Potential Sites and Other Aspects of the Local Plan 1 Utumn 2015 Dale MBC - a Calder Otential Sites and Other Aspects of the Local Plan P Contents
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P otential SitesandotherAspectsoftheLocalPlan 1 Potential Sites and other Aspects of the Local Plan Calderdale MBC - Autumn 2015 Contents 1 Introduction 3 Spatial Strategy Calder 2 Scale of Growth 4 dale MBC - A 3 Distribution of Growth 10 4 The Potential Site Allocations 13 4.1 Brighouse 15 utumn 2015 4.2 Elland 49 4.3 Halifax 73 4.4 Hebden Bridge 133 P otential Sites and other Aspects of the Local Plan 4.5 Mytholmroyd 147 4.6 Northowram and Shelf 158 4.7 Ripponden 171 4.8 Sowerby Bridge 181 4.9 Todmorden 195 Core Policies 5 Climate Change 211 6 High Quality Inclusive Design 213 7 Sustainable Design and Construction 216 Thematic Policies 8 Housing 218 9 Green Infrastructure and Natural Environment 238 10 Environmental Protection 246 11 Renewable and Low Carbon Energy 248 12 Flooding and Water Environment 255 Introduction 3 1.1 Welcome to this consultation on aspects of the new Calderdale Local Plan. 1.2 This consultation takes forward some of the policy themes from the Preferred Options of the Core Strategy (2012) but of most interest to many puts forward possible sites for development and these are a prime focus of this consultation. It is NOT the Publication Version of the Local Plan, nor a complete initial draft plan, but 1 provides context for further engagement and plan preparation over the coming months. 1.3 There are emerging draft policies on various aspects as well as the initial suggestions for sites, trying to take account of the evidence and deliver a sustainable future for Calderdale. The draft policies and supporting text show how the Local Plan may develop as it transposes from the Core Strategy to a Local Plan and progresses towards the Publication version. utumn 2015 1.4 As this is not a draft plan, but rather a consultation we have not undertaken formatting, cross referencing, included pictures or precise statistics as many of these will change. Decisions following this consultation, particularly in relation to the land allocations, will influence the drafting of these parts of the Local Plan. This consultation appears to be a step back from the "Preferred Options" for the Core Strategy... but it should be dale MBC - A remembered that the Council is now producing a single Local Plan - rather than two separate documents. The process was never going to be as simple as just adding sites to the Core Strategy as they are very different documents, and there has to be significant re-writing of the strategic elements to clearly indicate Calder the outcomes that are being incorporated within the plan. Many of these strategic policies need to reflect more recent evidence and changes to national planning policy and guidance. 1.5 Some of the studies providing the evidence underpinning the Local Plan were not fully completed at the time of writing this consultation document. These include the Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2015 (SHMA), Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2015 (SFRA), Green Belt Review, Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2015, Landscape Study and the SATURN Model considering highways. Further studies, such as a refresh of the Employment Land Review and Retail Needs Assessment and update work, relating to infrastructure, including highways impacts, will be needed as plan preparation continues to ensure the most appropriate and up-to-date evidence is available to support the plan. 1.6 This Consultation is not supported by an updated Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment - SEA) nor appraisals relating to the Habitats Regulations. The Council is fully aware of the need to undertake this work as the plan progresses and to inform choices for the Publication version. 1.7 Consultation on this document will be undertaken from 6 November 2015 to 18 December and comments otential Sites and other Aspects of the Local Plan on policy, strategy or sites will be welcomed. Copies of the consultation documents and maps are available P to view on line and in printed format at Calderdale libraries and at the Drop In Sessions:- VENUE Date and Time Hebden Bridge Town Hall Monday 16 November 4-7pm Halifax Town Hall Tuesday 17 November 4-7pm Todmorden Town Hall Thursday 19 November 4-7pm Elland Library Saturday 21 November 12-3pm Foundry Street Youth & Community Centre, Tuesday 24 November 4-7pm Sowerby Bridge Mulberry Suite, Parsonage Lane, Brighouse Thursday 26 November 4-7 pm Threeways Centre, Ovenden Tuesday 8 December 4-7 pm Your comments on the proposed land allocations will be important to the Council in its considerations as it progresses the Local Plan. 4 Scale of Growth Scale of Growth Planned 2.1 The amount of growth necessary to ensure that the district caters for the objectively assessed needs of both its current and future residents and businesses up to 2032 has been established through a range of 2 background studies. Whilst a requirement exists for a diversity of development types this section concentrates specifically on those that will require the greatest land designations. It is, however, important to note that Calder just because a form of development is not discussed in this section it does not mean there is no requirement. The types of development to be considered here in the Local Plan will be for jobs, retail and town centres dale MBC - A and housing. Such needs are interrelated as, for example, employers require a workforce whilst a workforce requires housing. This consultation document deals primarily with housing growth. Housing utumn 2015 2.2 The planned housing provision in the Replacement Calderdale Unitary Development Plan (currently an extant plan) was successfully delivered approximately half way through the plan period with delivery subsequently measured against the RSS (2008). Whilst completion levels have reduced over the last few years following the economic downturn, prior to this completion levels were significantly higher than the RSS housing P requirement figure leading to overall provision being significantly ahead of that planned in the RSS trajectory. otential Sites and other Aspects of the Local Plan Further detail is provided in the Authority Monitoring Report. The latest 2012 Sub-National Population Projections (SNPP) project the population of Calderdale to grow by around 25,000 people (or 12.3%) between 2012 and 2033 at an average rate of around 1,200 persons per annum. This represents a slight increase to the average annual growth of 1,140 persons seen between 2001 and 2011, indicating that the 2012 SNPP expects Calderdale to continue its population growth trajectory. Local Evidence for Housing 2.3 The Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) undertaken for the Council by Turley(i) assessed the housing needs of the district in accordance with the requirements of the NPPF and PPG. It utilised the latest (2012 based) population and household projections produced by ONS and CLG as well as both the Regional Econometric Model (REM) and the Cambridge Econometric Model. As well as examining future population growth pressures and the future needs of the economy it also examined a range of other factors with the potential to influence the level of housing needed, including historic development levels and any market signals of imbalance between supply and demand. 2.4 The SHMA analysis results in a range within which the objectively assessed needs of the district fall and from which the housing requirement figure for the Local Plan be determined. This range is relatively narrow rising from 872 dwellings per annum at the lower end to 1169 dwellings per annum at the higher end. 2.5 The Local Plan makes provision to meet its objectively assessed needs for housing. In doing so the Council had regard as to whether this was achievable having regard to environmental and other policy considerations (as advised in the PPG)(ii). These are not inconsiderable factors in a district such as Calderdale with the constraints imposed by its topography, large areas of high landscape value and heritage assets (all matters reflected in the previous distribution of the RSS housing requirement). As demonstrated in the SHMA Calderdale is largely a self-contained housing market area (albeit with links to other areas) and therefore, providing that this is achievable, it is appropriate that it makes provision for its own housing needs. Furthermore, it is clear from joint working with neighbouring local authorities that they face similar challenges in meeting their own housing needs making any additional provision not achievable. Local authorities across the Leeds City Region are employing the same methodology as Calderdale ensuring a consistent approach to the assessment of objectively assessed needs. 2.6 Based on the analysis in the SHMA, together with a number of other factors and policy considerations, the figure of 946 dwellings per annum (or 15,082 dwellings over the plan period) is included in the Local Plan as the most appropriate objectively assessed need figure to meet the district's housing requirements. Setting the housing requirement at this level represents a balanced approach which will boost housing supply, make a significant contribution to meeting affordable housing need and support growth in the labour force (around 300 jobs annually) allowing growth in the economy. The SHMA cautions against relying on the higher figures produced by the economic forecasts since the levels of net in-migration to support job growth would be unprecedented, certainly for a sustained period of time, whilst there are also varying assumptions around the extent to which greater use may be made of the existing labour force. The Single Transport Plan currently i Shaping the Housing Future of Calderdale - Strategic Housing Market Assessment,Turley, September 2015 ii Planning Practice Guidance, para 2a-005 Scale of Growth 5 in preparation is likely to make commuting easier around West Yorkshire over the plan period with consequential effects for the commuting ratios used in employment forecasts.