Rural Settlement Sustainability Study 2008 June 2008 Rural Settlement Sustainability Study 2008 Contents 1 Aims of the Study 3 2 Background to Rural Sustainability 5 3 Definition of Rural Settlements 9 4 Definition of Rural Services 11 5 Delivery of Rural Services 13 6 Inter-Relationship Between Rural Settlements & Urban Areas 15 7 Primary Services, Facilities & Jobs 17 8 Key Local Services & Facilities 19 9 Rural Accessibility 25 10 Sustainable Rural Settlement Summary 29 Appendices 1 Rural Settlements: Population & Dwellings i 2 Rural Transport: Car Ownership by Settlement iii 3 Sustainability Matrix: Access, Services & Facilities v June 2008 1 Aims of the Study 1.1 This report has been prepared to assist in the development of policies for sustainable development within Lichfield District. Information provided within the document will inform the preparation of a Core Strategy for the District as part of the Local Development Framework, in particular in the consideration of potential development locations within the District and an overall spatial strategy for longer term development having regard to principles of sustainability. 1.2 In his report on the Public Examination into the District Council’s first submitted Core Strategy (withdrawn 2006), the Inspector concluded that although there were proposed housing allocations within some of the District’s rural settlements, there was a lack of evidence in relation to the suitability of villages in the District to accommodate growth. He considered that the relative sustainability of different settlements should have been assessed as part of the preparation of the Core Strategy. He indicated that an assessment of the sustainability of rural settlements would ensure that the scale and location of development outside the District’s two main towns was driven by overall sustainability considerations, rather than simply the availability of previously developed land. 1.3 As a consequence the Council has recommenced preparation work on a revised Core Strategy (Draft Issues and Options consultation took place in December 2007), including its evidence base. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to assess the sustainability of rural settlements within the District primarily using - data available on key facilities and services present within settlements - Post Offices, GP Surgery, Pharmacy, Dentist, Primary School, Community Hall and Pub accessibility to other key services and facilities by means of public transport accessibility to employment, leisure, retail locations and hospitals by public transport. 1.4 In addition to providing evidence which will assist in the development of a spatial strategy for the District, this Study will also assist in the development of spatial strategies to improve the overall quality of life for the communities that live within them. 1.5 In order to keep the process simple, a scoring system has been applied to settlements based on the presence of key services and facilities and accessibility by public transport to other centres for employment, retail, health and leisure (Appendix 3). This scoring system has been amended following consultation on the Draft Rural Settlement Sustainability Study in December 2007. The scoring matrix has been revised, some of the weighting apportioned to the various elements altered slightly and the matrix has been divided in order to clarify how settlements have scored in relation to those bullet points set out in paragraph 1.3 above. June 2008 3 Rural Settlement Sustainability Study 2008 1.6 Following consultation on the Draft Rural Settlement Sustainability Study in December 2007, a number of responses were received and, where appropriate, changes have been made within the context of this revised Study. 4 June 2008 2 Background to Rural Sustainability 2.1 The concept of sustainability can encompass many elements, but in the context of this Study it focuses on the ability of residents within Lichfield District’s rural settlements to access employment, retail, health and leisure / entertainment facilities (by public transport) and the extent to which certain key facilities, such as shops, schools, doctors etc are present within the settlement themselves. This is on the basis that better access will minimise the need to travel, contribute to community life, and minimise social exclusion. 2.2 It is also recognised that many other factors impact on rural community life in terms of quality of life and degree of sustainability of individual settlements, including quantity and quality of the local environment, incidental open spaces, green spaces and corridors, play areas etc. However, to keep the Study manageable it concentrates on a number of key services and facilities. It is recognised that this Study does not consider the quality of services or facilities: for example in terms of community halls, a score is awarded if such a building is present but there is no further assessment on quality, type and size of the building in relation to local community requirements etc. Other studies are under way which will address some of these issues, including an Indoor Sport and Facilities Assessment, Playing Pitch Assessment and Open Space Assessment. These documents will address specific areas not covered within this Study. 2.3 The work carried out as part of this assessment will assist in informing the potential locations for development outside the urban areas of Lichfield and Burntwood. In addition it will inform considerations that impact on the sustainability of rural services and facilities and help to develop policies to improve them. National Framework 2.4 In 2005 the National Sustainable Development Strategy was published. This document states that, nationally and locally, the goal of achieving sustainable development: "will be pursued in an integrated way through a sustainable, innovative and productive economy that delivers high levels of employment, and a just society that promotes social inclusion, sustainable communities and personal wellbeing. This will be done in ways that protect and enhance the physical and natural environment, and use resources and energy as efficiently as possible." 2.5 The Strategy identified four priorities for action: Sustainable Consumption and Production – This is about achieving more with less, and benefiting both the environment and the economy by reducing waste. Climate Change and Energy – Mitigating and adapting to the effects of a changing climate. June 2008 5 Rural Settlement Sustainability Study 2008 Natural Resource Protection and Environmental Enhancement – Sustainable Communities – to create sustainable communities that embody the principles of sustainable development at the local level. This will involve working to give communities more power and say in the decisions that affect them, and working in partnership at the right level to get things done. 2.6 In 2000 the Government produced the Rural White Paper. This is a comprehensive document detailing how to help rural communities, it details the difficulties facing rural areas and sets out a vision of a countryside in which we all take the opportunities which change brings to build sustainable rural communities in an improved countryside environment. It aims to deliver towns and villages where people can choose to live in the communities in which they grew up and find affordable homes, send their children to good local schools and have access to high quality public services - services often delivered in new ways, and through new outlets. Regional Framework 2.7 Increasingly, the need to create or move towards sustainable communities has emerged as a key priority within planning. At the regional level, the Regional Spatial Strategy for the West Midlands (RSS) highlights that areas within Southern Staffordshire are heavily influenced by proximity to and functional linkages with Major Urban Areas and share some of their characteristics. As part of rural renaissance, the RSS states that, in preparing development plans, local authorities as well as service providers need to consider the inter-relationship of rural areas with the larger cities and towns that serve many of their higher order service needs and provide important sources of employment. 2.8 The RSS includes 4 policies on rural renaissance. In relation to this Study, Policy RR4 - Rural Services, requires consideration of rural services in the preparation of development plans in terms of: How centres develop complementary roles in service delivery Ensuring policies for housing and other forms of development take into account implications for the provision of services and facilities, including the extent to which new development may help support the provision of local facilities How services and facilities will be provided for in rural areas taking into account the need to retain essential community services to facilitate and provide new and innovative forms of service delivery Local Transport Plans should identify where improved public transport is needed to support rural services. 2.9 The Preferred Option Phase Two Revision (Draft December 2007) of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy rolls forward the same Policy RR4. 6 June 2008 County Level Local Transport Plan 2006-11 (Submitted to Secretary of State 2006) 2.10 The second Local Transport Plan (LTP) aims to build on the success of the first and covers a number of areas from casualty reduction, highway maintenance and public transport. The LTP incorporates a number of schemes to bring forward improvements in Staffordshire's