Contents Foreword 3 Chapter 1 Introduction 5 1.1 The West Lancashire Local Plan 5 1.2 Preparing the Local Plan 5 1.3 Technical Assessments of the Local Plan 8 1.4 Planning Policy on Minerals & Waste Developments 9 Chapter 2 Spatial Portrait 11 2.1 Spatial Portrait 11 2.2 Key Issues 22 Chapter 3 A Vision for West Lancashire 2027 25 3.1 Vision 25 3.2 Spatial and Strategic Objectives 27 Chapter 4 Strategic Policies 37 4.1 Policy SP1: A Sustainable Development Framework for West Lancashire 37 4.2 Key Diagram 47 4.3 Policy SP2: Skelmersdale Town Centre 48 4.4 Policy SP3: Yew Tree Farm, Burscough 53 Chapter 5 General Development Policies 59 5.1 Policy GN1: Settlement Boundaries 59 5.2 Policy GN2: Safeguarded Land 62 5.3 Policy GN3: Criteria for Sustainable Development 64 5.4 Policy GN4: Demonstrating Viability 69 5.5 Policy GN5: Sequential Tests 72 Chapter 6 Facilitating Economic Growth 77 6.1 Policy EC1: The Economy and Employment Land 77 6.2 Policy EC2: The Rural Economy 83 6.3 Policy EC3: Rural Development Opportunities 86 6.4 Policy EC4: Edge Hill University 88 Chapter 7 Providing for Housing and Residential Accommodation 91 7.1 Policy RS1: Residential Development 91 7.2 Policy RS2: Affordable and Specialist Housing 97 7.3 Policy RS3: Provision of Student Accommodation 102 7.4 Policy RS4: Provision for Gypsies & Travellers and Travelling Showpeople 108 Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD West Lancashire Borough Council Contents 7.5 Policy RS5: Accommodation for Temporary Agricultural / Horticultural Workers 108 7.6 Policy RS6: A "Plan B" for Housing Delivery in the Local Plan 110 Chapter 8 Infrastructure and Services Provision 113 8.1 Policy IF1: Maintaining Vibrant Town and Local Centres 113 8.2 Policy IF2: Enhancing Sustainable Transport Choice 120 8.3 Policy IF3: Service Accessibility and Infrastructure for Growth 130 8.4 Policy IF4: Developer Contributions 133 Chapter 9 Sustaining the Borough's Environment and Addressing Climate Change 137 9.1 Policy EN1: Low Carbon Development and Energy Infrastructure 137 9.2 Policy EN2: Preserving and Enhancing West Lancashire's Natural Environment 141 9.3 Policy EN3: Provision of Green Infrastructure and Open Recreation Space 149 9.4 Policy EN4: Preserving and Enhancing West Lancashire's Cultural and Heritage Assets 156 Glossary 159 Appendix A Local Plan Preparation 167 Appendix B The Spatial & Strategic Objectives 177 Appendix C Planning Policy Background 187 Appendix D Setting Locally-determined Targets 191 Appendix E Delivery & Risk 197 Appendix F Parking Standards 221 Appendix G Minor Amendments to the Green Belt Boundary 227 Appendix H Schedule of Saved Policies to be Replaced by this Local Plan 231 Appendix I Schedule of Nature Conservation Sites 235 Appendix J Allocations identified by the Habitats Regulations Assessment 241 West Lancashire Borough Council Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD Foreword Foreword 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. This Local Plan 2012-2027 Development Plan 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 guidance issued by the Government on preparing local planning policy, most notably the National Planning Policy Framework. As such, the Local Plan is extremely important for the future of the Borough and will directly or indirectly affect all residents and communities within the Borough. It will bring investment and sustainable development to positively benefit the Borough in economic, social and environmental terms. This document has only been made possible through the hard work and dedication of our Council officers, under the direction of the Assistant Director Planning, John Harrison. I would also like to thank all of the Members of the Council who have been involved in formulating this Plan. If you require any assistance or further information please do not hesitate to contact the Planning Policy & Implementation Team who will be pleased to help and whose contact details are provided on the next page. Councillor Martin Forshaw Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development West Lancashire Borough Council October 2013 Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD West Lancashire Borough Council 3 Foreword Contact Information If you wish to discuss any aspects of the Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Planning Policy & Implementation Team through the contact details listed below: Contact Details Peter Richards 01695 585 046 Planning Policy & Implementation Team [email protected] Leader Planning Policy & Implementation Team 01695 585 274 or 01695 585 393 General Enquiries [email protected] West Lancashire Borough Council 01695 577 177 Contact Centre Website http://www.westlancs.gov.uk/planningpolicy Postal Address Planning Policy & Implementation Team West Lancashire Borough Council 52 Derby Street Ormskirk L39 2DF 4 West Lancashire Borough Council Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD 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 supersedes 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 2004 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 sets 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. 1.2 Preparing the Local Plan 1.5 The West Lancashire Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD (previously the West Lancashire Core Strategy) has gone through a number of stages in its preparation. These are explained in summary below and in Appendix A, together with a summary of the consultation responses through the preparation of the Core Strategy and Local Plan. 1.6 The preparation of the Local Plan has followed an established process in line with the latest legislation, most notably the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012. Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD West Lancashire Borough Council 5 Chapter 1 Introduction Figure 1.1 The Local Plan Preparation Process Stage 1: Evidence Base 1.7 It is important to gather up-to-date and comprehensive information in order to support the Local Plan; this is known as the 'evidence base'. We have collected information on a range of topics to directly inform the preparation of policy and this is all available on the Council’s website. 1.8 Although the Council started work on the evidence base back in 2006, it was not until 12th February 2008 that we formally began preparing the Core Strategy. This was marked by consultation on the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report, which is available to view on the Council's website. Work on the evidence base is ongoing and will continue to be even beyond adoption of the Local Plan, as it is vital that the Council maintains a thorough and up-to-date evidence base that reflects the changing context of the Borough and informs the implementation of the Local Plan. 6 West Lancashire Borough Council Local Plan 2012-2027 DPD Chapter 1 Introduction Stage 2: Issues 1.9 In preparing a Local Plan it is crucial to be aware of the issues facing West Lancashire, as identified through the evidence base and through consultation with the public and stakeholders. Consultation on the issues facing the Borough was conducted via workshops at the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) Annual Conference and Spatial Forums in June and July 2008, and also the release of the Issues Questionnaire in January / February 2009. 1.10 The purpose of the Issues stage was to provide an opportunity for the local community, businesses and other key stakeholders to identify key issues affecting the Borough, and to put forward their views. During this stage, we also met with key organisations and infrastructure providers to discuss infrastructure constraints across the Borough and how these may affect the deliverability of local planning policy. In addition, the Council consulted on the subject of the Core Strategy in August 2009, in terms of what it should contain and to confirm the issues that it should address. Stage 3: Options 1.11 The Options Paper is an important stage in the preparation of the Local Plan and such an Options Paper for the Core Strategy was published in September 2009 for public consultation.