Poole Core Strategy Submission Document Contents
Poole Contents Core 1 Introduction 3 Strategy 2 Characteristics of the Area 19
Submission 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 25
4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 41
Document 5 A Spatial Strategy for Poole 61
6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 67
Realising Poole's Economic Potential 67
Meeting Poole's Housing Needs 87
Revitalising the Town Centre 105
Accessibility and the Prime Transport Corridors 127
Priority Areas in Need of Investment and Improvement 142
Locally Distinctive and Self-Reliant Places 152
Areas where Change will be Carefully Managed 170
Preparing Poole for Climate Change 177
7 Monitoring and Implementation Framework 193
8 Key Diagram 201
9 Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles 203
10 Appendix 2: Schedule of Saved Policies 215 3 1 Introduction Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 1.1 Poole's Town Centre
1.1 Poole is a town which is gaining a new sense of direction. It contains some of the South West region’s best urban regeneration opportunities, and a real asset for Poole is that these opportunities are at the heart of the town. This gives Poole a realistic prospect of stepping up to the challenge of meeting its housing needs while also transforming the economy and revitalising the Town Centre.
1.2 However, Poole will need other areas to offer the right mix of jobs, schools, local facilities and a suitable choice of housing. This will rely upon having a clear vision as to the kind of place Poole should be in the future. Such a vision needs to be shared by various strategies, organisations and individuals to work towards some common goals. This is the process of Spatial Planning.
What is Spatial Planning?
1.3 The importance of planning 'spatially' is recognised internationally. At the European level, this, has derived from a need to integrate a complex array of policy documents, territorial strategies, legislative systems and cultural approaches across the EU. 1 Introduction 4 …Spatial development refers to the distribution of built and natural features and Poole human activity across territory...[and]...is a product of many sectoral policies and actions in public and private sectors… . Spatial planning is concerned with ensuring Core that the spatial policy impacts are considered and coordinated – in the interests of
Strategy sustainable spatial development… .
The Role and Scope of Spatial Planning - Literature Review (DCLG, December 2006) Submission 1.4 Although this interpretation is derived from a European imperative which spans many territories and nation states, the principles of spatial planning are consistent across all levels,
Document whether we are concerned with local or international strategies. In Britain, the shift in emphasis of our own planning system to a more spatial approach is based upon three central themes:
to focus the planning system on delivering outcomes which might be shared across a variety of strategies, policies and public and private sector interests;
to consider the interrelationships between policies and actions, and to understand the territorial implications of these (in other words, how they combine to affect places, people and activities over time); and
to engage better with communities and stakeholders in a manner which communicates these close relationships between different policy strands and activities.
Definition of Spatial Planning
Planning which goes beyond traditional land uses to integrate policies for the development and use of land with other policies and programmes which influence the nature of places and how they function. That will include policies which can impact on land use (for example by influencing the demands on or needs for development) but which are not capable of being delivered solely or mainly through the grant or refusal of planning permission and which may be implemented by other means.
(Planning Advisory Service)
Poole's Local Development Framework and the Role of the Core Strategy
1.5 Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) are required to set out a spatial blueprint for how places are expected to change over a period of time. Being spatial, the LDF must reflect other strategies and policies in their area, including matters such as health care priorities, education, economic development and so on. The LDF is not a single plan but rather a suite of documents, ranging from that which sets out the vision, broad principles and spatial approach (the Core Strategy), to those which concern more specific policy and implementation details. Over time, 5 the LDF will replace Poole Local Plan First Alteration (adopted in March 2004). The LDF will consist of a series of documents. The statutory documents set out in the Local Development Poole Scheme as at April 2007 are: Core
Document Status Spatial Purpose What it will contain Anticipated Strategy Adoption
Date Submission
Core DPD1 To provide the delivery A Vision for Poole Summer Strategy vehicle for other strategies 2009 Document or plans which have a Strategic Objectives spatial dimension A Spatial Strategy To provide a spatial expression of the Policy framework for the Sustainable Communities overall scale and direction Strategy of change
To show where and how An expression of how the places will change in LDF intends to create delivering the strategy sustainable communities
To set out the context for An implementation more detailed documents framework in the LDF
Town Centre AAP2 To provide a delivery Priorities and aspirations Early 2010 North framework for the Town for Town Centre North Centre North area Details of anticipated retail To advance the Core and leisure growth Strategy by focusing on this key area of significant Changes needed to realise change the AAP such as transport infrastructure
How and when the AAP will be delivered 1 Introduction 6
Poole Document Status Spatial Purpose What it will contain Anticipated Adoption Core Date Strategy Site-specific DPD1 To advance the Core Allocation of sites for Autumn
Submission Allocations Strategy by setting out specific purposes 2010 detailed policies for sites, places and issues Detailed and criteria-based policies for places or areas Document Details of infrastructure prerequisites for development
Dorset DPD1 To set out a consistent Details to be determined. Autumn Heathlands and co-ordinated strategy Likely to include heathland 2009 for heathland protection management, wardening, across affected South provision of alternative East Dorset authorities green spaces
To enable the delivery of Contributions framework for the Core Strategy by development to meet the overcoming a potential costs of necessary constraint to growth mitigation measures
To provide a delivery mechanism for heathland protection and impact mitigation
Delivering DPD1 To provide the basis for Details of costs (where Autumn Poole's the Community known) of key infrastructure 2010 Infrastructure Infrastructure Levy and other needs
To set out how the LDF is Responsibilities for delivery to be delivered, including responsibilities and Anticipated delivery dates anticipated delivery dates An obligations framework which sets out the purposes and costs of 7
Document Status Spatial Purpose What it will contain Anticipated Poole Adoption Date Core Strategy To provide details of the developer contributions
mechanisms and costs for (excluding any specific Submission developer contributions prerequisites which might needed to deliver a range arise in individual cases) of needs Document
1. DPD - Development Plan Document
2. AAP - Area Action Plan
The Context for the Core Strategy
The Sustainable Community Strategy
1.6 So, how do we make sure that Poole’s future is a bright and prosperous one for all of its residents? This is a question which is, in essence, the challenge for Poole’s Sustainable Community Strategy 2006-2012, Shaping Poole’s Future. This has been prepared by Poole Partnership, which is the local strategic partnership. This is made up of representatives from a wide array of organisations and other stakeholders in the local community. Widespread consultation has also taken place with local communities and individual members of the public in shaping the Sustainable Community Strategy.
1.7 Borough of Poole Council is the responsible Authority for preparing the LDF (including the Core Strategy) and so the Council must ensure that the document is a fair reflection of its own strategies, the aspirations of local people and other stakeholders, and national and regional policy. However, it also has a responsibility to provide a spatial expression of the Sustainable Community Strategy and will be a key delivery vehicle for all strategies which have a spatial element.
1.8 The following diagram illustrates the relationship between the Sustainable Community Strategy and the Local Development Framework. 1 Introduction 8 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 1.2 Relationship between the Sustainable Communities Strategy and the LDF
Closing the Gap - Poole's Local Area Agreement
1.9 Poole's Local Area Agreement (LAA), Closing the Gap, is a three-year action plan for the Sustainable Community Strategy. The LAA was adopted in April 2006 and sets out priorities for the period up to March 2009. It has four key priority areas:
children and young people; healthier communities and older people; safer and stronger communities; and enterprise and economic development.
1.10 The LAA sets out more detailed actions, and these relate to a variety of issues, such as improving life chances for vulnerable and younger people, reducing health inequalities, reducing crime and anti-social behaviour, improving economic productivity, and increasing the stock of affordable housing. As well as these and a number of other priorities, the LAA also identifies target areas where the benefits of positive action to residents would be most greatly felt. These areas are:
Alderney; 9 Hamworthy East and West; and Old Town. Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 1 Introduction 10 LAA LAA Outcome Main Areas of Support in Core Poole Theme Strategy Core
Strategy Children and Better life chances for Meeting Poole's varied housing needs, Young vulnerable children and including provision of affordable housing, People young people starter homes and family dwellings Submission Parents feel supported Supporting provision of health, youth and Addressing health community facilities inequalities Promoting access to leisure and recreation
Document Poole has confident, opportunities in schools and the community employable young people Supporting Schools for the Future who have a positive Supporting partnerships between schools, relationship with their colleges and employers community Target Areas: Alderney; Focus on improving the quality and Hamworthy West and East; community function of Hamworthy Local Old Town Centre Revitalising the Town Centre to provide an improved environment, more housing and better employment opportunities Co-ordinating Council services and joint working with partners to prioritise social inclusion issues in all the target areas Healthier Reduce health Increased participation in sport, particularly Communities inequalities in Poole in deprived areas and Older Improved heath through Lifetime homes standards (promoting People changing lifestyles independence) Independence and choice Care homes for older people Skills, training and employment Improve health and opportunities well-being of older people Promoting accessible and inclusive places Health support facilities Target Areas: Old Town; Improved public access, including those Parkstone with restricted mobility, in the Town Centre, including new public water fronts adjacent to Old Town Securing the provision of care homes in the Town Centre Supporting an increased role for health centres will benefit the target areas as well 1 1 LAA LAA Outcome Main Areas of Support in Core Poole Theme Strategy Core
as other parts of the Borough Strategy Safer and Reduce crime & fear of Health care treatment & support: local
Stronger crime, anti-social facilities and surgeries Submission Communities behaviour and drug/ Safer places through design and mix of alcohol High levels of uses safety at home and in the
Arts events and other activities engaging Document community with cross-section of people in targeted Promote a stronger, more areas active and vibrant Environmental enhancements – public community spaces, pavements A clean, safer, greener and sustainable environment Target areas: Alderney; Old Revitalising the Town Centre should create Town; Hamworthy East & more mixed, active and safer places West Better facilities for young people, including improved recreation areas in Hamworthy and Alderney Enterprise Improved Providing sites for economic growth and and competitiveness and key sectors Economic maintaining the diversity Revitalising the Town Centre Development of the economy Supporting provision for training and skills Improved workforce and development and role of University; business productivity retention of graduates; incubator business Increased employment space and economic activity Accessibility: reducing the need to travel, Improve movement and traffic management, improved efficiency of accessibility of goods and public transport people Increasing accessibility of deprived areas across the conurbation Twin Sails bridge and associated infrastructure Improved bus station, train station and pedestrian environment in town centre Target Areas: Hamworthy Employment provision in Lower West and Alderney Hamworthy, continued support for the role 1 Introduction 12 LAA LAA Outcome Main Areas of Support in Core Poole Theme Strategy Core
Strategy of the Port, and improved accessibility between Hamworthy and the rest of Poole Strategic employment provision at Submission Mannings Heath, together with improved public transport along Prime Transport Corridors Document Multi-Area Agreement for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole
1.11 The Local Strategic Partnerships for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole have bid successfully to work together in the production of a Multi-Area Agreement (MAA), which effectively is a joint Local Area Agreement. The MAA will set out the action plan for the constituent Sustainable Community Strategies, and will place a key focus upon economic development across the sub-region. The MAA is intended to be a delivery plan for the sub-regional economic development strategy, Raising the Game. Over time the MAA will assist in delivering some of the aspirations of the Core Strategy and vice versa.
Poole's Corporate Strategy
1.12 Poole's Corporate Strategy, Striving for Excellence (2007), shares the same headline Vision as Shaping Poole's Future (the Sustainable Community Strategy). It identifies six priorities for the Council:
1. Revitalising our Town Centre; 2. Transforming our Schools for the Future; 3. Improving Housing for Local People; 4. Reducing Poole's Carbon Footprint; 5. Meeting the Needs of our Ageing Population; 6. Improving Efficiency and Effectiveness.
National and Regional Policy Framework
1.13 At the national level, the Government sets out its policy framework for how it expects regions and local areas to address key strategic issues, such as meeting housing, education and health needs, supporting economic growth, and developing strong communities. The Core Strategy needs to conform to this higher order policy framework, but need not repeat it where there is no need for a specifically local interpretation. 13 1.14 The national framework also guides regional policy, which in our case is set out in the
Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West. This has been prepared with the detailed Poole involvement of the South East Dorset Sub-region and, as with national policy, the Core Strategy does not need to duplicate the RSS but rather should provide more detailed local interpretations Core
of its strategic direction, where necessary. Strategy
1.15 Sustainable development is the core principle underpinning planning. A widely used definition was that drawn up by the World Commission on Environment and Development in Submission 1987: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. The Government's objectives for sustainable
development are set out in the revised strategy document, Securing the Future - UK Government Document Sustainable Development Strategy (DEFRA, 2005). The five guiding principles are:
living within environmental limits; ensuring a strong, healthy and just society; achieving a sustainable economy; promoting good governance; and using sound science responsibly.
1.16 In practise, this has led to a greater focus on the role of our towns and cities. Such places are able to offer a wide range of facilities relatively near to hand and so can reduce the need to travel further distances. They also offer good potential for economic growth. If our towns and cities are to meet the challenges of the 21st Century, they will have to be attractive places which allow people to gain easy access to well-paid jobs, good schools, healthcare, affordable and good quality housing, culture and leisure facilities and efficient public transport. The draft Regional Spatial Strategy identifies Poole as being amongst the South West's Strategically Significant Cities or Towns. It is also part of the South East Dorset Conurbation.
1.17 Poole is one of a select group of growth points, a key purpose of which is to promote quicker delivery of new homes in sustainable locations. The town thus has an important part to play in meeting wider regional and national aspirations for economic growth and housing provision. It is also part of a larger conurbation and so its future is intertwined with that of the South East Dorset sub-region. In summary, the draft RSS (which will subject to proposed modifications by the Secretary of State, having regard to the EiP Panel Report) notes that:
regeneration and continued investment in the main urban centres of Bournemouth and Poole is a priority; Poole has good potential for economic growth; authorities across the conurbation will need to work jointly on various matters of common interest; Poole will deliver new housing, commercial, leisure and retail development at the heart of the town, including one of the South West's largest regeneration initiatives; 1 Introduction 14 Poole needs to manage growth in a sensitive way due to the presence of internationally
Poole significant habitats; Poole should provide 500 dwellings each year in order to address its housing needs and Core realise its economic potential. Strategy The Story So Far
Submission 1.18 In October 2005, the Council produced an Issues and Options paper for the purposes of seeking views on the key challenges facing Poole over the next 20 years, and to consider possible ways of addressing these. Following public consultation, a Preferred Options Document
Document was published in April 2006. It was considered, however, that the evidence base was not sufficiently advanced at that time to carry this plan forward in the form presented and so the decision was taken to revisit the referred Options stage in April 2007.
Picture 1.3 Poole Core Strategy Preferred Options
1.19 This set out two broad options for Poole:
Strategy Direction 1 (The Preferred Approach): The Central Area as a driver for economic and retail growth. This option is the most ambitious in terms of providing new employment, shopping and leisure uses in the centre of Poole. The Regeneration Area would see significant new modern business floorspace as well as new housing development, while the Town Centre would be the focus for a major increase in its retail and leisure function.
Strategy Direction 2: Housing-led regeneration. This option would see more modest new shopping and leisure growth in the central part of Poole. The Twin Sails Regeneration Area would be expected to deliver new public water frontage, cafe and restaurant uses on quaysides, public spaces and community facilities, but housing would be the key driver for 15 regeneration, with far less employment space, than option 1. Outside of the town centre,
Poole's local centres and retail parks would play an important role in meeting shopping Poole needs. Core
1.20 The Council set out its consultation commitments in the Statement of Community Strategy Involvement (SCI) for all of the development plan documents in the Local Development
Framework, including the Core Strategy. The principal elements of the consultation undertaken Submission included:
notification of all people, organisations and bodies who had indicated through the SCI a desire to be involved in the Core Strategy, via the preferred means of contact (by letter or Document email, for example); notification of those who had made some form of representation to the Issues and Options stage of the Core Strategy; a public notice in local newspapers; a travelling roadshow to various parts of the Borough, which consulted people on both the Core Strategy and the Sustainable Communities Strategy; an electronic consultation system which allowed people to view the Core Strategy and make and view responses directly on-line; hard copies of the document and representations forms at all local libraries and the Civic Centre.
Consultation Findings
1.21 Formal consultation on the Preferred Options took place between 11 April and 23 May 2007. In total 342 representations were received. Some of the key messages arising from the consultation were:
The Council's preference for Strategy Direction 1 was supported because of its more ambitious proposals for mixed development in the Central Area, including residential, business and retail development
Some support was also expressed for Strategy Direction 2, principally due to a desire to see a step-change in housing provision
Although the aspirations for the Town Centre are generally welcomed, there was some support also for more flexibility in relation to bulky goods retail in the retail parks. Some of the retailers with an interest in promoting the Town Centre also considered that the upper level of retail growth envisaged (45,000 square metres) might need to be revised downwards
Whilst there was some support for retaining the Green Belt, concern has been expressed by the business community about the lack of readily available employment land and there was a request that some land in the Green Belt should be released for this purpose 1 Introduction 16 Housing is a concern for people in terms of affordability. Meeting the needs of an ageing
Poole population will also require specialist housing
Core Local distinctiveness is an important issue for people, and concerns have been expressed
Strategy about the impact of new development upon character and amenity, as well as a general support for the important role of local centres. Submission Sustainability Appraisal
1.22 The Core Strategy must be the subject of a sustainability appraisal. This assesses the Document social, economic and environmental implications of the document, and includes the requirements of Strategic Environmental Assessment as well as a Health Impact Assessment and Equalities Impact Assessment.
1.23 A sustainability appraisal was carried out for the previous stages of the Core Strategy. The assessment of the Preferred Options stage revealed that:
Poole is in close proximity to highly sensitive habitats and the heathlands and harbour in particular will continue to require highly sensitive management;
flood risk associated with predicted sea level rises is a significant issue for a coastal town and so commitment to minimising the risk and incorporating appropriate defence measures and adaptation will be crucial;
with limited opportunity for bringing forward greenfield sites, development will continue to occur in the urban area and so it is essential that sensitive design, delivering better places and the provision of supporting infrastructure, keeps up with the additional demands which development brings;
the focus upon accommodating development within the urban area will have implications for prime transport corridors. Risks include increased congestion, community severance and poorer air quality. At a strategic level, however, this is more sustainable than greenfield expansion and so a key challenge will be to reduce the need to travel by car, increase the share of trips by public transport, walking and cycling, and manage traffic congestion through a variety of tools;
sustainable energy and resource use, social infrastructure and a high quality urban environment will be essential if we are to ensure that the Core Strategy delivers truly sustainable communities.
Sustainability Appraisal of the Submission Document
1.24 This has been informed by two key additional pieces of work: 17 a Habitats Regulation Assessment of the submission document, the purpose of which is
to assess the impact of the strategy upon internationally designated habitats (Dorset Poole Heathlands and Poole Harbour); and a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment. Core Strategy 1.25 The policies in the Core Strategy respond to these assessments. It sets out a framework for development in Poole which: Submission seeks to avoid direct or cumulative impacts upon internationally protected habitats; and,
is capable of adapting to, and providing the necessary mitigation measures to minimise Document the risk of, flooding associated with predicted future sea level rises.
1.26 The Sustainability Appraisal has identified a number of other issues which will need to be addressed in the Core Strategy/ LDF. The issues, together with the responses to these, are summarised in the green tables at the end of Chapters 4, 5 and 7, and at the end of each section in Chapter 6 (The Detailed Strategy). 1 Introduction 18 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 19 2 Characteristics of the Area Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 2.1 Sandbanks
2.1 Poole is an important town in its own right as well as being one of the two principal centres within the South East Dorset Conurbation, which has a population approaching 500,000. This allows residents to gain access to a much greater range of services and jobs than otherwise might be expected for a town of Poole’s size. Being at the south-eastern extreme of the region, the conurbation is well-placed on the central south coast to develop links with both the South West and South East.
2.2 Poole benefits greatly from its coastal location and setting on the shores of one of the world’s largest natural harbours. The surrounding environment too is a key asset, with the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, the New Forest, and the Purbeck Hills all within half an hour’s travel from Poole. These undoubtedly are great attractions, but the town offers much more besides. It is rich in history and is a working town and sea port, with a successful and diverse local economy.
2.3 In the post-war years Poole has experienced considerable change and was one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the country. By the mid-1980s, however, opportunities for continued outward expansion of the town started to come to an end. The designation of a Green Belt, a housing and economic recession, and the growing recognition of the environmental value of heathland, resulted in a slowing-down of house building rates to about half those experienced in the peak years. An upturn in the economy and housing market in the mid-1990s, combined with the restraints upon outward expansion of the town, have resulted in higher growth rates within the town. 2 Characteristics of the Area 20 2.4 Poole Borough covers an area of just over 6,400 hectares (about 25 square miles) and
Poole enjoys an environment of remarkable richness and diversity. The Harbour is of ecological, recreational and commercial importance, a balance which, in many ways, characterises the Core town. It also contains some of the country’s finest beaches. In the town itself, the Old Town and
Strategy Quay Conservation Areas form the historic core of Poole and contain many listed buildings which are associated with its maritime history and trading links. There are also a number of other conservation areas which reflect the town's varied character. Submission A Precious Environment
Document 2.5 Poole Harbour and areas of lowland heathland are internationally significant habitats, with Canford Heath providing the Borough's largest single fragment of Dorset heathland. The heathland in particular is sensitive to human activity and new housing development can lead to cumulative impacts upon these valuable habitats. There is a legal duty to protect the harbour and heathlands, which are the subject of European habitat designations, and so it will need to be demonstrated that future development in Poole can take place without causing harm.
Picture 2.2 Holes Bay
A Distinctive Town
2.6 The relationship of the historic Quay and Old Town to the harbour, and assets such as a working port in close proximity to these areas retains a close association with the town's heritage and function. Other parts of the town have entirely different characteristics. Poole's development over time, together with its varied physical characteristics, have lead to a myriad of urban forms, including 18th Century mansions, traditional Victorian and Edwardian housing areas in dense urban settings, and state-of-the-art contemporary housing designs which enjoy property values among the highest in the world. Through its character assessment work, the Council has identified 15 broad character areas within the Borough, and, within these, there will be a finer grain of specific characteristics. Hence, the town as a whole is distinctive but is also composed of smaller distinctive areas. 21 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 2.3 Old Town Conservation Area
A Working Town
2.7 Poole is a working town. It has a major port, some internationally renowned businesses, and a diverse economic base made up of manufacturing, engineering and service industries. This has helped Poole to maintain a consistently low level of unemployment. However, there are some key challenges ahead. Poole has a higher proportion of jobs in manufacturing industries (currently at 16.5% of its workforce), compared with regional and national averages and, in line with national trends, manufacturing continues to decline. Despite this, demand for employment land remains strong. There are also concerns that Poole loses many young graduates to other places, overall skills levels are lower than the national average, and much of the workforce is nearing retirement age.
Picture 2.4 Poole Port
2.8 Engineering, bio-technologies, creative industries, environmental technologies, food and drink, information and communication technologies, marine-related manufacturing and leisure, and tourism are identified as priority sectors in the Regional Economic Strategy. A number of these are well-represented in Poole. It is also the case that much of the growth taking place in Poole emanates from existing companies exhibiting strong loyalty to the town. These factors are to Poole's advantage but regional forecasting suggests there could be a mismatch between 2 Characteristics of the Area 22 jobs and housing (a shortfall of the latter) in the wider sub-region. The draft Regional Spatial
Poole Strategy is anticipating a 30% growth in jobs in the Poole area over the next 20 years. It will be important, therefore, to pursue a strategy of 'smart growth', in which higher productivity and Core skills, combined with bringing existing people back into the workplace, can help to maximise
Strategy growth within the context of a constrained housing market.
Demographic Profile Submission 2.9 Poole has a population of nearly 140,000. Over 20% of this is aged over 65, compared with 18.6% in the South West as a whole and 15.9% in England (Office for National Statistics).
Document This shows that Poole's demographic profile is older than comparative averages, and the proportion of older residents is forecast to rise further. When looking at older age groups, this issue is even more pronounced. Indeed, the current percentage of residents over 85 years old in Poole is the same as that predicted for England and Wales by 2027 (A Time of Our Lives - Poole's Older People's Strategy 2008-2013).
2.10 Not surprisingly, different parts of the Borough exhibit different age profiles. Those parts with the highest concentrations of elderly residents include Canford Cliffs, Poole Town and Parkstone. Those with much younger populations tend to be areas containing more recent development in the form of houses - often suburban in character - primarily Creekmoor, Bearwood and Canford Heath, as well as older Victorian, Edwardian and Inter-war houses in Upper Parkstone, Alderney, Bourne Valley and Branksome. This will have a bearing upon a variety of issues, such as the type of housing which needs to be provided, accessibility to services and facilities, and recreation provision.
Culture and the Role of the Town Centre
2.11 Poole’s arts centre, the Lighthouse, has extensive facilities and offers a wide ranging programme, including national theatre and dance events as well as more experimental fringe performances. Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra is based at the Lighthouse. The Study Gallery is a recent addition to Poole's cultural landscape, containing exhibition space, educational facilities, and offering events to promote arts development in the town.
2.12 Poole's historic quarter is home to Poole Museum, which houses a series of galleries based on themes such as the development of the port and town and beginnings of the Harbour. It contains the Iron Age Poole Longboat which was discovered off Brownsea Island in 1964. Adjacent to the museum is the medieval Scaplen's Court town house.
2.13 The town’s Speedway team, Poole Pirates, has enjoyed great success and became World Champions in 2003. In the last few years a strong independent restaurant scene has developed along the Quay and at Ashley Cross and Canford Cliffs. This contribution to the town’s life is celebrated through food festivals and street markets which are growing in popularity. 23 Poole Core Strategy Picture 2.5 Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
2.14 Poole Town Centre has its own unique attributes and its proximity to the harbour and Submission historic Old Town and Quay add to its attractiveness. The retail offer competes well within the region but the size of stores in the shopping centre does not meet modern requirements and
the ranking of the centre is falling. Major roads and the railway line break up the spaces. The Document Town Centre has great potential to become a more attractive and dynamic cultural heart for the town. 2 Characteristics of the Area 24 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 25 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges Poole
A New Direction: Making Better Use of Urban Land Core Strategy 3.1 Poole’s opportunities for lateral expansion are tightly constrained by the sea and environmental designations. With the exception of the last phase of residential development at Talbot Village, all of Poole's housing and employment opportunities will come forward on Submission previously developed (brownfield) land. Poole is fortunate also to have significant regeneration potential in the Town Centre, which will deliver new homes, jobs and retail development, together
with a second harbour crossing and other infrastructure. This will help to create a sustainable Document and prosperous future for Poole and a key challenge is to ensure that a successful mix of uses can be achieved which is fit for the future in terms of its quality and sustainable use of resources.
A Town Embracing Change
3.2 Poole's Growth Point status has arisen principally as a consequence of the regeneration opportunities which exist in the centre of Poole and much of the land which had remained derelict and vacant for years is now starting to be developed and will provide much needed new homes, shops, jobs and public spaces. This has been helped by a Green Belt which prevents the town from expanding outwards onto greenfield sites.
3.3 It is vital that development in Poole delivers the right mix of jobs, homes and facilities. Housing without jobs could lead to an imbalance locally. Equally, job growth which is not matched by housing provision will fuel inward commuting and exacerbate the ratio of house prices to incomes. People will need the right facilities in the right places too, and it is important that residents are able to access their everyday needs conveniently.
3.4 Poole's future success depends upon development which creates better places and is responsive to the needs of local people. All development changes Poole in some way. It is critical, therefore, that this change respects and contributes positively to the distinctive local aspects of the town's character. Responsible development also needs to add positively to the community, for instance by improving parks or investing in schools where additional pressure is to be placed on these.
A Town within a Sub-region
3.5 The South East Dorset conurbation, with a population of about 450,000, is the second largest urban area in the South West Region. Whilst there are clear functional links across the conurbation, it is also the case that the component settlements of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch have their own distinctive characteristics. Poole and Bournemouth are the two principal centres of the conurbation, offering a diverse range of functions, including department stores, cultural facilities and good public transport links. 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 26 3.6 Both of these centres have scope to bring forward new development and to increase the
Poole range, amount and quality of shopping and other activities on offer. Whilst there is a degree of competition between the centres in terms of retail trade, both have an opportunity to capture Core a greater share of 'leaked' trade. Bournemouth will serve the eastern end of the conurbation
Strategy and so it is unlikely that Poole's development will deflect this trade, due largely to the friction of travel through the conurbation and the fact that Bournemouth will retain its role as the primary centre in terms of floorspace and rentals. Bournemouth currently suffers a degree of competition Submission from Southampton and the out-of-centre Castle Point retail development, both of which are to the east of the town centre, and new investment in Bournemouth's centre will help to claw back some of this trade. Poole, on the other hand, is well-placed to serve the western and northern
Document hinterlands and is also faced with competition from retail parks in the town. Work commissioned for the Town Centre North Area Action Plan indicates that the town centre has potential to provide an additional 35,000 square metres of retail and leisure floorspace, assuming restrained growth of the out-of-centre retail offer. The towns themselves are each able to offer different experiences for visitors, with Poole providing a gateway to the historic quarters of the Old Town, Poole Quay and the harbour, and the cultural offer of the Lighthouse (arts centre), while Bournemouth has more of a holiday resort feel due to its proximity to the town's beaches.
3.7 Joint working across the conurbation and wider sub-region is important to ensure that shared priorities can be delivered. Bournemouth's employment structure is heavily dominated by service industries, largely as a result of tourism, retail and office jobs. It has very little in the way of manufacturing industry or 'traditional' industrial estates. Poole, on the other hand, offers almost 300 hectares of land in employment areas, and this is a resource for the entire sub-region. Consequently, demand remains high. Bournemouth University and the Arts Institute, both actually located in Poole, are key assets for the sub-region and have a vital role in enabling a growth in skilled employment sectors. Bournemouth Airport (in Christchurch Borough) is the sub-regional airport and also provides employment development opportunities. Cross-conurbation working via the Local Transport Plan is needed to ensure that the transport infrastructure is in place to serve this site. Poole Harbour is an environmental attraction of international significance, and hotels in the conurbation have many knock-on tourism benefits for the whole of Dorset. These are a few examples of how each area benefits the wider sub-region. It is important that Poole focuses on its distinctiveness and commercial advantages, but there will also be a need to ensure development at the airport is controlled so that it does not decant or deflect investment away from the main towns. There are other challenges which must also be faced, such as the need to ensure adequate mitigation is provided to avoid new development causing harm to international habitat designations, most notably the Dorset Heathlands Special Protection Areas, including Canford Heath.
Housing Needs
3.8 Finding a place to live which is affordable is a key challenge for many residents in Poole. In terms of mortgage availability, the Borough is already among the top 10% of least affordable places to live and this difficulty is made more challenging by the fact that the entire Housing Market Area suffers similar problems. Our population is also older than average and projections 27 show this situation becoming more pronounced over the Plan period. This raises issues about housing requirements, health needs and the loss of experienced people from the local economy Poole as a result of retirement. Core 3.9 A further challenge is in securing the right mix of dwellings in terms of type and tenure. Strategy As part of the Housing Market Assessment, a Dorset-wide Housing Needs Survey has been undertaken, and this confirms that need remains strong for 1 and 2-bedroom units, and that there is also need for larger 3, 4 and 5-bedroom dwellings. Over 70% of the housing requirement Submission for the South East Dorset SSCT will be built on brownfield sites within Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Accommodation provided by new development differs from Poole’s traditional housing
stock in terms of form and use (with a predominance of flats) and there is concern about how Document this will meet the needs of young families, as well as its impact upon the town's character. The Council carried out a survey of occupants in new-builds in Poole (New Builds Evaluation Project Report, Borough of Poole Corporate Research Team - February 2008). This has revealed that, for dwellings built between 1 April 2004 and 31 March 2007, only 36% of residents live in houses, with 64% of residents living in one or two bedroom properties. Meeting family housing needs will depend upon a combination of urban extensions within the wider Housing Market Area (none of which are in Poole due to environmental constraints), building new family homes where sites are suitable, retention of existing family housing, and the targeting of new affordable housing provision, which tends to favour family occupancy due to needs prioritisation.
3.10 There is a perception that second homes are a key pressure on Poole's housing market. Whilst this may be a localised issue in certain parts of the Borough, the evidence is that, overall, it is a relatively modest component of the housing market. Council Tax registrations indicate that 6.3% of the new build properties are second homes, with particular concentrations in Canford Cliffs, Poole Town and Parkstone Wards. The usual residences of over half of these second homeowners are London (15%), Surrey (12%) or Dorset (27% - over a third of whom have their primary residence within Poole). Poole New Builds Evaluation Project Report (February 2008) found that 77% of the new builds surveyed had moved to their property from within the BH postcode area, and 53% from within Poole. Household size tends to be small, with 71% of the properties having only one or two residents.
3.11 Making efficient use of urban land is crucial, particularly in the Town Centre and the most accessible parts of prime transport corridors (usually local centres with high frequency bus routes and train stations). It will also be important to increase the delivery of new affordable homes through a variety of innovative approaches. 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 28 Location of New Dwellings in Poole (1/4/04-21/2/07)1 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
1. Source: Poole New Builds Evaluation, 2007 (© Crown Copyright. All rights reserved 10024248. 2007)
3.12 The draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West indicates that Poole will need to provide between 450 and 500 dwellings per annum between 2006 and 2026 to complement the Borough’s economic role locally, in the region and beyond, and to meet the needs of a growing population. Our own detailed technical work has shown that the number of dwellings on Poole's large allocated sites in the Town Centre is likely to exceed earlier expectations by a significant margin. For this reason, the Council is confident that we will be able to achieve the upper end of this range.. 29 3.13 The Housing Market Assessment (HMA) being undertaken for the Poole and Bournemouth housing market area illustrates that household composition of much of the dwelling stock within Poole the inner or older areas of Poole is characterised by a higher proportion of smaller households housing single people, lone pensioners and lone parents, and more married, co-habiting and Core
pensioner couple households at the periphery of the Borough. Poole needs to look to the future Strategy in terms of providing housing for its communities, and the Council’s preferred approach is to ensure that housing development responds to the needs of the Borough’s citizens, and provides a mix of well-designed flats and houses of one to four bedrooms. Submission
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Document 3.14 Local authorities have a duty to consider the needs of Gypsies and Travellers. In Poole, the priorities will be to refurbish an existing 'fixed' site to meet the needs of Gypsies currently living in conventional housing, and to work with Bournemouth to ensure there are suitable transit faclities for Gypsies and travellers wishing to stop for a short period.
An Ageing Population
3.15 Poole’s population is expected to rise steadily over the next 25 years with the proportion of older people growing at a much faster rate than that of younger people, resulting in an aging population in the town. This is anticipated to have significant implications in terms of the number of people needing care. (1) At the same time, nursing homes have been under pressure from the need to meet much higher standards, with the consequence that older and smaller homes are unable to address the requirements. This, combined with high residential land values, has resulted in a net loss of bed spaces in Poole. A key challenge for Poole will thus be to maximise opportunities for independent living and appropriate care for elderly residents, in terms of housing needs, health care and access to facilities and services.
A Changing Economy
3.16 Total employment in Poole is expected to rise by 13,700 jobs over the next 20 years(2).The Regional Economic Strategy (RES) also identifies the Bournemouth/Poole conurbation as having the potential for a far more significant role in the economic growth of the region.(3)It should be noted, however, that this includes part-time jobs across a range of different sectors.
3.17 In common with the national trend, Poole has experienced a decline in manufacturing, in terms of the proportion of employment in the economy overall, reflecting a move towards more competitive, leaner production. However, despite this shift, Poole retains a significant and
1 Poole Older People's Strategy (2008) 2 Employment Land Provision and the RSS - SWRA/Roger Tym & Partners (2008). 3 Regional Economic Strategy 2006-2015: p.9. 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 30 important concentration of high technology manufacturing. A recent study, produced on behalf
Poole of SWRDA, suggests that this sector will remain strong because of its close association with the regionally and locally important marine and aviation sectors.(4) Core Employment Land Strategy
3.18 Currently there is about 18.74 hectares of available employment land in Poole. (5) The
Submission most recent assessment of need suggests that a total of 39.5 hectares of land will be required over the Plan period. (6) Delivering the jobs will come from a variety of sources, including the revitalisation of the Town Centre and new investment opportunities within Poole's 300 or so hectares of land within existing employment areas. This should provide a flexible mix of sites Document and locations to serve a wide range of business needs.
The Port
3.19 The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Economic Strategy 2005-2016, comments on the importance of infrastructure improvements at the Port as part of a strategically important package of ‘corridor improvements’ linking the port, the conurbation, Bournemouth Airport and the A31. Work to widen the shipping channel in Poole Harbour, considered essential to secure the long-term sustainability of the port, was completed in April 2006. The provision of a second opening bridge, estimated for completion in early 2010, will significantly improve access to the port area for cross-channel ferry traffic. In addition, the port is served by a rail link from the main Waterloo to Weymouth line.
3.20 Sites with water frontage are a finite resource. Safeguarding the provision of facilities for the handling and distribution of aggregates and improving the existing rail link to secure opportunities for the development of rail freight facilities, thereby providing a sustainable alternative for the movement of freight, will be important objectives.
Priority Sectors and 'Smart' Growth
3.21 A key challenge for Poole will be to manage its economy over the Plan period to support strong and emerging economic sectors which can add value to the local and regional economies. To remain competitive, Poole's economy will also have to pursue smart growth, from increased productivity, higher skills and salaries, a focus on knowledge-based, less land-hungry business sectors and more efficient working practises. It is important to bear in mind that smart growth is an evolutionary process which forms a natural part of improved business competitiveness.
3.22 Whilst there may be scope to improve skill levels, productivity and incomes, low levels of unemployment will serve to necessitate a growing workforce to meet regional job growth forecasts. The RES has identified an important role for Higher and Further Education Institutions
4 DTZ Consulting & Research (2007). The Demand and Supply of Employment Land, Sites and Premises in South West England - Technical Appendix 2: SSCT Profiles – p.39. 5 Poole Employment Land Review (Borough of Poole, 2008) 6 Employment Land Forecasting for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole, Dorset Authorities/GVA Grimley (2008) 31 in relation to encouraging innovation and technology transfer to develop knowledge based businesses. The ‘high value’ creative industries sector offers potential in Poole to add to the Poole diversity of the economy, due to a combination of the strengths of the higher education sector in Poole, including Bournemouth University (whose specialisms include media studies) and the Core
Arts Institute, and the development opportunities in the Town Centre (and subsequent potential Strategy to consider the role of the lower High Street).
3.23 Research referenced in the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Economic Development Submission Strategy 2005-2016, has identified a trend in the net outward migration of young people in the 15-24 age group, particularly those with graduate skills.(7) This situation may be a particular
cause for concern if the sub-regional objective of increasing the proportion of jobs in the Document knowledge-based economy is to be achieved. Bournemouth University can help by improving the range and quality of its courses, developing links with business, and meeting the accommodation needs of its students. Development in the Town Centre can also assist with some of these objectives.
Reducing the Need to Travel
3.24 Congestion and unreliable journey times can prejudice economic success and development, as well as harm the environment and air quality. Poole has experienced some of the fastest rates of congestion increase in south east Dorset, with a 20% decrease in peak speeds, and a 16% decrease in off-peak speeds since 1993.(8) Recent opinion surveys in Poole reveal that local people indicate considerable levels of concern over the levels of local traffic and increasing levels of congestion.(9) Poole's challenge in the future is to manage economic and population growth in order to deliver economic and social wellbeing without congestion.(10)
3.25 As a means of minimising congestion and its many harmful impacts the transport strategy for South East Dorset, Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 (LTP2), which provides the transport policy framework for the local authorities within the sub-region, expresses a firm commitment to managing the transport network and locating development so as to reduce the overall need to travel within the conurbation and reduce the proportion of journeys made by single occupancy cars.(11) Schemes in Poole which generate a high number of trips, such as large offices or major shopping centres, therefore need to be located in places that are easy to get to for a large number of people by means other than the car.
7 Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Economic Development Strategy 2005-2016: p.10. 8 South East Dorset Local Transport Plan 2006-2011, p.38, para. 3.8. 9 Dorset Citizens Panel survey, 2004. 10 Opinion expressed in the consultation responses to the Core Strategy Issues and Options stage, 2004/5. 11 South East Dorset Local Transport Plan 2006-2011, p.20. 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 32 Prime Transport Corridors Poole 3.26 LTP2 identifies Prime Transport Corridors as the main arteries where accessibility is
Core highest. They include major roads, high frequency bus routes, and rail connections. More specifically, delivering the Twin Sails lifting bridge will have a key part to play in bringing about Strategy social and economic regeneration in the Town Centre. In all Prime Transport Corridors it will be important to promote public transport, walking and cycling, reduce community severance at
Submission key locations such as local centres, minimise air pollution and its impact. A package of measures will be required to deliver this, including cross-conurbation parking strategies, demand management, the use of travel plans and improved alternatives to the car. Document 3.27 Poole's external road connections are also important in terms of the performance of the local economy. The Council is keen to see improved links to the A31 Trunk Road, as well as better connections north to Bristol.
Climate Change
Global Warming and Climate Change
3.28 Poole is a Growth Point and will play a critical part in meeting economic and housing needs for many people. This places a big responsibility on Poole to protect the town as much as possible from severe climate change events, and to make sure new development is doing its best to minimise its contribution to global warming. In Poole we have a particular concern about global warming because this is a coastal town and one of the predicted consequences of global warming is a rise in sea levels.
3.29 The EiP Panel Report for the Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West recommends that greenhouse gas emissions should be reduced by 30% by 2026 (compared to 1990 levels)
and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions cut by 60% by 2050, through a combination of more sustainable building practises and on-site renewable energy generation. This stems from Government's aspirations to move towards zero-carbon development (i.e. neutral in terms of
their CO2 emissions). It has set out a programme for increasing the standards for new housing in relation to the Code for Sustainable Homes:
Proposed carbon improvements over time1
Date 2010 2013 2016 Carbon improvement as compared to Part L 25% 44% zero carbon (Building Regulations 2006) Equivalent energy/carbon standard in the Code level 3 Code level 4 Code level 6 Code
1. Source: Building a Greener Future: Policy Statement (July 2007) 33 3.30 Poole is expected to deliver up to 70% of its new homes, as well as a significant increase in commercial development within the Town Centre, in the first half of the Plan period. Poole Consequently, our carbon footprint could be compromised by the front-loading of development in the earlier part of the Plan period if our target fails to reflect local circumstances by seeking Core
to capture appropriate carbon reductions from the early phases of development. Strategy
3.31 The construction industry thus has an important part to play in dealing with climate change.
Whilst recent changes to the Building Regulations have ensured sustainable construction Submission techniques are more widely used in new development these offer only minimum standards of design. More examples of best practise in energy efficiency and building design are being
produced nationally and environmental accreditation schemes such as BRE’s Environmental Document Assessment Method (BREEAM) and the Code for Sustainable Homes will play an increasing role in new development.
3.32 Such approaches are useful because they promote a comprehensive approach in which a mix of energy efficiency and renewable energy sources can combine to reduce carbon emissions, depending upon the circumstances of the development. With regard to renewable energy, some technologies have greater potential in an urban area like Poole than others. A good example of such a technology is combined heat and power (CHP). This is a simple concept in which heat liberated from electricity generation is recycled rather than being lost to the atmosphere. It is important, however, to allow for emerging technologies and innovative solutions which, over time, are likely to become more widely available. The Local Authority could consider exploring the potential on its land holdings to deliver some form of renewable energy generation where opportunities arise. It can also help to provide greater certainty for innovative energy solutions in such circumstances, for instance through the use of Forward Procurement Commitment. (12)
Flood Risk
3.33 Flood risk in Poole has been predicted and mapped through Strategic Flood Risk Assessments, Levels 1 and 2 (February 2008). This contains information about the measures needed to protect Poole from flood events, ranging from 1 in 20 year events to 1 in 1,000 year events, and takes account of predicted rises in sea level in the years 2086 and 2126.
3.34 It is relevant to note that Poole is important in meeting national and regional policy objectives in terms of housing and economic growth, and is recognised as a Growth Point. Furthermore, development will have to take place within the urban area due to internationally significant environmental designations in and around Poole. This context has informed the sequential assessment which needed to consider if there were alternative locations for development to those proposed in areas at risk of coastal flooding (principally the Town Centre sites). The conclusion was that it would not be possible to find alternative sites of sufficient scale
12 Forward Procurement Commitment involves setting out a particular outcome, such as certain renewable energy objectives, in a way which allows the market to find an innovative solution and, in the process reduces the risk to the service provider in that there is a known 'market' for the product. 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 34 or suitability to accommodate the level of development needed. In accordance with Planning
Poole Policy Statement 25, an exceptions test was carried out which has demonstrated that the Town Centre offers the most sustainable location for housing growth in Poole, on condition that Core appropriate flood adaptation and mitigation measures are put in place in accordance with the
Strategy SFRA. This conclusion is corroborated by the Sustainability Appraisal of Poole Core Strategy.
3.35 An additional factor of significance is that the large waterfront sites present a unique
Submission opportunity to provide comprehensively the necessary flood defences to serve the development, which in turn will protect existing properties at risk. Consequently, development in this area can be seen to offer a positive response to the flood risk beyond the individual sites in question. Document 3.36 It is clear from this that additional flood defences will be needed to protect the most vulnerable parts of Poole, including the area of most planned change - the Regeneration Area. Specific modelling has been carried out (13), the findings of which inform the town's Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2. It will therefore be a prerequisite that developers refer to this and the current Flood Zone Maps when preparing and considering proposals and that the necessary measures are incorporated in individual Flood Risk Assessments. Indirect impacts of climate change on land use and land management may increase future flood risk. Adaptation to, and mitigation against, climate change requires an integrated approach across different sectors including land use, water resources, transport, biodiversity and recreation. This integrated approach should be reflected in flood risk assessments to be assessed with any development proposals.
Internationally Protected Habitats
3.37 Under the EC Birds and Habitats Directive Poole Harbour and the Dorset Heaths are afforded protection, placing responsibility on the decision maker to ensure the integrity of the site is maintained. This responsibility extends to plan making as well as the determination of planning applications. The Regional Spatial Strategy aims to concentrate most development within significant urban areas like Poole and Bournemouth, and the opportunities for outward expansion are limited due to the sensitive habitats around us. Even so, there is still a risk that cumulative impacts of residential development within the urban area could lead to more pressures upon protected habitats, particularly so in respect of the Dorset Heaths. Much of the development in Poole is to take place in the Town Centre, which is near to Poole Harbour (which contains both Ramsar and SPA sites) and so it is imperative that this development does not adversely affect the integrity of these habitats.
3.38 The Core Strategy has been the subject of a Habitats Regulation Assessment (HRA), which has identified those parts of the strategy which require Appropriate Assessment, tested these accordingly, and identified the measures needed to ensure the sites are not harmed. The HRA Final Check has identified a few additional amendments, which have subsequently been taken on board in the Core Strategy. The final check concludes with the advice that, if all its
13 Flood Modelling to Support SFRA Level 2 (HR Wallingford, January 2008) 35 recommendations are undertaken and adequately implemented, '...it can be ascertained that the Poole Core Strategy submission draft will not have an adverse effect upon the integrity of Poole any European site' (14). Core 3.39 Issues pertinent to the Habitats Regulations responsibilities can be found throughout the Strategy Core Strategy and, more specifically, Policies PCS 29 ‘DORSET HEATHLANDS SPA AND RAMSAR SITES’ and PCS 30 ‘POOLE HARBOUR SPA AND RAMSAR SITE’ identify key requirements designed to avoid adverse impacts upon Poole Harbour and the Heathlands. It Submission should be noted however, that this is not the end of the responsibility:
the Core Strategy provides the spatial context for other development plan documents, each Document of which will require its own Habitats Regulations Assessment where there is a risk of having an adverse impact upon the integrity of internationally protected sites - essentially a finer grain assessment;
joint working across the sub-region to produce a Heathlands Development Plan Document is underway, to replace the current Joint Interim Planning Framework (which covers a 3 year period from 1 January 2007). The DPD will tackle the cumulative impacts of residential development upon heathlands. The main mechanism, currently up and running in the sub-region via the IPF, is the collection of developer contributions from all affected local authorities for a package of measures, including warden services, heathland management, and provision of alternative open spaces;
Poole Harbour Management Plan, in partnership with all relevant stakeholders, covers a variety of activities which have an impact upon Poole Harbour, and future reviews will need to have regard to this;
planning applications which are likely to have an adverse effect in their own right (principally those sites within the Regeneration Area adjacent to Poole Harbour) will need to accord with the Core Strategy and be the subject of more detailed Habitat Regulations Assessments;
the Poole Harbour SPA European Site Management Scheme, developed as part of the Core Strategy HRA, will need to be adhered to for all proposals near to the Harbour which are at risk of having an adverse impact upon the SPA. The site management scheme is set out in the HRA; and
development for purposes likely to have an adverse impact upon the integrity of heathland sites will need to be strictly controlled in the immediate vicinity of heathlands and so the use of 400 metre 'buffers' around protected sites, applied to inappropriate uses, will remain an important impact prevention measure.
14 Core Strategy for the Borough of Poole - Habitats Regulation Assessment: Final Check of Submission Draft (21 April 2008). 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 36 Townscape and Culture Poole Area Character Core 3.40 Poole Character Assessment (2007) has identified 15 sub-areas within the Borough Strategy which have certain defining characteristics (refer to Picture 6.10 ‘Townscape Character Areas’ for map showing the sub-areas). Given the growth planned for Poole over the next 20 years,
Submission there is a real challenge (and opportunity) to deliver change in a manner which complements the highly distinctive and valued aspects of character of the town as a whole and within the sub-areas. Document Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings
3.41 There are 21 Conservation Areas and over 200 listed buildings in Poole, and these are essential parts of Poole's character. New development should preserve or enhance the character of Conservation Areas and the Local Planning Authority can assist land owners and developers in this through the preparation of further detailed policies and guidance. This will take the form of management plans, both for existing and potential future Conservation Areas, as well as detailed policies or guidance in other development plan documents or Supplementary Planning Documents, where appropriate.
Culture and Art
3.42 Poole's arts centre, the Lighthouse, is a real cultural asset. The town is also host to a variety of events on the Quay, beaches and main parks, such as street performances, interactive arts festivals, firework displays, watersports and a French street market. Revitalisation of the Town Centre will provide a great opportunity to enhance Poole's cultural focus through the provision of public spaces, performance areas, improved levels of vitality, an enhanced public realm, and works of art.
Meeting Community Needs
3.43 Reducing social exclusion is a key challenge for Poole in selected parts of the Borough as this will be a significant barrier to the development of healthy and prosperous communities. Poole's Local Area Agreement, Shaping Poole's Future, has identified particular areas in the Borough in need of a more targeted approach from public sector agencies in reducing multiple deprivation. These areas are Hamworthy East and West, Alderney, and Poole Old Town. The Core Strategy has a role to play in making sure that policies take account of these issues and try to make a positive difference to the life opportunities of residents in these areas. 37 Schools for the Future Poole 3.44 There are approximately 32,000 children and young people in Poole and for most it is a great place to grow up. Test and examination results are above the national average and Core children’s health is good. However, the story is not wholly positive. A quarter of our young people Strategy have some form of additional needs and within that group 4% are particularly vulnerable to negative life experiences. Submission 3.45 In Poole there are opportunities and challenges for addressing the future education needs of children:
the population is ageing, which has implications for future school roles; Document the Central Area will see a significant concentration of new housing development over the next 10-20 years, which will place more demands upon local schools; a range of specialist education facilities will be needed to cater for all needs of the community; and Poole's Schools for the Future is planning a review of the current school structure in order to move to a primary/secondary 2-tier system.
Health Care
3.46 The health and well-being of Poole's residents will depend upon having modern, high quality healthcare facilities and so the Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust will need to be supported in their attempts to do this. However, better health also relies upon people living healthy lives and so the Council's aspirations to improve recreation facilities will be important in giving everyone access to open space.
3.47 Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust have identified a need for the expansion of existing community rehabilitation facilities to support people with complex health and social needs, linking existing care provided by hospitals and GP services. Some of these services will have a sub-regional catchment and will help to take pressure off existing hospitals. Development in the Town Centre offers an opportunity to incorporate some of these needs but in other parts of the Borough the diversification or expansion of existing facilities will have a key role to play.
3.48 Community-based, at-home care and assistive technology, and improvements in medical care for age-related illnesses will increasingly enable older and more vulnerable people with moderate care needs to live independently in their own homes for longer. An area-based approach to healthcare and health support can also help reduce the demands placed upon hospitals and free up bed spaces for other patients(15).
15 See Building a Healthier Future for Bournemouth and Poole: A Five Year Strategic Plan 2008-2013, Bournemouth & Poole PCT 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 38 Investing in Local Centres Poole 3.49 Local centres provide shopping and community services at a neighbourhood level. There
Core are 21 'district' or local centres spread throughout the borough. Theses tend to be small often consist of not more than a parade of shops. However, Broadstone, Upper Parkstone (Ashley Strategy Road) and Ashley Cross serve broader catchments to the smaller centres. Local Centres tend to be at the heart of the communities they serve and ensure services are accessible. Very often
Submission their retail function is linked with other public and community services such as libraries, community halls and health centres as well as private services. This means that services and daily retail needs are kept local and people can link trips to these centres, using them for
Document shopping and other services in the same trip. Local centres rely very much upon people living nearby using their facilities and often will contain a mix of independent and specialist retailers. It is important, therefore, to ensure such centres continue to succeed, in turn reducing our need to travel further for everyday needs.
3.50 All of Poole's local centres have an important role to play in meeting the needs of residents and supporting sustainable communities. Local audit work(16) has identified four centres which are under-performing in terms of the range of facilities or the quality of the physical environment. Wallisdown, Creekmoor, Canford Heath, and Hamworthy will require environmental enhancements and new investment in the form of retail and, in some cases, residential development to improve their attractiveness and vitality to their respective local communities. In addition, Ashley Road, as a higher order centre, has certain issues which will need to be addressed.
Community Facilities
3.51 Community facilities can serve a range of functions from schools, doctors and dentists to places of worship and community halls. Most communities are served well, very often through the provision of basic local services within the Borough's 21 local centres and, for more strategic services, Poole town centre. The availability of services and facilities locally can help build communities and increase social inclusion. As planning authority, the Council can protect existing and viable community facilities from redevelopment to alternative uses as well as require that new facilities are secured in new development, where there is a need.
3.52 In the Town Centre, significant new housing growth is planned. However, evidence from existing service providers in the central area of Poole (health, cultural services, schools etc.) is that this net increase in population will not necessarily be sufficient to merit wholesale redevelopment or expansion of existing facilities. For example in terms of education the new child population in the Town Centre will help to off-set a pattern of declining school rolls which is likely to happen if there was no regeneration activity. In the case of health care, the Bournemouth and Poole PCT has advised the Council that future population growth can be accommodated within existing and pipeline facilities, but there will be a need to diversify the role of local health centres and provide for some specialist care needs in the Borough.
16 See Local Centres LDF Background Paper, 2007 39 Ensuring Everyone in the Community is able to Participate Poole 3.53 Our buildings, streets, pavements and homes can be barriers to people for a number of reasons. For example, people with disabilities or impaired mobility will find it hard to use buildings Core with steps or an absence of lifts, while those with restricted sight could have difficulties crossing Strategy a road if suitable tactile paving or audible pedestrian signals are absent. However, barriers can take other forms. An absence of baby changing facilities could deter parents with young children from using a particular building, while streets which are poorly lit or perceived to be unsafe will Submission put many people off from using them, particularly women or the elderly. It is important, therefore, to influence development in a way which minimises physical or perceived barriers to sections
of our community. Document
Recreation and Leisure
3.54 Poole is a town which is physically contained by a combination of internationally important habitats, Green Belt and the sea. As a consequence, the focus for new development will be the existing built-up area. This offers great opportunities to regenerate under-used or derelict land at the heart of the town, but it also means that the scope to provide large new public open spaces is limited. It will be important, therefore, to make sure existing open spaces can cater for the future needs of Poole’s residents. Most sites are too small to accommodate on-site recreation provision and so developer contributions will continue to be an essential mechanism for meeting recreation needs.
3.55 Poole has in place a Local Plan policy (adopted in 2004) which sets out the recreational needs of the Borough, based upon the Council's adopted Leisure Strategy. A review of the Leisure Strategy is due to be complete in the Summer of 2008. This will inform the Site Specific Allocations Development Plan Document (due to reach submission stage in April 2009 and adoption in February 2010) and the Infrastructure Development Plan Document (due for submission in August 2009 and adoption in November 2010). These documents will set out the detailed approach to recreation provision in Poole but, in the meantime, the current 'saved' local plan policies (covering a plan period up to 2011, in line with the current saved Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Structure Plan) will continue to determine how new development meets its recreational needs. Leisure and recreation provision has a key part to play in creating sustainable and self-reliant places, and this is recognised in PCS 27 ‘DELIVERING LOCALLY DISTINCTIVE, SELF-RELIANT PLACES’.
Delivering the Strategy
3.56 The Government has introduced provisions in the Planning Bill for the new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The overall purpose of the CIL is to ensure that development contributes fairly to the mitigation of the impact it creates and thus can be delivered in a sustainable way. Meeting infrastructure needs will also require other vehicles and joint working with a range of partners to ensure that common areas and priorities are coordinated. 3 Issues, Problems and Challenges 40 3.57 At present Borough of Poole has identified a number of different needs for which financial
Poole contributions may be sought, and the details of most of these are set out in adopted Supplementary Planning Guidance documents (these relate to: recreation facilities; affordable Core housing; heathland mitigation measures; core transport and accessibility infrastructure for the
Strategy Regeneration Area; community facilities, including education and health; and public realm, environmental enhancements and public art). There is a need to review these in the light of the proposed Community Infrastructure Levy and to provide a comprehensive, transparent and Submission clear framework for developers. Document 41 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives Poole 4.1 The Core Strategy sets out a delivery framework for Poole for the next 20 years, and the principles which are set out here will guide all other documents in the Local Development Core
Framework. It implements national and regional policy which is relevant to Poole and identifies Strategy shared priorities arising from local strategies, most notably the Sustainable Communities Strategy and associated Local Area Agreement, and Borough of Poole's corporate strategy. Through this process, the Core Strategy is an important document in helping to resolve conflicting issues. Submission In achieving this its key purpose is to explain how, where and when the Core Strategy will assist in delivering the issues and challenges which have emerged from these varied strands (i.e.
spatial planning). Document
4.2 The starting point is to set out a Vision for Poole, and it is helpful that both the Sustainable Community Strategy and Poole's Corporate Strategy share the same headline vision. If the Core Strategy is to assist in delivering these other strategies, it is sensible that it should share their headline vision.
4.3 Realising the Vision will rely upon many different stakeholders and service providers. It is important, therefore, to identify the particular role of the Local Development Framework in delivering the Vision. Nine Strategic Objectives have been identified for Poole, which provide a concise expression of the priorities for the LDF. These are set out immediately after the Vision.
4.4 The following Vision guides the rest of the Core Strategy. It sets out the seven themes which are part of the Sustainable Community Strategy Vision. It then gives a spatial interpretation of our Vision for Poole.
4
Document Submission Strategy Core Poole 42 Spatial
Vision for Poole V ision Poole is a vibrant town, with strong communities, where people enjoy healthy lifestyles, care about their environment and support each other. and 1 Promoting a Sustainable Environment - where the environment is clean and cared for and people’s lifestyles protect resources for future generations Strategic 2 Strengthening our Communities - where community spirit is high and diversity is respected
3 Investing in Poole’s Children and Young People - where young people have the best start in life and are involved in shaping the future
4 Valuing our Older People - where older people enjoy healthy and independent lives Objectives
5 Promoting Health and Well-Being - where people have choices, feel included and are offered help to enjoy good health
6 Keeping Poole Safe and Feeling Safe - where those living, working and visiting feel safe and secure
7 Developing a Dynamic Economy - a place with a robust economy where businesses thrive with homes to suit the means and hopes of all and effective transport OUR SPATIAL VISION FOR POOLE IS OF A TOWN WHERE:
1, 6, 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 3, 7 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 The Town A network of lively, Poole’s economy is Local identity and Environmental Centre is attractive urban restructured into one strong community life challenges are met transformed to centres is developed which meets the are attributes of all effectively. offer an urban as a means of challenges of the 21st parts of the Borough. experience addressing Poole’s Century. which is unique housing needs. to Poole.
This will involve The Town Centre, local Poole will gain 13,700 Strong communities are Reducing the need to creating a new centres and other new jobs in strong and those which are socially travel by car, focus for the accessible places, emerging sectors and see inclusive, tolerant and sustainable energy use, Town Centre in linked via Prime incomes rise to above respectful of all needs. and self-contained the form of a Transport Corridors, regional and national Poole will comprise communities will be public square will be the key averages. The strategy will places with which local pursued to reduce between the locations for high focus upon: business and people identify and are Poole’s carbon Dolphin Centre density housing. retail growth in the Town able to engage in a footprint, tackle fuel and Lighthouse, Development will Centre; new investment in variety of community poverty, and increase an iconic second enhance the vitality existing employment activities. 15 sub-areas business harbour crossing and public realm of areas; and a continued have been identified, competitiveness. Flood and extensive these centres and commitment to Poole Port. each with its own unique risk mitigation and public assist in promoting Skills development will be features and priorities. adaptation will be a waterfronts sustainable movement. critical to ensure local Within each area local priority in coastal areas. which make use New dwellings should people can benefit from centres will be a focus The international of Poole’s offer a variety of unit improved job opportunities. for local shops, services, significance of habitats, position on the sizes and tenure, The combination of new and public transport. notably Poole Harbour shores of Poole contribute to the supply homes, student Development should and the Dorset Harbour. New of affordable homes accommodation in the make a positive Heathlands, warrants an shops, leisure and meet Lifetime heart of the town, difference to the quality extraordinary approach
uses, business Homes Standards. better-paid jobs, training of the urban to development in the
Document Submission Strategy Core Poole 43
4
Document Submission Strategy Core Poole 44 Spatial
OUR SPATIAL VISION FOR POOLE IS OF A TOWN WHERE: V
floorspace and Existing houses will be and a high quality urban environment. Residents sub-region and joint ision housing will crucial to meeting the environment will form the in Poole’s communities working to nurture and create a dynamic needs of families. basis of a strategy for should be able to live protect these
and revitalised Providing homes for all retaining graduates. healthy lives with good, environments and avoid and Town Centre will require Sustainable growth will safe access to or mitigate impacts. with an commitments to contribute to reducing healthcare, schools, Historic or architectural enhanced specific needs, Poole's carbon footprint local centres, open assets also need to be Strategic sub-regional including care homes and avoiding harm to space and community valued accordingly. status. and Gypsy and valued habitats. facilities. Traveller sites. Objectives 45
Strategic Objective 1 Poole
TO TRANSFORM AND REVITALISE THE TOWN CENTRE OF POOLE Core Strategy The Town Centre will be the main focus for change over the Plan period, and will be expected to make a significant contribution to meeting Poole's housing needs and realising the town's economic growth potential. Over 40% of the 10,000 new homes up to 2026 Submission will be built in the Town Centre and many new jobs will be created through proposed business, retail and other commercial development. Poole will continue to be contained
within the South East Dorset Green Belt to ensure development is directed to the most Document accessible parts of the town and continues to regenerate previously used land. Protecting open spaces and the internationally important habitat of Poole Harbour will be key priorities.
Key Outcomes:
Creation of a distinctive, attractive and safe urban environment Improved vitality in the Centre in terms of activity levels and the range of attractions/age groups Better quality shops Creation of public water fronts Creation of a new public square between the Lighthouse and Dolphin Centre Relocation of bus depot Higher share of trips by public transport, cycling and walking Protection of open spaces and Poole Harbour
Indicators of Achievement Targets
Number of new homes built in Town 4,000 new dwellings on allocated sites between 2006 Centre and 2016 New business floorspace built in 36,000 sq m business floorspace by 2016 Town Centre New retail floorspace built in Town 35,000 sq m retail floorspace in Town Centre by Centre 2026 Net additional jobs created in the 7,000 jobs (4,700 full-time equivalent) Town Centre Car trips per 1,000 sq m of retail Year on year decreases of the following figure: floorspace Number of town centre car park movements by financial year / 72,520m² (total retail floorspace in Poole town centre). 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 46 Indicators of Achievement Targets Poole
Core The mix of uses achieved Proportion of office / residential / retail uses to meet
Strategy mix of uses set out in Town Centre North Area Action Plan and Core Strategy policy for the Regeneration area. Submission Resident satisfaction with Poole's Progressive improvements on following baseline centre (based on New Builds Survey figures (Feb 2008): - to be carried out every 3 years) Document New home satisfaction level: 53% very satisfied; 37% fairly satisfied
Local area satisfaction level: 43% very satisfied; 43% fairly satisfied
Engagement in arts - patronage Year on year increases in total ticket issues as levels and age profile measured by the Lighthouse. Town Centre health checks - % of Vacancy levels not to exceed 5% of all stock in Poole vacant units, number of independent town centre year on year. outlets Proportion of independent to franchised stores to remain constant or increase on year on year basis.
Source for both: Annual town centre health check.
Retail yield 5.5% by 2016 (currently 7.00%) Design quality and accessibility for Progressive improvement in design quality and levels all of accessibility for all (biennial audit in consultation/ partnership with LSP) 47
Strategic Objective 2 Poole
TO MEET POOLE'S HOUSING NEEDS AND PROVIDE THE RIGHT HOMES IN THE Core
RIGHT PLACES Strategy
Across the Borough new residential development will be expected to support the provision of affordable homes. The importance of providing the right mix of homes to serve Poole's Submission needs will require the retention of existing family dwellings and a commitment that all new homes should be adaptable to changing life circumstances. Other housing needs
specific to Poole include the retention and provision of good quality care homes and Document meeting the needs of Gypsies and Travellers. It is important that Poole meets its housing needs so that people can find a home and the economy is able to grow, and in a sustainable manner, with the highest densities in the most accessible places which are capable of accommodating them. In meeting Poole's housing needs, it is essential that development does not adversely affect the integrity of the Dorset Heathlands or Poole Harbour SPA/Ramsar sites.
Key Outcomes:
Provide affordable homes to meet needs Provide the right mix in terms of tenure, size, type of dwellings Homes in sustainable places Delivering lifetime homes Meeting the needs of Gypsies and travellers Promoting local distinctiveness Retention of family homes Meeting the needs of an ageing population Ensuring new development does not adversely affect the natural environment
Indicators of Achievement Targets
Total number of affordable homes 3,000 dwellings (2,100 by 2016) % of new dwellings achieving 100% of all new dwellings Lifetime Homes standards Number of fixed and transit Gypsy To de determined in RSS and Traveller pitches 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 48 Indicators of Achievement Targets Poole
Core Net change in care home bed 500 minimum additional bed spaces by 2025, with
Strategy spaces minimum 100 in Regeneration Area by 2016;
No net loss of care home bed spaces (annual
Submission measure)
Number of elderly patients staying 75 per annum reduction in bed blocking in hospitals
Document in hospital due to unsuitable alternative housing Mix of new dwellings Market housing: 1 bedroom: 25%; 2 bedroom - 54%; 3 bedroom - 10%; 4 bedroom - 11%
Affordable housing: 1 bedroom: 14%; 2 bedroom - 56%; 3 bedroom - 17%; 4 bedroom - 13%
Affordable housing by tenure 70% social rented; 30% intermediate 49
Strategic Objective 3 Poole
TO NURTURE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY Core Strategy Along with the Town Centre, Poole's existing employment areas will continue to be important to the town's economy through their rationalisation, modernisation and redevelopment over time. Two areas in particular - Fleets Corner and Sopers Lane - offer Submission the potential for new employment development. The Port of Poole is a valuable asset to the town, and is a major gateway to and from the Continent for Poole and the rest of the
country. Its role needs to be supported, subject to the proviso that it does not harm the Document integrity of the Poole harbour SPA and Ramsar sites.
Key Outcomes:
Provision of more jobs in strong and emerging sectors, including knowedge-based employment, in a sustainable way which protect the natural environment (particularly within the Regeneration Area) Nurture more business start-ups which are successful Retain and attract more graduates and other skilled employees Maintain Poole Port's important role and support its ability to adapt to new challenges, such as the accommodation of cruise ships Improved road links to serve the Port
Indicators of Achievement Targets
Working age population qualified 4% improvement for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole to at least level 4 or higher by Q4 of 2011 (target awaiting confirmation in MAA) (Base date: 2006 - 29.6%) Rate of economic growth (GVA) 3.2% per annum Retention of deep water 100% retention frontages within Port area for uses which require it Provision of a second harbour Construction to start by 2010 crossing 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 50 Indicators of Achievement Targets Poole
Core Amount of employment 36,000 sq m of office/other B1 development in
Strategy development delivered Regeneration Area by 2016;
35,000 sq m retail/leisure floorspace in Town Centre by
Submission 2016;
Annual average of 1.5 ha of employment land to be developed (29.74 ha over the plan period) Document
Minimum number of net 4,600 jobs in Regeneration Area by 2016 additional jobs delivered 2,400 jobs in rest of Town Centre by 2016
2,300 jobs at Fleets Corner/ Sopers Lane
2,100 jobs in existing employment areas
2,500 jobs in health, care and education 51
Strategic Objective 4 Poole
TO PROMOTE SAFE, SUSTAINABLE AND CONVENIENT ACCESS Core Strategy Key local centres and other suitable locations on main routes within the East -West (A35) Corridor are well placed to accommodate new development. This Corridor will be the most suited to high density development in the right locations. This and other prime transport Submission corridors will be the subject of measures to promote more sustainable communities in Poole through appropriate development at the most accessible and sustainable locations,
improved efficiency of public transport, the promotion of walking and cycling, managing the Document efficient movement of traffic, and minimising the adverse impacts of traffic arising from noise, safety, community severance and poor air quality.
Key Outcomes:
Reduced proportion of total trips by car More homes and facilities in accessible places Communities which are self-sufficient in terms of functions and facilities Reduced community severance / overcoming physical barriers within communities Improved health and safer places Improving air quality More reliable bus journey times
Indicators of Achievement Targets
Modal split - walking / cycling / public transport Year-on-year increase in non-car modes / car Total local bus passenger journeys 12% increase by 2011 (base year: 2004) Number of travel plans as a proportion of major 100% planning applications Hospital referrals for asthma 10% reduction by 2010 (in line with air quality) Air quality 10% reduction in pollutants by 2010 (base year: 2004) Proportion of new dwellings within most 75% of new dwellings accessible locations (criterion i (a-d) locations in PCS 6 ‘BROAD LOCATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT’ ) 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 52
Poole Strategic Objective 5
Core TO PROVIDE BETTER LIFE OPPORTUNITIES AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE
Strategy FOR ALL
The prospects of young people in Poole need to be improved through better life chances, Submission including access to good schools, healthy lifestyles (including recreation opportunities and access to fresh food), children's centres, health care, higher education facilities, skills development and job opportunities. This will be fostered by supporting the Council's Schools
Document for the Future initiative, helping the College and University to diversify, developing links with business and provide new student accommodation, and promoting high-value economic sectors. Reducing disadvantage arising from social exclusion and multiple deprivation will also need to be supported in parts of Alderney, Hamworthy and the Town Centre, and the improvement of recreation and youth facilities will assist in meeting this aim. Poole's ageing population will benefit from better, more adaptable forms of housing provision and improved access to local services and health care. The town must also be inclusive of all groups and individuals in terms of employment, education, housing opportunities, and accessibility, taking account of age, gender, and cultural or religious beliefs.
Key Outcomes:
Higher educational attainment Improved access to good quality education for all ages Improved skills in the workforce More prosperous society in terms of income levels, access to good quality housing and strong community development Reduced deprivation in the worst affected areas Better local service provision Improved public transport links
Indicators of Achievement Targets
Achievement of 5 or more A*-C grade at GCSE Target to be determined in emerging or equivalent including English and Maths MAA Working age population qualified to at least level 4% improvement for Bournemouth, 4 or higher (Base date: 2006 - 29.6%) Dorset and Poole by Q4 of 2011 (target awaiting confirmation in MAA) Residents' satisfaction with Poole & quality of Increase in proportion for each survey local services (Poole Opinion Panel and MORI surveys) 53 Indicators of Achievement Targets Poole
Recreation participation levels by age groups To be determined in Community Core
Infrastructure and Site Specific Strategy Allocations DPDs
Income levels relative to GB and SW averages Average incomes to exceed SW average Submission and match GB average by 2016 Proportion of new dwellings within most 75% of new dwellings accessible locations (criterion i (a-d) locations Document in PCS 6 ‘BROAD LOCATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT’ ) Net additional care home bed spaces provided Minimum 500 by 2025 (with minimum of 100 in Regeneration Area by 2016) 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 54
Poole Strategic Objective 6
Core TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY, DISTINCTIVE AND SELF-RELIANT PLACES Strategy Promoting sustainable communities in Poole will rely upon all of the above, and also recognition that all parts of the Borough have distinctive characteristics which need to be Submission respected. Each of these parts relies upon community focal points which serve the needs of their catchment populations. There are 15 sub-areas in Poole which have specific attributes, including characteristic building types, local features such as parks or landmark
Document buildings, and functional assets like schools or local centres. Important flora and fauna also is an intrinsic part of Poole's character, with woodlands, protected habitats, Local Nature Reserves, shorelines and other assets being worthy of protection in their own right, but contributing so much more besides in terms of local distinctiveness. Each area will have its own priorities and development will be expected to contribute positively to these. Poole also contains a number of Conservation Areas, historic parks and gardens, and locally distinctive buildings. New development should respect these assets.
All of Poole's local centres will be expected to enhance their roles as focal points for community activity. These centres perform a different and complementary role to Poole Town Centre in that they meet local needs locally, can offer a range of specialist shops and are important centres for community activity. A successful and attractive local centre can uplift a wider area around it, increasing the desirability of urban living and reducing the need to travel further afield for everyday items.
Key Outcomes:
Improved quality and range of services - diverse and active local centres Higher footfall and patronage of local shops and services Improvements in accessibility and the public realm Improved quality and range of services - diverse and active local centres 55 Indicators of Achievement Targets Poole
Local centre health check scoring (index and Rankings for all local centres not to Core
ranking of quality and range of uses) - decrease on year on year basis. Targets Strategy including proportion of vacant units (as 6). for 2016 as follows: Methodology for health check of 17 local centres is set out in Local Centres Background Hamworthy (To score overall ranking of 5 Submission Paper, 2007. or more) Canford Heath, Creekmoor and Wallisdown to improve 'Public Realm' Document ranking to A or B
Residents' satisfaction surveys (MORI & Poole Year on year improvements in satisfaction Opinion Panel) levels Environmental enhancement schemes Public water front (regeneration area): complete by 2016;
New public space between Dolphin Centre & Lighthouse: complete by 2016;
Priority Local Centres: schemes drawn up by 2010
Developer contributions - expenditure on To be determined in Infrastructure DPD improvements to public realm, accessibility and tackling community severance 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 56 Poole
Core Strategic Objective 7
Strategy TO PROTECT OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
New development will be expected to avoid or mitigate for any adverse effects upon Submission internationally protected habitats. Poole Harbour and the heathland habitats are the most significant and are sensitive to the cumulative impact of new development, principally as a consequence of the additional recreational pressures it introduces. This requires providing
Document 'buffer zones' around heathland but also a commitment to work jointly with neighbouring authorities to establish a long-term heathland mitigation strategy. Careful management of access and recreation will be critical to the protection of both the heathland and harbour habitats. Other less significant but nonetheless valuable flora and fauna in Poole will also need to be adequately protected, including sites of Special Scientific Interest, locally designated Sites of Nature Conservation Interest, protected species, visually important trees, and woodlands.
Key Outcomes:
No net adverse impact upon Natura 2000 habitats (harbour and heathland) Production of a heathlands mitigation strategy in the form of a cross-authority development plan document Improved and new green links Protection of important flora and fauna, including national/local designations, protected species and trees/woodlands covered by Tree Preservation Order
Indicators of Achievement Targets
Heathland mitigation DPD targets To be determined through Joint Heathlands DPD Quantity of green links (area/length) To be determined through Joint Heathlands DPD Improved Biodiversity in the Borough monitoring to show no net downward trend in the number or diversity of species Number of proposals in Regeneration 100% Area signed up to Poole Harbour Site Management Protocol 57
Strategic Objective 8 Poole
TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE Core Strategy The overarching principle within which the Vision for Poole sits is that the Borough's future will need to be sustainable. This will demand a reduced carbon footprint from existing and future residents, businesses, services and visitors, and key ways of addressing this in Submission Poole will be through improved energy efficiency, reducing the need to travel, sustainable construction and promoting the use of innovative low carbon energy supplies. The need to
protect Poole from the risk of coastal flooding associated with global warming will also be Document a priority in the Town Centre. Impacts upon the natural environment also need to be considered, for instance through facilitating species migration and habitat creep.
Key Outcomes:
Reduce Poole's carbon footprint Increase the supply of energy from renewable sources Ensure Poole is adequately protected against coastal flood risk Ensure Poole adapts to the unavoidable impact of climate change Assisting the ability of the natural environment to adjust to climate change
Indicators of Achievement Targets
Production of energy from renewable 20% of Poole's energy use to be supplied from sources local renewable sources by 2020 Number and % of new dwellings 5,000 of new builds between 2008-16 to reach attaining Code for Sustainable Homes Level 3 or above; standards - by level 100% of new builds post-2016 to attain Code Level 6
Attainment of complete coastal 100% of Town Centre defences to be built or defences programmed by 2016
Poole's CO2 emissions Reduce CO2 emissions by a minimum of 112,000 tons by 2011 (12% reduction on 2005 base data) Area of habitat creation (Ha) 100% of all flood alleviation measures and sustainable drainage systems which offer suitable potential for habitat creation 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 58 Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal Poole
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to overcome How the Core Strategy Core Identified in Sustainability or mitigate against impact has responded
Strategy Appraisal
Submission Parts of Poole are at risk from New development in affected areas Recommendation coastal flooding as identified should ensure flood risk is assessed incorporated into PCS 35 in the SFRA. In particular the to ensure appropriate adaptation ‘FLOOD RISK’ Regeneration Area. This could and alleviation measures can be put Document affect aspirations for housing in place. Such measures should be and economic growth if not incorporated into the development addressed. where feasible, and these need to allow for integration with similar measures on neighbouring sites to deliver comprehensive defences Residential development Inappropriate forms of residential Recommendations could lead to adverse impacts development should not take place incorporated into PCS 29 upon heathland habitats in the within 400 metres of heathlands; ‘DORSET HEATHLANDS absence of appropriate mitigation strategy needed to deal SPA AND RAMSAR measures with cumulative impacts via a Joint SITES’ Heathlands DPD Flood defences will need to be Allow for habitat creation within Recommendations sensitive to habitat creep and flood alleviation measures where incorporated into PCS 35 species migration pressures feasible (such as sustainable ‘FLOOD RISK’ caused by rising sea drainage systems) levels/climate change Access to, and development Regeneration Area proposals need Recommendations adjacent to, Poole Harbour to ensure construction and incorporated into PCS 30 SPA needs to be carefully development is managed to avoid ‘POOLE HARBOUR SPA managed to ensure that it adverse impacts; new access points AND RAMSAR SITE’ does not adversely affect the to the harbour should be avoided site's integrity where these would be likely to have an adverse impact; development may need to support impact mitigation measures Overall growth is likely to lead Noted that in strategic terms it is No amendments to additional carbon emissions more sustainable to concentrate necessary locally growth in most accessible locations 59 Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to overcome How the Core Strategy Identified in Sustainability or mitigate against impact has responded Poole Appraisal Core
Higher densities in vicinity of Overall strategy needs to minimise Recommendations Strategy Prime Transport Corridors need to travel by car and target incorporated into PCS 16 could lead to air quality areas with air quality problems. ‘ACCESS AND Submission impacts at problem locations Measures will include promoting MOVEMENT’ walking, cycling and public transport; 'softening' of roads Document through tree planting Impact upon energy and Important to promote sustainable Recommendations resources could be adversely construction principles, including incorporated: Code for affected as a consequence of recycling of demolition and Sustainable minerals extraction required construction waste; Poole Port is Homes/BREEAM to support levels of growth in important for bringing in aggregates standards (refer to PCS Poole Town Centre by ship/rail 36 ‘ENERGY AND RESOURCES STATEMENTS’); and port-related uses and port rail link protected by PCS 4 ‘POOLE PORT’ 4 Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives 60 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 61 5 A Spatial Strategy for Poole Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 5 A Spatial Strategy for Poole 62
Poole The Spatial Strategy
Core Poole will see much change over the Plan period due mainly to the opportunities which
Strategy exist for Revitalising the Town Centre. Delivering this potential will secure an increased rate of new home-building, a much improved shopping centre, new public quaysides, and substantial growth in jobs and, in turn, will help to make Poole a more sustainable, attractive Submission town which offers a better quality of life for its residents. Due to these opportunities, the town has been identified by the Government as a Growth Point and this emphasises the importance of the role that Poole plays both in South East Dorset and the wider region. Document Housing
Poole will deliver about 10,000 new homes between 2006 and 2026. Due to the presence of major opportunities in the Town Centre, the rate of delivery will be faster in the first 10 years (up to 2016), averaging at about 700 dwellings per annum during this earlier period. Flats and other higher-density residential development will take place in locations which are best served by local facilities and public transport, and where the characteristics of the site and surrounding area are suited to such development, with a minimum of 4,000 new dwellings being built in the Town Centre. The hierarchy of densities (highest first) will be:
the Town Centre; major local centres and key hubs of transport and community activity on Prime Transport Corridors; locations on the frontages of Prime Transport Corridors and other busy arteries which are within about 400 metres / 10 minutes walking distance of both a local centre and a high-frequency public transport stop; streets or parts of streets where flats predominate.
The range of housing needs in Poole will require both new dwellings and the existing stock to play key roles. Meeting the identified need for smaller households (1 and 2 bedroom units) will be assisted by the fact that the majority of new dwellings will take the form of flats, although a proportion of new builds will also provide suitable accommodation for families, in the form of larger flats and houses in appropriate cases. A benchmark of 40% affordable housing will be sought as a starting point. In established residential areas where the prevailing character is comprised of houses, the existing dwelling stock will be expected to continue meeting the identified need for larger (3+ bedroom) family homes.
Employment
The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West expects provision to be made to accommodate about 19,000 jobs in the Poole travel-to-work-area between 2006 and 2026 based upon a growth in gva of about 3.2% per annum. It is This would equate to about 63 13,700 total jobs in Poole (about 9,200 full-time equivalent (FTE) posts). To deliver this, Poole will work with neighbouring authorities to manage the supply of employment land Poole across the conurbation. Poole's share of jobs will include: Core
The Regeneration Area: a minimum net addition of 4,600 jobs (approximately 33%) Strategy mainly through the provision of up to 36,000 sq m of employment floorspace and a mix of leisure-related commercial activities Town Centre North and other Town Centre sites: a minimum net addition of 2,400 jobs Submission (approximately 17%) through the provision of around 35,000 square metres of new retail and leisure floorspace
Existing employment areas, including the Port of Poole: a minimum net addition of Document 2,100 jobs (approximately 15%) through the anticipated development of currently available sites together with other land which will come forward as a result of the rejuvenation, rationalisation and efficient re-use of older employment sites Land at Fleets Corner: a minimum net addition of 1,300 jobs (approximately 9%) through the comprehensive rationalisation of the site for new employment uses, in particular marine-related and advanced engineering sectors and incubator units, with the potential for business hotel with conference facilities Sopers Lane: a minimum net addition of 1,000 jobs (approximately 7%) through the comprehensive rationalisation of the site for strong and emerging sectors, in particular for health-related sectors Health, care and education: a minimum net addition of 2,500 jobs (approximately 18%) in hospitals, further education establishments, skills development and training facilities, care homes and health centres.
Poole will see most change taking place in the following locations:
(principal uses indicated)
1. the Town Centre:
the Regeneration Area (housing, major offices and other employment, commercial uses on waterfronts) Town Centre North (retail, leisure, cultural uses, student accommodation and residential) other parts of the Town Centre (residential, major offices)
2. key locations on the east-west Prime Transport Corridor (residential and appropriate commercial uses):
Ashley Road and Ashley Cross Parkstone Road/Civic Centre Sites in the vicinity of the Poole Road/Bournemouth Road junction at Poole Commerce Centre, Branksome local centre and along Poole Road 5 A Spatial Strategy for Poole 64 3. other locations on main routes which are well-served by public transport and local facilities Poole (residential)
Core 4. employment areas (key employment sectors, including knowledge-based industries,
Strategy advanced engineering, limited office development, but excluding retail or leisure), in particular:
Submission Fleets Corner Sopers Lane
Document 5. Priority Areas in need of investment and improvement, in particular:
areas suffering from problems of multiple deprivation, including parts of Alderney, East and West Hamworthy, and Poole Old Town (housing, environmental enhancements, leisure and community and youth-related facilities); and the local centres of Canford Heath, Creekmoor, Wallisdown and Hamworthy (appropriate retail possibly as part of mixed use developments incorporating residential, community and youth-related facilities, environmental enhancements)
Areas where change will be carefully managed will be:
land within 400 metres of heathland habitats which are designated Special Protection Areas (residential and other development which would lead to additional pressures on heathland will not be suitable unless sites are capable of providing satisfactory on-site mitigation)
Poole’s Green Belt
Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate against has responded Appraisal impact
Overall spatial strategy approach Dealt with more specifically in Refer to green tables as deemed to perform well on the basis the Detailed Strategy the end of each section that it seeks to meet various needs in Chapter 6. by directing the majority of development to the most accessible locations and securing a mix of uses to serve the community. Spatial strategy could exacerbate Adaptation and mitigation Recommendations risks (including health) associated measures to cope with flood incorporated in an array 65 Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate against has responded Poole Appraisal impact Core with climate change: increased risk; public spaces are of policy measures Strategy exposure to flood risk (in important in urban area; throughout the
Regeneration Area); heat island improved pedestrian document. Submission effect, affordable warmth/cooling in environments and tree planting; face of extreme weather events; better energy efficiency and pressures on health services. use of renewable energy; Document support the needs of health services Worsening air quality on Prime Prioritise walking, cycling and Recommendations Transport Corridors could occur as public transport; environmental incorporated in an array a result of concentrating enhancements at key locations; of policy measures development in these locations tree planting along Prime throughout the Transport Corridors document. 5 A Spatial Strategy for Poole 66 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 67 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places Poole
Realising Poole's Economic Potential Core Strategy Poole as a Growth Point
6.1 The provision of jobs, and not just housing, is vital because Poole and the South East Submission Dorset conurbation face competition from Southampton and other parts of South Hampshire, where ambitious growth plans could see a concentration of economic investment, with resultant
net increases in out-commuting to South Hampshire, or increased polarisation of society between Document those who have access to jobs, housing and resources, and those who do not. Detailed employment forecasting has been carried out by Roger Tym and Associates, on behalf of the South West Regional Assembly, which shows a total projection of 13,700 additional jobs (9,200 full-time equivalent) in Poole between 2006 and 2026 (see the table below), based upon a growth rate in gva of 3.2% per annum which is sought in Draft RSS. Some sectors, notably manufacturing, will see some decline over this period in actual job numbers. Business, leisure and tourism-related services and health and education, on the other hand, will see significant increases.
Projected Changes in Employment in Poole: 2006-20261
Employment Category Change in jobs 2006-20262
Total jobs FTEs Services (including banking, business services, 11,200 9,300 education & health) Other business employment (including manufacturing) -2,500 -3,100 Distribution, hotels and catering 5,300 3,300 Other -300 -100 Totals 13,700 9,200
1. Source: Roger Tym & Partners/SWRA - Employment Projections (2008)
2. Jobs rounded to nearest 100 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 68 Forecasting land requirements Poole 6.2 A methodology for calculating employment land requirements has been developed for the Core Dorset sub-region, based upon the Cambridge Econometrics model (17), which has been informed
Strategy by the revised employment projections which the RDA has commissioned. This indicates that 39.5 hectares of employment land would need to be provided over the Plan period for 'B' Use Classes, which includes 14 hectares to take account of forecast losses between 2008 and 2026 Submission (0.78 ha per annum on average). At April 2007, Poole had 18.74 hectares of available employment land (allocated or with planning permission), mainly within Poole's existing employment areas (18). Sopers Lane and Fleets Corner will provide another 11 hectares of land
Document between them. In addition, the Regeneration Area is expected to deliver 36,000 square metres of B1 business floorspace (including offices and a business park). As the employment land requirements have been calculated on the basis of the employment projections and using an assumed plot ratio of about 0.4 (4,000 square metres per hectare), this would result in the Regeneration Area providing an equivalent of 9 hectares of employment land. Hence, Poole is in a position to identify the equivalent of 38.74 hectares of employment land, only 0.76 hectares below the forecast need up to 2026. This appears to be a very good match. It should also be noted that with almost 300 hectares of employment land in existing employment areas, there will undoubtedly be new opportunities arising over the next 20 years. Furthermore, retail and leisure-related growth in the Town Centre North area and along the waterfronts in the Regeneration Area will provide substantial job growth in the service sectors. To add further flexibility and choice in the sub-region, Bournemouth International Airport is a strategic employment site which has the potential to provide significant job growth.
Where will the jobs go?
6.3 So, how can we estimate where the jobs are going to go? This is relatively straightforward in the case of the Regeneration Area as a detailed economic assessment of the scheme was carried out (Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative Economic Impact Assessment - Report of Findings: Updated Assessment (July 2005)). This looked at the potential value to the economy of the scheme and calculated the likely jobs which might arise. The assessment predicts that a total of over 4,600 jobs could be created. This includes those directly associated with the development, as well as construction employment, indirect and induced jobs. If this is narrowed down to consider the direct jobs, it is estimated that some 3,787 jobs would be created. If construction jobs are deducted from this total, the Regeneration Area is expected to deliver 2,878 jobs which would populate the scheme.
17 Employment Land Forecasting Model - GVA Grimley/Dorset Strategic Authorities, 2008) 18 Poole Employment Land Monitoring Report, Borough of Poole (April 2007) 69 Job Growth Associated with Poole Bridge Regeneration Area1 Poole EMPLOYMENT (Full-Time Equivalent Direct Indirect Induced Total Core jobs): Effect Strategy
1. Construction investment 348 32 47 426 Submission 2. Development of land 561 52 76 688 3. Population of new development 2,878 145 494 3,517
TOTAL IMPACT ON JOBS: 3,787 229 617 4,631 Document
1. Source: Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative Economic Impact Assessment - Report of Findings: Updated Assessment (July 2005)
6.4 When considering other sources of employment in Poole, there is less certainty about the eventual mix of uses or the final quantity of floorspace. Nevertheless, we do have some evidence which can help in estimating potential job growth. There are two main sources of information: the Dorset Workspace Strategy Review(19), commissioned by the RDA, the final report of which is due to be published in May 2008; and Employment Land Review work. These set out evidence of factors such as employment land needs in Poole, average employee densities, plot ratios and the proportion of jobs anticipated to come forward on employment land. We also have detailed figures of expected floorspace for different uses in the Town Centre, which can be used to quantify potential jobs.
6.5 The following table shows the possible breakdown of jobs in Poole, based upon this evidence.
New Jobs in Poole: 2006-2026
Location Use type Area (sq m Employment Estimated Full-time (based upon unless stated density (m2/ total Equivalent 2 2 Spatial otherwise) workspace)1 jobs jobs Strategy)
11 11 A Poole Bridge B1 offices 10,500 Calculation 4,630 2,900 Regeneration based upon B1 General 7,500 Area economic B1 business park 18,500 impact assessment3
19 Dorset Workspace Strategy Review, GVA Grimley (2008) 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 70 Location Use type Area (sq m Employment Estimated Full-time Poole (based upon unless stated density (m2/ total Equivalent Spatial otherwise) 1 2 2 Core workspace) jobs jobs Strategy) Strategy
Retail - A1, A3, A4 9,500 Submission Budget Hotel 300 bed Luxury hotel 50 bed
Document 4 B Town Centre Retail - A1, A2, 35,000 17 2,060 1,570 North A3, A4
C Other Town Offices 4,200 19 220 180 Centre sites Hotel - general 103 bed 1 per 2 50 30 bedrooms Retail/train station 900 155 60 50
6 D Fleets B1/B2 - high-tech/ 39,000 29 1,350 900 Corner (6.5 R&D ha)
6 E Sopers Lane B1/B2 - high-tech/ 27,000 29 950 640 (4.5 ha) R&D
8 9 F Existing General - B1, B2, 75,000 36 2,100 1,400 Employment B8 Areas (18.74 ha7 ) Regeneration Care homes Up to 700 bed 0.7 employees 800 500 Area / general spaces / bedspace
GEducation & Education, health PCT workforce n/a 1,700 1,000 health & care-related10 strategy; establishments, redevelopment of Poole College; training & skills Totals 13,920 9,170 71 1. Unless stated otherwise, employment densities based upon Employment Densities: A Full
Guide - Final Report (English Partnerships) Ove Arup & Partners International Ltd (July Poole 2001) Core
2. Other than for the Regeneration Area, the ratio of Total (including full and part-time) and Strategy FTE jobs has been calculated based upon the sectoral forecast of jobs carried out by Roger Tym & Partners on behalf of the RDA (2008). Submission 3. Source: Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative Economic Impact Assessment - Report of Findings: Updated Assessment (July 2005) Document 4. Allowance made for mix of larger and smaller retail units, giving an average retail density lower than that in the regeneration area, but higher than the norm of 20 m2 per employee.
5. Allowance made for fact that a high proportion of retail will be in smaller units at higher workspace densities approaching 10 m2 per employee, thus increasing average densities above the standard of 20 m2 per employee.
6. Based upon a plot ratio of 0.6:1 (6,000 m2 per hectare) due to expectation that higher-than average density employment uses will occur, with no B8 warehousing.
7. Employment Land Availability Monitoring Report, Borough of Poole (April 2007).
8. Based upon the average plot ratio in Poole for employment development (B1, B2 and B8), which stands at about 0.4:1 (4,000 m2 per hectare (Poole Employment Land Review - 2007)).
9. Based upon average employment densities in Poole for B1, B2 and B8 employment development (Poole Employment Land Review -2007).
10. Employment projections identify potential for up to 3,200 additional jobs (FTE) in Poole in education & health. Allowing a share of these in other 'areas' (e.g. the Regeneration Area, care homes, etc.), a minimum of 1,000 (FTE is expected to come forward within existing education and health establishments (allowing for rationalisation, redevelopment and expansion).
11. Total jobs in the Regeneration Area are FTE jobs but include direct, indirect, induced jobs as well as jobs associated with construction and development. The jobs shon in the FTE column are 'direct' jobs which are expected to populate the development.
6.6 The above analysis would indicate that the jobs forecast for Poole is achievable. However, this will require careful monitoring as there may be changes over time which could influence the final figure. It should also be noted that employment development at Bournemouth International Airport could contribute in the region of 1,000 jobs to Poole's requirement. This 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 72 provides a degree of flexibility and choice in meeting economic growth potential. Nevertheless,
Poole to realise Poole's - and the wider sub-region's - growth potential, there will be a need to maintain an adequate supply of employment land across the conurbation. This will require joint working Core with neighbouring authorities to find sufficient sites. Poole's Local Development Framework can
Strategy also ensure this supply is secured through the allocation of sites in the Site-specific Allocations Development Plan Document.
Submission A Changing Economy
6.7 A subtle change in emphasis, however, is likely in terms of the type of employment uses
Document considered appropriate on some employment sites. Historically these have been reserved for Use Classes B1 (offices, high tech, light industry, research and development), B2 (general industry) and B8 (storage and distribution). Poole's manufacturing sector performs strongly largely due to specialist skilled companies in sector like marine engineering, and the evidence suggests that this sector will continue to be important locally, although increased productivity will continue to see a relative and actual reduction in the number of employees. To counter this, services, health and education sectors are forecast to grow. Enterprise parks, incubator units, and learning and skills centres are likely to be increasingly important to the long-term success of Poole's economy and so employment areas will need to support the growth of such facilities.
6.8 Growth in education employment will take place within existing institutes like Bournemouth University (in Poole), the College and schools throughout the Borough. The Council's Schools for the Future programme will result in new investment and a restructuring of schools in the Borough. Other opportunities exist, however, for instance by assisting the University to provide new student accommodation in the Town Centre, or opportunities for specialist education facilities. An example of this might be media-related businesses or creative industries which can develop links with the specialisms offered by Bournemouth University, Bournemouth and Poole College or the Arts Institute. Parts of the Regeneration Area and the lower part of the High Street would be well-suited to this.
Tourism
6.9 Poole's position on Poole Harbour, the quality of its beaches, the historic interest provided by the Old Town and Quay, the fact that Poole is a continental ferry port, and cultural attractions such as the Lighthouse and museums all point to the town's considerable potential as a tourist destination. Poole is also establishing a growing reputation for the quality and variety of its restaurants, particularly for fish and seafood. The Quay, Old Town, the lower part of the High Street and Ashley Cross have all seen significant growth in the high-quality catering sector in recent years, as have some other local centres the town. Key locations such as the beaches, harbour and quay will continue to be valuable assets to Poole and it is important that the town is able to offer high quality attractions and accommodation. 73 6.10 Development in the Town Centre will further benefit tourism, offering a real chance to provide direct and indirect tourism attractions through the creation of a more attractive town, Poole landmarks such as the new bridge, supporting the role of cultural attractions and the introduction of performance spaces. They would also be suitable locations for new, high quality hotels, which Core
would complement the RNLI training college and conference centre in terms of providing better Strategy opportunities for business visits. Submission Document
Picture 6.1 RNLI Training College and Conference Centre, West Quay Road 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 74
Poole PCS 1
Core PRINCIPAL LOCATIONS FOR ECONOMIC INVESTMENT Strategy New economic investment and job growth will take place in the following key locations: Submission
Location Suitable employment uses Minimum net
Document additional jobs to nearest 100 i. the Regeneration Area B1 and B2 business floorspace as well as 4,600 leisure-based commercial activities, tourism and cultural-related employment, starter business premises and creative industries ii. Town Centre North mainly additional retail floorspace but also 2,400 and other Town leisure and offices, tourism- and Centre sites cultural-related employment, with creative industries and independent retailers on the lower part of the High Street iii existing employment a range of employment activities which require 2,100 areas1 such locations, principally Use Classes B1, B2 and B8 iv Port of Poole reserved for port-related uses, including associated rail freight, and activities which require access to deep water frontage along all working quays v land at Fleets Corner comprehensive rationalisation for new 1,300 intensive employment uses, in particular advanced engineering, marine-related industries, training in specialist skills (including the marine sector), incubator units for new business start-ups, and business hotel with conference facilities 75 Location Suitable employment uses Minimum Poole net
additional Core jobs to nearest 100 Strategy vi land at Sopers Lane comprehensive rationalisation for new 1,000 intensive employment uses, in particular Submission advanced engineering, incubator units for new business start-ups, medical and health-related
business specialisms and as a centre of Document excellence vii health, care and varied employment opportunities including 2,500 education institutions, health, care homes and education facilities and services
1. Excludes contribution of Bournemouth International Airport, which is expected to provide about 1,000 of Poole's anticipated job growth.
Existing Employment Areas
6.11 Existing employment areas in Poole will continue to play a crucial role in the town’s economy. Poole’s main employment areas cover about 293 hectares of land and the most successful of these have consistently been the subject of continued new investment and rejuvenation. Poole’s three largest employment areas are Mannings Heath, Nuffield and Fleets Lane. These are strategically important employment areas for the entire South East Dorset sub-region. In addition to these are a number of other important employment areas. The Core Strategy relies upon the efficient use and reuse of employment land in the Borough to meet regional job growth forecasts and so the retention of employment areas will continue to be a priority. Historically this has proved to be a reliable source of employment land for Poole, and its industrial estates generally maintain consistently high occupancy rates, with varying degrees of reinvestment. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 76 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Figure 6.1 Location of Existing Employment Areas in Poole 77
PCS 2 Poole
EXISTING EMPLOYMENT AREAS Core Strategy Land and premises within Poole's existing employment areas will be reserved for uses which generate employment, and which are appropriate to the location as a consequence of: Submission
i. the principal activity falling within Use Classes B1, B2 or B8; Document ii. their need to be in the employment area in question, due to close associations with neighbouring businesses;
iii. their potential to have an adverse impact in more sensitive locations such as residential areas; or
iv. a lack of suitable alternative sites, other than in existing employment areas, for the type of employment activity proposed.
In all cases proposals will only be permitted where they do not compromise the activities of the employment area or conflict with other policy objectives in the Local Development Framework.
Sopers Lane
6.12 This site was previously in sole occupation by Siemens Plessey. The company went through a rationalisation process during the 1990s and, as a consequence, much of the site was considered surplus to its needs. There followed some new investment, with the relocation of Poole Pottery (manufacturing) to the site, the development of a new business park containing small units, and a budget hotel. These new introductions affect only part of the site and there remains considerable scope for additional employment development, with approximately 4.5 hectares of land potentially available, although this could increase depending upon the extent of the rationalisation and availability of adjoining employment land to the east. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 78 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 6.2 Sopers Lane - Indicative Masterplan Area
6.13 This site is well-placed to make good use of existing road links into Poole and the Port, and is close to the main north-south link between Poole and the A31. It also sits adjacent to neighbouring employment areas which, over time, could offer opportunities to support concentrations of particular business specialisms. Furthermore, its proximity to established residential areas within popular school catchments gives this location an opportunity to provide jobs for people living locally.
6.14 Sopers Lane could offer great potential to attract high technology businesses and research and development. Medical and health-related employment sectors are growth areas and the conurbation is home to two major hospitals, as well as other specialist and private hospitals. It also serves a wider sub-region and so is expected to perform an important and comprehensive health care role. Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust has flagged up a need for sites to serve these sectors as well as specialist health care facilities.
6.15 In considering Sopers Lane as a focus for employment growth in the health sector, it is important to prioritise activities which require employment area locations. Health care facilities are normally better suited to existing hospitals or local centres which can easily serve local populations. An exception to this may be made in the case of health care facilities which serve a strategic rather than a local role, such as a national, regional or sub-regional specialist facility, 79 on condition that there is not scope to accommodate such a facility within existing hospitals in the conurbation and it would not prevent other parts of the site from delivering high-value and Poole knowledge-driven employment activities. Core
Fleets Corner Strategy
6.16 This site measures approximately 6.5 hectares in area and is strategically located at a major junction between the main north-south (A31-Poole) and east-west (A35) links. This Submission provides it with excellent connections to Poole and Bournemouth Town Centres, the Port, the trunk road network and existing and proposed park and ride sites. It is also effectively part of
the larger successful Nuffield estate, one of Poole's (and the sub-region's) largest employment Document areas.
Picture 6.3 Fleets Corner - Indicative Masterplan Area
6.17 The site was formerly used exclusively by Hamworthy Engineering, a major local specialist engineering company. This business has undergone a rationalisation process, which has provided the potential for significant new investment. A great asset to Poole's marine engineering specialisms has been the recent setting up of the marine skills centre on the site, which trains companies and individuals in all aspects of this sector, including craftsmanship and business skills. The site would lend itself well to specialist marine engineering sectors as well as high tech businesses and start-up units. There may also be scope for a single hotel on part of the 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 80 site which could offer conference and business support facilities. It would be important, however,
Poole to tailor the hotel to business clients so that it could complement the employment function of the area. Core
Strategy A 'Master Plan' Approach
6.18 The Sopers Lane and Fleets Corner sites will benefit from a master plan approach to
Submission guide their development. These should be prepared with the involvement of the Council, land owners, the Regional Development Agency and relevant stakeholders (such as Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust and the marine sector) The master plans can be prepared
Document alongside the Site-specific Allocations Development Plan Document to ensure that the relevant policies both inform, and are informed by, the master planning work. This will provide a greater degree of certainty for investment.
6.19 The master plans will be expected to set out a vision for their respective sites in terms of a strategic role within the conurbation, and elaborate upon this by establishing the range and scale of employment sectors they would be suited to. Both sites are in prominent gateway locations and so the quality of development should be high. Each master plan should set out key urban design principles to provide clarity as to what will be acceptable in terms of layout, design, building heights and plot sizes, but this should not be overly inflexible to prevent innovative approaches to development. A delivery framework should be incorporated into each master plan which identifies key prerequisites and other infrastructure, any phasing requirements and the role of different partners in helping to bring forward development on the site.
6.20 The sites offer a great opportunity to bring forward development which helps to reduce Poole's carbon footprint. To do this, development will need to take steps to reduce the need to travel by car, minimise energy demand from fossil fuels and incorporate sustainable construction practises. Each master plan should thus include:
a travel plan framework which will determine the content of more detailed company travel plans for individual development schemes within the master plan area. This should explore the feasibility of establishing a dedicated peak-time bus service (jointly serving both sites, and possibly neighbouring employment areas, and connecting with the Town Centre transport interchanges and park and ride sites) and managed parking commensurate with the emerging conurbation-wide parking strategy;
an energy and resources framework which:
sets out a commitment to achieving BREEAM 'excellent' standards in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable construction;
incorporates renewable energy generation on-site sufficient to meet at least 20% of predicted energy needs; 81 builds in sustainable drainage principles into the entire site design; Poole commits to recycling those materials which can be reused on-site. Core Strategy PCS 3 Submission SOPERS LANE AND FLEETS CORNER
The Council will work in partnership with the Regional Development Agency, site Document owners, and other relevant stakeholders to prepare separate master plans for the Sopers Lane and Fleets Corner sites. These will be prepared alongside the Site-specific Allocations Development Plan Document to ensure that the details set out in the master plans are given statutory policy weight to offer greater certainty of delivery. Each master plan will include: a. a vision for the site in terms of its strategic economic role within Poole and the wider conurbation; b. guiding principles which deal with design, layout, floorspace, mix of uses and plot sizes; c. a travel plan framework which demonstrates how the need to travel by car will be reduced and other modes of transport will be supported in order to maximise both sustainable travel and the efficient use of land; d. a delivery framework which identifies key infrastructure (including pre-requisites), the role of different partners, necessary funding streams and any phasing requirements; and e. an energy and resources framework which demonstrates how development will:
achieve BREEAM 'excellent' standards;
incorporate renewable energy generation sufficient to meet at least 20% of on-site predicted energy needs; and
adopt sustainable construction practises (including recycling of materials and sustainable drainage systems). 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 82 The Port Poole 6.21 Poole Port is a vital asset to Poole and the wider sub-region. It offers conventional cargo Core handling on the north-facing wharves, and containerised (roll-on-roll-off) cargo handling and
Strategy cross-channel ferry services from its southern quays. With a dedicated rail link, the port also has potential to increase rail freight handling.
Submission 6.22 With the introduction of containerised cargo handling in the early 1970s, Poole had seen an actual and relative decline of its conventional cargo handling up to the mid-1990s. From this point on, however, there was a revival in the amount of goods handled via conventional
Document means and both forms of cargo handling continue to play an important role in Poole. There has also been expansion of yacht manufacturing, with the consolidation of Sunseeker, one of Poole's largest employers, adjacent to the lifting bridge. Hence, the port area makes a significant contribution to Poole's economy and, due to the finite nature of deep water frontage, it is vital that this is not prejudiced by inappropriate development in or adjacent to the port.
6.23 Poole Harbour Commissioners see improved access to the port for cargo and cross-channel ferry traffic to be a priority. The Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Economic Strategy 2005-2016 comments on the importance of infrastructure improvements at the port as part of a strategically important package of corridor improvements linking the A31, the wider conurbation and Bournemouth Airport. Work to widen the shipping channel in Poole Harbour, considered essential to secure the long-term viability of the port, was completed in April 2006.
6.24 The port is served by a dedicated rail link, which offers the potential to increase the transportation of goods to and from the port via rail. South of the rail link, the port estate is used principally for containerised cargo and passenger ferry services. North of the rail line there is a mix of conventional cargo handling quays, Poole Harbour Commissioners’ harbour offices, and Sunseeker (luxury boat manufacturing). It is important that deep water frontages are retained for uses which require such access to the harbour. Other parts of the port estate should be retained for port-related activities, including freight transfer and handling to and from quaysides and the railway.
6.25 Poole Harbour is the subject of international habitat designations and although the Port is in a relatively less sensitive part of the harbour in ecological terms, it nevertheless is vital that development proposals do not have an adverse impact upon harbour habitats. Care will be needed to prevent risks such as pollution incidents, impacts from dredging, disturbance to nesting birds from noise or lighting, and impacts from vessels using the port. Another risk which requires careful attention is the prospect of rising sea levels. Development needs to take the necessary measures in a manner which ties in with a comprehensive flood defence package for Poole. The Council will work with Poole Harbour Commissioners to ensure that the integrity of Poole Harbour SPA and Ramsar site is not adversely affected by development within the port. 83 6.26 Activities which constitute a port-related use include industries such as boat repairs, dredging, aggregates-handling, manufacture of building materials following the import of Poole aggregates, storage of cargo, manufacture of products reliant upon imports from the harbour, boat storage for larger vessels, and rail freight uses associated with the port rail link. There will Core
also be scope to provide for the flexible use of quays and loading facilities to serve other Strategy port-related uses such as boat-building, on condition that such activities require access to deep water frontage. Other parts of the port could serve to support general port activities. For example, the provision of lorry parking facilities would be compatible with the freight handling Submission role of the port. Document PCS 4
POOLE PORT
Development in Poole Port will support its sea-based handling of passengers and freight in accordance with the following criteria:
i. proposals for sites within the port will be permitted where they are for port-related activities;
ii. sites with deep water frontage will be reserved for uses which require access to such frontage;
iii. development will not be permitted where it would prejudice the continued or increased use of the rail link for freight handling;
iv. development does adversely affect the integrity of Poole Harbour SPA and the Ramsar site;
v. the use of the harbour for recreation should not be harmed; and
vi. development makes provision for any necessary flood defence measures needed to protect the site in question as part of a comprehensive flood defence package for Poole.
Isolated Employment Sites
6.27 Over the life of this strategy, some of the Borough’s more marginal isolated employment sites (i.e. those which are outside of existing employment areas) may not be particularly well-suited to continued employment use. This might be for a number of reasons: 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 84 they might occupy older, obsolete premises which are suited to a specific (the current/former)
Poole occupier and which cannot viably be adapted to new demands should they become vacant;
Core in some cases the permitted use may cause conflicts with surrounding uses, particularly if
Strategy close to residential areas; or
the site might not be viable for continued or new employment use due to particular physical
Submission or other constraints, such as prohibitively expensive site remediation works or a location which does not accord with current planning policies.
Document 6.28 Where any of these conditions apply, redeveloping the site for other uses could offer an opportunity to address other pressing needs. We know, for example, that Poole’s demographic profile will continue to see a growing proportion of elderly residents and there will be a need for more care homes over the Plan period. There is also a need to provide specialist care facilities outside of the main hospitals. Obsolete employment sites outside of Poole’s main employment areas could provide a good opportunity to meet some of these needs.
6.29 When considering proposals for marginal isolated employment sites, the Local Planning Authority will have regard to the suitability and viability of the site for continued or new employment uses in the first instance, and then as part of a mixed use scheme. If it is clear that the site is no longer appropriate for employment uses on grounds of viability, local character or location, then alternative uses will be considered, with priority given to health and care-related uses. 85
PCS 5 Poole
ISOLATED EMPLOYMENT SITES Core Strategy For sites currently or previously used for activities falling within Use Classes B1, B2 or B8 of the Use Classes Order 1987 (as amended) which are located outside of existing employment areas, alternative uses to B1, B2 or B8 will only be considered Submission if the site is no longer suitable or viable for continued employment use and the cost of refurbishment or redevelopment for a more appropriate form of employment use
would be prohibitive. Where these exceptional circumstances apply, the Local Document Planning Authority will first seek to secure the provision of small starter business units as part of a comprehensive mixed use scheme before it considers single-use developments. Priority will then be given to alternative uses in the following sequence:
i. health or care-related uses, including care homes for elderly residents and specialist health facilities;
ii. other uses which generate employment; and
iii. residential development, where the site offers an acceptable environment.
Delivery Framework
Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible for When is delivered? delivery? the outcome expected?
Regeneration Area: Investment opportunities Landowners/ 2016 36,000 sq m of business on primarily privately developers, Borough of floorspace owned land/buildings Poole, SWRDA, GOSW/ DCLG Development-enabling public investment in bridge infrastructure (part only)
Town Centre North: Public / Private sector Borough of Poole, Wilts 2016 35,000 sq m of retail & partnership. Developer & & Dorset Bus Company, leisure space in Town public funding. private developers, Centre North 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 86 Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible for When is Poole delivered? delivery? the outcome Core expected? Strategy
landowners &
Submission leaseholders, SW RDA Town Centre general: Investment opportunities Primarily the private n/a retention/ provision of on primarily privately sector
Document major office developments owned land/buildings Existing Employment Investment opportunities Primarily the private On-going Areas: secure new on primarily privately sector throughout investment and efficient owned land/buildings plan period use of sites for uses which require such locations Sopers Lane: health Investment opportunities Primarily the private 2011-16 sector employment on primarily privately sector in partnership specialisms owned land/buildings with Borough of Poole, Bournemouth & Poole PCT, Wilts & Dorset Bus Company, SWRDA Fleets Corner: marine/ Investment opportunities Primarily the private 2011-16 advanced engineering on primarily privately sector in partnership specialisms owned land/buildings with Borough of Poole, the marine sector, Wilts & Dorset Bus Company, SWRDA
Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate against responded Appraisal impact
Employment floorspace in Development in Regeneration Recommendation Regeneration Area could have Are will need to be subject to incorporated in PCS 11 an adverse impact upon Poole more detailed assessment and ‘REVITALISING THE TOWN Harbour SPA, principally due on-site measures to avoid CENTRE - GENERAL’ and to pollution/run-off arising from adverse impacts. Detailed PCS 30 ‘POOLE HARBOUR construction. Building heights findings of the Regeneration SPA AND RAMSAR SITE’. 87 Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate against responded Poole Appraisal impact Core
may also affect flight paths of Area Appropriate Assessment Strategy birds using Holes Bay and Environmental Impact
Assessment will need to be Submission taken on board. Economic growth at the airport Acknowledged that No change needed.
could promote greater travel employment growth at Document by air and car Bournemouth International Airport is outside of Poole and thus not covered by Core Strategy. Employment growth in the On-site provision of flood Recommendations Regeneration Area could be alleviation measures which are incorporated into PCS 35 jeopardised by risk of flooding comprehensively planned in ‘FLOOD RISK’ in the absence of adequate accordance with SFRA measures Minerals extraction and Promotion of sustainable Recommendations resource use is raised as an energy and resource use incorporated in PCS 36 issue in relation to the Town (including recycling of ‘ENERGY AND RESOURCES Centre development aggregates) STATEMENTS’
Meeting Poole's Housing Needs
Housing: the spatial approach
6.30 A growing population and smaller household sizes are fuelling significant demand for new homes. Poole has the added challenge of higher than average housing costs but lower than average incomes. Access to good quality housing is an essential human need and it is vital to the creation of sustainable, mixed communities. It is also a key to the economic prospects of Poole, as the town's ability to retain and attract school leavers, graduates, and key workers will be determined in no small part by the quality and affordability of its housing stock.
6.31 The Panel Report into the draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West has recommended that Poole will need to provide 500 dwellings per annum between 2006 and 2026, the upper end of the range set out in the draft RSS. Poole's Housing Trajectory shows a 'front-loading' of housing provision in the first half of the plan period, principally due to the availability of large allocated sites in the Town Centre. As a consequence, Poole is expected to see a build rate of about 700 dwellings per annum up to 2016. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 88 6.32 Government and regional policy, as informed by pieces of work such as the Urban Task
Poole Force's urban renaissance White Paper and the sustainable communities agenda makes it clear that our urban areas are central to the principle of sustainable living. They offer the chance to Core regenerate derelict and under-used brownfield land, to rejuvenate the cities as focal points of
Strategy community and cultural life, to reduce the need to travel, and to improve economic prospects. Poole lends itself particularly well to this agenda in that we have great regeneration opportunities at the heart of the town and a network of local centres and prime transport corridors which are Submission capable of accommodating change in a sustainable way. Poole's Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) demonstrates that a combination of these opportunities is capable of meeting our strategic housing requirement. Existing dwellings will also have a crucial
Document part to play in delivering a balanced housing market and this has informed the spatial strategy.
Figure 6.2 Poole's Housing Trajectory 2006-2026
Getting the right mix of homes
6.33 A Balanced Housing Market (BHM) model, which considers the overlap between market (including rented) and social housing in the Borough and the extent to which supply and demand are ‘balanced’ across tenure and property size, was developed as part of the Strategic Housing Market Assessment to aid in the development and support of the Council’s housing policies. The BHM is based on the stated responses of a comprehensive Borough-wide questionnaire undertaken in 2007, which identifies the proportion of housing type and tenure required to balance the total housing stock within Poole (20). The BHM reports that 38% of the housing stock
20 Dorset Survey of Housing Need and demand: Poole (March 2008) 89 should be market housing and 62% should be affordable, in order to match the stated demand for housing, by tenure, with supply. However, evidence concerning site viability has been Poole considered in the Council’s approach to affordable housing (see Affordable Housing section and PCS 7 ‘AFFORDABLE HOUSING’). Core Strategy 6.34 In delivering sustainable communities the Council will seek to balance the size of both market and affordable housing for the identified needs. The model identifies that in creating a balanced market within the Borough, the size of new market and affordable dwellings should Submission be as set out in the following Table:
Share of new dwellings by size and category Document
Category % share of dwellings by size
1 bedroom 2 bedrooms 3 bedrooms 4+ bedrooms
Market Housing 25% 54% 10% 11% Affordable 14% 56% 17% 13% Housing
6.35 This can be directly related to the likely needs of single persons, couples, and multi-person/family households within the Borough and the housing stock required to meet these needs. As a guide, single persons and couples are likely to require 1 and 2 bedroom properties, while multi-person/family households are likely to require 3 and 4+ bedroom properties.
6.36 In terms of the tenure of affordable housing, the BHM indicates that provision should be split roughly 45% intermediate housing and 55% social rented housing. However, in terms of the ‘ability to afford’ affordable housing, the SHMA research found that only 13% of people in housing need could afford intermediate housing. Therefore in terms of the type of affordable housing required, a level of 13% intermediate and 87% social rented can be justified. However, final tenure split will need to be negotiated as part of any qualifying proposal. It is likely that negotiations will seek to secure 30% intermediate housing and 70% social rented housing, based upon the latest viability modelling which has been developed on behalf of the Borough of Poole.
6.37 The need for larger (3+ bedroom) units will be met through a variety of sources. New housing will provide an element of larger units, both flats and houses, and a proportion of these will be secured through the provision of affordable housing. However, given that around 75% of future supply could take the form of 1 and 2 bedroom flats, established residential areas will provide a valuable stock of houses for those residents seeking such accommodation. The BHM evidence indicates that 14% of demand for new builds emanates from people wishing to 'down-size', two thirds of whom are over 60 years of age. Hence, the building of flats in suitable 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 90 locations will help to free up family homes in established residential areas. It will thus be important
Poole to retain this stock where it is not situated in places which have been identified for intensification. This is important not only in meeting the balanced housing needs of Poole but also in promoting Core strong community development by recognising that character is influenced by how places
Strategy function as well as their design. Submission Document 91
PCS 6 Poole
BROAD LOCATIONS FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT Core Strategy Proposals for residential development will be expected to contribute positively to the character and function of Poole and its communities in accordance with the following criteria: Submission
CRITERIA 1 2
INDICATIVE ANTICIPATED Document DENSITIES NUMBER PER OF HECTARE DWELLINGS i. Flats and other higher-density residential / mixed use development will take place in central locations which are well-served by public transport and a range of facilities, in accordance with the following density hierarchy (highest first): a. the Town Centre - Regeneration Area; 100-150 2,500 b. other parts of the Town Centre; 70-120 1,500 c. major local centres and key hubs of transport and 70-100 3,500 community activity on Prime Transport Corridors well-served by a high frequency public transport service3; and d. the frontages of Prime Transport Corridors and other 50-70 busy arteries in locations outside of a-c above where such locations are within convenient walking distance (400 metres) of both a local centre and a high-frequency public transport service3 stop. ELSEWHERE TO LOCATIONS IDENTIFIED IN (i) a-d: 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 92 CRITERIA 1 2 Poole INDICATIVE ANTICIPATED
Core DENSITIES NUMBER PER OF Strategy HECTARE DWELLINGS ii. on streets or parts of streets where flats predominate, 30-50 2,500 Submission proposals for new flats will be permitted on condition that: a. the design contributes positively to the overall character;
Document b. existing houses on the street do not become isolated from other houses; c. plot coverage, including buildings, car parking, access roads, cycle and bin storage and other hard surfacing does not exceed 50% of the site; d. car parking and vehicular access points avoid backing on to neighbouring gardens to the rear of the site; e. features such as front gardens and mature trees are retained or provided; iii. residential proposals involving plot severance will only be location- permitted where sufficient land can be assembled to specific accommodate a type, scale, density and layout of development which preserves or enhances the area's residential character and does not harm the amenities of local residents; iv. on streets or parts of streets comprised mainly of houses N/A proposals involving the redevelopment or sub-division of existing house plots for flats will be resisted. IN ALL CASES: iv. The design of buildings should contribute positively to N/A those attributes of a particular street which distinguish it, including building materials, height, roof form, fenestration, site coverage, car parking arrangements, spacing of buildings, retention of front and rear gardens, tree cover and other vegetation.
1 Indicative densities relate only to the residential component of proposals and exclude public open spaces/areas or other activities where a mixed use development is proposed. 93 2 Based upon current commitments and Poole's Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (May 2008) Poole
3A The benchmark definition of 'high frequency' for the purposes of (i) c and (i) d: a train Core
station and/or a bus stop on a route which offers a minimum of 6 services per hour, with a Strategy maximum gap of 15 minutes between buses (each way) Submission Affordable Housing
6.38 In 2004, the Borough of Poole undertook a desktop update of the 2001 Housing Needs Document Survey. As part of the Housing Market Assessment, a Dorset-wide Housing Needs and Demand Survey has been produced. This latest Survey has identified that there is a total net annual housing need in Poole of 1,199 dwellings, made up from both backlog need and future need.
6.39 The Borough’s affordable housing policy, as set out in Poole Local Plan First Alteration (adopted 2004), seeks 40% affordable units on sites of 15 or more dwellings (or over 0.5 hectares). However, large sites capable of delivering volume residential development are diminishing, and post-2016 the Borough will have to rely on smaller sites for housing development. 'The Bournemouth and Poole Affordable Housing and S106 Viability Analysis' undertaken for the Council supports the adoption of a 40% benchmark affordable housing policy given that there are areas of the Borough that may be able to support a higher level of contribution. The Report also identifies that reducing the threshold at which affordable housing delivery is sought would facilitate increased affordable housing subject to individual site viability analysis. The evidence supports the reduction of the threshold to a single unit and that this could be on site provision, off site or a financial contribution based on an 'equivalence' payment. That is, the financial contribution is equivalent to the cost of providing affordable housing on site. A 'viability Toolkit' will be made available by the Council to assess the financial viability of a proposed development.
6.40 The independent borough-wide viability analysis has indicated that there is the ability to secure at least 40% affordable housing from the majority of housing schemes within the Borough. The Council, however, has less control over actual delivery once permission has been granted and therefore has set a target to deliver 3,000 affordable homes by 2026. This target has been based on the likely economic viability of land for housing, taking account of risks to delivery and drawing on an assessment of likely levels of finance, both from public bodies and developer contributions. This target should not be considered as a ceiling and any delivery above this target will help to achieve additional affordable housing to meet current and future needs within Poole and the wider sub-region.
6.41 In most cases the seeking of affordable housing, either on-site or off-site, will be triggered by development proposals involving a net gain of residential units (subject to viabilty) and thus would not affect extensions or replacement (one-for-one) dwellings. There may be circumstances, however, where the difference between the existing house and that which is either extended, 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 94 altered or replaced is so significant that it would increase in value substantially, cater for an
Poole entirely different market, and erode an important stock of dwellings. Such a significant change could justify an affordable housing contribution to ensure that Poole is able to maintain a balanced Core housing market which is capable of meeting a variety of housing needs. Strategy 6.42 Bearing in mind the Core Strategy sets out a spatial framework for 20 years, it will be important to have regard to the pressing housing needs at any given time, depending upon the
Submission latest available evidence, and viability of the site in question. Consequently, determining as and when an affordable housing contribution might be sought from replacement/extended dwellings could vary over the Plan period. Care would be needed to allow for smaller dwellings where a
Document modest extension could represent a relatively significant increase over and above the original floor area. There may also be specific circumstances which have to be taken into account, for instance where self-contained accommodation is required for an elderly relative. As a guide, affordable housing contributions will most likely only be sought for extensions, alterations (excluding loft conversions), or replacement dwellings involving a gain of 50% or more net floor area where the existing floor area exceeds 100 square metres (roughly a 3-bedroom dwelling). Otherwise it would place an unreasonable burden upon residents merely seeking to carry out improvements to their homes. 95
PCS 7 Poole
AFFORDABLE HOUSING Core Strategy Affordable housing will be sought to meet local needs on all housing developments subject to: Submission a. its suitability for on-site provision;
b. the economics of providing affordable housing; Document
c. the extent to which the provision of affordable housing would prejudice other planning objectives to be met from the development of the site; and
d. the mix of units necessary to meet local needs and achieve a successful development.
Individual site viability analysis will determine the capacity of a site to deliver a level of affordable housing that can be supported financially. There is no upper limit to the potential affordable housing provision or contribution but a benchmark level of 40% will be sought as a starting point.
The housing provided under this policy should always be available to meet local needs. To ensure that this is so, where a registered social landlord is not involved the Council will either impose appropriate planning conditions or seek to negotiate a planning obligation.
Providing Care homes for the elderly
6.43 There are currently 36 care homes in the Borough of Poole, which supply in total around 1,150 bed spaces. The vast majority of homes in Poole are privately run, although there is a handful operated by specialist voluntary organisations. There are no local authority-run care homes in the Borough. Both private and voluntary-run homes are able to accept self-funded and financially assisted residents. The proportion of places offering nursing care (42%) and personal residential care (58%) in Poole is very much in line with the current national trend. However, 34% of all personal care beds are available to older people with specific care needs, which can include dementia or mental disorder. In total, 62% of all capacity in Poole is available to older people requiring more specialised care services. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 96 6.44 Planning records show that 307 (gross) care home bed spaces have been lost since
Poole 1999, although this has been compensated for in part through the creation of 241 bed spaces, resulting in a net loss of 66 bed spaces between 1999-2006. Losses have occurred through Core the conversion or demolition of nursing home buildings to flats or houses. Analysis shows that
Strategy the majority of care homes lost through the planning system have been older facilities within converted buildings, usually large residential properties. There are interrelated economic and social ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors prevalent in recent years that have contributed to the loss of Submission nursing homes. Many care homes lost in Poole have been located in buildings which have become outmoded, less attractive to the client base, and less able to meet statutory accommodation standards. Together these factors have placed into question the economic
Document viability of such homes. As a result such facilities have come under pressure for further conversion or demolition for the development of market flats and houses in an economic climate where land values have significantly increased.
Demand for long-term care
6.45 In Poole, it is anticipated that the number of people aged 60+ in Poole will increase some 37% from 36,500 to 50,100 by 2025. The most significant increase within an age band is the over-85s – this sector will grow by some 73%, from 4,000 (2004) to 6,900. The 2001 Census reported that 1,137 people were living in nursing homes or residential care homes in Poole. As a proportion of the population of Poole living in all ‘communal establishments’, this represents almost 50% - higher than the South West average of 40%, and the England average of 35%.
6.46 Social policies at national and local level which seek to increase the provision and effectiveness of at-home care or assistive technology may, over time, enable older people with intensive care needs to live independently for longer. Improvements in medical care for age-related illnesses may have a similar impact. Notwithstanding the potential impact of social policy and medical treatment on the way in which older people live and are cared for, the considerable growth in the number of older people in society will undoubtedly have an influence on the need for and provision of health care services and facilities aimed at older people.
6.47 For many vulnerable older people, having the chance to avoid residential care, and live in specially designed housing as tenants or owner-occupiers, is the single most important element in retaining independence and dignity in older age. Increasingly, the Extra Care housing model is gaining credence and support as a realistic and viable alternative to ‘institutional’ care models. Extra Care housing is a flexible concept, but fundamentally refers to “purpose built accommodation in which varying amounts of care and support can be offered and where some services are shared.”(21)
21 Housing Learning and Improvement Partnership (2006), Extra Care Housing Toolkit, p.16. 97 Forecasting Demand and Capacity Poole 6.48 Using 2001 Census data, it is possible to assess current demand and forecast future demand for care home capacity. 2001 Census analysis indicates that for older people between Core the ages of 60 and 64 years about 3 in every 1,000 are living in nursing and residential care. Strategy This increases to about 7 in every 1,000 for those aged between 65-74. The number of older people aged 85+ living in care homes rises rapidly to approximately 250 in every 1,000. By applying the trends per 1,000 population outlined above to the current and predicted demographic Submission situation in Poole, it is possible to forecast demand for care home places in 2025. From the work carried out, it is estimated that between 533 and 720 care home bed spaces will be required (22)
by 2025 based upon the supply in 2004 . Document
6.49 With regard to housing for older people, the new planning system enables the Borough to address the issue of what type of housing and facilities older people want and need to help ensure our communities are sustainable, inclusive and mixed. There are three main ways in which the Core Strategy seeks to address this need:
through the retention of existing viable care homes;
by seeking to bring forward new care homes; and
increasing the stock of suitable new housing which can help elderly people to live active and independent lives for longer (lifetime homes).
22 Poole Older People's Strategy (2008) 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 98
Poole PCS 8
Core CARE HOMES Strategy In order to meet anticipated demand for care homes for the elderly in Poole over the Plan period, there will be a need to provide between 500 and 700 net additional bed Submission spaces by 2025 over and above existing provision as at 2004. This may include innovative models of care which maximise independent living for elderly people in need of assistance. The Local Planning Authority will enable this by: Document i. seeking to secure the provision of new care home bed spaces. Opportunities for this exist in the Regeneration Area and through the redevelopment of isolated employment sites which are no longer suited to continued employment use;
ii. allowing for the conversion of existing buildings and the development of, or extension to, nursing homes, provided that:
a. the existing building can be converted without the need for disproportionate extension;
b. the development is compatible with the character of the surrounding area;
c. the development will not adversely affect the amenity of adjoining properties by way of loss of privacy, overlooking, overbearing impact or loss of light;
d. the car parking is located in such a away that it does not cause unacceptable noise and disturbance to adjoining properties through proximity to boundaries or loss of amenity to residents through proximity to ground floor living room or bedroom windows;
iii. resisting development which would lead to the loss of premises used, or last used, as a care home unless:
a. replacement nursing home bed spaces are proposed; or
b. the site or premises are not capable of accommodating a commercially viable nursing home which complies with criteria ii) a-d above. 99 Lifetime Homes Poole 6.50 The Lifetime Home Standards (LFTH) were first developed in 1991 by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. The principle is that new homes should be designed in a way which Core
allows them to meet the varied and often changing needs of occupiers over time. The standards Strategy comprise 16 design features, which are the result of careful study and research. The features apply to both the interior and exterior of the home. Each of the design features is valuable in itself, but a Lifetime Home is incomplete without all of the standards. A wheelchair turning circle Submission was chosen as the benchmark for a good space requirement. This is true for parents with small children, people with bikes or bags of shopping. Accessibility is for everyone, not just people
who use wheelchairs. Document
6.51 Research suggests that the additional costs of building to Lifetime Homes standards are relatively marginal, ranging from £165 to £545 per dwelling (23). In addition, because of the benefits of internal space, thoughtful design and flexibility, dwellings built to these standards are likely the attract a higher market value and so any additional cost ought to be recouped. Due to Poole's demographic profile and forecasts of a growing elderly population, it would seem that lifetime homes have an important part to play in meeting the town's housing needs, but that this need not be too onerous a commitment for developers. For these reasons, the Local Planning Authority will seek to secure Lifetime Homes Standards for all new residential units.
Lifetime Homes Standards:
1 Car Parking Where car parking is adjacent to the home, it should be capable of enlargement to attain 3.3 m width 2 Access from Car The distance from the car parking space to the home should be kept Parking to a minimum and should be level or gently sloping 3 Approach The approach to all entrances should be level or gently sloping 4 External All entrances should be illuminated, have level access over the entrances threshold and have a covered main entrance 5 Communal Stairs Communal stairs should provide easy access and, where homes are reached by a lift, it should be fully accessible 6 Doorways & The width of internal doorways and hallways should conform to Part Hallways M of the Building Regulations, except that when the approach is not head-on and the hallway width is 900mm, the clear opening width should be 900mm rather than 800mm. There should be 300mm nib or wall space to the side of the leading edge of the doors on entrance level
23 Joseph Rowntree Foundation; Habinteg Housing Association - Lifetime Homes: 21st Century Living 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 100 Lifetime Homes Standards: Poole
7 Wheelchair There should be space for turning a wheelchair in dining areas and Core Accessibility living rooms and adequate circulation space for wheelchairs elsewhere Strategy 8 Living Room The living room should be at entrance level
Submission 9 2+ storey In houses of two or more storeys, there should be space on the requirements entrance level that could be used as a convenient bed space 10 WC In houses with three bedrooms or more there should be a
Document wheelchair-accessible toilet at entrance level with drainage provision enabling a shower to be fitted in future. In houses with two bedrooms the downstairs toilet should conform at least to part M 11 Bathroom & WC Walls in the bathroom and WC should be capable of taking adaptations such as handrails 12 Lift Capability The design should incorporate provision for a future stair lift and a suitably identified space for a through-the-floor lift from the ground floor to the first floor, for example to a bedroom next to the bathroom 13 Main Bedroom The design and specification should provide a reasonable route for a potential hoist from a main bedroom to the bathroom. 14 Bathroom layout The bathroom should be designed for ease of access to the bath, WC and wash basin. 15 Window Living room window glazing should begin no higher than 800 mm from Specification the floor level and windows should be easy to open/operate 16 Fixtures & Fittings Switches, sockets, ventilation and service controls should be at a height usable by all (i.e. between 450 and 1200mm from the floor)
PCS 9
LIFETIME HOMES
All new residential development will meet the Lifetime Homes Standards or, in the case of Housing Corporation-funded schemes, similar or equivalent standards which apply. 101 Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Poole 6.52 The Borough and the wider conurbation is home to a significant number of Gypsies living in conventional ‘bricks and mortar’ accommodation and who have expressed a desire for Core permanent Gypsy accommodation. Consequently, the Council has recently granted planning permission and been allocated funding from CLG for the refurbishment of a permanent site for Strategy 16 pitches. Submission 6.53 Some travelling Gypsies and Travellers also pass through the conurbation, choosing to stop for a short period before continuing their journey to other parts of the south west. Due to the lack of transit facilities in Poole and the conurbation, these Gypsies and Travellers resort to camping on public facilities, such as car parks, open spaces and lay-bys, or on private land, Document typically industrial and employment sites. Illegal camping can lead to conflict between Gypsies and Travellers and the settled community, and significant distress and upheaval on both sides.
6.54 Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs have been assessed as part of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) process and identified the need to include a criteria based policy in the Core Strategy to be used for the selection of Gypsy and Traveller Sites. One of the key aims of the new policy framework is to increase the levels of authorised site provision for Gypsies and Travellers, in order to significantly reduce the current levels of unauthorised camping and avoid the problems that some unauthorised sites can cause. The exact number of pitches required is difficult to assess accurately and final numbers will be determined through the RSS. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 102
Poole PCS 10
Core GYPSY AND TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION
Strategy The Dorset-wide Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment indicates that the Borough needs to provide both transit Gypsy and Traveller pitches and residential
Submission pitches. The existing Mannings Heath site in the Borough will be redeveloped to accommodate 16 pitches in total. The remaining required provision of allocated permanent and transit will be addressed in the Borough’s Site Specific Allocations DPD and through joint working with Bournemouth and the other Dorset local Document authorities to provide a coordinated approach to provision.
The following considerations will be taken into account in the determination of locations for gypsy and traveller sites:
i. sites should be well located to the highway network, and enable access to schools, shops and healthcare;
ii. sites should provide for adequate on site facilities for parking, storage, play and residential amenity;
iii. sites should allow for adequate levels of privacy and residential amenity for the occupiers;
iv. sites should not have a detrimental impact on the amenities of adjacent occupiers; and
v. sites should not result in a detrimental impact upon the natural environment.
The Council is committed to working in partnership with Gypsies and Travellers and with their representative groups, and with local residents to seek solutions to issues regarding Gypsy and Traveller accommodation.
Delivery Framework
Key Outcomes How will these be delivered? Who is responsible When is the for delivery? outcome expected?
Direct highest Investment opportunities on Primarily the private On-going densities to most primarily privately owned sector throughout plan 103 Key Outcomes How will these be delivered? Who is responsible When is the
for delivery? outcome Poole expected? Core
accessible land/buildings, principally in period Strategy locations Town Centre and at key locations along A35 east-west Submission corridor Secure appropriate Investment opportunities Private Sector; On-going
mix of housing primarily on privately owned Housing throughout plan Document types, sizes and land to provide bulk of need Associations; period tenures for 1- and 2-bed market Borough of Poole housing as well as larger units; Housing Association developments to provide mix of housing type and sizes; retention of existing family housing in appropriate cases
Secure 3,000 new New housing development to Private sector, About 2,100 affordable homes provide a proportion of Housing Corporation affordable affordable units or contribute and Borough of dwellings by 2016; towards off-site provision Poole a further 900 by 2026 (annual average over plan period: 150 affordable dwellings) Provide between Investment opportunities on Primarily the private On-going 500 and 700 primarily privately owned sector throughout plan additional care land/buildings. Between period home bed spaces 100-300 on former Power Station site All dwellings to Investment opportunities on Primarily the private On-going achieve Lifetime primarily privately owned sector, but also the throughout plan Homes standards land/buildings. Housing Corporation period and Housing Associations 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 104 Key Outcomes How will these be delivered? Who is responsible When is the
Poole for delivery? outcome expected? Core
Strategy Meeting the needs Refurbishment of existing Borough of Poole, 2011 of Gypsies and Gypsy site in Mannings Heath; Bournemouth Travellers joint working with Borough Council Submission Bournemouth Borough Council to identify a transit site for travellers Document Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate responded Appraisal against impact
Risk of impact from housing No inappropriate residential Recommendations development on heathland development within 400 incorporated in PCS 29 habitats metres of heathlands; ‘DORSET HEATHLANDS SPA implementing a mitigation AND RAMSAR SITES’ strategy, to avoid cumulative impacts, via a joint heathlands DPD Housing growth is proposed Development needs to make Recommendations in areas at risk from flooding appropriate provision (on-site incorporated in PCS 35 - particularly within the where feasible) to adapt to, ‘FLOOD RISK’ Regeneration Area and alleviate the risk of, flooding. This needs to be considered comprehensively in accordance with SFRA Energy and resources, Sustainable use of energy and Recommendations including minerals extraction, resources should be promoted incorporated in climate change is an issue given the levels of policies policies, including the growth planned in the Town need to produce an energy Centre and resources statement (PCS 36 ‘ENERGY AND RESOURCES STATEMENTS’) 105 Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has
Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate responded Poole Appraisal against impact Core
Achieving the right balance of Policies should be based upon Recommendations Strategy housing provision to meet Housing Needs Assessment/ incorporated in 'Meeting varied needs is an issue due Balanced Housing Market Poole's Housing Needs' Submission to affordability in Poole and evidence the likely predominance of flats in new residential development Document
Revitalising the Town Centre
6.55 Revitalising the Town Centre is a key priority for the Council. It is important, therefore, to understand what actually constitutes the Town Centre in this context. There is a myriad of components which make up the Town Centre but, for simplicity, it is helpful to identify three broad geographical elements which make up this area:
the Regeneration Area, which is focused on the sites fronting Back Water Channel between the existing lifting bridge and the proposed Twin Sails bridge;
Town Centre North, the core of which is the Dolphin shopping centre, bus station, bus depot and arts centre (Lighthouse) and extending to the northern part of the High Street, Sainsbury's site and, potentially, land between and including the goods yard/train station and the George Roundabout;
the rest of the Town Centre, including West Quay Road, Hunger Hill, Poole Quarter, the Quay, Old Town, High Street (lower) and Seldown area. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 106 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 6.4 Poole Town Centre
6.56 The Town Centre is the principal focus of change in Poole. This area will see the highest densities, the most intensive uses (such as major retail and office development) and the greatest mix of uses. This will include at least 4,000 new homes, about 36,000 square metres of business floor space, 35,000 square metres (net) of new retail floor space (excluding the Regeneration Area, which will provide around 9,000 square metres of food, drink and niche retail uses principally along new public quay sides), new leisure uses, around 6,800 new jobs and a second lifting bridge between Hamworthy and the town centre. Priorities are:
the Regeneration Area: second lifting bridge, public waterfront and spaces, housing and employment uses, and commercial activities on the waterfronts
Town Centre North: a 40-60% increase in the amount of retail and leisure floor space, provision of a public space between the Dolphin Shopping Centre and the Lighthouse centre for the arts, potential relocation of the bus depot, and an improved bus station
A rejuvenated role for Poole High Street south of Lagland Street, with opportunities for independent retailers and creative industries
The Goods Yard site: a new train station, hotel, offices and residential development opportunities
other key sites which are either in the pipeline or offer potential for development. 107
PCS 11 Poole
REVITALISING THE TOWN CENTRE - GENERAL Core
The Town Centre will be the most suitable location in Poole for major developments Strategy which generate large numbers of trips and high levels of street-based activity. This
will include: Submission
i. office developments, including major schemes in excess of 2,000 square metres gross floorspace (all parts of the Town Centre); Document ii. the main train and bus stations (Town Centre North);
iii. significant new retail and leisure development (Town Centre North);
iv. the highest densities of residential and mixed use development to provide around 4,000 new homes (all parts of the Town Centre); and
v. significant cultural or tourist attractions (mainly the Town Centre North and Regeneration Area, but other parts of the Town Centre might also be suitable).
Where development plan documents or planning applications concern sites whose development is likely to have a significant adverse impact upon Poole Harbour SPA/Ramsar site, the Local Planning Authority will require that these be accompanied by a detailed assessment, in the form of an Appropriate Assessment and/or Environmental Impact Assessment, whichever is applicable, which identifies the likely impacts and demonstrates how the proposal will avoid, overcome or mitigate for such impacts.
The Regeneration Area
The Regeneration Area has been the subject of a masterplan. The details of this are set out in Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative - Supplementary Planning Guidance (adopted December 2004), which informs statutory Local Plan policies. From this the Council's aspirations for the Regeneration Area are clear. Furthermore, the Regional Development Agency supports the commitment to bringing forward a mixed development including new employment floorspace in line with the Masterplan.
The Regeneration Area and nearby town centre sites should deliver approximately 4,000 dwellings - 40% of Poole's requirement to 2026 - in the first half of the plan period (i.e. by 2016). The transformation of underused and largely commercial sites into mixed communities with public spaces, waterfronts, cafe and restaurant uses will also serve to inject fresh impetus into 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 108 the quality, function and vitality of Poole. When combined with around 36,000 square metres
Poole of business floorspace, this area promises to contribute greatly to the town's status and prosperity. A key objective will be to ensure that this strengthens the town as a whole by: Core a. revitalising the centre to provide much-needed homes and employment opportunities; Strategy b. transforming the quality and vitality of Poole's waterfront environment; Submission c. delivering the Twin Sails Bridge and associated infrastructure to enable development, improve access to the Port, and reduce severance between Hamworthy and the Town Centre; Document d. ensuring social regeneration is an intrinsic component of the development, delivering housing needs, community facilities and other social infrastructure, public spaces, a high quality and accessible environment, and job opportunities for local people; and
e. linking well with the existing parts of the town - Poole Quay, High Street and Town Centre - as well as planned development at Town Centre North and other sites.
6.57 Within the Regeneration Area there are four distinct areas, each of which is the subject of a specific policy in Poole Local Plan First Alteration (adopted in March 2004). These policies will provide the statutory detailed policy framework for these sites until such times as the Site-specific Allocations Development Plan Document replaces them. The four sub-areas are shown on the following map: 109 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 6.5 The Regeneration Area
6.58 The Regeneration Area policies, masterplan and SPG set out priorities for each of the areas. These are reflected in PCS 12 ‘THE REGENERATION AREA’.
Delivery and Infrastructure
6.59 The Regeneration Area has been the subject of a detailed assessment of prerequisites, infrastructure needs and other obligations. Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative: Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Guidance (adopted December 2004) sets this out in greater detail. The Delivery Framework table at the end of this section summarises the main requirements. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 1 10
Poole PCS 12
Core THE REGENERATION AREA Strategy Development in the Regeneration Area will be permitted on condition that it delivers the following priorities: Submission i. the principles set out in the Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative Supplementary Planning Guidance;
Document ii. a second lifting bridge and supporting road infrastructure which will link Hamworthy and the Port to the central part of Poole and the Trunk Road network;
iii. public quaysides between and adjacent to the two bridges, to be provided as and when sites come forward for development;
iv. on-site amenity space and children’s play areas sufficient to meet the Council’s open space standards;
v. a positive contribution towards the cultural development of Poole, through the provision of performance spaces and public art as an integral part of the design and layout of development;
vi. improved pedestrian and cyclist links throughout the Regeneration Area and connecting with the rest of the Central Area and Hamworthy;
vii. provision for physical and social infrastructure in accordance with the adopted Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative: Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Guidance until such times as this is superceded;
viii. protection of the natural environment and ensuring that any adverse effects upon the integrity of European and international widlife sites will be prevented;
ix. the requirements set out in the following schedule: 1 1 Site Key requirements Housing Use Retail Leisure/ 1 (units) Class A1 & hotel (m2) Poole B1 A3 Core (m2) (m2) Strategy a. Land i. the creation of a new public 250+ 6,000 500 300 between square
Wilkins ii. provision of a new public Submission Way and Slipway at Whittles Way RNLI: iii. a new facility for Poole Sea
Scouts Document b. Land i. the public quayside will form an 250+ 4,000 5,000 2,360 between extension to Poole Quay in Poole terms of its function and Bridge and character Wilkins ii. restaurants and cafes (Use Way Class A3) and a mix of smaller specialist shops (Use Class A1) iii. residential uses iv. a 50-bed hotel v. offices and live/work space c. Pilkington i. New quayside 250+ 26,000 2,250 9,948 Tiles and ii. a business centre for small and Sydenham medium enterprises (principally Timber Use Class B1 activities) Yard iii. Other B1 business space iv. a 200-bed budget hotel v. provision of a link road to the Port vi. public space in addition to the quaysides vii. a new facility for Poole Rowing Club 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 1 12 Site Key requirements Housing Use Retail Leisure/ Poole (units) Class A1 & hotel (m2) B1 A3 Core (m2) (m2) Strategy d. Former i. residential development which 1,100+ 0 1,400 0 Power provides a mix of unit types and
Submission Station, sizes sub-station, ii. between 100 and 300 care oil depot, home bed spaces for elderly and land Document residents east of iii. public open space at the centre Rigler of the development Road iv. a community learning centre v. restaurants and cafes (Use Class A3) vi. Port and bridge road links vii. sensitive design and siting of development on the north shore to avoid significant harm to Poole Harbour SPA
Totals 1,850+ 36,000 9,150 12,608
More detailed policies for sites within the Regeneration Area will be set out in the Site-specific Allocations Development Plan Document.
The Town Centre
Poole town centre plays an important role as a sub-regional shopping centre. It is served by both the main train and bus stations and the Dolphin Shopping Centre is an asset in terms of offering 'all-weather' shopping facilities and good accessibility for people with restricted mobility. Other positive advantages for the Town Centre are the presence of the Lighthouse, Poole's arts centre, and the attractions of the Quay at the southern end of the High Street. Despite these advantages, the Town Centre is weak relative to its role and catchment population in terms of the range and quality of shops it currently provides. As with Bournemouth Town Centre, Poole faces competition from out-of-centre shopping from retail parks and Castle Point. Bournemouth and Poole also compete with each other but, given their abilities to serve different ends of the conurbation and hinterlands, there is scope for both centres to reclaim leakage of custom from out-of-centre competitors. 1 Re-positioning the town’s retail offer could also provide an opportunity to fix some of its ageing 13
infrastructure and provide improvements to public spaces and pedestrian and cycle links in the Poole town. The town centre north area demonstrates very obvious problems in terms of the quality of its outdoor spaces and quality of facilities such as the bus station. Current links are particularly Core poor as a result of the size and scale of the existing Dolphin Centre and the position of the railway line which cuts through the heart of the town and separates the bus station and Strategy Lighthouse from the High Street, Quay and new regeneration area parallel to West Quay
Road. Despite these concerns, the Town Centre North area offers significant potential for new Submission investment which could transform the role and quality of the centre as a whole. As well as delivering improved pedestrian links, a retail-led regeneration scheme has the potential to provide a new bus station for the town and better link the Lighthouse Arts centre and Library Document into a new cultural and leisure quarter. At the wider level, if planned for correctly, the town centre north area could improve how the main shopping area for Poole relates to the Quay, Lower High Street and regeneration area.
The Role of the Area Action Plan
Poole's Local Development Framework includes an Area Action Plan for the northern part of the Town Centre. This is intended to provide a framework for regenerating Poole’s core shopping and leisure area. Through this plan the Borough of Poole and its partners in the town centre wish to deliver a step-change in the shopping and leisure offer of the town centre. This Area Action Plan also sets a framework for much-needed improvements to transport infrastructure and public spaces. The plan seeks to regenerate the northern part of the town centre to provide a place where people should live, work and spend leisure time. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 1 14 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 6.6 The Lighthouse (Poole's Centre for the Arts)
Why retail-led regeneration?
In working with those who have an interest in the town centre the move towards a retail-led regeneration scheme was initiated early on in the process. Critical evidence in the form of a Retail and Leisure Capacity Study has shown relatively modest potential for new commercial leisure facilities in the town, yet high baseline projections for retail growth. The largest increase will be in spending on non-food goods. This translates into the need to provide for more retail floorspace in the borough. The following table sets out how much new retail floorspace growth is expected in the main shopping centres in the borough:
2005-2008 2005-2011 2005-2016
Convenience (Food) 1,478m² 3,221m² 5,108m²
Comparison (Non-Food) 4,435m² 11,653m² 24,829m²
Table 6.1 Baseline Retail Growth Projections 1 This growth assumes Poole’s catchment (ie where people travel from to shop in Poole Town 15
Centre) does not change. It is therefore a baseline assessment. It also does not take account Poole of forecast growth in out of town retail parks such as Fleetsbridge, which will account for a further 10,118m² of growth by 2016 if past trends are repeated. Core
The need to inject a new vibrancy to the centre, particularly at night, will be key to the Area Strategy Action Plan's success. Poole Partnership (the Local Strategic Partnership for Poole) is made
up of many organisations aiming to achieve long-term improvements to the quality of life for Submission Poole people. It involves community, voluntary and faith groups, working together with businesses and the public sector. Poole Partnership has been particularly keen to stress that regeneration should raise the role of the Lighthouse by ensuring better physical linkages with the rest of the town and to help deliver on its own priorities which include Pride in Poole and Document Making Poole a Better Place to do Business. If the Area Action Plan is to help deliver the sub-region's economic development strategy ('Raising the Game'), regeneration will also have to ensure the town has facilities which are attractive to businesses making them choose Poole over other destinations and, in doing so, helping to maintain a skilled workforce.
Access and Movement
The AAP will need to strike an appropriate balance between private car use and alternative modes. A priority will be to significantly enhance public transport, pedestrian and cycle infrastructure, assisted through the development of a complementary parking strategy. Fundamental to the success of the regeneration will be its ability to overcome existing barriers to movement for cyclists and pedestrians such as Kingland Road and the railway; to secure a substantially improved bus station; and to ensure levels of traffic congestion remain acceptable.
6.60 Relocating the bus depot out of the town centre, and repositioning the bus station (with associated environmental enhancements) would provide the scope to extend the Dolphin Centre and create a more pedestrian-focused space between it and the Lighthouse. Partial or complete closure of Kingland Road would be desirable, subject to this being achievable, and traffic modelling is currently assessing the implications of this. Beyond this, creating better access through the Dolphin Centre and across the railway will also be priorities.
Public Spaces
6.61 There are few public spaces, such as squares or greens in the town centre of significant scale. Involvement of Poole's Youth Forum, has shown that young people feel there is nowhere for them to congregate without feeling they are perceived as a nuisance or intimidating by others. The Youth Forum is particularly keen to see a redevelopment of the bus station with a more open and spacious design, a view supported by Dorset Police. The Youth Forum and others want a public square that can be used by all ages for various events both formal and informal. They cite the lack of opportunities for ice skating in particular. It will also be important to ensure that public art is considered as an intrinsic part of the AAP. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 1 16 Improving the Retail Offer Poole 6.62 The current range and quality of shopping in Poole Town Centre could be improved. In
Core particular, the quality and provision of department stores needs to improve in order to keep trade in the centre and stop further trade from being 'leaked' to nearby major centres. Major Strategy department stores will look for schemes which are large enough and laid out in a way that suits their needs. With this in mind, the Area Action Plan seeks to accommodate up to 35,000 m² of
Submission new retail floor space in the town centre. By way of comparison, this is about half of the current floorspace in the existing Town Centre. This level of growth is ambitious and relies on a wider strategy which restrict significant retail growth in out of town locations.
Document Community Well-Being
6.63 Whilst improved shopping facilities are welcome, regeneration must ensure wider community and economic benefits. A retail-only 'box-like' extension to the existing Dolphin centre could monopolise the area north of the High Street as the only location to shop. The wider benefits of more visitors to the town centre needs to be felt if better links through to the High Street are established. This is most likely to be achieved by new permanently open pedestrian and cycle links over the rail line, but will also require more direct routes through the existing Dolphin centre, out of shopping hours.
6.64 A key message that has come from Poole Partnership is that the town centre needs to improve its cultural base. The Lighthouse, which accommodates the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, is a great asset to the town, and regeneration will enable better access to this resource. Similarly, the Partnership have been very supportive of options which link the Lighthouse to the rest of the town centre. The Partnership also endorsed the approach suggested by the Youth Forum which is to give a better presence for the library in the town(24). The Partnership have also called for a lively mix of uses. In particular the area should develop in a way which supports Poole as a wider community. If the area is to provide true regeneration benefits, it should provide opportunities for people to live and work in the town centre. The area should provide a mix of residential and supporting leisure uses. The University has expressed a desire to roll out more student accommodation in the town centre which is supported by the Partnership.
Meeting Housing Needs
6.65 The town centre north area could accommodate around 700 new dwellings. In addition, there is scope to provide student accommodation, with 300 bed spaces (in 66 student apartments) having already been provided adjacent to Seldown Bridge. Further details on the range of housing needs which need to be addressed are considered in ‘Meeting Poole's Housing Needs’.
24 See Summary of Youth Forum Workshop, January 2006 1 Feeling Safe and Secure 17 Poole Much of the Town Centre North area is characterised by spaces that feel hostile and unsafe, (25) particularly at night . A common thread in Poole's Local Area Agreement and Poole Core Partnership's Strategic Vision is to foster a safer community in Poole. Whilst crime rates within the town centre may be relatively low, perception or fear of crime is not. Areas that feel Strategy particularly unsafe at night include underpasses, the bus station, the rear servicing areas of the
Dolphin Centre and parts of Newfoundland Road which is quiet and not overlooked by people Submission in buildings at night. Problems around Newfoundland Road are largely a result of the large and open nature of the Sainsbury's car park. To the north of the rail line, the sense of hostility is largely a consequence of the megalithic size and scale of the existing shopping centre. With many of the shops in the Dolphin Centre being 'internalised' around enclosed malls rear serving Document areas tend to face public streets. Because the existing centre was designed with no other land uses, such as homes or evening cafes, restaurants or other leisure uses, these areas are particularly empty and hostile at night. The edges of the existing centre are characterised by underpasses and alleyways which can lead pedestrians and cyclists to feel isolated and vulnerable.
An important objective thus is to secure safe and convenient routes through the area. Without this the Quay, High Street and waterfront regeneration area will not successfully integrate with the town. Mixing activities can help to ensure areas are safe throughout the day and into the evening. Generally this can be achieved by vertically mixing uses. Ideally this would mean the scheme that is characterised by retail and leisure uses, predominantly at ground and / or first floor level with residential uses above.
25 See Town Centre North Urban Design Audit, January 2006 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 1 18
Poole PCS 13
Core TOWN CENTRE NORTH Strategy Town Centre North will be the subject of an Area Action Plan1. This will seek to secure the following priorities: Submission i. 35,000 square metres (net) of additional retail (A1) floor space within the Town Centre, focused mainly upon an extension to the Dolphin Shopping Centre but also involving redevelopment of existing retail units on the site currently occupied Document by Sainsbury’s;
ii. supporting commercial, sports and leisure uses including a cinema and a range of cafes, bars and restuarants (Use Classes A3-A5);
iii. relocation of the bus depot to a suitable site to maximise the development potential of the Town Centre North area;
iv. remodelling of the Kingland Road and bus station layouts between the Dolphin Shopping Centre and Poole Lighthouse to create a public space, much improved pedestrian links and a more attractive and safe environment for bus users;
v. improved pedestrian links across the railway line between the Dolphin Centre and Sainsbury’s site;
vi. new homes (350-700 dwellings);
vii. student accommodation to improve links between the town centre and Poole’s university, promote vitality in the centre and support the creation of opportunities for graduates in the local economy; and
viii. accommodation of office developments, including larger schemes in excess of 2,000 square metres, where suitable sites come forward.
6.66 1. Town Centre North AAP is currently in preparation.
6.67 Picture 6.7 ‘Town Centre North - Key Areas of Change’ shows the key areas of change associated with the Town Centre North area and is intended to be illustrative only. As the AAP evolves, other sites may need to be considered for inclusion within the AAP boundary and so the principles set out in PCS 13 ‘TOWN CENTRE NORTH’ will need to be taken into account in preparing the AAP. 1 19 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 6.7 Town Centre North - Key Areas of Change
The Strategy for Retail Development in Poole
6.68 Much of Poole's growth is predicated upon the ambitious transformation of Poole's Town Centre, including the highest concentrations of new housing, jobs and retail floor space. It follows that development elsewhere in the Borough should not undermine these plans otherwise there would be conflict within the Core Strategy and this could threaten its delivery. Significant retail growth elsewhere will need to be limited to levels which are appropriate to the location. As regards local centres, this allows a reasonable degree of flexibility as these have an important local community role and, generally, will serve a different purpose to the Town Centre, with little or no conflict. Even so, care will be needed to avoid, for example, a single excessively large retail outlet which risks competing with the Town Centre or undermining the healthy mix of functions within the local centre.
6.69 Retail parks raise a different issue as their scale, availablity of free parking and relatively cheap rentals allow more direct competition with the Town Centre. Poole happens to be very well served by retail parks, with Wessex Gate, Poole Commerce Centre and Tower Park all being capable of serving a wide catchment. It is also the case that the type of goods sold in 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 120 these parks has become more blurred over time, and it is no longer the case that they only sell
Poole bulky or DIY goods which are not suited to town centre locations, despite restrictive policies and conditions on planning consents. Core 6.70 At the preferred options stage two broad options were considered: to concentrate retail Strategy growth in the centre, with significant levels of new floorspace here, but restrictions upon growth of the retail parks; or to provide more modest growth in the centre and allow for some growth
Submission of the retail parks. The former of these was favoured and is part of the current spatial strategy. Consequently, if Poole is to achieve the desired ransformation of the Town Centre, with commensurate improvements in the range and quality of the retail offer, it will be necessary to restrict the growth of out-of-centre retail parks. This would not preclude replacement of older Document units by new floor space in the retail parks nor would it stop qualitative improvements which do not result in a materially significant net increase in floor space.
PCS 14
RETAIL GROWTH OUTSIDE THE TOWN CENTRE
Outside the Town Centre new retail development will be permitted only where:
i. it is appropriate to the location and does not undermine the strategy for retail growth in the Town Centre; and
ii. in the case of Poole's retail parks, it is for bulky goods or DIY retail floorspace which is not suited to a town centre location and it does not result in a net increase in floorspace.
Climate Change and Flood Risk
6.71 The Central Area of Poole, including Town Centre North and the Regeneration Area, offers considerable potential to incorporate renewable energy generation. The Regional Spatial Strategy EiP Panel Report expects at least 20% of energy use to come from renewable sources in larger developments (refer to PCS 33 ‘SUSTAINABLE HOMES’ and PCS 34 ‘ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS’). Given the scale of change planned in Poole's centre, there is an opportunity to consider the potential for renewable energy generation comprehensively, for instance through the development of a single combined heat and power (CHP) plant, which could offer a more cost-effective method of attaining ambitious carbon reductions (refer to PCS 36 ‘ENERGY AND RESOURCES STATEMENTS’). It will be important to investigate the most suitable method of delivering renewable energy in the Town Centre in terms of the practicalities of delivering a single installation or whether or not a series 121 of individual renewable installations for each site may be more fit for purpose. The Council will
encourage innovative solutions rather than prejudging the technological response to energy Poole generation. Core 6.72 Much of the centre falls within a 'Coastal Flood Risk' area where there is a 1 in 200 year possibility of a major flooding event. A sequential assessment of development in Poole has Strategy revealed that there are no alternative sites which would be capable of meeting the Town's
housing and economic growth needs and a strategic flood risk assessment has been undertaken Submission by the Borough of Poole to review flood risk boundaries and risks. Details of this are set out in ‘Preparing Poole for Climate Change’. It is important that development in areas at risk from flooding is designed in a manner which is sufficiently resilient to flood risk, and provides the necessary flood defence measures to protect the development from flooding. This will have a Document particular bearing upon waterfront sites within the Regeneration Area. This is actually an advantage to Poole in the long term because these sites present an opportunity to secure the necessary defences to protect the most vulnerable parts of the centre. Where smaller sites come forward for development within areas of flood risk, it will be essential that they make sufficient provision for off-site flood defences which are capable of protecting them from flooding.
The Lower High Street
6.73 The future vitality and viability of the town centre depends as much upon the success the existing businesses located along Poole High Street as it does on the planned new retail premises in the Town Centre North Area. With better linkages between the north of the town centre, the Quay and new urban waterfront at Lower Hamworthy there is scope to regenerate the High Street. Through its involvement in the Town Centre Management Board, the Council will encourage early development of a Town Centre Strategy to consider how the High Street can re-invigorate itself and achieve maximum benefit from development in the Town Centre North area.
6.74 Due to the growth and investment planned for Town Centre North, it is an inevitable consequence that the centre of gravity of the town centre will be firmly consolidated in the area around the Dolphin Centre/Lighthouse, Falklands Square, Kingland Crescent and Sainsbury's site. This will have implications for that part of the High Street south of the railway line and, in particular, the lower part between Lagland Street and Old Orchard. To some extent this is already the case, as the Dolphin Centre and adjacent Falklands Square is currently the core retail facility and this contains the town's concentration of retail multiples and department stores. At the other end Poole Quay and the southern end of the High Street offer different attractions, including bars , restaurants, cafes and specialist shops. There is scope to increase the movement of people between the two 'anchors' either end of the High Street and to get a more balanced crossover and mix of daytime and evening activities which appeal to all age groups. In fulfilling this role, the lower part of the High Street can build on its strengths as an ideal location for independent retailers. In addition, it could offer more in the way of daytime and early evening vitality, through the introduction of cafes with sitting-out areas. There would also be the potential 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 122 for the introduction of creative industries, many of which need small or informal premises, such
Poole as floors above shops, or ground floor studios. Media-related industries would be a particular local strength associated with the University. Core 6.75 Environmental enhancements can increase confidence in, and patronage of, this area. Strategy This may include comprehensive signage and public art to radically alter the character and appeal of the High Street. Submission
PCS 15
Document THE LOWER HIGH STREET
The lower part of Poole High Street, between Lagland Street and the Quay, will be suited to uses and development which:
promote evening and daytime vitality;
develop its role as a focus for creative industries and independent retailers in a manner which complements the cultural vitality of the Town Centre; and
deliver environmental enhancements and public art to create confidence and activity in this area.
To achieve these objectives:
i. development and changes of use will be permitted where they introduce Use Classes A1 (shops), A2 (financial and professional services, A3 (restaurants and cafes), and studio space for creative industries or artists' studios;
ii. at first floor level, offices and residential uses will be permitted; and
iii. financial contributions from development in the Town Centre will be used to carry out environmental enhancements in the form of paving, street furniture, landscaping and lighting, incorporating public art as an intrinsic part of such improvements. 123 Delivery Framework Poole Key Outcomes How will these be Who is When is the delivered? responsible for outcome Core
delivery? expected? Strategy
Regeneration Area Submission Access and Public Realm LTP/DfT part funding for Borough of Poole; 2016 Core highway scheme bridge (£14.1M) SWRDA; LTP
and other links funding/DfT; Document Gyratory and traffic Potential Regional Funding Landowners & management Allocation private sector measures investment; Wilts Public / Private sector Parking & Dorset Bus partnership Landscaping & Company streetscape works Developer funding Slipway provision for small boats Investment opportunities 10 year subsidy for on primarily privately enhanced town centre owned land/buildings bus service Developer contributions (via Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative: Planning Obligations SPG - adopted Dec 2004)
Affordable housing Public / Private sector Private sector; On-going 40% of residential partnership Borough of Poole throughout units (via planning & development up Specified mix of tenure Developer funding housing to anticipated and dwelling size responsibilities); completion date Investment opportunities On-site provision Housing of 2016 on primarily privately preferred Corporation; owned land/buildings Housing Associations Education Developer contributions Primarily the First school Additional (via Poole Bridge private sector; places: up to accommodation at Old Regeneration Initiative: Borough of Poole 115 additional places per year up to 2013/14 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 124 Key Outcomes How will these be Who is When is the
Poole delivered? responsible for outcome delivery? expected? Core
Strategy Town First School, Planning Obligations SPG Middle school Oakdale Middle - adopted Dec 2004); places: up to School and Carter Council's Schools for the 138 additional Submission Community School Future programme places per year New First and Middle up to 2017/2018 School capacity in the Document Hamworthy Peninsula Secondary school places: up to 143 additional places up to 2021/2022
Leisure/recreation On-site provision of some Primarily the 2016 Requirements based facilities private sector; upon the established Borough of Poole Local Plan obligations Developer contributions for policy framework off-site provision and enhancement
Community facilities Public / Private sector Private Sector; All in place by Community learning partnership Borough of Poole; 2016 centre, with library, Bournemouth & ICT and meeting area Developer funding Poole PCT; Poole Health provision Rowing Club; Investment opportunities Relocation of the Poole Sea Scouts on primarily privately Poole Rowing Club owned land/buildings and Poole Sea Scouts Wider access to the Developer contributions water (via Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative: Planning Obligations SPG - adopted Dec 2004)
Town Centre North Improved bus terminus Public / Private sector Borough of Poole, 2016 partnership. Developer & Wilts & Dorset Bus public funding. Company, private 125 Key Outcomes How will these be Who is When is the
delivered? responsible for outcome Poole delivery? expected? Core
developers, land Strategy owners and lease holders, SW RDA Submission Better pedestrian links and Public / Private sector Borough of Poole, 2016 public realm partnership. Developer & private
public funding. developers, land Document owners and lease holders, SW RDA A Vibrant High Street which Investment opportunities Primarily the 2016 links the Quay and the on primarily privately private sector Town Centre North Area owned land/buildings Lower Part of the High Street Introduction of creative Investment opportunities Primarily the 2016 industries, independent on primarily privately private sector; retailers, Cafe uses and owned land/buildings; Borough of Poole public realm improvements Developer contributions
Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal
Potential Adverse Recommendations to overcome How the Core Strategy has Impacts Identified in or mitigate against impact responded Sustainability Appraisal
Regeneration of Ensure town centre north Setting high level objectives for Kingland Road area in regeneration is physically integrated the regeneration of the isolation from the rest of with the rest of the High Street and Northern part of the town the town centre could long term strategy for the High centre and ensuring the High economically damage Street is implemented Street and northern part of the the high Street town centre are integrated. Quantum of Acknowledged that an alternative Recommendations development in Town more dispersed pattern of incorporated in PCS 16 Centre will generate development would be less ‘ACCESS AND MOVEMENT’, more carbon emissions sustainable. Important to ensure PCS 21 ‘ACCESSIBLE AND needs are met as locally as possible INCLUSIVE PLACES’ and PCS 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 126 Potential Adverse Recommendations to overcome How the Core Strategy has
Poole Impacts Identified in or mitigate against impact responded Sustainability Core Appraisal Strategy and that the need to travel is 27 ‘DELIVERING LOCALLY minimised. DISTINCTIVE, SELF-RELIANT Submission PLACES’. Flood risk area affects Adaptation and mitigation measures Recommendations
Document the Regeneration Area need to be incorporated into incorporated in PCS 35 development proposals where ‘FLOOD RISK’. feasible, in a comprehensive manner which is in accordance with the SFRA Cumulative impacts of Proposals need to support a Recommendations development upon comprehensive mitigation package, incorporated in PCS 29 heathlands to be advanced via a joint ‘DORSET HEATHLANDS SPA heathlands DPD AND RAMSAR SITES’ Development could Construction needs to be managed Recommendations adversely affect Poole to ensure it is sensitive to SPA; incorporated in PCS 11 Harbour SPA as a individual developments will require ‘REVITALISING THE TOWN consequence of building more detailed assessments where CENTRE - GENERAL’ and heights, disturbance to there is potential for harm; findings PCS 30 ‘POOLE HARBOUR wildlife, pollution / of Regeneration Area Appropriate SPA AND RAMSAR SITE’. run-off, and increased Assessment and EIA need to be access to harbour taken on board; new access points should be limited where harm is likely Levels of development Important to maximise the 'Preparing Poole for Climate planned in Town Centre sustainable use of energy and Change' seeks a step change has implications for resources in energy efficiency, renewable energy and resources energy use and sustainable use, including levels of resource use, and new mineral extraction developments are required to required. submit an energy and resources statement (PCS 36 ‘ENERGY AND RESOURCES STATEMENTS’). 127 Accessibility and the Prime Transport Corridors Poole Prioritising People and Places Core 6.76 The Core Strategy aspires to create better places which allow all people in society to Strategy gain easy and safe access to everyday needs. When considered in this context, accessibility is about how places and communities function effectively. To achieve success, we need to reduce the need to travel in the first place and, where travel is needed, this should prioritise the Submission most sustainable means.
6.77 Government policy has moved considerably in recognising that street design needs to: Document
apply a user hierarchy to the design process with pedestrians at the top;
identify the importance of the community function of streets as spaces for social interaction;
promote an inclusive environment for people of all ages and abiities;
develop street character types on a location-specific basis (26).
Sub-regional Context
6.78 The South East Dorset Local Transport Plan (2006-2011), prepared jointly by Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset County Council and Borough of Poole, reflects the need to view Poole as part of a wider sub-region. This sets out four shared priorities:
Congestion: reducing journey times; assisting economic prosperity; reducing pollution; providing reliable journeys.
Accessibility: providing access to services for all; opening up previously excluded areas; assisting mobility; enriching people's lives.
Road Safety: saving lives; reducing injuries; providing reassurance to all users of the highway.
Air Quality: providing a healthier environment; improving health; promoting cleaner transport methods.
6.79 Poole, along with Bournemouth Borough Council and Dorset County Council, is embarking upon a Multi-Area Agreement (MAA) which will set out shared priorities for a range of partners across the wider sub-region and this should assist in delivering objectives which would not be
26 Manual for Streets - Department for Transport/Communities and Local Government (2007). 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 128 appropriate or feasible to deliver within a single authority. Joint working is necessary to ensure
Poole consistent policies and implementation of initiatives such as bus corridors, parking strategies, and road improvements such as major junctions. Wallisdown Road is a good example of this,
Core where junction improvements rely upon co-operation between both Bournemouth and Poole Councils. Strategy Reducing the Need to Travel Submission 6.80 This can be promoted in a number of ways. The use of travel plans on significant and large residential, commercial and education developments, park and ride, car parking strategies and enhancing public transport, walking and cycling opportunities are all examples. Park and Document Ride facilities and the consistent and coordinated use of Travel Plans for education facilities, large office developments and new residential developments are recognised in LTP2 as key to encouraging smarter travel choices.(27)
6.81 The strategic approach to Park and Ride in South East Dorset is to create a network of sites across the sub-region to play a key role in mitigating commuter trips from outlying satellite communities which are not on the railway and cannot be served cost-effectively by enhanced bus services. Poole currently has one Park and Ride facility in partial operation at Creekmoor. Mannings Heath has also been identified in feasibility and land use studies as a suitable site for an additional Park and Ride facility in the long term.
6.82 Travel plans can deliver real benefits, helping to promote flexible working to reduce peak-time demand, promote car-sharing, and can secure dedicated bus services, cycle parking and shower/changing facilities for cyclists. The Council has been very encouraged by the success of exemplar residential and commercial Travel Plans such as those in place at the Poole Quarter development and the Arts Institute in Bournemouth (which is within the Borough boundary). This latter example is particularly persuasive in demonstrating the influence of travel plans on travel behaviour.(28)
2002 2004 2006 Staff Cycling 8% 6% 14% Staff using Public 5% 9% 15% Transport
27 South East Dorset Local Transport Plan 2006-2011, p.53. 28 Source: Borough of Poole, Transportation Services, 2006. 129 2002 2004 2006 Poole Staff car drivers 64% 57% 47% Core Table 6.2 Arts Institute Travel Plan Results Strategy Traffic and Quality of Life
6.83 The locations which are held to be the most sustainable tend to be those which have the Submission highest densities, the greatest mix of uses and functions, and the best accessibility levels. A down side of this is the fact that they are also busy places which can suffer from high volumes
of road traffic. Noise, pollution, severance resulting from having to cross busy roads and safety Document concerns are all serious impacts upon the well-being of communities and can be real disincentives when people consider where they want to live. The level of traffic on a road also has a direct bearing upon the levels of interaction between residents on the street. For these reasons suburban locations are still popular places to live despite the relative lack of accessibility, because they are seen as quiet and relatively traffic-free. This highlights the importance of planning our urban areas and managing our road space in ways which try to redress the balance between freedom of travel (by car) and quality of life.
The Role of Prime Transport Corridors
6.84 Both the Regional Spatial Strategy and the South East Dorset Local Transport Plan identify Prime Transport Corridors as having an important part to play in Poole and the wider conurbation. There will be differences in policy emphasis from one Prime Transport Corridor to another, depending on their function and characteristics. The presence of large local centres, high frequency bus routes, proximity to heathland and opportunities for new development will all have a bearing on their ability to accommodate growth. Overall, however, the broad priorities are:
to accommodate new development in suitable locations which are well-served by local facilities and where there is good access via high-frequency public transport services; to facilitate economic and social regeneration initiatives; to prioritise alternatives to the car where appropriate; to support social inclusion priorities in more deprived areas by improving public transport access to job opportunities, services and facilities; and to manage road space more effectively to minimise congestion and associated adverse impacts and provide more efficient and reliable travel times.
Implications for Dorset Heathlands and Poole Harbour
6.85 The sensitivities of Poole's natural environment, principally in relation to the Dorset Heathlands and Poole Harbour SPA/Ramsar sites, are such that special care is needed when planning for access and movement in certain locations. For example, the proposed Twin Sails 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 130 lifting bridge and associated road infrastructure, could have implications in terms of disturbance
Poole or potential contamination/pollution risks. These will need to be taken fully into account. Equally, other schemes, such as improvements along the A31-Poole corridor or those affecting the
Core B3368 Blandford Road, could result in an increase in access levels to certain protected sites. Where this is likely, it may be necessary to secure appropriate measures to avoid or mitigate Strategy against impacts. This may require appropriate heathland contributions via the Interim Heathlands Planning Framework and emerging Joint Heathland Mitigation Development Plan Document. Submission Document 131
PCS 16 Poole
ACCESS AND MOVEMENT Core
Access and movement will be planned for and managed positively to support the Strategy creation of sustainable communities. The strategy for achieving this is to: Submission i. direct new development to highly accessible locations which are capable of meeting a range of local needs, principally theTown Centre and key locations on suitable Prime Transport Corridors; Document ii. manage the road space along Prime Transport Corridors in order to improve the quality, reliability, safety and attractiveness of alternatives to the private car, in particular walking, cycling and public transport;
iii. secure delivery of the second lifting bridge and associated infrastructure in the Regeneration Area;
iv. address the adverse impact of traffic upon communities through environmental enhancements (including tree planting) and improved provision for pedestrians and cyclists;
v. work jointly with neighbouring authorities and other partners and, where required, with regional and national partners, to develop consistent approaches to transport across the conurbation and wider sub-region, including parking strategies, bus prioritisation, integrated traffic control, Prime Transport Corridors and highway improvements;
vi. ensure new development supports the principles of sustainable access and movement, including the needs of people with restricted mobility; and
vii. ensure new development or transport initiatives do not have a significant adverse impact upon the integrity of Dorset Heathlands or Poole Harbour SPA/Ramsar sites.
The East-West (A35) Corridor
6.86 The A35 corridor between Bournemouth and Poole Town Centres serves the most densely populated parts of the conurbation and it offers the highest levels of accessibility by public transport outside of the town centre as it is served by the Waterloo-Weymouth rail link and high-frequency bus services. The South East Dorset Local Transport Plan identifies this as a Priority Prime Transport Corridor. It contains two of the Borough’s three largest local centres 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 132 (Ashley Road and Ashley Cross) as well as other well-connected centres on Parkstone Road
Poole / Civic Centre, Bournemouth Road and Poole Road. Each of these centres/junctions would be well-suited to high densities of residential and mixed use development where opportunities
Core arise. This would help to maintain the important role of the local centres and provides homes where people can gain easy access to a range of facilities. Strategy 6.87 A key priority for the Local Transport Plan is to manage traffic and parking along this
Submission corridor to support better, more reliable bus services. This will enable more road space to be dedicated to bus prioritisation and other initiatives such as real-time information continue to assist in making bus travel more attractive and reliable. There will also be a need to improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities. The LTP also sets out a commitment to work with rail service Document operators to maintain and improve local cross-conurbation rail services.Care will be needed to ensure that traffic management measures which are designed to improve the efficiency of movement are not at the expense of the quality of life of existing and future residents living in already well-established communities within and adjacent to the main route as a result of congestion, air quality degradation, community severance or the use of parallel residential streets as 'rat runs'.
6.88 Within the East-West corridor, Penn Hill Avenue and Lindsay Road are important arteries serving east-west movements parallel to the main A35 and they have been the subject of significant levels of flat development over the years. Stretches of these routes are, to varying degrees, easily accessible to the local centres of Penn Hill, Poole Road, Bournemouth Road or Westbourne, as well as Branksome rail station and high-frequency bus services between Bournemouth and Poole. With the exception of the southern end of Lindsay Road (adjoining Leicester Road), which falls within the Branksome Park Conservation Area, these routes are generally well-suited to higher density flat development. 133
PCS 17 Poole
THE EAST-WEST (A35) CORRIDOR Core
The East-West A35 Corridor will be a focus for new development, transport Strategy infrastructure investment and environmental enhancements Key priorities are to: Submission i. direct the highest densities of development to the following most accessible locations:
a. the Town Centre of Poole; Document
b. Ashley Cross;
c. Ashley Road;
d. Poole Road and Bournemouth Road;
e. the Civic Centre Gyratory and local centre, Parkstone Road;
f. those parts of Penn Hill Avenue and Lindsay Road which are within easy walking distance of local centres and high frequency public transport; ii. improve public transport service efficiency through:
a. on-street parking restraint at critical locations;
b. the re-designation of some sections of highway as bus priority lanes;
c. enhancements to the Urban Traffic Control network to give specific priority to buses;
d. supporting the continued provision of better bus stops with real-time information and improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities;
e. local junction improvements to address road safety issues and to provide improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists;
f. joint working with the train operators to maintain cross-conurbation local train services and to improve integrated transport facilities; iii. improve pedestrian and cyclist facilities to create safer and more attractive routes; 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 134 iv. minimise and, where possible, reverse, the adverse impact of traffic upon people
Poole as a consequence of noise, air pollution, safety or community severance. Measures will include: Core a. the introduction of improved footpaths/cycle lanes which can act as a buffer Strategy between traffic and pedestrians/residents;
Submission b. the introduction of planting, including mature trees, designed to soften the environment around major routes and reduce the impact of vehicles in terms of noise and pollution;
Document c. addressing the safety and responsiveness of crossing points, particularly at local centres or near community facilities;
d. ensuring that traffic management measures along the main routes do not divert traffic onto, or lead adverse impacts upon, nearby or adjoining residential streets;
v. environmental enhancements at key locations such as local centres, major junctions and public spaces, including:
a. the use of good quality street lighting and furniture which enhance the local environment;
b. new and improved paving;
c. exploring opportunities for rear servicing areas, particularly on Ashley Road, which can assist in improving safety, public transport efficiency and environmental quality.
The A3049 East-West Corridor (Wallisdown Road)
6.89 This is an important County Distributor route through the centre of the conurbation, running largely along the Bournemouth/Poole boundary and it is a vital link in terms of the economy. The South East Dorset Local Transport Plan (2006-2011) identifies this route as one of two priority prime transport corridors in Poole (the other being the A35 east-west corridor). It serves Bournemouth University in the north-eastern corner of Poole and facilitates links with potential future park and ride sites as well as some strategically important employment sites. It also offers potential to provide better links between Bournemouth, the university, and communities in Broadstone, Canford Heath and Wallisdown.
6.90 Much of this route is along Wallisdown Road, which suffers from problems arising from congestion and associated poor air quality. This corridor also serves an area of north-west Bournemouth which has high multiple deprivation and low car ownership, but which is poorly served by public transport services. 135 6.91 Along this corridor, there is the prospect of providing a future park and ride site at
Mannings Heath. This site is allocated in Poole Local Plan First Alteration (Adopted in March Poole 2004) and could play an important role in serving Bournemouth Town Centre. Whilst it is unlikely that this will come forward before 2011, it is crucial that the A3049 Corridor is capable of offering Core an efficient link for bus services between Bournemouth and the park and ride site if this is to be a viable traffic management option. Strategy
6.92 It should be noted that this corridor is close to internationally protected heathland habitats. Submission As a consequence, residential development will need to be managed to ensure that additional recreational pressures are not placed upon the heathland. Road improvement schemes within 200 metres of any part of the Dorset Heathlands will need to demonstrate that they would not have a significant adverse impact upon the heaths. Document 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 136
Poole PCS 18
Core THE A3049 EAST-WEST CORRIDOR
Strategy The A3049 East-West Corridor will be the subject of improvements designed to increase the attractiveness of alternative travel modes to the car. This will be used
Submission to address multiple deprivation, improve bus, cycle and pedestrian routes to and from Bournemouth University and assist in conurbation-wide traffic management. Measures to deliver these priorities include:
Document i. selective widening, to facilitate bus and multiple-occupancy lanes;
ii. the improvement of critical junctions where existing traffic hold-ups clearly result in significant delays to public transport;
iii. priority for buses, cyclists and pedestrians;
iv. improved bus services with real-time information, to link Broadstone, Canford Heath, Wallisdown, the University and Bournemouth Town Centre;
v. the provision of a park and ride site at Mannings Heath (post-2011 ) in support of the conurbation-wide Local Transport Plan Strategy; and
vi. improvements to Wallisdown Local Centre to offer better facilities and a more attractive environment for local residents.
Residential development which would be likely to lead to additional recreational pressures upon nearby heathland, together with road schemes, will be carefully controlled to ensure there is no adverse impact upon these internationally protected habitats. Any road improvement within 200 metres of the Heathlands will require prior assessment under the provisions of the Habitats Regulations, and, where the scheme would be likely to adversely affect the integrity of the protected site, alternative solutions may need to be sought.
The A31-Poole Link
6.93 A key local priority to which the Borough of Poole is committed is to work with local, regional and national partners in an attempt to secure strategic improvements to transport links with other regions. Within Poole, a long-standing priority is to provide better links from Poole Port and the Town Centre northwards to the A31 Trunk Road. The port is part of the Trans-European Network System and so good connections need to be recognised as more than a local issue. The main routes between Poole and the A31 are the A348 (Ringwood Road) 137 and the A349 (Wimborne Road/Gravel Hill). The A348 carries a particularly large proportion of
HGVs and the volume of traffic along both routes can cause problems of congestion and pollution. Poole At present, there are no proposals within the five-year implementation plan of the Local Transport
Plan to deal with this issue. However, in recognition of its importance to Poole, the Core Strategy Core identifies improved links to the A31 as a continued priority, and the Council will work with partner authorities, the Regional Assembly and Government to improve connections. As a result of Strategy Poole’s status as a growth Point, future modelling of traffic implications will be necessary as part of a wider South East Dorset Traffic Model, including some issues related to the A31 link. Submission
PCS 19 Document THE A31-POOLE LINK
The Council will continue to work with local, regional and national partners to promote improved links between Poole Town Centre/the Port and the A31 Trunk Road. This will require a combination of measures in the South East Dorset area and the Authorities of Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole will continue to seek greater recognition of the importance of this route in future regional funding programmes.
Other Main Routes
6.94 The B3368 Blandford Road in Hamworthy is an important Prime Transport Corridor which provides an alternative access to Poole Port and the town centre from the west and north (i.e. alternative to the main A35/A350 Upton by-pass and Holes Bay road links). This route will benefit from the Regeneration Initiative, which is set to provide better connections links with the rest of Poole via a second harbour crossing and associated road links. It will be important to have regard to potential implications for increasing access to protected habitats such as Upton Heath.
6.95 Other opportunities along this route include new investment potential in the Hamworthy local centre (see PCS 23 ‘LOCAL CENTRES’) and the combined effect of these initiatives will hopefully be to the benefit of all Hamworthy residents. This should help to secure new economic investment (and new jobs) within the Regeneration Area, improved links to Poole Port, and significant new areas of public waterfront between the existing and proposed bridges. Parts of Hamworthy have been identified in Closing the Gap, Poole’s Local Area Agreement, as suffering from problems of multiple deprivation and so these investment opportunities will help to improve the prospects of many residents. It will be important, therefore, to ensure that future investment along this corridor assists in improving public transport, pedestrian and cycling links and environmental quality.
6.96 There are a number of other Prime Transport Corridors identified in the Local Transport Plan, as well as one or two other significant arteries. Main routes which are well-served by public transport and local facilities will be good locations for medium- to high-density residential 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 138 and other development. This will help to maintain the role of local centres and gives people
Poole convenient access to facilities. Of particular suitability will be local centres on these main arteries, but also sites fronting these routes may provide good opportunities where such sites are within
Core convenient walking distance (400 metres) of a train station/high-frequency bus service and a local centre. Such development is directed to the frontages of these main routes as these are Strategy well-suited to flat development; nearby and adjoining residential streets within established residential areas will continue to meet an important role in providing family housing for existing
Submission and future residents.
PCS 20 Document OTHER PRIME TRANSPORT CORRIDORS AND MAIN ROUTES
Other Prime Transport Corridors and main routes will be expected to support the delivery of sustainable communities and will include meeting Local Area Agreement priorities of reducing deprivation in parts of Hamworthy, Alderney and Canford Heath. This will be achieved through:
i. improvements to public transport, cyclist and pedestrian provision;
ii. directing higher densities to local centres and other places on the main routes which are accessible to high-frequency public transport;
iii. managing development on residential streets adjoining or near to main routes to ensure Poole’s existing communities and family housing stock are not diminished; and
iv. ensuring measures within existing highway land do not prejudice potential future development opportunities at Hamworthy and Canford Heath (Canford Heath Road) local centres.
Sustainable and Inclusive Communities
Tackling Social Exclusion
6.97 In areas where residents are more likely to encounter problems associated with multiple deprivation, it is often the case that access to good quality jobs, services and local facilities is limited. Public transport can assist in helping communities by providing cheap and convenient access to such needs. Hence, our approach to Prime Transport Corridors needs to take account of where better accessibility can assist in meeting social objectives, including priorities flagged up in the Local Area Agreement. It is also the case that some measures in Poole will assist residents in Bournemouth and vice versa. This needs to be reflected in the approach taken. 139 Ensuring Everyone in the Community is able to Participate Poole 6.98 Accessibility is not just about transport. Our buildings, streets, and homes can all be
designed and managed in ways which either restrict or enable access to certain groups or Core individuals. Also, the use of buildings and places can improve accessibility by being sensitive to particular needs. Strategy
6.99 Pavements, pedestrian crossings and buses increasingly cater for people with some Submission form of restricted mobility. This should continue so that all places offer good access for all. This needs to be supported by facilities like shops, banks, public buildings, open spaces and restaurants also taking the necessary measures to be welcoming places for all residents and visitors. In addition, operators of facilities like swimming pools should consider the needs of Document particular groups which may require support or positive encouragement in being able to use the facilities. By doing this, it will be possible to not only improve the mobility of people, but also to actively encourage full participation of all groups and individuals in community activities.
6.100 Building regulations require that public buildings are accessible to wheelchar users, including ramps to doorways, minimum-width corridors and doors, lifts (where more than one floor) and WC facilities. In terms of housing, the Core Strategy expects all new development to meet Lifetime Homes standards, which will help to reduce the amount of dwellings which currently limit access only to the able-bodied (refer to PCS 9 ‘LIFETIME HOMES’). However, more will need to be done to make places as inclusive as possible of all groups. This will require a concerted effort on the part of all agencies involved in shaping places to ensure their strategies, programmes and developments are brought forward with an understanding of the communities that they should be serving.
PCS 21
ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE PLACES
The Council will work with community groups, developers, Poole Partnership and relevant public sector bodies to deliver accessible places which are inclusive of all individuals or groups regardless of their age, gender, race, religious or cultural belief or sexual orientation. This will require all relevant agencies and stakeholders to have regard to the needs of all people in the community when planning or implementing strategies, programmes or development. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 140 Delivery Framework Poole Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible When is the Core delivered? for delivery? outcome
Strategy expected?
Creation of Partnership working across Borough of Poole; On-going Submission sustainable public and private sector Poole Partnership; communities private developers
Document Highest densities in Development opportunities Private developers; Town Centre sites: most accessible in Town Centre and other Borough of Poole; 2016; On-going locations local centres; LTP/DfT DfT/LTP requirement for funding to support provision new development of Twin Sails Bridge and enable development in Lower Hamworthy; private sector investment opportunities Improved public Prioritisation of LTP funding Borough of Poole; On-going transport efficiency within highway land; LTP; private and reliability developer contributions developers Supporting modal Prioritisation of LTP funding Borough of Poole; On-going shift to public within highway land; private developers; transport, walking developer contributions; LTP partners and cycling travel plans; cross- conurbation parking strategy; developer contributions Environmental Prioritisation of LTP funding LTP partners; On-going enhancements at towards sustainable Borough of Poole; key locations such communities agenda; private developers as local centres, development opportunities; main junctions and developer contributions public spaces Promoting improved Trunk Roads funding; Borough of Poole; 2016 (Twin Sails links between Poole Regional Funding Allocation; private developers; Bridge) and the A31 joint working with regional LTP funding; partners; Twin Sails lifting DfT/Highways bridge and associated Agency (Trunk Road infrastructure funding; GOSW, SWRDA and Regional Assembly 141 Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible When is the
delivered? for delivery? outcome Poole expected? Core
(Regional Funding Strategy Allocation)
Accessible and Cross-sector partner working; Borough of Poole; 2016 (Town Submission inclusive places for private development Poole Partnership; Centre North); all residents opportunities; Town Centre private developers on-going
North AAP; Regeneration commitment Document Area
Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate responded Appraisal against impact
Concentration of development Important to minimise need to Recommendations in key locations along Prime travel, promote alternatives to incorporated in PCS 16 Transport Corridors could lead the car, improve pedestrian ‘ACCESS AND MOVEMENT’ to air quality problems environments and provide and PCS 21 ‘ACCESSIBLE greening of busy routes AND INCLUSIVE PLACES’. Measures to improve Prioritise walking, cycling and Recommendations efficiency of movement of public transport; improve incorporated in 'Accessibility vehicles should not be at pedestrian links at key and the Prime Transport expense of sustainable forms locations; avoid diverting Corridors' section; principles of travel or lead to community traffic onto residential streets set out in PCS 16 ‘ACCESS severance AND MOVEMENT’ , PCS 21 ‘ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE PLACES’ and PCS 27 ‘DELIVERING LOCALLY DISTINCTIVE, SELF-RELIANT PLACES’ Poole Bridge construction Construction to adhere to Recommendations dealt with could disturb contaminants, Regeneration Area in Poole Bridge Regeneration lead to pollution/run/off and Appropriate Assessment and Initiative Masterplan / SPG and disturb wildlife in Poole Poole Bridge Environmental incorporated into PCS 30 Harbour SPA Impact Assessment ‘POOLE HARBOUR SPA AND RAMSAR SITE’. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 142 Priority Areas in Need of Investment and Improvement Poole 6.101 Poole offers residents the potential to enjoy a good quality of life. However, there are
Core significant disparities within the Borough in terms of wealth, quality of the living environment, access to resources and levels of deprivation. Strategy Multiple Deprivation and the Local Area Agreement Submission 6.102 This is commonly regarded as the most important indicator of deprivation. The scores in each of seven domains are combined to give a composite score of Multiple Deprivation. The domains are: Document
Income Employment Health and Disability Education, Skills and Training Barriers to Housing and Services Crime The Environment.
6.103 The most recent assessment of multiple Deprivation (The 2007 Indices of Multiple Deprivation – Results for Poole, February 2008) shows a slight relative worsening in terms of multiple deprivation in Poole overall since 2004. Some areas have seen improvements but those which are showing a relative decline tend to be in areas already in the lowest quartile nationally. None of these are within the worst 10% nationally, although Poole Town just escapes this (with a percentile of 10.65).The LSOAs in the worst quartile are in Poole Town Centre, Alderney, Hamworthy West, and Newtown.
6.104 This raises concerns not only for the people living in these areas, but also that there is a growing risk of Poole becoming a more polarised society, with the gap between prosperous and deprived areas continuing to grow. This will require a concerted effort by a range of organisations and service providers to ensure the causes of deprivation are tackled effectively. This is a key priority for the Sustainable Communities Strategy and the Local Area Agreement for Poole, Closing the Gap, sets out a series of outcomes which are intended to address this.
6.105 The Introduction (refer to 1 ‘Introduction’) contains a table which summarises how the Core Strategy seeks to address the desired outcomes in the LAA. The following section deals with those which are specific to target areas in the LAA - namely:
Alderney Hamworthy West and East; and Poole Town. 143 6.106 It will also be seen in this section that local centres in Creekmoor, Hamworthy, Canford
Heath and Wallisdown are all identified as being in need of further investment and improvement. Poole These centres are within areas which have tended not to fare well in terms of the indices of multiple deprivation and so there is a certain degree of symmetry between the LAA priorities Core and the local centre priorities, even though the latter are not necessarily within the LAA target areas. Strategy
6.107 Improvements to local centres can bring about other social, environmental and economic Submission benefits which can help to engender healthier and more prosperous communities. For this reason, the aspiration to improve these centres is more than a purely aesthetic exercise.
LAA Target Areas: the Role of the Core Strategy Document
6.108 The Core Strategy sets out aspirations throughout the document which can assist in delivering the LAA. These include policies which deal with affordable housing requirements, meeting the needs of Gypsy and Traveller communities, supporting economic growth, prosperous local centres, reducing the need to travel, improving accessibility, retaining community facilities and so on. This section, however, is more specifically concerned with area-specific targets as these are aimed at tackling the greatest concentrations of multiple deprivation and/or community need.
6.109 The target areas of Alderney, Poole Town, Hamworthy West and East all display a variety of challenges for their respective local communities. The LAA also refers to Parkstone in the context of enabling older patients to better manage their medicine (this also applies to Old Town).
Identifying Possible Priorities for the Core Strategy in relation to LAA Target Areas
LAA Theme Target Areas Core Strategy Role in Target Areas
Children and Alderney Key role for children's centres, extended schools, Young People Hamworthy youth centres in providing for variety of social and West and educational needs East Health and community facilities can assist in Old Town targeting specific needs, including training, youth services, community-based initiatives Leisure, recreation and youth facilities can increase community participation and health Supporting Schools for the Future 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 144 LAA Theme Target Areas Core Strategy Role in Target Areas Poole
Core Healthier Old Town Recreation facilities can help to increase participation Communities in sport Strategy and Older Parkstone Important role for community halls People Local surgeries will need to expand role in order to
Submission assist greater independence & self-management of medicine Local centres are key to serving local needs
Document Safer and Alderney Health care treatment & support: local facilities and Stronger surgeries Communities Old Town Safer homes Arts events and other activities engaging with Hamworthy cross-section of people in targeted areas East & West Environmental enhancements – public spaces, pavements Local centres provide key opportunity for providing a range of needs Enterprise and Hamworthy Role for local schools in training and skills Economic West development - including lifelong learning Development Links between employment opportunities in Alderney Regeneration Area and northern Poole (Mannings Heath) Retention of community facilities which have potential to provide support services Accessibility: better links between deprived areas and job/training opportunities 145
PCS 22 Poole
LAA OUTCOMES AND TARGET AREAS Core
The Council will work jointly with developers, businesses, residents, other public Strategy sector organisations and National and Regional agencies to assist in the delivery of
LAA Outcomes, including those affecting the LAA Target Areas of Alderney, Submission Hamworthy West and East, and Poole Old Town. This will require the delivery of a range of measures aimed at tackling social exclusion and multiple deprivation and to bring about environmental enhancements. To assist this the Local Planning Document Authority will:
i. give favourable consideration to proposals involving schools, community centres and medical facilities which enable such facilities to diversify their roles in order to target specific needs of the local community;
ii. set out proposals for sites in the Site-specific Allocations DPD where opportunities for new, expanded or replacement community infrastructure has been identified by service providers;
iii. use the Local Development Framework as a means of securing employment opportunities which are capable of benefiting the target areas through the retention of Existing Employment Areas and providing new opportunities in the Regeneration Area and Town Centre North; and
iv. require that new development contributes directly and/or through the use of financial contributions, to the creation of safe, healthy, accessible, inclusive and attractive places in the LAA target areas. Priorities will include environmental enhancements in public places, improved community and cultural facilities, the provision of meeting places for young people, improved pedestrian links and public transport services, and new or enhanced recreation facilities.
Investing in Local Centres
6.110 Poole's local centres generally perform successfully and, unsurprisingly, are valued highly by local residents. A local centre can have a marked effect upon the quality of life of the residents it serves: shopping for everyday goods is both convenient and a sociable event where the personal nature of service often distinguishes the shopping experience from that of the supermarket or larger malls. Local centres can also offer other services, such as a bank, a post office or doctor's surgery. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 146 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 6.8 Location of Local Centres 147 6.111 An audit of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the Borough's 16 local centres (29)
was undertaken in October 2000 and has recently been updated . This shows that whilst most Poole continue to function well, some have a better range of community facilities than others. Similarly some perform better in terms of the quality of their public realm and transport infrastructure Core when compared to others. The audit identified four centres in particular which could benefit from a variety of improvements. These findings are summarised in the following table. Strategy
Local Centre Opportunities Submission Canford Heath and These local centres present opportunities for qualitative improvement to Creekmoor public spaces, presenting opportunities to better integrate the centres with their surrounding areas, particularly in terms of pedestrian and cycle Document movements. This could be achieved through retail-led mixed use development provided: Significant regeneration benefits result which better link existing facilities and surrounding residential areas; Development is not of a scale that significantly alters the function of the centre in the hierarchy - ie to serve mainly local needs; Development would not jeopardise the regeneration of Poole Town Centre; and Development provides better links and improves the public realm Wallisdown This local centre straddles two local authority boundaries and suffers from poor public realm and traffic severance. An opportunity exists to work with Bournemouth Borough Council and other partners to improve the quality of the public realm and reduce the impact of Wallisdown Road on the local centre. Hamworthy This centre provides a limited range of retail and community facilities and has poor public realm. Opportunities exist for redevelopment of under-utilised sites at 243 to 249 Blandford Road to improve the quality and range of facilities for Hamworthy's growing population.
Table 6.3 Key Areas of Change - Local Centres
6.112 Three of Poole's local centres - Ashley Road, Ashley Cross and Broadstone - perform a significant role due to the comprehensive range of facilities and services on offer. It is important that all three centres maintain their important roles and so development and investment will be expected to support this objective. Other local centres have a more selective, but nonetheless vital, role in meeting local needs.
29 Local Centres - LDF Background Paper (January 2007) 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 148 Ashley Road Poole 6.113 The audit did not include the main town centres, namely Poole Town Centre, Ashley
Core Road, Ashley Cross and Broadstone. However, it is the case that Ashley Road, despite being the second largest centre in the Borough in terms of retail floorspace, suffers from certain Strategy environmental problems. As a main bus route it is liable to congestion which in turn leads to air quality problems. It is one of the few locations in the Borough which exceeds air quality standards
Submission and may in future be designated as an Air Quality Management Area. On-street parking and servicing can exacerbate this situation and so measures such as the creation of suitable rear servicing, where opportunities arise, and carefully managed on-street parking, could alleviate some of these difficulties. Document 6.114 The quality of the public realm in places is also an issue and enhancements to shop fronts, paving, street lighting and furniture and the softening of the environment through landscaping could make a significant difference to this local centre. This has important implications for the overall objective of creating attractive places and sustainable communities.
6.115 The potential benefits of tackling the above issues would be an uplift in rents and economic performance, a respective increase in the quality and range of retail outlets, and an associated improvement in the desirability of the surrounding living environment. It could also reduce potential health impacts of poor air quality upon local residents and shoppers.
6.116 In addition to PCS 23 ‘LOCAL CENTRES’, PCS 17 ‘THE EAST-WEST (A35) CORRIDOR’ also contains criteria of relevance to Ashley Road. 149
PCS 23 Poole
LOCAL CENTRES Core
New development will support an uplift in the quality, vitality, diversity and success Strategy of local centres. Submission The priorities for those local centres most in need of new investment and improvement are as follows:
A) in Canford Heath and Creekmoor: Document i. new retail investment at a scale appropriate to the role of the local centre will be permitted provided that it contributes to the provision of an enhanced public space as a focal point for the local centre; ii. highway schemes will support the provision of better pedestrian and cyclist links with the surrounding residential areas;
B) in Wallisdown the Council will work in partnership with Bournemouth Borough Council to: i. improve the quality of the public realm including paving materials, shopfronts and signs, street lighting and planting; and ii. take steps to minimise the community severance caused by traffic, particularly on Wallisdown Road, through attention to the pedestrian environment, improved crossing points and sensitive landscaping;
C) in Hamworthy redevelopment opportunities within the Local Centre will be permitted for a mix of uses which deliver: i. improved local shopping facilities; ii. residential use; iii. community facilities; and iv. environmental enhancements to the local centre;
D) in Ashley Road: 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 150 i. environmental enhancements will be a priority to provide an overall uplift in the
Poole quality and economic performance of the local centre. Such improvements will focus upon the quality of paving, street furniture, lighting shop fronts and Core signage; Strategy ii. development will support the introduction of traffic management measures aimed at improving the reliability and efficiency of bus journeys, the movement of
Submission people and vehicles, air quality and the servicing of premises in a manner which is sensitive to the needs of traders in the local centre and residents on and adjacent to Ashley Road itself. Document In all cases developer contributions will be sought from development proposals in the surrounding areas which are served by these local centres to assist in the delivery of improvements.
Delivery Framework
Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible for When is the delivered? delivery? outcome expected?
Supporting LAA outcomes (including those for the target areas of Hamworthy East and West, Poole Old Town and Alderney Schools, Schools for the Future Borough of Poole (principally On-going community review; Health sector through its role as throughout plan centres, medical restructuring; private responsible authority for period facilities, investment opportunities; education, highways and provision of new partnership working with planning); private developers/ community public, private and landowners; Bournemouth & infrastructure community sectors Poole PCT; community & voluntary sectors Employment Investment opportunities in Borough of Poole (through its 2016 (for bridge opportunities Town Centre, including role as Planning authority and Town which benefit new retail/ leisure jobs and enabling via partnership Centre Jobs); LAA target areas and new business work); LTP funding including on-going floorspace in Lower £14.1M towards bridge investment in Hamworthy; promoting new infrastructure; private employment investment in existing investment opportunities; sites employment areas links with university and 151 Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible for When is the
delivered? delivery? outcome Poole expected? Core
schools to improve training & Strategy skills development
New Through private investment Borough of Poole (including On-going Submission development to opportunities; partnership partnership working with support the working; developer Bournemouth Borough
creation of safe, contributions Council on cross-boundary Document healthy, inclusive, issues); private developers; accessible and community and voluntary attractive places sector 'Priority' Local Centres Highway Transportation schemes; Borough of Poole; LTP On-going schemes which LTP funding partners commitment support better pedestrian & cyclist links Public realm Transportation schemes; Borough of Poole; LTP On-going improvements LTP funding; consultation partners; local traders; commitment and reduced with traders' associations private developers community in local centres; private severance developers & investment opportunities; developer contributions Mixed Private investment Private developers 2016 development - opportunities shops, residential, community use 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 152 Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible for When is the
Poole delivered? delivery? outcome expected? Core
Strategy Bus prioritisation, Transportation schemes; Borough of Poole; LTP 2016 servicing and LTP funding partners; Wilts & Dorset Bus general company Submission accessibility
Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal Document
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate responded Appraisal against impact
No significant adverse impacts None No changes necessary identified.
Locally Distinctive and Self-Reliant Places
6.117 Successful places depend upon good design. Cultural opportunities are also vital attractions in successful towns and cities. Public art is an intrinsic element of good design, while performing arts can influence greatly the cultural vitality of places. The involvement of urban designers, landscape architects and artists and crafts people early in the design process will help greatly in creating an urban form which is culturally stimulating and unique to Poole, while the creation of spaces which promote performing arts, or support the role of existing cultural facilities, can make a significant difference to the quality of the urban environment.
6.118 The most successful urban places are unique and memorable because they combine an attractive built environment with a lively mix of functions. As a consequence they tend to be reasonably self-contained, being capable of meeting the local needs of their communities. Self-reliance is an important component in any sustainable community and the combination of this and a high quality environment should be cornerstones of all strategies affecting Poole. Getting these right will deliver more prosperous communities and truly distinctive places.
6.119 The Building for Life standard is the national benchmark for well-designed housing and neighbourhoods in England and was launched by the Deputy Prime Minister in 2003. It can prove a helpful tool in recognising and influencing good design in terms of how it contributes positively to place-making. There are 20 criteria, divided into the main categories of: character; roads, parking and pedestrianisaton; design and construction; and environment and community. 153 Poole's Distinctive Sub-areas Poole 6.120 There are many parts of the town which, although not of sufficient architectural or historic merit to warrant Conservation Area status, nevertheless have a strong local identity which is Core valued by residents and contributes positively to Poole's character. Areas will develop strong links around a variety of shared interests or common values, and community interaction can be Strategy influenced by the type and location of housing and other facilities. In areas attractive to families with children, for instance, the local school or play park will be important focal points, and Submission community networks can build from these links. Document
Picture 6.9 Poole Quay - attractive to families
6.121 The Poole Townscape Character Assessment (2007) has identified fifteen broad character areas, each of which has distinct, identifiable features. The assessment was based upon survey work and has taken account of the County-wide Landscape Character Assessment1 (see map below). The Poole Assessment provides a more detailed description of townscape, landscape and coastal features. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 154 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
1. Source: Dorset Landscape Character Assessment, 2007 (Crown Copyright Reserved)
6.122 It is important to develop a more holistic understanding of what makes a particular area unique and, therefore, what form development takes within it. Developers will need to demonstrate how their proposals relate to the surrounding character through the preparation of design and access statements. Local communities may have an opportunity to identify those features or characteristics they value in their street or neighbourhood. One way of doing this is through the use of Place Checks, where local residents can systematically identify the features that make up the character of their street or neighbourhood. 155 Poole's 15 Townscape Character Areas Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 6.10 Townscape Character Areas
6.123 The Character Area Profiles for the areas identified in Picture 6.10 ‘Townscape Character Areas’ are set out in 9 ‘Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles’. A separate, more detailed character study (which will be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document) will provide important 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 156 evidence for other more detailed development plan documents and will be a valuable tool
Poole enabling development proposals to be assessed for the contribution they make to local distinctiveness. Core How does the Identification of Distinctive Sub-areas relate to the Spatial Strategy Strategy?
Submission 6.124 To answer this question, it is helpful to first be clear about what the division of Poole into its constituent distinctive areas is intended to do. Perhaps a good starting point is to set out a few statements which help to explain this. Document Question Response
Are Distinctive No. Areas which are of special architectural or historic merit will normally Sub-areas be designated as Conservation Areas, as has already happened in Poole. intended to be areas of 'special character'? How has the Poole is not a uniform town. There are slopes, coastal areas, heathland, characterisation housing and development from different eras, varying levels of tree cover, of areas taken distinctive parks, major roads, a port, industrial estates and so on. Parts place? of the town also function in their own unique way, Poole Quay, Sandbanks and the Town Centre being three good examples. The characterisation study has used these differences to identify broad areas where certain characteristics, functions and building forms prevail. Some will have clear physical boundaries and others will be more subtle. Is the No. It is intended to provide a context for assessing development identification of proposals on the basis of how well they complement the attributes of the Distinctive area or, in some cases, reduce the impact of the adverse characteristics Sub-areas in the of the area (such as a poor physical environment). Core Strategy intended to prevent development? Are all parts of the Yes. This is a comprehensive approach because all areas have an Borough identifiable character. It is also the case that each identified area will be covered? a composite of more detailed and localised characteristics. It is important, therefore, to set out a framework which is not partial or selective, or which leaves some parts of the Borough in a vacuum. 157 Question Response Poole
How do the The Spatial Strategy sets out the broad locations where significant Core Distinctive development is expected to take place. Small-scale changes will continue Sub-areas to take place in other parts of the Borough away from the main areas of Strategy policies affect the change. The identification of distinctive areas is intended to assist
Spatial Strategy? interpretation of the spatial strategy when more detailed policies are Submission developed in other development plan documents and when development proposals are submitted.
How do the The identification of larger sub-areas will help to achieve greater Document Distinctive consistency between development within and adjacent to Conservation Sub-areas Areas. In practical terms, however, the policies for Conservation Areas policies affect (and their boundaries) will not be affected by the sub-area policies. Conservation Areas? What will be the There are four key methods: main method of implementing the 1. Development proposals will demonstrate how they are taking account sub-area policies? of local distinctiveness and adding value to the development management process by providing a comprehensive overview of area character and local priorities.
2. Other more detailed development plan documents will build upon the policies in the Core Strategy and provide a finer grain of detail.
3. Financial contributions which have been secured from new development will be used to bring about a range of improvements within sub-areas (for example environmental enhancements to local centres) to ensure that these areas can meet the additional demands placed on them by new development.
4. Local residents who choose to carry out a place check (a local character assessment) can base it on the Poole Character Assessment and the broader policy framework in the Core Strategy. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 158
Poole PCS 24
Core LOCAL DISTINCTIVENESS
Strategy Proposals for development will exhibit a high standard of design and will complement or enhance Poole's character, local identity and cultural vitality. To meet these
Submission requirements, development will be permitted provided that:
A it adheres to the following character and design principles: All
Document Areas i. it respects the setting and character of the site, surrounding area and adjoining buildings by virtue of its function, siting, landscaping and amenity space, scale, density, massing, height, design details, materials and appearance;
ii. public spaces and routes through sites are planned as an integral part of the overall development;
iii. doors and windows face onto public space, contributing to the appearance of the area and the safety of public spaces;
iv. in areas of commercial use, the arrangement of accesses and uses contribute to the vitality of the space onto which they face;
v. any external lighting does not harm the character or appearance of the area; 159 B in the Town Centre and Associated Waterfronts: Areas 1, 2 Poole i. building designs, quay walls, streetscapes and flood defences and 3 contribute positively to the urban waterfront character of Poole, Core
having regard to the wider landscapes of Poole Harbour, the Dorset Strategy AONB and Holes Bay;
ii. new development on Poole Quay respects the historic environment, Submission reflects traditional plot divisions, retains and enhances historic alleyways and street patterns and, where opportunities exist, provides
new alleyways; Document
iii. proposals demonstrate how they enhance townscape quality, character and vitality of the area;
iv. it assists in reducing the dominance and severance of roads at key locations;
v. it preserves or enhances Listed Buildings and their settings, Conservation Areas, and features of historical or architectural interest, including views and settings of landmark buildings;
C in Other Waterfront Areas: Areas 3, 9, i. it respects the shoreline character of the area, including the wider 10, 11 landscape of Poole Harbour, Poole Bay and the Dorset AONB; and 12 ii. in the vicinities of Holes Bay, Upton Marsh/Lytchett Bay and Upton Country Park, it does not have a detrimental impact upon the wider landscape character of these areas or the Town Centre;
iii. at Sandbanks, the uniform spacing and height of buildings on the Causeway is not disrupted, and harbour views through building gaps, and the mature wooded character and established beachline on the peninsula are retained;
iv. the setting of the sandspit is not harmed by overly dominant buildings or insensitive designs;
v. the peninsula's interior and Conservation Area retains its character of predominantly detached houses; 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 160 D in Town and Local Centres: All Poole Areas i. it does not undermine the principal retail and community functions Core or vitality of the centre; Strategy ii. shop fronts, signs and building frontages are high in quality and enhance the character of the centre; Submission iii. it supports the improvement and enhancement of the local centre by contributing to the delivery of: Document
a. new, high-quality paving, street furniture and lighting along pedestrian routes and in public squares / spaces;
b. hard and soft landscaping, including tree planting;
c. a reduction in the severance caused by roads in the local centre through the sensitive design of pedestrian crossings, parking areas, railings and other barriers, and traffic management measures;
d. better facilities and/or meeting places for young people;
e. the incorporation of public art as an intrinsic component of environmental enhancements; 161 E within or visible from County Landscape Areas: All areas Poole i. hedgerows and mature trees along roads are retained; (part) Core
ii. it does not have a detrimental impact upon the County Landscape Strategy Areas, having regard to: Submission a. the coastal setting of Poole Bay Cliffs, Poole Harbour/ Holes Bay and Upton/Lytchett Bay Marsh, and associated distant views; Document
b. the setting of settlements, Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings within the wider landscape context of North Poole Heath/Farm Fringe, Merley/Canford River Terrace and Lower Stour Valley;
c. the open heathland character of Corfe Hills Heath and Canford Heath;
d. the countryside character of Upton Park and Farmland;
F for sites containing or adjacent to Trees, Open Spaces and Woodlands: All Areas i. it retains woodlands and mature trees and tree belts, particularly where such trees form a distinctive edge, ridge or canopy or provide an important enclosure for public spaces;
ii. it respects the setting and character of natural areas and viewpoints, including Compton Acres, Luscombe Valley, the Harbour, Poole Bay and Evening Hill;
iii. it does not have a detrimental impact upon the character of parks or other open spaces; and 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 162 G within or adjacent to Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings: All Poole Areas i. it preserves or enhances the character of Conservation Areas and Core retains important historical or architectural features; Strategy ii. it does not have a detrimental impact upon Listed Buildings, their curtilage or setting within a wider landscape context; Submission iii. it does not detract from landmark buildings or important views of these. Document
PCS 25
DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENTS
The Council will prepare and adopt Poole Character Assessment as a Supplementary Planning Document to inform both local place checks and Design and Access Statements. Through the use of Design and Access Statements, developers will demonstrate how development proposals conform, and make a positive contribution, to local character. Where local place checks have been carried out, Design and Access Statements will be expected to set out how proposals have regard to the key features or characteristics identified in these.
Recreation, Leisure and the District Park Catchments
6.125 Borough of Poole is in the process of reviewing its Leisure Strategy, and detailed auditing and needs assessment work is currently being undertaken jointly with Bournemouth Borough Council. Doing this jointly will help to ensure that cross-boundary issues are taken into account. The findings of these studies will shape how Poole caters for its population in terms of its recreational and leisure needs, having regard to demographic changes over the Plan period. The aim is to make more strategic and sustainable use of Poole's principal recreational sites and facilities, whilst also making some provision at a more local level where there is identified need and a supportive catchment. Key priorities will thus include:
the improvement and enhancement of existing open spaces, with particular emphasis on key strategic sites which serve a large catchment, like Poole Park, as well as smaller district parks and open spaces which offer a good range of facilities; 163 major built recreation facilities such as sports halls and swimming pools, as these are in
need of improvement and will serve the entire Borough; Poole
securing on-site provision of smaller play areas and spaces where opportunities arise; Core
minimising recreational pressure from Heathland areas, and a Joint Heathland Mitigation Strategy Development Plan Document will address matters such as strategic green infrastructure
to support this; and Submission
ensuring public access to the harbour, via footpaths, slipways and boatyards, is promoted, but in a manner which does not have an adverse effect upon the integrity of Poole Harbour SPA. Document
Self-reliant and Safe Communities
6.126 The availability of services and facilities locally can help build communities and increase social inclusion. As planning authority, the Council can protect existing viable community facilities from redevelopment to alternative uses as well as require that new facilities are secured in new development, where there is a need.
Health Care
6.127 The Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust has advised the Council that future population growth can be accommodated within existing and pipeline facilities, but there will be a need to diversify the role of local health centres and provide for some specialist care needs in the Borough. This will place more onus upon existing surgeries and health practises in that they could see the range of services, and the times of opening, increase over time. This would take some of the pressure off existing hospitals in that local surgeries could take on more of the minor hospital referrals. Local surgeries thus might need to expand or diversify over the Plan period.
6.128 Hospitals and health care facilities in the conurbation serve a large population not only within the urban area but also across the region. With such a large catchment population, hospitals are able to offer a wide range of general and specialist care facilities. Over time other specialisms which have a regional (or even national) role will need to develop and the PCT has acknowledged that these will not necessarily be capable of being accommodated within existing hospitals. Finding suitable alternative sites will be key to this. Ideally, sites should be located in accessible places, such as the Town Centre or local centres. Other than these locations, isolated employment sites which are no longer suited to continued employment uses could offer an opportunity for health and care-related development (refer to PCS 5 ‘ISOLATED EMPLOYMENT SITES’). 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 164 6.129 Poole's ageing population has implications for health care. Elderly people, particularly
Poole those living alone, who are admitted to hospital, may not be well enough to return home unassisted or where their homes are not sufficiently adapted to their living requirements. This
Core means older vulnerable patients may have to remain in hospital for a considerable length of time, even after the primary treatment has finished. Poole Older People's Strategy seeks to Strategy reduce these pressures and offer a better quality of life to older residents by promoting independent living for much longer, for instance through home support services, so that
Submission vulnerable older people in need of assisted care are able to stay in their own homes for longer, and can return home sooner from hospital. The Core Strategy supports this objective through its policies on care homes and lifetime homes standards (refer to PCS 8 ‘CARE HOMES’ and PCS 9 ‘LIFETIME HOMES’). Document
Schools for the Future
6.130 Schools are important focal points for communities and meet an essential local need. Poole has a complex school organisation structure which operates on the basis of first, middle and secondary schools. The Borough is intending to simplify this, and its Schools for the Future programme proposes to change to a primary/secondary two tier system over a phased period. The intention is that this will enable much better use of resources. This will have implications for existing schools in the Borough, both organisationally and in terms of physical needs. Some may need more space and others less. At this stage plans are insufficiently advanced to set out specific requirements. However, the emerging Site-specific Allocations Development Plan Document will be in a position to set out more detailed policies for those schools where some change in space requirements is envisaged.
The Regeneration Area and School Impacts
6.131 School rolls in the Town Centre and Hamworthy areas are likely to rise as a result of new housing growth in the Regeneration Area and wider Town Centre in the period to 2016 (30). To date the Council has secured significant developer funding to help off-set the education needs generated by new development. This funding has contributed to the enlargement of Old Town First School and Nursery by one form of entry. The Council will continue to monitor likely impacts of the regeneration of the central area and continue to seek appropriate education funding from future central area development.
Special Educational Needs
6.132 The Borough has undertaken a review of special educational needs provision which identified core principles to guide our local provision. The range of need will be met by a range of provision within mainstream schools, alongside mainstream schools through units on site and through special schools or through partnership between mainstream and special schools. The three special schools in the Borough are all in need of redevelopment and Longspee school
30 As predicted through the Borough of Poole Housing & Model for the Central Area & New Builds Survey, October 2007. Also see Annual Monitoring Report 165 needs to expand to accommodate more students with emotional, behavioural, and social
difficulties. This school needs a new site to achieve this aim. Each special school will be an Poole extended school providing a full range of services on site. Core 6.133 The spatial implications of this strategy are that we need to rebuild or refurbish all of our special schools as extended schools. In the case of Montecute school we will need to Strategy secure the co-location of Langside school (a non maintained school) as part of a partnership
with Dorset Scope to improve the facilities for children with complex physical and mental needs. Submission A key part of the range of support for special needs is the pupil referral unit (PRU) catering for children unable to attend their schools for behavioural reasons or illness. Currently the PRU has no permanent buildings. A site is required and this will need to be addressed through the Site-specific Allocations Development Plan Document. Document
6.134 Retention of Community Uses
6.135 The meeting of community needs locally can make an important contribution to our quality of life and, by improving levels of self sufficiency, can assist in reducing the need to travel. There are a number of uses which can perform a community function and the importance of a given facility will be determined in part by the availability of alternative choices for a particular community. In most cases, those residents who depend upon isolated or scarce facilities are likely to be acutely affected by their loss.
6.136 The Local Planning Authority will seek to retain sites currently or last used for community facilities, either through change of use or redevelopment, unless: the site is clearly unsuitable for the use in question; there is an alternative facility in the locality which could serve the needs of the community if the site is lost; replacement facilities are proposed; or there is no need for the use. For the purposes of PCS 26 ‘SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITIES’ the most common examples of community use include:
Corner / local shops; Public houses; Care homes; Child nurseries; Dental practises / doctor’s surgeries; Health centres; Community halls; Places of worship; Hospices; and Nursery schools. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 166
Poole PCS 26
Core SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITIES
Strategy Development will not be permitted which would lead to the loss of premises used, or last used, for community purposes unless: Submission i. the premises or their location are unsuitable for such uses;
ii. adequate alternative accommodation is available locally; Document iii. replacement facilities are proposed;
iv. there is no need for the use; or
v. in the case of schools, the development would be necessary to enable the implementation of Poole Schools for the Future Review. 167
PCS 27 Poole
DELIVERING LOCALLY DISTINCTIVE, SELF-RELIANT PLACES Core
The Council will work jointly with developers, businesses, residents, other public Strategy sector organisations and National and Regional agencies, to deliver places which
offer high quality, locally distinctive environments that meet the varied needs of local Submission communities. This will require all partners to ensure that their strategies, proposals and funding programmes contribute positively to the retention and creation of:
i. attractive, safe and accessible places; Document
ii. prosperous and attractive local centres as hubs of community activity;
iii. the provision of safe, convenient pedestrian and cyclist routes;
iv. good quality, reliable public transport services;
v. high-quality public open spaces and other recreation facilities which enable residents within the Borough and district park catchments to gain easy access to such facilities;
vi. community facilities; and
vii. high-quality, successful schools for all residents.
Safety and Resilience
6.137 The Local Development Framework can help to create safer and more resilient places. This includes issues such as helping to create places where crime, anti-social behaviour and and fear of crime are reduced, or by influencing the design of public spaces or road junctions. We can also help by seeking better safety measures in new buildings, such as fire prevention systems.
6.138 The Council is involved with, and committed to, the Sustainable Communities Strategy. As part of this process, Borough of Poole is signed up to the Local Area Agreement for Poole, Closing the Gap. This includes an outcome which seeks to achieve 'high levels of safety at home and in the community'. A sub-outcome of this is to 'reduce accidental dwelling fires and resultant fire deaths and injuries'. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 168 6.139 Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is looking to create 'safe zones' as a concept in which
Poole partnership working helps to create safer communities. The methodology upon which the Fire and Rescue Service bases its strategic assessment and corresponding Community safety plans
Core is founded in the principles of an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP). The three elements that support this approach is a combination of: Strategy prevention,
Submission protection and; intervention.
6.140 The service has stated that: 'We wish to see a ‘safe zone’ concept turn from ambition Document to reality. We see that a vision based over the next ten to twenty years will have the greatest long-term impact on making the places where we live and work, be safe and feel safe' (Safe Communities: A Partnership in Planning for Safer Communities - Dorset Fire & Rescue Service, 2007).
6.141 Dorset Fire and Rescue Service sees sprinkler systems in new buildings as being crucial to community safety and notes that loss of life in residential properties is typically 85% less in homes with such systems installed. It is also noted that, in 1999, 97% of the serious fires in school premises were started deliberately, and losses in 2000 reached an all time high of £85 million (Safe Communities, 2007).
6.142 Dorset Fire and Rescue Service is seeking to be a key partner in managing local and potential risks through proportionate, targeted and evidence-based solutions for safe and sustainable community growth and sees its role as supporting the necessary negotiations with planners and prospective developers to highlight and include the gains that can be achieved in safety by design and to help influence innovative measures in design and build for safer communities. The installation of sprinklers in particular, used in targeted ways, can provide a positive outcome for communities. 169
PCS 28 Poole
SAFER COMMUNITIES Core
When considering development proposals, the Local Planning Authority will seek to Strategy secure positive measures designed to improve community safety. To achieve this: Submission i. development layouts, pedestrian environments and public spaces should be designed in a manner which maximises actual and perceived safety without resorting to 'gated' private residential developments. This will be achieved by: carefully arranging buildings, spaces and access points to maximise natural Document surveillance; making good use of natural and artificial light; and ensuring that the mix of uses and dwelling types contributes positively to the area;
ii. town and local centres should have a mix of uses which encourage participation from all sectors of our community and minimise anti-social behaviour or a fear of crime; and
iii. for larger development proposals, including those for schools and flat developments of 25 or more dwellings, sprinkler systems will be required to be fitted unless there are technical or viability reasons why it would not be practical to do so.
In preparing the Local Development Framework, the Council will liaise with the emergency services and Bournemouth and Poole Primary Care Trust to identify specific community safety issues which need to be addressed.
Delivery Framework
Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible When is the outcome delivered? for delivery? expected?
All new Adherence to Poole Borough of Poole Town Centre development Character Assessment; (through its varied development - by contributes Design and Access role as Local 2016; positively to local Statements; Town Centre Authority and land On-going commitment distinctiveness investment; private owner); private throughout plan period investment opportunities; landowners and developer contributions; joint developers 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 170 Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible When is the outcome
Poole delivered? for delivery? expected? Core working for instance through
Strategy Poole Partnership People have Preventing loss / securing Borough of Poole; On-going commitment Submission access to local replacement of community private landowners throughout plan period services and facilities, and directing new and developers; facilities development to most partnership working
Document accessible locations (through planning powers); private investment Development and Partnership working to Poole Partnership 2016 for Town Centre infrastructure ensure objectives are members; Borough of (Twin Sails bridge, provision helps to shared by all sectors Poole; SWRDA; public spaces) make (through use of Poole Regional Assembly; On-going commitment communities Partnership and Community private developers; throughout plan period safer Infrastructure DPD); LTP partners developer contributions; LTP & Regional Funding Allocation
Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate responded Appraisal against impact
Character could be harmed if The functional role of buildings Recommendation incorporated no account is taken of how and places can influence into PCS 24 ‘LOCAL places and sites function character and this should be DISTINCTIVENESS’. recognised.
Areas where Change will be Carefully Managed
Heathland Habitats
6.143 In Poole there are areas where change will be carefully managed. Poole has specific characteristics which to a large extent determine the extent and location of development in the borough. The proximity of a major urban area to internationally protected habitats, principally heathland and the harbour wetlands, mean that even small-scale changes can have significant 171 cumulative impacts over time. More direct impacts to heathland increase substantially where
residential development occurs within about 400 metres of designated sites. For this reason it Poole will be important to resist residential intensification within 400 metres of heathland (where the residential development is likely to lead to greater pressures) and to put in place appropriate Core mitigation measures. Strategy 6.144 The Interim Planning Framework (IPF), which will be subsequently replaced by a joint
Heathlands DPD, makes strategic access management and green space provision across Submission south-east Dorset to avoid adverse effects arising from additional residential development around the Dorset Heathlands SPA / SAC / Ramsar site. This will need to include the large-scale additional green space, in the area to the north-west of Poole conurbation, which will have good parking and a range of routes, in order to replicate, and therefore compete with, the attractiveness Document of the heaths for recreation. This site should be of a suitable size and design to attract people from the development location. At least 30ha will be necessary to provide a range of routes and accommodate a typical dogwalk of about 2.5km, and will be identified as a site allocation for additional green space. Provision will be made for improved warden cover of the designated heathlands and access management measures will be implemented through developer contributions. The Council will reassess all existing green spaces within the Borough in order to realise their full potential as alternative natural green spaces. This will inform the use of developer contributions to the IPF, and subsequent DPD. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 172
Poole PCS 29
Core DORSET HEATHLANDS SPA AND RAMSAR SITES
Strategy Development in Poole will not be permitted where it would be likely to lead to a significant adverse effect upon the integrity, directly or indirectly, of the Dorset
Submission Heathlands Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and Ramsar sites. To ensure these sites are not harmed:
i. no development involving a net increase in dwellings will be permitted within a Document suitable buffer area around heathlands (normally 400 metres) unless, as an exception, the form of residential development would not have an adverse impact upon the sites' integrity;
ii. between 400 metres and 5 km, development will be expected to take all necessary steps on-site to avoid or mitigate any adverse impact upon the sites' integrity, or, where this cannot be achieved within the development, make provision for mitigation measures designed to avoid such adverse impacts taking place. Measures will include:
a. provision of open space and appropriate facilities to meet recreation needs and deflect pressure from heathland habitats;
b. heathland support areas;
c. wardening services and other heathland/harbour management;
d. access and parking management measures; and
e. green infrastructure.
Borough of Poole will jointly prepare a Heathland Mitigation Development Plan Document with affected neighbouring authorities to set out a long-term mitigation strategy to ensure that the growth planned for South East Dorset can be accommodated without having an adverse impact upon the integrity of Natura 2000 habitats.
Poole Harbour Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site
6.145 The Regeneration area, and wider developments in the vicinity of Holes Bay and the Harbour have the potential to adversely affect Poole Harbour Special Protection Area (SPA) 173 and Ramsar site, which is specifically designated for its important bird assemblages and
associated habitats. The Council recognises the importance of protecting and enhancing these Poole important wildlife features, whilst ensuring the sustainable regeneration of the area around
Holes Bay, for the benefit of local communities, visitors, and the local and regional economy. Core
6.146 Development in the Regeneration Area has been the subject of a Habitat Regulations Strategy Assessment. It will be important to ensure that proposals have regard to this to ensure that
access to the harbour, and impacts arising from new buildings, including their height, is carefully Submission managed to avoid adverse impacts.
6.147 The Habitats Regulation Assessment of the Core Strategy has identified a need for a (31) Poole Harbour SPA European Site Management Scheme which will cut across various bodies Document with responsibility for the Harbour. Due to the sensitivities of the Harbour, it will be essential to advance this scheme on the basis of the recommendations contained in the HRA. This will include management issues, a construction protocol, conditions to be attached to planning consents and potential developer contributions. Such matters will be advanced through a combination of the Management Scheme, the Site-specific Allocations DPD and the Infrastructure DPD. The Poole Harbour Steering Group, which includes the Borough of Poole as a member, has produced the Poole Harbour Aquatic Management Plan, which incorporates the European Site Management Scheme(32).
31 Core Strategy Habitats Regulations Assessment - Final Check of Submission Draft pp.10-13 (21 April 2008) 32 Poole Harbour Aquatic Management Plan (2006) 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 174
Poole PCS 30
Core POOLE HARBOUR SPA AND RAMSAR SITE
Strategy Development in Poole will not be permitted where it would be likely to lead to a direct or indirect adverse effect upon the integrity of Poole Harbour Special Protection Area
Submission and Ramsar sites. To ensure these sites are not harmed:
i. the Council will determine applications for development within the Regeneration Area zones and wider Holes Bay area in accordance with the recommendations Document of the Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Regeneration Area Masterplan and Supplementary Planning Guidance, including the imposition of conditions on planning permissions controlling construction works where appropriate and the provision of other mitigation measures through section 106 planning obligations;
ii. development proposals will be required to contribute to the strategic provision of mitigation measures to reduce effects on the habitats and species by controlling and managing development and access including contributions to the implementation of the Poole Harbour SPA European Marine Site Management Scheme; and
iii. development will not be permitted for additional slipways and other infrastructure works that could result in a net increase in recreational activity to a level which would be likely to have a significant adverse effect on the Poole Harbour SPA / Ramsar site.
The Council will continue to work jointly with relevant partners to prepare and implement a management framework for Poole Harbour, which will include a Site Management Scheme.
The Green Belt
6.148 The South East Dorset Green belt plays a vital strategic role in containing the unplanned outward expansion of the conurbation and focusing attention upon the regeneration of previously developed land in the urban area. This has a particular significance to Poole because of the ambitious regeneration plans for the centre. The Examination in Public Panel Report for the Regional Spatial Strategy endorses the strategic role of the Green Belt and also acknowledges the importance of Poole's centre in delivering sustainable new growth. 175 6.149 There are, however, areas of search identified in RSS for planned urban extensions.
The Panel Report has endorsed these, and has added two additional areas (which had initially Poole been considered as part of the sub-regional work but were not carried forward into the draft version of RSS) to the west of Poole and to the north of Bournemouth. These respectively are Core expected to accommodate 2,750 dwellings (the 'Western Sector') and 1,500 dwellings. Neither of these sites fall within Poole Borough. As a consequence, the Green Belt is a key part of the Strategy spatial strategy for Poole and the wider conurbation and, with the exception of the areas of search identified in RSS (as amended by the Panel Report), will continue to be retained. Submission
6.150 Poole Local Plan First Alteration (adopted in March 2004) identified two safeguarded areas of land which historically had been earmarked for a mix of housing and employment development (North Poole). These were dependent upon a then proposed trunk road scheme Document (the A31-Poole link) which would have defined the outer edge of the development sites. This scheme has since been dropped from the national Trunk Roads programme but the land had remained safeguarded in the Local Plan pending confirmation in the Structure Pan Review (or its replacement).
6.151 The Structure Plan Review never reached adoption because it was superceded by Regional Spatial Strategy. Hence, it is RSS which would determine the strategic policy context for these sites. As RSS has not identified the North Poole sites as areas of search, they no longer need to be safeguarded. Furthermore, these sites would no longer be suitable for development in any case due to the fact that they are adjacent to Canford Heath SSSI. Hence, the Green Belt boundary will need to be amended to include these areas of land, thus taking the boundary up to the existing built-up area.
PCS 31
POOLE'S GREEN BELT
Within Poole, the South East Dorset Green Belt will continue to follow the existing built up edge. The Green Belt Boundary will be amended to include land at North Poole which is identified as safeguarded land in Poole Local Plan First Alteration (adopted in March 2004). 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 176 Delivery Framework Poole Key Outcomes How will these be Who is responsible for When is the outcome Core delivered? delivery? expected? Strategy No harm to integrity Through the adoption Borough of Poole; Rolling programme of of Heathland of a sub-regional sub-regional Heathlands mitigation measures Submission SPA/Ramsar sites Heathlands DPD; use Partnership (including of developer affected local authorities contributions to fund and Natural England); Document mitigation measures; private developers (via no inappropriate contributions) development within 400 m of heathlands No harm to integrity Development in Town Borough of Poole; Rolling programme of of Poole Harbour Centre to make landowners; private mitigation measures SPA/Ramsar sites necessary provision developers; Natural to avoid harm to England Poole Harbour Increase Green Belt Designation through Borough of Poole Summer/Autumn 2009 to incorporate Site-specific previously Allocations DPD safeguarded land No net loss of Green Through application Local Planning Authority On-going commitment Belt to inappropriate of national Green Belt development Policy
Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate against responded Appraisal impact
Restricting recreational Acknowledged that this is a Recommendations noted and access to heathlands and necessary measure due to incorporated in part in PCS 29 harbour could reduce significance of protected ‘DORSET HEATHLANDS SPA opportunities for physical habitats. However, wording of AND RAMSAR SITES’ and exercise, which may have restrictions should not impose PCS 30 ‘POOLE HARBOUR health implications unreasonable constraints where SPA AND RAMSAR SITE’. access can be managed in a This will need to be taken 177 Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has
Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate against responded Poole Appraisal impact Core
way which does not adversely account of in the Site Specific Strategy affect habitats. Important also Allocations DPD and Joint to ensure investment in Heathlands Mitigation DPD. Submission recreation spaces within urban areas provides good access to facilities. Document Restrictions upon housing Acknowledged that this is a Recommendations noted and growth within 400m of necessary measure due to incorporated in PCS 29 heathlands could hamper significance of protected ‘DORSET HEATHLANDS SPA the supply of housing, such habitats. However, wording of AND RAMSAR SITES’. This as family homes restrictions should allow for will need to be taken into types of residential development account in Site Specific which will not adversely affect Allocations DPD and Joint habitats due to the type of Heathlands Mitigation DPD. residential development or the opportunities for on-site mitigation.
Preparing Poole for Climate Change
6.152 Climate change is a global challenge and it is the predicted speed of change which poses a degree of threat which requires all nations to act in a concerted way. Thinking globally, but acting locally, is a crucial part of confronting this challenge, although it is clear that this needs to be backed up by major national and international decisions.
6.153 In Poole's case, the Core Strategy has a responsibility to set out a local framework for addressing climate change. This is a priority both for the Sustainable Community Strategy(33) and the Council's corporate strategy (34). It is important, however, to ensure that the approach we take is relevant to Poole's circumstances so that the policies within the Core Strategy and wider Local Development Framework are given the chance to contribute in a meaningful way. There are two main strands of action which need to be taken:
33 Shaping Poole's Future - the Sustainable Community Strategy for Poole 2006-2012 34 Striving for Excellence: Poole's Corporate Strategy 2007 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 178 reducing carbon emissions so that our contribution to global warming is slowed down and,
Poole eventually, limited to levels which the planet can handle; and
Core taking steps to adapt to, and mitigate for, the potential impact of climate change upon Poole, its residents, and the natural environment. Strategy
Implications of Climate Change for the Natural Environment Submission
6.154 The Council will work with a range of partners to support adaptation of the natural environment to climate change, in order to minimise adverse effects on biodiversity in the
Document Borough and wider region. The Council will be mindful of this in the consideration of development proposals, and will work with Natural England to develop and implement a climate change monitoring strategy to assess the impacts of recreational pressure on designated wildlife sites in light of changes to those sites and recreational behaviour as a result of climate change. As a consequence, our strategy for avoiding the impact of development upon habitats, principally through our approach to recreation, may need to be revisited over time. Where monitoring highlights changes that may result in adverse effects on the designated sites, the Council and partners will thus need to consider their recreational management strategies to prevent adverse effects on the integrity of designated sites. The emerging Heathlands Mitigation Joint Development Plan Document will deal with this issue in greater detail, while policies in the Core Strategy are designed to ensure that development and other strategies (including mitigation) take the necessary steps to identify risks and, subsequently, avoid or mitigate these.
Sustainable Homes
6.155 Domestic energy use is a significant contributor to greenhouse gases. In Poole an additional 10,000 new homes will be built over a period of 20 years. In addition, many existing homes will be the subject of modernisation works or extensions which may be the subject of building regulations or planning controls. Again, higher standards of energy efficiency can make a positive contribution to overall carbon reduction aspirations.
6.156 Building sustainably goes beyond the more obvious energy efficiency measures like better insulation. The use of sustainable construction practises and materials can make a significant difference, both by replacing energy-hungry materials with sustainable ones, and by reducing transportation distances where local sources are found. It is also important to achieve a high build and design quality as this increases the life of a dwelling (thereby reducing the need to replace it in future) and can assist in making it more adaptable to changing life circumstances.
6.157 The Code for Sustainable Homes is a set of sustainable design principles covering performance in nine key areas listed below:
Energy and CO2 Emissions Water 179 Materials
Surface Water Run-off Poole Waste
Pollution Core
Heath and Wellbeing Strategy Management Ecology Submission 6.158 The Code has six levels, each with more stringent mandatory minimum requirements, up to Code Level 6 which is, in effect, a zero-carbon home. Building a Greener Future: Policy
Statement (DCLG, July 2007) sets out proposed carbon improvements over time, to be achieved Document by increasing the Code for Sustainable Homes level to be required at various trigger dates.
The Code for Sustainable Homes1
Code Summary Minimum % Minimum Levels reduction in potable water dwelling consumption - emission rate litres/person/day
(CO2 ) over target emission rate
Level 1 above regulatory standards and a similar 10% 120 standard to BRE’s Ecohomes PASS level and the EST’s Good Practise Standard for energy efficiency Level 2 a similar standard to BRE’s EcoHomes 18% 120 GOOD level Level 3 a broadly similar standard to BRE’s 25% 105 EcoHomes VERY GOOD level and the EST’s Best Practice Standard for energy efficiency Level 4 Broadly set at current exemplary performance 44% 105 Level 5 Based on exemplary performance with high 100% 80 standards of energy and water efficiency Level 6 aspirational standard based on zero carbon 'Zero carbon 80 emissions for the dwelling and high home' performance across all environmental categories 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 180 1. Source: Code for Sustainable Homes - Technical Guide (Communities and Local
Poole Government, October 2007) Core 6.159 The Examination in Public Panel Report for the draft Regional Spatial Strategy has
Strategy adapted the national targets to the regional context and sets out targets over time for attaining higher code levels. These vary to some extent depending upon the size of developments. it is helpful, therefore, to assess how the Panel Report recommendations would affect Poole. Submission
6.160 The housing trajectory shows that 36.9% of the town's 10,000 new homes for the period 2006-2026 (nearly 4,000 homes) are forecast to be built by 2011, and 71.7% (over 7,000 homes)
Document by 2016. Hence, the first half of the plan period will see the highest build rates due to the availability of planned sites in the centre of Poole.
Relationship between proposed RSS carbon targets and new dwellings in Poole
Year Total 1-9 dwellings 10-49 dwellings 50 or more dwellings dwellings
2006-7 1,285 1,285 2008-10 2,169 687 (32%) 390 (18%) 1,092 (50%) 2011-15 4,732 625 (13%) 378 (8%) 3,729 (79%) 2016-26 2,100 990 (47%) 620 (30%) 490 (23%)
1. For the period up to 2016, this includes all sites of 10 or more dwellings. From 2016 onwards, it is only sites of 10-50 dwellings.
Code Level No. of Dwellings based on Trajectory (% of total)
2006 Building Regulations 1,285 (12.5%) Level 3 2,302 (22.4%) Level 4 1,482 (14.4%) Level 5 4,727 (41.7%) Level 6 490 (4.8%) 181 6.161 The above table shows how Poole's front-loaded delivery of housing will have an impact
upon the number of dwellings required to meet potential regional trigger dates for various levels Poole of the Code for Sustainable Homes. The combination of more dwellings being built in the first half of the plan period, when combined with the fact that most of the larger sites (50+ dwellings) Core will have been built out, granted permission or commenced before level 6 comes into effect, means that Poole could potentially lose out to significant carbon savings. Indeed, it would be Strategy likely that Poole would secure less than 5% of its new dwellings which conform to Code Level
6 standards. Furthermore, about 35% of the new dwellings built between 2006 and 2026 would Submission only attain Code Level 3 or below. Given the real opportunity which exists in the Town Centre to affect more sustainable building practises, it will be important to set out locally relevant targets for the Code for Sustainable Homes which reflect the front-loaded nature of housing delivery Document in the Borough.
6.162 The following table sets out localised targets for attaining different levels in the Code for Sustainable Homes which take account of the 'front-loaded' nature of larger sites in Poole. This compares the differences between proposed national, regional and Poole-specific milestones. As can be seen, the approach proposed in Poole broadly accords with that set out in emerging RSS (Panel Report), with the exception that Code Level 6 standards are brought forward for larger schemes (exceeding 50 dwellings) and are applied to all residential development post-2016, in line with national carbon reduction targets. Where the targets for Poole differ from the Panel Report they are highlighted in red.
Comparing National, Regional and Local Carbon Targets
Key Milestones 2008 2010 2011 2013 2016
Proposed National Carbon Reduction Targets1 25% 25% 25% 44% Zero carbon Equivalent Level in Code for Sustainable Homes 3 3 3 4 6 RSS Panel Report Code Level 1-9 dwellings 3 3 3 4 4 Milestones 10+ dwellings 4 4 5 5 5 >50 dwellings 4 4 5 5 6 Core Strategy Code Level Milestones 1-9 dwellings 3 3 3 4 6 10+ dwellings 4 4 5 5 6 >50 dwellings 4 4 6 6 6
1. Building a Greener Future: Policy Statement (DCLG, July 2007) 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 182 Renewable energy Potential Poole 6.163 Renewable energy technologies are constantly evolving and, over time, the relative
Core costs will also start to reduce as advances are made. It is important, therefore, not to restrict future options for how renewable energy might be delivered. Nevertheless, current circumstances Strategy suggest that, in the short to medium-term, an urban authority such as Poole is better suited to certain technologies than others. In particular: Submission 1. Combined heat and power (CHP) and combined cooling heat and power (CCHP) is an attractive option because a modest plant is able to serve a large number of dwellings and commercial uses in a relatively small geographical area. Document 2. Micro-renewable technologies, in particular solar water heating, ground and air-source heat pumps, photovoltaic cells, biomass boilers and small-scale (domestic) wind turbines.
3. Larger wind turbines in suitable locations, although in an urban area the potential from this source is limited.
6.164 It will be important to support suitable proposals for renewable energy generation. This will favour certain technologies in an urban area over others. It will also be important to bear in mind potential implications upon natural habitats. 183
PCS 32 Poole
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY - GENERAL Core
The Council will seek to promote the sustainable use and generation of energy Strategy through its procurement procedures, its role as land owner and Local Planning
Authority, through policies and strategies it is responsible for, and through Submission partnership work with other organisations. To support this objective:
i. proposals for development will be permitted provided that: Document a. the orientation and design of the development minimises the need for artificial light, heating and cooling and maximises solar gain;
b. the layout of the development maximises opportunities for use of common walls to limit winter heat loss;
c. the best practicable option is taken for securing renewable energy generation, either through on-site provision or by linking with/contributing to available local off-site renewable energy sources;
ii. Proposals for renewable energy will be considered favourably on condition that:
a. the technology is suitable for the location;
b. they would not have an adverse impact upon the integrity of internationally protected habitats; and
c. they would not cause harm to residential amenity by virtue of noise, vibration, overshadowing, flicker (associated with turbines), or other harmful emissions.
Micro-renewable technologies
6.165 Based upon current costs and practises, solar water heating is generally regarded to offer the most cost-effective and reliable source of renewable energy at a domestic level, and is relatively maintenance-free. Typically, about 25% of domestic energy consumption is used for heating water and can also be used with combination boilers for both space heating (about 45-60% of domestic energy consumption) and water. A 4m2 solar panel is capable of providing 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 184 between 50% and 70% of domestic hot water needs year-round (excluding space heating). This
Poole would equate to about 12.5-17.5% of energy use in an average dwelling, with an installation cost of about £4,000 (35). Core Deciding on a feasible target for renewable energy Strategy Small sites Submission 6.166 The above analysis would suggest that, even for individual dwellings, it would be feasible to achieve up to 17.5% of energy from renewable sources in a relatively straightforward manner. Bearing in mind that modern houses will also be built with higher energy efficiency which will Document reduce the total energy requirement, it is feasible that 20% could be achieved if solar water is also used to top up space heating (by pre-heating water used in the boiler), albeit at a cost of around £4,000. In itself, this is not likely to affect the viability of new homes or to deter developers from bringing sites forward. However, it could have cumulative implications when other costs (such as infrastructure and affordable housing) are taken into account.
6.167 Given the fact that new residential development will be required to meet a variety of community infrastructure needs, it would be reasonable to set different targets for different scales of development. Assuming that the emerging RSS requirement of 20% for developments of 10 or more dwellings is applied, a lower target of 10% for proposals involving 1-9 dwellings would go some way to promoting localised generation of renewable energy but at a cost which is unlikely to be prohibitive.
Larger sites
6.168 Larger housing schemes may be able to make cost-effective use of a wider array of technologies, such as small-scale biomass boilers, photovoltaics, turbines and ground-source heat pumps. The largest sites could also provide opportunities for combined heat and power. Access to CHP/CCHP, on the basis of current available technologies, is most likely to be able
to make a significant difference to C02 emissions. Hence, where sites have access to this or other non-domestic renewable technologies (such as larger turbines), it will be feasible to attain a higher target.
35 Solar Water Heating Factsheet - 2007 (Dorset Energy Group). 185
PCS 33 Poole
SUSTAINABLE HOMES Core
All new residential development (including conversions) will contribute to making Strategy Poole a more sustainable place to live in which carbon emissions are reduced and
the adverse impacts of development on the planet's resources are minimised. When Submission considering proposals for residential development, the Local Planning Authority will require:
i. the use of on-site renewable sources or by linking with/contributing to available Document local off-site renewable energy sources to meet a minimum of 10% of predicted energy use for residential development proposals involving 1-9 dwellings, and 20% for 10 or more dwellings;
ii. sustainable drainage systems appropriate to the development to be incorporated into the proposal to conserve water, reduce the risk of pollutants entering ground water sources and minimise run-off through the use of permeable surfaces;
iii. the following Levels of the Code for Sustainable Homes to be achieved:
for proposals 1-9 dwellings 10+ dwellings >50 dwellings determined in the following periods: 2008-2010 Level 3 Level 4 Level 4 2011-2012 Level 3 Level 5 Level 6 2013-2015 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 2016 on Level 6 Level 6 Level 6
Reducing Emissions from Commercial Development
6.169 Offices, shops, leisure centres and business premises make up around 40% of UK carbon emissions. It is important, therefore, to address emission rates emanating from commercial development. In the longer term this is likely to confer financial advantages upon businesses as energy costs and tax regimes increasingly penalise the biggest emitters. The planning system can assist in helping to reduce carbon emissions and raise awareness by seeking better standards from new development. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 186 6.170 The Building Research Establishment has developed a rating system (BREEAM) for
Poole commercial buildings which considers a wide range of sustainability considerations. BREEAM assesses the performance of buildings in relation to: Core management; Strategy energy use; health and well-being;
Submission pollution; transport; land use;
Document ecology; materials; and water.
6.171 Credits are awarded in each area and a set of environmental weightings then enables the credits to be added together to produce a single overall score. The building is then rated on a scale of:
PASS * GOOD ** VERY GOOD *** EXCELLENT ****
6.172 The BREEAM standards are not compulsory for private commercial development, although English Partnerships, for example, require a 'Very Good' or 'Excellent' rating for any project it is involved in. In considering planning applications for commercial schemes, the Local Planning Authority will expect smaller non-residential developments to achieve at least a BREEAM 'very good' rating. For larger schemes (in excess of 1,000 square metres net floorspace), there is potential to achieve the higher BREEAM 'excellent' rating. As with residential development, some sites might have potential to secure a greater supply of energy from on-site renewable sources. This would allow for a much better reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. In such cases, achieving a BREEAM 'excellent' rating would also be made easier as this would contribute to overall carbon reductions.
6.173 The EiP Panel Report on the emerging RSS has set out targets for on-site carbon-dioxide reductions and has included minimum-on-site renewable energy generation targets as part of this requirement. These apply to non-residential developments in excess of 1,000 square metres. The Core Strategy proposes to use these standards in conjunction with the BREEAM targets so that the overall approach promotes much better sustainable construction practises alongside the desired carbon reductions. 187
PCS 34 Poole
ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS Core
When considering proposals for new commercial development, the Local Planning Strategy Authority will require improved levels of energy efficiency and other environmental
performance improvements sufficient to achieve the following standards: Submission
i. sustainable drainage systems appropriate to the development to be incorporated into the proposal to conserve water and reduce the risk of pollutants entering ground water sources; Document ii. for developments up to 1,000 square metres (net) floorspace, at least a BREEAM 'Very Good' rating or equivalent standard and the use of on-site renewable sources or by linking with/contributing to available local off-site renewable energy sources to meet a minimum of 10% of predicted energy use; iii. for developments in excess of 1,000 square metres (net) floorspace:
a. a BREEAM 'Excellent' rating or equivalent standard;
b. the use of on-site renewable energy sources or by linking with/contributing to available local off-site renewable energy sources to meet a minimum of 20% of predicted energy use; and
c. carbon dioxide reductions beyond Part L of the Building Regulations 2006 sufficient to deliver:
for proposals determined in the Level of CO2 reduction over and above Part L of following periods: Building Regulations 2006 (regulated emissions) 2008-2010: 25% 2011-2015: 34% 2016 on: 44%
Flood Risk and Water Management
6.174 Poole's Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2 (February 2008) identifies the potential flood risk to the town, particularly to its most vulnerable areas near the Harbour that are also likely to be those subject to most change, like the Regeneration Area. Future flood defences will be required, some of which can be brought forward by new development, but also the SFRA helps to identify mitigation measures that can be employed in future building to enhance 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 188 protection from flood events. Modelling work predicts sea level rise due to climate change to
Poole the years of 2086 and 2126, so that in planning for Poole, appropriately robust defences can be put in place. Core Strategy Submission Document
Picture 6.11 Areas of Flood Risk - Town Centre
6.175 Future development must have regard to flood risk, by way of locationally appropriate measures, like additional flood alleviation measures, including the use of natural flood sinks, which will protect people, properties and vulnerable habitats from flooding. It may also include engineered flood defences (like the raised quay at Poole Quay) in appropriate cases, mitigation measures secured through Flood Risk Assessments and planning permissions, and adaptations to the risk of flooding. Additional flood alleviation measures will be required north of Regeneration Area A (close to the railway station), South of Regeneration Area B (east of Poole Bridge) and East of Regeneration Area A (east of Poole Bridge) as referred to in the SFRA. New buildings should be flood resilient (for example non-habitable basements), and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems shall be used to ensure appropriate and safe run-off of water occurs from new development.
6.176 Sustainable acquisition, use and treatment of water are a fundamental part of sustainable development. Over-abstraction of water and inadequate water treatment can have serious consequences for the natural environment. Adequate water resources, water infrastructure and sewage treatment facilities will be a prerequisite of new development. This is particularly important 189 in order to meet our duties to protect designated wildlife sites such as Poole Harbour SPA and
Ramsar site, where water discharges should only occur where they will not adversely affect the Poole pollution-sensitive features. Water infrastructure and the need to protect the natural environment will be considered further in the Infrastructure Development Plan Document. Core Strategy PCS 35 Submission FLOOD RISK
Development in areas at risk from flooding will be required to carry out a detailed Flood Risk Assessment which identifies necessary adaptation and mitigation Document measures designed to avoid the risk of harm from flooding. Such measures will:
i. be designed in a manner which facilitates the movement of species within Poole Harbour SPA and Ramsar sites; and
ii. where necessary, incorporate suitable habitat recreation as part of the measures.
In locations where strategic flood defence or adaptation measures are necessary within the site itself, proposals will be required to demonstrate how such measures have been incorporated as an intrinsic part of the scheme in a manner which is compatible with the comprehensive strategy for flood defence as set out in the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for Poole.
Developments adding additional pressure to existing water supply and treatment facilities to a level which exceeds capacity will be required to demonstrate that such facilities will be adequately upgraded prior to the completion and occupation of development, in order to prevent environmental harm and particularly to prevent adverse effects upon Poole Harbour SPA and Ramsar site arising from treated water discharges.
Energy and Resources Statements
6.177 The Core Strategy sets out targets in relation to energy, sustainable homes and flood risk. The expectation is that development will comply to the standards set out unless there are good reasons as to why this is not feasible. To set out how these standards are to be met, proposals for new residential or commercial development should be accompanied by an Energy and Resources Statement. This will set out an assessment of performance against the Code for Sustainable Homes (using the Government's Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings) or BREEAM Assessment procedure in the case of commercial development. Such statements may also be used to provide a justification as to why the standards sought 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 190 are not achievable (for example in the case of conversion of a listed building into dwellings
Poole where the necessary measures would adversely affect the architectural or historic merit of the building). Core 6.178 Energy and Resources Statements should deal with other sustainable construction Strategy matters, such as the materials used, how the development incorporates sustainable drainage systems (SUDS), and measures needed to mitigate against the risk of flooding where the
Submission proposal is in a flood risk area. The statement also needs to provide a schedule of how the development addresses the 16 Lifetime Homes standards.
Document PCS 36
ENERGY AND RESOURCES STATEMENTS
Proposals for new development will be expected to be accompanied by an Energy and Resources Statement. This shall set out:
i. how the development meets the relevant code level in the Code for Sustainable Homes or, in the case of commercial development, the BREEAM standards;
ii. how the principles of sustainable drainage (SUDS) have been incorporated into the design;
iii. measures taken to mitigate against the risk of flooding in affected areas which do not adversely affect internationally protected habitats;
iv. an inventory of the 16 Lifetime Homes Standards and how these are incorporated into the development; and
v. within the Central Area or other suitable locations, how such proposals intend to share the provision and use of renewable energy where the opportunity for doing so exists.
Delivery Framework
Key Outcomes How will these be delivered? Who is responsible When is the for delivery? outcome expected?
Reductions in Private developers; reduction in Private developers; Zero carbon carbon residential land values to take land owners; development for 191 Key Outcomes How will these be delivered? Who is responsible When is the
for delivery? outcome Poole expected? Core
emissions from account of any additional costs; Housing all proposals by Strategy dwellings, to be greater supply of renewable Associations; 2016 phased over energy through on-site provision; renewable energy Submission plan period Borough of Poole to explore providers; Borough possibility of renewables on of Poole Council-owned sites; higher energy efficiency in new buildings Document Reductions in Private developers; higher rentals Private developers; 44% reduction on carbon and lower energy costs to land owners; CO2 emissions emissions from compensate for up-front renewable energy over 2006 commercial investment; greater supply of providers; Borough Regulations by development, to renewable energy through on-site of Poole 2016 in new be phased over provision; Borough of Poole to commercial plan period consider possibility of renewable buildings energy on Council-owned sites; higher energy efficiency in new buildings Alleviating, and Flood alleviation and defence Private developers; Town Centre adapting to, measures to be provided by new Environment defences in places flood risk development in flood risk areas - Agency; DEFRA or programmed on-site where feasible; by: 2016; on-going development required to commitment demonstrate adaptation/ mitigation elsewhere measures
Responding to the Sustainability Appraisal
Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate responded Appraisal against impact
Development in areas liable Important to include Recommendation incorporated to flooding could have an adaptation as well as into PCS 35 ‘FLOOD RISK’. adverse impact, including mitigation. risks to human health due to direct hazards of flood waters. 6 The Detailed Strategy: Core Policies for Issues and Places 192 Potential Adverse Impacts Recommendations to How the Core Strategy has
Poole Identified in Sustainability overcome or mitigate responded Appraisal against impact Core
Strategy Affordable warmth /staying New development should Recommendations cool in extreme weather maximise energy efficiency incorporated into events are likely to affect the and use of renewable energy. comprehensive array of Submission most vulnerable people. Urban environment also policies: climate change needs to ameliorate heat section deals with energy and island affect through tree resources (see PCS 36 Document planting, shade and green ‘ENERGY AND RESOURCES spaces STATEMENTS’); public spaces are addressed in 'Revitalising the Town Centre'; affordable housing provision and care homes should help to provide access to suitable homes (PCS 7 ‘AFFORDABLE HOUSING’ and PCS 8 ‘CARE HOMES’). 193 7 Monitoring and Implementation Framework Poole 7.1 Delivery and monitoring of progress will be crucial to the success of the Core Strategy policies. For this reason, indicators and targets are given for each of the eight strategic objectives Core (refer to Chapter 4) and the delivery framework is set out specifically for each of the sub-sections of the detailed strategy (Chapter 6). The purpose of this chapter is to provide some added Strategy explanation which pulls together the various policy strands and to set out comprehensive policies regarding joint working and the role of developer contributions in delivering community Submission infrastructure. All of these components combined make up the Delivery, Implementation and Monitoring Plan for the Core Strategy.
Joint Working Document
7.2 The Core Strategy sets out a vision of how Poole is expected to change over the next 20 years. When considering delivery and implementation, it is important to recognise that the Core Strategy is a spatial document and not solely a land use plan. As such it seeks to express the aspirations of Poole’s Sustainable Communities Strategy, Shaping Poole’s Future, along with the Council’s own priorities and national/regional policies. Influencing and managing the development and use of land is a key delivery mechanism, but the Core Strategy will rely also upon a concerted effort on the part of various organisations, businesses, public sector bodies, developers and individuals in achieving the implementation of its policies.
Borough of Poole's Role
7.3 The Core Strategy has a corporate role in achieving the Council’s land use aims. It is a tool by which the strategies of the Council may be implemented. The statutory functions and discretionary duties which have planning and land use implications will be carried out within the framework of the Plan and the budgets of Service Units will contribute to the funding of some proposals.
7.4 The Council as a Unitary Authority has a wide-ranging role in the Plan’s implementation, including its duties as a landowner, Strategic Planning Authority, Highway Authority, Education Authority, and provider of Social Services. It also has an important role to play as a key member of Poole Partnership, the local strategic partnership, which is responsible for preparing the Sustainable Communities Strategy. The Council also has a range of discretionary functions in relation to Economic Development, Local Agenda 21, Leisure and Recreation, Tourism, Parks and Open Spaces, Property and Museum Services which can each contribute to the implementation of the Core Strategy.
7.5 Development of land owned by the Council such as open space, school sites, community facilities and as housing and employment land, will be controlled by the Local Planning Authority in the same manner as land in private ownership. Hence, the Council has an opportunity to consider how its decisions on the future use of its sites can support the policies in the Local 7 Monitoring and Implementation Framework 194 Development Framework. A number of proposals in the Core Strategy may also require the
Poole Council to act as a catalyst to bring about development and if necessary to assemble sites by compulsory purchase powers. Core 7.6 Funding through the Local Transport Plan will support the implementation of some of the Strategy proposals in the Core Strategy, including a second harbour crossing and traffic management along prime transport corridors. The priorities for funding are set out in the Local Transport Plan.
Submission Highway improvements such as junction improvements and urban traffic control are the Borough’s responsibility.
7.7 Many of the aspirations set out in the Core Strategy will depend upon developers and Document private landowners to deliver. However, the Council, in its remit as the Local Planning Authority, has the ability to influence the type, amount and location of development which takes place. The planning policies in the Local Development Framework, including the Core Strategy, will be the principal considerations and so development will be expected to support the implementation of these policies.
7.8 Ensuring that development complies with the terms and conditions of planning consents is an important role of the Local Planning Authority. In some cases, this might require enforcement action to prevent an infringement or rectify a situation. There will also be a need to work closely with the Council's Building Consultancy Services to check that the energy efficiency standards set out in planning permissions are being adhered to.
The Regional Spatial Strategy
7.9 The Core Strategy has to be in broad conformity with the regional planning policy framework. This is currently set out in the adopted Regional Spatial Strategy for the South West (RPG10), which covers a period up to 2016. It also needs to have regard to the emerging RSS which will replace RPG10 once adopted. It sets out proposed annual housing figures for Poole which will be needed to deliver the regional spatial strategy, as well as policies regarding economic growth and the broad location of development. It contains a section on the South East Dorset Sub-region. The emerging RSS covers the period 2006-2026.
Poole’s Role within the Sub-region
7.10 The South East of the region is focused upon the Bournemouth-Christchurch-Poole conurbation (the South East Dorset Conurbation). It is important, therefore, for each authority within the wider sub region to ensure its Local Development Framework is not treated in isolation. Cross-boundary issues, such as integrating the approach to traffic management, providing strategic recreation facilities, and bringing forward sufficient employment land to meet the needs of the sub-regional economy will need a certain degree of joint working and compatibility of strategies. Hence, our aspirations for Poole should also support a wider objective of creating a prosperous, attractive and sustainable sub-region. 195 7.11 The basis of a consistent approach across the sub-region is already enshrined in the
sub-regional work which has informed the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy. These include: Poole
the Local Transport Plan, which sets out a strategy for the entire sub-region; Core
an interim heathland mitigation strategy, agreed jointly in January 2007 by the affected Strategy authorities, and to be replaced by a joint-heathlands development plan document; Submission joint evidence gathering for cross-boundary matters such as housing market area and appropriate assessment work; and
a commitment to other joint working initiatives, including the needs of Gypsies and travellers, Document a cross-conurbation parking strategy and a joint workspace strategy.
7.12 Poole is a growth Point and so it has a key part to play in the wider sub-region. The regeneration area in particular is one of the most significant regeneration schemes in the South West and will deliver many new homes as well as public quay frontages and a second lifting bridge. In addition, the potential for retail growth in Poole’s town centre will serve to increase the significance of the sub-region at the regional and national levels. Poole also has a major resource of employment areas which maintain a diverse mix of economic activity and serve the wider sub-region. In terms of the environment, Poole Harbour, the Dorset Heathlands, beaches fronting Poole Bay, and the strategic open spaces of Poole Park, Whitecliff/Baiter and Upton Park give Poole a unique stature in the region and beyond.
The Core Strategy and Other Development Plan Documents
7.13 The Core Strategy sets out the framework for other development plan documents(DPDs) in the Local Development Framework. Consequently, its implementation will be assisted through more detailed documents. Chapter 1 (Introduction) sets out the DPDs which currently are in the Local Development Scheme (as at May 2008), together with a summary of their purpose. Appendix 2 identifies which policies of Poole Local plan First Alteration (adopted in March 2004) are proposed for replacement in each of the DPDs, including the Core Strategy.
Shaping Poole's Future: The Sustainable Communities Strategy
7.14 It is important to bear in mind that the Sustainable Communities Strategy is the responsibility of Poole Partnership (of which the Council is a member) and that it will contain aspirations which rely upon a wide array of public and private sector bodies. The Core Strategy is intended to be a spatial expression of the Sustainable Communities Strategy and for this reason, both have a shared vision, from which the Strategic Objectives and Spatial Strategy have evolved. 7 Monitoring and Implementation Framework 196 Closing the Gap - The Local Area Agreement for Poole Poole 7.15 The Council, Poole Partnership and the Government have signed up to a Local Area
Core Agreement (LAA) for Poole, Closing the Gap (April 2006), with the intention of further improving the services to local people in Poole. The LAA is effectively the action plan for the Sustainable Strategy Community Strategy (Shaping Poole's Future). The period of the LAA runs from 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2009. The LAA has four main themes: Submission Healthier communities and older people; Safer and stronger communities; Children and young people; Document Enterprise and economic development.
7.16 The LAA sets out certain priorities, with indicators and targets for measuring outcomes. These include targeted Wards (Alderney, Hamworthy West and East and Old Town) within which a number of social inclusion objectives are identified, such as improving the outcomes for children and young people. The Core Strategy can assist in delivering the LAA, for instance by seeking to secure affordable housing, community facilities and economic growth, and through the effective use of developer contributions.
Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Multi-Area Agreement
7.17 The sub-regional partners and the Government are committed to jointly preparing a Multi Area Agreement (MAA) for Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole with the intention of ‘building a more competitive and sustainable economy in Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole’. Key partners include the Regional Development Agency, sub-regional business representatives and the University. The MAA is intended to be a delivery vehicle for Raising the Game, the economic development strategy for the sub-region and is due to be finalised in 2008. It will set out short, medium and longer-term objectives which tie in with and reflect Local Area Agreements, the Regional Economic Strategy and Regional Spatial Strategy. It will also contain a delivery plan which sets out the aims, activities, milestones, partners and actions for the following five strategic themes:
Business Growth Skills Transport and Connectivity Housing Environment.
7.18 The MAA will be an important delivery vehicle for the economic policies set out in the Core Strategy and, equally, these policies will support the MAA objectives. This highlights the importance of joint working across sectors and organisations to increase the competitiveness and prosperity of the sub-region. 197
PCS 37 Poole
JOINT WORKING Core
The Council will work with a variety of partners, including neighbouring local Strategy authorities, the Regional Planning Body, the Regional Development Agency, Poole
Partnership, and the Government to assist in delivering a range of sub-regional Submission priorities. Such priorities include:
i. delivering the sub-regional aspects of the Regional Spatial Strategy, including housing, employment and other priorities; Document
ii. an integrated approach to transport, traffic and parking management across the South East Dorset sub-region;
iii. managing direct and cumulative impacts upon Dorset Heathlands and Poole Harbour SPA/Ramsar sites through the preparation of a joint Heathland Mitigation Development Plan Document and other initiatives, having regard to those relating to the protection of European sites in the wider region such as the New Forest;
iv. raising the profile of Bournemouth and Poole town centres within the region;
v. securing access to funding for infrastructure and other priorities; and
vi. addressing the needs of Gypsies and Travellers.
The Developer's Role
7.19 Most of the proposals within the Core Strategy will be implemented by private investment through development. More detailed policies will be provided in other emerging development plan documents, principally Town Centre North Area Action Plan, and site-specific policies.
7.20 Some of the policies will require developers to incorporate new practises from the outset. Key examples of this are energy efficiency and renewable energy aspirations. The Core Strategy is seeking to secure much higher standards of energy efficiency and the incorporation of on-site renewable energy generation in new development. This will have implications for development costs and so it will be important for developers to take account of this at the earliest possible stage (i.e. before site purchase where the site is not in the developer's ownership). 7 Monitoring and Implementation Framework 198 The Role of Financial Contributions in Delivering Community Infrastructure Poole 7.21 New development can make a positive difference to the creation of sustainable and
Core attractive places through the quality of the design and the nature of uses provided. It is also the case, however, that the addition of more homes, jobs and activities places added pressure upon Strategy the urban area. In consequence, there is a need to invest in existing infrastructure to cope with the additional demand. Schools, open spaces, and pedestrian/cycle links are examples of where
Submission the pressure of new demand can be felt. In a broader sense, new development has a responsibility to create better, more sustainable places. This will be achieved in part by locating development in the most sustainable places - with the highest densities close to public transport and local facilities - but the responsibility goes further than this. For instance, existing local Document centres need to be capable of attracting and serving new residents otherwise those residents will choose to travel further (often by car) to find suitable facilities. Investing in local centres thus has a relationship with new development and can assist in creating better, more sustainable, places. Equally, as we move towards a future where travel by car will need to be reduced, contributions from new development will have an important role to play in enhancing walking, cycling and public transport links.
7.22 The Council therefore will seek planning obligations from developers where they are required to enable development to take place in a proper manner. This will be required to ensure development contributes positively to Poole’s needs and results in a better urban environment. Contributions will be administered in a coordinated manner in order to deliver the guiding principles and priorities which are set out in PCS 38 ‘THE ROLE OF DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS IN SHAPING PLACES’. Obligations will be sought from developers through Section 106 Legal Agreements. 199
PCS 38 Poole
THE ROLE OF DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS IN SHAPING PLACES Core
New development should assist in creating sustainable communities. A framework Strategy for financial contributions from development will be set out in Delivering Poole's
Infrastructure Development Plan Document which will provide certainty to developers Submission about what is expected from them in meeting the needs of their developments and, in turn, helping to shape a better future for Poole residents. Such obligations will adhere to the following principles: Document i. making better places: this will include physical enhancements of paving, street furniture, lighting, public spaces and public art, mainly in local centres and other focal points of community life which are capable of serving the development; ii. promoting active communities: this will involve the provision of necessary community facilities and infrastructure, including affordable housing, recreation facilities, schools, health care and community centres; iii. providing safe, convenient access for all: priorities will be sustainable travel measures such as bus priority, cycle lanes, better pedestrian facilities which improve safety or access to local facilities, steps to reduce community severance and improve the opportunity of people with disabilities or impaired mobility to play a full and active part in the community; iv. impact minimisation: measures needed to avoid or mitigate a potentially adverse impact. Measures will include flood risk alleviation, heathland and other habitat impact mitigation, provision of essential transport infrastructure, and traffic impact mitigation on prime transport corridors (including measures to minimise noise, air pollution and traffic hazards).
Priority locations for the use of developer contributions in delivering principles i-iv will be: a. Town Centre North b. The Regeneration Area c. The east-west corridor and other prime transport corridors d. Areas of highest flood risk, principally in the Regeneration Area e. All local centres, but in particular: 7 Monitoring and Implementation Framework 200 those along the A35 east-west corridor - Ashley Cross, Ashley Road,
Poole Bournemouth Road, Poole Road and Parkstone Road/Civic Centre;
Core local centres identified in most need of investment and improvement – Hamworthy, Creekmoor, Canford Heath and Wallisdown Strategy
f. the Natura 2000 habitats of Dorset Heathlands and Poole Harbour SPA and
Submission Ramsar sites;
g. Poole’s District Parks and strategic recreation facilities
Document h. Local Area Agreement Priority Areas of Hamworthy, parts of the Town Centre, and Alderney. 201 8 Key Diagram Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 8 Key Diagram 202 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 203 9 Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles Poole 9.1 The following Area Profiles summarise the defining characteristics of each area. A separate, more detailed character study (which will be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document) Core will provide important evidence for other more detailed development plan documents and will be a valuable tool enabling development proposals to be assessed for the contribution they Strategy make to local distinctiveness. Submission Profile of Area 1: the Town Centre
Description Document
Generally the town centre comprises the historic High Street and some 1960's additions in the form of the Dolphin Shopping Centre (incorporating the Central Library and Dolphin Sports Centre) and the Lighthouse arts centre, both of which are separated by a 'hard' urban environment comprised of the bus station and Kingland Road dual carriageway. The Lighthouse has been the subject of a major refurbishment and this has improved greatly the positive contribution the centre makes to Poole, particularly at night through the creative use of lighting. The High Street itself provides a functional transition from the shopping core to the north of North Street, through to Poole Quay and Old Town and it is crossed by the Waterloo-Weymouth rail link. The High Street is linear and the perception of this trait is influenced by the presence of major attractions (i.e. the shopping centre, bus station and Lighthouse at one end, and the Quay / Old town at the other) at either end of it. Along the way it tends to be characterised by a mix of smaller and medium-sized independent shops and cafes, with the occasional pub, bank and building society, and is made up of predominantly two- and thee-storey buildings. It is pedestrianised along much of its length and there is reasonable cover from trees, particularly when in leaf. Functionally the character takes on more vitality when parts of the High Street are used for market stalls. Former waterfront areas along the Back Water Channel will change in character from industrial to primarily residential, with public waterfront, as the Regeneration Area proposals come forward. Currently these areas are not particularly well-linked to the High Street/ wider town centre.
Waterfront areas are a distinctive feature of this area. At present the character is commercial and low-key, with limited public access apart from existing slipways. This character will change over time as new investment brings new public waterfronts. 9 Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles 204 Profile of Area 2: Poole Quay and Old Town Poole
Core Description Strategy This area forms the historic core of Poole and includes two significant Conservation Areas. Its architectural and historic significance is key to the heritage value of the Borough area and Submission contains the highest concentration of Listed Buildings in Poole.
The Old Town is functionally mixed, and is made up of two distinct parts:
Document the area around the Grade 1 Listed St James' Church and Market Street is a predominantly residential area containing a mix of historic buildings mainly from the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries including almshouses, merchant houses and more modest town houses, as well as the more prominant landmarks of St. James' Church, the Mansion House Hotel, and the Guildhall;
the south-western end of the High Street is made up of a mix of independent specialist retail outlets, cafes, restaurants and pubs, as well as the Waterfront Museum and Scaplens Court Museum. The character of this end of the High Street, due to the scale and age of buildings and street layout, forms an intrinsic part of the character of the rest of the Old Town (more so than with the rest of the High Street) and also links seamlessly with the Quay.
Poole Quay is shaped principally by the waterfront setting of the linear quayside and its relationship with the buildings fronting it, made up of former wharves, public houses, and new buildings which generally replicate the vertical scale of original buildings. Blocks are interspersed with historic narrow alleys. The setting of the former Custom House and Harbour Office are important waterfront sites. The new extension to the Waterfront Museum has heightened awareness of the historic collections and buildings on the Quay. The character changes markedly eastwards from Old Orchard, where Dolphin Quays Developments introduced a modern building of a new scale to the Quay opposite the new yacht haven. New flood defences in the form of a raised quay wall have complemented the quayside. The use of the quayside by boats and ships, including those offering harbour cruises and trips to Brownsea Island, is an important tourist attraction as are the views of the working port across the channel.
The Quay's character is intrinsically linked to its function. While its built form and function has changed over time, the vitality of the area, strong links with maritime heritage, and the interaction between people and the harbour are essential components of its character and its historic buildings and urban form have adapted well though they are vulnerable to changing needs. 205 Profile of Area 3: Hamworthy Waterside and Holes Bay Poole
Description Core Strategy This is an extensive area comprising several separate sub-areas. The Poole Power Station site and adjacent waterfront industrial sites are already part of proposals for major redevelopment associated with the Twin Sails Initiative. Shapwick Road flats are seen as an Submission extension of the town centre across Poole Bridge. The Port area forms part of this sub-area and is a mix of industrial and commercial buildings. The port-related functional character is a
strong feature here, and the working wharves with a skyline of conventional cargo-handling Document cranes, creates a point of interest when viewed from Poole Quay. West of the Port, larger properties front the harbour shore with a mix of older buildings in the centre of Hamworthy along Blandford Road. The western shore of Holes Bay is a further sub-area (see descriptions of 1, 2, 5 and 8), with a range of estate developments overlooking the water. A large industrial area faces the Bay on the east shore, and the fringes of Upton Country Park wrap round the north side.
Other features of the area include Hamworthy Park, Ham Common and Rockley Park. Hamworthy Park itself is an important asset both to local people and to Poole as a whole. Its seaside setting is a strong part of its character, defined by magnificent harbour views, a beach, a distinctive row of uniform beach huts and a lido-style paddling pool with adjacent cafe.
Profile of Area 4: Hamworthy, Upton South and Turlin Moor
Description
Most of this part of the town comprises uniform streets or estates with established areas of family housing, some with views of the harbour. The Royal Marine base at Ham Hill is close to the heart of this area. Hamworthy local centre on Blandford Road features a pleasant enough mix of undistinguished buildings and could benefit from improved facilities and a general uplift in the quality of its environment (refer to ‘Priority Areas in Need of Investment and Improvement’ for more details about Hamworthy Local Centre).
Turlin Moor, to the north, is physically segregated from the rest of Hamworthy by the railway. It contains post-1960's housing and an important large area of open space. Part of this area is within the Upton/ Lytchett Bay Marsh County Landscape Area. This is a small part of the wider character area to the west forming a flat expanse of reedbed, marsh, tidal mudflats and marginal vegetation. The area is open, undeveloped, and windswept at the edge of the urban area at Turlin Moor. It has an incised and meandering shoreline with a distinct landward margin 9 Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles 206 Profile of Area 4: Hamworthy, Upton South and Turlin Moor Poole
Core or edge to the adjacent playing fields/ recreation ground. Important belts of trees and hedgerow extend south onto the playing fields/ recreation ground from the area and scrubland acts as Strategy a buffer to the built up areas.
Upton South extends an area of Upton in Purbeck District. It comprises small mixed residential Submission areas as well as established industrial estates at Dawkins Road, Allens Lane and Factory Road. These date back to the 1950's and 1960's but also contain some modern buildings. Document Profile of Area 5: Creekmoor
Description
This is largely a residential area of suburban culs-de-sac, mostly developed during the 1980's and 1990's and a purpose-built local centre with library, offices, a public house and a supermarket. Houses are the prevailing type of dwelling, with a mix of sizes including a good share of family housing. Creekmoor local centre would benefit from new investment and improvement in terms of both the range of facilities and environmental enhancements (refer to ‘Priority Areas in Need of Investment and Improvement’ for more details on Creekmoor Local Centre).
Tree belts and open spaces are strong features. The western open spaces of Creekmoor are within the Green Belt and so the adjacent housing is close to open countryside and heathland.
A large part of the area is made up of Upton Country Park and associated farmland which acts to separate Upton and Hamworthy from the main developed area of Poole. This open land is identified as a County Landscape Area. Upton House is an impressive Georgian stone mansion set in landscaped parkland which also contains an historic walled garden. The park provides paths and boardwalks around the shores of Holes Bay across the edges of the mudlats amongst reeds, with bird hides at suitable locations. This part of the park is one of the few places in Poole where it is possible to experience the contrast of woodland, farmland, water and the urban environment. 207 Profile of Area 6: Broadstone Poole
Description Core Strategy Broadstone local centre contains an attractive range of retail and other uses and is an important focus for the wider area. It contributes positively to functional character and vitality. Broadstone has a lively and spacious-feeling environment owing, in part, to the Corfe Hills to the north, Submission Broadstone Park and the adjacent Nature Reserve. Many streets are attractive and well-established with spacious detached family homes. Document To the north east of Broadstone Centre there is a concentration of Victorian and Edwardian properties that form the historic core of the Tudor Road and Ridgeway Conservation Areas. Elsewhere around the local centre the houses are mainly from the inter-war period. Further south, around Hillbourne and Waterloo areas the character is mostly defined by post-1960s houses.The local centre is a focus for community activity and its character is lively as a consequence.
Profile of Area 7: Canford Heath
Description
Canford Heath is predominantly a residential area dating from the 1960's. Despite its uniformity, much of Canford Heath offers an attractive residential environment. It has some open spaces, two local centres (Canford Heath and Adastral Square) and directly adjoins the Canford Heath SSSI. The local centres could benefit from some investment and enhancement. This area contains two of Poole's strategically important employment areas - Nuffield and Mannings Heath. A new business park at Mannings Heath, together with the Tower Park leisure complex, give this area a varied and modern commercial character. At Nuffield, Hatch Pond is an important public space which softens the hard urban landscapes of industrial uses and busy roads.
Profile of Area 8: Oakdale
Description
Oakdale is a large area, mostly of houses and bungalows, rising to the east, with views over Holes Bay. The local centre is limited in facilities but performs an important role for local people. Its position on a wide and busy road gives it prominence but also adds a degree of intimidation from traffic and community severance. The centre is opposite public open space and former 9 Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles 208 Profile of Area 8: Oakdale Poole
Core school buildings, currently used for a range of community functions including adult education and public meetings. This is a positive addition to the function of the local centre as the heart Strategy of community life.
Oakdale has a relatively low-density urban form comprising a reasonable proportion of inter-war Submission and 1950's housing. Towards the town centre, however, the presence of older Victorian terraces give parts of this area a denser, established and distinctive urban form. Other notable features include open spaces including playing fields and a cemetery. The presence of schools Document combines well with the availability of family houses and this has an influence upon the area's character.
The major routes of the Dorset Way, Longfleet Road, Old Wareham Road and Ringwood Road define the boundaries of the area and along these are concentrations of traditional industrial estates and mixed employment areas.
Profile of Area 9: Parkstone
Description
This is a well-established and varied part of Poole which incorporates the main Poole-Bournemouth road link and Poole Park, Whitecliff and Baiter waterfront open spaces. It also finds a number of community focal points in the form of several local centres, including the major local centre of Ashley Cross. The Civic Centre complex is a significant landmark at a busy junction, with the original stone building dating from the 1930s. This provides a monumentally robust and uniform backdrop to Poole Park at its eastern end, in keeping with the complex's civic functions and Conservation Area status.
The three main parks each have a distinct character but also merge into one another to provide a transition from playing fields, informal green spaces and shoreline routes through to more formal park functions in Poole Park. The harbour setting of these spaces is a notable feature. In the case of Poole Park, the presence of mature trees and wooded linear routes adds positively to its character. The mix of attractions and buildings in the park add positively to the park's vitality and the wooded northern fringes soften the urban landscape of Poole. The roads through the park provide vehicular access to car parks but traffic levels during peak late afternoon/early evening times can have a negative impact upon the 'escapism' the park offers from busy urban life, and this impact upon its function detracts from the character. 209 Profile of Area 9: Parkstone Poole
Ashley Cross is an important local centre, much of which is within a Conservation Area. Core Parkstone Park provides a 'green lung' for this urban area and is fringed by an attractive mix of specialist shops, cafes, restraurants and flats. Saint Peter's Church and grounds is an Strategy important landmark in the Conservation Area. A high proportion of the housing is Victorian
and Edwardian, with distinctive terraces, semi-detached and detached plots within a mature Submission urban setting. Higher densities, with a mix of modern flats and older houses, exist adjacent to Ashley Cross, Poole Park and the main east-west routes but, typically, dwellings are good-sized Victorian and Edwardian family houses. A number of attractive streets with family houses follow a clear east-west alignment parallel to the railway, and density tends to be Document graded, generally decreasing southwards.
Penn Hill is a successful local centre and, although limited in the range of outlets, the presence of cafe's restaurants and bars gives it a lively atmosphere. It also benefits from a Sunday market in the car park and some high-quality specialist shops.
Part of Bournemouth Road is in Parkstone (the other half - on the other side of Bournemouth Road - is in Upper Parkstone). The character of this centre tends to be dominated by the busy Bournemouth Road, which tends to add to its liveliness.
Salterns Local Centre is small but contains a useful mix of essential functions. This helps to create interest and vitality at what otherwise would be an uneventful junction of roads.
9.2
Profile of Area 10: Lilliput
Description
This area is sited between the harbour shore and a distinct wooded ridge that runs parallel to it some way inland. The ridge is a strong characteristic of the area and for Poole as a whole, in that it is a defining feature of views towards Poole from the harbour.
Typically, dwellings are good-sized family houses (and, in some cases bungalows), built in the inter-and post-war periods, which often stand in larger-sized plots. Large mature trees are typical of many of the properties in this area, and small pieces of broken woodland occur quite commonly. There is a mix of modern flats and houses. A combination of modern, bespoke architecture and more traditional, modest styles is becoming something of a defining feature in the area. 9 Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles 210 Profile of Area 10: Lilliput Poole
Core The harbour is a key part of the area's attractiveness while the combination of a mix of managed, landscaped and natural landscapes in a sloping terrain provides a decidedly 'green' Strategy topography at the heart of an urban area - a feature which is more or less unique to Poole.
Parkstone Golf Course and the more informal and less manicured Luscombe Valley Nature Submission Reserve provide a mix of heathland fragments and pine woodland. Evening Hill Viewpoint is one of the most significant strategic view points in the Borough and one where the unique character of Poole harbour and its relationship with the multi-functional aspects of the town Document can be seen. These range from the harbour activities of boating, sailing and windsurfing, the commercial port, ferry crossings to France, beaches and luxury flats along Sandbanks peninsula, the undeveloped landscapes of Purbeck, and the islands in the harbour.
Lilliput's local centre is lively and contains a good mix of high-quality outlets. It's positioning on the main route to Poole's beaches has some perceptible affect on its character, particularly in the Summer months and this, combined with some of the maritime-influenced building designs, including some 1950s architecture, provides a hint of the centre's proximity to the sea.
Profile of Area 11: Sandbanks
Description
Sandbanks is a wave-created sand spit extraordinarily sited at the narrow mouth of Poole Harbour. It was transformed in just over forty years from a remote sand dune and heathland landscape from the 1890s to a residential community. Although the area has some original bungalows, many of the 1930's and 1950's family houses have since been redeveloped for flats, principally along Banks Road. The Old Coastguard/ Panorama Road Conservation Area along the north shore retains the original 1930’s and Edwardian villas with Purbeck stone boundary walls and harbour views. Key defining features are the exceptional, low-lying, coastal setting, generous spaces between buildings in a few areas, and the presence of large mature stands of trees. The Haven Hotel is a familiar landmark at the head of the peninsula adjacent to the chain link ferry to Studland, which in itself is closely associated with the character and function of Sandbanks.
On the harbour side, there is no public beach but buildings are set back by a fairly uniform amount. This 'beachline' helps to define the relationship between the peninsula and the harbour. 21 Profile of Area 11: Sandbanks 1 Poole
The narrow causeway is developed with modern flats of fairly uniform height at its northern Core half. The southern half is occupied by single and two-storey buildings comprising a cafe, toilet facilities, lifeguards' accommodation and beach huts, as well as a small area of landscaped Strategy gardens and sand dunes. This area affords views to both Poole Harbour and Poole Bay. The
character of Sandbanks Beach is a significant feature of this peninsula. Although physically Submission part of a long stretch of beach which is shared by Bournemouth, its character is unique. This is due to the combination of the width of sand, the beach's visual links with the Studland coastline (sweeping round to Old Harry Rocks), and the fact that it is remote from Poole (due to its peninsular characteristics). The backdrop of modern flats lends an exotic flavour to the Document character of Sandbanks.
Profile of Area 12: Canford Cliffs and Branksome Park
Description
This is generally an attractive very low density "Arcadian" area set around the axis of Branksome Chine, and with a focus on Canford Cliffs Local Centre above Poole Bay. Original dwellings were family houses or large bungalows in large plots, set in a dense matrix of large mature trees, principally pine. Most have been extended, or replaced by larger dwellings, while blocks of flats made an early appearance along the coastline. Branksome Chine is a distinct wooded valley running through the area to the coast, with many inter-war properties to its west and a mix of older Victorian and Edwardian houses to its east (towards Westbourne). This, along with the other chines in this area (and in adjoining Bournemouth) provide a combination of sub-tropical garden, enclosed valley setting and coastal flavour which are unique to the conurbation.
The Avenue forms a linear boulevard with a large set-back from the road, mature trees, and tall blocks of flats. As at Sandbanks, a variety of building periods, large spaces between buildings, and the dominance of mature trees are key features. The cliffs are identified as a County Landscape Area.
Compton Acres is an area of stunning formal gardens and structures which inform, or are informed by, the landscape. This adjoins Parkstone Golf Course and the wooded, sloping features of these helps to define the character of the coastal zone when viewed from the harbour. The wooded chines, together with Compton Acres, are highly distinctive features which are more or less unique to the South East Dorset Conurbation, notably in relation to the blend of topography, sub-tropical species and coastal character of the plants. 9 Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles 212 Profile of Area 13: Upper Parkstone Poole
Core Description Strategy This area contains higher density Victorian and Edwardian development centred around Ashley Road local centre, with a grid of mostly traditional brick terraced houses, with twentieth century Submission houses and bungalows to the north. These create an established residential urban character and the versatility of housing in this area suits a variety of family circumstances, including single people, couples, older residents and families. This is relevant to the area's character
Document because it contributes to vitality and supports the role of Ashley Road as a local centre.
The high densities mean that there is a lack of trees or green vegetation throughout much of this area, and this is compounded by a general deficiency of open spaces. Notable exceptions are Alexandra Park and Constitution Hill Viewpoint. The former is an attractive, traditional Victorian park of varied topography, set within an area of pleasant residential streets of moderate density, made up of a mix of terraced, semi-detached and detached houses. The topography and layout of the park provides interest in the form of hidden corners which reveal themselves at various points, together with extensive views from its higher parts. The relationship between the park and the surrounding houses is an important element to its character and reinforces the impression of its valuable community role, particularly given the lack of local alternative parks in the area.
Ashley Road is the largest centre outside of Poole Town Centre. It is not especially attractive aesthetically but its vitality and range of uses create a highly characterful, lively and stimulating urban environment. High frequency bus services run along Ashley Road, which add to the activity levels and the relatively slow movement of traffic helps to calm the potential severance impact of vehicles on this busy artery. Ashley Road runs along the crest of a high ridge, culminating in the Constitution Hill Viewpoint. This offers spectacular views of Poole Harbour, the distant Purbeck Hills, Poole Bay and the Town Centre.
Profile of Area 14: Wallisdown
Description
Relatively modern and uniform development prevails in this location. Wallisdown Road is a major thoroughfare which links with Bournemouth University in the far eastern corner of Poole. There is a core of well-established, moderate density houses to the south of Wallisdown Road. The grid-like street pattern contains a mix of detached and semi-detached houses. Wallisdown local centre is reasonably substantial but would benefit from some enhancement. 213 Profile of Area 14: Wallisdown Poole
The area is broken by large open spaces, some of them wooded, other parts heathland, and Core these are significant components in the area's character, including the internationally protected Bourne Bottom which is set in a valley. This links with Alderney Recreation Ground, a large Strategy area of open space with playing fields. Submission East of the playing fields on Wallisdown Road the residential character changes into a more suburban residential character made up of culs-de-sac up to the strong physical boundary of Fern Barrow. East of this the institutional campus of the university dominates. Document
Profile of Area 15: North Poole and the Stour Valley
Description
Most of this area is farmland, broken woodland or heathland, set along the Stour Valley, facing Wimborne. Apart from Merley and Bearwood, development is restricted by the area's Green Belt status and archaeologically rich landscape.
This area contains a number of sub-areas. Merley and Bearwood are principally estate developments dating between the 60s and 90s. Oakley Lane, Canford Magna and Ashington Conservation Areas differ notably from this character and have much more of a rural village feel. In Canford Magna the presence of a Grade I listed church defines this character. The setting of this and other listed buildings, together with the historic grounds of the ancient Canford Manor (now Canford School), are critical components of Canford Magna's character. There are also five County Landscape Areas subdividing the Green Belt: Canford Heath; Corfe Hills heath; North Poole heath/ farm fringe; Merley/ Canford river terrace; and the Lower Stour Valley. 9 Appendix 1: Character Area Profiles 214 Poole Core Strategy Submission Document 215 10 Appendix 2: Schedule of Saved Policies Poole Core Strategy Submission Document
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
Policy Subject Comments on Purpose of Policy Policy to be ‘saved’ until replaced by:
BE1 Design Code Widely used policy that provides general principles to be CSP24 2: considered in relation to impact of development on surroundings.
Supported by SPG entitled “A Design Code”. Builds on design Schedule advice provided in PPS3 – Housing (Para 35). BE2 Landscaping Policy that promotes landscaping as an integral part of the Site-specific development process. Supported by Supplementary Planning Allocations Guidance entitled “The Landscape and Natural Environment
Design Code”. of
BE3 Topography Policy that seeks to control development that could adversely Site-specific Saved impact on hills and the skyline. Supporting advice contained in Allocations Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled “A Design Code”. BE4 Shopfronts Policy used to control design of new shopfronts. Detailed design Site-specific Policies guidance provided by Supplementary Planning Guidance Allocations entitled “Guidelines for Shopfronts and Shop Signs”. BE5 Security Shutters General policy which seeks to control the use and appearance Site-specific of security shutters, particularly where they would prejudice the Allocations character of an area. Additional guidance provided in SPG “Guidelines for Shopfronts and Shop Signs”. BE6 Advertisements –Residential General policy controlling advertisement consents in residential Site-specific Areas areas. Allocations BE7 Advertisements – Free General policy controlling free standing advertisements to Site-specific Standing ensure no adverse effect upon public safety/amenity. Allocations BE8 Hoardings General policy controlling hoardings to ensure no adverse effect Site-specific on visual amenity/public safety. Allocations Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
BE9 Public Art General policy promoting negotiation with developers for Site-specific provision of art works at gateway locations/prominent sites. Allocations Supported by Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled “Percent for Art”. BE10 Telecommunications General policy controlling the impact of telecommunications Site-specific installations. Allocations BE11 Energy Efficiency General policy used to deliver energy efficiency principles CSP32 through the design, layout and orientation of development. Supporting advice contained in Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled “A Design Code”. BE12 Listed Buildings -Alterations A Policy used to protect listed buildings where Site-specific alterations/extensions are proposed. Allocations BE13 Listed Buildings –Change of Policy used to protect listed buildings where a change of use Site-specific Use is proposed. Allocations BE14 Listed Buildings -Settings Policy used to protect the setting of a listed building. CSP24 BE15 Buildings of Local Policy which affords a protection to buildings of local importance. Site-specific Importance Allocations BE16 Conservation Areas Important policy used to control development to ensure that the Site-specific character/appearance of a conservation area is Allocations preserved/enhanced. BE17 Conservation Areas Policy seeking to prevent demolition, in whole or in part, of Site-specific –Buildings of Local buildings of local importance within a conservation area. Allocations Importance BE18 Conservation Areas Policy used to control proposals for new shopfronts in specific Site-specific -Shopfronts conservation areas. Allocations BE19 Conservation Areas –Upper Policy used to control the use of upper floors in specified Site-specific
Floors conservation areas. Allocations
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
BE20 Upper Floors Policy used to control permitted uses of upper floors in local Site-specific centres. Allocations BE21 Quay Conservation Area - Policy which seeks to protect the character of The Quay Site-specific
Character conservation area. Allocations 2:
BE22 Quay Conservation Area - Policy which seeks to promote vitality The Quay conservation Site-specific Schedule Vitality area. Allocations BE23 Conservation Areas –Low Policy restricting the density of development within specific Site-specific Density Development conservation areas. Allocations BE24 Conservation Areas Policy used to control development within specific conservation Site-specific
-Character areas to ensure character will not be adversely affected. Allocations of
BE25 Historic Parks and Gardens Policy which seeks to protect the character, appearance and Site-specific Saved setting of Historic Parks and Gardens and areas of historic Allocations landscape interest. BE26 Archaeology – Nationally Policy which seeks to protect the site or setting of Scheduled Site-specific Policies Important Sites Ancient Monuments or nationally important remains. Allocations BE27 Archaeology – Locally Policy affording protection to the site or setting of unscheduled Site-specific Important Sites archaeological remains of local importance. Allocations NE1 Pollution and Noise Policy that provides protection against development that would Site-specific be detrimental to the natural/built environment by virtue of Allocations pollution or noise. NE2 New Buildings in the Green Area specific policy restricting construction of new buildings in Site-specific Belt the Green Belt to those uses specified as exceptions. Allocations NE3 Open Character of the Green Area specific policy seeking to prevent proposals in the Green Site-specific Belt Belt that would prejudice the openness of, or fails to respect Allocations the character/appearance of the countryside. Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
NE4 NE4 Existing Buildings in the Area specific policy that allows conversion/alteration/change of Site-specific Green Belt use of existing buildings in the Green Belt providing proposals Allocations are in compliance with specified criteria. NE5 Major Developed Sites in the Policy providing for limited infilling on identified major developed Site-specific Green Belt sites in the Green Belt, subject to compliance with specified Allocations conditions. NE6 North Poole Area specific policy limiting development to that appropriate in Site-specific the Green Belt. Allocations NE7 Arrowsmith Road Area specific policy that seeks to control development in an Site-specific area with distinctive characteristics. Allocations NE8 Land North of Broadstone Area specific policy that seeks to control formal recreation Site-specific Golf Course activity which would require significant ancillary buildings or car Allocations parking. NE11 Equestrian Activities Policy providing for equestrian activities/keeping of horses in Site-specific the Green Belt on condition that the open character of the Green Allocations Belt is maintained/improved and does not result in the loss of the best and most versatile agricultural land. NE12 Housing for Agricultural Policy providing for new housing in the Green Belt for specified Site-specific Workers in the Green Belt occupations where operational need is demonstrated. Expands Allocations on provisions of PPG 2: Green Belts – Paragraph 3.4. NE13 Subdivision of Dwellings in General Green Belt policy allowing for the subdivision/ Site-specific the Green Belt replacement of dwellings subject to set criteria. Provides Allocations additional detail to Planning Policy Guidance 2: Green Belts – Paragraph 3.6. NE14 Upton Country Park and Area specific policy that provides for development provided that Site-specific Farm the purpose for including the land within the Green Belt is Allocations
protected.
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
NE15 Sites of International Policy that seeks to protect internationally important nature CSP29, CSP30 Importance conservation sites from development that would adversely affect the integrity of the site.
NE16 Sites of Special Scientific Policy that seeks to protect SSSI’s from development likely to Site-specific 2: Interest result in a significant adverse affect. Allocations Schedule NE17 Development Adjacent to Policy that seeks to allow for development adjacent to CSP29, CSP30; Heathland heathlands subject to specified conditions. Now supplemented by document entitled Dorset Heathlands Interim Planning Joint Heathlands Framework that seeks to ensure that tdevelopment doe not lead DPD to net increase in urban pressures on internationally important
heathland. of
NE18 Heathland Reserve Centre Site specific policy that provides for a heathland reserve centre Joint Heathlands Saved subject to specified conditions. DPD NE19 Sites of Nature Conservation Policy that provides for development on SNCI’s subject to Site-specific
Interest specified conditions. Allocations Policies NE20 Other Features of Nature General policy that provides for development on undesignated Site-specific Conservation Interest sites with nature conservation value, on condition that proposals Allocations retain, where possible, the special features of the site. NE21 Legally Protected Species General policy, relating to development sites that contain Site-specific statutorily protected flora and fauna, which seeks to ensure Allocations their retention/relocation. NE22 Regionally Important Site specific policy that protects a regionally important geological Site-specific Geological Sites site from development that would result in an adverse impact. Allocations NE23 Coastal Zone and Shoreline Policy that provides for development in the coastal zone subject Site-specific Character to criteria based assessment. Supported by Supplementary Allocations Planning Guidance entitled “Shoreline Character Areas”. Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
NE24 Beach Huts and Chalets Location specific policy that permits proposals for beach huts Site-specific and chalets subject to criteria based assessment. Allocations NE25 Beach Huts on Raised Sites Location specific policy that seeks to limit the height of beach Site-specific hut developments or redevelopment on raised sites. Allocations NE26 Unstable Ground General policy that requires development on or near unstable Site-specific ground to incorporate measures to eliminate the instability in a Allocations manner compatible with the character of the area. NE27 Individual or Grouped Trees General policy that seeks to allow development on sites Site-specific containing individual or grouped trees not covered by a tree Allocations preservation order subject to adherence to specified provisions. NE28 Tree Preservation Orders General policy that seeks to protect or mitigate the loss of a Site-specific tree affected by development which is covered by a tree Allocations preservation order. NE29 Development Adjacent to General policy that provides for development adjacent to open Site-specific Open Space space subject to specified conditions. Allocations NE30 Network of Urban General policy that requires development respect the urban Site-specific Greenspace and Open greenspace/open space network and provide for its protection Allocations; Joint Spaces and where appropriate contribute to its expansion. Heathlands DPD T1 Safeguarding Cycle Routes General policy that seeks to ensure that proposed development Site-specific does not prejudice the implementation of links to the cycleway Allocations network. T2 Cycling Provision in New Policy that provides for development likely to generate significant Site-specific Development cycle use subject to compliance with specified conditions. Allocations T3 Provision for Pedestrians in General policy providing for safe, convenient and direct Site-specific
New Development pedestrian routes and facilities in proposed developments. Allocations
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
T4 Key Public Transport Routes Policy that seeks to protect key public transport routes from Site-specific development that would be detrimental to the operation of such Allocations services.
T5 Bus Priority Measures Policy that affords protection to four identified locations from Site-specific 2: development that would adversely affect bus priority measures. Allocations Schedule T6 Development of Rail Policy that seeks to control development adjacent to railway Site-specific Services lines/stations, which would adversely impact on the operation Allocations of rail services. T7 Enhancement of Rail Freight Site specific policy seeking to secure improvements to rail freight Site-specific facilities in two locations. Allocations of T8 Park and Ride –Marshes End Site specific allocation (partially implemented) supported by Site-specific Saved Local Transport Plan. Allocations T9 Park and Ride –Mannings Site specific policy seeking to secure park and ride facility or Site-specific Heath Canford Way/ alternatively employment related use. Allocations Mannings Heath Road) Policies T10 Park and Ride – Poole Site specific policy seeking to secure increased park and ride Site-specific Station capacity for rail users. Allocations T11 Car Parking Maxima General policy which sets maximum levels of parking provision Site-specific for development proposals. Supported by Supplementary Allocations Planning Guidance: Parking Guidelines and the Local Transport Plan. T12 Coach and Lorry Park Site specific policy that provides for coach and lorry parking Site-specific including associated facilities. Allocations T13 Traffic Generated by General policy that seeks to restrict the affects of new Site-specific Development development. Supported by Supplementary Planning Guidance: Allocations Travel Plans. Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
T14 Access to the Highway General policy that seeks to prevent additional access, parking, Site-specific crossing and turning movements on primary and distributor Allocations roads. T15 Rear Access and Servicing General policy that provides for improvements in rear servicing Site-specific for commercial properties. Allocations T16 Junction Improvements Policy relating to the improvement of two specific road junctions Site-specific (partially implemented). Allocations T17 West Quay Transport Area specific policy seeking to provide improvements to the Site-specific Network transport network. See also Policy T19. Allocations T18 Lower Hamworthy Transport Area specific policy seeking to provide improvements to the Site-specific Network transport network. See also Policy T19. Allocations T19 New Harbour Crossing Site specific policy that combined with policies T17 and T18 Site-specific provides comprehensive proposals to deliver area wide Allocations improvements to the transport network centred on a regeneration initiative. T20 Highway Improvements Policy that seeks to protect five specific highway improvement Site-specific schemes from development that would prejudice their Allocations implementation. T21 New Highways and Highway General policy that seeks to ensure that new highways and Site-specific Improvement Schemes highway improvement schemes provide a range of Allocations environmental improvements. H1 Housing Allocations Policy that provides details of allocated residential development Site-specific sites. Allocations H2 Former Southern Print Works Site specific policy relating to detailed design requirements for Site-specific
residential development. Allocations
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
H3 Talbot Village Site specific policy detailing levels of residential, development, Site-specific student accommodation and academic floorspace for Allocations Bournemouth University and Arts Institute subject to identified criteria. 2: H4 Housing Development General policy that provides criteria against which proposals CSP6; CSP7; for residential development will be assessed. CSP16; CSP24 Schedule H5 Affordable Housing Policy that specifies threshold for the provision of affordable CSP7 housing on residential development sites. Provides additional detail supplementing provisions of PPS3: Housing – Paragraph 29. Supported by SPG entitled “Affordable Housing”. of H7 Affordable Housing – Green Policy that provides for affordable housing in the Green Belt Site-specific Belt limited to specific circumstances. Allocations Saved H8 Gypsy Site Site specific policy relating to the retention of an existing gypsy Site-specific site. Allocations
H9 High Density Housing General policy that provides for higher density housing CSP6 Policies development outside of low density and flat character development areas. H10 Low Density Housing Policy which seeks to maintain low density housing character Site-specific of specific areas. Allocations H11 Security Through Policy that seeks to aid crime preventionthrough the CSP28 development design process. Provides detail additional to the Design provisions of PPS1: Delivering Sustainable Development and PPS3: Housing. H12 House Alterations and General policy that requires the visual integration of alterations Site-specific Extensions and extensions to existing buildings to ensure that the privacy Allocations and amenity of adjoining properties is not compromised. Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
H13 Purpose Built Flats, Bedsits, General policy that provides criteria against which proposals CSP6; CSP24 Hostels and Sheltered for purpose built flats, bedsits, hostels and sheltered housing Housing will be assessed. H14 Flats – Sandbanks Peninsula Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 of new flat developments. H15 Sandbanks Beachline Development control policy that limits the proximity of new Site-specific development to the landward edge of the beachline. allocations H16 Flats – Sandbanks Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 Causeway of new flat developments. H17 Flats – Lilliput Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 of new flat developments. H18 Flats – Cliff Drive Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 of new flat developments. H19 Flats – Martello Park and Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 Westminster Road of new flat developments. H20 Flats – The Avenue Area Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 East of new flat developments. H21 Flats – The Avenue Area Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 North of new flat developments. H22 Flats – The Avenue Area Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 West of new flat developments. H23 Flats – The Avenue Area Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 South-East of new flat developments. H24 Flats – Surrey Road Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6
of new flat developments.
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
H25 Flats – Lower Parkstone Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 of new flat developments. H26 Flats – Bournemouth Road Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6
of new flat developments. 2:
H27 Flats – Mount Road Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 Schedule of new flat developments. H28 Flats – Parkstone Road West Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 of new flat developments. H29 Flats – Parkstone Road West Area specific policy that seeks to control infilling of balconies CSP6
Detail and conversion of flat roofs to pitched form. of
H30 Flats – Parkstone Road East Area specific policy that seeks to control the density and scale CSP6 Saved of new flat developments. H31 Conversion to Flats, Bedsits, General policy that provides criteria against which proposals CSP6 Hostels and Sheltered for the conversion of existing buildings into purpose built flats, Policies Housing bedsits, hostels and sheltered housing will be assessed. H32 Rest Homes and Nursing General policy that provides criteria against which proposals CSP8 Homes for the conversion of existing buildings into rest/nursing homes will be assessed. E1 Employment Land Policy that seeks to retain identified allocated employment land Site-specific for employment uses. Allocations E2 Existing Employment Areas Policy that seeks to retain employment land within existing CSP2; Site-specific employment areas for employment uses. Allocations E3 Existing Employment Sites Policy providing for development proposals for alternative uses CSP5 and Premises Outside on sites/premises outside of identified employment areas, Identified Employment Areas subject to specified conditions. and Allocated Sites Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
E4 New Employment General policy that provides for new employment development Site-specific Development Outside outside allocated sites and employment areas on condition that Allocations Allocated Sites and the development can be served by energy efficient forms of Employment Areas transport. E5 Small Firms Policy requiring provision of small units on sites greater than Site-specific 0.5 ha Allocations E6 Major B1 Office Development Policy that seeks to direct major office development in excess Site-specific of 2,000 square metres to Poole Town Centre unless specified Allocations exceptions apply. E7 Temporary Use of Vacant Policy permitting proposals for the temporary use of vacant Site-specific Employment Sites employment sites on condition that the proposal does not Allocations prejudice the availability of the land for B1-B8 uses. E8 Port-Related Development Area specific policy that provides for development proposals in CSP4; Site-specific the port area, subject to meeting specified criteria. Allocations E9 Port Rail Link Site specific policy which seeks to protect the railway and CSP4; Site- specific associated area for rail freight use from development that would Allocations prevent/hinder those facilities. E10 Deep Water Frontage Location specific policy reserving identified deep-water frontage CSP4; Site-specific for port/harbour related uses. Allocations E11 The Fulcrum Site specific policy that reserves land at The Fulcrum for B1-B8 Site-specific class uses, subject to meeting specified criteria. Allocations E12 Mannings Heath – Policy relating to identified sites that provides for the loss of Site-specific Residential Properties residential properties to B1-B8 uses subject to compliance with Allocations specified conditions. E13 Nuffield Estate Extension Area specific policy that provides for the extension of the Nuffield Site-specific
Industrial Estate subject to compliance with specified conditions. Allocations
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
E14 Cabot Lane Area specific policy that provides for employment development Site-specific at Cabot Lane subject to compliance with specified conditions. Allocations E15 Sterte Avenue West Site specific policy that provides for employment development Site-specific
at Sterte Avenue West subject to compliance with specified Allocations 2: conditions. Schedule E16 Location and Layout of General policy permitting proposals having the potential to cause Site-specific Potentially Polluting Uses pollution and/or involve storage/use of hazardous substances, Allocations subject to compliance with specified conditions. E17 Sites Near to Potentially General policy preventing proposals in areas that have the Site-specific Polluting Uses potential to cause pollution or which deal with hazardous Allocations of substances, if complying with specified criteria. Saved E18 Existing Potentially Polluting General policy that provides for the extension/consolidation of Site-specific Uses uses that have the potential to cause pollution or which deal Allocations with hazardous substances, providing measures are included
to protect amenities of other land users/environment from Policies potential impact of pollution. E19 Contaminated Sites General policy that requires sites suspected of contamination Site-specific to have an approved scheme for remediation to be implemented Allocations as part of the development. TO1 Tourism Assets Policy that seeks to protect Poole’s tourism assets from Site-specific development likely to cause harm to those features which Allocations contribute to the character of those assets. TO2 Existing Tourist Attractions Policy which allows for development including Site-specific redevelopment/change of use of existing tourist attractions Allocations where it result in the provision of new/improved tourist facilities. TO3 Rockley Park Site specific policy requiring new development at Rockley Park Site-specific to respect the sensitive nature of the site. Allocations Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
TO4 Tower Park Site specific policy requiring identified land at Tower Park to be Site-specific retained for leisure/tourism use. Allocations TO5 The Quay Policy permitting development at The Quay provided it Site-specific protects/improves features that attract tourists and makes a Allocations positive contribution to the tourist environment. TO6 Tourism Zones Policy that seeks to control development within identified tourism Site-specific zones. Allocations TO7 Retention of Hotels and Policy that seeks prevent development affecting hotels/guest Site-specific Guest Houses houses where it would result in a loss of accommodation. Allocations TO8 Hotels on Employment Land Policy that permits hotel development on employment land Site-specific providing it satisfies the requirements of other specified local Allocations plan policies. TO9 Hotels and Guest Houses General policy permitting proposals for the Site-specific development/extension to hotels/guest houses providing the Allocations development satisfies specified criteria. TO10 Improving Hotels and Guest Policy permitting proposals for development that improves the Site-specific Houses quality of existing hotels/guest houses providing they meet the Allocations criteria of Policy TO9. TO11 Hotels and Guest House Policy that seeks to permit proposals for development to improve Site-specific Facilities facilities on existing hotel sites ancillary to the hotel use, subject Allocations to meeting the criteria of Policy TO9. TO12 Bed and Breakfast General policy permitting change of use of dwellings to bed and Site-specific breakfast subject to compliance with specified criteria. Allocations TO13 Chalets and Caravans Policy seeking to prohibit the development of new or the Site-specific extension/intensification of use of existing sites for holiday Allocations
chalets/static holiday caravans.
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
TO14 Rural Buildings Policy that permits the change of use of rural buildings to tourist Site-specific accommodation subject to compliance with specified criteria. Allocations TO15 Visitor Management Policy permitting development, subject to other policies, which Site-specific
enables improved visitor management. Allocations 2:
TO16 Tourist Information Policy defining requirements for tourist information signs and Site-specific Schedule interpretation boards. Allocations L1 Public Open Space Policy that seeks to prevent the loss of significant areas of public Site-specific open space through development except in specific identified Allocations circumstances.
L2 Urban Greenspace Policy that seeks to prevent the loss of urban greenspace Site-specific of through development except in specific identified circumstances. Allocations Saved L3 Public Open Space – Former Site specific policy for the provision of public open space (Partly Site-specific Oakdale Middle School implemented). Allocations L4 Leisure Development Policy that provides for leisure based development within parks Site-specific Policies and open spaces subject to specified conditions. Allocations L5 Playing Fields Policy that seeks to prevent the loss of playing fields through Site-specific development. Allocations L6 All Weather Floodlit Sports Policy providing for all weather floodlit sports facilities provided Site-specific Facilities specified conditions are met. Allocations L7 Ancillary Facilities on Policy that permits the provision of ancillary facilities at Site-specific Recreation Sites public/private outdoor recreation sites subject to specified Allocations conditions. L8 Golf Courses Policy providing for new golf course facilities subject to specified Site-specific conditions. Allocations L9 Recreation and Leisure Policy providing for new public/private recreation facilities subject Site-specific Facilities to specified conditions. Allocations Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
L10 Public Access to Shore Policy that requires new development to provide for public Site-specific access to the shore. Allocations L11 Marina, Jetty, Slipway or Policy that provides for development involving new/extended Site-specific Other Boating or Mooring marina, jetty, slipway or other boating or mooring facilities Allocations Facilities subject to specified conditions. L12 Boatyards and Boat Storage Policy seeking to prevent the loss through development of Site-specific boatyards/boat storage areas. Allocations L13 Outdoor Recreation – Site specific policy providing for suitable outdoor sport/recreation Site-specific Canford Heath of a non-intensive character and compatible with green belt Allocations status, subject to compliance with specified criteria (Partially implemented). L14 Access and Links to Open General policy that requires new development to include public Site-specific Space footpath/cycleway/bridleway links where they would facilitate Allocations; Joint improved access to open space etc, particularly in relation to Heathlands DPD specified countryside routes. L15 Commercial Entertainment Policy permitting development for commercial entertainment Site-specific and Leisure and leisure facilities providing it complies with specified Allocations conditions. L16 Art and Cultural Facilities General policy seeking to prevent the loss of art/cultural facilities Site-specific and providing for new art/cultural facilities in the town/local Allocations centres providing they meet criteria established in Policy L9. L17 Provision for Recreation General policy seeking to deliver appropriate provision for Site-specific Facilities recreation facilities in new development, to specified open space Allocations; standards. Supported by Supplementary Planning Guidance Infrastructure DPD
entitled “Planning Obligations: Recreation Facilities”.
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
S2 Town Centre – Primary Area specific policy that seeks to restrict uses within the primary Site-specific Retail Frontage retail frontage of the town centre. Allocations/ Town Centre North AAP
S3 Town Centre – Secondary Area specific policy that seeks to restrict uses within the Site-specific 2: Retail Frontage secondary retail frontage of the town centre. Allocations Schedule S4 Retail Development in Local Location specific policy providing for retail development in local Site-specific Centres centres subject to compliance with specified conditions. Allocations S5 Small Scale Retail Proposals General policy permitting small scale retail developments under Site-specific a specified size, serving a local need. Allocations
S6 Retail Parks Policy that seeks to reserve three identified retail parks for Site-specific of non-food retail warehousing for the sale of bulky durable, garden Allocations Saved or DIY goods. S7 Retail Warehousing Policy permitting retail warehousing for the sale of bulky durable, Site-specific garden or DIY goods subject to compliance with specified Allocations locational hierarchy. Policies S8 Amusement Centres Policy permitting the provision of amusement centres subject Site-specific to compliance with specified criteria. Allocations S9 Temporary Retail Uses General policy providing for the use of vacant land for temporary Site-specific retail uses providing there is no loss of amenity to the Allocations surrounding area. CF1 School Sites Policy which identifies two specific sites to be reserved for Site-specific educational use. Allocations CF2 University and Arts Institute Policy that provides for extensions to the University and Arts Site-specific Institute dependent on inclusion of measures to limit private Allocations vehicle trips. CF3 Poole Hospital Policy that reserves land to the west of the main hospital building Site-specific for an extension to the hospital. Allocations Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
CF4 Child Care Facilities Policy which provides criteria for use of premises as day Site-specific nurseries. Allocations CF5 Retention of Community Policy that seeks to prevent loss of premises used, or last used, CSP26 Facilities for community purposes. CF6 Planning Obligations – Policy that requires development proposals to contribute towards CSP27; CSP38 Community Facilities the provision of community facilities to enable its implementation. CA1 Holes Bay Basin –Urban Area specific policy that provides urban design criteria for the Site-specific Design delivery of development. Supported by Supplementary Planning Allocations Guidance entitled “Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative - Planning and Urban Design Guidance for the Central Area of Poole”. CA2 Holes Bay Basin – Delivery Area specific policy that allows for development providing it Site-specific Mechanism does not undermine comprehensive regeneration of the area. Allocations; Supported by Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled Poole Infrastructure DPD Bridge Regeneration Initiative – Planning Obligations”. CA3 Land to the East of RNLI, Area specific policy detailing the mix of uses to be included in Site-specific West Quay Road development proposals, together with criteria that need to be Allocations satisfied to obtain planning permission. Supported by Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled “Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative – Planning and Urban Design Guidance for the Central Area of Poole”. CA4 RNLI, West of West Quay Area specific policy reserving land occupied by the RNLI for Site-specific Road operational purposes. Supported by SPG entitled “Poole Bridge Allocations Regeneration Initiative – Planning and Urban Design Guidance
for the Central Area of Poole”.
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
CA5 Land Between Wilkins Way Area specific policy detailing the mix of uses to be included in Site-specific and RNLI development proposals and conditions relating to core design Allocations principles. Supported by SPG entitled “Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative - Planning and Urban Design Guidance for the Central Area of Poole”. 2:
CA6 Land Between Poole Bridge Area specific policy detailing the mix of uses to be included in Site-specific Schedule and Wilkins Way development proposals and conditions relating to core design Allocations principles. Supported by SPG entitled “Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative - Planning and Urban Design Guidance for the Central Area of Poole”.
CA7 Land Occupied by Pilkington Area specific policy detailing the mix of uses to be included in Site-specific of
Tiles and Sydenham Timber development proposals and conditions relating to core design Allocations Saved Yard principles. Supported by SPG entitled “Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative - Planning and Urban Design Guidance for the Central Area of Poole”.
CA8 Former Power Station, Oil Area specific policy detailing the mix of uses to be included in Site-specific Policies Depot and Land East of development proposals and conditions relating to core design Allocations Rigler Road principles. Supported by SPG entitled “Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative - Planning and Urban Design Guidance for the Central Area of Poole”. CA9 Former Pilkington Tile Site Area specific policy detailing the mix of uses to be included in Site-specific and Adjoining Land development proposals and conditions to be applied. Allocations CA10 Lagland Street Area specific policy that provides for small scale infill Site-specific development. Allocations / Town Centre North AAP CA11 Goods Yard Site specific policy defining mix of uses to be included in Site-specific development proposals. Allocations / Town Centre North AAP Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1
CA12 Kingland Road Site specific policy defining uses to be included in development Town Centre North proposals (Partly implemented). AAP CA13 Land Adjacent Dolphin Site specific policy defining uses to be included in development Site-specific Swimming Pool, Kingland proposals (Partly implemented). Allocations / Town Road Centre North AAP CA15 Pitwines West Site specific policy defining uses to be included in development Site-specific proposals (Partly implemented). Allocations CA16 Former East Quay Depot and Site specific policy defining mix of uses to be included in Site-specific the Quay Thistle Hotel development proposals. Allocations LC1 Commercial and Retail Policy applying to identified areas of commercial and retail Site-specific Frontage frontage that seeks to protect the vitality/viability of a local Allocations centre. LC2 Commercial and retail Policy applying to identified areas of commercial and retail Site-specific Frontage – Other uses frontage that permits proposals for specified Allocations non-commercial/retail uses provided it does not harm the vitality/viability of a local centre. LC3 Upper Parkstone –Primary Area specific policy which seeks to protect primary retail frontage Site-specific Retail Frontage from uses that would harm the vitality/viability of the local centre. Allocations LC4 Upper Parkstone Area specific policy that permits specified uses within the Site-specific –Secondary Retail Frontage secondary retail frontage. Allocations LC5 Broadstone –Redevelopment Site specific policy providing for mixed-use redevelopment to Site-specific Site incorporate rear servicing and parking. Allocations LC6 Broadstone – Rear Access Site specific policy providing for rear access/servicing as part Site-specific to Commercial Properties of any redevelopment proposals. Allocations LC7 Oakdale –Redevelopment Site specific policy providing for mixed-use redevelopment to Site-specific
Site incorporate sheltered housing and retail provision. Allocations
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Proposed Progamme of Replacement of 'Saved' Policies1 Appendix
LC8 Hamworthy –Redevelopment Site specific policy providing for mixed use redevelopment: local Site-specific Site shopping, residential and community facilities. Allocations
10.1 1Poole Local Plan First Alteration (Adopted in March 2004) as amended by Secretary of State's Direction, September 2007 2: Schedule 10.2 Definitions:
10.3 CSP4 (etc): Core Strategy Policy 4 (etc.)
10.4 Site-specific Allocations: Site-sepcific Allocations Development Plan Document of 10.5 Joint Heathlands DPD: Dorset Heathlands (joint) Development Plan Document Saved 10.6 Infrastructure DPD: Poole Infrastructure Development Plan Document Policies