APPENDIX A HALTON CORE STRATEGY PROPOSED SUBMISSION DOCUMENT 05th November 2010 HALTON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK It’s all happening IN HALTON A Spatial Strategy for Halton 2026 DRAFT as at 05.11.2010 HALTON CORE STRATEGY PROPOSED SUBMISSION DOCUMENT Foreword Foreword by Cllr Polhill / Cllr McInerney Welcome to Halton Borough Council’s Core Strategy which will play a crucial role in shaping the spatial development of Halton up to 2026. The Core Strategy sets out in ‘Halton’s Story of Place’ how the Borough has developed over time and introduces the Borough’s characteristics, including the issues and challenges that the Borough now faces and those likely to have an impact and drive further change during the period to 2026. The Core Strategy then introduces a vision for the Borough, imagining the place we would like Halton to be by 2026 and identifies a series of 13 Strategic Objectives that will help us to deliver that vision. From this a Spatial Strategy has been prepared, showing how development will be distributed throughout the Borough, and indicating which areas will be subject to the most substantial change. This is followed by a series of core policies relating to key themes of development including transport, urban design, conservation and health. The Core Strategy, once implemented, will significantly contribute to the delivery of a prosperous, well connected and attractive Borough, supporting healthy communities, performing a key role within the Liverpool City Region and well positioned to respond to future economic and social changes and challenges. 1 Page 2 DRAFT as at 05.11.2010 HALTON CORE STRATEGY PROPOSED SUBMISSION DOCUMENT Core Strategy Proposed Submission Document Contents Pg Foreword Introduction Story of Place Vision and Strategic Objectives SPATIAL POLICIES CS1 Halton’s Spatial Strategy Key Diagram CS2 Sustainable Development CS3 Housing Supply and Locational Priorities CS4 Employment Land Supply and Locational Priorities CS5 A Network of Centres for Halton CS6 Green Belt CS7 Infrastructure Provision KEY AREAS OF CHANGE CS8 3MG CS9 South Widnes CS10 West Runcorn CS11 East Runcorn CORE POLICIES CS12 Housing Mix CS13 Affordable Housing CS14 Meeting the Needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show People CS15 Sustainable Transport CS16 The Mersey Gateway Project CS17 Liverpool John Lennon Airport CS18 High Quality Design CS19 Sustainable Development and Climate Change CS20 Natural and Historic Environment CS21 Green Infrastructure 1 Page 3 DRAFT as at 05.11.2010 HALTON CORE STRATEGY PROPOSED SUBMISSION DOCUMENT CS22 Health and Well-Being CS23 Managing Pollution and Risk CS24 Waste CS25 Minerals APPENDICES Appendix 1 Housing Trajectories Appendix 2 Monitoring Framework Appendix 3 Schedule of UDP Policies to be Replaced Appendix 4 Glossary CORE STRATEGY PUBLICATION SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION A Infrastructure Plan B Sustainability Appraisal C Habitats Regulation Assessment D Statement of Consultation E Health Impact Assessment (TBC) F Equality Impact Assessment G LDF Evidence Base (TBC) 1 Page 4 DRAFT as at 05.11.2010 HALTON CORE STRATEGY PROPOSED SUBMISSION DOCUMENT Guide to the Proposed Submission Stage This document is the Council’s Core Strategy Proposed Submission document. This means that this is the document that the Council proposes to submit to the Secretary of State for an independent examination. The strategy and policies contained within this document have taken into account comments from previous rounds of public and stakeholder consultation and a comprehensive evidence base. From X to X representations can be made on the Core Strategy Proposed Submission Document. However, unlike the previous two formal stages of public consultation during the preparation of the Core Strategy, representations at this stage should only relate to the ‘soundness’ of the Strategy. To be sound the Strategy should be: • Justified – founded on a robust and credible evidence base and is the most appropriate strategy when considered against reasonable alternatives • Effective – meaning deliverable, flexible and able to be monitored • Consistent with National Policy The representations submitted relating to the above tests of soundness will be considered when the Core Strategy is submitted to the Secretary of State for the independent examination along with other requirements of legal compliance. Halton Borough Council considers the Core Strategy document to be sound and in compliance with the legal requirements. The public examination will include a thorough assessment of the content of the document and the way that it has been produced and will establish whether the Core Strategy can be formally adopted by the Council. How can you make representations on the Core Strategy Proposed Submission Document? Representations can be made in any of the following ways: Online at: www.halton.gov.uk/spatialplanning where you can complete an online representations form. By email: [email protected] In writing to: Halton Core Strategy FREEPOST X X X X Places, Economy and Transport, Halton Borough Council, Rutland House, Halton Lea, Runcorn, WA7 2GW By phoning: 0151 906 4884 Visit our Facebook page: Halton2026 Further Information: If you would like to discuss any matters relating to the Core Strategy in more detail, please call the Core Strategy team on 0151 906 4884. 1 Page 5 DRAFT as at 05.11.2010 HALTON CORE STRATEGY PROPOSED SUBMISSION DOCUMENT 1 Introduction What is the Core Strategy? 1.1 The Halton Core Strategy is the central document within the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF) which will eventually replace Halton’s current plan the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and be used to guide development and determine planning applications over the next 15 years, to 2026. Figure X illustrates the component documents of Halton’s LDF. Insert Figure showing the LDF 1.2 The Core Strategy provides the overarching strategy for the LDF, setting out why change is needed; what the scale of change is; and where, when and how it will be delivered. It does this through identifying the current issues and opportunities in the Borough, how we want to achieve change and stating the future vision for Halton to 2026. To deliver this vision the Core Strategy sets out a spatial strategy stating the extent of change needed and the core policies for delivering this future change. 1.3 The Core Strategy will help to shape the future of Halton, including its natural and built environments, its communities and ultimately peoples quality of life. The Core Strategy therefore joins up a range of different issues such as housing, employment, retail, transport and health. This is known as ‘spatial planning’. How has the Core Strategy been Produced? 1.4 Work on the Core Strategy commenced in January 2006 with the production of the Core Strategy Issues and Options Papers. Public consultation took place from the 27th July and 7th September 2006 representing the first stage of community involvement on the Core Strategy and the spatial planning approach that should be taken. 1.5 The Issues Paper began by introducing the new plan making system and what the meaning and purpose of ‘spatial planning’ was. It then set out the broad issues that planning policy within the Borough will need to help address, including those issues identified by the SCS. The Options Paper began to establish the role of planning policy in addressing the issues and introduced some of the broad policy options that the Core Strategy could adopt. This included three alternative spatial development scenarios for the Borough and seven spatial themes dealing with specific policy areas relevant to Halton. 1.6 From the Issues and Options stage, work was progressed on the Preferred Options for Spatial Development of the Borough. On 24th September to 5th November 2009 the Core Strategy Preferred Options document underwent a 6 week period of public consultation. The main purpose of this stage was to provide an opportunity for Halton’s communities, stakeholders and other interested parties to tell us their views on the preferred policy options for Halton’s future to 2026. 1.7 Subsequent to the Preferred Options stage full consideration has been taken of the comments received, and further work has been undertaken with key stakeholders, neighbouring authorities and delivery partners regarding key sites and supporting infrastructure. The preferred policy approaches were developed to form the Proposed Submission document which represents the final formal stage of 1 Page 6 DRAFT as at 05.11.2010 HALTON CORE STRATEGY PROPOSED SUBMISSION DOCUMENT consultation for the Core Strategy. The Core Strategy will then be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination before the Council can formally adopt the plan. What is the Policy Context for the Core Strategy? 1.8 In producing the Core Strategy, consideration has been given to the context provided by existing policy frameworks at the national, regional, sub-regional and local level. National Context 1.9 National planning policies are currently set out in the form of Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) and Guidance (PPGs). These PPSs and PPGs establish high-level planning principles and requirements for the LDF, covering a range of topics from sustainable development to the historic environment to flood risk. The Core Strategy must conform with, but not repeat national planning policy, unless it is essential in order to provide a coherent set of policies. 1.10 Although the overall direction and approach to national planning policy is unlikely to change, it is anticipated, following the plans of the new Coalition Government, that there will be moves to streamline current national planning policy into a wider, less detailed, National Planning Framework. This will be taken into consideration when preparing future LDF documents and policies. 1.11 The Government also publishes legislation, regulations and circulars which set the legal framework for the planning process. Regional Context 1.12 Following the revocation and subsequent abolition of the North West of England Plan – Regional Spatial Strategy to 2021(RSS) the regional context has evolved during the development of Halton’s Core Strategy.