Local Development Framework for Pendle Core Strategy Preferred Options Report September 2011 For an alternative format of this document phone 01282 661330 Pendle Core Strategy Preferred Options Report 1 Foreword Foreword Pendle is a diverse, attractive and changing community. We care about our community, so it is important that we recognise the challenges that the future holds, and that we plan for those changes. We live in an age where rapid advances in technology are changing how we communicate, the way we shop, where and how we work and the life choices we make. We are living longer too; and have higher expectations for a future where we expect to enjoy good health and greater prosperity. We must direct future growth to the right locations and carefully manage regeneration activity in our areas of need. We need to provide guidance so that new development benefits those people who live and work in our towns and villages, whilst continuing to protect and enhance those assets that make the area both attractive and locally distinctive. In doing so we must carefully consider the social, economic and environmental impacts of our actions. Only in this way can we hope to realise the vision of making Pendle a better place to live, work, learn, play and visit. This Core Strategy, together with our Sustainable Community Strategy, will help us to shape the future of Pendle, by addressing issues that are important to our locality as well as matters of wider concern such as climate change. The policies in this Preferred Options Report have been influenced by the evidence available to us. In particular they reflect the responses we received to the earlier “You Choose” and “Issues and Options” consultations. As such, I would like to thank everyone who took the time to comment. We now want to be sure that this strategy provides the best possible response to your needs and aspirations. This consultation provides you with a genuine opportunity to have your say about the decisions we have taken. With your help we will adopt a balanced approach that helps to achieve the best possible outcome for you, your children and Pendle. We appreciate that you are unlikely to have time to read all the documents that accompany the Core Strategy. Indeed many of you will prefer to talk to us in person about the issues that are of greatest concern to you. We have, therefore, arranged a series of public exhibitions and workshops throughout Pendle where we will listen carefully to your views and you can learn more about the central role the Core Strategy will play in the future of our community. Please take the time to get involved. Together we can deliver a sustainable vision of Pendle’s future development. Councillor Mike Blomeley Leader of Pendle Council Pendle Core Strategy Preferred Options Report Contents 1 Introduction 4 2 About the Core Strategy 6 3 Our Spatial Issues: Pendle Today 13 Introduction 13 A Portrait Of Pendle 13 Our Key Issues 33 4 Our Spatial Vision: Pendle Tomorrow 35 Introduction 35 Ambition Lancashire 35 Our Pendle Our Future 35 Our Vision For Pendle 36 5 Our Strategic Objectives: What We Need To Do 37 Introduction 37 Draft Strategic Objectives 37 Agreed Strategic Objectives 37 6 Our Spatial Strategy: Where and How We Will Deliver 40 Introduction 40 Our Spatial Strategy 40 The Role and Function of Our Towns and Villages 42 Housing Growth and Distribution 46 Employment Growth and Distribution 49 Retail Growth and Distribution 52 Future Infrastructure Requirements 54 A Sequential Approach to Development 60 7 Our Foundations For a Sustainable Future: Improving the Environment We Live In 62 Introduction 62 Protecting and Enhancing Our Natural and Historic Environments 63 Achieving Quality in Design and Conservation 73 Renewable and Low Carbon Energy 80 Promoting Sustainable Travel 88 Pollution and Waste Management 96 Water Management 101 8 What is the Key Diagram? 107 9 Place Shaping 111 Introduction 111 10 Living: Creating a Vibrant Housing Market 112 Introduction 112 Housing Provision, Phasing and Delivery 112 Housing Needs 121 Affordable Housing 127 Designing Better Places to Live 134 Pendle Core Strategy Preferred Options Report Contents 11 Working: Creating a Dynamic and Competitive Local Economy 142 Introduction 142 Strengthening the Local Economy 142 Employment Land Supply 148 Retailing and Town Centres 158 Tourism, Leisure and Culture 167 Designing Better Places to Work 172 12 Supporting: Creating Healthy and Confident Communities 178 Introduction 178 Community Facilities 178 Health and Well-being 184 Education and Training 188 Designing Better Public Places 192 13 Monitoring and Delivery 197 Appendices A Affordable Housing Targets: Dynamic Viability Model 199 B Local Plan Policies Replaced by the Core Strategy 204 C Glossary 206 Policy Spatial Strategy 40 Policy SDP 1 Spatial Development Principles 44 Policy SDP 2 Housing Distribution 46 Policy SDP 3 Employment Distribution 50 Policy SDP 4 Retail Distribution 53 Policy SDP 5 Future Infrastructure Requirements 58 Policy SDP 6 Sequential Approach to Development 60 Policy ENV 1 Protecting and Enhancing Our Natural and Historic Environments 69 Policy ENV 2 Achieving Quality in Design and Conservation 76 Policy ENV 3 Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Generation 85 Policy ENV 4 Transport and Accessibility 92 Policy ENV 5 Pollution 98 Policy ENV 6 Waste Management 98 Policy ENV 7 Water Management 105 Policy LIV 1 Housing Provision, Phasing and Delivery 118 Policy LIV 2 Housing Needs 125 Policy LIV 3 Affordable Housing 130 Policy LIV 4 Designing Better Places to Live 138 Policy WRK 1 Strengthening the Local Economy 145 Policy WRK 2 Employment Land Supply 152 Policy WRK 3 Retailing and Town Centres 162 Policy WRK 4 Tourism, Leisure and Culture 169 Policy WRK 5 Designing Better Places to Work 175 Policy SUP 1 Community Facility Provision 180 Policy SUP 2 Health and Well-Being 186 Policy SUP 3 Education and Training 189 Policy SUP 4 Designing Better Public Places 194 4 Pendle Core Strategy Preferred Options Report 1 Introduction 1 Introduction Background 1.1 The public and politicians are concerned that our way of life is placing an increasing burden on the planet. But, without change we all face a future that is less certain and less secure. This change needs to be managed if it is to benefit us all. 1.2 The Lyons Inquiry(1) made it clear that the main function of local government is to shape places through the “...creative use of powers and influence to promote the general well-being of a community and its citizens.” 1.3 Planning plays a major role in influencing places and the way in which they function, placing it at the heart of the Governments place-shaping agenda. It is also a key to delivering sustainable development, which offers the best hope for our future. What Is Sustainable Development? "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" Our Common Future - The Bruntland Report (World Commission on Environment and Development, April 1987) 1.4 Everything we do is about achieving a better future for Pendle and the people who chose to live, work, learn or visit our community. This means providing: good quality affordable homes that meet the needs of all our residents; educational opportunities that allow our children to reach their full potential; a diverse range of jobs that enable young people to meet their aspirations locally; a selection of shops and services that cater for our daily needs; open space, leisure and cultural facilities that allow us to enjoy rewarding, happy and healthy lifestyles; all connected by an efficient and sustainable transport system. 1.5 Our blueprint for the social, economic and environmental transformation of the borough, is set out in our Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS)(2), which reflects the community's vision for improving quality of life in the area. What Is Spatial Planning? Spatial planning is one of the main ways we can help to deliver sustainable development. It considers how planning influences places and the way they function. Before coming to a decision we will carefully consider the economic, social and environmental impacts of any development proposal. Factors that we look at are the possible impacts on health, education, transport, waste, crime, employment etc. Our choices (spatial planning policies) will, on balance, offer the best possible quality of life for all concerned, both now and in the future, and make the best use of scarce resources such as land. 1 HM Government (2007) Lyons Inquiry into local government - Place-shaping: a shared ambition for the future of local government. London, TSO. 2 Pendle Partnership (2008) Our Pendle Our Future: Pendle's Sustainable Community Strategy. Nelson, Pendle Partnership. Pendle Core Strategy Preferred Options Report 5 Introduction 1 1.6 The Core Strategy is the spatial expression of our SCS, taking its goals to establish a clear vision for the future of our community, and setting out a series of strategic objectives and planning policies that will help to deliver this vision. The Preferred Options Report 1.7 The purpose of this report is to set out Pendle Council’s preferred option for the Core Strategy. It represents the latest stage in our work to replace the existing Local Plan(3) with a new Local Development Framework (LDF)(4). 1.8 The Preferred Options Report is the result of extensive consultation with members of the local community and a wide range of organisations that have an interest in the future of Pendle. The views you expressed in these consultations, together with an analysis of the available evidence and some new research to fill gaps in our knowledge, have helped to highlight the important roles played by each of our communities and the complex relationships between them.