DARLINGTON LOCAL INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN CONSULTATION DRAFT Darlington Local Development Framework January 2010 Darlington Local Development Framework Draft Darlington Local Infrastructure Plan CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 4 What Is This Document and Why Is It Important? 4 HavingYourS ay 4 NextSteps 4 2. PROVIDIN G INFRASTRUCTURE 5 Planning Policy Context 5 PolicyContex t 5 Delivering Timely Infrastructure in Darlington 6 Planning Obligations 6 3.APP ROACH 7 Aims 7 Methodology 7 4. CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION: PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 9 Transport Infrastructure 9 Utilities Provision 13 Heritage 15 5. CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION: SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE 16 Health Care Provision 16 Early Years Provision 17 School Education 18 FurtherEducat ion 19 Libraries 20 Affordable Housing 20 Accommodating Travelling Groups 22 AdultSocialC are 22 Sport and Leisure Provision 23 Community Centres/Village Halls 25 Emergency Services 25 6. CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION: GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 27 Open Space Provision 27 Biodiversity 28 Urban Fringe 29 Allotments 29 Public Rights of Way/Green Leisure Routes 30 7. FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPACITY ASSESSMENT 31 8. FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION: PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE 32 Transport Infrastructure 32 Utilities Provision 38 Heritage 40 9. CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION: SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE 41 Health Care Provision 41 Early Years Provision 41 School Education 43 2 Darlington Local Development Framework Draft Darlington Local Infrastructure Plan FurtherEducat ion 45 Libraries 45 Affordable Housing 45 Accommodating Travelling Groups 48 AdultSocialC are 48 Sport and Leisure Provision 49 Community Centres/Village Halls 49 Emergency Services 49 10. CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION: GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 51 Open Space Provision 51 Biodiversity 52 Urban Fringe 53 Allotments 53 Provision through new development 53 Public Rights of Way/Green Leisure Routes 54 INFRASTRUCTURE SCHEDULE 55 11. STRATEGIC LOCATIONS 61 Darlington Town Centre 62 TownCentre Fringe 65 CentralPark 69 North Western Urban Fringe 72 Eastern Urban Fringe 75 Durham Tees Valley Airport area 78 12.RISKS 80 13. FLEXIBILITY AND CONTINGENCY 80 14. MONITORING AND REVIEW 80 APPENDICES APPENDIX 1 Darlington Cycle Network 81 APPENDIX 2 Darlington Locality Map 82 APPENDIX 3 Affordable Housing Need Areas 83 APPENDIX 4 Bank Top Station Travel Plan 84 APPENDIX 5 Indicative Primary Capital Programme Projects 85 3 Darlington Local Development Framework Draft Darlington Local Infrastructure Plan INTRODUCTION 1.1 WHAT IS THIS DOCUMENT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? www.darlington.gov.uk 1.1.1 The Council is preparing a new strategic planning document; the Core Strategy: Revised /planningpolicy Preferred Options which is an important part of the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF). It will guide the scale and distribution of new development, the use of land and buildings and the provision of infrastructure in the Borough over the next 20 years. 1.1.2 In order to create sustainable communities in Darlington, providing new development opportunities for housing and employment, is not sufficient. There is also a need to provide the necessary supporting physical, social and green infrastructure in the appropriate location, at the right time to meet the needs of the new community whilst ensuring that no unnecessary impacts are placed upon the Borough’s existing infrastructure. 1.1.3 This draft Local Infrastructure Plan (LIP) is an integral element of the Core Strategy. It identifies the type of infrastructure required to facilitate the delivery of growth in the Core Strategy, when this will need to happen, who needs to deliver it and how the infrastructure will be funded. It will form a key part of the Core Strategy evidence base and will be the mechanism by which its delivery can be monitored. This LIP will identify, as far as possible: • Infrastructure needs and costs • Phasing of development • Funding sources • Responsibilities for delivery 1.1.4 The LIP needs to set out a realistic delivery programme for the Core Strategy; it will be consistent with other Council strategies, as well as delivery plans and investment programmes from other infrastructure providers. 1.2 HAVING YOUR SAY 1.2.1 As part of the consultation on the Core Strategy, the Council is also seeking views on the content of this plan, in accordance with its adopted Statement of Community Involvement. 1.2.2 This draft Local Infrastructure Plan and the Core Strategy will be available to view at the Town Hall Reception and at all the Borough’s libraries and mobile libraries during normal office opening hours. The documents can also be viewed or downloaded from the Council’s website www.darlington.gov.uk/planningpolicy. Paper copies of the documents are available on request by telephoning 01325 388644. 1.2.3 Please email, post of fax your comments on this draft LIP and/or the Core Strategy on the comments form provided to: Post: Strategy Manager, Chief Executive’s Department (Regeneration), FREEPOST NEA2890, Town Hall, Darlington, DL1 5QT Fax: 01325 388616 Email: [email protected] Website: www.darlington.gov.uk/planningpolicy using the on line reply form. All written comments received will be acknowledged. All responses must be received by the Council by Sunday 28 February 2010 1.3 NEXT STEPS 1.3.1 After the consultation ends, all comments received on the draft LIP, together with those made for the Core Strategy, will be considered and where appropriate the documents will be revised to take them into account. Copies of all comments received will be available to 4 Darlington Local Development Framework Draft Darlington Local Infrastructure Plan view at the Town Hall and at www.darlington.gov.uk/planningpolicy after the end of the consultation period. 2.0 PROVIDING INFRASTRUCTURE 2.1 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT 2.1.1 Coordinating development and the delivery of accompanying infrastructure has become 1PPS12, DCLG, 2008 more prominent in recent years. PPS12 states that to deliver sustainable communities, the Core Strategy should be ‘supported by evidence of what physical, social and green infrastructure is needed to enable the amount of development proposed’ for Darlington, taking account of its type and distribution1. This draft LIP should also include the specific infrastructure requirements of any strategic locations which are allocated in the Core Strategy. 2Planning White Paper, 2.1.2 Meanwhile the 2007 Planning White Paper proposes ‘a forward-looking approach’ to 2007 infrastructure provision at the local level that considers ‘a more strategic and holistic view, which takes infrastructure decisions on roads alongside those of…schools, hospitals, cultural and community facilities’2. By identifying infrastructure requirements from an early stage, timely delivery is more likely to be achieved. 2.1.3 Infrastructure Delivery: Spatial Plans in Practice3 recommends that infrastructure delivery 3Infrastructure Delivery: requirements should be related to the broader implementation of policies. Reflecting this, Spatial Plans in each Core Strategy policy is accompanied by ‘Making it Happen and Monitoring Delivery’ Practice, DCLG, 2008 which identifies key infrastructure requirements, their funding and delivery mechanisms (where known) for that policy. Detailed delivery details will be provided in this plan. 2.1.4 This approach is reinforced by national planning policy: 4 4PPS1, ODPM 2005 PPS1 : ensure that infrastructure and services are provided to support new and existing economic development and housing; 5 5PPS3, DCLG, 2006 PPS3 : provide housing in suitable locations, which offer a good range of community facilities and with good access to jobs, key services and infrastructure based on an assessment of the impact of development upon existing or planned infrastructure, and of any new infrastructure required including physical, social and green infrastructure. 6 6Regional Spatial 2.1.5 The Regional Spatial Strategy : promotes sustainable development and the sequential Strategy for the North approach to development in the main settlements, like Darlington to maximise the use of East, 2008 existing infrastructure. Necessary new or improved infrastructure and services, including transport, utilities, green infrastructure, energy supplies, provision of educational, health and other social facilities should be provided and co-ordinated with new development. 2.1.6 Through the LIP the Council should be able to co-ordinate infrastructure providers and the delivery of infrastructure requirements focussing on ‘making better places’4 in Darlington. The LIP will also establish the various funding mechanisms available for infrastructure delivery, where known at this stage, including developer contributions which can have a significant role in helping to deliver infrastructure across the Borough. 2.1.7 The Council plays an important role in encouraging and co-ordinating the alignment of regional and local plans and programmes within the Core Strategy. Its various roles, for example through its scrutiny role ensures that it is accountable to its stakeholders in the Borough. The Council will also seek to ensure that the Local Development Framework, particularly two forthcoming planning documents; the Accommodating Growth DPD and the Planning Obligations SPD as well as planning applications are in general conformity with the Core Strategy, including this Infrastructure Plan. 2.2 POLICY CONTEXT 2.2.1 Some funding for infrastructure to deliver regeneration, economic development