Contents Foreword 4 Executive Summary 5 Chapter 1 Introduction 11 Chapter 2 Key Points and Actions 18 Chapter 3 Housing 29 Introduction 29 Policy 2 Promoting Better Design 32 Policy 13 Regional Housing Provision 35 Policy 14 Regional Priorities for Affordable Housing 39 Policy 15 Regional Priorities for Affordable Rural Housing 44 Policy 16 Regional Priorities for Provision for Gypsies and Travellers 45 Policy 17 Regional Priorities for Managing the Release of Land for Housing 45 Impact of the Credit Crunch 48 Chapter 4 Economy 50 Introduction 50 Data Issues 54 Policy 18 Regional Priorities for the Economy 55 Policy 19 Regional Priority Areas for Regeneration 56 Policy 20 Regional Priorities for Employment Land 59 Policy 21 Strategic Distribution 68 Policy 22 Regional Priorities for Town Centres and Retail Development 70 Policy 23 Regional Priorities for Casino development 73 Policy 24 Regional Priorities for Rural Diversification 74 Policy 25 Regional Priorities for ICT 79 Policy 41 Regional Priorities for Tourism 81 Impact of the Credit Crunch 82 Chapter 5 Environment 87 Introduction 88 Data Issues 94 Policy 26 Protecting and Enhancing the Region’s Natural and Cultural Heritage 94 Policy 27 Regional Priorities for the Historic Environment 98 Policy 28 Regional Priorities for Environmental and Green Infrastructure 101 Policy 29 Priorities for Enhancing the Region’s Biodiversity 102 Policy 30 Regional Priorities for Managing and Increasing Woodland Cover 104 Policy 31 Priorities for the Management and Enhancement of the Region’s Landscape 105 Policy 32 A Regional Approach to the Water Resources and Water Quality 107 Policy 33 Regional Priorities for Strategic River Corridors 109 Policy 34 Priorities for the Management of the Lincolnshire Coast 112 Policy 35 A Regional Approach to Managing Flood Risk 113 Policy 35A Regional Priorities for Air Quality 116 Policy 38 Regional Priorities for Energy Reduction and Efficiency 117 Policy 39 Regional Priorities for Low Carbon Energy Generation 119 | Annual Monitoring Report 2007/08 Contents Policy 40 Regional Priorities for Culture, Sport and Recreation 121 Chapter 6 Minerals, Aggregates and Waste 125 Introduction 126 Data Issues 127 Policy 36 Regional Priorities for Minerals 127 Policy 37 Regional Priorities for Waste Management 130 Chapter 7 Transport 140 Introduction 140 Data Issues 143 Policy 42: Regional Transport Objectives 144 Policy 43 Sub-area Transport Objectives 144 Policy 44: A Regional Approach to Traffic Growth Reduction 144 Policy 45: A Regional Approach to Behavioural Change 149 Policy 46: Regional Priorities for Parking Levies and Road User Charging 152 Policy 47: Regional Car Parking Standards 152 Policy 48: A Regional Approach to Developing Public Transport Accessibility Criteria 153 Policy 49: Regional Heavy Rail Priorities 154 Policy 50: Regional Priorities for Bus and Light Rail Services 155 Policy 51: Regional Priorities for Integrating Public Transport 156 Policy 52: Regional Trunk Road Priorities 157 Policy 53: Regional Major Highway Priorities 159 Policy 54: Implementation of the Regional Freight Strategy 160 Policy 55: Regional Priorities for Air Transport 161 Chapter 8 Sub-Areas 164 Introduction 165 Data Issues 165 Chapter 8 a East Midlands General Sub-area 166 Policy 3 Concentrating Development in Urban Areas 167 Chapter 8 b 3 Cities Sub-area 169 Policy 12: Development in the 3 Cities Sub-area 172 Policy 43 Sub Regional Transport Objectives: 3 Cities 175 Policy 3 Cities SRS 2 Sub Regional Priorities for Green Belt Areas 176 Policy 3 Cities SRS 3 Housing Provision 177 Policy 3 Cities SRS 4 Employment Land 178 Policy 3 Cities SRS 5 Green Infrastructure & the National Forest 179 Chapter 8 c Northern Sub-Regional Strategy 181 Policy 7 Regeneration of the Northern Sub-area 183 Policy 43 Sub Regional Transport Objectives: Northern 186 Northern SRS Policy 1 Sub-Regional Development Priorities 186 Northern SRS Policy 2 Supporting the roles of Town and Village Centres 187 Northern SRS Policy 3 Sub-Regional Employment Regeneration Priorities 188 Northern SRS Policy 4 Enhancing Green Infrastructure through Development 188 | Annual Monitoring Report 2007/08 Contents Northern SRS Policy 5 Sherwood Forest Regional Park 189 Chapter 8 d Eastern Sub-area 190 Policy 4 Development in the Eastern Sub-area 191 Policy 5 Strategy for Lincolnshire Coastal Districts 194 Policy 6 Overcoming Peripherality in the Eastern Sub-area 195 Policy 43 Sub-area Transport Objectives: Eastern Sub-area 195 Chapter 8 e Lincoln Policy Area 196 LPA SRS Policy 1 Spatial Priorities for the Lincoln Policy Area 198 LPA SRS Policy 2 Site Selection in the Lincoln Policy Area 199 LPA SRS Policy 3 Protection of Lincoln’s Urban Fringe 201 LPA SRS Policy 4 Housing Provision 203 LPA SRS Policy 5 Employment Density 204 LPA SRS Policy 6 Tourism, Culture & Education 204 LPA SRS Policy 7 Deprivation and Exclusion 205 LPA SRS Policy 8 Flood Risk and Water Management 206 LPA SRS Policy 9 Sub Regional Country Park 207 LPA SRS Policy 10 Lincoln Cathedral 207 LPA SRS Policy 11 Sub-Regional Transport Priorities 207 Chapter 8 f Peak Sub-area 209 Policy 8 Spatial Priorities in the Peak Sub-area 211 Policy 9 Spatial Priorities outside the Peak District National Park 213 Policy 10 Managing Tourism and Visitors in the Peak Sub-area 214 Policy 43 Sub-area Transport Objectives: Peak 215 Appendices Appendix 1 Data Sources and References 216 Appendix 2 Boundary Maps 220 | Annual Monitoring Report 2007/08 Foreword Foreword This is the seventh Regional Plan Annual Monitoring Report produced by the East Midlands Regional Assembly as Regional Planning Body (RPB) and monitors polices contained within the East Midlands Regional Plan - Secretary of State’s Proposed Changes which was published in July 2008. The Report builds on the partnership working established in the previous rounds of annual monitoring, with much of the technical work undertaken by Intelligence East Midlands, overseen by the Assembly’s Monitoring and Review Advisory Group and other Regional Plan Groups. Monitoring is an integral part of the strategy development, implementation and review cycle and it represents a crucial feedback loop within the process of policy-making. The development of monitoring reports provides a forum to highlight change in funding allocations, programmes and projects being undertaken in the region. Ultimately the results of these reports should be taken on board and influence future reviews of policy through the development of action plans. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires every Regional Planning Body to make an annual report on the implementation of the Regional Spatial Strategy to the Secretary of State. Regional Bodies and local authorities await clear guidance on whether this requirement will change in the forthcoming legislation for Single Regional Strategy (SRS). The statutory nature of monitoring has driven the need and justification for the necessary data gathering, its handling and interpretation and there remains a growing demand for robust evidence bases to support the development and delivery of local and regional plans (Local Development Frameworks and Regional Spatial Strategies respectively). The Regional Assembly supports the concept that the statutory requirement should continue, allowing for the monitoring of the future SRS at a regional level and that this monitoring should link with local level monitoring activity; although it is acknowledged that the scope and content will change as the Regional Economic Strategy and Regional Spatial Strategy requirements are brought together. In delivering this Report I would like to acknowledge the support of the Region's Planning Authorities and wide range of other data providers, not least our own Planning, Housing and Transport team here at Melton Mowbray, whose time and technical expertise have contributed to its successful production. I hope you find this Annual Monitoring Report both informative and interesting to read. Councillor Jim Harker Chairman of the Regional Housing, Planning and Transport Joint Board | Annual Monitoring Report 2007/08 4 Executive Summary Executive Summary This report presents the 2007/08 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) for the East Midlands. The AMR is of crucial importance to the future of the East Midlands Regional Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy). As Regional plans are implemented, it is only through monitoring and analysis of performance at the local level, through documents such as Local Development Frameworks, that an assessment can be made as to the degree to which the Regional Plan and policies have been realised. This year’s AMR monitors policies contained within the East Midlands Regional Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy) Secretary of State’s Proposed Changes (July 2008). 'The Credit Crunch' Traditionally, the AMR has presented data in the reporting year with only passing reference to information relevant to the current year.There are many reasons for this; not least that accurate data for most topics is not available in the current year. However, with the credit crunch having taken a grip in the current (2008/9) financial year it is likely that there has been a sea change in many of the datasets underpinning the AMR and regional policy analysis. Therefore, some more recent datasets that have been included in this AMR as leading indicators, for example quarterly dwelling completions presented by the CLG starts and completions data set. EMRA cdpVision and the Seamless Digital Chain The Regional Monitoring system EMRA cdpvision went live on 8th August 2007. Districts, counties and unitary authorities have now entered their 2006/07 and 2007/08 monitoring returns through the system via the internet, which also allowed access to previous data and reports the system generates. The Assembly continues to work with CDPSoft to ensure the system is further developed as far as possible to meet the full recommended specification. This includes a proposed enhancement to GIS functionality, enabling GIS reporting and analysis from within the cdpvision system. CDPSoft are also working on a public website enabling anyone to view previous returns and run reports.