West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 Publication August 2012 Contents Preface 3 Chapter 1 Introduction 7 1.1 The West Lancashire Local Plan 7 1.2 Preparing the Local Plan 8 1.3 Technical Assessments of the Local Plan 10 1.4 Planning Policy on Minerals & Waste Developments 11 Chapter 2 Spatial Portrait 13 2.1 Spatial Portrait 13 2.2 Key Issues 25 Chapter 3 A Vision for West Lancashire 2027 27 3.1 Vision 27 3.2 Spatial and Strategic Objectives 29 Chapter 4 Strategic Policies 39 4.1 Policy SP1: A Sustainable Development Framework for West Lancashire 39 4.2 Key Diagram 48 4.3 Policy SP2: Skelmersdale Town Centre 49 4.4 Policy SP3: Yew Tree Farm, Burscough 53 Chapter 5 General Development Policies 61 5.1 Policy GN1: Settlement Boundaries 61 5.2 Policy GN2: Safeguarded Land 64 5.3 Policy GN3: Criteria for Sustainable Development 67 5.4 Policy GN4: Demonstrating Viability 71 5.5 Policy GN5: Sequential Tests 74 Chapter 6 Facilitating Economic Growth 79 6.1 Policy EC1: The Economy and Employment Land 79 6.2 Policy EC2: The Rural Economy 85 6.3 Policy EC3: Rural Development Opportunities 88 6.4 Policy EC4: Edge Hill University 90 Chapter 7 Providing for Housing and Residential Accommodation 93 7.1 Policy RS1: Residential Development 93 7.2 Policy RS2: Affordable and Specialist Housing 98 7.3 Policy RS3: Provision of Student Accommodation 103 7.4 Policy RS4: Provision for Gypsies & Travellers and Travelling Showpeople 109 Local Plan Publication Version West Lancashire Borough Council Contents 7.5 Policy RS5: Accommodation for Temporary Agricultural / Horticultural Workers 113 Chapter 8 Infrastructure and Services Provision 117 8.1 Policy IF1: Maintaining Vibrant Town and Local Centres 117 8.2 Policy IF2: Enhancing Sustainable Transport Choice 123 8.3 Policy IF3: Service Accessibility and Infrastructure for Growth 134 8.4 Policy IF4: Developer Contributions 136 Chapter 9 Sustaining the Borough's Environment and Addressing Climate Change 139 9.1 Policy EN1: Low Carbon Development and Energy Infrastructure 139 9.2 Policy EN2: Preserving and Enhancing West Lancashire's Natural Environment 143 9.3 Policy EN3: Provision of Green Infrastructure and Open Recreation Space 149 9.4 Policy EN4: Preserving and Enhancing West Lancashire's Built Environment 155 Chapter 10 Delivery and Risk in the Local Plan - a "Plan B" 159 Chapter 11 Next Steps 163 Glossary 165 Appendix A Local Plan Preparation 173 Appendix B The Spatial & Strategic Objectives 181 Appendix C Planning Policy Background 191 Appendix D Setting Locally-determined Targets 197 Appendix E Delivery & Risk 205 Appendix F Parking Standards 227 Appendix G Minor Amendments to the Green Belt Boundary 233 Appendix H Schedule of Saved Policies to be Replaced by this Local Plan 237 West Lancashire Borough Council Local Plan Publication Version Preface Preface West Lancashire has a wonderful mix of vibrant towns and picturesque villages, and boasts some of the most beautiful and productive countryside in the UK. It is vital that we manage, guide and encourage development within the Borough to meet the economic and social aspirations of our towns and villages and the communities within them, while protecting our environment for future generations. The Local Plan Publication document provides the version of the Local Plan Development Plan Document that the Council would like to take forward to Examination and, ultimately, adopt in order to guide new development in West Lancashire over the next 15 years. This document has been developed by considering all the information provided by the Council's evidence base and the results of previous public consultations on the Core Strategy and the Local Plan and takes into account the latest direction given by the Government on preparing local planning policy. Ultimately, the Local Plan will directly or indirectly affect all residents and communities within the Borough and this Publication consultation provides the last chance for you to make a representation on the Local Plan before it is submitted for Examination. Therefore, it is important that we hear from you on what is being proposed so that the Planning Inspector who is appointed to examine the Local Plan document can take account of all views. I very much look forward to hearing your views on the proposals and policies within this document. Councillor Martin Forshaw Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development West Lancashire Borough Council August 2012 Local Plan Publication Version West Lancashire Borough Council 3 Preface How to Comment At the Publication stage, representations on the Local Plan must be submitted in a particular format because all representations will be submitted with the Local Plan document for Examination by a Planning Inspector. The Planning Inspector can examine the Local Plan document with regard to two matters: Legal Compliance - whether the document has been prepared in accordance with all the relevant legislation Soundness - whether the content of the document represents a "sound" document, with regard to whether the document is: Positively prepared Justified Effective Consistent with national policy The Council has prepared a Statement of Representations Procedure, a standard template for representations and a guidance note to help all interested parties to make a formal representation and complete the relevant forms. These explain further the matters of legal compliance and soundness. All of these documents are available at the Council Offices, Libraries and Post Offices, or on the Council's website (www.westlancs.gov.uk/2027). The Council will also have a number of exhibition boards on display in six locations around the Borough for the duration of the Publication period providing information about the Local Plan Publication document and how to make a representation. Council officers will also host four drop-in sessions around the Borough during the Publication period to provide opportunity for members of the public to come along and ask questions about the Local Plan Publication document and for guidance on making a representation. The Council welcomes your representations on this document, which may include any suggestions you have for additional or alternative proposals and policies for the Planning Inspector to consider at Examination. There are a number of methods that you can use to make your representation on the Local Plan Publication document. Preferably we would encourage you to make your representations through our online Consultation Portal, where you will be able to view the Local Plan Publication document and make your representation in the standard template online. Alternatively, written or emailed responses will be accepted using the standard template available at the Council Offices, Libraries and Post Offices, or on the Council's website. All our contact details and website addresses are listed in the table below. Key Dates The consultation period will run from Thursday 9th August 2012 until Friday 5th October 2012, allowing you 8 weeks to submit your comments. 4 West Lancashire Borough Council Local Plan Publication Version Preface Contact Information If you wish to discuss any aspects of the Local Plan Publication document or the procedure for making a representation, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Planning Policy Team through the contact details listed below: Contact Details Peter Richards 01695 585 046 Planning Policy Team Leader [email protected] Planning Policy Team 01695 585 284 General Enquiries [email protected] West Lancashire Borough Council 01695 577 177 Contact Centre Website http://www.westlancs.gov.uk/2027 Consultation Portal http://consult.westlancs.gov.uk Facebook http://www.facebook.com/yourwestlancashire2027 Postal Address John Harrison DipEnvP MRTPI Borough Planner West Lancashire Borough Council 52 Derby Street Ormskirk L39 2DF Local Plan Publication Version West Lancashire Borough Council 5 Preface 6 West Lancashire Borough Council Local Plan Publication Version Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 The West Lancashire Local Plan 1.1 Future development within the Borough of West Lancashire over the next 15 years will be guided by the plans and policies within the Council's West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 Development Plan Document. This Development Plan Document will supersede the current West Lancashire Replacement Local Plan 2001-16 and its preparation has fulfilled the requirements set out in the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act and the accompanying Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 in preparing a Development Plan Document for the Borough and has followed the guidance set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (March 2012). 1.2 The new-style Local Plan is built upon the principles of: Sustainable development; Stimulating economic and housing growth; Addressing climate change; Preserving and enhancing the natural and built environment; Spatial planning; High quality design; Good accessibility; and Community involvement. 1.3 A key difference compared to the previous Local Plan system is the concept of spatial planning, which does not just take into account land use, but also considers other issues that could indirectly affect, or be affected by, land use, such as health, education and crime. 1.4 The West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 contains a vision and strategy that will set out how the Council wants West Lancashire to develop over the period to 2027. It not only ensures that new homes, jobs and services required by communities are located in the most sustainable places, but also provides the framework for delivering the necessary infrastructure, facilities and other development to make this possible. 1.5 This document provides the Publication version of the Local Plan document, which represents the Local Plan that the Council wishes to adopt. This Publication version has emerged following previous consultations on a Core Strategy and incorporating further policy matters on Development Management Policies and Site Allocations, as well as a consultation on a Preferred Options version of the Local Plan earlier this year.