Authority Monitoring Report 2

Monitoring Report Part of the Blackburn with Darwen Local Development Framework

2 December 2006 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Monitoring Report Contents

Contents Page Executive Summary 1 1. Introduction 2 2. Local Development Scheme: Milestones 4 Analysis of Local Development Scheme Milestones 4 Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan 4 Darwen Town Centre Masterplan 4 Freckleton Street Masterplan 5 New East Blackburn Masterplan 5 Griffin Housing Market Renewal Masterplan 5 3. An Introduction to Blackburn with Darwen 6 Population 6 Ethnicity 6 Deprivation 6 Education 7 4. Economy 8 Contextual Indicators 8 Unemployment 8 Socio-Economic Profile 8 Weekly Earnings 8 Output Indicators 9 Amount of land developed for employment by type 9 Amount of land developed for employment by type, which is in development and/or regeneration areas 9 defined in the local development framework Percentage of land developed for employment by type, which is on previously developed land (PDL) 9 Employment land supply by type 9 Losses of employment land in development/regeneration areas and local authority area 9 Amount of employment land lost to residential development 9 Performance of Local Plan Policies 10 Policy EC1 – Business and Industrial Allocations 10 5. Housing 11 Contextual Indicators 11 Council Tax Bandings 11 Housing Fitness 11 Household Composition 12 Output Indicators 12 Housing trajectory 12 Percentage of new and converted dwellings on previously developed land (PDL) 12 Percentage of new dwellings completed at: less than 30 dwellings per hectare; between 30 and 50 13 dwellings per hectare; and above 50 dwellings per hectare Affordable housing completions 13 Performance of Local Plan Policies 13 Policy H2 – Development of Large Unallocated Sites 13 Policy H1 - Housing Provision 14 Demolitions 14 6. Accessibility and Transport 15 Contextual Indicators 15 Infrastructure 15 Car Ownership 15 Modal Choice 15 Accessibility 15 Output Indicators 15 Percentage of completed non-residential development complying with car-parking standards set out in 15 the local development framework Percentage of new residential development within 30 minutes public transport time of a GP, hospital, 16 primary and secondary school, employment and a major retail centre Monitoring Report

Page Contents Performance of Local Plan Policies 16 Modal Split Statistics 16 Bus Passenger Journeys 16 Rail Passengers 16 Pedestrians 16 Cycling 17 7. Town Centres and Retailing 18 Contextual Indicators 18 Retailing survey 18 Retail change 18 Output Indicators 19 Amount of completed retail, offi ce and leisure development respectively 19 Percentage of completed retail, offi ce and leisure development respectively in town centres 19 Performance of Local Plan Policies 19 Blackburn 19 Darwen 19 Development on Allocated Sites 19 8. Neighbourhood and Community Issues 20 Contextual Indicators 20 Health 20 Crime 20 People’s satisfaction with their neighbourhood as a place to live 20 Number of Conservation Areas 21 Output Indicators 21 Percentage of eligible open spaces managed to green fl ag award standard 21 Performance of Local Plan Policies 21 Design Quality Indicators and Conservation Areas 21 Effectiveness of the Local Plan in Co-ordinating Development 21 Policies used in Planning Appeals 22 Policies used in Refusing Planning Applications 22 9. Environmental Protection and Sustainable Resource Use 23 Contextual Indicators 23 Air Quality Management Areas 23 Amount of previously developed land identifi ed through NLUD study 23 Percentage of water courses complying with river quality objectives 23 Areas of fl ood risk in the borough and properties within them 23 Output Indicators 24 Number of planning permissions granted contrary to the advice of the Environment Agency on either 24 fl ood defence grounds or water quality Change in areas and populations of biodiversity importance, including: 24 (i) change in priority habitats and species (by type); and 24 (ii) change in areas designated for their intrinsic environmental value including sites of international, 24 national, regional, sub-regional or local signifi cance Renewable energy capacity installed by type 25 Performance of Local Plan Policies 25 Policy RA2 - Safeguarded Land 25 Policy RA4 - Identifi ed Major Sites in the Green Belt 25 Policy LNC2 - Landscape Break 25 10. Conclusion 26 References 28 Appendix I - Local development scheme: Update of milestones 29 Appendix II - Development on allocated town centre sites 33 Appendix III - Summary of planning appeal decisions 35 Appendix IV - Policies used in planning appeals 36 Appendix V - Priority habitats and species 37 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Executive Summary Executive Summary

This is the second Annual Monitoring Report The Annual Monitoring Report includes of the Local Development Framework (LDF) information such as: for the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen. Government legislation requires a report to be The amount of Business and Industrial produced annually for submission at the end land developed since 2001 is 80% of the of each calendar year. This report includes provision for 1991 - 2006 as set out in monitoring information covering the period the Local Plan. 1st April 2005 - 31st March 2006. Further land will need to be designated for business and industrial uses in the The LDF, which will eventually replace the LDF. current adopted Local Plan, is still in the The housing trajectory recognises development stage. Therefore there remain an oversupply of approximately 639 areas where monitoring was not possible. dwellings. The current completion rate is The report is however as comprehensive as approximately 180 dwellings. is possible at this point and provides a snap- The percentage of houses built on shot of the borough. The monitoring has been previously developed land was 76%. completed using a set of indicators. The core 62% of houses are being built at output indicators used are those identifi ed by densities greater than 30 dwellings per the Government and will ensure consistent hectare. monitoring data is produced in future years. 55% of large-scale non-residential The current adopted Local Plan was seen to developments complied with the Council’s have performed well with policies being used parking standards. effectively. 27.5% of the Borough’s open spaces are managed to green fl ag award standard. The report also monitors progress on the Between 2001-2006 the Council lost Local Development Scheme (LDS). The 24% of planning appeals, compared Council has adopted three documents since to an approximate average of 33% the latest LDS was produced, the Statement nationally. of Community Involvement, Queens Park 4.1% of the Borough is within Floodzones Flats Development Brief and the Borough identifi ed by the Environment Agency; Wide Design Guide Supplementary Planning this includes 4.3% of the Borough’s Document (SPD). There have been signifi cant properties. hold-ups regarding consultation on the Core No planning applications were granted Strategy and all fi ve of the Development Plan contrary to the advice of the Environment Documents (DPD) has slipped from the LDS Agency on the grounds of fl ood defence timetable to the point that the milestones are or water quality. no longer achievable. One SPD will no longer 25% of the Borough is protected through be produced and two SPD’s require further County Heritage Sites designation. consideration whether to proceed. Slippage has occurred in the majority of the remaining SPD’s.

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1. Introduction 1

1.1. The Borough of Blackburn with 1.3. The indicators to be included in Introduction Darwen adopted its current Local Plan in 2002 monitoring reports are: and since then produced monitoring reports in 2005 which updated the current position Contextual Indicators – These provide a in relation to planning policy and the plans backdrop against which to consider the effects performance in achieving its objectives. The of policies and inform the interpretation of review of the Plan will now take the form of a output and signiﬁ cant effects indicators. Each LDF and this report provides information which section of the report begins by setting out the will further monitor impact on the Local Plan contextual indicators relevant to the theme and also provide baseline data for the LDF. being monitored.

1.2. This report represents the second Output Indicators – These measure Annual Monitoring Report of the Borough inline quantifi able physical activities that are directly with the requirements of The Town and Country related to, and are a consequence of, the Planning (Local Development)(England) implementation of planning policies. They Regulations 2004. The annual report will will eventually be derived from the key spatial include the most up-to-date information to and sustainability objectives of the LDF as it 31st March each year and will be published is developed. In the meantime however, the in December. Over time, the production of current strategy and policies of the Local Plan the LDF will develop a full set of indicators will be monitored as output indicators. There in a monitoring framework against which to are also some output indicators prescribed by monitor performance of the LDF. However, the Government that are called Core Output whilst the Local Plan is still the adopted plan Indicators. These have also been included in and the LDF remains in the early stages of the relevant chapter by theme. development, this report will monitor the statutory indicators as well as those seen Signifi cant Effects Indicators – These will relevant at this time to assist in developing be derived from the sustainability appraisal the LDF. By creating a set of indicators for process as the LDF develops. They enable which new and updated data is regularly a comparison to be made between the available, the approach to monitoring will be predicted effects of the policies on society, the consistent and will subsequently allow analysis environment and the economy and the actual of results. The culmination of the indicators effects measured during implementation of the will be an assessment of how effectively the policies. Current guidance suggests that where LDF is performing. Areas in need of further saved policies in the Local Plan are to be development will therefore be highlighted. replaced there may be little point in carrying out any retrospective sustainability appraisal of them and identifying signifi cant effects indicators. Therefore, this report includes no signifi cant effects indicators as no policies have yet been developed in the LDF.

1.4. Another element of the report is an update of the progress of the LDF against the LDS. The LDS sets out the production timetable for documents in the LDF and the second LDS was published in March 2006. The Council has updated its position to reﬂ ect the latest stages of LDF production. The LDS keeps a rolling three-year programme of work and it is through the Annual Monitoring Report that its progress is tracked and then changes updated as necessary. This is included in Chapter 2 of this report.

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1.5. The monitoring of information is described as part of a crucial feedback loop within the cyclical process of policy- making and its main aim is to make plans 1

| better through keeping a check on the

Introduction outcomes. The need for clear mechanisms for implementation and monitoring of plans is one of the tests of soundness for the LDF, highlighting the importance of monitoring in the overall planning system.

1.6. Chapters 4-9 of this report is based on the main themes identiﬁ ed during the early stages of producing the Core Strategy Document of the LDF. Contextual and Output indicators are included in each section along with monitoring of the relevant sections of the Local Plan, updating information in the Local Plan and monitoring the performance of speciﬁ c policies. Monitoring information in this report relates to the period 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2006 unless otherwise stated.

1.7. The formation of a solid baseline data set was essential to inform the monitoring report. Data was obtained from a variety of sources including original data from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council. The Blackburn with Darwen Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report for the Local Development Framework Core Strategy was particularly useful as this assisted in producing the list of indicators used within the report. The adopted Joint Lancashire Structure Plan 2001-2016, produced by Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, Blackpool Borough Council and Lancashire County Council utilises the sharing of information and provides useful comparative data for the monitoring. In addition to this, the department for Communities and Local Government and the Ofﬁ ce for National Statistics allowed for the most up to date data available to be used. The Environmental Audit, produced in 2004 by Groundwork Blackburn was useful in providing information on biodiversity and open space in the Borough. Information was also provided by the North West Regional Assembly (NWRA), primarily in relation to the Core Output Indicators and regional monitoring. As the LDF is still in the development stage, at present there are only a handful of documents in draft, or completed format. The Local Plan has therefore played a large part in this monitoring report, however as the LDF progresses, data sources for the monitoring reports will change.

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2. Local Development Scheme: Milestones 2

2.1. The LDS was fi rst published in March Housing Allocations and Policies, Development Scheme: Milestones Local 2005 with a revised version in 2006. The LDS Commercial Development sets out what new and revised planning policy Allocations and Policies, documents the Council intends to produce; Environment and Proposals Map the current version providing a timetable for Borough from 2006 to 2010 for 19 documents within 2.4. Although the key milestones for the LDF. This monitoring report provides an these documents have not yet been reached, update on the current position in meeting the early preparation work and issues and that timetable and where, if any, changes are options consultation has not been undertaken required in the next LDS. An updated timetable and so it is known that the Preferred Option based on the LDS, including achievements consultation milestones cannot be met. As a and slippages is set out in Appendix I. result of this early slippage in the timetable, the future milestones also require changing. Analysis of Local Development These four documents are to be examined Scheme Milestones together and so their timetables need to run 2.2. The 19 documents in the LDS concurrently. The slippage in these documents include the Statement of Community has resulted largely from the work implications Involvement, the Core Strategy, fi ve of the SPD’s described below and slippage of Development Plan Documents (DPD), 11 the Core Strategy above. Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) Revised target date: The original January and this Annual Monitoring Report. The target for Preferred Option consultation has Council has adopted three documents since slipped by 10 months to November 2007. the latest LDS was produced, the Statement of Community Involvement, Queens Park Flats Development Control Policies Development Brief and the Borough Wide 2.5. Work on this document was not Design Guide. The Design Guide has also anticipated to start until 2007; however the been awarded ‘Best Planning Document’ by slippage of the DPD’s above means that the the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) in resources will not be available to meet the their annual regional awards. There have been future timetable Milestones for this signifi cant hold-ups regarding consultation document. The document therefore requires on the Core Strategy and all fi ve of the a new timetable. DPD’s have slipped from the LDS timetable Revised target date: The whole timetable to the point that the milestones are no has now slipped by 10 months, with longer achievable. One SPD will no longer Preferred Option consultation in November be produced and two SPD’s require further 2008. consideration whether to proceed. Slippage has occurred in the majority of the remaining Blackburn Town Centre Masterplan SPD’s. 2.6. Preparation of this document has slipped due to uncertainty over whether the Core Strategy document is needed in the form originally 2.3. The Council had previously envisaged. This will be considered before the undertaken the Preferred Option consultation production of the next LDS. in September 2005 and submission was expected in September 2006. However advice Darwen Town Centre Masterplan from Government Offi ce raised doubts about 2.7. Preparation of this document has whether the Preferred Options document fully slipped due to additional consultation and met the requirements of the Regulations and co-ordination with the work of the Darwen guidance. A decision has been taken to repeat Town Centre Partnership Board. the Preferred Options consultation stage with Revised target date: Production of the a revised document. The overall timetable has draft SPD has slipped by six months slipped by an estimated 21 months. to January 2007. Revised target date: A new Preferred Option consultation date is now estimated for early 2007.

4 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Freckleton Street Masterplan 2.8. Preparation of this document has slipped due to uncertainties over the proposed link road and land assembly, with 2

| particular consideration being given to ensure

Local Development Scheme: Milestones Local the avoidance of blight if the document is published too early. Revised target date: Production of the draft SPD has slipped by 6 months to January 2007.

New East Blackburn Masterplan 2.9. Although preparation of this document was not programmed until 2007, the scope and content of the SPD is being reconsidered due to a signiﬁ cant boundary increase of the New East Blackburn Pathﬁ nder.

Grifﬁ n HMR Masterplan 2.10. A decision has been made not to proceed with this document due to changing priorities and funding relating to the Housing Market Renewal Initiative. The document will be removed from the LDS when it is revised.

Queen Street/Hindle Street, Darwen, HMR Masterplan 2.11. There is uncertainty as to when this document is likely to proceed due to the funding streams related to Housing Market Renewal.

Queen’s Park Flats Site 2.12. The Adoption of this document occurred one month after the Milestone in the LDS due to committee cycles which weren’t known when LDS was revised in March 2006.

Residential Design Guide, Commerical and Business Design Guide 2.13. Preparation of these documents has slipped due to the volume of work involved in the Borough wide design guide and slippage on other SPD’s. Revised target date: A decision has been taken not to prepare these documents concurrently. Therefore the draft Residential Design Guide will be produced nine months late in January 2007, and the Commercial and Business Design Guide draft will be produced 11 months late in March 2007.

There is a requirement to indicate by March 2007 those policies in the Local Plan which the Council intends to ‘save’ beyond the original three-year period from the new planning act in 2004. This exercise will be completed by the end of March 2007 separately and is therefore not addressed in this monitoring report.

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3. An Introduction to Blackburn with Darwen 3

Population Deprivation n Introduction to B 3.1. The mid-year estimate in 2005 put 3.3. The Indices of deprivation is a useful the population of the borough at 140,200. indication of all types of deprivation across The 2001 census measured the population the country. In terms of the rank of average of as 137,4711, which showed only a slight ranks, in 20043 the borough rates as the 45th increase from 1991 levels. The population most deprived of the 354 districts in England has remained fairly consistent over these time and ranked ﬁ fth within Greater Manchester

periods. In 2001, the borough exhibited the and the East Lancashire authorities. The lackburn with Darwen second highest proportion of residents aged Indices of Multiple Deprivation are derived at 16 or under in the country, making up 25%2 of Lower Super Output Areas (LSOA), which are the Borough’s population. small boundaries within wards in the Borough. Figure 3.2 shows the results based on how Ethnicity these small areas are ranked across England, 3.2. The majority of the Borough’s with those within the top 1% most deprived to population are White British, with 76% those within the top 25% most deprived. compared to an average for England and Wales of 87%. Figure 3.1 shows the other 3.4. Working the LSOA into ward ethnic groups of the borough and compares averages, the fi ve most deprived wards are fi gures with the national average for England Shadsworth with Whitebirk, Audley, Queen’s and Wales. It shows that the main black and Park, Bastwell and Wensley Fold. The Map minority ethnic groups are Asian British-Indian however highlights that the most deprived and Asian British-Pakistani, both signifi cantly LSOAs are within Wensley Fold, but this ward higher than the England and Wales average. ranks fi fth most deprived on average. The map therefore gives a more detailed look at the Fig 3.1 Percentage of Black and Minority Ethnic variations in deprivation across the Borough. Groups in Blackburn with Darwen and England and Wales

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1 ONS Census Data 2001 2 ONS Census Data 2001 3 English Indices of Deprivation 2004 (revised) 6 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Fig 3.2 Map of 2004 Index of Multiple Deprivation across Blackburn with Darwen 3

A n Introduction to B lackburn with Darwen

Education Fig 3.3 Percentage of Pupils taking GCSE’s who did not achieve any passes 3.5. Census data from 2001 showed that 37.2% of residents aged 16-74 had no qualifi cations. This fi gure was higher than the �� fi gure for England and Wales, which stood �� at 29.1%4. Census data from 2001 showed �� that 13.8% of residents within the borough �� were qualifi ed to degree level or above. This �� falls signifi cantly below the national average �� of 19.8% and highlights that more needs to ��

be done to attract and retain graduates to the �� area, as outlined in the core strategy scoping �� report. �� 3.6. Figures from OFSTED show that in �� 2004, 3.1% of pupils taking GCSEs did not �� achieve any passes. At this time, the ﬁ gure for England was 4.1% and 6.3% for Blackburn with Darwen’s “statistical neighbours”. Figure 4 OFSTED, LEA Statistical 3.3 illustrates this trend. Proﬁ le, 2003 7 Monitoring Report

4. Economy 4

Economy Classifi cation (NS-NeC). Compared to England Contextual Indicators and Wales, the borough have a greater proportion of residents aged 16 to 74 in the lower socio-economic groups. 12.2% of the Unemployment borough’s residents are employed in routine 4.1. The most recent fi gures, for occupations compared to 9.1% nationally, and September 2006 show that 3.2%5 of the 6.6% have never worked, compared to 2.7% working age population are claiming Job nationally. Seekers Allowance. This fi gure is higher than that for the North West. These fi gures show a Weekly Earnings reduction of 1.2% in the number of people in 4.4. Gross weekly average earnings for the Borough claiming Job Seekers allowance full time workers in Blackburn with Darwen8 since February 2003. in 2005 were £368.90. This is £41.10 less than the North West average and £64.20 less 4.2. In September 2006 , the number of than the national average. This shows that the residents unemployed for 12 months or more average gross weekly earnings in Blackburn within the borough, as a percentage of all with Darwen have decreased by £31.00 since unemployed, was measured at 9.5%, which 2003. is an increase of 2.4% from November 2003. This is signifi cantly lower than the average for Great Britain (16.7%) and for6 the North West as a whole (15.1%). Also at this time, the percentage of unemployed people under 25 years of age was measured at 37.6% which is an increase over the past 3 years of 2.6%.

Socio-Economic Profi le 4.3. As at November 20037, over a quarter of jobs (26.7%) in Blackburn with Darwen were within the manufacturing sector. For England and Wales, the average fi gure stood at 14.3%, which highlighted that the fi gure for the borough is 12.4% above the national average. Figure 4.1 below shows the proportions of jobs by Economic Sector from the National Statistics Socio-economic

Fig 4.1 Proportions of Jobs by Economic Sector

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�� NOMIS �� 6 ONS, Claimant Count �� 7 ONS, Claimant Count, NOMIS �� 8 ONS New Earnings Survey and data available form CACI modelled data purchased by the Council 8 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Output Indicators Fig 4.3a Employment Land Supply by Type Business & Industrial Use Land Supply (Hectares) B1 Ofﬁ ce or Light Industry 12.69 4

| Amount of land developed for B2 General Industry 1.42

Economy employment by type B8 Warehousing 3.84 4.5. The total amount of new completed gross ﬂ oorspace for business and industrial B1 and B2 5.22 uses is 9755m2 which is across 2.85 hectares B2 and B8 0.2 of land. This includes the following types of B1, B2 and B8 21.89 business and industrial uses.

Fig 4.2 Employment Land Completed by Type Business & Floorspace On Previously % Previously Fig 4.3b Employment Land Supply by Type

Industrial Use Completed (m2) Developed Land Developed Land B1 Ofﬁ ce 6733 0 0% B1 Light Industry 0 0 0% B2 General 2765 0 0% Industry B8 Warehousing 257 257 100% Total 9755 257 2%

Amount of land developed for employment by type, which is in development and/or regeneration areas defi ned in the local development framework 4.6. At this stage of the LDF preparation, it is not possible to monitor this indicator. This �� will be possible when the areas are identifi ed �� and defi ned as the LDF is further developed. �� Within the regional context, the whole of �� the Borough of Blackburn with Darwen is a �� Regeneration Priority Area. �� Percentage of land developed for employment by type, which is on previously developed land (PDL) 4.9. Figure 4.3b shows that a signifi cant 4.7. As can be seen in Figure 4.2 above, proportion of land supply for business and 2% of business and industrial development industrial uses is in Use Class B1 (offi ce and fl oorspace was developed on previously light industry) and also that just under half of developed land, which is a signifi cant decrease the sites with permission contain a mixture of from last years fi gure of 25%. business, industrial and warehousing uses.

Employment land supply by type Losses of employment land in 4.8. There is 54.7 hectares of development/regeneration areas employment land available which can be and local authority area counted as ‘supply’. This is made up of extant 4.10. No sites within industrial areas have planning permissions and sites allocated in been redeveloped for non-employment uses. the Local Plan. Figure 4.3 shows the sites with extant permission and Figure 4.4 shows those Amount of employment land lost to sites allocated in the Local Plan. residential development 4.11. There have been no industrial sites lost to development during this monitoring period.

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Performance of Local Plan Policies Fig 4.6 Updated Business and Industrial Land Supply Local Plan Requirement 120.00 ha 1) Sites built 1991-2006 95.56 ha 4

Policy EC1 – Business and 2) Sites with planning permission/ 46.5 ha |

Industrial Allocations committed sites Economy 4.12. This policy in the Local Plan allocated ﬁ ve sites for business and industrial uses 3) Remaining Allocations 8.2 ha totalling 13 hectares of land. Development has been undertaken on one of these sites, in 4.15. During the period 1991 – 2006, 2005 and 2006 so the updated situation as 95.56 ha of land has been developed for at April 2006 is as follows. Business and Industrial purposes. This represents 80% of the intended Local Plan Fig 4.4 Update on Business and Industrial provision. Allocations Site Remaining Land 4.16. In terms of monitoring towards Allocated (hectares) the new Structure Plan period of 2001- 2016 there has been 29.5 hectares of land EC1/1 – Chapels Park 2.8 developed including the outstanding planning EC1/2 – Slack Gate 1.1 permissions and allocations shown in ﬁ gure EC1/3 – Hollins Goods Yard 1.3 4.3 and 4.4 gives approximately 84.3ha of land. The Joint Lancashire Structure Plan EC1/4 – Lower Darwen Paper Mill 3.0 gives a total provision for Blackburn with EC1/5 – Lower Eccleshill Farm 0 Darwen Borough up to 2016 of 125 hectares. Total 8.2 There is therefore a need for more land to be designated for business and industrial uses in the LDF.

4.13. Table 3.1 of the Blackburn with Darwen Borough Local Plan set out the Business and Industrial Land Provision for the Plan period as at April 2000. Since then, monitoring has been undertaken recording completions and new planning permissions. Figure 4.5 shows these results, which highlights a fairly consistent level of development, until 2005 when the amount of land developed increased. This then dropped dramatically in 2006 to the lowest level since 2000. Fig 4.5 Business and Industrial Land Developed Monitoring Period Land Developed (Hectares) 2000-2001 6.67 2001-2002 5.51 2002-2003 5.82 2003-2004 6.82 2004-2005 8.55 2005-2006 2.85

4.14. Updating Table 3.1 in the Local Plan to April 2006, as shown in Fig 4.6, shows the current situation with regards business and industrial land supply in the Borough.

10 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

5: Housing 5

Housing 5.4. This lack of suitable housing in Contextual Indicators the Borough has led to a lack of sense of place in many residential areas. Poor quality housing has led to undesirable locations being Council Tax Bandings created which undermines the potential of 5.1. Fig 5.1 shows the percentage of areas of the borough which in turn creates dwellings in each Council Tax band within areas dominated by unattractive streets Blackburn with Darwen compared with national and undesirable locations. To combat this, fi gures for England and Wales9. It shows a signifi cant programmes of clearance and much higher proportion of houses in the lower replacement are in place in the Borough. Council Tax bands, some 30% more in bands A and B, with all other bands being lower than Fig 5.2 Percentage of Unfi t Properties in the the England and Wales average. Borough �� Fig 5.1 Percentage of Dwellings by Council Tax �� Band ��

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� � �� Household Composition 5.2. Blackburn shares an image (with 5.5. Fig 5.4 shows a signifi cant difference several towns across East Lancashire) as a between the percentage of dwelling types in hard-working, functional town, built on the Blackburn with Darwen, the North West and foundations of 19th Century industries. This England as a whole, in particular the much industrial legacy has created a town of sharp higher percentage of terraced properties in the contrasts. High quality environments (such Borough11. as those of the Cathedral Quarter), contrast sharply with the poor quality environment of Fig 5.3 Comparison of Percentage of Household many of the terraced housing areas. Types �� Housing Fitness �� 5.3. In 2004, 35.3% of properties were �� considered unfi t within the borough. This fi gure �� is higher than North West average. Earlier data �� shows that this has been a problematic area �� for a number of years in the borough. This is �� illustrated in Fig 5.210. ��

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9 ONS Census data 2001 10 ODPM Dwelling Stock by �� Tenure and Condition 11 Ofﬁ ce of National �� Statistics 2001 11 Monitoring Report

completed. The over-provision is 656 dwellings Output Indicators which represents two and a half years’ provision at the original level of 255 dwellings per annum, and almost three and a half years’ 5

provision at the adjusted target in Figure |

Housing trajectory 5.5 below. This still represents a signifi cant Housing 5.6. oversupply and the Council is still effecting (i) There have been 1856 net additional a moratorium restricting the granting of new dwellings over the previous fi ve year period. planning applications for housing, except for (ii) There have been 155 net additional certain exceptions such as sites related to the dwellings for the current year, and an Housing Market Renewal Initiative. additional 35 units that have been built are being accounted for as replacement for 5.8. Fig 5.5 shows the Structure Plan clearance, under policy 13 of the JLSP. target, the number of houses completed from (iii) There is a projected 1894 net additional 2001-2006 and also the reduced rate at dwellings required up to the end of the which houses should be developed in order to relevant development plan document reduce the oversupply and meet the Structure period. Plan target of 3730 to 2016. It shows a future (iv) The annual net additional dwelling projection of approximately 189 dwellings over requirement is 255 per annum to 2016. the next ten years, a reduction of 25% on the (v) An annual average number of 189 net Structure Plan annualised fi gure of 255 per additional dwellings are needed to meet annum. overall housing requirements, having regard to previous year’s performance. Percentage of New and Converted Dwellings on Previously Developed Fig 5.4 Cumulative Housing over Provision Year on Land (PDL) Year 5.9. There were 77.5% of new and �� converted dwellings on previously developed �� land. This fi gure is an increase from 42% �� in 2004 and 60% in 2005 and represents �� the Council’s approach to restricting new �� permission for housing to brownfi eld sites. �� Fig 5.6 Percentage of New and Converted Dwellings �� on Previously Developed Land 2006 � �� Non - PDL PDL �� New Build 43 137

5.7. Figure 5.4 shows a cumulative Conversion 0 11 increase year on year of housing completions Total 43 148 above the annualised provision ﬁ gures in the Percentage 22.5% 77.5% JLSP since the period began in 2001, with the exception of this year where the cumulative over-provision has reduced as a result of a much lower number of houses being

Fig 5.5 Housing Trajectory ��

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12 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Percentage of new dwellings Affordable housing completions completed at: less than 30 5.12. There have been 79 affordable dwellings per hectare; between 30 housing/ houses developed through the planning system this year. Affordable 5 and 50 dwellings per hectare; and

| above 50 dwellings per hectare housing is deﬁ ned as that: (i) wholly funded

Housing through registered social landlord and or Fig 5.7 Density of New Housing Development local authorities, (ii) wholly funded through Completed Since 2003 developer contribution or (iii) funded through a mix of public subsidy and developer Density 2003 2004 2005 2006 contribution. (i) <30 84 191 157 64 (ii) 30-50 45 246 147 70 (iii) >50 0 0 109 35 Performance of Local Plan Policies Information as collated by North West Regional Assembly 5.10. While this information monitors the density of housing development on sites Policy H2 – Development of Large that are being built, another measure of Unallocated Sites the success of planning policy would be the 5.13. This Policy gives a priority for new density of those new sites which are granted large housing sites (for 10 or more dwellings planning permission. This would show the or greater than 0.4 hectares) to those with impact of the policy on a much shorter good accessibility and that are previously timescale, rather than a gradual improvement developed. There has been no new large as old permissions are built out. This method greenfi eld sites granted planning permission of data collection would prove diffi cult as many for housing since October 1999. This policy changes to the number of dwellings on a site, has therefore ensured that all large sites and therefore the overall density, may occur before the site is built. The original planning coming forward for development have been on applications however should still have a previously developed land, therefore ensuring density greater than 30 dwellings per hectare the recycling of land within the urban area. in order to comply with the policy. This method of data collection shall be investigated for Fig 5.9 New Housing Completed Since 2000 future monitoring purposes. Year Total Brownfi eld Greenfi eld Brownfi eld Percentage 5.11. Fig 5.7 shows that 62% of completed housing was on sites with a density 2000-2001 426 212 214 50 % of 30 dwellings per hectare or more. Planning 2001-2002 363 173 190 48 % Policy Guidance Note 3: Housing and the Local 2002-2003 429 235 194 55 % Plan both seek densities of greater than 30 dwellings per hectare. 2003-2004 474 200 274 42% 2004-2005 448 271 177 60% Fig 5.8 Percentage of New Dwellings Completed by 2005-2006 191 148 43 77% Density 2006 These include new build completions and gross conversions/changes of use.

5.14. The brownfi eld fi gure for completions has fl uctuated somewhat over the past six years, providing an average of 55%. The infl uence of the planning policies on this indicator can take time to materialise due to its nature as once a planning permission is granted, the speed at which development is undertaken is entirely dependent upon the house builders. It is expected that once the current greenfi eld developments are ‘built out’, the fi gure will increase considerably.

��

13 Monitoring Report

Fig 5.10 New Planning Permissions for Housing an oversupply of housing and the Council Since 2000 has produced an interim policy statement to address the situation, resulting in a restrictive Year Brownfi eld Greenfi eld Brownfi eld approach to new planning permissions for

Percentage 5

housing. |

2000-2001 61 0 100 % Housing 2001-2002 124 7 95 % 5.20. The Council will be carrying out a Housing Land Availability Assessment 2002-2003 24 5 83 % during 2007, which will seek out sites for 2003-2004 243 3 99% development and make assessments on housing potential across the Borough. The 2004-2005 229 0 100% Housing Land Availability Assessment will form 2005-2006 869 0 100% part of the baseline information that will inform the LDF. 5.15. Fig 5.9 shows that since April 2000, 99% of units granted planning permission Demolitions for housing has been on brownfi eld sites. Of 5.21. Over the past fi ve years there have the 15 greenfi eld dwellings granted planning been 179 dwellings demolished. Consideration permission over the past fi ve years, none were will need to be given to the likely levels of on what is deemed a large site (greater than replacement needed over and above housing 0.4 hectares in size or accommodating 10 or provision. This year 35 new units are being more dwellings) as stated in Policy H2 above. classed as replacement for clearance. These are part of the Two Gates, Anyon Street Policy H1 - Housing Provision development in Darwen. 5.16. This Policy allocated four sites for new housing, these are: Crossfi eld Street - 26 Dwellings Ellison Fold - 53 Dwellings Cemetery Road - 13 Dwellings Livesey Branch Road - 28 Dwellings

Of these sites only the Livesey Branch Road site has been redeveloped, providing 34 dwellings.

5.17. Since the ﬁ gures in the Local Plan were produced there has been six monitoring surveys completed. The numbers of new housing completions for these periods are as follows: 2000-2001 426 dwellings 2001-2002 354 dwellings 2002-2003 419 dwellings 2003-2004 457 dwellings 2004-2005 417 dwellings 2005-2006 180 dwellings

5.18. The total completions ﬁ gure for 1991- 2006 is 7195 and there are a further 1362 dwellings with extant planning permission waiting to be built, plus a further 92 dwellings on the allocated sites. This is a total of 8649 dwellings. This clearly meets the requirement of 6000 dwellings set out in the old Structure Plan and exceeds it considerably, which was already anticipated in the Local Plan.

5.19. The Joint Lancashire Structure Plan period is between 2001 and 2016 and as at 2006 there have been 1856 recorded completions in this period, towards a target of 3,730. Against the annual completion rates prescribed in the JLSP this represents

14 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

6: Accessibility and Transport 6

Accessibility and Transport Fig 6.2 Modal Split Entering Darwen Town Centre Contextual Indicators 2006

�� Infrastructure 6.1. In terms of collating qualitative data �� regarding the quality of infrastructure within �� and outwith the borough, early consultation �� (under Regulation 25) on issues for the �� core strategy indicated a signiﬁ cant problem �� relating to public transport links to the key conurbations of Manchester, Merseyside and Leeds / Bradford. This highlighted the need to improve the quality of services12.

6.2. The Core Strategy work also highlighted the need to locate development where it is accessible by sustainable modes. Green travel planning for larger developments will also be implemented. Accessibility�� 6.5. The Council�� is continuing to develop Car Ownership its Accessibility Planning�� Software, and 13 6.3. In 2001, 33.5% of households through Local Transport�� Plan 2 (LTP2) has in the borough did not own a car. This is developed detailed�� information about public a signifi cantly high fi gure compared to the transport and accessibility�� across the Borough. fi gures for Lancashire (25.1%) and England This provides useful information relating to �� (26.8%). The lack of ownership is most transport corridors and local hubs to develop prominent in Darwen where less than a third policy in the LDF and also to monitor the of households don’t have access to a car. In impact of development on accessibility. 2004, 39.6% of the Borough’s population owned a car, which equates to a 9.7% increase in ownership since 2001. Modal Choice Output Indicators 6.4. Fig 6.1 and Fig 6.2 show the modal split of people travelling into Blackburn Town Centre and Darwen Town Centre respectively. Percentage of completed non- The charts highlight the signifi cant dominance residential development complying of the car in both town centres. with car-parking standards set Fig 6.1 Modal Split Entering Blackburn Town Centre out in the local development 2006 framework �� 6.6. The current car parking standards in �� the Local Plan have been superseded by those in the Joint Lancashire Structure Plan and so �� these have been used in the calculation. �� 6.7. During the study period there were �� 9 developments of more than 500m2 for �� retail, leisure, offi ce and business uses in the Borough. Six of these developments complied with the parking standards in the JLSP, which gives a fi gure of 66%.

12 Early consultation on Issues for the Core Strategy. 13 ONS Census data 2001. �� 15 �� Monitoring Report

Percentage of new residential Fig 6.4 Bus Passenger Journeys in the Borough development within 30 minutes 2001-2006 public transport time of a GP, �� hospital, primary and secondary �� 6

��

school, employment and a major |

retail centre �� Accessibility and Transport 6.8. The Council has developed a baseline �� set of information from accessibility computer �� software. This data was produced in 2006 and �� will be regularly updated. The following table �� shows new residential development which �� is within 30 minutes of one of the services �� outlined. During 2006, 13 housing schemes �� were fully completed, on which a total of 543 �� houses were built14. Rail Passengers New houses No. of houses Total number Percentage 6.11. Fig 6.5 shows that there have within 30 mins of: on sites within of houses on been ﬂ uctuations in the number of overall 30 mins of completed service sites rail passengers using Blackburn and Darwen railway station since 2000. As at 2004, GP’s 542 543 99.8% there had been an 8% increase since 2000 Hospitals 532 543 97.9% using Blackburn station in particular. In terms Primary Schools 543 543 100% of numbers of people using Darwen railway station, in 2000, 119,765 people used the High Schools 541 543 99.6% station. This had increased by 6% by 2003 Employment15 541 543 99.6% to 126,892 passengers and to 128,000 passengers in 2005. Retail Centres 541 543 99.6% Fig 6.5 Number of Rail Passengers Using Blackburn and Darwen Railway Stations Performance of Local Plan Policies �� Modal Split Statistics �� 6.9. As the Plan objective is to encourage �� sustainable transport uses through policies �� T1 – T5, and to reduce reliance on the private � motor car, it is important to monitor the �� statistics relating to this. Figures are available �� for modal split in both Blackburn and Darwen town centres and these show a relatively �� high proportion using non-car modes, with Pedestrians no long-term increase in car usage between 6.12. Figure 6.6 shows the number of 2000 and 2003. Since 2003 however there pedestrians entering Blackburn town centre has been a reduction in levels of non-car during a sample 12-hour day. It shows a modes of transport. However, data from 2006 signiﬁ cant increase from 9,649 in 2000 to the showed that there is still a reliance on the car present level of 14,661. and a reduction in the number of people using the bus as means of travelling into the town Fig 6.6 Pedestrian Flows in Blackburn Town Centre centre. This needs to be addressed within the �� LDF and has been highlighted within other �� plans such as LTP2. �� Bus Passenger Journeys �� 6.10. The number of bus passenger �� journeys in the borough increased up until �� 2003 and then began to decrease to present ��

��

levels. �� 14 Not all houses were completed during the current study period 15 Relates to access to the largest employers in the borough 16 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Cycling 6.13. Fig 6.7 shows the numbers of cycles entering Blackburn Town Centre as measured during the annual town centre cordon survey16. 6

| Results show a steady increase since 2000,

ccessibility and Transport peaking in 2003 followed by a decrease to present day levels. This shows a 12% increase in numbers since 2001.

Fig 6.7 Cycles Entering Blackburn Town Centre �� Cycles entering Darwen Town Centre 6.14. Data is now available to monitor the number of cycles entering Darwen Town Centre which was measured at 103 cycles/day during this monitoring period.

16 Annual Blackburn Town Centre Survey, Local Transport Plan Progress Report 2005 17 Monitoring Report

7: Town Centres and Retailing 7

Town Centres and Retailing Fig 7.2 Percentage of Gross Floorspace in Darwen Contextual Indicators Town Centre by Type

Retailing Survey 7.1. At present vitality and viability surveys of the two town centres are undertaken periodically rather than on a regular basis. In April of 2005, a Town Centre Shopping Study was completed which aimed to asses the vitality and viability of the Borough’s town centres. The fi nal report provides baseline data for comparative use in future years. The study provides details of the existing fl oorspace within Blackburn and Darwen town centres. Fig 7.1 and 7.2 break the fl oorspace down by sector into percentages. It shows that Blackburn town centre has a greater proportion of comparison goods fl oorspace than Darwen, with less given over to service �� and convenience. The information which ��

assesses the vitality and viability of Blackburn �� Town Centre is currently being updated and will be available for the next monitoring report. Retail change The remainder of the study however will be 7.2. After being identiﬁ ed as necessary in reviewed again in the next 2 - 3 years. the previous Local Plan monitoring report, the Blackburn with Darwen Shopping Study, 2005- Fig 7.1 Percentage of Gross Floorspace in 2016, was completed by Savills to assess Blackburn Town Centre by Type the future retail ‘needs’ of the Blackburn and Darwen area between 2005-2016, with the intent to assist retail policy formulation in preparation of the LDF and to assist with the determination of planning applications.

7.3. In Blackburn Town Centre the study found that a greater number of local residents are now shopping outside of the Blackburn area, and in Darwen that the retail turnover ﬁ gure of £12.5m is 50% less than in 1995 (however different methodologies were used which makes accurate comparison difﬁ cult). Darwen also exhibited a greater proportion of vacant units, a greater proportion of service units and fewer non food retail units compared to national averages.

�� 7.4. Overall, it was found that Blackburn �� is a vital and viable town centre that performs �� a sub regional role as the dominant centre within the Blackburn and Hyndburn area. In Darwen Town Centre, the vitality and viability appraisal of Darwen town centre indicated that the centre is relatively healthy and is performing well in a subordinate role to the sub-regional centre of Blackburn. The Council needs to ensure that the food retail sector of Darwen is maintained and the non-food retail role is enhanced and vitalised. 18 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

7.5. The study does draw attention to Darwen the need for both town centres to develop 7.8. Since the last monitoring report, and evolve if they are to continue to compete Crown, at Belgrave Mill on Bolton Road/ for non-market food share. This is an area Waith Street, has been demolished, with 7

| that will continue to be addressed in future initial building work on the 127 unit housing

Town Centr plans for the borough and the results of the development beginning on the site. There shopping study will therefore be utilised to has also been a permission for a 1600 pupil help inform the Statutory Planning Documents academy and associated works on Redearth that are to be included in the LDF. Road Darwen. es and Retailing Development on Allocated Sites Output Indicators 7.9. Appendix 2 details the development history on the town centre sites allocated in the Local Plan and updates the planning history for this monitoring period. Allocated sites are set out in the Local Plan as sites that Amount of completed retail, have been identifi ed as locations where the offi ce and leisure development specifi ed uses will be acceptable on either respectively the whole of the site, or as part of a mixed use scheme. The allocated sites are listed Fig 7.3 Completed Retail, Offi ce and Leisure in policies BTC1, BTC2, BTC3, BTC4, BTC6, Development BTC7, BTC8, BTC9; and DTC1, DTC2, DTC3. Policies BTC1 to BTC9 cover those allocated Type of Floorspace Amount of Floorspace (m2) sites within Blackburn Town Centre. There B1a offi ce fl oorspace 459 has been development on BTC2a over this monitoring period and the draft Freckleton D2 leisure fl oorspace 250,195 Street Masterplan SPD has been produced Net retail fl oorspace 25,498 which will affect areas covered by BTC3. No A2 fl oorspace has been 0 Applications have also been submitted for developed BTC5, which has subsequently been approved, and BTC6c, which is still undecided. Percentage of completed retail, offi ce and leisure development respectively in town centres 7.6. None of the retail, offi ce and leisure fl oorspace completed within this monitoring period is located within town centres. However, much of the completed development lies on the edge of the Blackburn town centre and is in easy walking distance of the town centre.

Performance of Local Plan Policies

Blackburn 7.7. Within the town, the Blackburn Town Centre Strategy for 2003-2008 continues to be implemented. In retail terms, Blackburn is performing quite well although there needs to be greater emphasis on reducing leakage to Manchester in terms of shopping. The planning permission for the redevelopment of the Mall shopping centre in the town and the proposed Markets redevelopment will signiﬁ cantly affect this and will improve the range and quality of retailing in the town centre that has been identiﬁ ed as needing immediate improvement, in both town centres.

19 Monitoring Report

8: Neighbourhood and Community Issues 8

Neighbourhood and Community Issues 8.4. In terms of fear of crime, qualitative Contextual Indicators data from the Citizens’ Panel in June of 2003, found that the majority of members of the panel said that they had not experienced Health any crime. Despite this however, a large percentage were still apprehensive about 8.1. The percentage of residents with the issue. Nuisance from young people was limiting long term illness in 2001 stood at the main issue that caused concern to the 20.3%17. This is approximately 2% higher than majority of panel members. Vehicle crime and the average fi gure for England and Wales. Ten burglary were also issues that caused worry19. years previously, in 1991, this was measured at 15.5%18, which again was seen to be 2% People’s satisfaction with their higher than the national average of 13.3%. neighbourhood as a place to live This indicates that there is consistently a 8.5. Blackburn with Darwen Local higher percentage of the population with a Strategic Partnership (LSP) found that in long term limiting illness within Blackburn with 2006, 83% of those asked were satisfi ed with Darwen compared to the rest of the country. their neighbourhood as a place to live. 45% The Core Strategy preferred option report sets of those being questioned were very satisfi ed out the aim to improve pedestrian and cycle with their neighbourhood as a place to live, routes, which will improve people’s health by and 38% fairly satisfi ed20.There is currently no encouraging exercise. comparable data available for this fi gure.

8.2. There have been recent changes in Fig 8.2 Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction with the the way that information on low weight birth Neighbourhood as a Place to Live

rates is collated which makes comparison with �� 2002 ﬁ gures difﬁ cult. However, it can be seen �� that there has been a reduction of 0.5% in �� the England and Wales average of low weight births (below 2.5kg) over the past 4 years. The �� percentage of low weight births in Cumbria �� and Lancashire in September 2006 stood at 7.8%, which is 0.2% higher than the national average.

Crime 8.3. There has been a decrease in all types of crime over the past 12 months with the exception of Arson, where there has been a slight increase.

Fig 8.1 Instances of Crime by Type ��

��

�� 17 ONS Census Data 2001 18 ONS Census Data 1991 �� 19 Blackburn with Darwen �� Citizens’ Panel �� 20 BwD Citizens Panel 2006 �� Weighted data. Weighted base 1,117 �� 20 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Number of Conservation Areas Output Indicators 8.6. There were 14 Conservation Areas in 2006. These were already designated by 2000 and are designated and listed in the 8

| Local Plan. Work was also undertaken since

Neighbourhood the last monitoring report into the possibility Percentage of eligible open spaces of adopting Guide as a conservation area. managed to green ﬂ ag award However, it concluded that Guide did not standard warrant the designation as a Conservation 8.8. In September 2006 Queens Park Area. and Roe Lee Park joined Witton Park and Sunnyhurst Wood as parks that are managed

and Community Issues to Green Flag award standard. The percentage 8.7. Work has been completed in of eligible open spaces managed to Green Flag preparation for the LDF to ensure that award standard in Blackburn with Darwen is enhancing the existing environment of the now therefore 27.5% of the total open space borough is given suffi cient concern. Forming in the borough, which is an increase of 2.1% part of the LDF is the adopted SPD entitled on last year. ‘Blackburn with Darwen Borough Wide Design Guide’. A colour study has also been incorporated into this. This sets the design Performance of Local Plan Policies agenda for the borough, identifying design principles and leading to practical and locally relevant urban design guidelines to promote the best in contemporary design in response Design Quality Indicators and to local distinctiveness. Conservation Areas 8.9. The Council has completed four Fig 8.3 Open Space by Type Conservation Area appraisals, at Edgworth, �� Chapeltown, Griffi n and Darwen Town Centre, �� and is commissioning fi ve more for 2007. �� Conservation Area Management Plans are �� also being prepared which will guide future �� development and make specifi c monitoring �� arrangements which may be included in future �� monitoring reports. The Borough Wide Design �� Guide will also serve to improve the quality of �� design across the Borough and monitoring will �� in future be looked at using the seven design �� principles in the SPD. �� Effectiveness of the Local Plan in Co-ordinating Development ��

�� 8.10. When introduced, Local Plans were �� intended to provide clear guidance to both �� developers and the community on what �� development would be permitted. Conversely, the Local Plan policies seek to ensure that developments that do not meet the objectives above will be refused. The Local Plan’s effectiveness in this end can be measured by the success or failure of applications that are refused, and then decided by an inspector on appeal.

8.11. Between 1st April 2005 and 31st March 2006, 25 appeals were made against refusal of planning permission. Of these, 18 were dismissed (72%), six were allowed (24%) and one was withdrawn.

21 Monitoring Report

8.12. Combining the appeals information 8.18. Together with the appeals information above with that in the previous monitoring the fi gures refl ect the relevance of the policies reports gives information over a fi ve year over the past year. However, several caveats period from April 2001 to March 2006. During should be borne in mind: 8

that period 89 appeals against Blackburn The year’s planning applications are not |

with Darwen’s refusal of planning consent necessarily a guide to future development Neighbourhood were decided. Of these, 25 were approved, pressure. making 28% of the total appeals being allowed The number of applications is not over the past ﬁ ve years, compared to 24% an indicator of their signiﬁ cance this year. The percentage of appeals across (for example, comparing 10 small England which are allowed has remained at householder applications with one large

33% for the past few years. industrial site) and Community Issues Clear policies can deter development, 8.13. This shows that the Council has a so that a planning application is never slightly higher than average success rate at submitted. This can hide the policy’s true defending planning decisions on appeal. value. Policies designed for development control use will be used more frequently for 8.14. There were fi ve appeals for refusal decision notices than policies that householder extensions (three approved, two state the council’s strategy, or that seek dismissed), fi ve appeals for one or two new to take a more proactive role in guiding houses (one approved, four dismissed), fi ve development. appeals for takeaways (all dismissed) and four appeals for large housing sites (all dismissed), 8.19. Monitoring between 1st April 2005 along with other minor appeals. and 31st March 2006 shows that there were 200 applications refused, giving 382 citations 8.15. As with the previous monitoring of policies. periods, planning decisions were overturned by the Inspector due to subjective interpretation 8.20. The policies used for refusal most of Local Plan policies and the interpretation frequently (in 5 or more decisions) are: of terms such as ‘amenity’. Such cases are inevitable as “amenity” is a subjective evaluation. It may therefore be necessary to Frequency Policy evaluate the wording of policies that include 15x H4 – New Residential Developments terms that can be misinterpreted or introduce H8 – Extensions to dwellings within the urban 97x too much personal interpretation and opinion. area and villages T9 – New Developments – General Transport 32x Policies used in Planning Appeals Considerations 8.16. It emerged that 11 policies were 7x R9 – Local Shops in the Urban Area used in more than one planning appeal in R10 – Restaurants, Cafes and Hot-Food Take- 8x the period monitored. A full list can be found Aways in Appendix 4. The Policies of the Local Plan 7x R17 – Site Consideration Policy used most frequently were R10 (Restaurants, HD1 – Visual Appearance of Development 32x Cafes and hot food take-aways, use class A3) – General Considerations and H8 (Extensions to dwellings within the 9x HD7 – Outdoor Advertisements urban area and villages). The Regional Spatial 9x HD8 – Existing Trees and Landscaping Strategy and Policy 12 of the Structure Plan HD11 – Development in and adjacent to were used more often than most other Local 9x Conservation Areas Plan policies, this was due to the refusal 7x HD13 – Alterations to Listed Buildings of several large housing sites due to an 5x RA3 – Development within the Green Belts oversupply of housing. 6x ENV4 – Control of Noise Nuisance Policies used in Refusing Planning 17x SPG - New Residential Development SPG – Extensions to Detached and Semi- Applications 10x 8.17. Along with monitoring of planning Detached Houses appeals, the information regarding planning 17x SPG – Extensions to Terraced Houses Policy 12 of the Joint Lancashire Structure applications which have been refused gives 10x a useful indication of the Council’s ability to Plan refuse applications which do not conform This shows a diverse range of policies are to policy and may highlight issues regarding being used from throughout the Local Plan and certain existing policies. also the Council’s Supplementary Planning Guidance Documents. The vast majority of policy citations relate to specifi c details of design (HD1) access (T9) and residential extensions (H8). 22 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

9: Environmental Protection and Sustainable

9 Resource Use

Environmental

Contextual Indicators Fig 9.1 Percentage of PDL by landtype

Air Quality Management Areas Protection 9.1. The Council has designated ﬁ ve Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) in which air quality will be recorded and measures developed to control the impact on pollution and Sustainable Resource Use levels. The intention is to monitor nitrogen dioxide against the national annual mean objective of 40µg/m3. These areas are:

1. Intack, Blackburn – junction of Whitebirk Rd, Accrington Rd, Shadsworth Road and St Ives Road 2. Bastwell, Blackburn – junction of Whalley New Road, Whalley Range, Plane Street Blackburn �� 3. Bolton Road / Duckworth Street, Darwen �� Town Centre �� 4. Witton, Blackburn – junction of Preston �� New Road, Buncer Lane, Redlam, �� Spring Lane Percentage of water courses 5. The junction of the A666 with M65 J4 complying with river quality link road objectives 9.3. For the calendar year 2005, 81.5% The AQMA’s are material considerations in of the Borough’s watercourses complied planning decisions and this year one applica- with the Environment Agency’s River Quality tion has been granted within AQMA No.3. The Objectives. This is a signifi cant improvement of planning permission was for 127 residential 13.5% from the 2002 fi gure. units and on a site previously occupied by a large factory and contained a condition requir- Areas of fl ood risk in the borough ing assessment and mitigation of air quality and properties within them before the residential units could be occupied. 9.4. The 2006 Environment Agency Floodplain Maps identify 359 hectares of land Amount of previously developed in Floodzone 321. This area is extended to land identifi ed through NLUD study 543 hectares of land in Floodzone 222, which 9.2. The National Land Use Database covers 4.1% of the Borough. As at July 2006 – Previously Developed Land (PDL) collates there were 613 properties within Floodzone information from all local authorities 3, extending to 2,533 properties within across England on sites which are derelict, Floodzone 2, this represents 4.3% of the vacant, and underused. In 2005 there was Borough’s properties. The Council has begun approximately 63,500 hectares of previously work on a strategic Flood Risk Assessment in developed land, 12,000 of which is within the partnership with the Environmental Agency. north west region. The Council has identifi ed Information from this will inform future 163 hectares of previously developed land Local Development Documents, and will be in 2006. The pie chart below shows the presented in future Annual Monitoring Reports. classifi cation of land within the study.

21 Land in Floodzone 3 has a high risk of fl ooding, with a 1.0% or greater annual probability 22 Land in Floodzone 2 has a low to medium risk of fl uvial fl ooding, with a 0.1-1.0% annual probability 23 Monitoring Report

9.10. A SSSI recorded as unfavourable Output Indicators means that there is a current lack of appropriate management, or that there are damaging impacts which need to be 9

Number of planning permissions addressed. |

granted contrary to the advice of Environmental Protection the Environment Agency on either 9.11. In terms of areas with local level fl ood defence grounds or water signifi cance, Local Nature Reserves (LNR) are quality places with wildlife or geological features that 9.5. The Environment Agency made nine are of special interest. Many of these may objections to planning applications within also be SSSIs. Within the Borough there are Blackburn with Darwen. Three applications currently fi ve sites that have been designated were withdrawn, one was refused and fi ve to become Local Nature Reserves. At present were granted approval with conditions relating two of these have achieved Local Nature to the objection. Therefore there were no Reserve status. Work is also being undertaken planning permissions granted contrary to the to determine if Witton Country Park and and advice of the Environment Agency on fl ood Darwen Moor can be classifi ed as Local Nature Sustainable Resource Use defence or water quality grounds. Reserves in the near future.

Change in areas and populations Fig 9.2 LNR’s in Blackburn with Darwen in 2006 of biodiversity importance, including: Site Name LNR status LNR status achieved achieved (i) change in priority habitats and species (2004/05) (2005/06) (by type); and (ii) change in areas designated for their River Darwen Parkway Yes Yes intrinsic environmental value including Highercroft Woods No No sites of international, national, regional, Pleasington Old Hall No No sub-regional or local signifi cance Arran Trail No No Sunnyhurst Woods Yes Yes 9.8. (i) The priority habitats and species within Blackburn with Darwen are set out in 9.12. In terms of areas of sub-regional the Lancashire Biodiversity Action Plan and level signifi cance, Geological Heritage Sites the Borough’s Environmental Audit. Lists of (GHS) are important geological research both of these can be found in Appendix 6. At locations designated across Lancashire. At present there is no available data from which present there are fi ve Geological Heritage Sites to illustrate levels of change in the priority (as shown in fi gure 9.3) within the borough. habitats and species. This will be possible in The identifi cation of further sites, across the future years as monitoring of this information whole of Lancashire is on-going. occurs, highlighting areas of change.

9.9. (ii) A survey in August 2006 recorded the following results regarding the condition of the Borough’s three Sites of Special Scientiﬁ c Interest (SSSI).

SSSI name: Longworth Clough

% Area meeting % Area favourable % Area % Area % Area % Area destroyed / PSA target unfavourable unfavourable no unfavourable part destroyed recovering change declining 2005 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 83.71% 16.29% 0.00% 2006 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 82.99% 17.01% 0.00%

SSSI name: Gale Clough and Shooterslee Wood

% Area meeting % Area favourable % Area % Area % Area % Area destroyed / PSA target unfavourable unfavourable no unfavourable part destroyed recovering change declining 2005 31.41% 31.41% 0% 68.59% 0% 0.00% 2006 37.14% 37.14% 0.00% 62.86% 0.00% 0.00%

SSSI name: Oak Field

% Area meeting % Area favourable % Area % Area % Area % Area destroyed / PSA target unfavourable unfavourable no unfavourable part destroyed recovering change declining 2005 100.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 2006 100.00% 100.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00% 0.00%

24 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Fig 9.3 GHS’s in Blackburn with Darwen (from the Policy RA4 - Identiﬁ ed Major Sites Borough Local Plan 1991-2006) in the Green Belt Site Name Grid Reference Description 9.16. This Policy relates to four sites within the Green Belt which currently have 9 Alum Scar SD 635 280 Disused quarry in massive

| established uses upon them. The policy allows

Environmental gritstone with shales. for some additional development within the Industrial, archaeological conﬁ nes of these sensitive sites, providing it remains does not increase the impact on the Green Jumbles SD 736 149 High exposure – Coal Belt. This is to ensure that where the uses Reservoir Measures have required expansion within its conﬁ nes,

Protection and Sustainable Resource Use Cadshaw SD 707 181 Natural exposure and old this can be achieved without compromising Gorge quarry. Coarse grained the Green Belt designations. This is an update sandstone of the planning permissions on these sites. Butlers SD 646 277 Large quarry displaying cyclic RA4/1 Westholme School – Continuing Delph & development of faces & small development between 2001-2003 for Black Hill quarry in thickly bedded additional classrooms, extensions, etc. Recent Delph sandstone planning permission has been granted for new Billinge Hill SD 658 282 Natural crags and long tennis and hockey pitches. disused quarry showing RA4/2 New Waterside Paper Mill sequence of sandstone and – Considerable development 2001-2003 shale band with planning consents for major rebuilds and new construction. An application was also 9.13. Biological Heritage Sites (BHS), permitted in 2003 for a B2 and B8 production designated by the County Council are those facility. Since then there has been an non-statutory wildlife sites seen as most application permitted in 2005 for two storey important. In Lancashire as a whole there ancillary ofﬁ ces. are 1,100 BHSs, which represents 8% of the RA4/3 Whitebirk Works, Waterside County area. Within Blackburn with Darwen, – There have been no planning applications for there are currently 96 BHSs, which cover this site since 1997. 3,484ha, which equates to 25% of the RA4/4 Springside Mills, Belmont borough area. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust – Replacement warehouse application is currently updating the deﬁ nitions of the 1994, replacement boiler plant in 1997 Biological Heritage Sites, though there is no and redevelopment of old boiler plant for a information currently available from the survey manufacturing facility in 1999. There have that can be included within this report. been no further applications for this site since 1999. Renewable energy capacity installed by type Policy LNC2 - Landscape Break 9.14. One renewable energy scheme has 9.17. The land north of the A666 / M65 been completed in the Borough for a single junction is safeguarded from development in wind turbine nine metres high. A planning order to act as a visual buffer between Darwen application has been refused at Uglow Farm, and Blackburn. Applications for residential Edgworth and a Planning Inspector supported development were refused in 1995, 1999 and the refusal at appeal. A renewable energy 2004. study for the Borough has been prepared in partnership with Renewables North West and Sustainability North West and is awaiting publication.

Performance of Local Plan Policies

Policy RA2 - Safeguarded Land 9.15. This policy seeks to provide long- term certainty regarding the protection of Green Belt Land, through safeguarding sites from development over the plan period, for development at a future date. In accordance with the plan, no applications for development have been submitted on these sites to date.

25 Monitoring Report

10: Conclusion 10

Conclusion 10.1. This is the second LDF annual 10.4. Business and Industrial land is being monitoring report. It has highlighted that the provided as set out in the Local Plan, with Local Plan has performed well with policies 80% of the 120ha provision for 1991 – 2006 being used effectively and with positive having been developed. impact. The completion of the monitoring report was a useful tool in assessing these 10.5. The monitoring also emphasised in detail and highlighting areas where the situation of over supply of housing within development is required within the LDF. As the borough, as illustrated by the housing the LDF is still in the development stage, and trajectory fi gures. It also highlighted that is therefore some time off being adopted as the Borough is fairing well in achieving its a complete framework, there remain areas objectives of utilising previously developed where it has not been possible to fully monitor. land (PDL) and since April 2000, 99% of units The report is as comprehensive as possible at granted planning permission for housing have this point, however as data is reviewed and been on brownfi eld sites. updated annually (where possible), the data will become more meaningful and indicative, 10.6. The borough’s public transport providing a clearer picture of the borough and infrastructure was also identifi ed as a LDF progress. signifi cant problem in terms of transport links to key conurbations. The monitoring showed 10.2. In terms of making progress on that improvement in quality of service is LDF documents, there have been signifi cant necessary in order to improve this perception. hold-ups regarding consultation on the Core Car ownership in the borough also remains Strategy and all fi ve of the DPD’s has slipped low with 33.5% of households not owning a from the LDS timetables to the point that the car; this is particularly prominent in Darwen. milestones are no longer achievable. One of Interestingly however, the car/van is the most the SPDs will no longer be produced and two common way of travelling into Blackburn Town SPDs require further consideration whether to Centre, as the modal split study illustrated. proceed. The monitoring also showed that since 2000, there has been a decrease in bus passenger 10.3. The use of indicators means that journeys in the borough yet an increase in the information can be collated each year, using number of passengers using Blackburn and similar methodologies, therefore producing Darwen Railway Stations. There has also been comparable results, which will assist in a decrease since last year in the number of illustrating how the borough is progressing. cycles entering Blackburn town centre as well This will also highlight areas where future work as pedestrian numbers. needs to be focused. The use of core output indicators has provided information that can 10.7. Analysis of retailing within the town be compared directly to other areas of the centres showed that there are a greater North West region. As well as the fi rst LDF number of local residents now shopping Annual Monitoring Report, this report also outside of the Blackburn area and that the updates previous monitoring of the current retail turnover fi gure in Darwen is 50% less adopted Local Plan, where all policies have than it was in 1995. Blackburn Town Centre been saved until adoption of the LDF. The was found to be a vital and viable town centre monitoring has provided up to date information that performs a sub regional role as the and indicated that the Local Plan policies dominant centre within the Blackburn and continue to perform well. The policies that Hyndburn area. require further attention were highlighted during the review of planning appeals which 10.8. Over three quarters of the Borough occurred within the monitoring period. are either very satisfi ed or fairly satisfi ed with the borough as a place to live.

26 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

10.9. In terms of the environmental quality of the borough, there are 14 conservation areas, 27.5% of the borough is managed to green ﬂ ag award standard, and there are 16 10 priority habitats and 13 priority species within

the borough. There are also 5 local nature Conclus reserves and 5 geological heritage sites, as well as 96 biological heritage sites, covering 3484 hectares. ion

10.10. The Council do not consider that there are any policies which are not being implemented. Some sites may have not come forward for development; however this is generally due to developer interest rather than any implementation issues.

27 Monitoring Report

References References

2002 Mid year estimates Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (2005) Provisional Second Local Transport Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Plan, 2006-2011. (2002) Blackburn with Darwen Local Plan Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (2005) Draft borough Wide Design Guide, (2005) Blackburn with Darwen Employment Supplementary Planning Document. Land Survey English Nature (2003) England’s best wildlife Blackburn with Darwen Original Data. and geological sites: The condition of sites of Special Scientifi c Interest in England in 2003. Blackburn with Darwen Citizens’ Panel. Groundwork Blackburn (2004) Borough of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Blackburn with Darwen Environmental Audit. (2005) Blackburn with Darwen Local Development Framework Core Strategy, Issues department for Communities and Local and Options consultation report. Government, Dwelling Stock by Tenure and Condition, www.communities.gov.uk. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (2002) Blackpool Borough Council and Offi ce for National Statistics, Census Data Lancashire County Council Deposit Edition of 2001, www.statistics.gov.uk. the Joint Lancashire Structure Plan Offi ce for National Statistics, Census Data Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, 1991, www.statistics.gov.uk. Blackpool Borough Council and Lancashire County Council (2005) Joint Lancashire Offi ce for National Statistics, Claimant Count, Structure Plan 2001-2016, www. www.statistics.gov.uk. lancashire2016.com. Offi ce of the Deputy Prime Minister, English Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Indices of Deprivation 2004 (revised), www. (2005) Blackburn with Darwen Local odpm.gov.uk. Development Framework Core Strategy, Preferred Option report. Offi ce for National Statistics, Local Area Labour Force Survey, www.statistics.gov.uk. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (2005) Blackburn with Darwen Local Offi ce for National Statistics, New Earnings Development Framework Core Strategy, Survey and data available form CACI modelled Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report. data purchased by the Council

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council OFSTED, LEA Statistical Proﬁ le 2003 (2005) Blackburn with Darwen Local Development Scheme. National Statistics Nomis- Ofﬁ cial Labour Market Statistics, Claimant Count, www. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council nomisweb.co.uk. (2005) Local Transport Plan 2001-2006 Progress Report 2005. Savills (April 2005) The Blackburn with Darwen Shopping Study 2005-2016. Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council (2005) The changing face of Blackburn with Darwen.

28 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Appendix I - Local development scheme:

Appendix Update of milestones Local Development Scheme Monitoring Table: Showing achieved milestones and estimated milestones and renewed dates where necessary 1

Estimated or achieved date for adoption UNACHIEVABLE May 2009 ACHIEVED 17th August 2006 NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2009 NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2009 NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2009 LDS MILESTONE Date of Adoption August 2007 August 2006 January 2009 January 2009 January 2009

NOT ACHIEVABLE August 2008 Estimated or achieved date for Submission to Secretary of State NOT ACHIEVED January 2008 NOT ACHIEVABLE August 2008 NOT ACHIEVABLE August 2008 LDS MILESTONE Submission to Secretary of State September 2006 October 2007 October 2007 October 2007

NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2007 Estimated or achieved date for Preferred Options and Proposals or on Draft Document Preferred Option Consultation required again early 2007 NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2007 NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2007 Slippage in early preparation of document has resulted future Milestones not being achievable. January – March 2007 LDS MILESTONE Public Consultation on Preferred Options and Proposals or on Draft Document Regulation 26/17 ACHIEVED 26th September 2005 January - March 2007 January – March 2007 Slippage in early preparation of document has resulted future Milestones not being achievable.

Signiﬁ cant delay in achieving Milestones. Preferred Option Consultation deemed unsound, proposed to consult again January 2007, Signiﬁ

To replace existing To policies in Introduction, Development in Rural Areas and Landscape and Nature Conservation chapters. Brief Description Sets out vision, objectives and spatial development strategy including a Key Diagram Sets out degree and type of consultation undertaken for each document Allocation Housing and other housing related policies to replace existing Housing Chapter in Local Plan Employment Allocations and other employment related policies. Slippage in early preparation of document has resulted future Milestones not being achievable. Milestone achieved. Document is now adopted.

DPD Status DPD LDD DPD DPD Environment Document Title Local Development Core Framework Strategy Progress on the LDF Core Strategy: resulting in slippage. Statement of Community Involvement Progress on the SCI: Housing Allocations and Policies Progress on allocations and policies: Commercial Development Allocations and Policies Progress on Commercial Development Allocations and Policies: Progress on Environment:

29 Monitoring Report Appendix 1 Estimated or achieved date for adoption NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2009 NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2010 NOT ACHIEVABLE NOT ACHIEVED May 2007 LDS MILESTONE Date of Adoption January 2009 2010 February 2007 February November 2006 Estimated or achieved date for Submission to Secretary of State NOT ACHIEVABLE August 2008 NOT ACHIEVABLE August 2009 N/A N/A LDS MILESTONE Submission to Secretary of State October 2007 October 2008 N/A N/A Estimated or achieved date for Preferred Options and Proposals or on Draft Document NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2007 NOT ACHIEVABLE November 2008 NOT ACHIEVED NOT ACHIEVED January 2007 LDS MILESTONE Public Consultation on Preferred Options and Proposals or on Draft Document Regulation 26/17 January – March 2007 January – 2008 February September – November 2006 July – August 2006 The need for this document is being considered. Estimated dates have not been set as a result. Slippage has occurred in meeting Milestone, adoption date is no longer achievable. Due to slippage on other DPD’s, this document’s Milestones are unachievable. Slippage in early preparation of document has resulted future Milestones not being achievable. Brief Description Sets out on an Ordnance Survey Map land allocations and designations referred to in Development Plan Documents Provides the framework for development control Most policies in existing Local Plan to be saved, but others will be reviewed or added Sets out detailed development proposals, design guidelines and environmental improvement measures for the Centre Town Sets out detailed development proposals, design guidelines and environmental improvement measures for the Centre Town Status DPD DPD SPD SPD Document Title Proposals Map for Borough Progress on Proposals Map for Borough: Development Control Policies Progress on Development Control Policies: Blackburn Centre Town Masterplan Centre Masterplan: Progress on Blackburn Town Darwen Centre Town Masterplan Centre Masterplan: Progress on Darwen Town

30 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council Appendix I Estimated or achieved date for adoption NOT ACHIEVABLE May 2007 NEW TIMETABLE REQUIRED NOT ACHIEVED ESTIMATED June 2007 NOT ACHIEVED LDS MILESTONE Date of Adoption December 2006 January 2008 October 2006 June 2007 November 2006 ramework. Estimated or achieved date for Submission to Secretary of State N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A LDS MILESTONE Submission to Secretary of State N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A The future of this document is unsure, target dates cannot be set at time. Estimated or achieved date for Preferred Options and Proposals or on Draft Document NOT ACHIEVED January 2007 NEW TIMETABLE REQUIRED NOT ACHIEVED ESTIMATED January 2007 NOT ACHIEVED LDS MILESTONE Public Consultation on Preferred Options and Proposals or on Draft Document Regulation 26/17 July – September 2006 August – October 2007 June – July 2006 January 2007 July – August 2006 It is anticipated that this document will meet its future Milestones. The scope and content of this SPD is being reconsidered. Milestones in the LDS will therefore not be achieved a new Slippage has occurred in meeting Milestone, adoption date is no longer achievable. A decision has been taken not to proceed with this document in the Local Development F Brief Description Sets out detailed development proposals, design guidelines and environmental improvement measures for an area on the edge of Blackburn Town Centre. Provides more detailed guidance for proposals under HMR Provides more detailed guidance for proposals under Housing Market Renewal. Provides more detailed guidance for proposals under HMR Provides more detailed guidance for proposals under Housing Market Renewal. Status SPD SPD SPD SPD SPD Document Title Freckleton Street Masterplan Street Masterplan: Progress on Freckleton New East Blackburn Masterplan Progress in New East Blackburn Masterplan: timetable is required. n HMR Griffi Masterplan n HMR Masterplan: Progress on Griffi rmary Infi HMR Waterside Masterplan (review) Masterplan: rmary Waterside Progress on the Infi Queen Street / Hindle Street, Darwen, HMR Masterplan Progress on the Queen Street/Hindle Street, Darwen HMR Masterplan:

31 Monitoring Report Appendix I July 2006 th March 2006 th Estimated or achieved date for adoption NOT ACHIEVED 13 ACHIEVED 9 NOT ACHIVED April 2007 NOT ACHIEVED June 2007 LDS MILESTONE Date of Adoption June 2006 March 2006 October 2006 October 2006 N/A N/A Estimated or achieved date for Submission to Secretary of State N/A N/A LDS MILESTONE Submission to Secretary of State N/A N/A N/A N/A Slippage has occurred in early stage preparation and document is no longer being produced NOT ACHIEVED January 2007 Estimated or achieved date for Preferred Options and Proposals or on Draft Document NOT ACHIEVED March 2007 Milestone for adoption achieved one month late. Document is now adopted. The Milestone for adoption has been achieved. document is now adopted. April – June 2006 LDS MILESTONE Public Consultation on Preferred Options and Proposals or on Draft Document Regulation 26/17 April – June 2006 Slippage has occurred in early stage preparation and document is no longer being produced concurrently with Commercial Design Guidance for the whole Borough Design Guidance for new housing development Brief Description Provides more detailed guidance for key site it Housing Market Renewal Design Guidance for new business development SPD SPD Status SPD SPD Documents on target / achieving milestones Documents that have experienced slippage Blackburn with Darwen Design Guide Residential Design Guide concurrently with Residential Design Guide. Document Title Queen’s Flats Park Development Brief Flats Development Brief: Progress on the Queen’s Park Progress on the Blackburn with Darwen Design Guide: Design Guide: Progress on the Residential Business Development Design Guidance. Commercial & Business Development Design Guidance Progress on the commercial and business development design guidance:

32 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Appendix II - Development on allocated town

Appendix centre sites

BTC1 RICHMOND TERRACE/ ST. JOHNS Policy BTC9 - Environmental Improvement

II BTC1- No Development. Schemes BTC1a - No Development. Signiﬁ cant progress made on all schemes, BTC1b - No Development. including an additional scheme linking Church BTC1c - No Development. Street and King Street, with the exception of BTC1d - No Development. the Railway road project where no progress has been made. More detailed information BTC2a RAILWAY STATION / LOWER AUDLEY can be seen below. Multiscreen cinema, gym, restaurant and retail uses built. BTC9 Environmental Improvement Schemes Church Street: Comprehensive improvement BTC2b RUSSELL STREET/ GRIMSHAW STREET work, pedestrianisation, new material, public - No further development. art etc have all been carried out as part of Townscape Heritage Initiative. BTC3 FRECKLETON STREET/ SUMNER STREET/ BYROM STREET -No change as yet but Darwen Street: Comprehensive improvement Freckleton Street Masterplan is being drawn work-pedestrianisation, new materials, public up. art etc have all been carried out as part of Townscape Heritage Initiative. BTC4a PENNY STREET- No further development on this site. Blakey moor/Northgate: Proposals drawn up BTC4b SALFORD -Site still partially vacant. for implementation in 2006 through Town BTC4c EANAM/ CICELY LANE -Site still partially Centre Renaissance Programme. vacant. Sudell Cross: Proposals drawn up for BTC5 BLACKBURN SHOPPING CENTRE Implementation in 2006 through the Town - Planning application granted for signiﬁ cant Centre Renaissance Programme. re-development of Blackburn shopping centre and Lord Square. No work completed as yet. King Street: Comprehensive programme of environmental works completed in connection BTC6a CHURCH STREET- Work on listed with the Townscape Heritage Initiative. buildings now complete. Two of the three buildings have now been Let and are in use. Railway Road: No progress made.

BTC6b SCALES FUNERAL PARLOUR, DARWEN Blackburn Cathedral: No progress physically ST- No further development on this site implemented but the cathedral has BTC6c BT CAR PARK-West half: No change, commissioned and adopted a Masterplan for East half: No change the development and enhancement of the cathedral precinct. BTC7a KING STREET CAR PARK SITE- No change. Blackburn College campus: Minor BTC7b 33 KING ST- No further development improvement work completed. The college on this site. is currently working on the production of BTC7c BARTON ST- No further development. a Masterplan for the development of the BTC7d PRINCES ST/MONTAGUE ST- Site campus. redeveloped for supported housing. *Additional Scheme*: Improvement scheme BTC8 PRESTON NEW ROAD- Partial linking Church Street and King Street: redevelopment of site (ofﬁ ce block). Comprehensive programme of environmental Remainder of site continues to be used as a improvements completed in Fleming Square car park. as part of the Townscape Heritage Initiative.

The following policies outline areas within Darwen town centre where development has been identiﬁ ed as acceptable in principle.

33 Monitoring Report

DTC1a BANK BOTTOM - Permission has been granted for 18 one and two bedroom ﬂ ats on this site. Appendix DTC1b BOROUGH RD/ THE GREEN - No further development on this site post 1993.

DTC1c POLICE ST/ GREEN ST - No further I I development since 1995.

DTC1d WELLINGTON FOLD, MARKET ST - No further development post 1990.

DTC2a PARLIAMENT ST CAR PARK - No further development.

DTC2b GARAGE, RAILWAY ROAD - No further development.

DTC3 FORMER HIGH SCHOOL - Planning permission for conversion to residential. Enhancing the existing environment

The Townscape Heritage Initiative has helped implement the Local Plan by using lottery monies to fund improvements to the “Heritage Corridor” of Church Street / King Street. Signiﬁ cant buildings have been restored, such as the Pavilions on Church Street and Fleming Square (between King Street and Church Street).

34 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Appendix III - Summary of planning appeal

Appendix decisions

Ref. TYPE REASON FOR CONSENT ON APPEAL POLICIES USED I II 10/04/0761 Garage with patio Inspector believed overlooking problem H8 could be rectiﬁ ed. - Differing opinion in interpreting policy 10/04/0866 House extension Inspector did not agree that the extension H8 would harm neighbours or appearance of building. - Differing opinion in interpreting policy 10/04/0236 Gypsy caravan site Gypsy caravan site would be compatible H7, EC3, T9 with the surrounding industrial and commercial area. - Differing opinion in interpreting policy 10/04/1237 House Inspector did not agree that design out of H4 character could not be accepted. - Differing opinion in interpreting policy 10/04/1168 Commercial use of swimming Inspector did not agree that the use would H11 pool cause signiﬁ cant noise or disturbance. Temporary permission granted to assess parking. - Differing opinion in interpreting policy 10/05/0181 Fence and garden shed Inspector did not agree there is impact on HD1 the street-scene - Differing opinion in interpreting policy

35 Monitoring Report

Appendix IV - Policies used in planning

appeals Appendix

Policy Frequency used (>1) I Lancashire Structure Plan Policy 12 6 V Spatial Strategy of Regional Spatial Strategy 5 H8 Extensions to Dwellings within the Urban Areas and Villages 4 R10 Restaurants, Cafes and Hot Food Take-aways (Use Class 4 A3) H2 Development of Large Unallocated Sites 3 T9 New Developments - General Transport Considerations 3 HD1 Visual Appearance of Development - General 3 Considerations RA3 Development within the Green Belts 3 T10 Major New Developments - Transport Consequences 2 R6 Primary Shopping Frontages in Darwen Town Centre and 2 Shopping Frontages in Major Neighbourhood Centres R17 Site Consideration Policy 2

36 Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Appendix V - Priority habitats and species Appendix

Priority Habitats in Blackburn with Darwen as Priority species within Blackburn with Darwen,

V identiﬁ ed by the Regional Biodiversity Steering as deﬁ ned in the UK Biodiversity Group Group (RBSG). Tranche 2 Action Plans report 1998.

Upland Oakwood Mammals Upland mixed ash woodland (including yew wood on water vole Arvicola terrestris limestone) brown hare Lepus europaeus Wet Woodlands (including carr and lowland fl oodplain pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus woodlands) Amphibians Lowland and wood pastures and parkland great crested newt Triturus cristatus Ancient and/or species rich hedgerows Birds Lowland hay meadow (including roadside verges and unmanaged grassland) skylark Alauda arvensis Upland hay meadow (including roadside verges and linnet Carduelis cannabina unmanaged grasslands) reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Lowland dry acid grassland spotted fl ycatcher Muscicapa striata Lowland heathland tree sparrow Passer montanus Fens - swamps grey partridge Perdix perdix Fens - springs and fl ushes bullfi nch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Fens - valley mires song thrush Turdus philomelos Fens - basin mires Reed beds Upland heathland (=sub-montane heath) Blanket bog

37 Monitoring Report