source: BwD Internal monitoring of Completions

5 bed semi detached 0 0.00% 2 bed detached 3 1.44% 3 bed detached 10 4.81% 4 bed detached 4 1.92% 5 bed detached 0 0.00% 6 bed detached 0 0.00% 1 bed bungalow 0 0.00% 2 bed bungalow 0 0.00% 1 bed apartment 43 20.67% 2 bed apartment 20 9.62% 3 bed apartment 1 0.48% Total 208 100.0%

CS8: Affordable Housing Requirements

6.13 Graph 7 confirms that 60 new build affordable housing units were completed during the monitoring period; this included 4 intermediate units and 56 for social rent. The Core Strategy policy CS8: ‘Affordable housing requirements’ includes a target for 20% of all new housing to be affordable. The figure for this period is 14%, which does represent a reduction; however, figures have been well over the 20% target for the last 10 years and the introduction of the government guidance to stop tariff style contributions on smaller schemes (10 units or fewer units) was in place during this monitoring period, which will have resulted in less affordable housing contributions.

6.14 It is recognised that the monitoring output only makes a part contribution to the need. Other sources of supply include the natural churn within the social stock held by Registered Providers and provision in the private rented sector.

Graph 7 - Affordable Housing Completions (%) 2006-2015 90 77 80 71 70 61 60 50 44 45 40 42 40 28 30 23 20 14 10 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Affordable Housing Completions %

CS9: Existing Housing Stock

6.15 As at March 2015, there 3319 empty homes in the borough. It is recognised that this issue impacts on the local housing market, local residents and their neighbourhood. The Council is working proactively to promote the reoccupation of empties, and has seen significant progress. During this monitoring period, 207 properties have been brought back into use via centrally funded programmes. In addition the Housing Implementation Strategy includes a toolkit which it is expected will continue to bring empties back into use over the development plan period.

6.16 Graph 8 shows the year on year number of demolitions since 2006 and illustrates a steadily decreasing number since 2009. This trend has been significantly influenced by the completion of the Housing Market Renewal programme. There were no demolitions in this period. Graph 8 - Number of Demolitions 2002-2014

300 Demolitions 250

200

150 Number 100

0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Date

CS10: Accommodation for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

6.17 In this monitoring period, there have been no Gypsy and Traveller pitches or Travelling Showpeople plots developed in the borough

6.18 Under the national guidance “Planning policy for traveller sites”, local authorities should make an assessment of the need for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites in their area and ensure that provision is made for appropriate sites if a need is proven. The Council has undertaken a Partial Review of the Lancashire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) which identifies a need for an additional 16 pitches to be provided by 2016, and a further 18 additional pitches between 2016 and 2026. Local Plan Part 2 states that in the first instance this provision should be made on privately owned and operated sites.

6.19 There is no identified need for Traveling Showpeople plots at the present time.

7. Range and Quality of Public Facilities

Core Strategy Policy Indicators 2013-2014 2014-2015 Accessibility software used to report on this % of new residential indicator in previous development within 30 AMRs is no longer The new indicator will be minutes public transport CS11: Facilities and available to the Council. introduced when the time of a GP, Hospital, Work will begin on emerging Local Plan Part 2 Services Primary and Secondary implementing an is adopted. School, Employment and a alternative indicator to major Retail Centre measure accessibility of new development. Amount of completed retail 313m2 2096m² CS12: Retail development Amount of retail Development development completed in 0m2 26m² town centres

CS11: Facilities and services

7.1 The Core Strategy highlights the importance of ensuring the delivery of high quality town centres, and cultural and leisure facilities which are attractive to commuters and highly paid workers. This will help retain existing residents and attract people from elsewhere to move into the area.

7.2 Policy CS11 states that the range and quality of public services and facilities will be expanded and enhanced in the town centres of Blackburn and Darwen, neighbourhood shopping centres, existing key public buildings/facilities and other accessible locations.

7.3 Access to facilities and services - The Council developed a baseline set of information from accessibility computer software to determine the number of homes completed in the Borough that are within 30 minutes public transport time of a GP, hospital, primary school, secondary school, area of employment and a major retail centre. This software has been used in previous monitoring reports to determine the accessibility of new developments; however, this is no longer available to the Council so this indicator cannot be reported in this monitoring period.

7.4 The Council will establish a new indicator to report on the accessibility of new developments to services by public transport for future AMRs. This will enable us to monitor progress towards meeting Core Strategy Policy CS22 which requires new development to be located so as to minimise the need to travel, and so as to easily be accessed by non-car means including public transport, walking and cycling.

7.5 However, as all new development completed in the Borough over the current monitoring period has been on brownfield Land, it can be assumed that the level of accessibility of these developments will be relatively high.

CS12: Retail development

7.6 In terms of retail development, the Core Strategy sets out an approach based on a hierarchy of different centres within the Borough – town centres, district centres and local centres.

Town centres are a key factor in the Targeted Growth Strategy as key economic drivers and providing space for leisure and culture. The policy highlights that new retail development will be focused into Blackburn and Darwen Town Centres.

7.7 Amount of completed retail development –- There was a total of 2096m² (gross) retail development in the current monitoring period. This is a significant improvement to the previous period and indicates more investment in the borough.

7.8 Amount of retail development completed in town centres – There was 26 m² additional retail development within the town centres, which demonstrates that the town centres are performing and growing, albeit marginally. It should also be noted, that much retail development cannot be monitored / reported because in some instances, especially in the town and district centres, it is likely to take place under Permitted Development.

8. Protecting and Enhancing the Environment

Core Strategy Policy Indicators 2013-2014 2014-2015 4 developments No. of renewable energy generating 100Kw of 0 generation developments renewable energy No. of homes meeting Building for Life Assessment ‘good’ and No data No data ‘very good’ criteria No. of housing developments incorporating zero carbon No data No data homes No. of homes completed to Code for Sustainable Homes No data No data Level 3 and above % of homes built meeting No data No data Lifetime Homes standard % of commercial buildings meeting BREEAM very good No data No data standard No. of planning applications refused permission due to their No data No data CS13: Environmental environmental impacts Strategy % of development built in an No data No data area of flood risk No. of planning permissions granted contrary to advice from the Environment Agency 0 0 on flooding and water quality grounds % of eligible open spaces 6 Green Flag Awards and managed to Green Flag Award 0 1 Green Pennant Award standard Air quality data measurements – in current Air Quality See 8.8 See 8.8 Management Areas and elsewhere No. of developments No data No data incorporating SUDS Amount of derelict land in the No data No data Borough Planning to adapt to Climate See 8.14 See 8.14 Change No housing or No. of developments employment 3 completed on Green Belt land developments CS14: Green Belt No. of planning permissions Currently developing Currently developing granted for development on monitoring framework for monitoring framework for Green Belt this indicator this indicator 3 SSSIs in Blackburn with 3 SSSIs in Blackburn with No. of Darwen – Longworth Darwen – Longworth nationally/internationally Clough, Gale Clough & Clough, Gale Clough & important sites Shooterslee Wood, Oak Shooterslee Wood, Oak CS15: Protection and Field Field Enhancement of No. of regional/county level 108 108 Ecological Assets important sites No. of locally important sites 9 9 No. of Local Nature Reserves 4 4 (LNRs)

No. of Local Geodiversity Sites 5 5 (LGS’s) No. of Biological Heritage Sites 108 108 (BHSs) No. of Species of Principal 80 Importance Change in areas of biodiversity 0 0 importance

CS13: Environmental Strategy 8.1 Core Strategy Policy CS13 sets out the environmental strategy that is to underpin the Core Strategy itself, the Local Plan Part 2 and individual planning decisions. There are two key aspects to this policy:  A concept of “net environmental impact” under which there is scope for the environmental impacts of otherwise desirable development to be mitigated or offset in some cases, both in policy-making and in development management; and  An absolute limit on the extent of environmental impact that will be acceptable.

8.2 In addition to ensuring that new development does not result in unacceptable impacts on the environment, the policy also encourages new development to result in a positive impact on the environment where possible. Local Plan Part 2 will set out specific measures to benefit the environment. It will identify a number of potential measures including provision for renewable energy, sustainable design and construction standards for new development, creation and enhancement of habitats, ‘exemplar’ development of high environmental standard and measures for the remediation of derelict or contaminated land, or land affected by previous mining activity.

8.3 Number of renewable energy generation developments - The 2008 Climate Change Act sets a legally binding target to cut UK emissions by 80% by 2050 against a 1990 baseline. Towards achieving this target, the UK Low Carbon Transition Plan and UK Renewable Energy Strategy (DECC, 2009) set out respective pathways for reducing emissions by 18% on 2008 levels by 2020 and for generating 15% of energy from renewable sources by 2020 in line with the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

8.4 There have been no renewable energy schemes completed in the Borough within the monitoring year.

8.5 Open spaces managed to Green Flag Award Standard - Green Flag Awards are a quality benchmark and require parks to score well in a number of areas including safety and security. No parks within the borough were awarded the status in this monitoring period.

8.6 Air quality data measurements - The national Air Quality Strategy identifies health based objective concentrations for 7 key pollutants. Air quality in the Borough is reviewed regularly, and Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) have been declared where exceedences of these objectives have been identified.

8.7 AQMAs in the Borough - Eight Air Quality Management Areas have been declared because of unacceptably high levels of nitrogen dioxide:  AQMA 1 - Intack, Blackburn (Junction of Whitebirk Rd and Accrington Rd)

 AQMA 2 - Bastwell, Blackburn (Junction of Whalley New Road and Whalley Range)  AQMA 3 – Darwen Town Centre (A666 between Robert Street and Wraith Street, Darwen)  AQMA 4 – Witton, Blackburn (Junction of Preston Old Road and Buncer Lane, Blackburn)  AQMA 5 – Earcroft, Darwen (Junction of the A666 with M65 Link Road)  AQMA 6 – Blackamoor, Blackburn (Junction of Stopes Brow, Blackamoor Road and Roman Road, Blackburn)  AQMA 7 – Four Lane Ends, Blackburn (Junction of Pleckgate Road, Revidge Road, Lammack Rd and Shear Brow)  AQMA 8 – Junction of Accrington Road / Burnley Road, Blackburn

8.8 The Data from monitoring at these AQMAs is summarised in Table 6. Table 6 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Annual Mean Exposure at AQMAs in the Borough

8.9 AQMAs 1 to 5 - Action plan measures are being implemented at AQMAs 1 to 5. Further monitoring at AQMAs 1 and 2 will identify whether the deterioration in air quality is temporary or a more long term trend. The authority is considering revoking the AQMAs 3, 4 and 5.

8.10 AQMA 6 – Work is ongoing to identify measures that will improve air quality. Various options have been considered, but it is a difficult problem to resolve.

8.11 AQMA 7 - A proposed link road has been incorporated into the Council’s Local Plan Part 2, and once implemented, should help to resolve this issue.

8.12 AQMA 8 – Air quality is likely to improve because traffic will be redirected to a new junction as part of the multi-million pound Pennine Reach Scheme.

8.13 Planning to adapt to climate change - Some climate change is inevitable. We must act decisively and adapt to this by improving resilience in our natural resource base and our economy, across all sectors in order to minimise the adverse effects of climate change. The Council has produced its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan which:  Assesses projected climate change for the North West and Blackburn with Darwen using the latest set of UK climate scenarios (UKCP09);  Assesses how these changes are likely to impact on Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council’s services using risk assessments; and

 Identifies priority actions for services across the council to minimise these risks.

8.14 Core Strategy policy CS13 highlights the need to implement positive actions that benefit the “strategic” environmental issues, notably climate change and flooding. The Local Plan Part 2 sets out policies for ensuring development in the Borough both mitigate and adapt to climate change.

CS14: Green Belt

8.15 Core Strategy Policies CS1: A Targeted Growth Strategy and CS5: Locations for New Housing recognise that over the life of the Core Strategy there may be a need for growth in the urban area in the form of small scale urban extensions which may require change to Green Belt boundaries. CS1 acknowledges that the release of any urban extension will need to be triggered by a shortfall in suitable land within the urban boundary to meet strategic development needs. This is reinforced in CS5 and CS14: Green Belt. In relation to housing development, changes to the Green Belt boundaries have taken place within the Local Plan Part 2.

8.16 Number of developments completed on Green Belt land - There have been 3 development completions on Green Belt land in this monitoring period, all located within Chapeltown.

8.17 Number of planning permissions granted for development on Green Belt - This information is not readily available at the present time. However, we are working in conjunction with the Development Management team to link up planning permission records with layers on the GIS system. This will enable us for future AMRs to determine how many planning permissions have been granted each year on Green Belt land.

CS15: Protection and Enhancement of Ecological Assets

8.18 Policy CS15 states that the Borough’s ecological assets will be protected, enhanced and managed with the aim of establishing and preserving functional networks which facilitate the movement of species and populations.

8.19 Number of nationally/internationally important sites - Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) collectively represent the most important component of the UK’s remaining wildlife and geological resources, safeguarding the finest examples of these for present and future generations. SSSIs play an active role in providing recreational and green spaces, as well as contributing to the health and wellbeing of the Borough’s population.

8.20 There are currently three SSSIs in Blackburn with Darwen – Longworth Clough, Oak Field and Gale Clough & Shooterslee Wood.

8.21 There are no internationally important sites designated in Blackburn with Darwen.

8.22 Number of regional/county level important sites - County Heritage Sites are a non-statutory designation given to sites selected on a county-wide basis, which are of nature conservation and geological importance. Information on Biological and Geological Heritage Sites in the Borough is set out below.

8.23 Number of Local Geodiversity Sites - Local Geodiversity Sites (LGSs) are important geological research locations designated across Lancashire. At present there are five Geological Heritage Sites within the Borough. More information about Local Geodiversity sites can be found here.

Table 7: GHS’s in Blackburn with Darwen Site Name Grid Reference Description Alum Scar SD 635 280 Disused quarry in massive gritstone with shales. Industrial, archaeological remains Jumbles SD 736 149 High exposure – Coal Measures Reservoir Cadshaw Gorge SD 707 181 Natural exposure and old quarry. Coarse grained sandstone

Billinge Hill SD 658 282 Natural crags and long disused quarry showing sequence of sandstone and shale band Round Barn SD 728 192 Disused quarry in the Rough Rock and Lower Haslingden Flags (Naz) Quarry

8.24 Number of Biological Heritage Sites - Biological Heritage Sites (BHSs) are designated by the County Council in conjunction with the Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside and represent non-statutory wildlife sites that are considered to make a significant contribution to the biodiversity of Lancashire. In Lancashire as a whole, there are over 1,100 BHSs, which represent 8% of the County area. The 2012 review of BHS sites reported 108 sites were within Blackburn with Darwen.

8.25 Number of locally important sites - Nationally important biodiversity sites (SSSIs) and sites of regional/sub-regional importance (County Heritage Sites) are protected through Core Strategy Policy CS15. Additionally, there also exists a series of further biodiversity sites of local importance; this policy also extends protection to these sites.

8.26 The Policies Map, part of the Local Plan Part 2, identifies the key elements of Blackburn with Darwen’s Green Infrastructure. Ecological and other designations are not shown because periodic reviews of such sites can lead to changes that render the Adopted Policies Map out of date, creating uncertainty for both developers and decision-makers. The Adopted Policies Map is the visual representation of the Plan and is changed only when a revised plan is published. As such, lists and maps of designated sites are included within the Green Infrastructure & Ecological Networks Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which can be updated more readily and frequently to reflect any changes in designation.

8.27 Number of Local Nature Reserves - Local Nature Reserves (LNR) are places with wildlife or geological features that are of special interest locally. They offer people special opportunities to study or learn about nature or simply to enjoy it. Local Nature Reserve is a statutory designation made under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. There are currently four Local Nature Reserves in the Borough;

1. River Darwen Parkway 2. Pleasington Old Hall 3. Arran Trail 4. Sunnyhurst Woods

8.28 Number of species of principal importance - Species of principal importance are those which have been identified by national, regional, sub-regional or local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP). Section 41 (S41) of The Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act

requires the Secretary of State to publish a list of habitats and species which are of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England. There are 943 species of principal importance included in this list which are the species found in England which have been identified as requiring action under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. These species can be viewed on the Natural England website.

8.29 The Lancashire BAP is made up of many individual species and habitat plans. Each plan gives information on the status and threats to the species or habitat. The Technical Working Group involved in producing the Lancashire BAP adapted the list of habitats addressed by the UK BAP in order to make them more easily applicable to local conditions. There are currently 80 species of principal importance that are known to occur in Lancashire. Information on these sites are available from the Lancashire Environment Records Network (LERN).

8.30 Change in areas of biodiversity importance - The condition of the Borough’s three sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) have been assessed to determine any change in areas of biodiversity importance. The three sites have been assessed between 2011 and 2013, and have retained their SSSI status.

Table 8 - SSSI name: Longworth Clough (Unit 1 last assessed 30/7/09, Units 2-4 last assessed August 2013)

% Area % Area % Area % Area meeting % Area % Area destroyed Year unfavourable unfavourable unfavourable PSA target 13 favourable / part destroyed recovering no change declining

2005 0% 0% 0% 83.71% 16.29% 0%

2006 0% 0% 0% 82.99% 17.01% 0%

2007 0% 0% 0% 82.99% 82.99% 0%

2008 0% 0% 0% 82.99% 82.99% 0%

2009 38.30% 38.30% 17.01% 44.69% 0.00% 0.00%

2013 55.31% 38.30% 17.01% 44.69% 0.00% 0.00%

Table 9 - SSSI name: Gale Clough & Shooterslee Wood (Unit 1 last assessed March 2012, Unit 22 last assessed March 2013)

% Area % Area % Area % Area meeting % Area % Area destroyed Year unfavourable unfavourable unfavourable PSA target favourable / part destroyed recovering no change declining

2006 31.41% 31.41% 0% 68.59% 0% 0%

2007 37.14% 37.14% 0% 62.86% 0% 0%

2013 37.14% 37.14% 0% 62.86% 0% 0%

13 PSA Target: The Government’s Public Service Agreement (PSA) to have 95% of the SSI area in favourable or recovering condition by 2010.

Table 10 - SSSI name: Oak Field (last assessed November 2011)

% Area % Area % Area % Area meeting % Area % Area destroyed Year unfavourable unfavourable unfavourable PSA target favourable / part destroyed recovering no change declining

2004 31.41% 31.41% 0% 68.59% 0% 0%

2005 37.14% 37.14% 0% 62.86% 0% 0%

2006 100% 100% 0% 0% 0% 0%

2013 100% 0% 100% 0% 0% 0%

8.31 A SSSI recorded as unfavourable means that the site has not yet been assessed, or that there are damaging impacts which need to be addressed, such as at Oak Field where the rush cover in some areas is over the acceptable threshold. Further details on the conditions of the SSSI’s in Blackburn with Darwen can be viewed on the Natural England website.

9. Quality of Place

Core Strategy Policy Indicators 2013-2014 2014-2015 No. of homes completed achieving ‘good’ and ‘very No data No data CS16: Form and good’ against the Building Design of New for Life Assessment Development % of people satisfied with their neighbourhood as a No data No data place to live No. of Conservation Areas 15 14 No. of Listed Buildings 340 340 CS17: Built and Qualitative information Cultural Heritage from conservation area See 9.7 See 9.7 appraisals, village appraisals etc. No. of planning applications CS18: The Borough’s refused on grounds of the development adversely No data No data Landscapes affecting or destroying landscapes Amount of S106 monies received for public open £23,900 £74,966 space CS19: Green Data on the amount and The Council has updated its The Council has updated its Infrastructure quality of open space within open space standards open space standards the Borough which has formed the which has formed the evidence base for the Local evidence base for the Local Plan Part 2. See 9.12. Plan Part 2. See 9.12. S106 allocations S106 monies received: S106 monies received: Public open space: £23,900 Public open space : £74,966 CS21: Mitigation of Highways: £0 Highways: £6,500 Impacts/Planning Affordable Housing: Affordable Housing: £8,500 Gain £24,000 Transport: £0 Transport: £0 Total: £89,966 Total: £47,900

CS16: Form and Design of New Development

9.1 The Core Strategy recognises and promotes the importance of well-designed development and seeks to promote an increase in design standards across the Borough. The Blackburn with Darwen Borough Design Guide SPD was adopted in March 2006 and the Revised Edition of the Residential Design Guide was adopted in September 2012. These set out design themes where particular attention must be paid when designing new development in the Borough covering character, townscape, public realm, movement & legibility, sustainability, diversity and colour.

CS17: Built and Cultural Heritage

9.2 The area’s built and natural heritage is a major asset in its attractiveness and local distinctiveness.

9.3 Number of conservation areas - Conservation areas protect and enhance the historic townscape character. There are 14 conservation areas in the Borough, which is one last less from the previous monitoring period because Corporation Park and Corporation Park 2 were combined into 1 conservation area:

 Chapeltown  Edgworth  Hoddlesden  Corporation Park  Griffin  Richmond Terrace/St John’s  Richmond Terrace Extension  Dukes Brow/Revidge  Blackburn Cathedral  Northgate  Darwen Street  King Street  Darwen Town Centre  Eanam Wharf (declared 2013)

9.4 Number of listed buildings – Listed building are conserved for their special architectural and historic interest, and range from small farm cottages to larger civic buildings such as the Town Hall. Generally listed buildings are clustered in conservation areas but many historic farm buildings are scattered in the rural areas of the Borough. There are approximately 340 listed buildings and structures in Blackburn with Darwen.

9.5 A Local List for the Borough was adopted in 2016 and includes 24 historic buildings. Local listing is a means for a local community and a local authority to jointly decide what it is in their area that they would recognise as a “local heritage asset”. The purpose of producing a list of these assets is to enable better protection for those parts of the historic environment that are valued by the local community but are not of national significance.

9.6 Qualitative information from conservation area appraisals, village appraisals etc. - Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans have been completed for several of the Borough’s Conservation Areas. They will be used to inform planning decisions, the production of area or site-based strategies, and the development of other schemes for regeneration and improvement. The appraisals assess and analyse the character of the conservation area and outline the implications for future development. They can be viewed on the Council’s website.

9.7 Conservation Area Appraisals have recently been prepared for Eanam, Darwen Town Centre, and Corporation Park. There are existing Conservation Area Appraisals for Northgate, Richmond Terrace, Cathedral Quarter, King Street, Darwen Street, Chapeltown, Edgworth and Griffin.

9.8 Six of the Council’s parks are listed in the English Heritage Register of Historic Parks and Gardens for their historic merit. These are; Corporation Park, Bold Venture Park, Whitehall Park, Queens Park, Woodfold Park and Sunnyhurst Woods. In August 2013, English Heritage upgraded Corporation Parks Grade II status on the register to Grade II*.

CS18: The Borough’s Landscapes

9.9 The Borough’s landscape setting is one of its key assets, for its environmental value and for its economic role in making the Borough an attractive place to invest. Currently the Council’s Development Management team do not keep a record of reasons for refusal for monitoring

purposes. However, work will begin on implementing a monitoring framework for this following the adoption of the Local Plan Part 2.

CS19: Green Infrastructure

9.10 Green Infrastructure is the term used to describe the totality of green spaces and areas of water in both urban and rural areas. It incorporates cultural assets and landscape as well as ecological/habitat assets. It may perform multiple functions including:  Setting the scene for growth, creating a good quality of place and quality of life and supporting sustainable economic growth ;  Supporting physical and mental health and well-being;  Providing for recreation, leisure and tourism;  Supporting the rural economy helping to manage flood risk;  Supporting mitigation and adaptation to climate change;  Positively benefitting the historic environment; and  Enhancing the ecological network and promoting biodiversity.

9.11 The Council has adopted a Green Infrastructure & Ecological Networks Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) (December 2015) which aims to help applicants and developers ensure that proposals for development make the most of opportunities to improve existing and create new green infrastructure and ecological networks. It is the Council’s objective to improve connectivity of green infrastructure assets in the urban areas, as well as addressing deficiencies of open space identified in the Council’s Open Space Assessment.

9.12 Amount of S106 monies received for public open space - Core Strategy Policy CS19 and Local Plan Part 2 Policy 40 requires all new residential development to contribute to the provision of high quality open space for its residents on site or where more appropriate, through financial contributions towards improving the quality and/or accessibility of nearby existing spaces. In this monitoring period, £74,966 was received from developers as open space contributions.

9.13 Data on the amount and quality of open space within the Borough - The Council’s Open Space Audit identifies open spaces within the borough covering parks and gardens, amenity greenspace, cemeteries, civic space, golf courses natural and semi-natural urban greenspaces, allotments, children and young people facilities, accessible countryside and green corridors. The Audit will be reviewed annually to reflect any changes in open space provision in the borough.

9.14 The audit identifies a total of 289 open space sites (excluding playing pitches and school grounds) in the borough covering a total of 1047.84 hectares. Parks and gardens make up a significant proportion of the total open space within the borough (282.61ha):

OPEN SPACE CATEGORY HECTARES Accessible urban fringe 192.23 Amenity greenspace 94.76 Cemeteries 53.33 Children & young people 6.27 Civic spaces 3.54 Open space corridors 23.74 Allotments 13.87

Parks & gardens 282.61 Natural & semi‐natural urban greenspace 218.84 Golf courses 160.31 Total 1049.5 38

9.15 From the information contained within the audit, an Open Space Assessment has been produced which assesses the quantity, quality and accessibility of these sites. An integral component of this assessment was to engage with residents of the borough to determine their use of, and attitudes towards, Blackburn with Darwen’s open spaces. The Council commissioned consultants to conduct a telephone survey with a representative sample of Blackburn with Darwen residents.

9.16 Results from the residents’ survey were used to identify any apparent issues with the quantity, quality and accessibility to open spaces within the borough and whether existing provision met the needs of the local population. They have also been used to inform the setting of local accessibility thresholds for each open space typology to identify any deficiencies in provision of certain types of open space in the borough.

9.17 A Playing Pitch Assessment and Strategy has been prepared which assesses the demand and supply of playing pitches in the borough covering football, cricket, rugby, hockey and bowling greens. The Strategy includes artificial grass pitches and pitches available for community use within school grounds. The information contained within the report will be reviewed annually.

CS21: Mitigation of Impacts/Planning Gain

9.18 The Government wishes to see a greater role played by planning obligations/developer contributions in funding local infrastructure and mitigating the impact of new development. At a local level, the Council intends to prepare a Supplementary Planning Document setting out its approach to obtaining and using developer contributions.

9.19 S106 allocations - Information regarding S106 monies received by the Council in the current monitoring period are set out in Table 11. Contributions have been received towards public open space, affordable housing and highways.

Table 11 - S106 monies received S106 allocation Monies received Public open space £74,966 Highways £6,500 Affordable Housing £8,500 Transport £0 Total £89,966

10. Access to Jobs and Services

Core Strategy Policy Indicators 2013-2014 2014-2015 % of new residential development within 30 minutes public transport time of a GP, hospital, primary and No data No data secondary school, employment and a major retail centre No. of planning applications refused on No data No data grounds of poor accessibility

Bus patronage 5.14 million 4.59 million Blackburn train Blackburn train station: station: Rail patronage 1,342,831 1,270,951 Darwen train Darwen train station: 319,044 station: 326,653 CS22: Accessibility Strategy 24,489 No. of pedestrians entering Blackburn 23,030 Blackburn-18,290 and Darwen town centres Darwen-6,199 No. of cyclists entering Blackburn and 832 - Blackburn 395 - Blackburn Darwen town centres 274 - Darwen 187 - Darwen No. of residents with NoW cards 21,262 21,727 Blackburn – Blackburn – % of people travelling into Blackburn 74.3% (86,300) 77.42% and Darwen town centres by car Darwen – Darwen – 71% 74% (21,853) No. of planning applications refused on grounds of traffic generation or No data No data inadequate demand management proposals

% of working age residents qualified to 25.2% 23.5% degree level and above

% of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSE’s 57% 54.6%14

% of economically inactive residents of 32.2% 29.1% CS23: Tackling Worklessness working age % of residents of working age claiming 3.6% 2.3% Job Seekers Allowance Duration of people claiming Job See Table 16 Seekers Allowance % of children walking to school No data No data

CS22: Accessibility Strategy

10.1 This policy requires new development to be located so as to minimise the need to travel, and so as to easily be accessed by non-car means including public transport, walking and cycling.

14 Source: Department for Education see here.

10.2 Bus patronage – 4.59 million is current figure for this monitoring period. This is less than the previous figure, but is still considered to be a high and it remains important to the Borough to continue to promote the use of buses; particularly given the development of the new bus station and Pennine Reach.

10.3 Rail patronage - The number of trains serving Blackburn Town Centre has been relatively the same every year since 2001. The number of trains serving Blackburn town centre is relatively consistent each year since 2001, with 75 trains per day. The lowest number of people recorded alighting was in 2001, with 938 commuters. This figure grew to a peak of 2,080 commuters in 2012, representing a 122% increase. Despite this growth, the numbers recorded in 2015 are 5% less than in 2014, and 20% lower than the 2012 peak of 2,080 patrons.15

Graph 9 - Comparison of Trains and Patrons (Blackburn Town Centre)

10.4 Graph 10 shows the number of train services and passengers entering Darwen Town Centre based on the 2014 Annual Cordon Count Report16. The number of trains entering Darwen Train Station has been increased by 1 service, to a total of 30 daily services. The occupancy rate has decreased slightly, but remains relatively unchanged since 2006 (excluding the 2009 results, which saw considerably more patrons on comparatively less trains), recording the occasional extra train and small variance in patronage and occupancy. While the scope of the Darwen Cordon Report survey struggles to demonstrate growth in train patronage, it must be noted that the ORR (Office of Rail Regulation) recorded a 3% increase in exits at Darwen rail station based upon their 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 station usage data building on the consistent year-on-year growth.

15 Source: Blackburn Town Centre 2015 Annual Cordon Count Report

16 Source: Darwen Town Centre Annual Cordon Report 2014

Graph 10 - Trains recorded against patrons and average occupancy

10.5 Number of pedestrians entering Blackburn and Darwen town centres - Data for 2014-15 shows that 24,489 pedestrians entered Blackburn and Darwen town centres during a sample 12-hour day. This has continued to increase over the past few years.

10.6 Number of cyclists crossing Blackburn town centre –Graph 11 illustrates the number of cycles entering the Blackburn Town Centre as recorded during the 2015 Annual Blackburn Town Centre Cordon Survey.17 Graph 11 - Number of cyclists crossing Blackburn town centre

17 Source: Blackburn Town Centre Annual Cordon Report 2015

10.7 The number of cyclists recorded is virtually unchanged from the previous year, falling by just 1 to 394. It should be noted that local weather conditions at the time of the counts are likely to influence the number of cycling trips recorded each year. Additionally, there are also potentially cyclists who use quiet roads or off-road paths to make their journey and are therefore unrecorded.

10.8 The overall trend line does indicate a gradual rise in cycling numbers since 2001. This steady increase reflects the significant efforts which have been made in recent years to promote cycling within the borough as a more sustainable mode of transport. These include the promotion of cycle to work schemes, comprehensive infrastructure improvements within the town and press and publicity generated through events such as bike week; local sky ride (delivered in partnership with British Cycling) and a strong led ride programme delivered from Witton Country Park.

10.9 A bid to the Department for Transport as part of the Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) in 2012 was successful which will continue to see further investment in measures to promote and facilitate cycling over the coming years and as a consequence a continued rise in the number of people cycling into Blackburn town centre could reasonably be observed. The BwD Connect Project is a comprehensive ‘smarter choices’ campaign combined with the provision of improved walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure. These activities will enhance the travel choices presented to some of the most diverse and deprived communities in England, helping to improve access to employment and training opportunities whilst reducing car usage. Working with businesses and education/training providers BwD Connect will promote lifelong travel behaviour changes that reduce carbon emissions and encourage the transport system to be an engine for economic growth.

10.10 Number of cyclists crossing Darwen town centre – Graph 13 illustrates the trend of pedal cyclists entering Darwen Town Centre as it has been recorded since 2003 by the cordon count surveys. Cyclists were down 32% year-on year, from last year’s record high of 274 to 187. However, as more data is gathered and trends emerge, there is still an overall pattern of growth since the study’s inception, and despite the inclement weather the survey recorded the second highest number of cyclists since the study began.18

18 Source: Darwen Town Centre Annual Cordon Report 2014

Graph 12 - Cyclists entering Darwen Town Centre

10.11 Number of residents with NoW cards - NoWcard has been set up jointly by Cumbria County Council, Lancashire County Council in addition to Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool Borough Councils and provides free off peak travel on local bus services throughout England for elderly and disabled passengers. As at 31st March 2015, 21,727 residents of Blackburn with Darwen had a NoWcard.

10.12 Percentage of people travelling into Blackburn and Darwen town centres by car – 74.3% of people travelled into Blackburn town centre by car and 74% of people travelled by car into Darwen town centre. These figures highlight that people remain relatively reliant on the car to access the town centre, although it is a decrease on the previous period; demonstrating that as Policy CS22 continues to be implemented in new developments, accessibility figures are improving with people will become less reliant on the private car to access town centres.

CS23: Tackling Worklessness

10.13 The Pennine Lancashire Economic Strategy and Pennine Lancashire MAA highlight the lack of skills base and poor educational attainment in the Borough. A significant amount of money has been invested in improving educational facilities in the Borough, most notably the new University Centre at Blackburn College. The Core Strategy highlights that it cannot directly impact on educational attainment, however it can influence the retention of graduates by setting a framework for the provision of appropriate jobs, housing and facilities to encourage graduates to live in Blackburn with Darwen.

10.14 Percentage of working age residents qualified to degree level and above - Figures for 2014 show Blackburn with Darwen consistently fall below regional and national educational attainment, the most significant difference being between Blackburn with Darwen and Great Britain for people attaining NVQ level 3 and above (national figure is 13.7% higher than Blackburn with Darwen).

Table 12 - Qualifications (Jan 2014-Dec 2014) Blackburn with Darwen Blackburn with Darwen North West Great Britain

(numbers) (%) (%) (%) NVQ4 and above 21,500 23.5 30.9 36.0 NVQ3 and above 40,000 43.7 52.7 56.7 NVQ2 and above 57,800 63.2 71.4 73.3

NVQ1 and above 69,600 76.0 83.4 85.0 Other qualifications 8,600 9.3 6.0 6.2 No qualifications 13,400 14.6 10.6 8.8 Source: ONS annual population survey Notes: Numbers and % are for those of aged 16-64 % is a proportion of resident population of area aged 16-64

10.15 25.3% of people in the Borough are educated to NVQ4 and above, compared to 36% in Great Britain, a 12.5% difference. Additionally, the percentage of people aged 16-64 who have no qualifications in the Borough stands at 14.6%. This is 5.8% higher than the national average and highlights the issue Blackburn with Darwen faces in terms of poor educational attainment and subsequent lack of a skills base.

10.16 Percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more GCSE’s – Based on data provided in Table 13, there has been a steady increase in pupils achieving 5 or more GCSE’s, albeit with a drop in 2014 – although this is similar to the national average. This is good for the borough and demonstrates that educational performance is in line with England. 19

Table 13 - GCSE and equivalent results, percentage of pupils gaining 5 or more A*- C grades at GCSE or equivalent including English and Mathematics (state schools only) Area 2011 2012 2013 2014 Blackburn with Darwen 56.9 57 59.7 54.6 England 59 59.4 59.2 53.4

10.17 Percentage of economically inactive residents of working age - Economically inactive residents are those who are neither in employment nor unemployed and include, for example, residents who are looking after home or family, or are permanently sick or disabled. From the results posted in April 2015, 31.9% of people of working age in the Borough were classified as economically inactive, compared to 25.0% in the North West and 22.6% in Great Britain. Compared to last year’s figures, Blackburn with Darwen has 2.4% less economically inactive residents within the Borough. This data demonstrates the importance of ensuring appropriate employment sites are delivered in accessible locations. Additionally, it emphasises the importance of ensuring a broad range of job types are delivered across the various sectors so that those residents who are unskilled still have the opportunity to enter the workforce. However, as the Core Strategy highlights, it is a priority to encourage the development of higher-wage, higher value added industries.

Table 14 - Economic inactivity (April 2014 – March 2015)

Blackburn with Great Britain Blackburn with North West Darwen Darwen (%) (%) (%) All people Economically inactive 27,300 29.6 25.3 22.6 Student 6,400 23.4 23.6 26.5 Looking after Family / Home 9,800 35.8 24.5 25.4 Temporary Sick # # 2.6 2.2 Long‐term sick 7,600 27.7 26 21.6

19 Source: Department for Education see here.

Discouraged ! ! 0.6 0.5 Retired 2,200 8.0 14.8 14.3 Other 1,100 4.1 7.9 9.5

Wants a Job 6,800 25 24.5 24.5 Does not want a job 20,500 75 75.5 75.5 Source: ONS Regional Labour Market Statistics, April 2015 20 Notes: Numbers and % are for those of aged 16-64 # Sample size too small for reliable estimate ! Estimate is not available since sample size is disclosive % is a proportion of resident population of area aged 16-64 and gender

10.18 Percentage of residents of working age claiming Job Seekers Allowance - Results shows that 2.3% of Blackburn with Darwen’s resident working age population were claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) on 13 March 2015 (Source ONS: Regional Labour Market Statistics, April 2015). This is 0.5% higher than the North West average of 1.8% and 0.3% higher than the national average of 2%.

10.19 The data also highlights a significant disparity between the gender of Job Seekers in Blackburn – see Table 15. In the monitoring period, 1410 of claimants were male compared to 733 who were female – 3% and 1.6% respectively.

Table 15 - Total JSA claimants (March 2015) Blackburn with Blackburn with Darwen North West Great Britain

Darwen (numbers) (%) (%) (%) All people 2143 2.3 1.8 2.0 Males 1410 3 2.3 2.5 Females 733 1.6 1.3 1.4 Source: ONS JSA01 Claimant count by Unitary and Local Authority (claimant count on 13 March 2015) Note: % is a proportion of resident population of area aged 16-64 and gender

Table 16 - JSA claimants by age duration (July 2015) Blackburn with Darwen Blackburn with Darwen North West Great Britain

(level) (%) (%) (%) Aged 16 to 64 Total 1,915 2.1 1.5 1.7 Up to 6 months 1,030 1.1 0.7 1.0 Over 6 and up to 12 385 0.4 0.3 0.3 months over 12 months 500 0.5 0.5 0.5 Age 18 to 24 Total 340 2.6 1.6 2.4 Up to 6 months 180 1.4 0.9 1.7 Over 6 and up to 12 105 0.8 0.3 0.4 months over 12 months 60 0.5 0.4 0.3 Age 25-49 Total 1,105 2.2 1.7 1.8

20 http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157069/report.aspx#tabrespop

Up to 6 months 600 1.2 0.8 1.0 Over 6 and up to 12 200 0.4 0.3 0.3 months over 12 months 310 0.6 0.6 0.5 Age 50 to 64 Total 465 1.9 1.3 1.4 Up to 6 months 250 1.0 0.6 0.6 Over 6 and up to 12 85 0.3 0.2 0.2 months over 12 months 130 0.5 0.5 0.5 Source: ONS claimant count - age duration with proportions Note: % is number of persons claiming JSA as a proportion of resident population of the same age

10.20 When examining figures for the duration of JSA claims it appears residents of Blackburn with Darwen spend a longer time claiming JSA than the regional and national averages. 0.5% of the claimants aged between 18 and 24 claimed JSA for longer than 12 months, with 1.4% claiming for up to 6 months, compared to national figures of 0.3% and 1.7% respectively.

10.21 When reviewing the ages of claimants, it is evident that, compared to figures for the North West and Great Britain, Blackburn with Darwen has a comparably higher proportion of younger people who are struggling to find work and are, as a result claiming JSA.

11. Monitoring the Borough’s Supplementary Planning Documents

10.1 It is essential that the outputs and use of adopted Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) are monitored in order to identify any effects predicted through the Sustainability Appraisal. If monitoring identifies any adverse effects, it will be appropriate to consider in the AMR whether any remedial action needs to be taken, such as reviewing the SPD or making recommendations to Members on the implementation of certain policies.

Adopted Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)  Queens Park Flats Development Brief SPD  Infirmary Waterside HMR Masterplan SPD  Borough Wide Design Guide SPD  Residential Design Guide SPD (Revised Edition September 2012)  Freckleton Street Masterplan SPD  Queen Street / Hindle Street SPD  Blackburn Cathedral Quarter SPD  Griffin SPD  House in multiple occupation and residential conversions and sub‐divisions SPD (April 2012)  Darwen Town Centre Conservation Area SPD (Adopted August 2013)  Green Infrastructure and Ecological Networks  Corporation Park

Adopted Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPGs)  Community and Other Uses within Residential Areas  Residential Institutions  Listed Buildings  Conservation Areas  Outdoor Advertisements and Signs  Shopfront Design and Security  Industrial and Warehousing Buildings  Agricultural Buildings  Conversion of Buildings in the Countryside  Village Appraisals  Species Protection

Proposed Supplementary Planning Documents  Blackburn Town Character  Darwen Town Character  Environmental Protection  Health  Hoddlesden Conservation Area Appraisal  Housing Delivery  Travel Planning  Developer Contributions  Wind Turbine Development

12. References

Blackburn Town Centre Annual Cordon Report (2015), Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Blackburn with Darwen Core Strategy (2011) Blackburn with Darwen Employment Land Review (2013), Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Blackburn with Darwen Borough and Hyndburn Council’s Strategic Market Assessment (SHMA) (2014) Blackburn with Darwen’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) (2013) Census (2011) Climate Change Act (2008) Darwen Town Centre Annual Cordon Report (2015), Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Five years Housing Land Supply & Housing Trajectory (2015) National Planning Policy Framework (2012) Office for National Statistics, www.statistics.gov.uk Local Plan Part 2 (2015) www.blackburn.gov.uk.

13. Glossary

The glossary is provided to assist in the interpretation of this document. It is neither a statement of law nor an interpretation of the law, and its status is only a guide to the monitoring report and should not be used as a source for statutory definitions.

Accessibility ‐ the ability of people and/or goods and services to reach places and facilities. Accessibility can be shown on a plan or described in terms of pedestrian and vehicle movements, walking distance from public transport, travel time or population distribution. Affordable housing ‐ Social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Average ‐ see ‘mean’ Biodiversity ‐ the whole variety of life encompassing all genetic species and ecosystem variations. Brownfield land ‐ also known as previously developed land. This is land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure, including the curtilage of the developed land and any associated fixed surface infrastructure. This excludes: land that is or has been occupied by agricultural or forestry buildings; land that has been developed for minerals extraction or waste disposal by landfill purposes where provision for restoration has been made through development control procedures; land in built-up areas such as private residential gardens, parks, recreation grounds and allotments; and land that was previously-developed but where the remains of the permanent structure or fixed surface structure have blended into the landscape in the process of time. Conservation area ‐ Areas of special architectural or historical interest, where development is more tightly restricted than elsewhere in order to sustain and enhance their special character and qualities. These areas are designated by the local planning authority, which gives them statutory recognition and protection. Core Strategy ‐ Part 1 of the Blackburn with Darwen Local Plan. It sets out the strategic objectives for the Borough including the targeted growth strategy. Decent Homes Standard – Communities and Local Government standard which states that a home must be warm, weatherproof and have reasonably modern facilities in order to be classed as decent. Environment Agency (EA) ‐ government agency set up with the aim of protecting or enhancing the environment, taken as a whole in order to play its part in attaining the objective of sustainable development. Floorspace ‐ the sum of the area of all floors (both above and below ground) of all buildings on a site, usually measured from the outside walls on every floor. Green Belt ‐ fundamental aim of Green Belts is to keep land predominantly open and to check the restricted sprawl of large built‐up areas, to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another, to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment and to assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Greenfield land ‐ land which has not previously been developed.

Green Flag Award Standard ‐ this is the national standard for parks and green spaces throughout England and Wales. For more information visit www.greenflagaward.org.uk.

Gross completions ‐ overall amount of floorspace or dwellings which have been built or converted. It will include floorspace and dwellings which are replacing buildings that have been lost to allow new development. Housing trajectory ‐ tool used to track council’s progress towards meeting its target for providing new housing over the coming years. It is based on data on past completions and estimates of new housing that is likely to be built in the future. Indices of Deprivation (ID) ‐ a measure of deprivation at the small area level. The ID is often used as a decision‐tool for the allocation of deprivation related funding programmes. Infrastructure ‐ the basic facilities that connect and service development and which are necessary for development to happen, for example, roads, electricity and gas supplies, sewers, water supply. Lifetime Homes ‐ proposed by Joseph Rowntree and describes homes that have been designed to accommodate the changing needs of occupants throughout their lives, particularly loss of mobility. Local Development Scheme (LDS) ‐ the Council’s programme for the preparation of its Development Plan Documents and Supplementary Planning Documents, setting out which documents will be produced, and when. Local Nature Reserve (LNR) ‐ is designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 for the purposes of preserving flora, fauna or geological or physiographical features of special interest and for the informal enjoyment of nature by the public. Local Plan ‐ produced by districts and unitary authorities, local plans set out strategy along with detailed policies and specific proposals for the development and use of land, and guide most day‐to‐day planning decisions. Median - the number separating the higher half of a data sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. Mean ‐ the mean is the most common form of average used. It is calculated by dividing the sum of a distribution by the number of incidents in the distribution. Net completions ‐ amount of additional floorspace or dwellings that have been completed (including conversions and long-term empty homes brought back into use), once losses of existing floorspace or dwellings have been taken into account. Open space ‐ all open space of public value, including public landscaped areas, streets, playing fields, parks and play areas and also including areas of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs. Renewable energy ‐ energy derived from a source which is continually replenished, such as wind, wave, solar, hydroelectric and energy from plant material. ‘Saved’ policies ‐ policies contained in an old style unitary development plan, local plan or structure plan that continue to be used pending their replacement in the new Development Plan Documents and Supplementary Planning Documents. Secured by Design ‐ a police initiative to encourage the building industry to adopt crime prevention measures in development design to assist in reducing the opportunity for crime and the fear of crime, creating a safer and more secure environment. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) ‐ a specifically defined area considered of national importance because of the presence of rare wildlife, plants, flowers or unusual geological features. SSSIs are identified and declared by Natural England under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) ‐ a detailed assessment of the extent and nature of the risk of flooding in an area and its implications for land use planning. The document will provide the basis from which to apply the sequential test and exception test in the development allocation and development control process. Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) ‐ planning document that supplements the policies and proposals contained in the Local Plan by providing advice at a greater level of detail to help both applicants and the local authority to determine planning applications. Following public consultation and a resolution from the Council such guidance can be used as a “material consideration” in determining planning proposals. Sustainable development ‐ development which allows the environment to be protected in such a condition and to such a degree that environmental capacities are maintained over time, and future generations can enjoy an equal measure of environmental consumption.

Appendix 1: Neighbouring Local Planning Authorities in the Duty to Cooperate

Appendix 2: Cross boundary matters relating to Duty to Cooperate

A. Local planning authorities/county council B. Prescribed bodies/other organisations C. Organisations not subject to the duty

A. LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITIES/COUNTY COUNCIL

ORGANISATIONS

Lancashire Ribble Valley Hyndburn Rossendale Bury Bolton Chorley South Ribble Preston AGMA County Council

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES / CROSS BOUNDARY MATTERS (NPPF para 156) Homes/housing          provision Gypsies/Travellers and Travelling          Show People Employment      land/access to jobs Retail/leisure and   other commercial Provision of infrastructure/ connectivity 1. Public transport        2. Cycling 3. Highway network

Health

ORGANISATIONS

Lancashire Ribble Valley Hyndburn Rossendale Bury Bolton Chorley South Ribble Preston AGMA County Council Natural and historic    environment Green Belt  Green Belt  Green Belt  1. Green Belt     Green Green Belt Green Green Belt Green Green 2. Green Green Green Green Green Belt Infrastructure Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure infrastructure infrastructure infrastructure infrastructure infrastructure Wind infrastructure Wind infrastructure Wind Wind turbines 3. Climate change turbines turbines turbines 4. Wind turbines Development Management           Policies

B. PRESCRIBED BODIES/Other organisations

ORGANISATIONS

PRESCRIBED BODIES OTHER ORGANISATIONS

Homes/housing          provision

Employment       land/access to jobs Retail/leisure and other commercial

ORGANISATIONS

PRESCRIBED BODIES OTHER ORGANISATIONS

Highway NHS Integrated Clinical Authority Environment English Natural England Transport Network Utility Sport Emergency Mobile HCA Commission (LCC and Agency Heritage England Lancashire Authoritie Rail provider England Services Operators -ing Group Highways Area Team s (TfGM) England) Provision of infrastructure/ connectivity 1. Public transport 2. Highway network/M65         3. Flood risk 4. Energy/utility providers 5. Emergency services 6. Sport provision Health   Natural and historic environment 1. Green Belt Green 2. Green Belt Green infrastructure Historic GI Belt/GI (GI) environ- 3. Climate Change ment 4. Historic environment Development  Management        

Policies Sustainability    appraisal

C. ORGANISATIONS NOT SUBJECT TO THE DUTY - (Local planning authorities subject to the duty must co-operate with the following)

ORGANISATIONS

Lancashire Local Enterprise Local Nature Partnership/TfL Partnership STRATEGIC PRIORITIES /CROSS BOUNDARY

MATTERS (NPPF para 156) Homes/housing provision  Employment land/access to  jobs Samlesbury EZ Retail/leisure and other commercial  Provision of Delivery of infrastructure/connectivity Growth Deal

transport

schemes. Health Natural and historic  environment  Heritage 1. Green Infrastructure Green Investment 2. Heritage Investment infrastructure Strategy Strategy

Appendix 3: Summary of engagement with neighbouring authorities and other prescribed bodies on strategic issues

PROGRESS on outstanding/ongoing actions from previous report included within AMR 9 (01 April 2013 – 31 March 2014)

STRATEGIC ISSUE ACTIVITY undertaken during ORGANISATIONS involved DATE UPDATE: AMR 9 time period OUTCOME/next steps

HOMES/housing provision Appointment of consultants to Jointly commissioned with Hyndburn BC Final report completed July 2014. prepare a Strategic Housing (shared housing market area) Evidence base document for Local Plan. Market Assessment (SHMA) and Housing Needs Study. Preparation of collective PLACE/ Pennine Lancashire Planning Final version completed June 2014 position statement on the Officer Group (PLPOG) including objectives for housing growth representatives from Pennine Lancashire in the sub-region. authorities21/Pennine Lancashire Housing Partnership Board EMPLOYMENT land/access to Consultation/discussions with All local authorities in Pennine Lancashire 28 November With exception of Hyndburn none of the authorities in jobs: neighbouring Pennine and in immediate sub region including 2014 the sub-region are planning to count land at Whitebirk Contribution of land at Lancashire authorities to South Ribble/Chorley/Bolton and Preston. towards its target. Whitebirk Strategic understand collective Hyndburn confirmed agreement on an apportionment Employment Site to future requirement, if any, for land at of employment between Hyndburn and BwD. employment land supply for Whitebirk. Blackburn and Darwen (Whitebirk is located within Hyndburn) Provision of Engagement with individual Key partners and providers involved in June 2014 Final version Infrastructure and Delivery Plan INFRASTRUCTURE/connectivity infrastructure providers to delivery of infrastructure. completed. inform preparation of draft Infrastructure and Delivery Plan.

ACTIVITY 01 April 2014 – 31 March 2015

21 Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Rossendale, Pendle and Burnley are the constituted member local planning authorities. Ribble Valley attends meetings but is not a constituted member of the group.

1. PREPARATION OF LOCAL PLAN (Local Plan 2 Site Allocations and Development Management Policies)