Infrastructure Plan
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Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Local Development Framework Infrastructure Plan June 2010 If you would like this leaflet in large print, on audio tape, in Braille or on disk, please contact: Planning Policy Team Communities, Regeneration & Environment Directorate Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council FREEPOST Stockport SK1 3YQ Telephone: 0161 474 4395 Fax: 0161 474 4586 Contents 1 Introduction 2 2 Background 6 3 Delivery Mechanisms/Agencies 7 4 Infrastructure Requirements 8 5 Funding 10 6 Current Practice in Stockport 11 7 Potential New Items 12 8 Prioritising Types of Infrastructure 13 9 Monitoring and Review 14 10 Conclusion 15 Appendix A 11 Introduction 17 12 Physical Infrastructure 18 13 Social Infrastructure 28 14 Green Infrastructure 31 2 1 Introduction 1 Introduction 1.1 The Infrastructure Plan (IP) is part of the evidence base informing the preparation of spatial policy in the Local Development Framework (LDF).The LDF will play an important role in delivering the vision set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy for Stockport. 1.2 Consultation has involved working in partnership with physical, social and green infrastructure providers to establish what infrastructure provision there is in the Borough, and identifying any gaps or capacity issues within this existing provision. 1.3 The IP that will accompany the Publication version of the Core Strategy will identify programmed infrastructure from both the public and private sector, in addition to that delivered through the development process. It will provide an overview of the infrastructure requirements and, where known, who is responsible for delivery, a broad indication of phasing, costs and funding mechanisms at the local level. 1.4 Where possible, it will include higher order infrastructure of relevance to Stockport in order to try and provide as complete a picture as possible. 1.5 Sustainable development is a key principle of the planning system. The Local Development Framework (LDF) is crucial in helping to create sustainable communities. Through its integration with the Sustainable Community Strategy it sets out the vision and strategic objectives for achieving an improved quality of life for the local community and seeks to ensure environmental, economic and social well-being. 1.6 A key component of the LDF is the Core Strategy, which includes the identification of an appropriate spatial strategy and associated Core Policies to guide development. However, the strategy and policies will only be effective if they can be successfully delivered. 1.7 The importance of delivery is highlighted in Planning Policy Statement 12 (June 2008) which states: - “The delivery strategy is central. It needs to show how the objectives will be delivered, whether through actions taken by the council as planning authority, such as determining planning applications, or through actions taken by other parts of the Council, or other bodies. Particular attention should be given to the co-ordination of these different actions so that they pull together towards achieving the objectives and delivering the vision. The strategy needs to set out as far as practicable when, where and by whom actions will take place. It needs to demonstrate that the agencies/partners necessary for its delivery have been involved in its preparation, and the resources required have been given due consideration and have a realistic prospect of being provided in the life of the strategy. If this is not the case, the strategy will be undeliverable.” 1.8 The Core Strategy is being prepared in the context of national policy and the following guidance is relevant to Infrastructure planning and Planning Obligations/ Contributions. Circular 05/05: Planning Obligations This circular sets out clearly the purposes of planning obligations and refers directly to the five policy tests that must be applied in seeking planning obligations.The circular also makes 3 Introduction 1 it clear that contributions are to resolve issues arising from development rather than to resolve existing deficiencies in infrastructure provision. PPS1: Delivering Sustainable Development PPS1 sets out that “in preparing development plans, planning authorities should recognise that the impact of proposed development may adversely affect people who do not benefit directly. Local planning authorities can use planning conditions or obligations to ameliorate such impacts.” The preparation of the Infrastructure Plan ensures that “infrastructure and services are provided to support new and existing economic development and housing”. Core Strategy preparation has taken into account issues such as accessibility and sustainable transport needs, the provision of essential infrastructure, including for sustainable waste management, and the need to avoid flood risk and other natural hazards in formulating the approach to future supply of sufficient land to meet the range of development needs. PPS3: Housing Core Strategy will set out the overall target for affordable housing and the approach to seeking developer contributions to facilitate the provision of affordable housing. PPS9: Biological and Geological Conservation PPS9 mentions the use of conditions and planning obligations (also known as planning contributions) to mitigate harmful effects on SSSIs, to ensure the conservation and enhancement of the site’s biodiversity or geological interest. Furthermore, this PPS considers that development proposals provide many opportunities for building-in beneficial biodiversity or geological features as part of good design. It advises that planning authorities should maximise such opportunities in and around developments, using planning obligations where appropriate. PPS9 also advises that local authorities should protect species that have been identified as requiring conservation action as species of principal importance for the conservation of biodiversity in England. Planning authorities should ensure that these species are protected from the adverse effects of development, where appropriate, by using planning conditions or obligations. A similar message about the use of conditions or planning obligations is set out in ODPM Circular 06/2005 Government Circular: Biodiversity and geological conservation – statutory obligations and their impact within the planning system PPG13: Transport PPG13 states that developer contributions should be encouraged to secure improved accessibility to sites by public transport, walking and cycling where such measures may “influence travel patterns to the site . PPG17: Planning for Open space, Sport and Recreation The continuation of seeking contributions towards open space provision and maintenance is in accordance with PPG17. This guidance specifically allows planning contributions to be 4 1 Introduction used as a means to remedy local deficiencies in the quantity or quality of open space, sports and recreational provision. PPG25: Development and Flood Risk The use of developer contributions towards provision of flood risk management, including defence and mitigation works is explicitly supported by PPG25. The Core Strategy makes reference to such a requirement. The guidance makes it clear that provision will generally be funded by the developer, and is only acceptable provided it is consistent with the relevant flood-risk management policies, passes the Sequential and Exception Tests and does not have a significant adverse impact on flood flows or storage. North West Regional Spatial Strategy The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) sets out the regional development policy and the CS will have regard to it including the following policies; Policy L5 - Affordable Housing by setting out a range of delivery mechanisms to secure the provision of affordable housing. Policy IM 1 – Implementation ensuring that new development is in locations accessible by public transport and measures to support walking and cycling are included from the design stage. Planning obligations should be used to ensure these measures are delivered. Policy DP 1 - Spatial Principles the Core Strategy approach to infrastructure and planning obligations specifically makes the best use of existing resources and infrastructure and aims to manage travel demand, reduced the needs to travel and increase accessibility. Policy DP 4 - Make the Best Use of Existing Resources and Infrastructure the overall Core Strategy approach is focusing new development within the urban area broadly where existing infrastructure is in place. Policy DP 7 - Promote Environmental Quality planning contributions are being sought under IPC1 to mitigate the impacts on air quality and the Core Strategy’s overall approach is to move towards more sustainable modes of transport with development located where it is well served by public transport. Policy L4 - Regional Housing Provision the approach to the distribution of housing takes into account the need for infrastructure. Transport modelling work carried out on behalf of AMGA and referred to in the Infrastructure Paper considers the impacts on transport of demands from new development including housing. 1.9 Successful implementation of the Stockport Core Strategy depends therefore not only on the action of Stockport Council but upon the co-ordinated and sustained action from a wide range of other organisations. This requires a shared vision and shared objectives. It involves ensuring related strategies are consistent with the spatial strategy and that there is co-ordinated action to effectively deliver essential physical, social, environmental