HDF Hull Development Framework Core Strategy Issues, options and suggested preferred option HDF Core Strategy 1 Introduction 5 What is a Core Strategy? 5 What is this document about? 5 What is planning? 6 How does planning work? 7 What is the ‘new’ planning system? 7 How this document is organised 9 How to get involved 9 2 Hull in context 11 Big issues facing Hull 12 Local issues 13 Other policies and strategies 17 Community Strategy as a starting point 18 Sustainability Appraisal Framework 19 3 Strategic issues, options and suggested preferred option 23 4 Future pace of change – city scenarios 25 5 Future development needs 31 A Broad, guiding principles 37 Sustainable development 37 Sustainable communities 39 Regeneration priorities 42 Climate change 48 Risk of flooding 51 Transport system and getting about 55 Infrastructure and development funding 58 B Quality of life 61 Future housing provision - overall scale and distribution 61 Housing mix 71 Meeting brownfield targets 80 Future shopping provision 84 Tourism 93 Healthy living 95 Health care provision 98 Quality of place 102 Urban Greenspace 104 Heritage 106 Sport and active recreation provision 108 Issues, options and suggested preferred option HDF Core Strategy C Jobs and prosperity 111 Scale and distribution of employment land 111 D Education, learning and skills 127 School and higher education provision 127 6 Suggested spatial vision for the city 133 7 More detailed planning matters 135 8 Plan delivery and performance 137 What is involved in delivering the vision 137 Measuring plan performance 138 9 Having a comprehensive and sound evidence base 141 Appendices i Hull Development Framework forum members 143 ii Use Classes Order 147 Issues, options and suggested preferred option HDF Core Strategy 1 Introduction What is a Core Strategy? 1.1 This document is the first stage in the production of Hull’s Core Strategy. It will eventually be a central part of the Hull Development Framework (HDF). The HDF is a collection of planning documents which will replace the Local Plan. Planning documents contain policies that help decide when and where to grant planning permission or where money should be invested in the city. 1.2 The Core Strategy identifies the big issues and sets a long-term vision for the city until the year 2026. It sets out the principles for future development and establishes the relationship between the city and the wider region. It suggests the best way for locating new housing, business, shops and open space. In its final form, it should contain a Key Diagram illustrating broad areas of proposed change or conservation. 1.3 However, the Core Strategy cannot identify individual sites. Instead, other documents within the HDF should develop the Core Strategy principles into more detailed policies, including site allocations with specific boundaries. Although the Core Strategy does not go into specifics it will determine the future direction of the city. What is this document about? 1.4 This document is for public comments. The Council has written it, taking into account the views of others. It suggests the main issues facing the city and proposes potential options to tackle them. 1.5 We now seek feedback and a suggested preferred way forward from the community. If you do not agree with any of the matters raised or how we intend to tackle these you can suggest alternatives. We welcome alternatives but they must be reasonable and justified. This will allow us to go on and produce a Preferred Options document that reflects the views of local people and those who wish to develop or invest in Hull in the future. 1.6 We have attempted to identify the major issues facing Hull's future by using the OneHull Community Strategy as a starting point. Then we have produced a number of realistic options for tackling each of these issues. Following each set of options we have provided what we feel is the best way forward, in the form of a preferred option. These are backed up by evidence in this document and in several more detailed background documents, all of which are open for you to view and consider. At this stage we invite you to tell us whether you agree with part or all of what is suggested. Issues, options and suggested preferred option 5 HDF Core Strategy 1.7 We have developed this document and other plans by engaging with a number of key local organisations and people. This has involved: Elected Members from across the Council who have steered and informed us; running regular events with Hull Development Framework Forum. This is made up of key people representing local business, the community and the environment. Appendix 1 includes the current list of members; and meeting with other key people about particular challenges facing the city. For example, a steering group has formed to look at employment land issues in detail. 1.8 We will be doing more to listen to and involve local people by holding exhibitions and attending further meetings, taking on board comments where we can. 1.9 Depending on the extent of your support we can go on to produce a Preferred Options document that will show how or what actions are needed to tackle key issues facing the city. This document will include simple policy statements that will summarise an approach in terms of how a preferred option will or should be acted on. You will also be able to comment on this. Consultation on this is currently programmed for early next year. 1.10 The Core Strategy is an example of a Development Plan Document (DPD). Every DPD must go through a number of stages before a final version can be produced. We aim to submit a final version of the Core Strategy to the Government Office in 2010. It will then undergo an independent public examination. Its formal adoption is due in 2011. What is planning? 1.11 Planning shapes the places where people live, work, relax and play. Good planning ensures that we get the right development, in the right place, at the right time. It protects and enhances the natural and historic environment, and conserves the countryside and important open spaces. The planning system also seeks to reduce carbon emissions and make more efficient use of resources. Successful planning makes a positive difference to people’s quality of life and helps to provide homes, jobs, and better opportunities for everyone. 1.12 Planning is about place making or shaping. This involves: ensuring that land uses work together rather than conflict; ensuring that investment in places happens in a co-ordinated way; 6 Issues, options and suggested preferred option HDF Core Strategy taking into account all the city’s strategies and plans; greater collaboration so that everyone with an interest in the city’s future has an opportunity to take part and influence the new plan; delivering the place related elements of the Community Strategy; and basing plans on an agreed set of facts. This is to make sure that they are ‘sound’ before they go to independent public examination. 1.13 Planning is also about land use. Appendix 2 to this document sets out a list and categories of uses by Use Classes Order. How does planning work? 1.14 A planning framework or plan for the city is needed which looks to the future and helps determine where development should occur or where the environment should be protected. This framework can also help decide where future investment should go. 1.15 When people want to develop they have to apply for planning permission. The UK has a ‘plan-led’ system. This means that planning applications are decided by considering how they agree with the adopted framework or plan. 1.16 It is therefore important that the city’s planning documents are widely supported by the community. If not, then development may not be widely accepted or provide sufficient certainty for those wanting to invest in the city. Development Plan Documents must also be developed in a way which supports local, regional and national priorities and policies. If not, then they will be judged unsound in a public examination. What is the ‘new’ planning system? 1.17 Until recently, local authorities were responsible for producing Local Plans and Structure Plans. Hull’s Local Plan, also known as CityPlan, was adopted in May 2000. A Joint Structure Plan was produced by the City Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and was adopted in June 2005. We are currently in a period of transition. We have saved most of the Local Plan and Structure Plan policies but they will eventually be replaced as and when newer documents are adopted. Issues, options and suggested preferred option 7 HDF Core Strategy 1.18 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (2004) brought in a new planning system based around Local Development Frameworks and Regional Spatial Strategies. The City Council is responsible for the Local Development Framework, known locally as the Hull Development Framework (HDF). The Regional Assembly is responsible for the Regional Spatial Strategy, known as the Yorkshire and Humber Plan. 1.19 The Local Plan was a large single policy document. The HDF will be a collection of documents. Some of these documents have to be produced and others are optional and respond to local circumstances. 1.20 The Local Development Scheme outlines the full list of documents being produced and sets out a timetable for their production. These include: a Core Strategy – which concerns this document but not waste or minerals matters; a City Policies Development Plan Document (DPD) – provides policies to steer or manage proposals for new development across the city; a Site Allocations DPD – shows where new housing, employment land, and other new facilities should occur; Area Action Plan DPDs – these co-ordinate development in areas where significant change is desired.