Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill Framework Plan
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Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill Framework Plan Interim Sustainability Appraisal September 2011 Planning Delivery Team (East) 1. Introduction This report is a brief interim Sustainability Appraisal (SA) review of the Options consultation document Framework Plan for Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill. The Framework Plan is part of the Cornwall Core Strategy process. A SA assesses the environmental, social and economic impacts of proposed plans and policies and is required by legislation. There are 24 Cornwall SA Objectives against which plans are appraised; these objectives can be viewed in Appendix 1. The SA process provides a quality check on the Framework Plan and aims to ensure that the options and proposals within the document are moving towards achieving sustainable development. The SA will inform the decision making process in developing the subsequent stages of the Framework Plan. This review focuses on: • An overview of the Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill Framework Plan • The emerging Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill Framework objectives • Options for economic growth • Options for future housing growth • Options for urban extensions/new neighbourhoods • Infrastructure 2. Overview of the Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill Framework Plan The Framework Options document is the first stage of developing the Framework Plan for the Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill areas. As such it presents different options for consideration that could meet long term employment, housing, retail and mixed use requirements, it also indicates how infrastructure implications are being assessed. In summary the options document presents five options for consideration as urban extensions – one is of a potentially significant scale, three are of a relatively medium scale and one is small. In arriving at these five options an extensive process was carried out examining all land around and adjoining the urban areas1 of Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill. This process divided all land adjoining the urban areas into study areas referred to as ‘cells’. Each cell was subject to an assessment of aspects in order to arrive at areas of land that could be classed as realistic options (i.e. those contained with the Framework Options document as potential Urban Extensions) for further consideration. The aspects considered were as follows: 1 The term ‘urban area’ refers to the area within the Development Boundary, as set out in North Cornwall District Local Plan (Adopted – April 1999). • Environmental Assessment (desk based) • Accessibility Assessment (desk based); • Landscape Assessment; • Urban Design Assessment; and, • Heat Mapping Analysis. The details regarding this process, input from stakeholders and the subsequent results are included within a separate document entitled Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill Framework: Urban Extension Assessment2. The SA tables, relevant to the original study cells, are contained within Appendix 6, alongside a map indicating the location of these. The SA table that considers the Framework Objectives is presented as Appendix 2. The location of the potential site options (Urban Extensions) are illustrated in Appendix 3. Appendix 4 presents the assumptions behind the SA on these greenfield sites, whilst the tables summarising the SA of the potential urban extensions are contained within Appendix 5. The Framework document does not clarify at this stage what an appropriate strategy for the area is, but focuses on the potential benefits or disadvantages of the options presented. It will be important for the next stage of the Framework Plan to clearly articulate and justify the preferred strategy for Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill. 3. Emerging Framework Objectives The Framework Plan sets out six emerging local objectives and aims to steer the options and the emerging strategy for Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill towards meeting and delivering what are seen as the key objectives for these and the surrounding areas. These local objectives are important in progressing the subsequent stages of the plan by providing a focus that the preferred strategy and set of proposals will clearly aim to meet and deliver. The following are the six objectives proposed to underpin the Bude, Stratton, Flexbury and Poughill Framework Plan. These are followed by a brief SA comment: • To alleviate the demand for local affordable housing and improve the overall balance of housing in the area in terms of tenure, type and affordability. This Framework Objective will directly contribute towards meeting SA Objectives 12 – Social Inclusion; and, 14 - Housing. Consideration is needed with regard to SA Objectives 4 - Soil; 6 – Water; 7 – Biodiversity; 8 – Landscape; 9- Maritime; 10 - Historic Environment; 11- Design and 24 – Energy, so that these SA objectives are incorporated into the Framework Plan, to avoid them being undermined. 2 Document available at www.cornwall.gov.uk/ldf • To maintain and enhance the distinct character of the four settlements and in doing so protect these from physical and/or perceived coalescence. This Framework Objective directly contributes towards meeting SA Objectives 8 – Landscape; and, 10 – Historic Environment, as in the local context the perceived physical separation between the four settlements is considered an important characteristic of this area. • To sustain and enhance Bude’s role as one of the primary employment centres in the north-east of the County – in doing so raising the quality and quantity of employment opportunities. This Framework Objective will directly contribute to meeting SA Objectives 18 – Economic Development; 19 – Regeneration; 20 – Tourism; and, Objective 12 – Social Inclusion (as more employment opportunities should be provided thus reducing poverty, discrimination, social exclusion and inequalities). As a consequence, indirect benefits could be seen with regard to reducing crime and anti-social behaviour (SA Objective 13 – Crime and Anti Social Behaviour) as a result of reduced unemployment. This Framework could also make an indirect contribution to meeting Objective 21 – Education and Skills, where opportunities to enhance skills and provide training are potentially provided through employers. With regards to SA Objectives 22 – Transport; and, 23 - Accessibility, this Framework Objective could pose indirect contributions to both meeting and undermining these SA Objectives, for instance, positive contributions may be gained by jobs being provided in proximity to urban areas or mixed use areas, thus reducing the need to travel; whereas, negative contributions may be evident through increased car ownership as income increases leading to increased car use and congestion. In addition, freight transport may place demand on the highway network. Consideration is needed with regard to SA Objectives 1 – Climate Factors; 2 – Waste; 4 - Soil; 5 – Air; 6 – Water; 7 – Biodiversity; 8 – Landscape; 9 – Maritime; 10 - Historic Environment; 11- Design and 24 – Energy, so that these are incorporated into the Framework Plan, to avoid their achievement being undermined. • To maintain and enhance the area’s heritage and environmental assets for the benefit of the local community and to use them to enhance the area’s tourism offer. This Framework Objective directly contributes to meeting SA Objectives 8 – Landscape; 9 – Maritime; and, 10 – Historic Environment. Indirect benefits will contribute to meeting SA Objectives 18 – Economic Development; 19 – Regeneration; and, 20 – Tourism, as more visitors are attracted to the area, thereby encouraging a growth in jobs in the tourism sector here. Conversely, there is a risk that, by enhancing tourism in the area, this will indirectly undermine meeting SA Objectives 22 – Transport; and, 23 - Accessibility (as increased tourism will be accompanied by increased travel movements). • To deliver the highway and sustainable transport infrastructure needed to support the delivery of future housing and economic growth. This Framework Objective will directly contribute to meeting SA Objectives 12 – Social Inclusion; 14 – Housing; 18 – Economic Development; 19 – Regeneration; 20 – Tourism; 22 – Transport; and, 23 - Accessibility. In addition, it should serve to contribute to achieving SA Objectives 1: Climate Factors; and, 5 – Air, as highway infrastructure and sustainable transport infrastructure also serve to reduce congestion and greenhouse gas emissions, however, caution is needed with regards to new highways infrastructure which may encourage the greater car use and therefore emissions. Consideration is needed with regard to SA Objectives 4 - Soil; 7 – Biodiversity; 8 – Landscape; and, 10 - Historic Environment, so that these are incorporated into the Framework Plan, to avoid their achievement being undermined. • To deliver other infrastructure required for the growth of the area. This Framework Objective will directly contribute to meeting SA Objectives 12 – Social Inclusion; 14 – Housing; 18 – Economic Development; 19 – Regeneration; 20 – Tourism; 21 – Education and Skills; 22 – Transport; and, 23 – Accessibility. Where infrastructure relating to waste/ recycling is delivered there will also be a positive contribution to meeting SA Objective 2 – Waste. Consideration is needed with regard to SA Objectives 4 - Soil; 7 – Biodiversity; 8 – Landscape; and, 10 - Historic Environment, so that these are incorporated into the Framework Plan, to avoid their achievement being undermined. The next stage of the Framework Plan should articulate