Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan Adopted November 2012 Adopted Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan OS Copyright Statement Adopted Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan Plan Statement The mapping used in this document is based upon Ordnance Survey material with the permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. © Crown copyright and database right (2011). All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100023385. 2 Alternative Languages and Formats This document is called the Adopted Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan 2012. It describes where and how development will take place in the area over the 12 years from 2010 - 2022 to meet future environmental, economic, and social needs, and provides an indication of development beyond this to 2026. To request an alternative format or translation of this information please use the telephone numbers on the panel above. When you call, please quote the title of this document. Calls cost 3 to 5p per minute from a UK landline, mobile rates may vary. If English is not your first language and you would like to improve your English please call any of our Language Lines or the Alternative Formats Line above for any information on courses and support. 3 Foreword By Councillor Kay Carrington, Chair of Fife Council’s Planning Committee It is my pleasure to present the Adopted Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan 2012 as adopted by Fife Council on 16 th November 2012 The Plan implements the strategic vision set out in the Fife Structure Plan (approved by the Scottish Government in 2009) as it applies to the Dunfermline & West Fife area. It contains proposals to guide the area’s development over the 12 year period until 2022 providing land for many uses such as employment, homes, leisure and learning. A Local Plan is the basic suite of documents and policies which Fife Council will use to guide planning decisions and promote investment in Fife. The Local Plan strategy sets out a significant programme of investment in economic development across the area – a key factor in ensuring that Dunfermline & West Fife continues to balance strategic investment opportunities with local needs and demand, especially in the current economic climate. Key proposals contained in the Plan include:- • focussing retail growth in Dunfermline as a sub-regional centre and Inverkeithing, Kincardine, Dalgety Bay and Rosyth as local shopping areas ; • safeguarding and improving the environment, including designation of a Green Belt for Dunfermline; • developing the transport network and promoting sustainable transport solutions; • Strategic land allocations in Dunfermline, Inverkeithing and West Villages; • identification of strategic employment sites This Plan replaces in full the Adopted West Villages Local Plan (2002) and Alteration (2006), and in part the adopted Dunfermline and The Coast Local Plan (2002), Cowdenbeath Area Local Plan (2006) and adopted Kirkcaldy Area Local Plan (2003). I would like to express my thanks on behalf of Fife Council to all those who contributed to the preparation of this plan through its many stages and I look forward its implementation Councillor Kay Carrington Chair of Fife Council’s Planning Committee 4 Introduction Figure 1: Local Plan Areas 1.1 The Fife Development Plan provides the statutory policy framework for land use planning in Fife. It is made up of the Fife Structure Plan and Local Plans. The Structure Plan sets the strategic framework for the future development of Fife and identifies the general location and scale of development. The Fife Structure Plan covers the 20-year period from 2006-26. The Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan is one of 4 Local Plans being prepared. Fife’s other Local Plans cover Mid Fife, St Andrews & East Fife, and a Fife-wide Local Plan dedicated solely to minerals: The Fife Minerals Subject Local Plan. The strategy of this Local Plan complements that of the Structure Plan and covers the period 2010-22. It applies the Structure Plan strategy locally, establishing a detailed, site-specific framework of policies and proposals for land use and other related matters; it guides and promotes development in the area and explains how towns and villages will change over the Plan period. In addition, it provides for stability in areas where no significant change is proposed. 1.2 The Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan will entirely replace two Local Plans and parts of a third. The area is currently covered by The Adopted Dunfermline and The Coast Local Plan (2002), the Adopted West Villages Local Plan (2002) and Alteration (2006) and parts of the Adopted Cowdenbeath Area Local Plan (2006). All of the views and comments made at the 2008 Issues and Options and Strategic 5 Environmental Assessment (SEA) Environmental Report stages have been considered in preparing this Plan. Opportunities have been provided for local people and community organisations to become involved in the shaping of the policies and proposals that make up the draft Local Plan. 1.3 This Local Plan comprises: • The Plan Statement which describes the overall strategy and provides a summary of the planning issues, policies, and proposals affecting individual towns and villages. These are described in Settlement Plans. • The Proposals Map which identifies the location of development proposals and where policies apply geographically. The Proposals Map includes individual map insets which should be read in conjunction with the Settlement Plans. • Policies which are used in decision-making and to manage and promote development. 1.4 An Action Programme is published along with the Local Plan describing planning proposals, the agency responsible for implementing them, and their anticipated timescales. Information on proposals for individual towns and villages is also summarised in the Plan Statement. The Action Programme will be updated every two years to monitor progress towards implementing the Local Plan. 1.5 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 has made Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of local development plans a statutory requirement. SEA has been undertaken in preparing the Local Plan to comply with the Act and European legislation and an environmental report has been prepared for consultation alongside the Local Plan. The intention of SEA is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development (EC Directive 2001/42/EC). 1.6 A Habitats Regulations Appraisal of the Local Plan, whose area encompasses European nature conservation sites or species (Natura 2000), has also been prepared in order to ensure the plan is compliant with the requirements of the Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora). 6 Figure 1.2: Dunfermline and West Fife Local Plan process Stage Fife Council Public Involvement Date [1] OCT 2007 Publish newspaper notice to start Local 0 Plan Publish Issues and Options Document 1 and draft SEA Environmental Report V1 Public Consultation (Representations) MAY-OCT 2007 Dunfermline and West Fife Draft Local Plan Approved for consultation OCT 2009 2 Publish Dunfermline and West Fife Draft FEB 2009 3 Local Plan 2009 and SEA Environmental Report V2 for consultation. 8 weeks Consultation FEB–APR 2009 4 Plan Examination Scottish Government Appointee considers representations [2] 2011 Publish Local Plan with Modifications 5 and revised SEA Environmental Report v3 Adopt Local Plan. Public Notice in newspapers to publicise adoption and 6 publication of the post-adoption SEA 2012 Statement 7 Monitor through the Action Programme 7 Policy Context 1.7 The Fife Development Plan fits into a wider legal context set by European Directives and is guided by the Scottish Government’s Scottish Planning Policy (SPPs), Planning Advice Notes (PANs), and Circulars.. The current guidance is available on the Scottish Government website - www.scotland.gov.uk. 1.8 The second National Planning Framework 2009 (NPF2) takes forward the spatial aspects of the Scottish Government’s commitment to sustainable economic growth by setting out a strategy for long term development over the next 20-25 years. It identifies national developments which planning authorities are required to take into account when preparing development plans. Key strategic infrastructure projects in Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan area are: • Replacement Forth Crossing project at Queensferry, including the provision of transport corridor(s) giving priority to public transport. • Additional container freight capacity on the Forth, including improvements to supporting port, road and rail infrastructure, at Rosyth. • New non-nuclear baseload electricity generating capacity and associated infrastructure at Longannet. 1.9 The Fife Structure Plan identifies proposals which allow for these land use or development opportunities at the Forth bridgehead, Rosyth and Longannet. These are identified as site specific allocations in the Local Plan. The Replacement Crossing is being taken forward as a priority by the Scottish Government and land will be reserved for construction and works. 1.10 The Local Plan is prepared under the guidance of the Fife Community Plan and the Fife Structure Plan. The Community Plan provides the shared vision of public sector partners and the wider Fife community over the next ten years. The Local Plan also has regard to other plans and programmes prepared by Fife