CHAPTER 6 SOCIETY AND ECONOMICS Environmental Statement – Society and Economics 6.0 SOCIETY AND ECONOMICS Introduction 6.1 This chapter considers the socio-economic issues associated with the proposed development and the potential effects that it may have on social infrastructure and the local economy. 6.2 The society and economic assessment considers the current (baseline) situation. The assessment reviews potential impact effects (both positive and negative) arising from the proposed development and then identifies where appropriate any necessary mitigation measures. 6.3 This section commences with an outline of the regulatory and policy context for the assessment followed by the scope of the assessment and a summary of the methodology. This is then followed by a baseline summary and an analysis of the effects of the scheme having regard for social and economic considerations. Two distinct but inter linked periods are considered, comprising the construction period and the operational period. Finally, consideration is given to the need for mitigation, followed by a summary of residual effects. Regulatory and Policy Context National Policy 6.4 The key policies and documents relevant to this chapter are set out in brief below: ‘People, Places, Futures’ – the Wales Spatial Plan 2008 Update’1 6.5 The Wales Spatial Plan (WSP), originally adopted by the WG in 2004, was updated in 2008 to bring the plan into line with the Assembly’s ‘One Wales’ agenda (2008 Update adopted 8th July 2008). The broad 20-year agenda and overall principles of the plan remain unchanged. The plan aims to sustain and enhance Welsh communities by tackling the challenges presented by population and economic change, and aims to stimulate growth which will increase the country’s competitiveness whilst spreading prosperity to less affluent areas. 6.6 The WSP has the following vision: ‘We will sustain our communities by tackling the challenges presented by population and economic change. We will grow in ways which will increase Wales’ competitiveness while assisting less well- off areas to catch up on general prosperity levels and reducing negative environmental impacts. We will enhance the natural and built environment and we will sustain our distinctive identity.’ (2008 Update, page 20). 1 Welsh Assembly Government, “People, Places, Futures,” The Wales Spatial Plan, 2008 Update [online] Available: https://gweddill.gov.wales/docs/desh/publications/130701wales-spatial-plan-2008-update-en.pdf [Accessed February 2019] 6-1 Environmental Statement – Society and Economics 6.7 The application site is located within the ‘South East Wales – Capital Region.’ The WSP identifies the Region as: ‘An innovative skilled Area offering a high quality of life – international yet distinctively Welsh. It will compete internationally by increasing its global visibility through stronger links between the Valleys and the coast and with the UK and the rest of Europe, helping to spread prosperity within the Area and benefiting other parts of Wales’ (2008 Update, page 98)’ 6.8 The site is located within the ‘City Coastal Zone’ of the region. This sub area includes the two main cities of Cardiff and Newport as well as smaller distinct communities offering a high quality of life located in rural, coastal locations (including Barry and Chepstow). 6.9 The WSP confirms in paragraph 19.15 that projected growth for the Capital Region is significant, as is demand for affordable housing. It states that: ‘The City Coastal Zone provides a superb environment in which to live. The pressure to provide more housing and employment should be managed so as to fit in compatibly with conservation of the landscape, environment and community strength of this area.’ (2008 Update, Page 101). Well-being of Future Generations Act (2015)2 6.10 The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales. The act acknowledges that Wales faces a number of challenges now and in the future, such as climate change, poverty, health inequalities and jobs and growth. 6.11 The Well-being of Future Generations Act acknowledges in terms of investment in housing, it is important to think in the long-term, and think holistically about how a house becomes an economic driver, a social transformer, an environmental mitigator and a cultural asset to invest in our future generations.3 Planning Policy Wales (Edition 10, December 2018)4 6.12 Planning Policy Wales (PPW) sets out the land use planning policies of the Welsh Government. It is supplemented by a series of Technical Advice Notes (TANs), Welsh Government Circulars, and policy clarification letters, which together with PPW provide the national planning policy 2 Welsh Government, “Well-being Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015,” [online] Available: https://gweddill.gov.wales/topics/people-and-communities/people/future-generations-act/?lang=en [Accessed February 2019] 3 Future Generations Commissioner for Wales “Home is where well-being beings (2017)” [online] Available: https://futuregenerations.wales/news/home-well-begins/ [Accessed February 2019] 4 Welsh Government, “Planning Policy Wales Edition 10 2018” [online] Available: https://gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-02/planning-policy-wales-edition-10.pdf [Accessed February 2019] 6-2 Environmental Statement – Society and Economics framework for Wales. PPW, the TANs, MTANs and policy clarification letters comprise national planning policy. 6.13 The concept of ‘Active and Social Places’ is introduced within PPW Edition 10. Active and Social Places are those which promote economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being by providing well-connected communities for all sectors of society, allowing everyone to have a good quality of life by living in strong and safe communities, improving access to services, cultural opportunities and recreation facilities to support people to adopt healthy lifestyles, securing socially inclusive development and more cohesive development. It states that: ‘This theme supports and enables the provision of a range of well-designed and located homes which are well connected to existing retail and commercial centres situated at the heart of our communities and job opportunities. It emphasises that when planning and managing future development planning authorities need to ensure that residents of existing and new communities have access to jobs and an appropriate range of community facilities including recreation, leisure, health and education.’ (PPW Ed.10, Page 46). 6.14 In relation to housing, PPW supports that the planning system must: • ‘identify a supply of land to support the delivery of the housing requirement to meet the differing needs of communities across all tenures; • Enable provision of a range of well-designed, energy efficient, good quality market and affordable housing that will contribute to the creation of sustainable places; and • Focus on the delivery of the identified housing requirement and the related land supply.’ (PPW Edition 10, Page 55).’ Technical Advice Note 23 Economic Development (February 2014)5 6.15 The purpose of TAN 23 is to provide guidance on planning for economic development. PPW defines economic development broadly so that it can include any form of development that generates wealth, jobs and income. The TAN recognises that economic land uses include construction, including house building, albeit housing is not a final economic land use as it ‘does not directly generate wealth, jobs and income.’ (Paragraph 1.1.5). 6.16 The TAN provides guidance on how to weigh up economic benefits. It reiterates that planning should positively and imaginatively seek ‘win-win’ outcomes, where development contributes to all dimensions of sustainability (including social and environmental objectives) (Paragraph 2.1.1). It is accepted that quantifying economic impacts is not an easy task, and therefore encourages local planning authorities to use a qualitative, criteria-based approach – which requires the consideration of alternatives, the number of jobs accommodated and any special merit. 5 Welsh Government, “Technical Advice Note 23: Economic Development” [online] Available: https://gov.wales/technical-advice-note-tan-23-economic-development [Accessed February 2019] 6-3 Environmental Statement – Society and Economics Economic Renewal: A New Direction (July 2010)6 6.17 ‘Economic Renewal: A New Direction’ is the WG’s programme for developing a new means for economic activity and development. The WG’s vision for economic renewal ‘is of a Welsh economy built on the strengths and skills of its people and natural environment; recognised at home and abroad as confident, creative and ambitious; a great place to live and work.’ 6.18 ‘Economic Renewal: A New Direction’ recognises that expenditure on housing and construction presents a huge opportunity to deliver efficiencies and at the same time develop local manufacturers and service providers, and a local skilled workforce. Improving Lives and Communities: Homes in Wales (April 2010)7 6.19 The above document, the National Housing Strategy, aims to provide more housing of the right type and offer more choice. It recognises that the demand for housing continues to outstrip supply, which needs to be met by new houses and by bringing back into use empty properties. It goes on to recognise that investment in housing does not only meet people’s needs for a home – it brings with it benefits for the economy, for jobs and training opportunities, for people’s health and well- being, and for the environment. It also helps tackle poverty and inequalities and opens up new opportunities for people. 6.20 Paragraph 1.2 of the strategy states that: ‘Housing is the bedrock of communities. It drives the demand for local services, shops and facilities. People’s homes are the focus for the delivery of many services, such as health and care services.’ Cardiff Local Development Plan 2006 – 20268 6.21 As discussed in further detail elsewhere within the supporting documents, the site is allocated as a Strategic Site within the adopted Local Development Plan, in order to meet the housing need identified by Cardiff Council.