Core Strategy Preferred Options
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www.basildon.gov.uk Basildon Borough Local Development Framework Topic Paper TP7 Community Infrastructure February 2012 Topic Paper TP7: Community 2 Infrastructure Introduction still in draft form, there is a need to consider its content in relation to the Core Strategy. The Government are keen to 1 The Government's consultation paper, emphasise the importance of sustainable Community Infrastructure, Detailed development in the NPPF, and in proposals and Draft Regulations for the compliance with this, the NPPF stresses Introduction of Community Infrastructure the importance of providing Levy, July 2009 stated in paragraph 2.23 that '...accessible local services that reflect the community's needs and supports its health and 'The Government favours a wide definition of well-being'. (2) infrastructure to give local communities flexibility Infrastructure to choose what infrastructure they need to deliver 6 Planning Policy Statement (PPS)1: their development plan'. Delivering Sustainable Development(3) recognises that as part of achieving 2 For the purpose of this Topic Paper, sustainable development, planning should community infrastructure will deal with Community create socially inclusive communities; three broad infrastructure subjects: through seeking to reduce social TP7: Education inequalities and addressing accessibility Health to health, education and community Paper facilities for all members of the community. Social/ Cultural PPS1 promotes that places should be safe, opic T 3 Other forms of infrastructure such as healthy and attractive and emphasises utilities, leisure and recreation are making provision for physical activity that presented in Topic Papers TP1, TP3 and can be easily accessed, enhancing TP6. community well-being. Furthermore, PPS1 specifically recognises: 4 The Core Strategy is a planning policy document for the next 20 years and should 'Regeneration of the built environment alone take into consideration the impact that cannot deal with poverty, inequality and social development will have on communities. exclusion. These issues can only be addressed The Core Strategy should recognise the through the better integration of all strategies, need to ensure programmes, partnership working and effective community involvement.' '...that development supports existing (4) communities and contributes to the 7 Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing creation of safe, sustainable, livable and identifies that housing developments mixed communities with good access to should be in suitable locations that can jobs and key services for all members of offer a good range of community facilities the community'. (1) that can be accessed throughout by sustainable modes of transport. The PPS whilst focusing on housing, acknowledges Policy Context the importance that community facilities, infrastructure and services can have on National Policy Context creating communities within these housing developments. In addition, Planning Policy 5 Nationally, planning policy is undergoing (5) Statement 12: Spatial Planning supports some change. The Government are the physical, social and green currently transforming the twenty two infrastructure necessary to sustain an area Planning Policy Guidance and Statements and communities. into a more slimline document called the National Planning Policy Framework(NPPF). Whilst the NPPF is 1 Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development (2005) - paragraph 5 2 Draft National Planning Policy Framework 2011, Paragraph 10 3 ODPM, 2005 4 DCLG, 2011 5 DCLG, 2008 Topic Paper TP7: Community 3 Infrastructure 8 National Planning Policy 17: Open Space, Health Sport and Recreation(6) emphasises the links between the provision of community 12 The RSS recognises that whilst planning facilities in appropriate locations with may not be able to change people's health healthy, well-being and inclusive it can provide opportunities to modify communities, backed up by the need to behaviour, through: carry out assessments of local needs and qualitative, quantitative and accessibility increasing and encouraging the use audits of open space, sports and of non-motorised modes of transport; recreational facilities in the area. promotion of open spaces, recreational facilities and Green Infrastructure (GI). Regional Policy Context Infrastructure 9 Supportive of national objectives, the East 13 RSS Policy T2: Changing Travel Behaviour of England Regional Spatial Strategy identifies the importance of changing the (RSS) (to be revoked) aims to promote way transport is used, especially reducing active, inclusive and well served the reliance on the car. Provison for Community communities(7) through creating, walking, cycling and other non-motorised TP7: enhancing and protecting community transport should be developed as part of services and facilities. RSS Policy T9, to provide access to the countryside, urban greenspace and Paper 10 The national policy emphasis on the recreational opportunities; which supported opic importance of education, health, social & by RSS Policy ENV1 recognises the role T cultural infrastructure is reiterated in the that green connections and networks can RSS. It also recognises the three aspects provide in the goal to secure healthy which together can help bind and sustain lifestyles. active and inclusive communities. The Overall Spatial Strategy, Policy SS2 Social and Cultural Infrastructure provides guidance that suitable and timely 14 Museums, places of worship and provision for health, education and social community halls, for example, are forms infrastructure should be made. It goes onto of social and cultural infrastructure which to mention that consideration should be help to improve quality of life(9) The RSS given to the Regional Social Strategy and therefore establishes a framework to Regional Health Strategy, as well as create sustainable communities through advice from the Local Education Authority (8) the promotion of social opportunities when to improve provision, if necessary . planning new development. Education Summary of national and regional guidance 11 In the RSS, the provision of educational 15 The National and regional policy see facilities is seen to enhance community community facilities fulfilling a number of well-being, as well as the local economy. roles, such as creating or maintaining Policy E2: Provision of Land for sustainable communities, encouraging Employment focuses on employment active, healthy lifestyles and social development in the main, but recognises inclusion. Providing adequate education that educational needs should be identified and training also helps to support and provided for to support economic economic development and regeneration. prosperity. These should be in accessible locations in line with RSS Policy T1. 16 There is an emphasis through national and regional guidance that infrastructure to support the community should be in sustainable locations so that it can be easily reached by cycling, walking or other 6 DETR, 2002 7 East of England Regional Spatial Strategy 2001-2021, May 2008, Policy SS1: Achieving Sustainable Development 8 East of England Regional Spatial Strategy 2001-2021, May 2008 - Para 3.11 9 East of England Regional Spatial Strategy 2001-2021, May 2008, Policy SS1: Achieving Sustainable Development - Objective iv Topic Paper TP7: Community 4 Infrastructure forms of sustainable transport. There is III. To support and promote the growth in also recognition in the guidance that the local economies and businesses to benefit potential of providing community facilities local people. can be maximised through supporting co-location and mixed use development. IV. To support local people to improve their health and well being. 17 Partnership working with stakeholders, service providers and communities is key V. To treat the cause of crime, anti-social to providing future community services and behaviour and disorder, and improve facilities, including rectifying recognised community safety. deficiencies. Commissioning School Places Essex Infrastructure 18 National and regional policy expect these 2011-2016 aims to be implemented through the local planning authority's development plans. 22 As the organisational plan for schools in Essex it identifies: Community Local Plans, Programmes and Policies That as the population of the TP7: 19 Education, health, social and cultural Borough is expected to increase, it infrastructure are addressed in the will put pressure on current school provision in Basildon Town Centre; Paper following local plans, programmes and policies: That Whitmore Nursery, Infant & opic Junior School and Janet Duke Infant T Draft Basildon Borough Community & Junior School will become primary Strategy 2012-2036, Basildon schools; Renaissance Partnership 2012; With population growth in Billericay Commissioning School Places Essex not expected to be significant in the 2011-2016, Essex County Council medium term, Billericay secondary 2011; schools have sufficient places for Basildon Council Cultural Strategy, local children; Basildon District Council 2006; and There are continuing issues with Basildon Council Social Inclusion access to primary schools in the Wick Strategy 2006-2011, Basildon District and to address this, capacity at Council 2006. Abacus Primary School has been expanded; Draft Basildon Borough Community Strategy There are surplus places at Basildon 2012-2036 Lower and Upper Academies in Barstable/ Chalvedon which opened 20 The Community Strategy sets out a vision in 2009; to: Housing development