Publication Draft
DARLINGTON INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY PLAN: PUBLICATION DRAFT
Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010
CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION 5 Purpose of the Document 5 What is Infrastructure? 5 Policy Context 7 The Core Strategy 8 Local Context 9 Planning Obligations 9 Approach 10 2.0 PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 12 TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE 12 The Borough’s Road Network 12 Rail Based Transport 15 Cycling Walking and Other Public Transport Measures 18 Air Travel 19 UTILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE 21 Gas Supply 22 Electricity Supply 22 Water Supply, Waste Water Distribution and Sewerage Network 22 Telecommunications 23 Waste Management 24 Renewable Energy 24 Flood Management 24 3.0 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE 26 HEALTH CARE PROVISION 26 EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES 28 Early Years Provision 28 School Education 29 Further Education 32 Libraries 33 HOUSING 34 Affordable Housing 34 Improvements to Existing Housing 36 Older Persons Accommodation 37 ADULT AND CHILDREN SOCIAL CARE FACILITIES 38 ACCOMMODATING TRAVELLING GROUPS 38 SPORT AND RECREATION PROVISION 39 Playing Pitches 39 Indoor and Outdoor Sports Facilities 41 CULTURAL AND HERITAGE ATTRACTIONS 43 Hotel provision 44 EMERGENCY SERVICES 45 4.0 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 47 Green Corridors 47 Parks and Gardens 47 Cemeteries, Churchyards and Burial Grounds 48 Children and Young People’s Provision 49 Civic Spaces 50 Natural and Semi Natural Greenspace 50 Informal Open Space 51 Landscape Amenity 51 Urban Fringe 51 Allotments 51 Public Rights of Way 52
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5.0 INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY SCHEDULE 54 STRATEGIC LOCATIONS 60 Darlington Town Centre 60 Darlington Town Centre Fringe 62 Central Park 64 North west urban fringe 66 East urban fringe 68 Durham Tees Valley Airport 70 6.0 MONITORING AND UPDATING THE IDP 71
APPENDIX 1 BOROUGH BASELINE DATA 72 APPENDIX 2 CYCLE MAP 73 APPENDIX 3 HEALTHCARE PROVISION 74 APPENDIX 4 LOCALITY MAP 75 APPENDIX 5 PCP PROGRAMME 76 APPENDIX 6 PRIORITY INVESTMENT AREAS 77
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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
AGDPD Accommodating Growth Development Plan Document AMP Asset Management Plan BAPTS Building Advanced Transport Systems BSF Building Schools for the Future BT British Telecommunications plc CDT Cycling Demonstration Town CIF Community Infrastructure Fund CS Core Strategy CSH Code for Sustainable Homes DBC Darlington Borough Council DCLG Department of Communities, Local Government DETC Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor DFC Devolved Funding Capital DFT Department for Transport DoE Department of Education EA Environment Agency ECML East Coast Main Line ERDF European Regional Development Fund GRIP Guide to railway Investment Projects GP General Practitioner HCA Homes and Communities Agency IDP Infrastructure Delivery Plan LA Local Authority LDF Local Development Framework LTP Local Transport Plan MUGA Multi Use Games Area NHS National Health Service NWL Northumbrian Water Ltd PCP Primary Capital Programme PCT Primary Care Trust PPS Planning Policy Statement PROW Public Rights of Way RFA Regional Funding Allocation RSL Registered Social Landlord SHIP Single Housing Investment Programme SPD Supplementary Planning Document SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest STP Synthetic Turf Pitch TCFAAP Town Centre Fringe Area Action Plan TOC Train Operating Company TPE Trans Pennine Express TVBNI Tees Valley Bus Improvement Network
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1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.0.1 Darlington’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) is an integral part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) and a key, supporting document for the Core Strategy, covering the plan period from 2011-2026. This IDP adds value to existing and bespoke infrastructure investment plans; it will help coordinate infrastructure provision, ensuring that funding and delivery timescales broadly match those for the Core Strategy’s growth strategy, particularly at the strategic locations. Importantly, it is a living document; it will be reviewed and updated annually alongside the LDF Annual Monitoring Report, to incorporate changes and add new infrastructure projects.
1.0.2 The IDP strongly draws on more detailed infrastructure plans and strategies from a wide range of Council services and from key, external infrastructure providers which identify what, how and when infrastructure will be delivered. But it is not intended to include every infrastructure project being planned in the Borough or to provide a list of planning obligations; it only includes those planned infrastructure projects that will help deliver the Core Strategy and their funding and delivery requirements. It also identifies areas where gaps in provision exist or are likely to exist over the Core Strategy plan period.
1.1 PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT 1.1.1 This IDP will help to: • direct the right level of growth to the right place at the right time; • ensure there is the correct type and amount of infrastructure to support the level of growth in the Core Strategy; • target resources to areas of need; • bid for funding from other infrastructure agencies; • achieve efficiencies in service delivery and development planning; and • inform the future policy of infrastructure providers, to ensure their services can match demand to provide sustainable growth.
1 1.1.2 The IDP has two roles; it is primarily a planning tool supporting the Core Strategy and the PPS12, DCLG, 2008 development of the LDF. Its principal role is to satisfy the requirements of PPS121. It identifies the key pieces of infrastructure needed to achieve the objectives and policies in the Core Strategy, the broad locations where the infrastructure will be located as well as their delivery mechanisms.
1.1.3 But it also has a wider corporate role; to identify, support and inform other strategies and decisions relating to capital investment across the Council. Identifying where infrastructure is required enables the Council, with other service providers, developers and local communities to be able to properly plan for, fund and coordinate infrastructure with the level of growth identified in the Core Strategy. The Council’s role in facilitating and securing the delivery of infrastructure will vary for different infrastructure projects. It could include: • the delivery of infrastructure through its enabling spatial policies e.g. by allocating sites for infrastructure in future Development Plan Documents; • direct funding of infrastructure; • indirect funding of infrastructure through enabling private sector investment, including negotiating planning obligations; • indirect funding through influencing third party public sector investment; and • providing a statutory service which impacts on its spatial policies (such as schools, adult and children’s services and transport).
1.1.4 The IDP will also identify the known funding mechanisms available for infrastructure delivery; this will help to inform capital planning and help infrastructure providers apply for funds from elsewhere. Where delivery is uncertain, the Council will be able to work with its partners to implement contingency measures to secure infrastructure critical to meet the needs of new development.
What is Infrastructure?
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1.1.5 Infrastructure is the provision of facilities and services that are required to support the needs of the community and help ensure that those living, working in, or visiting Darlington experience a good quality of life. The delivery of the right levels and type of infrastructure at the right time, which reflects population and household growth, increased housing provision and economic growth is essential to support the Core Strategy’s growth strategy.
2Town and Country 1.1.6 Infrastructure is defined as including, but not limited to: Planning Act 2008 • Roads and other transport facilities; Section 216 • Flood defences; • Schools and other educational facilities; • Medical facilities; • Sporting and recreational facilities; • Open spaces; and • Affordable housing2.
1.1.7 In Darlington this has been expanded to include infrastructure that is needed to enable publicly funded services to be provided like pipes/cables, improvements to existing housing and emergency services for the wider community. The contribution private facilities makes to current infrastructure provision is recognised but as new provision is market driven, it is difficult to identify gaps in provision and prioritise resources. However when known provision is identified that helps deliver the Core Strategy, the IDP will be updated accordingly.
1.1.8 Infrastructure can be at a strategic, local or neighbourhood level. But this IDP only includes those projects which are needed to deliver the Core Strategy. PPS121 refers to a number of infrastructure delivery agencies and this list has been refined and expanded to include the relevant infrastructure providers in Darlington as set out in Table 1:
Table 1: Infrastructure providers Physical Infrastructure Transport Road network Highways Agency, DBC Car parking DBC Rail based transport Network Rail, East Coast, Train operating companies, Darlington-Bishop Auckland Heritage line Community Rail Partnership Cycling, walking and other public transport DBC, Arriva, Bus operating companies Air Travel Durham Tees Valley Airport Utilities Gas supply National Grid, Northern Gas Networks, United Utilities Electricity supply National Grid, CE Electric UK, Northern Electric Distribution Ltd (NEDL) Water supply, waste water and sewerage Northumbrian Water Ltd Telecommunications BT Openreach Waste management DBC, John Wade Group Renewable energy Energy servicing companies Flood management Environment Agency, Northumbrian Water, DBC, developers/landowners Social and community infrastructure Healthcare Acute care and general hospitals, mental County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, Tees, Esk and Wear health hospitals Valley NHS Foundation Trust, private providers Health centres/Primary Care Trusts NHS County Durham and Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) Education Early years DBC, private providers Primary and Secondary education LA, academy, private providers Higher education Darlington College, Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, secondary schools Further education Teesside University Libraries DBC
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Housing Affordable housing DBC, RSLs Existing housing DBC, private landlords Older persons accommodation DBC, private providers Adult and children social care facilities DBC, Darlington PCT, Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust, Age Concern, MIND, private providers Accommodating Travelling Groups DBC Sport and recreation Playing pitches DBC, LA, Parish Councils, private providers Indoor and outdoor sport and recreation DBC, LA, Parish Councils, private providers facilities Cultural and Heritage Facilities Cultural Attractions DBC, private providers Nationally protected assets Government, English Heritage, Locally protected heritage assets DBC, private developers/landowners Hotels Private providers Emergency Services Police, fire, ambulance Durham Constabulary, County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service, Darlington and Durham North East Ambulance NHS Trust Green Infrastructure Locally important open spaces DBC, Parish Councils, private providers, landowners, developers Biodiversity provision DBC, Parish Councils, private providers, landowners, developers Urban fringe DBC, Parish Councils, private providers, landowners, developers Allotments DBC, Parish Councils, Churches, private providers, self managed associations Public Rights of Way DBC, Parish Councils, private providers, landowners, developers
1.1.9 The Core Strategy will help ensure that there is sufficient, appropriate physical, social and green infrastructure in all parts of the Borough. Making the best use of and improving existing infrastructure appropriately, perhaps through improved management and maintenance regimes may help ensure that better use is made of existing infrastructure rather than requiring new provision to be delivered. Private provision will complement this approach.
1.2 POLICY CONTEXT
1 1.2.1 Coordinating development and the delivery of accompanying infrastructure has been given more PPS12, DCLG, 2008 prominence in the planning system in recent years. PPS121 states that to deliver sustainable communities, the Core Strategy should be ‘supported by evidence of what physical, social and green infrastructure is needed to enable the amount of development proposed’ for Darlington, taking account of its type and distribution1. The IDP should identify: • Infrastructure needs and costs; • Phasing of development; • Funding sources; • Responsibilities for delivery; and • Specific infrastructure requirements of any strategic locations which are allocated in the Core Strategy.
2 2Planning White Paper, 1.2.2 Meanwhile the 2007 Planning White Paper proposes ‘a forward-looking approach’ to 2007 infrastructure provision at the local level that considers ‘a more strategic and holistic view, which takes infrastructure decisions on roads alongside those of…schools, hospitals, cultural and community facilities’. By identifying infrastructure requirements from an early stage, timely delivery is more likely to be achieved.
1.2.3 Infrastructure Delivery: Spatial Plans in Practice3 recommends that infrastructure delivery 3Infrastructure Delivery: Spatial Plans in requirements should be related to the broader implementation of policies. Reflecting this, the Core Practice, DCLG, 2008
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Strategy’s implementation framework identifies key infrastructure requirements, broad funding and delivery mechanisms (where known) for that policy.
1.2.4 This approach is reinforced by national planning policy: 4PPS1, ODPM 2005 PPS14: ensure that infrastructure and services are provided to support new and existing economic development and housing; 6 5PPS3, DCLG, 2010 PPS3 : provide housing in suitable locations, which offer a good range of community facilities and with good access to jobs, key services and infrastructure based on an assessment of the 6PPS4, DCLG, 2009 impact of development upon existing or planned infrastructure, and of any new infrastructure required including physical, social and green infrastructure; PPS46: economic development is supported by (or plans for) sustainable transport and other infrastructure needed to deliver the development.
1.2.5 The consistent themes in these documents emphasise the importance of the early identification of infrastructure necessary to support the development proposed in the Core Strategy. Risks associated with that infrastructure should be tested and contingencies set out to ensure that there is sufficient flexibility to overcome any future delivery problems that may be experienced.
1.2.6 At a sub regional level, the Tees Valley authorities are working in partnership to deliver 7 partnership between infrastructure to support regeneration and growth aspirations through: Tees Valley Local 7 authorities and One • Tees Valley Multi Area Agreement (MAA) : some funding for infrastructure to deliver North East, coordinated regeneration, economic development and housing will be resourced from the national level, but by Tees Valley managed at a sub regional level. This agreement sets a framework for the delivery of net Unlimited additional homes, maintaining the reliability of the road network, increasing the overall 8 8 employment rate and increasing the gross value added from the sub-regional economy. the economic value of 9 goods and services in a • Tees Valley Investment Plan : primarily for housing and regeneration infrastructure, it will identify town or region schemes including commercial projects that require public sector capital spending, for intervention. This work is ongoing but the Darlington schemes are likely to be long term projects 9delivery and identified as essential to deliver the Core Strategy, like Central Park. investment plan for the Tees Valley statement of ambition 1.3 THE CORE STRATEGY 1.3.1 The Core Strategy is the principal document in the LDF1. It sets out how the Borough will develop
1 over the next 15 years and provides the spatial planning framework for many plans and strategies see Council’s website www.darlington.gov.uk prepared by the Council and its infrastructure partners.
1.3.2 The Core Strategy needs to tackle a range of spatial planning issues which will have an impact on its infrastructure network. These are discussed in detail in the Core Strategy but in summary: • Meeting the changing needs of an ageing population; • Reducing inequalities; • Ensuring equality of opportunity and access to services; • Enhancing the town centre; • Providing good accessibility, and choice of modes of transport for everyone whilst tackling congestion; • Increasing the supply and range of affordable housing; • Developing sustainable neighbourhoods; • Valuing and reinforcing green infrastructure; • Ensuring that significant regeneration and development is delivered particularly in the well located, prominent locations of the Town Centre, Central Park and the Town Centre Fringe; • Providing sufficient, suitable and available employment land to support economic growth across a variety of sectors, including the knowledge economy and logistics; • Matching the Borough’s housing stock to better meet the needs and aspirations of local people and those moving to the Borough; and • Provision of supporting infrastructure that is accessible and better meets the needs of all local people.
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1ONS 2008 based sub 1.3.3 Over the plan period Darlington’s population is predicted to increase by 10,000 people with a 1 national projections slight increase in those of working age. But there will be a 23% increase in the number of residents who will not be of working age and households will increase by 5000, including an expected increase in single person households; this has an impact on the types of infrastructure required in the long term, over the next 15 years. A summary of forecast growth is contained in Appendix 1.
1.3.4 The growth strategy particularly for housing has been phased into three periods: 2011-2016; 2016-2020 and 2020-2026; for consistency infrastructure planning will follow the same timescales for delivery. The Core Strategy makes provision for the following average net additions to the dwelling stock Borough-wide: 2011-2016: about 350 2016-2021: about 350 2021-2026: about 400
1.3.5 Overall, additional employment land of about 101ha is required to 2026 which can easily be accommodated in the Council’s employment land portfolio. A summary of indicative amounts of additional floor space is set out in Appendix 1.
1.3.6 The Core Strategy’s strategic locations are the areas of the Borough where significant growth of housing and employment land is proposed. The level of housing and employment land proposed in each location is set out in section 5.2 The basis of this locational strategy is to contain housing and employment growth within and on the edges of the urban area where an existing network of supporting infrastructure like open space, schools, leisure facilities and health centres exist. However the changing demographic mix and additional development proposed may affect the type and location of infrastructure provision and timescales for delivery. Where infrastructure provision is known for these locations further information is set out in section 5.2.
1.4 LOCAL CONTEXT 1.4.1 The Darlington LDF is a set of planning policy documents, which will collectively deliver the spatial
1 planning strategy for the Borough. The Core Strategy is the key plan within the LDF. It sets out the the sustainable Council’s spatial strategy for the future development of Darlington to 2026 in line with the community strategy 1 (SCS) for Darlington, principles of sustainable development and the priorities of One Darlington: Perfectly Placed . The 2008 policies and plans in the LDF are key mechanisms to deliver the targets and outcomes identified in the Local Area Agreement2 alongside the plans of other infrastructure delivery partners, the use 2 the three year of land and assets and private investment. delivery plan of the SCS 1.5 PLANNING OBLIGATIONS 1.5.1 New development often provides the opportunity to deliver facilities and services that may be lacking in that particular location. Some elements, such as the delivery of utility infrastructure, will be an integral part of all new development, other elements, particularly community, recreation and transport contributions will relate to the identified needs that would arise from a development in a particular location. Where sufficient capacity does not already exist to meet the need created by new residents or users of a development, the development should contribute what is necessary, either on or off site or by making a financial contribution towards provision or enhancement elsewhere in the locality.
1.5.2 Currently in Darlington, developer contributions are secured through planning obligations1 1or Section 106 agreements are legally attached to planning permissions. These are used most commonly to secure: binding agreements • Affordable and special needs housing; between landowners • Sustainable transport provision; and/or developers and the Council • Road and highways improvements; • Provision and enhancement of open space and children’s play areas; and • Provision and enhancement of priority habitats.
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1.5.3 The forthcoming Planning Obligations SPD1 will set out future requirements, which will be 1see Council’s informed by the evidence in this IDP, particularly where gaps in infrastructure provision have been website 2 www.darlington.gov.uk identified. The Community Infrastructure Levy sets out a new alternative measure to planning obligations, collecting financial contributions from developers and the matters for which they could 2Community be sought. It is not mandatory for the Council to use the Levy; if the Levy or a successor scheme Infrastructure Levy, is introduced by the Council, it is expected that the IDP will help in the preparation of tariffs for DCLG, 2010 future development.
1.6 APPROACH 1.6.1 The following approach has been taken to identify requirements for each infrastructure category:
Pre-production Plan Production Finalise
Infrastructure provider Involvement
July 2010: June 2009: Assessment of Identify gaps Prepare draft January 2010 Consider Start whether current in provision IDP Publication representations Finalise Process – and planned and additional of draft IDP Publication Review provision can infrastructure Draft IDP infrastructure provide for the required to investment future growth deliver Core plans and Strategy strategies
Informal Formal Monitoring Consultations consultation and Review with with infrastructure stakeholders, providers community and other interested
1.6.2 An important element of the pre-production process was to identify infrastructure already planned to address an existing gap, as well as identifying long term requirements at a Borough level and, where possible, at this stage for the strategic locations. For all planned provision it was important to establish: • who will provide the infrastructure; • when it will be provided; • costs and sources of funding, from the public and private sector (where known) and gaps in funding; • delivery mechanisms; and • broad locations for infrastructure.
1.6.3 To ensure the IDP is flexible and robust, potential risks associated with delivery were also identified. At the time of publication there was considerable uncertainty associated with several proposed schemes; the Government’s budget review includes several schemes in Darlington that were to be wholly or partly public sector funded. For these projects and others, where uncertainty over delivery exists, contingency options have been identified where possible, to help ensure that the Core Strategy remains deliverable in the long term.
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1.6.4 Information gathered through the above approach, taken with responses made to the Core Strategy: Revised Preferred Options have informed the detailed infrastructure sections of this IDP. Whilst public sector funding will underpin much of the infrastructure delivery to provide the growth set out in the Core Strategy, short public sector funding cycles can make it difficult to plan for long-term growth. Commercial and private providers also operate to different investment plan cycles, and utilities providers operate to their own five year Asset Management Plans, adding to the difficulty of co-ordinating future investment and infrastructure delivery particularly in the long term. It is hoped that the IDP will help to better align spending streams and work programmes with expected growth to provide a more robust, integrated and responsive infrastructure delivery strategy.
1.6.5 The Core Strategy is a strategic document and in some cases providers found it difficult to provide details of projects required without more site specific details about where new development would be located. Consultation with infrastructure providers will continue throughout the LDF, particularly in the production of the Accommodating Growth DPD to identify details of site specific infrastructure required to deliver allocations. Further information on the role of that DPD and others in the Darlington LDF in relation to infrastructure provision is provided for each infrastructure section.
1.6.6 The IDP is a ‘living’ document; it will be robustly monitored and updated alongside the LDF Annual Monitoring Report. This will help the Council ensure that the Core Strategy is being delivered within the correct timeframe and that the necessary infrastructure is being provided to support the growth. Further information on the monitoring process is set out in section 6
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2.0 PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
2.1 TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE
Context 2.1.1 Darlington is situated at the gateway to the Tees Valley City Region and the North East, benefitting from excellent transport links by road, rail and air. It is located on the strategic road (A1M and A66(T)) and rail (East Coast Main Line) networks, with fast and efficient connections to the Tees Valley and the rest of the UK. Durham Tees Valley Airport provides services for business and leisure travellers to UK and European destinations. Locally, an excellent road network (A66) and local branch lines connect Darlington to destinations in the Tees Valley, County Durham and North Yorkshire.
1 2.1.2 Across Darlington there is good accessibility by road, public transport, cycling and walking. Car 8.85 million bus ownership continues to increase though the number of trips by car has fallen. Bus patronage is passenger journeys 1 started/finished in relatively high, but declining, in line with other parts of the UK . The number of walking and cycling 2 3 Darlington 2008-09, a trips continues to increase , reflecting Darlington’s status as a Cycling Demonstration Town . The decline of 1.8 million Borough has benefitted from increased funding for this since 2004; Darlington will continue to use since 2001-02 its status to encourage the community to exercise more choice in their travel behaviour and to 2Walking trips encourage further shifts towards more sustainable travel options. increased from 25% to 29% and cycling from 2.1.3 Within the urban area, Darlington’s traditional radial road pattern and associated transport network 1% to 3% 2004-2008 focuses on the strategic public transport hub4; the town centre and Bank Top station. The hub will be prioritised for development as a high quality interchange with service integration promoted 3brings extra between all modes of transport, and to increase the level of cycling and walking to and within Government funding them. for investment in innovative cycling and sustainable travel 2.1.4 The LDF Core Strategy needs to take a comprehensive, co-ordinated approach to transport when projects promoting new development and regenerating parts of the Borough. Policy CS19 promotes a sustainable transport network for Darlington that improves accessibility, enhances economic 4 place with high levels viability, protects the environment and promotes quality of life. It provides the necessary of public transport accessibility at a framework to enable the Council to seek transport improvements to provide greater travel choice strategic level and more reliable journey times within and between the urban area and villages of the Borough. It aims to minimise the transport impact of new development, helping to make the most efficient and effective use of existing road capacity and maximising the potential for alternatives to car travel, such as outlined in the Local Transport Plan and its successors.
2.1.5 The majority of development is proposed in the urban area where the extent and capacity of supporting infrastructure, services and facilities is greatest to facilitate the use of public transport, cycling and walking. Locating sustainably designed new development within the urban area will help minimise congestion, carbon emissions and improve air quality (policy CS2 and policy CS16). Provision of employment land in easily accessible locations, some adjoining the strategic highway network and major arterial routes will help support the economy of Darlington and access to quality employment land (policy CS5).
The Borough’s Road Network 5comparing annual 2.1.6 Between 2004 and 2008 there was a 13% reduction in vehicle mileage by residents; this average traffic volume contributes to a decrease in traffic levels on local urban roads of 6% in peak hours and 5% over data for 2005/6 and 24 hours5. But with 90%6 of travel to work trips to Darlington daily being by car from the Tees 2008/9, Independent Valley and County Durham, congestion, from the volume of traffic, is a particular issue at peak research into the impact of Local Motion, 2009 times on the following roads and junctions: • West Auckland Road/Cockerton Green;
6 • North Road/Whessoe Road; 15,700 trips • North Road/Salters Lane junction; • Haughton Road/McMullen Road junction; and
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• A66(T) Blands Corner/Yarm Road/Stockton Road junctions.
2.1.7 Improving connectivity and accessibility across the Borough, within the Tees Valley and the North East is essential to delivering sustainable access to employment, housing and services. New developments that are well served by sustainable travel modes will have a reduced impact on the level of traffic on the roads, but inevitably other locations will experience increased traffic levels.
2.1.8 Currently congestion is tackled through improving the management of the road network. This will continue in 3LTP, but to minimise the impact of traffic congestion, further investment will be required to: • Better manage the highway network to optimise its use; 7 Darlington Transport • Promote the travel behaviour programme to encourage more travel by sustainable travel Strategy 2006-2030, DBC 2006 modes; and • Improve junctions which act as pinch points on the highway network7.
Strategic Road Network – A1M and A66 (T) 2.1.9 Congestion along the single carriageway A66(T) and at some of its junctions can restrict the effective operation of the road which could deter or be a restraint on future development in Darlington, access to the airport and outside the Borough to Teesport unless action is taken to improve capacity. The Council’s preferred option in 2004 was to upgrade the A66(T) from the A67 8Government agency junction north to a dual carriageway, partly by providing a bypass to the east of Great Burdon responsible for the roundabout. All improvements to the network require the support of and funding from the operation and 8 maintenance of the Highways Agency who are responsible for the management of traffic and congestion along both strategic road network routes.
Planned Provision: A66(T) Improvements 2.1.10 Improvements to the A66(T) and associated local interventions have been identified as necessary9 to ensure that the Tees Valley’s transport networks are capable of facilitating the 9 Tees Valley Area planned regeneration of the sub-region over the next 20 years. The A66(T) has also been Action Plan study by Highways Agency, the modelled to assess the impact future development will have on the A66 and secondary road Tees Valley authorities network. Three schemes had been identified in Darlington as being potential solutions to and the Tees Valley minimising traffic congestion, delivering infrastructure and improvements on the strategic road Joint Strategy Unit network: • A66/Yarm Road Junction: major remodelling of the junction to provide larger diameter and circulatory carriageway to improve capacity in advance of A66 Gateway Improvements scheme below; • A66 Great Burdon and DETC roundabouts: signalisation of the roundabouts to provide enhanced capacity to complement the A66/Yarm Road scheme; and • A66 Darlington bypass: new dual carriageway section of A66(T) between Yarm Road and
10 Great Burdon providing grade separation at existing roundabout on this section. as part of the Tees Valley City Region: Connectivity and 2.1.11 This work, including managing the growth in demand on the A66(T) from local traffic making short 10 Accessibility Study- the journeys, are currently being reviewed ; this will help evaluate the region’s transport strategy and response to the DoT will help prioritise schemes for funding from the Regional Funding Allocation or other funding Delivering a Sustainable sources over the next year, since no confirmed budget exists at the time of publication. Transport System Strategy Local Road Network 11 2.1.12 The Council, as the local highway authority, has responsibility for maintaining and improving the including roads, 11 footpaths, traffic signals, rest of the adopted highway network in Darlington. Through its Transport Asset Management bridges and street lights Plan12 spending commitments are made on at least an annual basis in order to respond effectively to change to improve the network where appropriate, to address safety concerns, to increase 12ensures that assets capacity or to accommodate new development. are safe to use, fit for their intended purpose Planned Provision: Tees Valley Bus Network Improvement scheme (TVBNI) and are efficiently maintained
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2.1.13 This programme13 will, partly by funding better infrastructure on core route corridors14, significantly 13Tees Valley City Region Business Case, improve the coordination, service quality and coverage of the strategic bus network across the sub 2008 region. The delivery schedule is being revised following negotiations with the Department for Transport (DfT) who are providing £37.5m across the sub region towards the scheme. Final 14a section of road approval is dependent on the annual release of DfT funding. At the time of publication, the served by one or more probability is that this approval will be granted given their support for the whole programme of bus routes schemes. The new five year delivery schedule (2010/15) will include the improvement of the following key junctions in the town’s road network: • North and Whessoe Road: £3.5m junction improvement scheme, at detailed design stage, scheduled for delivery before 2016, using DfT funding and allocated Council funding; • Cockerton Green: £600,000 improvement scheme scheduled for delivery before 2016. The details are being prepared alongside further traffic forecasting scenarios. • Brinkburn Road and West Auckland Road: £99,000 scheme has funding secured and can be delivered separately to that for the adjacent Cockerton Green if required before 2016. • Milbank and Woodland Road: the need for this £100,000 scheme is currently under review following traffic forecasting scenarios. If a decision is made to proceed, then the scheme would be delivered by 2016. • Junctions on the Bondgate to Stonebridge section of the inner ring road, including the widening of Freeman’s Place: £3.2m package of improvements scheduled for delivery before 2016 are under development as part of ongoing work to masterplan the wider town centre fringe.
Planned Provision: Relieving Congestion on the Road Network 15 15 2.1.14 In 2010 the Tees Valley Model shows that the road network experiences congestion in a number strategic model to of key locations. If development at the strategic locations takes place, this will be exacerbated; test major highway schemes and to mitigation will be required to reduce the impact on the network to return the congestion to 2010 investigate traffic levels. Several potential improvements have been identified to mitigate this: impacts of major • Extending highway access to West Park from West Auckland Road to Newton Lane: developer developments on the highway network funding; • Upgrading the A66(T)/A67 Yarm Road roundabout: developer and regional funding (this budget will need to be identified); • Implementing a new 10 minute frequency bus service linking the town centre with West Park, running via Woodland Road, Cockerton Green, Newton Road, West Auckland Road: Set up funding for this service would need to be secured from development; • Implementing a new 10 minute frequency bus service linking the town centre with the Eastern Urban Fringe, running via Yarm Road, Lingfield Way, Allington Way, McMullen Road and the Eastern Transport Corridor: set up funding for this service would need to be secured from development; • Dualling of the A66(T) between Great Burdon Roundabout and the Eastern Transport Corridor: regional funding will need to be identified. • Converting roundabouts to traffic signal junctions to give greater control of traffic movements, 16 traffic control system maximise the efficiency of traffic movement and provide scope to improve the punctuality of which manages traffic 16 signals in real time to buses over the route using a hurry up call for late buses: the TVBNI scheme for the inner ring allow buses to go road may involve the conversion of roundabouts into signal controlled junctions. through traffic lights • Prioritisation of bus services on approaches to junctions to complement the 10 min frequency without stopping bus services: funding would come from 3LTP and developer funds.
Car Parking 2.1.15 A range of short and long stay car parks are found in and around the town centre (3694 spaces in 17265 car parking and around the inner ring road). 56% are Council owned; the main exceptions are at the Cornmill 17 spaces and Sainsbury’s. The former Feethams bus depot short stay surface car park has increased the number of car park spaces in the town centre to 1950, close to Darlington’s target figure for 18 spaces within the ring road. Outside the ring road, there are 828 long stay car parking spaces to Darlington Parking 18 Strategy, DBC, 2009 the north and east of the town centre in 10 Council owned and operated car parks . Use is uneven with Chesnut Street and Park Lane car parks having the lowest levels of use.
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Complementing these are several privately owned and operated car parks at district and local centres, shopping and recreation facilities and at Durham Tees Valley Airport.
Planned Provision: Car Parking 19Darlington Parking 2.1.16 Use of car parks, alongside any need for improvements are addressed through the Parking Strategy Action Plan Strategy Action Plan19, especially to promote Darlington as a key destination for retail and leisure DBC, 2009 trips. A programme of improvements will start in 2010/11 to support the town centre economy and meet the needs of disabled people, including improvements to the layout of some existing car parks.
2.1.17 In the longer term, plans for ‘The Oval’ shopping centre in the north west of the town centre will significantly improve the car parking offer for short stay users; Kendrew Street East and West long stay car parks will be replaced with a new multi-storey 800 space short stay car park. Redevelopment proposals also exist for sites currently used as car parks elsewhere in the town centre at Beaumont Street and the Town Hall (see 5.2.1).
2.1.18 Parking provision for non residential developments should be linked to coordinated proposals for public transport, sustainable transport choices and accessibility improvements to reflect local circumstances. Provision in locations with good public transport access could be reduced particularly at and near to the strategic public transport hub.
Provision Through New Development 2.1.19 The Council will continue to secure, where appropriate, improvements to the road network required as necessary to mitigate the impact of new development. Where this is not feasible, planning obligations or any successor will continue to be used to secure off site provision or a financial contribution to improvements in the locality.
Planned Provision: Developer contributions 2.1.20 The Council has secured £15,000 from new development to improve traffic management in the Middleton St George area. Further details are set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Schedule.
Rail Based Transport
20 2.1.21 Darlington is situated in a highly accessible location within the rail network, on two strategic electrified high speed regional rail corridors, the East Coast Main Line20 and the Tees Valley rail line which provide route between London and Edinburgh access to the Borough, the sub region and between the North East’s two city regions and beyond to Edinburgh, Manchester, Leeds and London. These strategic routes are where major transport investment should be focused to help provide attractive public transport alternatives which would help relieve congestion on the A1 and A66(T) as well as improving rail services across the network.
2.1.22 Network Rail own, operate and maintain the rail network through Darlington with a range of companies operating trains on the network. Within the Borough access to the rail network is from Bank Top Station (ECML), North Road, Dinsdale, Durham Tees Valley Airport and Heighington stations (Tees Valley lines).
East Coast Main Line (ECML) 21. 21ECML RUS, Network 2.1.23 2-3 trains per hour use the ECML, at peak times and this is rising It also provides a significant Rail, 2008 connection between the North East and the North West on the North Cross-Pennines route, operating an hourly train between Darlington-Manchester Airport. Bank Top Station has seen an 22 22East Coast increase in patronage of 13% between 2001-2005 .
23 23Government owned 2.1.24 East Coast will continue to operate most of the passenger services on the ECML on an interim franchise holder for the basis until 2011 complemented by Northern Rail and First TransPennine Express (TPE) who operation of trains and operate local services between Doncaster-Edinburgh, York-Newcastle and to Manchester Airport. stations on the ECML 40-50 freight trains21 a day also travel along the ECML through Darlington. until 2011 when it will be re-franchised
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Planned Provision: East Coast Main Line 2.1.25 The combination of high speed passenger trains and frequent freight services, with varying stopping patterns, means that at peak times, the ECML can experience capacity constraints. To 24currently eight trains ensure that the ECML remains accessible and well used, more long distance high speed services 24 and six trains per hour to/from London in the short-medium term, peak and off peak will be provided allowing better respectively segregation of flows. Growth in more frequent, reliable commuter journeys to Leeds and Newcastle would be added benefits as this strategy is delivered, supporting rail travel as an important sustainable transport mode from the Borough across the Tees Valley sub-region, the North East and beyond for employment and leisure.
Northern Routes 25 25 2.1.26 Two local passenger services operate per hour along the Darlington-Saltburn route with stops at including Northern 26 Rail, First TPE, the all of Darlington’s stations. Passenger travel has grown by almost 5% per year at peak times, North Yorkshire Moors but off peak there is low usage. A substantial volume of freight traffic also uses this route. Rail Railway, Community improvements, to facilitate more frequent and reliable services on the Darlington-Saltburn line has Rail Partnership been highlighted as necessary to underpin economic growth in the Tees Valley, and help shift travel between its main centres to non-car travel modes. 26 North East Routes, Route Plan, Network Rail 2008 Planned Provision: Improvements to Network Capacity 2.1.27 Investment will be made over the next 10 years to provide more rolling stock and bring unused network capacity into use in order to accommodate a predicted level of growth per year of up to 4%26. Lengthening of trains serving Middlesbrough will be implemented to address commuter growth (see 2.1.30 for more detail).
Planned Provision: Darlington-Bishop Auckland Community Rail Partnership ‘Heritage Line’ 27stakeholders on the 2.1.28 In the long term, a designated Partnership Officer will help integrate the Heritage Line via North Darlington-Bishop Road and Heighington with the national rail network. An application for designation of the Auckland line who ‘Heritage’ Rail Line as a Community Rail Partnership27 has been submitted28. If this receives participate in the ministerial approval, small scale funding can be sought to help support capital improvements. development of a quality rail service that responds to 2.1.29 North Road railway station is also in need of improvements to enhance its accessibility and boost community needs its role for sub-regional travel. £10,000 has been allocated in the Local Transport Plan to initiate improvements at either North Road or Bank Top rail stations. Planned highway improvements just 28to the Department for to the north, at the junction of North Road/Whessoe Road could provide an opportunity for a car Transport park to be provided and enhanced interchange with bus services. The line may also be assisted by an enhancement scheme promoted by Durham County Council and potential investment by the rail operator, including the possibility of a new platform on the north side of the line.
Planned Provision: Bank Top Station Travel Plan 29station land owner 2.1.30 Bank Top Station is part of the national station travel plan programme, expected to run up until 30Darlington’s bus 2011. The Council will with key partners East Coast (or any successor), Network Rail29 and Arriva operator North East30 aim to improve rail passenger use and satisfaction of the station and increase the share of passengers that use public transport, cycling, walking and car sharing to access the station, helping to reduce traffic levels and traffic congestion on the surrounding highway network.
2.1.31 The Travel Plan sets out a number of proposed actions to be delivered over the next financial year (see Infrastructure Delivery Schedule). The Council’s actions will be funded through existing 31European funded budgets, including the Local Transport Plan programme, Interreg European funding31 and the North West Europe Cycling Demonstration Town programme. Other measures are dependent upon securing funding Interreg IVB Programme from the rail industry and other sectors. Timescales for securing additional funding are uncertain depending on the franchise arrangements of East Coast and its successor, and the progress of land use plans for the Town Centre Fringe.
Planned Provision: Tees Valley Metro
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2.1.32 The provision of a high quality, fast and reliable rail-based metro system for the Tees Valley may, in the longer term, help to redress the balance to more sustainable transport use, assist regeneration and help reduce congestion. The proposal being developed focuses on the Darlington-Saltburn heavy rail corridor.
2.1.33 Feasibility work shows that the preferable option is to improve the existing heavy rail train service, using better, conventional trains, with increased frequency and with improved or new station facilities. Depending on the design and future operating regulations, light rail may be able to operate in the longer term on both the existing railway line and on tracks laid into road surfaces.
2.1.34 The Metro will operate on Network Rail land so must be assessed through their Guide to Railway
32 Investment Projects (GRIP); £1.25m has been obtained through the Regional Transport Board for expected summer a GRIP 4 feasibility study32 to assess detailed designs and provide cost estimates. 2010
2.1.35 The Darlington-Saltburn line would generate the most cost/benefits using conventional trains. Despite the wider economic benefits, it is unlikely that the project would secure DfT funding in one 33reflecting major package33. To make it easier to attract funding, delivery is planned in three phases (see Table 2 scheme funding criteria below). The first phase should be delivered by 2012 to coincide with the new local train franchise, due to start in 2013.
Table 2: Tees Valley Metro proposals Phase 1-2 of Metro 2009-2012 Estimated cost: £60m • New platforms at Darlington Bank Top station and new station at Durham Tees Valley Airport; • Refurbished, higher specification trains operating twice an hour between Darlington and Saltburn during the day. Phase 2 of Metro Estimated cost: £60m • Track and signalling work, concentrating on the Darlington to Saltburn line; • New stations at Morton Palms, Central Park, Teesside Park and Middlehaven; • Refurbishment of other stations; and • New trains. Phase 3 of the Metro Estimated cost: £130m including a planned Network Rail signal renewal scheme • Track and signalling work; • Refurbishment of stations; and • New trains
2.1.36 The Interim Regional Transport Board has allocated £9.4m for the provision of a two line local platform at Darlington Bank Top Station (2009/12) to the east of the ECML as a discrete facility for the service to Saltburn. This allocation needs to be confirmed before delivery timescales can be set out. Improvements would also be made to Garbutt Square footbridge to improve connectivity with Bank Top Station. These improvements will ensure Saltburn trains no longer have to cross the ECML, since a 15 minute frequency local service cannot be accommodated across Darlington South junction. The funding process for improvements to Darlington Station is different to the other smaller works, reflecting the scale and likely cost. A separate business case is to be submitted to the DfT in 2011 when the national funding climate should be clearer.
2.1.37 Funding of £5m has been allocated to relocate Durham Tees Valley Airport station (2010/12) although this has yet to be confirmed. A later phase of improvements could involve a light rail link northwards from the new platform into Central Park and the town centre.
2.1.38 The estimated local contribution for Phase 1 of the Metro is £800,000 and this could be taken from
34 the 3LTP should it be agreed by the Council. Other sources of funding continue to be investigated. funding allocation from 34 the Department for Funding for Phases 2 and 3 has not been identified but the Regional Funding Allocation , the new Transport franchise for local train services, developer contributions, the 3LTP and Network Rail investment plans could all contribute.
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Cycling, Walking and Other Public Transport Measures 2.1.39 Darlington’s generally flat topography and close proximity of many shops and services to each other, homes and places of work means that almost 50% of all journeys are less than two miles. This means that cycling offers the greatest potential to reduce car based travel and if taken up more widely will help contribute to increasing levels of cycling across the Borough2.
35 2.1.40 The Borough has a good network of strategic and local on-road and leisure cycle routes, including UK’s sustainable the Sustrans35 National Cycle Network route 14 being developed between Darlington-Stockton transport organisation and the regional route 52 running along the southern edge of the Borough from Croft-on-Tees to Low Dinsdale. Seven radial routes form the basis of the cycle network in the urban area (see Appendix 2) and a mix of advisory routes, traffic-free paths, on-road routes, bridleways and cycle lanes link the urban fringe to the town centre. A circular route links the radial routes through a network of parks, nature reserves and green corridors bringing cyclists from residential areas into the town centre, where possible, using signal crossings to cross major roads and junctions.
2.1.41 Improvements to sustainable transport choices like cycling and walking will continue to be supported where appropriate with improvements and extensions to the national, regional and local networks, particularly at the strategic locations. Improving connectivity across the Borough, particularly to/from homes to shops, schools, employment and services and between public transport facilities is essential to promote increased sustainable travel.
Planned Provision: Pedestrian/Cycle Bridge over the East Coast Main Line 2.1.42 Promoting sustainable access to Central Park from the Town Centre Fringe is a key requirement of the overall masterplan for Central Park. Planning permission has been approved for a new bridge that would provide improved, quality, safe access for pedestrians and cyclists over the ECML to Darlington College, encouraging the increased use of walking and cycle for students to the College and in the long term to Teesside University. Funded by One North East the scheme is anticipated to cost £1.65m and is expected to be completed by 2016.
Planned Provision: Cycling Demonstration Town (CDT) 2.1.43 Darlington has been a Cycling Demonstration Town since 2005, benefitting from associated funding which has seen the Borough’s cycle network improve in terms of accessibility, quality and 36Cycling length. Ongoing promotions have encouraged the community to cycle more often and more safely Demonstration Town resulting in a 57% increase in cycling in the first three years of the project36. survey, 2009 2.1.44 Match funding of up to £328,00037 until March 2011 will deliver an agreed programme of cycle 37 Cycling England network improvements and measures to provide local links to schools and employment sites, safe funding to accelerate the delivery of crossing points, completion of radial routes and development of rural routes to complete the schemes in the LTP Cycling Demonstration Town programme: programme as well as • Polam Lane improvement (in conjunction with Polam Lane Bridge improvement); additional initiatives • Improved links to existing toucan crossings on Whinfield Road and Stockton Road; detailed in the bid and agreed work • Major improvements to the bridleway network along Baydale Beck, including a new bridge. programmes An application has also made to Natural England for funding to enable progress to be made; • Cycle route along the River Skerne between Albert Road and John Street under the £5 note bridge; • Advanced Stop Lines and other low cost crossings for cyclists; and • Cycle parking site to be identified in the town centre.
2.1.45 An Expression of Interest has been submitted to Cycling England setting out the Council’s initial proposals, should further funding be available and allocated to Darlington from April 2011.
Planned Provision: Cycle parking 38 38 2.1.46 Investment in cycle parking worth £30,000 has been implemented at four schools , at the Queen Total of 120 spaces Elizabeth Sixth Form College and at Bank Top Station. At the Sixth Form College a secure
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covered cycle compound will protect up to 80 bikes, with a smartcard entry/exit system which only allows access to registered users. A similar secure area of cycle parking, with smart card access has been installed at Bank Top Station. Funding for this is from the Local Transport Plan and Cycling England.
Planned Provision: School Travel Plans
39 2.1.47 School Travel Plans are an effective way of providing opportunities for schools to change their Haughton 39 Education Village, travel habits and reduce dependency on the car. Eight schools have been awarded a school Corporation Road, travel plan grant, totalling £47,000 from the DoE to be used to develop safe routes to school and Dodmire, Gurney projects, like bike shelters. Sustrans funding of £3,576 has also been received for the erection of a Pease, Mowden and cycle shelter at Hummersknott School. Reid Street
Bus Services 2.1.48 Darlington experiences 8.85 million bus passenger journeys per year; 10% of all trips made in the urban area, but patronage is declining1 Use varies significantly, reflecting location, level of service and socio-economic characteristics; in the south east of the urban area use is higher than the north west. The national free concessionary pass scheme is likely to increase patronage by eligible groups but this may be discounted by the continuing decline in other passengers.
2.1.49 Darlington’s commercial bus services are operated by Arriva North East. The Council operates 40supported services to eight supported bus services under contract to areas otherwise poorly served by public transport, cater for travel needs like rural areas and the north west of the urban area40 including to Durham Tees Valley Airport and not currently being West Park Hospital. Other bus services extend across the Borough’s boundary to County Durham, served like early North Yorkshire and Teesside; some may be operated by Durham County Council and North morning, late night, Sunday services and Yorkshire County Council. areas of low demand 2.1.50 To promote greater accessibility, Arriva has invested in 28 new, improved fleet vehicles including 16 low floor vehicles. Improvements have also been made to Darlington’s bus infrastructure; raised kerbs, shelters and real time displays have been provided, but are not yet at all bus stops. A greater stability in bus service provision has also been achieved to improve punctuality and reliability, Arriva has rationalised bus services to operate on short journey lengths into the town centre from the edge of the urban area. Many are cross town services serving the radial corridors, almost all serve the Town Centre.
Planned Provision: Improvements to Operational Conditions for Buses 2.1.51 The Council will continue to seek, with Arriva and other partners, to improve operational conditions for buses, especially along key public transport corridors (North Road, Haughton Road, Woodland Road and Yarm Road) and secondary corridors (Coniscliffe Road, Eastern Transport Corridor and Grange Road). As well as junction improvements set out through the Tees Valley Bus Improvement scheme (see 2.1.12) the Council has committed a share of complementary measures funded through the LTP programme. This will focus on delivering the smaller scale works that are match funded, including improvements at bus stops, traffic management schemes and extension of the real time system to improve the quality of local bus travel by 2013. The 41parking is controlled Council has also committed funds from the TVBNI programme to provide selective vehicle by the Council rather detection equipment at seven signal controlled junctions throughout the urban area; £204,000 is than the Police and available for physical works. Implementing traffic management measures, such as bus lanes and abuse of parking the introduction of civil parking enforcement41 will improve the reliability and punctuality of local regulations becomes a civil offence bus services.
Planned Provision: Developer contributions 2.1.52 Developer contributions have been secured to provide and/or improve public transport across the Borough to meet the needs arising from new developments. These include improvements to bus infrastructure like bus stops and payment towards bus service subsidy. In total this accounts for £53,500. Further details are set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Schedule.
Air Travel
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42www.durhamteesvalle 2.1.53 Durham Tees Valley Airport helps connect the Borough with other parts of the UK, Europe and y.com beyond. The Airport is situated within an hour drive of 2.7 million potential passengers from Darlington, the Tees Valley, North Yorkshire and Durham. A range of airlines and tour operators fly from Durham Tees Valley Airport to over 20 scheduled and tour holiday destinations in the UK and Europe. KLM provides an important service to Amsterdam providing ongoing connections worldwide42.
43 43 2.1.54 Peel Airports Ltd is the strategic partner for the airport, with a 75% share . Continued investment DBC and Stockton on in Durham Tees Valley Airport will ensure that it is capable of capitalising on the growing demand, Tees Councils retain the 25% share both from passengers and the commercial sector, at the airport itself and the adjoining business and employment areas. Planning permission exists for sites adjoining the airport for airport related and general employment uses as well as for a hotel. Proposals for improving road and rail infrastructure to the airport above (para 2.1.10 and para 2.1.37) promote greater use of the airport.
Role of the LDF, LTP and Development Management 2.1.55 Throughout the LDF process, the Council will continue to work in partnership with other transport infrastructure providers like the Highways Agency, Arriva and Durham Tees Valley Airport to pursue common transport goals, as well as changing travel behaviours and promoting the use of more sustainable modes of transport. Particularly for rail transport the Council has a limited role in determining the outcome of investment decisions; partnership working with Network Rail and the rail operators will play a leading role in developing new infrastructure and measures to increase rail passenger numbers.
2.1.56 Infrastructure projects identified above will be crucial in facilitating the LDF (see Table 3 below) and other land use plans like the LTP. As allocations become more certain through the Accommodating Growth DPD process, infrastructure providers will be able to provide further details of infrastructure required to support a site. This is particularly relevant for those sites where developer contributions will be sought to enable provision like a subsidised bus service.
2.1.57 Further detailed delivery requirements, funding and timescales will continue to be identified through the LTP. An extensive and varied programme of infrastructure works will continue in the
44 Borough as part of the delivery of the 2LTP (2006-2011) and through other funding opportunities. being prepared to 44 cover the period 2011- The emerging Third Local Transport Plan (3LTP) will set out the priorities for transport in terms 2026 of outcomes for both people and place: • Everybody is able to enjoy the Borough’s prosperity by providing and maintaining a reliable, predictable, efficient and affordable transport network; • Everyone can play their part in reducing the impact of transport on the environment and its contribution to climate change; • People live long, healthy and active lives, travelling safely and making active travel choices; • Everyone in Darlington can maximise their life chances by being able to access services, activities and facilities; and • People in Darlington enjoy an attractive, clean, green and sustainable transport system.
2.1.58 Whilst the Government’s indicative funding allocation until 2016 is £15.5m, at the time of publication it is likely that this will be reduced by up to 50% with consequences for the scale of investment delivered to unlock the potential of existing infrastructure. Implementation plans for the 3LTP will be approved at the end of 2010 and will be informed by Government decisions over funding levels as well as the availability of funding from other sources.
2.1.59 Opportunities to apply for additional external sources of funding to deliver existing schemes within the programme occasionally become available, often with short deadlines. If secured, this enables other schemes within the programme to be brought forward in terms of delivery. Some available funding is to deliver revenue projects like programmes to promote changing travel behaviour. Although these do not directly fund infrastructure projects, they are designed to encourage the
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community to make better use of existing infrastructure, thereby reducing the need for new or improvements to existing provision. Examples include: • Behavioural change programme: a Cycling Festival, Bike IT, Medal Motion and maps: £172,000 CDT programme and Work Place Cycle Challenge, £212,000 from Cycling England and LTP £212,000. Both are underway; • Marketing initiatives to deliver a travel behaviour programme of information, motivation and incentives for the community to use buses including a multi-operator ticket scheme to improve travel for people who need to use buses of more than one operator will continue to be promoted with Arriva and other local bus operators as well as a generous concessionary fare travel scheme; • North East Smarter Ticketing Initiative: creation of a computerised system to enable public transport users to ‘pay as you go’ RFA £10m, BAPTS 270,000euros has been secured to deliver this scheme.
2.1.60 For individual schemes, where works are required to be carried out on the adopted highway like Under Section 278 of new access, junction improvements or improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists to meet the the Highways Act 1980 needs of the development, these will be carried out under a S278 agreement by the developer or at the developers expense.
Table 3: The Role of the LDF: Transport Infrastructure LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD Land for transport infrastructure provision listed in CS19 and the identified in the IDP. Making Places DPD Town Centre Fringe Area Improving connectivity through the AAP area, particularly between Central Park and Darlington Action Plan (AAP) town centre, including addressing barriers to pedestrian movement, such as the Inner Ring Road. Design SPD Expects developers to design a safe, permeable and easy movement network giving priority to pedestrians, cyclists and users of public transport but ensuring that those who need to use a car to move around the Borough can do so. It provides guidance on creating vehicle and cycle parking appropriate to the type and scale of the development and its location. Planning Obligations SPD It will set out when contributions will be sought towards off-site improvements to mitigate the potential transport impact of a development including roads and highways works, sustainable transport measures and public transport provision and infrastructure. Where larger developments are proposed it will establish where Travel Plans are required.
2.2 UTILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE
Context 2.2.1 Utilities are an essential element of Darlington’s infrastructure network, helping to ensure that all homes and businesses have a good supply of clean water, with the right kind of energy to keep the community warm and safe, whilst providing regular connections to the wider world through modern technology. Waste and waste water should also be disposed of efficiently and safely to protect the environment and residents. These services are provided by the Council and a range of public and private organisations.
2.2.2 The Core Strategy focuses the majority of growth in the urban area where the extent and capacity of supporting utilities infrastructure is greatest to facilitate the level of new development proposed, particularly at the strategic locations (policy CS1). New and enhanced utilities infrastructure to support new housing, employment, shops and services should be coordinated with development provision and integrated within the initial design of a scheme (policy CS2). Depending on the infrastructure requirement, it can either be provided by the provider itself, its contractor, by the developer or as a partnership provision.
1 2.2.3 Particularly at the strategic locations the incorporation of renewable energy provision would be rainfall flowing from 1 roofs, roads, patios required (policy CS3). Flood risk from all sources including fluvial and surface water associated
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with new development is considered both when land is allocated and in development management decisions. Policy CS16 establishes the criteria against which development will be considered in respect of flood risk. New development particularly housing and employment (policies CS5 and CS10) are phased over the plan period to help utilities providers plan for infrastructure in their investment plans, where required. In the long term the IDP will assist the Council and utility providers to identify infrastructure required to deliver development in the latter parts of the plan period.
Gas Supply 2.2.4 National Grid has a duty to maintain and develop the efficient, coordinated and economical transportation of gas across Britain. It owns and operates the National Transmission System2 2high pressure mains which transports gas to the twelve Local Distribution Zones that contain lower pressure pipes to pipeline network, supply the customer. Northern Gas Networks have responsibility for the safe and efficient running compressor stations of the North Zone including Darlington’s gas distribution network, asset management and and power stations replacement. Operational activities including maintenance and repair have been contracted to United Utilities Operations. Periodically, new pipelines are required to provide increased capacity and accommodate changes in patterns of supply; there are several projects underway to enhance the Borough’s gas infrastructure.
Planned Provision: Gas Infrastructure 2.2.5 National Grid has confirmed that a robust gas transmission system exists in Darlington; additional demand will be met through the existing system.
2.2.6 Northern Gas Networks and United Utilities state that some upgrading and/or reinforcement of the gas distribution network is required to meet the additional demand from the North West and East 3dependant on the number of dwellings on Urban Fringe strategic locations. This is a common issue and work is regularly undertaken to each site within the make such improvements. To ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the networks at the correct strategic location, time to facilitate development an Economic Test3 will be undertaken to assess the scale and cost phasing of the location, of provision. New infrastructure laid from the network into the site would be fully chargeable to the the predicted annual gas consumption and developer. Where the existing infrastructure is not capable of supplying a site and needs to be the value of the reinforced a contribution may be required from the developer to reflect the outcomes of the reinforcement Economic Test. This more detailed analysis will inform the Accommodating Growth DPD and the development management process.
Electricity Supply 4 4Under the Electricity Act 2.2.7 National Grid holds the licence to transmit electricity across England and Wales, with a statutory 1989 duty to distribute electricity from generating stations to local distribution companies. CE Electric UK distributes electricity to homes and businesses across the Borough, through its subsidiary company Northern Electric Distribution Ltd (NEDL). CE Electric’s investment plan covers 2010- 2015. Investment priorities if required will need to be incorporated in future Investment Plans.
Planned Provision: Electricity Supply 2.2.8 National Grid confirms that a robust electricity transmission system exists within Darlington; additional demand will be met through the existing system.
2.2.9 CE Electric UK state that any significant urban development will require reinforcement of the network. Subject to cost and timescale, this is common when supplying any new development at the scale of the strategic locations. Where existing infrastructure is inadequate to support the increased demands from the new development, the costs of any necessary upstream 5 5in accordance with the reinforcement required would normally be apportioned between the developer and CE Electric . current Statement of The maximum timescales should not be more than 2 years and should not impede delivery of any Charging Methodology proposed locations. agreed with OFGEM, the industry regulator Water Supply, Waste Water Distribution and Sewerage Network
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2.2.10 Darlington’s water supply and the majority of its waste water treatment and sewerage services are supplied by Northumbrian Water Ltd (NWL) through a network of water pipes, sewers, water and waste water treatment works and pumping stations. Some rural communities have private water supplies and waste water disposal.
2.2.11 Darlington’s water supply comes from the Kielder supply zone and is treated in Darlington at Broken Scar Treatment Works, which supplies 150 million litres/water per day to households and 6 www.nwl.co.uk businesses in Darlington and Teesside. Stressholme is Darlington’s main waste water treatment works, treating wastewater from 100,000 people in Darlington6. The sewerage system takes both waste water and surface water to the treatment works. But the average age of Darlington’s sewerage system is around 65 years old, its sewers were not designed to accept the flows that can occur from the increase in new development or from heavy rainfall. In recent years, this has increased the level of runoff entering the sewerage system, particularly from hard standing potentially causing significant localised flooding from overloaded sewers.
2.2.12 NWL operate within a five year Asset Management Plan (AMP); the current plan covers 2010- 2015 and will help determine the price levels that can be charged which can help fund investment programmes and also the content of those programmes. Future AMPs will help inform updates to this IDP.
Planned Provision: Water Supply 2.2.13 NWL have confirmed that that water availability is not an issue in the North East6.
Planned Provision: Waste Water Treatment 2.2.14 £17m worth of improvements are currently underway to upgrade the capacity at Stressholme so it can treat up to 70 million litres/wastewater per day. NWL expect the work to be completed in 2010. Following growth in the Middleton One Row catchment, NWL have also invested a further £4m to upgrade facilities at Middleton One Row sewage transfer works; a new pumping station and storm water storage tank will help transfer wastewater to Stressholme6.
Planned Provision: Sewerage Services 2.2.15 Periodically improvements to the sewerage system are made to improve the capacity of the 7sustainable drainage network to accommodate new development, prevent leaks or to take increased demand. This is a systems imitate natural common issue and work regularly takes place to make such improvements. New infrastructure drainage processes by laid from the network into the site would be fully chargeable to the developer. Where the existing reducing and slowing infrastructure is not capable of accommodating a site, a contribution may be required from the the quantity and rate of developer. To relieve the pressure on the sewerage system and reduce the potential for sewer surface water run off 7 from new development flooding, NWL would encourage the use of SuDS and/or integrated drainage management dealing with it as close wherever practicable, particularly in the Town Centre Fringe. to the source as possible Telecommunications 2.2.16 British Telecommunications (plc) (BT) provides communications services including networked IT 8the wires and fibres services, local, national and international telecommunications services and broadband and that connect homes and internet services. Openreach is one of four parts of BT’s business; it owns, maintains and businesses to local develops the local access network8. In Darlington, Openreach gives more than 410 telephone exchanges 9 communications retailers equivalent access to the local access network and backhaul networks , enabling them to provide their customers with a range of services including telephone lines, high 9intermediate links speed broadband connections and networked IT solutions. between the main network and the small Planned Provision: Telecommunications sub networks 2.2.17 In terms of future capacity, the licence under which BT Openreach operate requires them to provide network capacity upon request only in step with new development following consultation with developers. The copper network is widely used and can meet customers' needs with only minor works. In the future, fibre optic networks will provide opportunities for improved internet access. There is currently no legal obligation to provide fibre optic cabling to new development; the cost of provision will be required from the developer.
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Waste Management 2.2.18 The Council has contracted household waste management and treatment to the John Wade Group until 2020. Household waste is collected and then disposed of outside the Borough at its Aycliffe Landfill and Materials Recycling Facility. A new Mechanical Biological Treatment plant opened there in 2010; this makes it easier to remove recyclable material like tins and plastic from household waste for recycling, and to speed up waste decomposition. It will also allow businesses to dispose of commercial waste at the site, using the same process.
2.2.19 In the Borough, there is also a Household Waste Recycling Centre at Whessoe Road, managed by John Wade Group and 17 recycling banks at supermarkets and the Town Hall. Fortnightly kerbside recycling collections collect glass, paper and cardboard. All new development is expected to incorporate appropriate waste management and recycling facilities. Overall this approach is considered acceptable to support the level of growth in the Core Strategy.
Renewable Energy 10renewable: wind, 2.2.20 Currently only a small proportion of Darlington’s energy is generated from renewable, biomass; decentralised: decentralised or low carbon sources10. The only major source is at Stressholme sewage treatment district heating; low works which has a 340 kilowatt biogas generator. If the Borough is to help achieve 15% of the carbon: solar, ground source and heat source UK’s energy from renewable sources by 2020 then more provision is required, in appropriate pumps locations. All new major developments are to provide at least 10% of their energy supply from these technologies. At the strategic locations, developments will be expected to secure at least 11 11Darlington Renewable 20% . It is anticipated that the provision of these technologies to help meet the Borough’s energy and Low Carbon Study, demand, from heat and electricity, will grow and evolve as technologies develop and costs Entec 2009 reduce.
Planned Provision: Wind energy development 2.2.21 A planning application was submitted in November 2009 for 10 wind turbines at Moorhouse in the north east part of the Borough. If permitted, this would generate up to 25MW installed capacity. Subject to a S106 agreement, planning permission exists for 5 turbines at Royal Oak in the north west of the Borough, which would generate an installed capacity of 6.5MW.
Flood Management 12 12independent 2.2.22 The Environment Agency (EA) has principal responsibility for flood risk management in England Government agency and Wales including provision, improvement and maintenance of flood defences along maintained river channels, raised embankments, floodwalls and culverts as well as the sluices, outfalls, floodgates, pumps and barriers which reduce flood risk from rivers, groundwater and surface water.
2.2.23 Darlington lies in the mid catchment sub area of the Tees Catchment area. Historic flooding has occurred in both Darlington and Croft at regular intervals, particularly where the River Skerne meets the River Tees. Engineering works have been carried out to reduce the risk, but this is still 13Tees Catchment Flood high in both locations and work to reduce the risk of flooding from West Beck would be 13 Management Plan, EA, beneficial . Darlington also experiences surface water flooding issues, especially when the River 2009 Skerne is high and prevents the drainage system from discharging effectively.
2.2.24 Parts of the Town Centre Fringe and the Town Centre are at risk of flooding from the River Skerne 14Darlington Strategic and from surface water flooding in extreme rainfall events. Small parts of the Faverdale Reserve Flood Risk site along the corridor next to West Beck are also at risk of flooding14. Assessment, JBA, 2010 Planned Provision: Flood Risk Management 2.2.25 Within the catchment area the risk of flooding should be reduced. To accommodate new development in the Town Centre Fringe a strategic flood risk management scheme will be required for the area setting out appropriate sustainable mitigation measures. Flood storage compensation, restoration of the natural floodplain, the creation of a green corridor will all be required to ensure the safe development of the area for mixed use development, which does not
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increase the flood risk up or downstream. This will need to be phased to reflect the different 15For definition of flood zones see PPS25, stages of development across the wider area. For the Town Centre and Faverdale Reserve site, a DCLG, 2009 flood risk assessment and mitigation to reflect the type and scale of development proposed and its Flood Zone15 will be required.
2.2.26 The Environment Agency has confirmed that no new flood defence schemes are planned in Darlington within their current investment period to 2012. Maintenance of existing flood defences will be ongoing and this will not affect the current level of flood protection in the Borough.
The Role of the LDF and Development Management 2.2.27 The Council has a limited role in determining the outcome of investment decisions on the utilities network; however continued partnership working with external providers through the LDF and development management processes will ensure that upgrades or reinforcement to gas and electricity infrastructure are coordinated with development. These works are common, usually connections for new development from existing infrastructure can be provided within 2 years and should not restrict the delivery of the Core Strategy. Through subsequent LDF documents and the development management process it will be possible to ensure that there is sufficient capacity in the networks at the correct time (see Table 4 below).
2.2.28 The North West Urban Fringe, Town Centre and Town Centre Fringe strategic locations are at varying risks of fluvial and surface water flooding. Appropriate design and mitigation will be required for development in these areas and will be identified through subsequent LDF documents and the development management process. Particularly at the Town Centre Fringe the phasing of the flood mitigation scheme alongside new development will be essential to the overall development strategy of the area.
2.2.29 Some improvements required as a result of new development particularly to connect a site to a network will be funded by the development. Where more substantial off site works are required, other funding opportunities will be investigated, including part contributions from utilities providers as well as from developer contributions.
Table 4:The Role of the LDF: Utilities Infrastructure Provision LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD It will set out site specific utilities infrastructure required to support the delivery of each site identified. All proposed allocations will undergo the sequential test and exception test where appropriate to minimise potential flood risk to new homes and businesses. Making Places DPD It will identify details of any assessments required to protect the amenity of neighbouring residents and communities from impacts like flood risk, contaminated land, and pollution. It will also set out the specific needs of infrastructure providers like exclusion zones. Town Centre Fringe Area It will include appropriate specific needs of infrastructure providers as well as establishing the Action Plan strategic flood risk management strategy for this area. Design SPD It expects developers to design development that has a low environmental impact, minimises energy and water use and consumption, incorporating where appropriate sustainable drainage, renewable energy, space for waste minimisation, mitigating flood risk appropriate to the type and scale of the development proposed and its location. Planning Obligations SPD It will set out when contributions may be sought towards off-site renewable energy provision and where contributions may be sought for utilities provision.
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3.0 SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE
Context 3.0.1 Darlington’s extensive and varied social and community infrastructure provides a range of essential services that help ensure that the Borough’s community has a high quality of life; access to health care and a range of sport and leisure facilities help reduce health inequalities; access to quality childcare, education, lifelong learning and library facilities can help to reduce the gaps in educational attainment that may exist between residents. Provision of warm, decent homes and quality adult social care ensure that all the community, whatever their age and ability can remain in a comfortable environment that meets individual and family needs. A range of public and private sector organisations, including the Council, provide the infrastructure needed to ensure that the services continue to meet the community’s growing and changing needs and aspirations.
3.1 HEALTH CARE PROVISION 1NHS County Durham 3.1.1 Darlington’s population experiences significant health inequalities; large variations in life Five Year Strategy, expectancy exist1, resulting from inequality in opportunity, like low household income levels and 2008 low educational attainment levels as well as poor lifestyle choices like high rates of smoking, low levels of physical activity, increasing obesity and poor diet choices1.
3.1.2 The Borough also has an increasingly ageing population, with the proportion of over 65 year olds predicted to rise from 17.1% in 2004 to 19.4% of the total population by 2015. Accessibility to health care facilities can be a concern for the Borough’s rural residents as well as for those who experience deprivation in the urban area1.
3.1.3 Darlington has a range of separate but complementary, healthcare services; acute care and 2 by County Durham and strategic health facilities will continue to be provided and appropriately enhanced at Darlington Darlington NHS Memorial Hospital2, strategic mental health facilities at West Park Hospital3 as well as through Foundation Trust 3 private providers like Woodland Hospital. Locally health care will continue to be provided by by Tees, Esk and Wear 4 Valley NHS Foundation Darlington’s Walk In Centre and the Borough’s GP’s, dentists, pharmacies and optometrists . Trust Equality of access to these services will help reduce the health inequalities that are evident across 4by NHS Darlington the Borough; efforts will be made to improve provision where there is an identified unmet need. Primary Care Trust (PCT) 3.1.4 The provision of adequate levels of health infrastructure is an essential part of creating a sustainable community. Policy CS1 focuses development on the urban area where the extent and capacity of supporting infrastructure and services, including healthcare facilities is greatest. Identifying gaps in provision will help ensure that new development provides appropriate access for the community to healthcare facilities, particularly at the strategic locations (policy CS2).
Darlington Memorial Hospital 5 5accident and 3.1.5 Acute services as well as secondary care general hospital services are provided to 130,000 emergency, acute people in Darlington, County Durham and North Yorkshire from Darlington Memorial Hospital. Its medicine, emergency surgery, planned 418 beds are supported by additional services from outside the Borough at Bishop Auckland surgery, obstetrics, General Hospital, University Hospital of North Durham and the community hospitals. gynaecology, paediatrics, Planned Provision: Darlington Memorial Hospital outpatients, 3.1.6 As part of its long term aspirations, the Trust has committed to investing £26m by 2025. This is to diagnostics enable the hospital to continue to meet the changing needs of the community arising from changing population growth and structure, service changes and technological advances to respond to any new clinical model.
3.1.7 This funding has already secured improvements to the coronary care unit and emergency care childrens unit. Work is underway to renew the hospital's primary engineering infrastructure, including a new Energy Centre. Work in this phase is expected to be completed in May 2012.
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West Park Hospital 3.1.8 West Park Hospital supports people living in Darlington and south Durham with a range of acute care mental health, learning disability and addictive behaviour services. It also provides outpatients and day care for adults and older people in Darlington with functional and organic mental health problems.
3.1.9 The hospital has three acute wards, a 24 bed elderly psychiatric ward, the designated psychiatric intensive care unit for County Durham and a low secure step-down unit for longer stay patients. There is also a seven bed pre-discharge unit for adults with long-term chronic mental health problems prior to receiving care in the community.
Local healthcare
3i 3.1.10 Working in partnership with County Durham, NHS Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) is ndependent responsible for commissioning healthcare services to meet the needs of the population. This practitioners, with a 6 practice contract with includes the type, quality and quantity of services which are bought from hospitals, GP practices , 6 6 6, 7 8 the PCT to deliver NHS dentists , community pharmacists , optometrists community therapists and community care . services The PCT employs approximately 3,000 staff and had an annual budget of £1.1 billion in 2009/10 to spend on services for local people in County Durham and Darlington. 7physiotherapists and occupational therapists 3.1.11 The Borough has a Walk In Centre at Dr Piper House near the town centre, 11 GP’s surgeries, 15 dental practices, 18 pharmacies and 10 opticians (see Appendix 3). A large number of independent and voluntary sector providers also deliver healthcare in the community and from 8district nurses and health visitors private hospitals in Darlington. The geographical spread is incomplete, but the catchments for individual services vary and private provision complements NHS provision. Where necessary, services from practices and other organisations outside of County Durham and Darlington will be commissioned to provide healthcare for people living in the area.
Planned Provision: Darlington PCT 3.1.12 The Trust is undertaking a comprehensive needs assessment for Darlington to ensure that the community have equal access to health care services across the Borough. This will include identifying current provision and gaps in health services as well as identifying the type of facilities that should be provided at the strategic locations, where appropriate.
The Role of the LDF and Development Management 3.1.13 Infrastructure projects and proposals identified above are an important part of providing the existing community and future residents with access to good quality healthcare facilities. Although the Council does not have direct control over the provision of health services delivered in the Borough, it has a responsibility to set out the policy framework to enable those who provide services to make investment decisions. The Core Strategy provides the strategic framework for healthcare providers to maintain and develop their facilities but the full implications of delivery will be considered in other DPDs (see Table below). An essential part of the Accommodating Growth DPD in particular will be to help identify healthcare needed to support the development of the strategic locations as well as addressing gaps that may exist in other parts of the Borough.
3.1.14 Ongoing assessments may identify additional improvements and upgrades to the Borough’s healthcare facilities necessary to support the delivery of sustainable communities. The healthcare providers operate to different investment cycles to the Core Strategy; the Council will continue to work in partnership with all three organisations to help coordinate the healthcare requirements across the Borough particularly in the latter parts of the plan period. When known, these will be added to the IDP but will not affect the delivery of the Core Strategy.
Table 5: The Role of the LDF: Health Care provision LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD Land for health related infrastructure provision or expansion of services will be identified. It will set out specific healthcare infrastructure required to support the delivery of each strategic location identified.
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Making Places DPD Town Centre Fringe Area Action Plan It will include site specific policies appropriate to promote and manage healthcare within its boundaries Design SPD It promotes high quality design of new development across the Borough including for new or extended healthcare facilities. Planning Obligations SPD It will set out when contributions may be sought towards health care provision.
3.2 EDUCATION AND LIBRARIES 3.2.1 An integrated approach to delivering equal targeted education services is being achieved on a locality basis; three localities exist (see Appendix 4) around existing clusters of schools and children’s centres. This network will provide continuous, coordinated and integrated early years provision, education and access to a range of information and services to meet locally identified needs for all children and young people up to 19. Strong partnership working is essential to imaginatively strengthen and shape the childcare market; Darlington Children’s Trust, the Council’s education, social care, health, Connexions and Youth Offending Teams, as well as the voluntary and community sector will all work together to meet Darlington’s local needs.
3.2.2 A core offer will continue to be developed in each locality to ensure that every family is in reach of a Children’s Centre (see 3.3.2 below) and that all children have access to a range of extended services in and around their school by 2010 including ICT suites, sports and arts facilities as well as quality, year round childcare.
3.2.3 The Core Strategy needs to ensure that new development within Darlington is supported by adequate social infrastructure including a range of education facilities to meet the needs of all its population. Policy CS1 focuses development on the urban area where the extent and capacity of supporting education facilities and libraries is greatest. Increasingly access to education facilities out of school hours is helping to address health inequalities through access to sports and recreation facilities whilst the extended schools programme provides facilities for adult education, community programmes and childcare.
3.3 EARLY YEARS PROVISION 3.3.1 Each child in Darlington deserves to be able to fulfil their potential; early years experiences are
1 important, giving young children the basis from which to take advantage of opportunities to learn children between and develop in later life. The Council are required to improve outcomes of all young children1 in birth and 31 August 2 following their 5th Darlington and reduce inequalities between them ; an integrated holistic, inclusive, flexible early birthday years and childcare service accompanied by parent and family support that responds to the needs of families in each locality, will ensure that each child has a good start to life, improves their 2 Childcare Act 2006 achievements and reduces the inequalities between them.
Darlington’s Children’s Centres 3.3.2 A key element of provision is the Children’s Centres at Mount Pleasant, McNay Street, 3 DCE requirement in Maidendale, Skerne Park, Red Hall and Dodmire. These centres are accessible to the most the 30% most 3 disadvantaged super disadvantaged areas of the Borough ; families with pre-school children living in these areas output areas nationally benefit from a full range of Children’s Centre services: 2004 Index of Multiple • Good quality early education integrated with childcare; Deprivation • Family support and outreach to parents; • Child and family health services, including ante natal services; and • Support for children and parents with special needs.
Planned Provision: Children’s Centres 3.3.3 The Department of Education (DoE) has released £789,148 funding (Phase 3 2008-11) so that all children under 5 and their families have access to Children’s Centre services should they wish to do so. The Council has flexibility to decide what services should be provided with this funding; existing Children’s Centres will be refurbished or extended so their catchment can be enlarged. It will also help develop a Children’s Centre to serve the Haughton area, with ‘outreach’ facilities
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developed to serve the rural areas and the West End of Darlington.
Childcare Provision
4 3.3.4 The Council is required to secure, as far as practicable, sufficient childcare to enable parents to Childcare Act 2006 take up or remain in work, or undertake education or training which could reasonably be expected to assist them to obtain work4. There are 145 active childminders and 83 active childcare providers operating in the Borough, including 3 Council run Kids and Co facilities at Borough Road, North Road and Red Hall.
3.3.5 Parents of children using childcare in Darlington are willing to travel around the Borough to access 5 Active breakfast club the childcare they want. But they have identified an unmet demand for after school and holiday places 5 places per 100 5 children aged 5-14 clubs/activities, especially for children over 8 years old and childcare for disabled children . years (5-17 years for Service flexibility can also be an issue particularly for parents who may need to change childcare those young people with delivery at short notice to fit work or training requirements. disabilities, Darlington Childcare Sufficiency Assessment, 2007-08 3.3.6 Changes to the system of benefits and job seeking support may also have an impact on future provision of childcare services; lone parents on income support who are able to work are required to actively seek work once their youngest child is 10 years or older (7 years+ from October 2010).
Planned Provision: Early Years Foundation Stage 6 6Government funding 3.3.7 Darlington has been allocated £1,319,520 Early Years Capital Grant (2008-11) to improve the quality of private, voluntary and independent early years and childcare settings7 to support the 7pre-school, out of delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage. 86 settings have been granted allocations ranging school, maintained from £1,000 to £30,000 to improve outdoor play, physical activities and ICT resources so that all nursery, day nursery children, including disabled children are able to access provision. This will also help all providers and creche flexibly deliver up to five free structured learning sessions for children8 every week at private day nursery, playgroup or independent school which is registered with the Council. 8children are eligible from the term after their Planned Provision: Co-Location Fund third birthday until they start school to up to 15 3.3.8 With the support of The Children’s Trust and the Council, Heathfield School, Hurworth Primary hours by September School, Dodmire School and Borough Road Nursery have received a £2.6m grant from the Co- 2010 and 25 hours by Location Fund9 to create an Integrated Centre for Well Being at Heathfield Primary School and September 2011 three Community Well-Being hubs at the other schools.
9 Government capital 3.3.9 The Well-Being Centre and the hubs will provide programme rooms, specialist education, fund specialist disability provision for ‘after school care’, facilities to support Extended Services and a 10annual government clinic area. In addition the Well Being Centre will provide a parent and child gymnasium, special grant allocated to each education needs facilities and an information library. An integrated health, social care, early years school, based on school and education programme will be provided by statutory, voluntary and commercial partners. type and pupil numbers. Can be drawn down up 10 to three years in 3.3.10 The funding has been paid to the Council, enhanced by Devolved Funding Capital from the advance to enable schools. During 2010/11 it is anticipated that £500,000 will be spent on extending the impact of larger projects to be existing Primary Capital Programme projects to enable the development (see 3.4.5 below). The funded Council will also provide the land value. Ongoing funding of £150,000 a year for a sustainable period has been committed through NHS Darlington PCT and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. The bid commits the project to be completed by September 2010.
3.4 SCHOOL EDUCATION 3.4.1 Every pupil in Darlington should be able to learn in an exciting, flexible environment that inspires and stimulates all users, ensuring that all children and young people have a good start in life, have aspirations that can be met and can go on to have fulfilling lives. Enjoying a wide ranging curriculum within a quality school environment, within an acceptable class size, close to home helps ensure all aspirations can be achieved.
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3.4.2 The Local Authority (LA)1 has a statutory obligation to provide education for over 16,000 pupils 1The Council between the ages of three and eighteen across its one nursery centre, two nursery schools, 30
2 infant, junior and primary schools, six secondary schools and one special school. There are also publicly funded, 2 independent school one academy , several private schools and denominational schools within the Borough. outside LA control 3.4.3 The LA schools are based around the localities; the clusters help transition and appropriate agendas can be aligned with Children Centres to improve the quality of services for children and families. All Darlington’s secondary schools operate under a Specialist School model to promote particular areas of the curriculum such as science and technology, language and sport.
Condition of Primary Schools 3.4.4 Since February 2003 significant large scale strategic investment has occurred in many of Darlington’s primary schools; nine schools including Alderman Leach, Harrowgate Hill and Northwood primary schools have moved into new premises. Continued investment has taken place in other schools to construct new or significantly refurbish existing premises; over 5500 of Darlington’s primary pupils are now taught in a modern teaching environment.
Planned Provision: Primary Capital Programme (PCP) 3.4.5 Darlington is a designated pathfinder authority to lead the development of the Primary Capital 3DfE Every Child Programme3. It focuses on addressing the ongoing condition and suitability of schools fairly and Matters: Primary Capital equally; strategic investment will continue to be made to the primary school building stock with Programme for funding greatest need. The PCP distributes funding to the LA; based on around 9000 primary pupils in 2009-2010, this is anticipated to be £3-4m per funding allocation round.
3.4.6 The first wave of funding (2009-11) aims to support significant capital investment to remodel and 4 4 refurbish up to 17 primary schools to provide sufficient school places for those ‘in line’ for primary children who naturally school education (see Appendix 5). To enable the PCP to deliver significant outcomes for children require a primary school place. Does not include and to support as many projects as possible, this funding has been supported by additional funds 5 children from new including Devolved Formula Capital funding provided to each school to help address the priority housing developments capital needs of the educational built environment. Schools can decide how to spend this funding, but are required to prioritise investment in line with Government and LA priorities. Overall, approx 5annual government £12.544m is available to support the PCP process to 2011. A summary is set out below: grant allocated to each school, based on school Table 6: Funding available for condition and suitability works at primary schools 2009-2011 type and pupil numbers. Can be drawn down up Funding Source 2009-10 (£000’s) 2010-11 (£000’s) TOTAL to three years in PCP Allocation £3000 £5378 £8,378 advance to enable Modernisation6 £600 £600 £1200 larger projects to be 7 funded Basic Need £773 £773 £1546 Devolved Formula Capital £710 £710 £1420 TOTAL £5083 £7461 £12,544 6government funding allocated to LA based As a small LA it is presumed that Darlington will not receive further significant funding allocations on number and type of schools and total pupil so the PCP will provide an opportunity to review the priorities at each school and address projects numbers for larger scale that can be funded in the latter part of the plan period. capital works 7allocated to meet required basic Sufficiency of Primary School Pupil Places need of additional number of school places 3.4.7 Traditionally, Darlington has had large numbers of surplus primary school places. But as one of the few areas in the country with net inward migration of primary pupils from large numbers of 8DBC projections families moving into the Borough’s new housing developments combined with an increasing birth rate, Darlington now has a primary population greater than the primary places currently available. There is an immediate need for at least an extra 300 primary school places; data analysis8 shows that this is anticipated to become more severe in the future.
3.4.8 The accepted reasonable level of surplus school places (above 5% but less than 10%) must be retained if parents are to have a choice of schools and the LA is to have flexibility in the allocation
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of school places. In 2009, the LA had approximately 4% of spaces as surplus. Surplus places were only available in the central and south eastern parts of the urban area; in other areas it was more difficult to find places to expand existing school stock. The reception year across Darlington is full, with an increase in numbers expected again with future applications. There is now an urgent need to invest in the sufficiency of school places.
Planned Provision: Primary School Places 3.4.9 PCP funding will continue to create spaces for pupils ‘in line’ for current places4. The LA expects that the impact of future housing development identified in the Core Strategy will continue to require investment in primary school pupil places. There is no other funding sources available to support the generation of pupil places from new housing development, developers will be expected to address any impact on school places via a S106 agreement or the provision of a new school as part of a larger development. Education requirements for the strategic locations are set out in section 5.2.
Condition of Secondary Schools 3.4.10 Darlington’s six maintained secondary schools9 and one academy reflect the diversity of its 9funded by the Council excludes St Aidan’s population in terms of aspiration, achievement, healthy lifestyles and experiences, but also reflect Academy the disparity in outcomes for young people across the Borough. Significant investment has been made at four of Darlington’s secondary schools in recent years to create quality, modern teaching and learning environments at Haughton Education Village, St Aidan’s Academy, Carmel RC College and Hummersknott School.
3.4.11 However, at the three remaining schools, Branksome, Hurworth and Longfield, facilities fall short of those required; all have condition and suitability issues and their asset management plans identify a need for major renewal.
Planned Provision: DoE Capital Allocations 3.4.12 The LA’s annual DoE capital allocations helps address priority issues; for 2009/10 the approximate allocations are £1.142m direct to the LA and £1.193m direct to the schools for routine capitalised repairs and improvements to school buildings.
Sufficiency of Secondary School Places
10 3.4.13 Darlington’s secondary schools provide 6,138 school places; with 5,745 pupils on roll there is a Spring 2009 School 10 Census, Tees Valley surplus of 393 (6.4%) places , all at St Aidan’s and Branksome schools. Population trends Joint Strategy Unit indicate that secondary entry numbers will reach their lowest level in 2013/14 then increase by 20% by 2019. As birth rates are projected to rise further from current levels, expectations are that secondary entries will continue to rise post 2019. This supports the case for maintaining the existing seven secondary schools, which are well located throughout the Borough, with a slight reduction in capacity at Branksome, to meet needs in that locality. But, if population growth and in migration continue, particularly at primary school level, an additional 500 secondary school places may be required. Further analysis is required to establish the potential impact towards the end of the plan period.
Planned Provision: 16-19 education 3.4.14 For those secondary schools that provide 16-19 education, the responsibility of managing funding agreements now sits with the Council. Approximately £6.3m has been allocated to provide capital investment for Secondary Schools to enable 16-19 Diplomas to be fully developed in partnership with the 14-19 Trust. Linked with this is £0.6m relating to Specialist College capital funding for both Branksome and Longfield Comprehensives.
Extended Schools 3.4.15 National aspirations are to see school governing bodies and the LA open up their schools to provide better access to services like adult learning, childcare, parenting support, ICT access, sports and arts facilities and even on-site health and social care for pupils, families and the community outside school hours.
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Planned Provision: Extended Schools 3.4.16 Working in partnership with schools and other local partners, extended services are provided to varying degrees at Darlington’s schools; Hummersknott School and Skerne Park Primary School are Darlington’s first DoE funded Extended Schools offering a range of after school activities.
3.4 FURTHER EDUCATION 1 1includes 19-25 year 3.5.1 From April 2010 the Council had responsibility for 16-19 education . This includes responsibility olds with a learning for administering funding agreements with the colleges. Funding agreements up to July 20112 difficulty assessment were in place before the transfer of responsibilities so the Council will only administer these and young people in youth custody aged 10- allocations. From August 2011, the Council will lead all elements of the planning and 18 commissioning process, although the budget will be held by the Young People’s Learning Agency3. 2April 2010–July 2010 and August 2010–July 2011 Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College 3.5.2 Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College provides a range of Advanced Level and other Level 3 3Government agency courses across the curriculum to over 1900 students aged 16-19 with about half coming from Darlington and half from outside the Borough. The College guarantees a place for all applicants who live in the Borough and hopes to continue this policy in the future. But accommodation pressures mean that there is currently a limit on the number of new places offered each year to students from outside Darlington.
3.5.3 New development proposed in the Core Strategy alongside a growing population could potentially increase the number of students by up to 100 each year, equivalent to an increase in total college 16-19 roll of 180 (10% growth). A proportionate increase in college space would need to be provided to accommodate an increase in the numbers of students wishing to study at the college.
3.5.4 The College is actively seeking to redevelop and expand its site to accommodate any increase in numbers but recent funding opportunities for capital expenditure for colleges have been limited. Provided recurrent funding was guaranteed for extra students then provision of some additional accommodation could be partly funded by the college. The College would expect support from the Council in any bids for capital funding to meet the anticipated increase in demand for places.
Darlington College 3.5.5 Darlington College is a key element of Central Park, serving a population of around 850,000
4 students from Darlington as well as from North Yorkshire and County Durham, with a second serving army 4 personnel, their campus located at Catterick Garrison . The College provides a range of courses and bespoke dependants and the provision for commercial and industrial clients. Teacher training programmes are delivered in wider North Yorkshire partnership with Huddersfield and Sunderland Universities. In 2008/9, 7,156 students were funded population through the Learning Skills Council of which 3840 were 18 or over. In addition there were 842 students on higher education courses.
3.5.6 The College will continue to expand the range of courses it offers, particularly for Further and Higher Education; this will be helped by the future development of Teesside University next to the College. The College has confirmed that housing growth set out in the Core Strategy could potentially increase the number of 16–18 student places by 100 per year and Higher Education places by 50 per year. The additional Higher Education students could be accommodated at the current College campus but it is likely that the Further Education students will generate a requirement for additional space. The financing of this will depend on the availability of revenue funding; if available, then the College may be able to arrange the capital needed.
Teesside University, Darlington 3.5.7 Teesside University currently operates a range of full time and part time higher education courses from Darlington College. Temporary facilities are provided at the former Eastbourne School until September 2011.
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Planned Provision: New Teesside University Building 5 3.5.8 A new high quality, five storey undergraduate and postgraduate teaching facility is being approx 4,000 sq m 5. gross floor area constructed next to Darlington College The building is expected to be open in September 2011 at a cost of £13m; the University will fund £10.5m, One NorthEast will fund up to £2m and the Council will contribute £500,000. A range of courses will be offered, including programmes tailored to employers in the public and private sectors. The range of Higher Education provision will expand as the demand from different markets grows.
3.6 LIBRARIES 3.6.1 Darlington has three libraries; Crown Street in the town centre, another at Cockerton and a mobile library which covers the rural area, making over 40,976 visits in the last year. They provide a range of services including loaning books, internet access, photocopying and a local studies centre; 584,473 books/recordings were issued to March 2009.
3.6.2 The Library Service has been involved with the preparation of this IDP. When their future infrastructure requirements are known then it will be used to inform and update this Plan.
The Role of the LDF and Development Management 3.6.3 Infrastructure projects identified above will help raise educational attainment in quality learning environments close to home. Projects identified including the Co-Location project, extended Children’s Centres and Extended Schools will help address the unmet demand for after school childcare and holiday clubs/activities for young children. In the long term the BSF programme will enhance provision more widely across the Borough. The LDF can help ensure that flexible space for additional early years provision is catered for at new education facilities identified in documents set out in Table 7 below.
3.6.4 However, the IDP identifies an existing shortage of primary school places which will be exacerbated by the level of growth identified in the Core Strategy. In the long term this growth may also have an impact on Secondary School and College places. A partnership approach between the Local Authority and other education providers will continue to address this issue through future LDF documents; new primary schools may be required at strategic locations and developer contributions may also be used to help address this issue.
Table 7: The Role of the LDF: Education Provision LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD It will identify land for the expansion and/or provision of new education facilities, and/or library infrastructure where necessary. It will set out specific education infrastructure required to support the delivery of each strategic location identified. Making Places DPD Town Centre Fringe Area Action It will include site specific policies appropriate to promote and manage education within its Plan boundaries. If this location provides for more than 700 dwellings a new primary school may be a long term requirement. Design SPD The SPD promotes high quality design of new development across the Borough including for new or extended education facilities. Planning Obligations SPD It will provide the policy basis to enable developer contributions to be negotiated towards providing education places and securing improvements to education provision to mitigate the impact of new residential development.
3.7 HOUSING 3.7.1 Owner occupation is the preferred housing choice for many; average house prices in Darlington have remained largely unaffected during the economic downturn illustrating local housing market 1eight of Darlington’s 63 Lower Super confidence and reflecting the Borough’s high Gross Domestic Product per head. But Darlington Output Areas are also has the lowest average wages, rising unemployment and high average house prices across among the worst 10% all property types, reduced access to affordable borrowing as well as small areas where nationally, Index of Multiple Deprivation 2007
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deprivation exists1. This means that increasingly the housing market is denying access to those who wish to climb the housing ladder, resulting in increased demand for affordable housing.
3.7.2 There is also an identified need to re-balance the housing stock to meet demands for executive and detached homes to attract and retain a skilled workforce, 4 bed+ homes to accommodate 2Tees Valley Strategic larger families, and a range of accessible accommodation to meet the needs of an ageing Housing Market population, to sustain independent living, and minimise the requirement for adaptations, to ensure Assessment 2009 existing homes continue to be safe and appropriate over the longer term2.
3.7.3 The Core Strategy clearly sets out how the Borough’s housing requirements will be delivered to 2026. This means making provision for an additional 5813 dwellings (net) 2011-2026 (policy CS10). The strategy also shows how a wide range of new housing will provide for a more balanced housing stock including affordable housing, housing for people with disabilities, housing for older people as well as larger family homes to meet the needs of families who wish to live in the Borough (policy CS11). Policy CS4 provides the basis to enable developer contributions to be negotiated towards affordable housing and improvements to existing homes. The design of quality, safe, secure and sustainable homes will be established through CS2. The Core Strategy also provides the framework to enable regeneration and improvement of identified priority areas (CS12) as well as providing guidance for pitch provision for travelling groups (CS13).
Affordable Housing 3.7.4 Affordable housing needs are prevalent across the Borough but needs are most acute in the rural area, the south-west of the urban area and in and around the central area. But variations in economic viability of housing land requires a flexible application of the Core Strategy affordable housing target to ensure that the type and size of affordable housing provided can help widen tenure mix across the Borough. A range of sizes and types of new affordable housing are needed; two bed homes and homes readily adaptable for older people and those with physical disabilities, 2 bed homes for first time buyers and young people and 3-4 bed family homes for those on low or moderate incomes not able to access accommodation locally. Suitable housing is also required to meet the projected growth in single person households2 over the next 15 years.
3.7.5 Pressure on the affordable housing stock is predicted to remain at a very high level in the short- medium term because of lower rates of turnover and vacancy in the social rented stock and 3The definition of reduced levels of mortgage lending to those that could not otherwise afford to buy a home. As the intermediate affordable housing market recovers, a sustained higher demand for intermediate affordable housing3 is housing is given in Annex B of PPS3: expected to be required in a wider range of locations, particularly amongst first time buyers and Housing (CLG, 2006). older people who are equity rich but have limited cash reserves.
3.7.6 Despite 7500 units being in the control of the Council and/or Registered Social Landlord partners 4Government funded (RSLs)4 operating in Darlington, even by assuming lower quartile house prices 20% below the non profit organisations 2 that provide affordable 2007 peak, there would be a shortfall of 513 dwellings per annum . Some of the Borough’s 3144 housing, include private rented sector dwellings5 may contribute to this in the short term but the quality of some of housing associations, this stock may limit its long term contribution. Reducing the forecast gap between demand for, and trusts and cooperatives supply of, affordable housing is a priority in Darlington. The current delivery of affordable housing is in the region of 50-60 units per annum, which represents a significant deficit in terms of 5 Private Sector Housing identified housing need. In the current market, affordable housing targets will not continue to be Renewal Strategy, DBC 2008 met without intervention.
Planned Provision: Tees Valley Growth Point 6 6from the Government’s 3.7.7 Darlington has been successful in securing Tees Valley Growth Point funding (2009-11) to Community accelerate housing growth to 2016. Coordinated by Tees Valley Unlimited, the funding helps bring Infrastructure Fund 2 forward housing sites requiring infrastructure investment to make them viable, as well as enabling intervention in the private and affordable housing market for previously identified housing sites that have either been suspended or delayed by the economic downturn.
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3.7.8 Both Central Park and the Former Beaumont Hill School sites were planned to incorporate housing but have not yet started. With the injection of funding both have the potential to deliver significant amounts of new housing, including affordable housing. Darlington has been allocated £849,000 (2009–11). Sites must start within a two year period.
Former Beaumont Hill School sites 7Kickstart Round 2 3.7.9 £207,000 (2010/11) was allocated to remove barriers to development at the Beaumont Hill sites. programme Further funding (£9m) had also been secured for housing delivery at these sites from the Homes and Communities Agency7 (HCA) and Fabrick Housing’s8 borrowing. Planning permission has 8a registered provider been granted for 106, 2 and 3 bedroom properties, across 3 sites. 30% would be affordable housing for rent. The remaining properties would be for sale, but could initially be let to customers who eventually can afford to buy, under the Intermediate Rental Model9. Initial nomination rights 9rented on short-term would be agreed between the Council and Fabrick Housing. It will also provide accessible housing leases at affordable to meet the needs of physically disabled people, reducing the budgetary pressure on the Council’s rents, so tenants can save up for deposits Disabled Facilities Grant. The proposal also includes plans to deliver five units of affordable and eventually buy the accommodation to CSH Level 5. At the time of publication the timescale for implementation is properties without the uncertain until the conclusions of the Government’s spending review are known. For Central Park need to move to buy a (see strategic locations 5.2.3 for more detail). property and the costs of doing so Planned Provision: New Build Council Housing 10 10 Local Authority New 3.7.10 The Council has also secured £3m from the Homes and Communities Agency to support the Build funding development of 65 affordable properties to rent across four Council owned sites by 2011. The new affordable properties will form part of the Council’s portfolio of existing dwellings and will be eligible for ‘Right to Buy’. 100% of any capital receipts can be retained by the Council and reinvested to deliver more affordable housing locally. The four sites are: • surplus land adjacent to Burnside Road (£317,687); • surplus land adjacent to Dinsdale Court (£332,614); • part of the old Springfield school site; and (£1.5m); and • former garage site at Richmond Close (unknown at time of publication).
3.7.11 The overall development will cost £7m, the additional £4.5m finance will be borrowed through the
11 Council’s annual Housing Investment Programme and from savings identified in the Housing slightly higher than Capital programme 2009-2010. The Council will be able to charge ‘market rents’11 to finance the existing Council rents Council borrowing of the capital works.
3.7.12 Following this successful bid, Darlington has approved contractor status with the HCA. This provides the Council with an opportunity to bid for any available grant funding through any future National Affordable Homes Programme. Provision Through New Development 3.7.13 The Council will continue to secure affordable housing from all new housing developments of 15 or more dwellings (or 0.5ha) or more within the urban area and 5 dwellings (0.2ha) or more outside. They will be required to provide, or contribute towards the provision of, an appropriate mix of housing to meet identified needs. The mix should include: • Up to 30% affordable housing; • Housing for people with disabilities; • Housing for older people, including housing capable of being readily adapted to meet a range of needs; • Detached family housing containing four or more bedrooms in all appropriate locations.
The exact mix of provision, will be negotiated using up-to-date evidence of housing needs, the size, type and tenure of the existing and committed stock and development viability. 3.7.14 On-site provision is preferred as part of the development but exceptionally where this is not feasible developers will be expected to enter into a s106 agreement to enable the equivalent off site provision to be secured and utilised to increase the supply of affordable housing elsewhere in
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the Borough. Affordable housing targets will be set for each strategic location so that the need for affordable housing can be balanced against all other infrastructure provision required in creating a new community.
Planned Provision: Affordable housing provided as part of new development 3.7.15 58 affordable units will be provided as part of committed schemes at West Park (13 units) and Snipe House Farm (45 units); this will be in 3 phases in partnership between Northstar Housing and Miller Homes.
Improvements to Existing Housing Private Rented Sector 3.7.16 Darlington’s large private rented sector comprises 26.6% of its 45,100 households5 but 4.4% are 12 12 vacant (1801 units) , higher than for other housing stock. Lack of suitability to meet modern day HSSA, 2009 needs and non decency has generated persistent vacancy in the poorest quality, older terraced housing areas, particularly those constructed before 1919 in the central core of the Borough. Four 13 Regulatory Reform priority wards13 have been identified in Central, Northgate, North Road and Bank Top where high (Housing Assistance) levels of non-decency are found (see Appendix 6). Overall, 22% of the dwellings in this inner-area Order (England and 12 Wales) 2002 were identified as being unfit .
3.7.17 Significant inward investment is required to rejuvenate, remodel or improve poor private sector housing stock. A number of options are being assessed to maximise inward investment while 14does not exhibit such recognising that the Borough is not identified as a priority for private sector housing market extreme deprivation to renewal14 within the sub-region (2008-11). Housing market renewal will be incremental and the qualify for many traditional funding Council needs to proactively manage and address non-decency issues through a range of opportunities measures; opportunities to retrofit homes to improve the thermal efficiency of some targeted housing stock and reducing category 1 hazards15 in these priority areas will be explored.
15serious hazards to Planned Provision: Single Housing Investment Programme residents health and safety as identified by 3.7.18 The increasing national emphasis on affordable housing to meet demand has led to smaller the Housing Act 2004 budget allocations for private sector housing from the Single Housing Investment Programme (SHIP3) 2008-1116.The Council will receive £907,258 (2010/11) and £835,201 (2011/12) to be 16Capital grant through used in its Financial Assistance Policy for: the Regional Housing • Capital and Interest Repayment Loans (discretionary) Board • Decent Homes Assistance Grants (discretionary) • Disabled Facilities Grants (mandatory) • Disabled Facilities Grant Top Up Loans (mandatory) Homeowners will be encouraged to improve, repair and adapt their homes and private landlords will be encouraged to bring empty properties back into use. Planned Provision: Tackling Category 1 hazards 3.7.19 A Regional Loans product became available in April 2010 but will continue to be targeted at the 17the local Home Improvement Agency, wards exhibiting the highest levels of non-decency with particular priority given to tackling managed by Three Category 1 hazards. Grant assistance will be re-introduced for qualifying households who are Rivers Housing unable to finance loan assistance but still exhibit non-decency within their homes. Applications will Association on behalf initially be processed by Care and Repair17. of the Council 3.7.20 The availability of discretionary loans and grants are subject to the availability of funding and vary on an annual basis. To complement these grants a number of innovative options to maximise inward investment are being sought including using commuted sums or other off-site affordable housing provision to assist in improving or regenerating poor private sector housing stock.
Council owned housing 3.7.21 Housing regeneration in the identified local authority housing areas of Cockerton West, Haughton East and Park East will concentrate on improving housing choice and upgrading properties to 18 renewal and more achieve the enhanced ‘Darlington Standard’ for decent homes18. The Council may also seek frequent updating of opportunities to diversify existing housing tenure through selective demolition and redevelopment, bathrooms, kitchens, rewiring and central heating 36 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010
to remove obsolete or low demand housing and replace it with housing to meet modern day aspirations. Significant inward investment is required to do this; a number of options are being assessed to maximise funding opportunities to meet identified local housing needs and achieve appropriate links and accessibility to existing neighbourhoods. In the long term, connections to strategic locations for work and employment as well as opportunities to connect to future Combined Heat and Power facilities will be considered.
Planned Provision: Improvements to Council owned housing 3.7.22 The Council undertakes annual capital improvements to its retained housing stock through the Housing Revenue Account and its capacity to prudentially borrow. Capital improvements vary annually to respond to local needs and changing demographics. In the long term, maintaining Council housing involves:
Table 8: Council owned housing: long term maintenance costs Scheme Over 5 years Over 30 years Works so properties meet the ‘Darlington Standard’ £27.300m £104.700m Maintaining the external fabric of Council houses £9.800m £16.300m Improving the environment of estates and communities £2.200m £9.500m Delivering disabled adaptations for council tenants £1.400m £8.300m
Older Persons Accommodation 19aged 50 excludes 3.7.23 Darlington’s older people are predicted to increase by 29.4% from 21,780 in 2003 to 28,190 in institutional care 2021. Older people19 who want to remain in their home will continue to be supported, recognising homes and nursing that they may need greater support and/or adaptations to their home to do so. This is mainly homes within existing housing, but can include sheltered housing20 like Windsor Court, and the newly 21 20self-contained homes rebuilt Dinsdale Close and Linden Court and assisted living/extra care like Dalkeith House, with communal Rosemary Court and Oban Court. facilities in a development with a 3.7.24 Providing modern purpose built or easily adaptale dwellings as part of the mix of new housing development will help increase the amount of suitable housing for older people. It will also ensure 21self contained homes for frailer people with that funding available to the Council for home adaptations can be used as effectively as possible. 24 hour support from an on site care team Planned Provision: Sheltered Housing Schemes 3.7.25 A ten year programme of investment is underway to significantly upgrade the Borough’s sheltered housing stock. £8m self funded through the Housing Revenue Account and prudential borrowing has financed the demolition and rebuilding of Linden Court and Dinsdale Court and further work for Windsor Court and Rockwell House in 2010. Work to Ted Fletcher Court will begin in 2011.
Planned Provision: Capital Improvement Works 3.7.26 When existing vulnerable tenants require disabled facilities adaptations within Council housing stock these are undertaken within programmed capital improvement works. This approach reduces costs and delivery is more effective, reducing revenue pressures elsewhere within the Council. Effective asset management of Council housing designated for older people will deliver specific capital investment that will increase the longevity and appropriateness of the housing stock to meet customer requirements.
3.8 ADULT AND CHILDREN SOCIAL CARE FACILITIES 3.8.1 Through the integration of health and social care services, Darlington’s adult social care supports 1 giving people more people so they can live safely and independently within their own homes. As part of this, the choice and control over 1 their lives and to have Government requires the provision of enhanced personalisation for all users by 2011. To do this, responsibility for making the community will need access to the right sort of facilities and support Borough wide including at their own decisions a range of Council operated facilities like day care centres; Harewood House, Nubeck House and about support which Woodburn Nursery resource centres and older people’s residential care homes. Increasingly a suits them range of public and private sector facilities help provide care for children and young people, adults and older people and those with disabilities at appropriate locations across the Borough.
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Registered Care Homes 2 2residential care: 3.8.2 Residential care or nursing care can be provided at care homes, some offer both. Darlington has personal care, meals 30 registered Care Quality Commission homes, which meet the minimum legal standards; one is and accommodation managed by the Council, the rest are managed by healthcare companies, trusts, private for those who can no longer live organisations and individuals. independently, nursing care: personal care, Intermediate Care Services meals and 24hr 3 qualified nursing care 3.8.3 For people aged 50 years or over there are a number of intermediate care services available in Darlington to help people maximise their independence: 3improve levels of • An 8 bed rehabilitation facility, Ventress Hall Care Home; and independence to avoid • Darlington PCT provides Intermediate Care residential beds, based at Eastbourne Care unnecessary hospital admission; facilitate Home. timely discharge from hospital; prevent Day Care Services inappropriate 3.8.4 Age Concern Darlington provide day care services at Bradbury House for independent people admissions to 24hr care aged over 65 with a physical disability, but who would benefit from having the opportunity to join in activities that develop new skills and improve their independence. MIND provide a day care service at St. Hilda’s Day Centre for people who have dementia.
Mental Health Services 3.8.5 Adult social care work with the Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust and other organisations at Woodland Road and at Hundens Lane Centre to provide support to ensure that people with a mental health need and their carers are able to live as independently as possible in the community.
Children’s Homes 3.8.6 Darlington’s four Children’s Homes provide young people with stable home environments and good quality care and support. A supported lodgings scheme began in 2007 for young people leaving care.
3.9 ACCOMMODATING TRAVELLING GROUPS 1 1definition of Gypsies, 3.9.1 Existing provision for gypsies and travelling people is found at two Council owned but privately Travellers and managed sites; Honeypot Lane (32 residential pitches and 24 transit pitches) and Neasham Road Travelling Showpeople (20 residential pitches) and at other smaller privately owned sites with planning permission. are set out in Circular 01/06 and 04/07 3.9.2 Indications are that the growth in the Gypsy and Traveller population will not slow2, in Darlington, there is a need for more sites. Further work will be undertaken to identify the number of additional 2Tees Valley Gypsy and Traveller pitches required in the Borough. Accommodation Needs Assessment, 2009 3.9.3 Where appropriate the Council will, with partners bid for grants and funding programmes for sites with planning permission for the development of new sites and for the refurbishment of existing, including the remodelling and extension of existing sites.
The Role of the LDF and Development Management 3.9.4 The Council will continue to work in partnership with RSLs, private landlords and housebuilders to improve the quality and mix of housing in the Borough to help meet local needs and aspirations. Throughout the plan period there will be an ongoing need to secure affordable housing, homes for older people and for those with disabilities. The LDF documents in Table 9 below will help as well as other mechanisms in the planning system that are being explored. De-risking stalled sites, re- evaluating financial viability, using Council assets to deliver more value, and investing Growth Point funding to provide essential infrastructure to unlock housing sites are all being considered.
3.9.5 Further feasibility work needs to be undertaken to help identify detailed proposals for improvements to existing housing areas in the Borough. The Council will continue to investigate
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innovative opportunities to secure funding for a variety of housing projects as they become available, including securing developer contributions to improve the thermal efficiency of homes through the carbon management fund.
3.9.6 It is not possible to detail all the housing infrastructure projects that are likely to come forward over the plan period; changes to Government funding and other public sector funding streams will heavily influence the availability of funding and priorities for development. Contingencies are in place; identifying external private finance, including partner borrowing potential and partner reserves, and investing in new partnerships which share development risks and represent investment opportunities which can be realised over a number of years rather than on a grant only subsidy basis, are some of the new approaches being adopted in dialogue with private developers and Registered Providers.
Table 9: The Role of the LDF: Housing Provision LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD It will set out site specific housing infrastructure required to support the delivery of each site identified and will identify areas for improvements to existing housing. Making Places DPD May set out the provisions under which land may be released for affordable housing under the provisions of the ‘rural exception site policy’. Town Centre Fringe Area Action It will identify site specific housing infrastructure required to support the delivery of each site Plan identified and will identify areas for improvements to existing housing within the area. Design SPD The SPD promotes high quality design of new development across the Borough including housing including affordable housing and Lifetime Homes. Planning Obligations SPD The SPD is currently in accordance with the adopted Local Plan policy on affordable housing and will be updated and incorporated in the Planning Obligations SPD to reflect the revised policy approach set out in the Core Strategy.
3.10 SPORT AND RECREATION PROVISION
Context 3.10.1 Darlington has a wide range of formal and informal, indoor and outdoor sports facilities for pitch sports, court sports, swimming, health and fitness, bowling, athletics, golf, gymnastics and boxing. 1 Access to quality facilities varies across the Borough with lower levels experienced in the central Sport England Active 1 People Survey 2, and south eastern parts of the urban area, reflecting health inequalities in the community . 2008 3.10.2 Maintaining and enhancing the Borough’s supply of sports and leisure provision, including quality, quantity and accessibility improvements where necessary are essential to help encourage the community to actively participate in sport and recreation, and help reduce health inequalities that may exist.
3.10.3 The Core Strategy provides the framework to enable a strategic network of sports and recreation facilities to be promoted across the Borough. Policy CS18 protects the existing network and establishes a two hierarchies: one for playing pitches and another for sport and recreation facilities, that will enable provision to be protected and enhanced and managed to reflect strategic and local needs. This approach supports the growth strategy (policy CS1) which focuses development in the urban area where the extent and capacity of sports facilities is greatest. This approach will maximise accessibility to facilities and minimise the transport impact of new development (policies CS2 and CS19). Enhancement of existing facilities may be sought through developer contributions (policy CS4).
Playing pitches 3.10.4 Darlington has 104 public, private and school playing pitches2 covering 107.52 ha, 16% lower than 2includes the playing surface, safety margins the national average: & wider area for • 43 adult football pitches repositioning the pitch • 25 junior football pitches • 10 mini soccer pitches 3Darlington Playing Pitch Strategy, PMP 2009 39 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010
• 11 cricket pitches (6 main club grounds) • 13 adult rugby union pitches • 2 full sized Synthetic Turf Pitches (STPs)3
4 a formal agreement in with the owner for use 3.10.5 Schools are an important pitch provider, owning 46% of pitches. Other education facilities, Parish 3 of the pitches Councils and private clubs provide the rest of the pitches . 50% of pitches have secure community use4, but to only 9 pitches at 3 schools5. A further 24 pitches permit community use3 but have no 5Haughton Education formal agreements, meaning that access can be withdrawn at anytime; this can impact on the Village, Harrowgate Hill, amount of pitches available. Hummersknott 3.10.6 Pitch quality affects the number of matches that can be played. The majority are average quality but several Council owned pitches are below average and cannot take the recommended two matches a week. Overuse affects quality; training on match pitches can degrade the quality of the 6rugby and football 19 playing surface and the use of full size or junior pitches for mini sports6 can also reduce the mini soccer teams and capacity of the pitches, particularly for competitive matches. twelve mini rugby teams 3.10.7 Following development, there has been a recent, temporary net loss of four pitches across the Borough. Any further loss of playing pitches will generally not be acceptable; in exceptional circumstances any pitches lost, will need to be replaced elsewhere in the Borough and be operational by the time development commences.
3.10.8 These issues mean that at peak times there is a significant undersupply of 18.5 junior football pitches and there is just enough mini pitches to meet demand3. Supply balances with demand for cricket, rugby and hockey. Improving the quality of football pitches and securing formal access agreements at all schools would improve the capacity of the pitch stock and reduce the deficit of junior pitches to 15.5 pitches3, but further provision and improvements to existing stock are required over the plan period to improve supply.
7 3.10.9 Artificial pitches provide more consistent playing and practice conditions than grass pitches, for hockey and non provide greater capacity and can also be used as competitive and training venues. Darlington has competitive football 7 8 every day, all week two full size STPs at Eastbourne Sports Complex and Hummersknott School . This indicates that there is a need for an additional STP in the Borough3 to meet demand and help reduce the use of 8for football, rugby grass pitches for casual use. training and competitive football outside of school Planned Provision: Blackwell Meadows hours and at weekends 3.10.10 The development of Teesside University has seen the loss of 2 football pitches9 at Darlington College. These will be relocated to Council owned land adjacent to Darlington Rugby Club at 9one full-sized and one training pitch Blackwell Meadows, with participants able to use the Club’s changing facilities and car park. A planning application has been submitted and development is expected to be completed in Autumn 2011. The College will contribute £410,000 to provide the pitches as well as sufficient funding to maintain the pitches for a period of 15 years. Improved community use has been secured as part of the relocation.
3.10.11 In the long term the site also has the potential to provide for additional pitches which would help replace the other two lost pitches. Extensions to existing changing and car parking facilities will be required to enable this additional provision to be properly serviced.
Planned Provision: Mowden Rugby Club 3.10.12 It has been a long term aspiration of the Rugby Club to relocate from its current base in Mowden to West Park. A site has been identified for the club to the north west of Edward Pease Way; it would form part of the development in the North West Urban Fringe strategic location.
Planned Provision: Former Beaumont Hill school 3.10.13 A condition of the development of the Beaumont Hill school site at Glebe Road is to improve the poor drainage of the existing football pitch which restricts its capacity to accommodate an
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acceptable number of matches. Work will take place as part of the development scheme which is conditional on funding being released from the Government.
Planned Provision: Longfield School 3.10.14 Longfield School is a specialist sports college with a long term aspiration to improve the quality and variety of its sporting offer. A planning application has been submitted for a floodlit synthetic turf pitch at the school. If approved this will help address the school’s curriculum needs as well as provide enhanced provision for the community outside of school hours.
Indoor and outdoor sport and recreation facilities Swimming Pools 3.10.15 Darlington’s provision of nine swimming pools are well above the national and regional average; only the Dolphin Centre has full public access and club use, another four schools provide access to clubs and the community but no casual access. New and/or refurbished pools at the Education Village, Hummersknott School and the Dolphin Centre are operating at capacity, but older pools 10 10Sports and like Longfield School are operating below capacity . 201,093 casual swimming visits were made Recreation Facilities to the Dolphin Centre in 2009/10, an increase for the 5th consecutive year; it can experience Strategy, PMP, 2009 capacity issues at peak times.
Sports halls 3.10.16 Overall there are sixteen sports halls in the Borough. The main public sports hall is at the Dolphin Centre (eight courts). All of Darlington’s four court sports halls are at school/colleges, and are accessible to clubs and community associations by prior booking. Other schools and community centres have one or two court halls. Longfield School is the only specialist sports college in the region without at least a four court sports hall. Newer halls like the Education Village are close to capacity but those at older facilities like Branksome School have a lower level of use. This can create uneven use across the Borough with demand exceeding space at newer facilities at peak times10.
Planned Provision: Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College 3.10.17 In 2010 temporary community access was agreed to the new sports hall at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College. Prior to this the hall had been unavailable outside of the curriculum; this helps address a need for court provision in this part of the Borough. If successful this will be formalised.
Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) 3.10.18 MUGAs provide space for a variety of informal and formal sports across 13 sites; eleven are at schools, three in parks and one at a community centre10. The majority of school MUGAs are in good condition but those at North Lodge Park and Eastbourne Park are poorer quality. School MUGAs do not provide secure access outside school hours creating an unmet demand for use in those areas.
Planned Provision: Branksome School MUGA 3.10.19 Following a successful bid by the Youth Club to pay for the floodlights to be on for a certain period each day this MUGA is now available for casual access on a trial basis. If successful, this will be implemented on a long-term basis, reducing an identified demand in this part of the urban area.
Tennis 3.10.20 35 tennis courts exist at twelve sites; the six public hard surfaced tennis courts at Stanhope Park, South Park and Brinkburn Dene are laid out with free access from May to September10. Quality
12 tennis provision is found at private tennis clubs and hotels. There is no indoor tennis provision in Tees Valley Sub Regional Facilities the Borough; the Lawn Tennis Association considers there to be a gap in provision which could be 12 Strategy filled by Darlington
Community centres and village halls
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3.10.21 27 community centres including eight Council owned centres11 and village halls provide space for 11Firthmoor, Eastbourne, Hurworth the wider community to attend and undertake a wide range of events including sporting activities Grange, Branksome, as well as parties, corporate and social events, meetings, conferences and the Extended Services Willow Road, The programme. Clifton, Skerne Park, and Red Hall Health and Fitness Gyms 3.10.22 Nine gyms are found across the Borough; 20% of the provision is found at the publicly accessible Dolphin Centre and Eastbourne Sports Complex10. The remainder are membership facilities. Overall provision is sufficient for the Borough’s size.
Specialist Indoor and Outdoor Provision • Seven golf courses including the Council owned Stressholme Golf Centre • West Park down hill/four cross cycling course • athletics track at Eastbourne Sports Complex • a boxing gym • gymnastics club • Nine bowling greens • One indoor bowling rink10
The Role of the LDF and Development Management 3.10.23 Sport and recreation facilities are a valuable resource that provide for active lifestyles and that can help reduce health inequalities that exist across the Borough. The network of facilities will continue to be protected and enhanced appropriately. The Council will continue to work with sports clubs, education facilities and private providers to improve the quality and mix of facilities in the Borough, in particular access to education sites out of hours. Conditions attached to planning permission will also help provide secure access to other new sports developments helping to spread usage across the Borough to reduce the overuse at a few, newer facilities.
3.10.24 This is especially important for playing pitches; improved access will help improve the supply of pitches at peak times. In addition improvements to management and maintenance regimes at playing pitches as well as other sports facilities, particularly Council owned facilities can help improve their carrying capacity and help the community make best use of existing facilities. For example a review of the Dolphin Centre Pool Timetable is underway to implement a more targeted and planned approach to increase participation.
3.10.25 But it will still be necessary to secure provision to support the growth strategy over the plan period, particularly for playing pitches. Some new provision will be provided through new school sites should they be required at the strategic locations. Otherwise, consideration will be given to the provision of new sports and recreation facilities that meet local needs at the strategic locations and elsewhere, through the LDF documents identified in Table 10 below.
3.10.26 Identifying other funding sources, particularly from sports governing bodies and investing in partnerships with private partners or clubs are other options being explored. The Council will continue to investigate opportunities to secure developer contributions or any successor to improve the sport and recreation facilities across the Borough.
Table 10: The Role of the LDF: Sport and Recreation Provision LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD It will identify land for the provision and/or expansion of sport and recreation infrastructure provision listed in CS18 and identified in the IDP. It will set out site specific infrastructure required to support the delivery of each strategic location identified. Making Places DPD It will set out the standards of provision for playing pitches and sport and recreation facilities. Town Centre Fringe Area Action It will identify required provision within its area, although this could form part of any new school Plan provision. Design SPD It promotes high quality design of new development; outdoor facilities should have natural surveillance and be well lit. Provision should not reduce residential amenity.
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Planning Obligations SPD It will set out when contributions will be sought towards sport and recreation provision required to mitigate the potential impact of a development.
3.10 CULTURAL AND HERITAGE ATTRACTIONS
Context 3.11.1 Darlington benefits from having a range of successful tourism and cultural attractions such as the Civic Theatre, the Head of Steam museum and the Brick Train Sculpture. Increasingly the Borough’s wider landscapes are attracting visitors to places like the Piercebridge Roman Fort and the Ulnaby Medieval village. Rural diversification schemes like Archers Jersey Ice Cream Parlour and farm shops at Piercebridge extend the range of countryside attractions. Cultural and art attractions like the Arts Centre and The Forum attract visitors while newer public art features like Life Pulse and the Market Cascade fountain act as a focus for visitors to the town centre.
3.11.2 By nature many of these facilities are also valuable heritage assets which reflect Darlington’s railway, industrial and Quaker heritage. Attractions can be located in a heritage asset or can itself be a part of the Borough’s historic landscape. All contribute towards an understanding and appreciation of national and local history and heritage, and traditional building techniques and styles. Many help form a distinctive local identity which attract visitors; buildings and features in and around the Market Place are easily recognised and without them Darlington’s individuality and identity would be lost.
3.11.3 Darlington has significant existing hotel provision for a town of its size. The newly opened 1Tees Valley Hotel Rockcliffe Hall has added to the top end of that provision and a further 214 rooms have planning Futures, Hotel permission at a range of locations across the Borough1. A mix of sufficient quality of hotels is Solutions, 2009 required to cater for a range of budgets and provide a choice of tourist accommodation for the visitor, corporate and contractor market.
3.11.4 Policy CS6 ensures the Borough’s tourist and cultural attractions will be protected and enhanced. It recognises the potential across the Borough for additional tourist and cultural attractions particularly in the Town Centre and Town Centre Fringe, where there is the opportunity to create a Cultural Quarter. It also identifies the need to provide for appropriately located visitor accommodation to meet market needs at locations including the Town Centre, Town Centre Fringe, Central Park, Morton Palms, Morton Park and Durham Tees Valley Airport.
3.11.5 Policy CS14 ensures that all the Borough’s heritage assets are protected and enhanced over the plan period; this includes nationally protected heritage and archaeology as well as those local assets that create and help reinforce local distinctiveness (policy CS2) such as buildings, their settings and features within Conservation Areas1, on the local list2 or those that reflect Darlington’s railway, industrial and Quaker heritage as being worthy of protection and enhancement. Public art will where appropriate be secured as part of new development (policy CS4).
Darlington Civic Theatre 3.11.6 An Edwardian theatre built in 1907 which plays host to West End musicals, drama and a popular seasonal pantomime. Operated by the Council it underwent an expansion in 1990 to increase the audience capacity to 909, strengthening its position as a major regional venue.
Darlington Arts Centre 3.11.7 Darlington Arts Centre hosts the locally renowned Myles Meehan Gallery as well as three community galleries; the Lounge Gallery, Glass Corridor Gallery, Craft Cabinet, which showcase the work of community artists, students and new and upcoming artists. Its performance space regularly holds concerts and shows. 2funded by the European Regional Development Fund, Head of Steam Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage, Northern Rock Foundation, Railway Heritage Trust, Museums and Libraries 43 Archives North East and the Council Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010
3.11.8 Following a £1.7m refurbishment2, Head of Steam re-launched in April 2008. The newly refurbished listed building3 offers a unique experience to visitors through interactive displays and audio visual equipment, telling the history of Darlington and the impact of railways. Many of the highly popular old exhibits still feature, such as the locomotives in the main area of the museum and these are complemented and enhanced with new exhibitions and interactive displays for people of all ages.
3Designated by the Public art Government as a 3.11.9 Public Art has played an important role in the development of new spaces in Darlington in recent building or structure with years including West Park and the Pedestrian Heart. West Park features poetry written by W. N. special historic or architectural interest Herbert carved within functional and sculptural features. includes interior and exterior structures or 3.11.10The Pedestrian Heart scheme provided the opportunity for artist, Michael Pinsky to create Life features Pulse, to complement one of the first iconic public art lottery projects in the region; Train by David Mach, which is made from 181,754 bricks and commemorates Darlington's railway heritage.
Piercebridge Roman Fort 4 3.11.11 Roman findings at Piercebridge go back to 70AD but the remains of the fort, a scheduled ancient designated and 4 protected by the monument can be visited was thought to have been built around 270AD. Remains of defensive Government; written ditches, walls, courtyard buildings and even a heating system can be clearly seen. consent must be obtained from the Government before any Ulnaby Medieval Village work above or below 3.11.12 'Medieval Ulnaby' sits on the site of a buried medieval village, a scheduled ancient monument. ground, which might Developing into a popular mini attraction the site also features a farm shop and tearoom, affect a monument can permissive walk, rare breeds of cattle, llamas and rheas and a children's playground. begin
Archers Farm 3.11.13 Diversification of the farm has created an award winning home-made Jersey ice cream parlour at Archer's Farm. Other attractions include a 2 mile permissive walk and the opportunity to explore the farm.
Hotel provision 3.11.14 Since 2008 Rockcliffe Hall Hotel has opened and an extension has been made to the Premier Inn at Morton Park (25 rooms). There is market potential for a new budget hotel in the eastern part of the urban area and the provision of an additional small boutique hotel in the town centre. In addition the upgrade and possible expansion of the existing 3 star hotels like Hall Garth and a hotel at Central Park could be accommodated.
Planned Provision: Hotels 3.11.15 Planning permission has been approved for an upper tier budget hotel at Durham Tees Valley Airport (100 rooms), permission also exists for a hotel as part of the Eastern Urban Fringe. Provision is also identified, with conference facilities as part of the Central Park Masterplan.
The Role of the LDF and Development Management 3.11.16 Although the Council owns and operates key tourist and cultural facilities, the Council does not have direct control over the provision of many new facilities, which tend to be market driven. But it has a responsibility to set out the policy framework to enable those who provide services to make investment decisions. The Core Strategy provides the strategic framework for tourism and culture providers to maintain and develop their facilities but the full implications of delivery will be considered in other DPDs (see Table 11 below) and through the development management process.
3.11.17 New provision that provides increased access to and interpretation of, the Borough’s heritage and green infrastructure will be encouraged in appropriate locations. Change is inevitable; detailed changes that affect the character or appearance of a listed building or a Conservation Area will be
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considered through the planning application process, and are likely to require Listed Building Consent and Conservation Area consent respectively.
Table 11: The Role of the LDF: Tourism and Culture provision LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD It may identify new sites to provide for tourism and culture. Making Places DPD It will identify heritage assets like Conservation Areas, and will provide policy guidance on appropriate development at and/or adjacent to nationally protected assets. It may identify existing tourism and cultural sites. Town Centre Fringe Area Action It will include site specific policies appropriate to promote and manage the heritage, tourism and cultural Plan facilities within its boundaries Design SPD A key theme of the SPD is to protect and enhance heritage and promote local distinctiveness to ensure that this is reflected in good quality design of new development reflecting its location in the Borough’s distinct neighbourhoods and villages. Planning Obligations SPD
3.12 EMERGENCY SERVICES 3.12.1 The Core Strategy seeks to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure in line with new development, and to ensure that it creates accessible, safe environments. Policy CS1 focuses development on the urban area where accessibility is greatest to enable the continued efficient and effective operation of the emergency services. The promotion of high quality, safe design (policy CS2) will help promote community safety in new development and reduce the potential for crime. The identification of transport improvements will help ensure that when the emergency services are called out, they continue to make efficient response times within and between the urban area and villages of the Borough (policy CS19).
Durham Constabulary 3.12.2 Darlington’s main police station is located on St Cuthbert’s Way in the Town Centre Fringe, but police teams cover the Borough from three smaller stations: • Firthmoor Section Office: Haughton North, West and East, Sadberge and Whessoe, Lingfield, Bank Top, Lascelles, Eastbourne, Middleton St George and Hurworth; • Cockerton Police Office: Cockerton West, Pierremont, Faverdale, College, Park West, Mowden, Hummersknott, Park East and Heighington and Coniscliffe • North Road Police Office: the Town Centre, Albert Hill, Harrowgate Hill, North Road and Northgate.
Durham Constabulary provides full time and part time police officers, Special Constables and Police Community Support Officers to tackle crime and promote community safety. Police provision in Darlington is monitored on a daily basis; Police Stations operate on a fluid basis, so Officers can be relocated to meet demand in another area if required.
County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service 3.12.3 County Durham & Darlington Fire & Rescue Service serves a population of over 591,000 from 15 strategically placed fire stations across the wider area. Darlington’s fire service is based at St Cuthbert’s Way; it is a whole time station and community fire safety centre staffed by a mix of whole time and part time firefighters.
Darlington and Durham North East Ambulance NHS Trust
1 3.12.4 The North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides its service from 3 ambulance stations in takes patients from their homes to Darlington; A&E station at the Memorial Hospital, Darlington Ambulance Station, St Cuthbert’s 1 outpatient clinics, day Way and the Patient Transport Service Station in Morton Park. surgery units and other health related 3.12.5 Rapid Response Units are also deployed in strategic places throughout the Trust’s area. These
2 units may be able to arrive more quickly and can provide immediate life-saving treatment, before government target for the ambulance arrives. The efficient use of this service has contributed to the Trust reaching 75% life threatening emergencies
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of all category A cases within 8 minutes2. In 2009 patient service was enhanced; more ambulances, control staff and rapid response vehicles have been provided to access patients across the Borough quickly.
Planned Provision: Darlington and Durham North East Ambulance NHS Trust 3.12.6 The Trust state that it is difficult to predict increases in demand for its ambulance services but indicate that the level of growth proposed may have an impact in the long term. Any funding for resources to mitigate any potential impacts would be made by Darlington PCT to maintain 3the end of their planning period performance targets. The Trust has no plans to relocate the existing ambulance station in Darlington or establish a new one before 20123.
The Role of the LDF and Development Management 3.12.7 The continued provision of efficient and effective emergency services is important to support safety, health and well being of the Borough’s growing community. The Council has a limited role in determining the outcome of investment decisions of the emergency services. Continued working with the three providers will ensure that the growth strategy which will continue to be implemented through the LDF (see Table 12 below) does not negatively impact on response times and quality of service.
3.12.8 The emergency services have raised no infrastructure requirements. However their requirements will be monitored on an annual basis to ensure changing service requirements can be reflected in this IDP.
Table 12: The Role of the LDF: Emergency Services LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD Land for any specific sites to be allocated or safeguarded for the emergency services. It will set out site specific infrastructure required to support the delivery of each site identified. Making Places DPD Town Centre Fringe Area Action Land for any specific sites to be allocated or safeguarded for the emergency services. It will set out site Plan specific infrastructure required to support the delivery of each site identified. Design SPD It expects developers to design a safe and easy movement network ensuring that the emergency services can easily move around the Borough. New development for the emergency services should be high quality, appropriate to the type and scale of the development proposed and its location. Planning Obligations SPD
4.0 GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
Context 4.1.1 One of Darlington’s key assets is the wide range of attractive, green spaces that are found within or on the edge of the urban area and in the main villages. Covering about 900ha1, this extensive 1 Open Space Strategy, green infrastructure network comprises a series of green spaces linked by green corridors, within DBC, 2007 and between the town and villages. It includes formal parks, woodlands, river corridors, local 2 2identified and wildlife sites , open spaces, children’s play areas, allotments, the urban fringe and the designated locally, and countryside. It should provide for multi-functional uses like wildlife, recreation, heritage and are of local interest. culture, as well as delivering flood protection and climate control. Well designed and integrated green infrastructure improves environmental quality, health and well-being, sense of community and provides an opportunity for exercise, sport and informal recreation.
4.1.2 Parts of the Borough, like some inner areas and parts of the urban fringe, have relatively limited access to green infrastructure. Quality varies and the type of provision does not always match community needs. In rural areas, like Middleton St George, Hurworth and Heighington there is good access to a range of open spaces but the quantity, type and accessibility varies.
4.1.3 A clear strategic framework is established in the Core Strategy to protect, enhance and extend the Borough’s multifunctional green infrastructure network. Policy CS17 promotes a network of safe,
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accessible, well connected, multifunctional greenspaces to meet the formal and informal recreation needs of the community. Green infrastructure requirements also help to meet other key infrastructure delivery requirements like biodiversity (policy CS15), protecting local distinctiveness (policy CS14), promoting flood risk mitigation (policy CS16), enabling pedestrian and cycleway routes (policy CS19) and providing playing pitches (policy CS18). The overall aim is to improve the quality, quantity and accessibility of greenspaces and support the implementation plans in the Open Space Strategy and any successor. Policy CS4 provides the basis to enable developer contributions to be negotiated towards green infrastructure. The design of quality, safe, secure and sustainable spaces will be established through policy CS2.
Green Corridors 3 3 4.1.4 The basis of the Borough’s green infrastructure network is four strategic green corridors along the linear space with a footpath, cycleway or River Tees, the River Skerne, the River Skerne-West Park and the Darlington-Middleton St bridleway in the urban George-Stockton corridor. The strategic corridors as well as a number of feeder corridors of local area significance are central to the development of a strategic green infrastructure network linking Darlington’s otherwise fragmented local networks of parks, woodland and green spaces in the urban area to the wider countryside.
4.1.5 Covering 19%1 of the total area of open space, they also help people move around the town and access the urban fringe and the countryside easily by sustainable transport, along footpaths, bridleways and cycle ways. This includes the new national cycle route 14 and pedestrian route next to the Darlington Eastern Transport Corridor, which connects the urban area to South Burdon Community Forestry and the wider countryside.
Planned Provision: Green Leisure Routes 4.1.6 In the short term through 2LTP and Cycling Demonstration Town funding, improvements will be made to green corridors for cyclists, pedestrians and leisure: • Improvements to Green Lane, to install lighting to form a link between Harrowgate Hill and Whinfield; £100,000 Cycling Demonstration Town budget 2010/11 • The Skerne is being opened up as a major corridor into the town centre with £130,000 from the LTP.
Parks and Gardens 4.1.7 Darlington’s 14 parks are usually more multifunctional than other spaces; most offer at least three different types of open space provision as well as space for quiet relaxation, outdoor sports provision and community events. South Park is the only park to have Green Flag status4 and is 4Nationally recognised award for well also a Grade II Registered Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest; identified to encourage its managed parks and protection and conservation. South Park has benefited from a lengthy regeneration scheme; from open spaces that can 2003-2005 £3.9m from the Heritage Lottery Fund has helped create a significant stimulating and enjoy safe, high quality environment for the community and visitors.
4.1.8 West Park is Darlington’s newest park; it provides a unique hilltop setting which incorporates a sculpture park, downhill/four cross cycling track and informal open space. The four strategic facilities at South Park, North Park, West Park and the Denes are complemented by a network of local and doorstep parks which are evenly distributed across the urban area.
Planned Provision: Brinkburn Denes 5 5 4.1.9 Brinkburn Denes incorporates six Denes , covering 10ha and 1.5 kilometres, with 26 entrances. It wooded valley creates a unique environment but potential exists to improve its quality, functionality and use. The Denes has been subject to two successful ‘Parks and People’ bids6; £818,992 has been provided 6Heritage Lottery Fund to the Council to restore the park’s historic, environmental and social value by improving the visitor experience for local and town wide visitors by improving access, personal security, education and play activities. Work will be undertaken in partnership with Groundwork7 and the Friends of the 7 part of Groundwork Denes to include: Trust, works with communities to deliver • Improvements to all 26 entrances to incorporate new artistic features; cleaner, greener, safer spaces 47 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010
• Street lighting across routes in three of the Denes; • Replacement of all street furniture with new seats, bins, directional signage and notice boards; • Replacement of the eight footbridges; • Improvements to biodiversity to enhance the quality and quantity of species and habitats; • A new play area is also committed to be provided. Ongoing maintenance and engagement will be delivered through existing resources within Street Scene and Parks & Countryside.
Planned provision: North Lodge Park bandstand 4.1.10 The Grade II listed bandstand in North Lodge Park has required refurbishment for some time, but securing funding to undertake the works has been lengthy. Refurbishment of the bandstand will improve the attractiveness of the greenspace providing a focal point within the park. A specification has been developed to reflect the funding package available:
Heritage Lottery Fund £103,000 Fair Share Trust £ 17,500 Garfield Weston (Friends) £ 5,000 Big Lottery Community Spaces £ 49,500 Darlington Borough Council £ 41,000 TOTAL £216,000
4.1.11 The Council will receive the funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Community Spaces. Funding from Fair Share and Garfield Weston (Friends) is being paid directly to the Friends of North Lodge Park. The ongoing revenue costs for maintenance will be minimal and met from existing Council Streetscene repairs and maintenance budgets.
Cemeteries, Churchyards and Burial Grounds 4.1.12 Cemeteries are an important part of the Borough’s green infrastructure network as burial grounds but also as places of quiet reflection and for landscape and biodiversity value. Darlington’s 13 cemeteries include 3 public cemeteries in the North, East and West; totalling 76% of this type of provision. West Cemetery is also designated as a park or garden of special historic interest.
Planned Provision: St Andrews Church, Haughton Memorial Garden 4.1.13 Haughton Residents Association and St Andrew’s Church have identified a need and wish to create a Memorial Garden and car parking on Council owned land adjacent to St Andrew’s Church. The site is identified as being part of the Skerne Valley green corridor but has no public access. Maintenance of the site has proved problematic and the proposed Memorial Garden will provide an opportunity to create a focal point, improving the quality of the space and provide public access. Car parking should help relieve congestion caused on Salters Lane South and at the junction with Haughton Road when evvents are being held at the Church.
8Big Lottery Fund 4.1.14 In partnership with Groundwork North East, a scheme has been designed and an application for Community Spaces funding8 is being progressed. The total cost of the work is estimated to be £50,000 and will be fully covered by the grant. The funding would be paid directly to the Council or the Residents Association to undertake the work.
Children and Young People’s Provision 9 9equipped play areas, 4.1.15 Children and young people’s provision can be found at 41 sites across the Borough. Half are kicabout areas, fishing within another type of open space like a park. 73% have equipped play facilities; the remainder and skateboarding provide provision for teenagers like kickabout goals or fishing. Accessibility is varied; parts of the facilities urban area like the West End and Neasham Road have limited doorstep provision within a nine minute walk from home1.
4.1.16 The quality of play provision in the Borough has significantly improved since 2007. In partnership with Groundwork, the Council has provided new, refurbished and/or extended play areas at a
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range of sites across the Borough. Funding has been secured from a range of sources including from new development for improvements to Broken Scar, Brinkburn Denes and Grass Street, the Countryside Agency10 for improvements at Holgate Moor and the Heritage Lottery Fund for works at North Lodge Park.
Planned Provision: Playbuilder scheme
11 4.1.17 A two year programme is underway to improve existing play facilities or will be used as part of a DCSF funding bigger programme of improvements at an existing play site. The Council has received a capital grant from the Playbuilder scheme11 to create challenging environments for children to play, learn about assessing risk, use their imaginations and learn about the natural world. The landscape should be designed to become an integral part of the play experience alongside more traditional play equipment like slides and swings. £1,128,558 has been allocated to develop eleven sites a year; £530,535 (2009-2010) and £598,023 (2010-2011). Groundwork will deliver the design, project management and community engagement for the Playbuilder projects. Year 1 sites are:
Site Status West Park (new site) Under construction Albert Hill Completed Eastbourne Park Completed Lascelles Park Completed Eastbourne Sports Complex Under construction North Park Completed Cocker Beck Completed Bensham Park Completed Bushel Hill Park Completed Green Park Granted planning permission Red Hall Under construction
4.1.18 Some work has already taken place on developing and designing the Year 1 sites. Work is expected to commence on the Year 2 sites from Spring 2010, with implementation required prior to March 2011 at:
Site North Lodge Park Tommy Crooks Park Darrowby Drive Springfield, Green Lane Auckland Oval Fryers Crescent Beech Wood South Park Hurworth Middleton St George Springfield (new site)
4.1.19 The Council will be responsible for the ongoing maintenance of 21 of these sites; Middleton St George Parish Council will take responsibility for the maintenance of the improvements to their play area. As the majority of the Council sites are for replacement or improvements, it is estimated that maintenance costs of £10,000 a year can be contained within existing budgets.
Civic Spaces 4.1.20 Darlington’s five civic spaces provide a setting for civic buildings and community events. Typically hard surfaces, they can also provide spaces for quiet enjoyment, relaxation and some incorporate outside space for café bars. The most prominent is the Market Place, although the largest space is found at the Head of Steam (1.31ha). Although these spaces are not evenly distributed across
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the Borough, they are all either located in the town centre or at a tourist and cultural attraction which provide access to a high number of people, not just from the Borough but from outside.
Planned Provision: Feethams Public Square 4.1.21 The Department of Education (DoE) are relocating their offices from Mowden Hall to the Feethams area of Darlington Town Centre. This provides an opportunity to create a new multifunctional public square in the current Beaumont Street car park enhancing the overall attractiveness of the area making it a more pleasant environment for pedestrians and cyclists. It would also improve pedestrian links to and through the site to the Market Square, to Houndgate and Sainsbury's. The DoE will fund additional highways improvements up to £15,000.
4.1.22 It is anticipated that the new public square and the other required public realm works would be funded via the land receipt from the DoE development. It is estimated that the design and construction of the public square would be £426,753. Estimated maintenance costs are £7,000 a year and will be funded from the Council’s revenue budget. The timescales for this project are uncertain; the development is partly linked to the sale of the Mowden Hall and future Government organisation plans.
Natural and Semi Natural Greenspace 12Nationally important 4.1.23 The Borough has an extensive, but fragmented, network of biodiversity sites including: biodiversity sites • four nationally protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)12 all in a favourable or designated by Natural England under the recovering condition covering 8.29ha at Neasham Fen, Hell Kettles, Newton Ketton Meadows Countryside and and Redcar Field; Rights of Way Act • seven Local Nature Reserves13, 2000 • areas of ancient woodland14, like those along the River Tees 2 13designated by the • 25 Local Wildlife Sites 15 Council under national • 64ha of community forestry at Skerningham, Merrybent and South Burdon around the urban legislation for wildlife fringe. and the enjoyment of wildlife 4.1.24 These sites and a range of others provide 63 sites identified as natural and semi natural
14 greenspace distinguishable by their primary focus on wildlife conservation and migration, continuous woodland since 1600 with a biodiversity and environmental education. 84% have public access; some sites have limited diverse range of range access to protect the habitats or the features that exist. Approx £120,000 is used to support a and unusual species programme of physical improvement works on an ongoing basis to Council sites. Where appropriate other funding sources will be identified to supplement this provision. 15combines conservation, new Planned Provision: Cocker Beck Valley planting, access to the 4.1.25 The Environment Agency and County Durham Environmental Trust have committed £50,000 and countryside with rural development £28,000 respectively to improve biodiversity at Cocker Beck to provide new backwaters and better water quality through the introduction of a controlled amount of fresh water. Feasibility work is ongoing, the project timing is uncertain at the time of publication.
Planned Provision: Maidendale Nature Reserve 16 16Big Lottery Fund 4.1.26 The Council has secured £131,000 from the Reaching Communities Programme for the development of a range of environmental improvements to improve biodiversity value at Maidendale Nature Reserve. Additional wetland areas will be provided and improvements to the paths will provide better access. The Maidendale Trust, in partnership with the Environment Agency and the Council have employed two rangers to carryout these works by 2011.
Informal Open Space 4.1.27 Informal open space offers opportunities for informal recreation like informal play, dog walking and jogging close to home or work. Many have other uses or incorporate other types of provision within close proximity to home. 36% of open space is primarily used for informal recreation.
Landscape Amenity
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4.1.28 Landscape amenity enhances the space within the built up area and can add value to the setting of built development including heritage as well as providing a quality environment for commercial and employment development. It can also provide a buffer between infrastructure like roads and railways and the built area. There are 44 primarily landscape amenity sites but many other sites have some landscape amenity value. All sites with a landscape amenity function are reasonably well distributed; only Bank Top and Cockerton East have no provision.
Urban Fringe 4.1.29 Parts of Darlington’s largely agricultural urban fringe have limited biodiversity value, as natural and semi-natural habitats, such as hedgerows, have been lost or fragmented. The urban fringe is an important biodiversity resource; provision and enhancement of suitable habitats within the urban fringe can allow species to move to and from town to country. Community forestry is a valuable resource within the urban fringe; planting at Skerningham, South Burdon and Merrybent provides space for habitats and species to establish to ensure that sites in the urban area, urban fringe and the wider countryside are increasingly linked to maximise the value of each site.
Planned Provision: Skerningham Countryside Site 4.1.30 A long term aspiration of the Council is the continued development and use of land at Skerningham to the north of the urban area as a strategic countryside site, providing multifunctional space for access for recreation and leisure, community forestry and biodiversity provision in close proximity to the urban area. £80,000 has been secured through developer contributions for the creation of species rich grassland to enhance provision of priority habitats in the area. Contributions from development could also lead to improvements to the access path to the site from the former Beaumont School sites.
Allotments 17 17 4.1.31 With about 20 plots per 1000 households , Darlington’s allotment provision is consistent with Draft Darlington national guidelines18. There are 26 allotment sites identified in the Borough, though nine wards do Allotments Strategy, 19 Groundwork Durham not have any sites . The majority of sites tend to be concentrated around the more urban, and Darlington, 2010 densely populated areas where traditionally demand existed.
18National Society of 4.1.32 The Council manages 15 sites, all in the urban area with approximately 800 plots tenanted. Size Allotments and Leisure varies; some are large with more than 150 plots, and others are small with 3 plots. Quality is Gardeners mixed; a few sites have plots that are not let due to their unsuitability, mainly as a result of poor drainage17. Plot size varies, half plots exist at some sites for people who say they cannot manage 19Central, Cockerton a full plot. West, College, Eastbourne, Haughton East, Mowden, Park 4.1.33 Currently six sites are self managed; each has their own committee who lease the site from the West, Pierremont and Council and have secured additional funds to improve their site. Where appropriate the Council Sadberge and Whessoe would like to create more self managed sites. Parish Councils manage allotments in the villages whilst others are managed by private providers.
4.1.34 All providers have experienced a recent surge in demand, with 466 people currently on the Council’s waiting list. With only 800 plots in total, the Council’s provision will not be able to reduce the waiting list very significantly with only 20-30 people leaving their tenancy each year. This indicates a significant unmet need for additional allotments, and a need to make the most of existing allotment space17.
Planned Provision: Ridgeway allotments 4.1.35 Where opportunities arise for low value open space sites to be transferred into more beneficial use it may be possible for additional allotment provision to be created in the Borough. A small site is proposed for Council owned land to the rear of houses on The Ridgeway, Harrowgate Hill for approximately eight half plots. Glebe Road Allotments Association will use their waiting list to identify potential tenants. The costs of the appropriation procedure are unlikely to exceed £1,200
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and will be shared between the Council and the Association who will be offered the opportunity to manage the new site as an extension of their site.
Planned Provision: Lingfield Point (see 5.2.5) 4.1.36 In the long term the masterplan for Lingfield Point identified allotment provision as part of the green infrastructure provision for a mixed use development including employment and 1200 houses.
Public Rights of Way 4.1.37 Darlington has 305km of Public Rights of Way (PROW), providing a comprehensive network between and within the urban area, the villages and the wider countryside. 30km is within the urban area; some are along important historic routes like the old Salters’ Lane, the original Great North Road and several dismantled railways like the original route of the 1825 Stockton to Darlington Railway. PROW have a dual purpose; they provide sustainable access around the Borough for walkers, cyclists and horse riders as well as providing access from the town centre and urban area through the urban fringe to the wider countryside for leisure and recreation.
20 4.1.38 Quality and accessibility varies; the north and north east of the Borough are well served by public Public Rights of Way bridleways, although they do not link particularly well, the west has a comprehensive network but Improvement Plan, DBC, 2007 with the exception of the Teesdale Way and paths close to High Coniscliffe and Piercebridge, is underused. To the south and east the network is severed by the A66, but the remaining countryside is well served mainly with footpaths, particularly around the main villages of Hurworth and Middleton St George. The more remote parts of the Borough have good PROW coverage but use is very low. The urban PROW are comprehensive and generally well used, with over 60 paths providing useful links for access, recreation and sustainable movement around the town20.
4.1.39 There has been a great deal of success in adding large areas of urban fringe access to the network; the community forestry at South Burdon and Skerningham provides a network of paths connecting to the PROW network in close proximity to the urban area.
Planned Provision: Merrybent Community Forestry 4.1.40 Merrybent is a relatively new area of community forestry on the western edge of the urban area but access is limited outside the immediate locality. £60,000 has been secured from 2LTP/CDT to connect an existing right of way and open space with the woodland and the existing bridleway that runs between Coniscliffe Road/Staindrop Road through.
Provision Through New Development 4.1.41 The Council will continue to secure, where appropriate, open space, priority habitats and children’s play provision as part of new development. Where this is not feasible, planning obligations or any successor will continue to be used to secure off site provision or a financial contribution to improvements in the locality. The type, scale and nature of the provision will reflect needs in the locality to help achieve the standards identified in the Open Space Strategy1 or any successor.
Planned Provision: Feethams development 4.1.42 As part of the planning permission for the former Feethams football ground, the developers have agreed to provide a river side footpath and cyclepath next to the river Skerne, providing access for the community and providing protection for otter habitats along the riverbanks. A commuted sum for play equipment and for additional open space and maintenance over a nominal 10 year period has also been secured to improve provision in the locality.
Planned Provision: Developer contributions 4.1.43 In addition the Council has secured £241,728 from new development to improve open spaces, £235,909 towards enhancing children’s play provision and £11,984 towards PROW improvements. £16,371 has also been secured to improve open space and sports provision in the College ward area. Further details are set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Schedule.
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The Role of the LDF and Development Management 4.1.44 The infrastructure projects identified above will be essential in delivering various cross cutting themes in the Core Strategy. This approach will continue in the LDF documents set out in Table 13 below. The various projects identified above highlight the need for ongoing maintenance of and qualitative improvements to these existing assets. The Council will continue to work in partnership with developers, parish councils and housebuilders to ensure that adequate provision of multifunctional open spaces are incorporated in new developments. Masterplans and development briefs will be useful tools to help secure provision. Where contributions are sought to mitigate the impact of new development on existing provision, maintenance contributions will also be sought to provide for the long term impact on green infrastructure.
4.1.45 Where this is not feasible on site, planning obligations or any successor will continue to be used to provide or enhance spaces in the locality to help implement the forthcoming Green Infrastructure Strategy. In addition to the traditional approach of planning obligations, identifying external finance and partnerships with public and private sector organisations will be considered to provide new or secure improvements to the green infrastructure network. Where low value, low quality open space sites become available, the Council will consider changing their use; allotments will be considered through this disposal programme.
Table 13: The Role of the LDF: Green Infrastructure LDF Document Delivery Approach Accommodating Growth DPD Land for new sites or sites where significant changes to existing open space will be identified. It will set out site specific green infrastructure required to support the delivery of each site identified. Making Places DPD Standards for open space provision across the Borough will be identified and existing spaces will be identified on the Proposals Map. Town Centre Fringe Area Action It will include site specific policies appropriate to promote and manage the green infrastructure Plan within its boundaries, including the strategic green river corridor Design SPD Expects developers to create high quality, safe, multifunctional green and public spaces that connect with the existing network. It also expects an ecological masterplan to be submitted for significant applications or for development that has a significant impact upon biodiversity. For on site provision a management plan will be required to show how maintenance contributions will be used. Planning Obligations SPD It will set out when contributions will be sought towards open space, children’s play, biodiversity and landscaping provision. Maintenance contributions will also be established.
5.0 INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY SCHEDULE
5.0.1 The Infrastructure Delivery Schedule is a key component of the IDP. Using the information collated within Sections 2-4 the schedule sets out more detail relating to the delivery of key items of planned and proposed infrastructure projects that are considered to be important to the delivery of the policies in the Core Strategy. An additional sub-section has been added which relates to the Core Strategy’s strategic locations. Annually, these schedules will also form a monitoring tool against which progress and delivery can be assessed.
5.0.2 The schedules set out details of infrastructure projects, planned and proposed for the Core Strategy plan period to 2026. Reference has been added to identify the Core Strategy policy(s) the infrastructure project will help deliver. This key information helps clarify what each policy and infrastructure project is aiming to achieve. It also summarises the current status of each project, the potential implementation mechanisms and the lead agencies that would be involved in their delivery. The framework also provides an overview of risks and associated contingency for each project. Where known, information is also supplied relating to the expected delivery timetable and sources of funding/expected costs.
5.0.3 Guidance is clear that infrastructure planning should be proportionate and realistic to the level of infrastructure that is needed to deliver the Core Strategy. Whilst it may be ideal to secure the
53 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010
delivery of all infrastructure items, it will be necessary to take a balanced, pragmatic approach to reflect development viability, availability of public sector funding sources and service priorities at that time. Reflecting this, consideration has been given as to which elements of infrastructure are considered to be critical to the delivery of the Core Strategy’s policies.
5.0.4 Where appropriate, this is linked to an explanation on any contingencies that may be required. Reflecting the needs and existing provision in the locality the risks will vary according to locality and the needs of the development. Further details are found in the IDP Schedule.
Explanatory notes Status Overview of the current position e.g. underway, project timing under investigation, planning permission approved Costs Estimated costs have been taken from infrastructure providers plans. When an estimate cannot be made the table states unknown Delivery requirements Expected delivery timeframe and any phasing that may be required: short term 2011- 2016, medium term 2016- 020 and long term 2020-2026. Will state 'on-going' if a project will be delivered through the plan period. Risk Risk of the project not proceeding is ranked low, medium or high: • High: there is no clear mechanism at present to secure funding. Planning and/or other consents are required to secure delivery. The likelihood of consents being granted is uncertain. • Medium: there is a clear mechanism identified to secure funding. Planning/and or other consents may be required to secure delivery. There is a strong likelihood that consents would be granted. • Low: costs are known and funding is secured or a robust mechanism identified to secure funding. No other planning or consents are required, and/or there is a statutory duty to provide the required infrastructure in step with development. Importance Categorises each infrastructure project, to reflect the level of risk it poses to the delivery of the Core Strategy policies: • Critical: without which the policies will not be delivered • Necessary: necessary to support new development identified in the policies, but the precise timing and phasing is less critical and development can commence ahead of its provision • Preferred: the delivery of the identified infrastructure is preferred in order to build sustainable communities. Timing and phasing is not critical over the plan period
54 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 5.1 Infrastructure Delivery Schedule At the time of publication, there was considerable uncertainty associated with several proposed schemes which were to be wholly or partly public sector funded. The Government’s budget review may have an impact on these schemes. These projects are shaded in blue.
Project Description CS Policy Lead Delivery Source of Total Cost (£) Status Delivery Requirement (£’s) Risks Dependencies Organisation funding Short term Medium Long Risk of not Importance Contingency 2011-2016 term term proceeding to CS 2016- 2021- 2021 2026 Physical Infrastructure Transport Infrastructure A66/Yarm Road Junction Major remodelling of the junction in CS1, CS19 Highways Agency, RFA, developer Unknown Under review High Critical 3LTP, developer Government review of advance of A66 Gateway scheme below developers, DBC contributions contributions, budget allocations Accommodating Growth DPD A66 Great Burdon and Signalisation of the roundabouts CS1, CS19 Highways Agency, RFA, developer Unknown Under review High Critical 3LTP, developer Government review of Eastern Transport Corridor developers, DBC contributions contributions, budget allocations roundabouts Accommodating Growth DPD A66 Darlington bypass New dual carriageway section of A66 CS1, CS19 Highways Agency, RFA, developer Unknown Under review High Critical 3LTP, developer Government review of between Yarm Road and Great Burdon developers, DBC contributions contributions, budget allocations Accommodating Growth DPD Tees Valley Bus Network Improving the coordination, service CS1, CS19 DBC, Arriva 37.5m across Project timing High Critical 3LTP, developer Government review of Improvement scheme quality and coverage bus network partly Tees Valley being explored contributions, funding budget allocations through better infrastructure at key 7.49m for DBC to develop masterplan junctions: 3.5m for TCF • North and Whessoe Roads DFT, LTP 600,000 3.5m • Cockerton Green DFT, LTP 99,000 600,000 • Brinkburn and West Auckland Road DFT, LTP 100,000 99,000 • Milbank and Woodland Road DFT, LTP 3.2m 100,000 • Bondgate-Stonebridge section of the DFT, LTP 3.2m inner ring road, including the widening of Freeman’s Place Improving capacity in the • Extending highway access to West Park CS1, CS19 DBC, Arriva, Developer Unknown Pending Medium Critical 3LTP, funding from Development coming network from West Auckland Road/Newton Lane. Highways Agency contributions development bus operating forward, Government • Upgrading the A66/A67 Yarm Lane RFA, developer company, budget allocations roundabout. contributions High Critical Accommodating Growth DPD, TCF • Implementing a new 10 minute Developer AAP frequency bus service linking the town contributions Med Necessary centre with West Park • Implementing a new 10 minute Developer frequency bus service linking the town contributions Med Necessary centre with the Eastern Fringe. • Dualling the A66 between Great Burdon Roundabout and Eastern Transport RFA High Critical Corridor. • Converting roundabouts to traffic signal junctions to improve the punctuality of TVBNI, High Critical buses over the route using a hurry up call developer for late buses. contributions, LTP • Bus priority on approaches to junctions 3LTP, developer Medium Necessary contributions Car parking Improvements to the layout of some CS1, CS2, DBC LTP Unknown Low Necessary LTP, Town Centre existing car parks. CS7, CS19 Fringe AAP Developer contributions – Provision of traffic calming, Middleton St CS1, CS2, DBC Developer 1500 Payment 1500 Low Necessary road network George CS19 contribution received Improvements to the • Provision of additional long distance CS19 Network Rail, East Unknown High Preferred Government funding ECML high speed services to/from London Coast allocations, franchise • More frequent, reliable commuter arrangements of East journeys to Leeds and Newcastle. Coast and its successor Improvements to Northern Improvements to network capacity CS19 Network Rail, train Unknown High Preferred Government funding routes operators allocations, franchise arrangements of East Coast and its 55 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 successor Community Partnership • Improvements to North Road railway CS6, CS19 DBC, Community LTP 10,000 Committed 10,000 Low Critical External funding Designation as Heritage Line station Rail Partnership sources, TVBNI Community Rail • Integration of the Heritage Line with the Partnership national rail network capital improvements Bank Top Station travel • Operation of cycle hire scheme at the CS1, CS19 DBC, East Coast, East Coast, 5000 start up Committed 5000 Low Necessary plan programme station linked to other sites in the urban Network Rail, Arriva CDT, ERDF area • Improvements to Pensbury Street back LTP, ERDF 20,000 Committed 10,000 Low Necessary lane by Station entrance • Parkgate ramp improvements to Unknown Medium Necessary Project proceeds at Source to meet footway later date operational costs • Major improvements to Victoria Road Unknown Low Necessary and entrance including bus interchange and bus loop • Shuttle bus-Parkgate to/from Town Unknown Medium Necessary Government budget Centre review Tees Valley Metro Provision of a rail based metro system on CS1, CS19 DBC, Network Rail Regional 1.25m Feasibility study 1.25m Low Critical the Darlington-Saltburn heavy rail Transport Board underway corridor Tees Valley Metro Phase • Track and signalling work, CS1, CS19 DBC, Network Rail, Unknown 190m High Critical RFA, train franchise, Government budget 2 and 3 concentrating on the Darlington to Train Operating developer review Saltburn line; Company contributions, Network • New stations; rail investment plan • Refurbishment of other stations; and • New trains Improvements to Bank Provision of two line local platform at CS1, CS19 Network Rail, East Interim Regional 9.4m Under review High Critical 3LTP Government budget Top Station Bank Top Station to the east of the ECML Coast, DBC Transport Board, 800,000 review Improvements to Garbutt Square LTP Footbridge Pedestrian/cycle bridge Provision of a pedestrian/cycle bridge CS1, CS2, One North East, HCA, One North 1.65m Planning 1.65m High Necessary between Darlington College and Town CS19 DBC East permission Centre Fringe approved Cycling Demonstration • Polam Lane improvement CS1, CS19 DBC Cycling England 328,000 Programme 328,000 Low Critical Town • Improved links to existing toucan underway crossings on Whinfield Road and Stockton Road • Major improvements to the bridleway network along Baydale Beck, including a new bridge • cycle route along the River Skerne between Albert Road and John Street • Advanced Stop Lines and other low cost crossings for cyclists • Cycle parking in the town centre Cycle parking Secure covered cycle parking at 5 CS19 DBC, Schools LTP, Cycling 30,000 Project 30,000 Low Critical schools, QE College, Bank Top Station England, underway Sustrans 3576 Committed 3576 School Travel Plans Programme for eight schools to change CS19 DBC DCSF 47,000 Committed 47,000 Low Critical their travel habits and reduce dependency on the car Improving operational New and improvements to existing bus CS19 DBC DFT, LTP 9.4m Committed 9.4m High Critical 3LTP Government budget conditions stops, traffic management schemes and review expanding the real time information system Selective vehicle detection equipment at CS19 DBC LTP 204,000 Committed 204,000 High Critical Project may proceed seven signal controlled junctions at later date, throughout the urban area developer contributions Developer contributions – Provision of a local bus service subsidy, CS4, CS19 DBC 170,000 34,000 Low Necessary public transport West Park Improvements to bus infrastructure, 1,500 1,500 Middleton St George Improvements to bus infrastructure, 16,000 16,000 Abbey Road One off bus service subsidy, Parkside 2000 2000 Provision of bus infrastructure, Merrybent 22,075 22,075 Drive 56 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 Durham Tees Valley Relocation and improvements to station CS1, CS19 DBC, Network Rail, Interim Regional £5m Under review 5m High Critical 3LTP Government budget Airport station train operators Transport Board review Utilities Infrastructure New local gas Reinforcement of the gas network CS1, CS2 Northern Gas Unknown High Critical AGDPD Infrastructure provider transmission infrastructure Networks, United budget available within Utilities timescale New local electricity Reinforcement of the electricity network CS1, CS2 CE Electric Unknown High Critical AGDPD Infrastructure provider transmission infrastructure budget available within timescale Waste water treatment Upgrade to Stressholme Waste Water CS1, CS2, NWL AMP 17m Project 17m Low Critical Treatment Works CS16 underway Upgrade to Middleton One Row sewage CS1, CS2, NWL AMP Project Low Critical transfer works CS16 underway Renewable energy Provision of 10 wind turbines at CS2, CS3 Banks Development Banks Unknown Planning High Critical Planning permission Moorhouse Development application granted submitted Provision of 5 turbines at Royal Oak Developer Developer Unknown Planning High Critical permission S106 agreement approved signed subject to s106 agreement Flood management Creation of a strategic flood risk CS1, CS2, Unknown High Critical TCF AAP Coordinated phasing of management scheme including flood CS15, CS16, development storage compensation, restoration of the CS17 natural floodplain, the creation of a green corridor next to the River Skerne, flood resilience and resistance measures Social and Community Infrastructure Health care Darlington Memorial Modernisation of the hospital CS1, CS2 County Durham and County Durham 26m Project Ongoing High Necessary Plans refined to Extent of Trusts budget Hospital Darlington NHS and Darlington underway accommodate lower Foundation Trust NHS Foundation level of investment Trust Education Children’s Centres Wider access to Children’s Centres CS1, CS2 DBC DCE 798,148 Underway 798,148 Low Necessary
Early Years Capital Improvements to Private, Voluntary and CS1, CS2 DBC DCE 1.319,520m Underway 1.319,520m Low Necessary Funding Independent early years and childcare settings Co-Location Fund Creation of an Integrated Centre for Well CS1, CS2 DBC, schools DCE, DFC, PCP, 2.6m Underway 2.6m Low Necessary Being at Heathfield Primary School and Darlington PCT , 150,000 three Community Well-Being hubs at Children & ongoing pa Dodmire Junior, Hurworth Primary and Adolescent Borough Road Nursery. Mental Health Services Primary Capital Improvements to condition and suitability CS1, CS2 LA DCE 8.378m Underway 5.378m Low Necessary Programme (PCP) of primary schools and provision of primary school spaces for pupils who are born in the Borough DFES formulaic capital Improvements to priority condition and CS1, CS2 LA, schools DCE 2.345m Underway 2.345m Low Necessary allocations suitability of secondary schools 14-19 Diplomas Development of 14-19 diplomas at all CS1, CS2 DBC 6.3m Underway 6.3m Low Necessary secondary schools 0.6m Committed 0.5m Medium Necessary Extended Schools Provision of Skerne Park Extended CS1, CS2, DBC DFE Unknown Underway Unknown High Preferred School CS18 Teesside University, Provision of a new, five storey Teesside University University, One 13m Underway 13m Low Necessary Darlington undergraduate and postgraduate North East, DBC teaching facility next to Darlington College Housing Tees Valley Growth Point - Improvements to roads, access and CS1, CS2, DBC, Fabrick CIF2 207,000 Committed 207,000 Low Critical Former Beaumont Hill infrastructure CS10, CS11 School Sites Former Beaumont Hill Delivery of housing including affordable CS1, CS2, DBC, Fabrick HCA Kickstart 2, 9m Planning 9m High Critical Other funding Government review of School Sites and accessible homes CS10, CS11, Fabrick Housing permission opportunities explored budget allocations CS17, CS18 approved New Build Council Development of up to 65 affordable CS1, CS2, DBC HCA 7.5m Project timing 3m High Critical Other funding Government review of Housing properties to rent across four Council CS10, CS11 DBC being explored 4.5m opportunities explored budget allocations owned sites: • adjacent to Burnside Road 57 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 • adjacent to Dinsdale Court • former Springfield school site • Richmond Close. Affordable housing Provision of 58 affordable units as part of CS1, CS2, DBC, developers, Developers, HCA Unknown – part Project timing Unknown – High Critical Phasing of private provided as part of new committed schemes at West Park (13 CS4, CS10, RSLs of on site being explored part of on development meeting development units) and Snipe House Farm (45 units) CS11 development site the trigger for development affordable housing provision Improvements to Existing Housing Council owned housing Improvements to Council housing stock CS10, CS11 DBC Housing 40.7m Low Critical including sheltered including sheltered housing: Revenue housing Works so properties meet the Darlington Account 27.300m Standard Maintaining the external fabric of Council 9.800m houses Improving the environment 2.200m Delivering disabled adaptations for 1.400m council tenants Sport and recreation Blackwell Meadows Relocation of 2 pitches to land adjacent CS18 DBC Darlington 410,000 Planning 410,000 Low Critical Planning permission to Darlington Rugby Club, Blackwell College application being approved Meadows submitted Mowden Relocation of Mowden rugby club to West CS1, CS18 Mowden Rugby Land receipt Unknown Unknown Medium Preferred Modification to site Sale of current site and Park Club from sale of plans, securing content of land receipt existing site funding from governing body, external sources Beaumont Hill schools Improvements to pitch drainage secured CS18 DBC, Fabrick Fabrick Unknown as Planning Unknown High Preferred Funding from Government review of through planning permission for housing part of on site permission alternative source budget allocations development works approved Longfield School Provision of floodlit synthetic turf pitch CS18 Longfield School Football Unknown Planning Unknown Medium Critical Planning permission Foundation application being approved submitted Queen Elizabeth Sixth Community access to the new sports hall CS18 DBC, QE College QE College None Underway None Low Necessary Form College at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College.
Branksome School MUGA Casual access to the school MUGA CS18 DBC, Branksome Branksome Unknown Underway Unknown Low Necessary outside school hours on a trial basis School School, Branksome Youth Club Green Infrastructure Green Leisure routes Improvements to green leisure routes for CS17, CS19 DBC LTP, CDT 230,000 Underway 230,000 Low Critical cyclists, pedestrians and leisure • Green Lane; • Skerne corridor to the town centre Brinkburn Denes Regeneration of Brinkburn Dene CS14, CS15, DBC, Groundwork Heritage Lottery 818,992 Underway 818,992 Low Critical including access, biodiversity CS17 Fund improvements and play provision North Lodge bandstand Refurbishment of a Grade II Listed CS2, CS14 DBC, Friends of Heritage Lottery 216,000 Committed 216,000 Low Necessary Bandstand North Lodge Park Fund, Fair Share Trust, Garfield Weston (Friends), Big Lottery Community Spaces, DBC St Andrews Memorial Creation of a Memorial Garden and car CS14, CS17 DBC, Groundwork Community 50,000 Bid submitted 50,000 Medium Necessary Other external funding Bid being approved Garden parking on Council owned land adjacent Spaces funding sources explored to St Andrew’s Church Playbuilder scheme Improvements to existing play facilities or CS17 DBC, Groundwork DCSF 1.128m Underway 598,023 Low Critical to be used as part of a bigger programme of improvements at a particular site Feethams Public Square Creation of a new public square in the CS1, CS17, Developer, DBC DCSF land 426,753 Project timing 426,753 7000pa High Preferred Funding from Sale of current site and mid level of the current Beaumont Street CS19 receipt being explored Ongoing alternative source content of land receipt car park next to the proposed DCSF offices Cocker Beck Improvements to biodiversity, and CS15, CS16, DBC Environment 78,000 Project timing High Critical Outcome of feasibility provision of new backwaters and better CS17 Agency, County being explored study water quality Durham 58 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 Environmental Trust Maidendale Nature Environmental improvements to improve CS15, CS17 DBC, Maidendale Big Lottery Fund, 131,000 Underway 131,000 Low Critical Reserve biodiversity value and improvements to Trust, Environment access Agency Skerningham Countryside Development and use of land as a CS4, CS15, DBC Developer 80,000 Low Critical Site strategic countryside site CS17 contributions Ridgeway allotments Provision of an allotments site to the rear CS17 DBC, Glebe Road DBC, Glebe 1,200 Project timing High Critical Secure alternative site Contaminated land of The Ridgeway providing approximately Allotments Road Allotments being explored survey being eight half plots Association Association commissioned Public rights of way Access for pedestrians and cyclists to CS17, CS19 DBC LTP, CDT 60,000 Underway 60,000 Low Critical Merrybent Developer contributions – Improvements to open space in the south CS4, CS17 DBC Developer 511,013 Payment 100,000 Low Critical open space east part of the Borough contribution received Maintenance contributions for West Park DBC Developer 270,000 Payment 141,728 contribution received Developer contributions – Dodsworth St/Eastmount Road CS4, CS17 DBC, Groundwork, 10,573 Payment 1727 Low Critical children’s play provision Albert Hill Middleton St 10,573 received 8,627 Middleton St George George Parish 19, 600 14,333 Council 20,000 20,000 Green Park 104,800 104, 370 16,800 16,371 Site in south west urban area 89,900 86,852 Developer contributions – Improvements to footpath and/or CS17, CS19 DBC 5984 Payment 5984 Low Critical public rights of way cycleways Middleton St George received Improvements to bridleway, Faverdale 6000 6000 Hall
59 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 5.2 STRATEGIC LOCATIONS
5.2.1 Darlington Town Centre Darlington Town Centre is a distinctive, vibrant market town; the fifth largest shopping destination in the North East, with around 100,000m2 gross shopping floorspace it provides 300 shops and 100 ancillary professional, financial and bars and restaurants in the main shopping area. As a major sub regional centre it not only provides shopping but a range of sport and recreation, entertainment, employment and business services to the local community and residents of the Tees Valley, Durham and North Yorkshire. Opportunities exist to strengthen retail, employment and service provision; the Commercial Street and Feethams areas are identified as having the potential to add quality development and provision to the town centre.
This location is identified for development of approx 20,000sqm gross retail comparison floorspace to include the retail led scheme at Commercial St, leaving a surplus need for approximately 8,000m2 gross comparison retail floorspace in the Borough at 2016. It is forecast that comparison floorspace need will rise by 11,000 sqm (2016-2021) which should be accommodated by the organic growth of the existing primary shopping area of the Town Centre or any extensions to it. Potentially to 2026 a further 10,000sqm of comparison floorspace could be needed within the town centre. Approximately 17ha of offices are also to be provided in the Town Centre/Town Centre Fringe. Tourist attractions, hotels, residential development and car parking are also identified within the Core Strategy as appropriate uses. A range of supporting infrastructure will also be required to deliver these uses.
In addition to the infrastructure projects identified below funding can become available to help enable projects that will help make better use of the existing town centre infrastructure: • Beaumont House: to allow the expansion of local sustainable energy and marine engineering consultancies and provision of additional Grade A office space; Tomkins UK have committed £1.094,692 and a bid for Single Programme Gap Funding has been submitted for £487,692 to support business development and growth in the Town Centre. This type of funding complements new infrastructure provision; it will help improve the quality of existing office space in the Town Centre helping to meet local demands. Further schemes that encourage better use of the infrastructure network will be supported.
Infrastructure Project Description CS Policy Lead Delivery Source of Status Total Cost Delivery Requirements (£’s) Risks Importance Contingency Dependencies Organisation funding (£’s) to CS Short term Medium Long Risk of not 2011-2016 term term proceeding 2016-2021 2021- 2026 IMPORTANT NOTE: The elements in this table identified for the committed schemes relate to the content of the approved planning permissions. As the schemes have not started, the table below only provides a good understanding of the likely infrastructure requirements although the details of these schemes may be subject to revision. Committed Schemes The Oval Transport • Retain and improve the existing CS1, CS7, Discovery Properties Developer Planning Unknown High Critical Accommodating Planning permission pedestrian link from the town centre to CS8, CS9, Ltd has been selected permission Growth DPD, being implemented. Kendrew Street and provide parallel CS19 as preferred approved for Planning Obligations Private sector funding cycle link and associated surface developer by the extension of SPD being available. crossings over the ring road; Council to take the time • Provide a pedestrian bridge from the development forward. development over St Augustine's Way; • Provide of a signalised junction into the car park from St Augustine's Way; • Provide a pedestrian across St Augustine's Way linking the car park and shopping centre; • Create a 900 space car park, with appropriate car, motor cycle and cycle parking; • Create new vehicular access and associated new junction; and • A financial contribution for new/improved bus facilities and pedestrian links for passengers. DCSF Offices Office space 5 storey office building at East Beaumont CS1, CS5, DCSF DCSF - Deposit Planning Unknown High Critical Accommodating Sale of DCSF land at Street Car Park. CS7 paid permission Growth DPD Mowden approved 09/00471/FUL Transport Highways improvements CS1, CS5, DBC DCSF Planning 15,000 15,000 High Necessary Sale of DCSF land at CS7, CS19 permission Mowden approved 09/00471/FUL Green infrastructure Provision of a public square adjacent to CS1, CS5, DBC DCSF - Land 426,753 426,753 High Necessary Sale of DCSF land at the proposed DCSF building CS7, CS17 receipt from the 7,000 a year Mowden sale of land to maintenance the DCSF General infrastructure requirements for the Town Centre Transport infrastructure • Pedestrian and cycling facilities along CS2, CS19 Unknown and across the Ring Road; • Bondgate-Stonebridge section of the DBC, Arriva DFT, LTP Project timing 3.2m 3.2m High Critical 3LTP, developer Government review of inner ring road, including the widening being explored contributions, budget allocations of Freeman’s Place; • Provide an integrated transport network Unknown between the town centre, Central Park and the Town Centre Fringe; 60 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 • Improvements to the public realm; Unknown • Provide an additional bus lane on some Unknown sections of the Ring Road; • Provide bus priority measures (lanes Unknown and signals) at junctions; • Provide appropriate vehicle and cycle Unknown parking Utilities Infrastructure • All residential development should be CS2, CS3 Unknown Design SPD, constructed to the appropriate Code for Planning Obligations Sustainable Homes standard and all SPD non residential development to the BREEAM ‘very good-excellent’ standard or any successor; • At least 20% of a new development’s Unknown energy supply should come from decentralised and renewable or low carbon sources. • Biomass/combined heat and power Unknown installations would be appropriate; potentially supporting or connecting to a district heating and cooling network. Flood risk and surface • Provide a strategic green river corridor CS1, CS2, Unknown High Critical Coordinated phasing of water management with the dual use as flood storage and CS16, development amenity space. CS17 • Provision of integrated drainage Unknown management techniques to achieve an infiltration capacity to meet or exceed natural or greenfield conditions. Social infrastructure Housing • Mix of housing on each application site CS10, Unknown Accommodating over 15 dwellings to include affordable CS11 Growth DPD, housing, housing for people with Planning Obligations disabilities, housing for older people, SPD detached family housing Sport and recreation • Enhancement of Dolphin Centre CS18 Unknown Green infrastructure • Provision of open space, children’s play CS1, CS2, Unknown Making Places DPD, and biodiversity on site, or through a CS14, Planning Obligations financial contribution to improve spaces CS15, SPD in the area to the standards set out in CS16, the Open Space Strategy or any CS17 successor. • New riverside path for pedestrians and Unknown cyclists on the west bank of the Skerne, with connections to the existing network; • Public art, where appropriate. Unknown
61 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 5.2.2 Darlington Town Centre Fringe Darlington’s Town Centre Fringe provides an opportunity to regenerate a key strategic area between the town centre and the East Coast Main Line, including some of Darlington’s most deprived wards. In a very accessible location, within walking and cycling distance of Darlington town centre and Bank Top Railway Station, this key brownfield regeneration site will provide high quality, sustainable office accommodation and housing as well as a new Cultural Quarter for appropriate tourism and cultural attractions. Improving links with the town centre and surrounding neighbourhoods will provide a vibrant, pleasant environment, offering opportunities for integration and inclusion for the community.
This location is identified approximately for 650 dwellings: 200 dwellings (2016-2021), 450 dwellings (2021-2026) and approximately 17ha of offices to be provided in the Town Centre/Town Centre Fringe. Tourist and cultural attractions, hotels, car parking and improvements to existing housing are also identified within the Core Strategy as appropriate uses. A strategic green corridor along the River Skerne will be required to provide flood mitigation benefits. Appropriate renewable energy opportunities will be supported. A range of supporting infrastructure will also be required to deliver these uses.
When the present town centre can physically accommodate no more major non-retail development, its defined boundary will be extended into the Town Centre Fringe and this type of development will be encouraged there. Extension will be in phases, with the initial priority direction being eastwards from the present centre towards the East Coast Main Line railway. Extension will be conditional on improvements in connections across the ring road, particularly for pedestrians and other non-car users, being in place.
Funded by the Single Programme (£120,000) and DBC (£36,000) and Urban Designer’s time (£50,000) a Masterplan is being prepared for the wider Town Centre Fringe area. Various feasibility studies and assessments are underway to help inform the Masterplan and likely infrastructure requirements; the Town Centre Fringe Heritage Management Plan Audit by Archaeo-Environment Ltd is underway (£10,000 Single Programme Funding), an assessment of car parking options and local transport links is being prepared (£80,000 Single Programme funding) and detailed flood risk modelling of the River Skerne and Cocker Beck has been prepared by JBA Consultants (Single Programme Funding/DBC £12000).
Infrastructure Project Description CS Policy Lead Delivery Source of Status Total cost Delivery requirement (£’s) Risks Dependencies Organisation funding (£’s) Short term Medium Long Risk of not Importance Contingency 2011-2016 term term proceeding to CS 2016-2021 2021- 2026 IMPORTANT NOTE: The elements in this table identified for the committed schemes relate to the content of the approved planning permissions. As the schemes have not started, the table below only provides a good understanding of the likely infrastructure requirements although the details of these schemes may be subject to revision. Committed Schemes Feethams development Transport • Providing a new riverside footpath and CS1, CS19 Esh Development, Esh Planning Provision Medium Necessary Completion of S106 cyclepath from the cricket club to Polam DBC Development permission on site as agreement Lane; approved part of • Creating new vehicular access and Subject to developme associated new junction; s106 nt • off site highway works and road agreement crossing Affordable housing • 21 affordable dwellings secured and CS1, Esh Development, Esh HCA Medium Necessary Completion of S106 provided by an RSL partner in CS10, RSL Development funding agreement accordance with the approved plans CS11 and mix Green infrastructure • Commuted sum for play equipment CS1, CS2, Esh Development, Esh Part Medium Necessary Completion of S106 • Commuted sum for open space and CS15,CS1 DBC Development provision agreement maintenance contribution over a 7 on site nominal 10 year period. • Green river corridor, including protection for otter habitats Bank Top Station Bank Top Station Travel • Operation of cycle hire scheme at the CS19 DBC, East Coast, East Coast, Committed 5000 start up 5000 Low Preferred TCF AAP Source to meet Plan station linked to other sites in the urban Network Rail, CDT, ERDF operational costs area Arriva • Improvements to Pensbury Street back ERDF, CDT Underway 10,000 10,000 Low Necessary lane by Station entrance • Parkgate ramp improvements to 20,000 Medium Necessary Government budget footway LTP, ERDF Unknown review • Major improvements to Victoria Road and entrance including bus interchange Committed Unknown 20,000 Low Necessary and bus loop • Shuttle bus-Parkgate entrance to/from Town Centre Unknown Improvements to Bank Provision of two line local platform at CS1, CS19 Network Rail, East Interim Regional 9.4m Under High Critical TCF AAP Government budget Top Station Bank Top Station to the east of the ECML Coast, DBC Transport Board review review Improvements to Garbutt Square Footbridge Transport Construction of a pedestrian/cycle bridge CS1, CS2, One North East, HCA, One North Planning 1.65m 2011-2016 High Necessary TCFAAP over the East Coast Main Line from the CS19 DBC East permission Town Centre Fringe to Darlington College approved 10/00269/DC Employment Darlington Business Establish a specialist incubation and CS1, CS5 DBC Single 392,594 Committed 130,00 Low Necessary TCFAAP Incubator training facility for creative and media Programme 60,000 businesses DBC, private sector 202,95 62 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 General Infrastructure Requirements for Town Centre Fringe Transport infrastructure • Provision of pedestrian and cycle CS2, CS19 Unknown TCFAAP facilities along and across the Ring Road; • Bondgate-Stonebridge section of the 3LTP, developer Government review of inner ring road, including the widening DBC, Arriva DFT, LTP 3.2m Project timing 3.2m High Critical contributions, TCF budget allocations of Freeman’s Place; being explored AAP • Improving the public realm to provide Unknown attractive environments for pedestrians and cyclists; • Promoting high quality public transport Unknown services along the ring road, Haughton Road, Parkgate, North Road. Utilities Infrastructure Sustainable building • All residential development should be CS2, CS3 Unknown Low Necessary TCF AAP standards constructed to the appropriate Code for Sustainable Homes standard and all non residential development to the BREEAM ‘very good-excellent’ standard or any successor; • At least 20% of a new development’s Unknown Medium Necessary TCFAAP energy supply should come from decentralised and renewable or low carbon sources. Flood risk and surface Creation of a strategic flood risk CS1, CS2, Unknown High Critical TCF AAP Coordinated phasing water management management scheme including flood CS15, of development sites, storage compensation, restoration of the CS16, funding being natural floodplain, the creation of a green CS17 available corridor next to the River Skerne, flood resilience and resistance measures Incorporation of appropriate integrated CS1, CS2, Unknown TCFAAP drainage management techniques to CS16, achieve an infiltration capacity to meet or CS17 exceed natural or greenfield conditions. Local electricity Reinforcement of the electricity network CS1, CS2 CE Electric Unknown High Critical TCFAAP infrastructure Renewable energy Provision of combined heat and power CS1, CS2, Unknown High Critical TCFAAP plant to provide district heating network CS3 Social infrastructure Housing Mix of housing on each application site CS1, CS2, Unknown High Critical TCFAAP over 15 dwellings to include affordable CS10, housing, housing for people with CS11, disabilities, housing for older people, CS12 detached family housing Education Contributions will be sought to provide for CS1, CS2, Unknown High Necessary TCFAAP any extra primary and secondary school CS4 places needed as a result of development. If a new primary school is required it should include flexible space to deliver extended services to enable secure access to parents and children out of school hours. Local shops and Provision of small scale convenience CS9 Unknown High Necessary TCFAAP services shops to support new communities. Green infrastructure Green infrastructure • All new residential developments of 5 or CS1, CS2, Unknown High Critical TCFAAP, Making more dwellings should provide for open CS15, Places DPD, Planning space, biodiversity and children’s play CS17 Obligations SPD on site, or through a financial contribution to improve spaces in the area to the standards set out in the Open Space Strategy or any successor. • Provision of green infrastructure High Preferred connections to Central Park.
63 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 5.2.3 Central Park
Central Park provides an opportunity to revitalise a key strategic location near the centre of Darlington. In a very accessible location, within walking and cycling distance of Darlington town centre and the Town Centre Fringe, this key regeneration site will bring high quality residential units, modern commercial space in a distinctive, green environment. New education and community facilities have been completed; Darlington College, its sports hall and a nursery opened in August 2006 providing modern facilities for Darlington’s residents as well as those from outside the Borough.
This location is identified for 10ha of mixed use employment and 545 dwellings; 205 (2011-2016), 340 dwellings (2016-2021) as well as a new hotel and conference facilities and Teesside University. A range of supporting infrastructure will also be required to deliver these uses. Funding has been secured through the Tees Valley Growth Point for site surveys and feasibility studies to inform the Central Park Masterplan (CIF2 £634,000 (2010/2011)). This will identify a development schedule and costs to help secure further public and private sector investment, including for infrastructure to enable the development of the site.
Infrastructure Project Description CS Policy Lead Delivery Source of funding Status Total Cost Delivery Requirements (£’s) Risk Importance Contingency Dependencies Organisation (£’s) to CS 2011-2016 2016- 2020- 2020 2026 IMPORTANT NOTE: The elements in this table identified for the committed schemes relate to the content of the approved planning permissions. As the schemes have not started, the table below only provides a good understanding of the likely infrastructure requirements although the details of these schemes may be subject to revision. Committed Schemes Mixed use development Provision of residential, office, hotel and CS1, CS2, One North Planning High Critical AGDPD conference facilities a range of CS5, East, DBC, permission community and leisure facilities and open CS10, Keepmoat approved space CS17 Limited, Cecil 09/00543/FUL M Yuill CIF 2 Masterplan, site 634,000 634,000 Low Limited, surveys and Commercial feasibility Estates Group studies Ltd underway Transport Construction of a pedestrian/cycle bridge CS1, CS2, One North HCA, One North East Planning 1.65m 1.65m High Necessary AGDPD over the East Coast Main Line from the CS19 East, DBC permission Town Centre Fringe to Darlington College approved 10/00269/DC Further education Development of 5 storey campus building CS1, CS2, Teesside Teesside University Underway 10.5m 10.5m Low Preferred for Teesside University CS5 University One North East DBC 2m 2m 500,000 500,000 Employment • acquisition of 6 key properties and CS1, CS5 DBC Single Programme Underway 478,464 478,464 Low Critical AGDPD property demolition to implement the (£1.75m drawn delivery of a 2500sqm business down 2009/10) incubator facility off Yarm Road. • Creation of an incubator unit CS1, CS15 DBC Single Programme A feasibility 200,000 200,000 Low Critical Single Programme, Securing external study is being European funding, funding prepared public sector funding General Infrastructure Requirements for Central Park Transport • Two vehicular access points; from CS1, CS2, Unknown ADDPD, Design SPD Yarm Road and Haughton Road; CS17, • Provision of signal junctions with signal CS19 controlled pedestrian facilities and bus priority measures; • Well connected network from the primary route providing direct access between Central Park and adjacent neighbourhoods; • Pedestrian/cycle bridge between Central Park-Railway Station parallel to the Railway Line. • Integrated transport network between the town centre, Central Park and the Town Centre Fringe; • Encouraging public transport use along the primary route; • Designing direct and legible walking and cycling routes next to the carriageway, as shared space or as leisure routes that link with the existing surrounding street network; • Provision of adequate car and cycle parking facilities in close proximity to public spaces and facilities. • Metro facilities Sustainable building • All residential development should be CS2 Unknown AGDPD, Design SPD 64 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 standards constructed to the appropriate Code for Sustainable Homes standard and all non residential development to the BREEAM ‘very good-excellent’ standard or any successor; • At least 20% of a new development’s energy supply should come from decentralised and renewable or low carbon sources. Biomass/combined heat and power installations would be appropriate; potentially supporting or connecting to a district heating and cooling network. Local gas and • Reinforcement of the electricity network CS1, CS2 CE Electric UK Unknown AGDPD electricity infrastructure Housing Mix of housing on each application site CS1, CS2, Unknown AGDPD over 15 dwellings to include affordable CS10, housing, housing for people with CS11 disabilities, housing for older people, detached family housing Shops and services • New local shops and services, including CS9 Unknown AGDPD PCT needs a new Doctor’s surgery are proposed; assessment • A linear park. CS1, CS2, Unknown AGDPD • Neighbourhood parks incorporating CS15, children’s play and informal open CS17 space provision. • Biodiversity provision
65 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 5.2.4 North west urban fringe
The North Western Urban Fringe provides an opportunity to extend the urban area from West Park and Faverdale along the A68 Woodland Road. A key strategic housing site will provide a new sustainable community, complemented by te development of business, industrial and logistics premises in close proximity at Faverdale East Business Park opposite the well established Faverdale Industrial Estate.
This location is identified for about 50ha for business, industrial and logistics, a further 125ha of key employment land will be made available at Faverdale Strategic Reserve (with Heighington Lane) for development complementary to this during the plan period. 400 dwellings are committed to be developed as part of West Park. A further 700 dwellings will be provided in the location; 150 dwellings (2016-2021), 550 dwellings (2021-2026). Mowden Rugby Club and a range of supporting infrastructure will also be required.
Infrastructure Project Description CS Policy Lead Delivery Source of Status Total Cost Delivery Requirements (£’s) Risk Importance Contingency Dependencies Organisation funding (£’s) to CS 2011-2016 2016- 2020- 2020 2026 Committed schemes IMPORTANT NOTE: The elements in this table identified for the committed schemes relate to the content of the approved planning permissions. As the schemes have not started, the table below only provides a good understanding of the likely infrastructure requirements although the details of these schemes may be subject to revision. Employment Faverdale Business Park; B1, B2 and CS1, CS5 Outline Unknown High Critical AGDPD Approval of reserved B8 development and 2 access roads permission matters, private sector granted investment 08/00778/OUT General Infrastructure Requirements for the North Western Fringe Tees Valley Bus Network Improving the coordination, service CS1, DBC, Arriva Project timing High Critical 3LTP, developer Improvement scheme quality and coverage bus network partly CS19 being explored contributions, through better infrastructure at key 7.49m AGDPD, Planning junctions: Obligations SPD • Cockerton Green DFT, LTP 600,000 • Brinkburn and West Auckland Road DFT, LTP 99,000 • Milbank and Woodland Road DFT, LTP 100,000 Improving capacity in the • Extending highway access to West CS1, DBC, Arriva, Developer Unknown Medium Critical 3LTP, funding from network Park from West Auckland Road/Newton CS19 Highways contributions bus operating Lane. Agency company, • Implementing a new 10 minute Developer Med Preferred Accommodating frequency bus service linking the town contributions Growth DPD centre with West Park TVBNI, • Converting roundabouts to traffic developer High Critical signal junctions to improve the contributions, punctuality of buses over the route LTP using a hurry up call for late buses.
• Bus priority on approaches to 3LTP, Medium Preferred junctions developer contributions Sustainable building standards • All residential development should CS1, CS2, Unknown AGDPD, Design SPD be constructed to the appropriate CS3 Code for Sustainable Homes standard and all non residential development to the BREEAM ‘very good-excellent’ standard or any successor; • At least 20% of a new development’s energy supply should come from decentralised and renewable or low carbon sources. Biomass/combined heat and power installations would be appropriate; potentially supporting or connecting to a district heating and cooling network. Local gas and electricity Reinforcement of the gas and electricity CS1, CS2 Unknown AGDPD infrastructure networks Flood risk and Surface water • Flood mitigation for a small part of the CS1, CS2, Unknown AGDPD, Design SPD management Faverdale Reserve site. CS16 • All new development should incorporate appropriate integrated surface water management techniques. Education • Provision for any extra primary and CS1, CS2, Unknown AGDPD, Planning secondary school places needed. CS4 Obligations SPD 66 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 • If more than 700 dwellings are constructed a new primary school may be required. It should include flexible space to enable out of school care to deliver extended services and childcare to enable secure access to parents and children out of school hours. Healthcare • Healthcare facilities may be required. CS1, CS2, Unknown AGDPD PCT needs CS9 assessment Housing • Mix of housing on each application CS1, Unknown AGDPD, Planning site over 15 dwellings to include CS10, Obligations SPD affordable housing, housing for CS11 people with disabilities, housing for older people, detached family housing Green infrastructure • Provision of green infrastructure links CS1, CS2, Unknown Pending AGDPD, Making with the existing green corridors, like CS15, details of site Places DPD, the Barnard Castle trackbed CS17 specific Planning Obligations cycle/footpath as well as West Park. development SPD • All new residential developments of 5 or more dwellings should provide for open space, biodiversity and children’s play on site, or through a financial contribution to improve spaces in the area to the standards set out in the Open Space Strategy or any successor.
67 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 5.2.5 East urban fringe
The Eastern Urban Fringe provides an opportunity to extend the urban area along the Eastern Transport Corridor; good accessibility will be provided along the corridor and through adjoining neighbourhoods for sustainable transport as well as those who wish to travel by car. To the south of the Corridor the redevelopment of Lingfield Point will provide a sustainable mixed use community of high quality residential development, employment uses, served by new shops, services, a school and sports facilities. Further high quality employment provision is planned nearby supported by commercial development and a hotel. To the north provision will be made for a further 200 houses, in close proximity to the wider countryside.
Lingfield Point will provide for 1120 dwellings over the plan period. In addition, this location is identified for 150 dwellings (2021-2026), 15ha employment land in this broad area, ancillary commercial development including a hotel and pub/restaurant. A range of supporting infrastructure will also be required to deliver these uses.
Infrastructure Project Description CS Policy Lead Delivery Source of funding Total Cost (£’s) Status Delivery Requirements (£’s) Risk of not Importance Contingency Dependencies Organisation proceeding to CS 2011-2016 2016-2020 2020- 2026 Committed Schemes IMPORTANT NOTE: The elements in this table identified for the committed schemes relate to the content of the approved planning permissions. As the schemes have not started, the table below only provides a good understanding of the likely infrastructure requirements although the details of these schemes may be subject to revision. Lingfield Point • Connection to the high frequency bus CS1, Unknown Planning Medium Critical AGDPD S106 agreement service on Coombe Drive. CS2,CS19 permission being signed • Provision of new footpath and approved cycleway connections to the DETC, local subject to shops and services S106 • Creation of additional pedestrian and agreement cycle links to Red Hall and Haughton and to adjoining neighbourhoods, like Yarm Road industrial area, existing transport infrastructure and services. • Clear separation of local and through traffic, with adequate trip dispersal onto the surrounding network to the south and west. Housing 1120 dwellings with 15% of units being CS1, CS2, Unknown Medium Critical AGDPD S106 agreement for affordable housing on site, with CS10, CS11 being signed carbon neutral housing proposed Employment land over 25,000sqm of B1(a) offices CS1, CS2, Unknown Medium Critical AGDPD S106 agreement CS5, CS6, being signed CS9 Renewable energy Creation of CHP plant and provision of CS1, CS2, Unknown Medium Necessary AGDPD S106 agreement wind turbine Potential exists for other CS3 being signed nearby development to connect to the Lingfield Point Energy Centre or to provide district heating network with nearby employment areas3 Education A new primary school will be provided to CS1, CS2 Unknown Medium Necessary AGDPD S106 agreement meet the needs of Lingfield Point. It being signed should include flexible space to deliver extended services to enable secure access to parents and children out of school hours. Green infrastructure 13.75ha of open space; 7.4ha linear CS1, CS2, Unknown Medium Necessary AGDPD S106 agreement park runs across the site incorporating CS15, CS17 being signed semi natural space, children’s play areas and woodland Allotments, civic space Sport and recreation Provision of a football pitch and cricket CS1, CS2, Unknown Medium Necessary AGDPD S106 agreement pitch, a climbing wall and MUGAs CS18 being signed PPG Land Employment Provision of 29.2ha of employment land CS1, CS2, Unknown Planning High Critical AGDPD S106 agreement with ancillary commercial uses CS5 permission being signed has been approved subject to S106 agreement Transport A financial contribution for highway CS1, CS2, Planning High Critical S106 agreement improvements and for sustainable CS19 permission being signed transport measures before the has been respective parts of the development approved 68 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 were commenced subject to S106 agreement General Infrastructure Requirements for the Eastern Fringe Transport • Upgrading the A66/A67 Yarm Lane CS1, CS19 DBC, Arriva, RFA, developer Unknown High Critical 3LTP, funding from roundabout. Highways contributions bus operating • Implementing a new 10 minute Agency Developer Unknown Med Preferred company, frequency bus service linking the town contributions Accommodating centre with the Eastern Fringe. Growth DPD • Dualling the A66 between Great RFA Unknown High Critical Burdon Roundabout and Eastern Transport Corridor. • Converting roundabouts to traffic TVBNI, developer Unknown High Critical signal junctions to improve the contributions, LTP punctuality of buses over the route 3LTP, developer using a hurry up call for late buses. contributions • Bus priority on approaches to Unknown Medium Preferred junctions Sustainable building • All residential development should CS1, CS2, Unknown Design SPD standards be constructed to the appropriate CS4 Code for Sustainable Homes standard and all non residential development to the BREEAM ‘very good-excellent’ standard or any successor; • At least 20% of a new development’s energy supply should come from decentralised and renewable or low carbon sources. Biomass/combined heat and power installations would be appropriate; potentially supporting or connecting to a district heating and cooling network7. Local gas and • reinforcement of the gas and CS1, CS2 Unknown AGDPD electricity electricity networks infrastructure Surface water • All new development should CS1, CS2, AGDPD management incorporate appropriate integrated CS16 surface water management techniques Education • Contributions will be sought to CS1, CS2 AGDPD, Planning provide for any extra primary school Obligations SPD places needed as a result of development. Housing • Improvements to private rented CS1, CS2, AGDPD, Making accommodation, will be sought to CS10, CS11, Places DPD, improve the housing and immediate CS12 Planning Obligations environments in the Red Hall area. SPD • Mix of housing on each application site over 15 dwellings to include affordable housing, housing for people with disabilities, housing for older people, detached family housing Healthcare • Healthcare facilities CS1, CS2, AGDPD PCT needs CS9 assessment Green infrastructure • new development should link into the CS1, CS2, AGDPD, Making existing green infrastructure network, CS15, CS17 Places DPD, like the Stockton and Darlington Planning Obligations trackbed cycle/footpath. SPD • All new residential developments of 5 or more dwellings should provide for open space, biodiversity and children’s play on site, or through a financial contribution to improve spaces in the area to the standards set out in the Open Space Strategy or any successor. 69 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 5.2.6 Durham Tees Valley Airport
Situated south east of Darlington, on the boundary between Darlington and Stockton, Durham Tees Valley Airport has a large catchment; 2.7 million potential passengers in the North East and North Yorkshire are within an hour drive of the airport. The airport offers flights to a wide variety of scheduled and tour holiday destinations across the UK and Europe through a number of airlines and tour operators who fly to over 20 destinations. KLM also offer a key service into Amsterdam to connect to a range of worldwide destinations. Continued investment in Durham Tees Valley Airport will ensure that it is capable of capitalising on the growing demand, both from passengers and the commercial sector, at the airport itself and the adjoining business and employment areas.
This location is identified for about 25ha of airport related employment uses and a hotel. A range of supporting infrastructure will be required to enable this provision.
Infrastructure Project Description CS Policy Lead Source of funding Status Total Costs Delivery Requirements (£’s) Risk of not Importance Contingency Dependencies Delivery (£’s) proceeding to CS Organisation 2011-2016 2016- 2020- 2020 2026 Committed Schemes IMPORTANT NOTE: The elements in this table identified for the committed schemes relate to the content of the approved planning permissions. As elements of these schemes have not started, the table below only provides a good understanding of the likely infrastructure requirements although the details of these schemes may be subject to revision. Employment uses B1 office development for 11 units and CS1, CS2, Unknown Planning AGDPD car parking at the proposed Durham CS5, CS19 permission Tees Valley Airport Business Park approved Tourism Provision of a hotel CS6 Unknown Planning Private sector permission investment approved A66/Yarm Road Junction Major remodelling of the junction in CS1, CS19 Highways RFA, developer Under review High Critical 3LTP, developer Government review of advance of A66 Gateway scheme Agency, contributions contributions, budget allocations below developers, AGDPD DBC A66 Great Burdon and Signalisation of the roundabouts CS1, CS19 Highways RFA, developer Under review High Critical 3LTP, developer Government review of DETC roundabouts Agency, contributions contributions, budget allocations developers, AGDPD DBC A66 Darlington bypass New dual carriageway section of A66 CS1, CS19 Highways RFA, developer Under review High Critical 3LTP, developer Government review of between Yarm Road and Great Burdon Agency, contributions contributions, budget allocations developers, AGDPD DBC Improvements to Durham Relocation of station CS1, CS19 DBC, Network Interim Regional Under review £5m High Critical AGDPD Government review of Tees Valley Airport Rail Transport Board budget allocations station Sustainable building • All development to the BREEAM CS1, CS2, Design SPD standards ‘very good-excellent’ standard or CS3 any successor; • At least 20% of a new development’s energy supply should come from decentralised and renewable or low carbon sources. Biomass/combined heat and power installations would be appropriate; potentially supporting or connecting to a district heating and cooling network. Surface water • All new development should CS1, CS2, Design SPD management incorporate appropriate integrated CS16 surface water management techniques
70 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010
6.0 Monitoring and Updating the IDP 6.1 This is the first IDP prepared for Darlington; it has helped strengthen relationships between different infrastructure providers and develop structures to facilitate a different, more collaborative way of working. As such, it is part of the ongoing process of developing a spatial planning approach and integrating the capital investment programmes of various services with planning for new development.
6.2 The IDP will be reviewed and updated annually alongside the Annual Monitoring Report. This will allow new infrastructure projects to be added and current proposals to be amended where appropriate. It will also help the Council identify manage risks and implement contingency measures appropriately to help deliver elements of the Core Strategy. The IDP performance report will be reported to the Council’s Economy and Environment Scrutiny Committee to ensure the infrastructure delivery process is transparent and robust. A wider update may be necessary in order to support the preparation of the Accommodating Growth DPD and the Town Centre Fringe Area Action Plan9 as well as other service plans and strategies.
71 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 APPENDIX 1: BOROUGH BASELINE DATA
Population and Household Growth Population 2011 2016 2021 2026 Segment Total population 101,000 104,000 107,900 111,300 Working age 61,100 61,700 62,200 62,600 population Households 46,000 48,000 50,000 51,000
Summary of Gross Floorspace Requirements (in hectares) by Industrial Classification 2009-13 2014-18 2019-26 Total Average required per annum 2009-2026 B1 Offices 2.30 9.27 4.50 17.38 0.97 B2 General 5.72 29.95 22.94 62.61 3.48 B8 Distribution 1.57 8.89 9.01 21.55 1.20 Total 9.59 48.11 36.44 101.54 5.64 Source: Experian Forecast for Darlington: October 2009
72 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 APPENDIX 2 CYCLE MAP
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K H 66 T A Hospital W E A N Y M E N S Take extra care crossing L A R ) L E R O Football M T A ( K C CEN D 66 RES Stadium 4x Track A L E ESCENT Sand and CR Miles Gravel Quarry 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 B BMX Track RI A66(T) D SNIPE GE (T) LANE ROA A66 Building D 0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2 Kilometres 20mph zones ) A66(T NEASH
ROAD A M Reproduced from Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the controller of T LNR Local Nature Reserve F R O Her Majesty’s Stationery Office © Crown Copyright. Unauthorised reproduction infringes O A R D Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. C Darlington Borough Council. Licence no: 100023728, 2008. Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 APPENDIX 3 HEALTHCARE
Doctor’s Surgeries Dentists Opticians Pharmacies Rockcliffe Court Neasham Road Boots, Northgate Sainsbury’s, Victoria Surgery, Hurworth Practice Road Felix House Surgery, Springs Dental Studio, Vision Express, Alliance Pharmacy, Middleton St George Yarm Road Cornmill Centre Morton Park Neasham Road Matthews and Milnes Clifford T Rees, Post Rowlands, West Park Surgery Dental Practice, House Wynd Southend Avenue Clifton Court Medical J Bland Dental Cooper & Mr J Clark, Yarm Road Practice Practice, Southend Leatherbarrow, Duke Avenue Street Parkgate Health Cleveland Terrace Dollond & Aitchison, Boots, High Row Centre Dental Practice High Row Blacketts Medical Skinnergate Rayner Moran Rowlands, High Row Practice Optometrist, Skinnergate Orchard Court Surgery Lacey Wright and Optical Express, High Boots, Northgate Kendrew, Duke Street Row Carmel Medical Robson Dental Specsavers, High Row Rowlands, West Practice, Nunnery Practice, Woodland Auckland Road Lane Road Moorlands Surgery, Oasis Dental Practice, S & CL Wilkinson, Rowlands, Whinbush Willow Road West Auckland Road Stonebridge Way Denmark St Surgery Goulding Dental The Eye Department, Rowlands, Cardinal Practice, Corporation Darlington Memorial Gardens Road Hospital Whinfield Surgery R Turbitt Dental Rockcliffe, Hurworth Practice, High Northgate Harrowgate Hill Dental Rowlands, Neasham Practice, North Road Road Walton & Leigh Middleton Pharmacy, Surgery, Stockton Middleton St George Road Middleton St George Blacketts Dental Surgery Rowlands, North Road Rowlands, Northgate Rowlands, Victoria Road Lloyds Pharmacy, Orchard Road
74 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 APPENDIX 4 LOCALITY MAP
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Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010 APPENDIX 5 PCP PROGRAMME
SCHOOL PROJECT TOTAL PCP DFC PROJECT CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTION FUNDING (£) (£) (£) Heathfield Primary Significant reorganisation to address suitability issues, 1,500,000 1,363,230 136,770 creating opportunities to enhance extended schools activities and increase capacity from 60-75, increasing overall capacity by 105 Dodmire Infants and Major remodelling and refurbishment of the school 1,500,000 1,296,768 203,232 Junior linked to possible amalgamation of the two schools Corporation Road Major remodelling of kitchen and dining areas and 1,500,000 1,388,178 111,822 addressing condition issues Hurworth Primary Significant reorganisation to consolidate the school 1,500,000 1,405,188 94,812 within the existing infant building and demolish current junior school building Reid Street Primary Major remodelling to address significant areas of 1,500,000 1,362,852 137,148 concern within the school including entrance, foundation stage, externals and provision of new classroom Whinfield Primary Significant remodelling to address suitability, condition 900,000 736,203 163,797 work to kitchen and two classroom extension to replace temporary classrooms Harrowgate Hill Add three additional classrooms to address basic 900,000 833,210 66,790 needs, increasing intake from 75 to 90, increasing overall capacity by 105 Gurney Pease Addressing major condition issues through replacing 600,000 521,778 78,223 Primary the roof, windows and heating Alderman Leach Four extra classrooms to meet basic need in the area, 700,000 651,755 48,245 intake increased from 45 to 60 adding 105 places Mount Pleasant Internal remodelling to address the capacity of the 600,000 512,093 87,908 Primary hall, create small group teaching areas and remove temporary accommodation Red Hall Primary Addressing major condition issues through reroofing 450,000 387,108 62,892 and replacement heating system Heighington New classroom to increase intake to 40, extend 350,000 280,492 69,508 Primary existing classroom and additional remodelling Abbey Infant and New classroom to free up additional community 150,000 65,536 84,464 Junior School facilities, create safer parking and play area at juniors St John’s Primary Hygiene facility and flexible small group space for 150,000 135,000 15,000 intervention work High Coniscliffe Create turning circle within school grounds to address 150,000 99,770 50,230 Primary Health and Safety issue, improve externals and hardstanding play area St Bede’s RC Replacement of steps at all fire doors, between 50,000 45,000 5,000 Primary playgrounds and general access improvement work Holy Family RC Internal remodelling to create access to existing 44,000 39,600 4,400 Primary community space to enhance small group work and community engagement (possible future development of nursery) Co-location project Additional funding for building at four Cluster D £2,600,000 schools to provide for well-being and mental health facilities. TOTAL 15,144,000 11,123,760 1,420,240
76 Publication Infrastructure Delivery Plan Darlington Local Development Framework July 2010
APPENDIX 6 PRIORITY INVESTMENT AREAS
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