Background Paper 10 Spatial Strategyfinal
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Wrexham Local Development Plan BP 10 2013 - 2028 housing open space employment community transport education Spatial Strategy and Distribution of Development 2017 This leafl et is available in accessible formats 1. Scope and Purpose 1.1 This background paper forms part of a series of documents which have been prepared in connection with the Wrexham County Borough Council Deposit Local Development Plan (LDP) 2013 – 2028. The legislative background for the production of the plan is Part 6 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, with procedures for LDP preparation contained in the Town and Country Planning (Local Development Plan) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (as amended) 1. 1.2 The purpose of this paper is to set out the position of the Council in relation to the spatial strategy and distribution of development identified in the Deposit Plan (April 2018). It outlines the plans spatial strategy, examines national planning policy in relation to the distribution / hierarchy of development and sustainability principles and identifies how this, along with other evidence has informed both residential and employment allocations in the Deposit plan. 1.3 Throughout this paper reference will be made to other plans, documents and guidance as appropriate, copies of which can be found on the consultation portal www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp. 2. Introduction 2.1 Chapter 5 of the Deposit LDP sets out the Plans spatial strategy. The strategy seeks to balance economic aspiration with the sustainable delivery of homes, jobs and infrastructure required to meet the needs of a growing population over the plan period. The growth level identified in the plan is set out in detail in Background Paper 1: Population and Household Projections with Dwelling and Employment Impacts (January 2018). The plans growth strategy is based on an understanding of the projected population growth in the County over the plan period, the regional context in terms of Wrexham’s location within North Wales and the wider Mersey Dee area, past growth and delivery rates (in particular in relation to housing developments) and also the need to ensure the sustainable management of cultural and natural resources. 2.2 As referenced in Chapter 5 of the Deposit Plan the LDP spatial strategy is based on the following: • The LDP vision and objectives; • Sustainability objectives identified in National Planning Policy: 2 • The generation and assessment of spatial options in the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) 3; • The outcome of the pre-deposit consultation and engagement4; • Key pieces of the LDP evidence base; 1 http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2005/2839/contents/made and http://www.legislation.gov.uk/wsi/2015/1598/contents/made 2 hhtp://gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/140731chapter-4-en.pdf 3 www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp 4 www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp 1 • An understanding of the development potential of the County Borough (sites assessment Link 5 ); and • The sustainable settlement hierarchy as set out in Background Paper 2: Settlement Hierarchy and Distribution of Development (January 2018)6 2.3 In order to assist in the understanding of the delivery of the spatial strategy, the Council have produced an accompanying Infrastructure Plan (IP), which details the key infrastructure required to deliver the site allocations and proposals identified in the Plan. Background Paper 8: Housing Supply and Deliverability (January 2018) 7 also provides further information in relation to the phasing and timing of these sites during the plan period. 3. National, Regional and Local policy context 3.1 The Deposit Plan sets out in chapter 5 the spatial approach to accommodating the identified level of growth in the County Borough which can be realistically delivered over the plan period. This is based on a number of key pieces of evidence , including an understanding of the role and function of Wrexham’s settlements, a review of the Green Wedge and Special Landscape Areas and an understanding of the constraints to development within the County Borough. Importantly, the spatial strategy has been informed by a number of other relevant national, regional and local policies and strategies as set out below. a) National Context People, Places, Futures. The Wales Spatial Plan (2008) Update: North East Wales – Border and Coast: 3.2 The deposit plan takes account of the aims and aspirations of the Wales Spatial Plan (WSP) (2004) and 2008 update 8 . The WSP identifies Wrexham County Borough together with Denbighshire and Flintshire as making a very important contribution to both the Welsh and UK economy. Wrexham County Borough is located within the North East Wales Border and Coast (NEWBC) Spatial Plan Area, with Wrexham Town identified as a Key Settlement of National Importance, a Key Regeneration Area and the Wrexham Industrial Estate a Key Business Sector Area. It is also identified as forming part of the Wrexham- Deeside-Chester hub, where the strengthening of such hubs as a focus for investment in future employment, housing, retail, leisure and services is a key element of realising the vision for this spatial area. 3.3 The economic ambition of the Deposit Plan strategy both in relation to the number of new homes and job creation is reflective of the WSP aspirations for the area and recognises the economic importance of the cross border linkages in economic terms with Flintshire and Cheshire West and Chester, with 5 www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp 6 www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp 7 Background Paper 8: Housing Supply and Deliverability (January 2018) www.wrexham.gov.uk/ldp 8 Wales Spatial Plan Update 2008 http://gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/13071wales -spatial- plan-2008 - update-en.pdf 2 opportunities of economic growth to benefit all in the area. The focus for growth and investment in housing, jobs, retail, leisure and services in Wrexham Town and Wrexham Industrial Estate also seeks to strengthen and reiterate the national importance of the County’s principle town and strategic employment area. 3.4 In addition, paragraph 16.10 of the WSP states that ‘around Wrexham are pockets containing some of the most deprived urban areas in Wales. Here, there are problems associated with poverty, multiple deprivation, low levels of economic activity and low quality housing and infrastructure’. Para 16.11 continues to state that ‘A further strand of the spatial strategy focuses on improving the wellbeing of communities through social, physical and economic improvements. For North East Wales, identified regeneration settlements include communities within Wrexham County Borough (such as Plas Madoc, Queensway, Caia Park and Gwenfro…..’ In order to support this regeneration, the WSP sets out in paragraph 16.45 the importance of transport initiatives to ‘support travel for retraining and access to job opportunities or to improve access to healthcare, shops and other services’. Planning Policy Wales – (Edition 9, November 2016) 3.5 Planning Policy Wales sets out the land-use planning policies of the Welsh Government. It states that Development Plans should secure a sustainable settlement pattern which meets the needs of the economy, the environment and health while respecting local diversity and protecting the character and cultural identity of communities 9. The key messages regarding sustainable settlement patterns include locating development to reduce the need to travel by car by maximising accessibility to employment opportunities, services and facilities by walking, cycling and public transport. Development should be directed to existing urban areas which are well served by public transport, and benefit from concentrations of jobs, facilities and services. It is also important to recognise within the context of delivering sustainable development that there are differing priorities for urban and rural areas 10 which are reflected in the plans spatial strategy. b) Regional Context 3.6 The Spatial Strategy has also been shaped by regional issues and contributes to wider regional objectives as identified in the section below: North Wales Economic Ambition Board 3.7 Wrexham along with the other five local authorities in North Wales, the private sector, higher and further education and third sectors has joined the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) and has adopted a growth vision 9 Section 4.7, Chapter 4, Planning Policy Wales (Edition 9, November 2016) http://gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/161117ppw-chapter-4-en.pdf 10 Section 4.6, Chapter 4, Planning Policy Wales (Edition 9, November 2016) http://gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/161117ppw-chapter-4-en.pdf 3 for the economy of North Wales to 2035 11 . The aims are to improve economic, social and environmental well-being of North Wales, to support and retain young people in the region, address worklessness and inactivity, support and enable private sector investment in the region to boost economic output and to create new job opportunities. In broad terms, the vision is to grow the value of the economy by 2.8% per annum to £20 billion and to create over 120,000 new job opportunities. There will be many different ways in which the partners try to deliver this vision including the growth deals for North Wales and Cheshire and Warrington – both of which support key investment in Wrexham which support the vision and strategic objectives of the Deposit Plan. Mersey Dee Alliance 3.8 In addition to the North Wales Economic Ambition Board, the Council is also a key partner in the Mersey Dee Alliance (MDA). The MDA was born out of recognition of shared economic, social and environmental interests across the West Cheshire, Wirral and North East Wales area. The Alliance was formed in April 2007 and in addition to Wrexham, comprises the local authorities of Cheshire West and Chester, Flintshire and Wirral, together with Chester University, Wrexham Glyndwr University, the Welsh Government and Mersey Travel. Whilst sitting either side of a national boundary, the Mersey Dee region has been recognised as a single economic sub-region, with a population close to 1 million 12 .