Introduction Stafford Borough Local Plan 2020-2040 Issues and Options Consultation Document February 2020 Cover image: St Mary’s Church, Stafford © Stafford Borough Council, 2020 Forward Planning, Stafford Borough Council, Riverside, Civic Centre, Stafford, ST16 3AQ Contents Section 1 Introduction ......................................................................................... 4 Section 2 A Spatial Portrait of Stafford Borough ............................................ 17 Section 3 Vision and Strategic Objectives ....................................................... 24 Section 4 Sustainability and Climate Change ................................................. 32 Section 5 The Development Strategy ............................................................... 38 Section 6 Delivering Economic Prosperity ...................................................... 88 Section 7 Delivering Town Centres that address Future Needs .................... 99 Section 8 Delivering Housing ......................................................................... 106 Section 9 Delivering Quality Development .................................................... 117 Section 10 Environmental Quality .................................................................... 135 Section 11 Health and Wellbeing ...................................................................... 140 Section 12 Connections .................................................................................... 145 Section 13 Viability and Delivery of Development .......................................... 150 Section 14 Monitoring and Review ................................................................... 153 Section 15 Next Stages...................................................................................... 159 Appendix 1 Stafford Borough Council : sub-area “share” of housing need based on 2011 Census ................................................................... 161 Appendix 2 Full list of Questions ....................................................................... 163 Appendix 3 Glossary of terms ............................................................................ 176 (click on the heading to hyperlink to the section) 3 Introduction Section 1 Introduction What is the New Local Plan? 1.1 The new Stafford Borough Local Plan will replace the Plan for Stafford Borough 2011-2031 adopted in June 2014 and Part 2 of the Plan for Stafford Borough adopted in January 2017. The preparation of the New Local Plan will consider the opportunities and challenges presenting themselves to the Borough and will guide the scale, location and nature of new development in the Borough area over the Plan period 2020-2040. In doing so, assuming adoption of the Plan in 2022, the New Local Plan will provide a plan horizon of at least 15 years and will describe what changes will occur and how places will be shaped in the future. 1.2 The purpose of the new Local Plan is therefore several-fold. It will: set out a refreshed vision for the development of the Borough from 2020- 2040; highlight the key issues to be addressed; provide objectives to guide continued growth and policies so that new development meets local needs in line with national policy set out through the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF); provide a strategy and policy framework for the delivery of development and the decision-making process for future planning applications in the Borough; identify the scale and location of development; describe how the development will be implemented. Responding to Government 1.3 New planning regulations1 were published by Government in late 2017 that required local authorities to review Local Plans at least every five years from the date of their adoption. Local Authorities will need to carry out an assessment of whether a Local Plan remains relevant and effectively addresses the needs of the local community, or whether policies need updating. Having carried out this assessment authorities must decide: that one or more policies do need updating, and update their Local Development Scheme to set out the timetable for updating their plan, and then update their plan; or that their policies do not need updating, and publish their reasons for this decision. 1 The Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/1244/contents/made) Introduction 1.4 In response to the new regulations, an assessment of the adopted Plan for Stafford Borough 2011-2031, including Part 2, was undertaken. Key factors that needed to be considered with respect to the current local plans were: Progress on the delivery of development set out in the Plan for Stafford Borough together with Part 2, and an evaluation of the strategy set out in the plan; an updated Government-proposed standardised methodology for the calculation of local housing need first introduced by the 2017 Housing White Paper2 and then consolidated into the February 2019 revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)3 and Planning Practice Guidance (PPG)4. 1.5 The NPPF and PPG include references to the standard housing methodology. More detail is set out in section 8 of this consultation document on the current issues that need to be considered with respect to any proposed housing need for Stafford Borough. How will the Local Plan be prepared? 1.6 In considering the preparation of the New Local Plan this section will describe the timetable for the Plan’s preparation and activity to date (including the results of the “Scoping the Issues” consultation conducted in July to September 2018) and what the next stages will be. Subsequent sections will describe in more detail the issues facing Stafford Borough and what potential options might be available. In doing so the document will pose a number of questions for your response via this consultation. 1.7 The preparation of a New Local Plan must follow a number of key stages which are set out in the latest Local Development Scheme. This is to ensure that local people, businesses and other stakeholders are fully engaged in the process, as detailed through the Statement of Community Involvement. The Local Plan will be based on robust evidence including focussed technical studies, an iterative Sustainability Appraisal process throughout the plan’s preparation, consultation responses and the outcomes of other stakeholder engagement. The New Local Plan will be independently examined by an Inspector to assess whether it has been prepared in accordance with legal 2Housing White Paper (2017) (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/housing-white-paper) 3https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7 79764/NPPF_Feb_2019_web.pdf 4 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/housing-and-economic-development-needs-assessments 5 Introduction and procedural requirements, and whether it is sound. Plans are ‘sound’5 if they are: a. positively prepared; b. justified; c. effective; d. consistent with national policy. Figure 1 Stafford Borough New Local Plan – Timetable for preparation Commencement (July 2017 - completed) “Scoping the Issues” (July 2018 - completed) Producing the Evidence Base (ongoing) “Issues and Options” We are here (March 2020) Preferred Option (January 2021) Publication (June 2021) Submission (December 2021) Examination (March 2022) Adoption (October 2022) Based on Stafford Borough Local Development Scheme – adopted by Stafford Borough Council’s Cabinet 5th September 2019. 1.8 The key stages of preparing the Local Plan are summarised above (Figure 1). However it is important to note that, due to the complex nature of the work, the programme will be kept under regular review. 5 NPPF para 35 6 Introduction What has happened to-date? Scoping of Issues consultation 1.9 Following the Local Plan review in July 2017 a Scoping of Issues consultation was conducted between 18 July and 18 September 2018. A total of 69 responses were received which encompassed a total of 335 individual representations. The full responses and the summary spreadsheet form part of the evolving evidence base to the New Local Plan process. 1.10 Panels 1 to 6 below provide a topic-by-topic summary of the recurring and key responses to the “Scoping the Issues” consultation. It is intended to guide and assist future work on the Local Plan. Further, as the evolving evidence base is assessed further issues may emerge. Panel 1 Scoping the Issues Consultation – Vision and Objectives Need for high quality design and architecture to create a strong sense of place and community Stafford to provide an improved service centre and tourism destination Town centres to provide a quality environment and accommodate specialist shops and flexibility of uses Recognise and address issues associated with Climate Change and Global Warming General support for the utilisation of renewable energy sources and ensuring low carbon via, wind, geothermal, solar and hydropower all being cited as possible alternative sources of energy. Future proofing development via the use of technology (e.g. Artificial Intelligence, vehicle charging points, grey water etc…). Panel 2 Scoping the Issues Consultation – Economic Development Demand for focus to be placed on delivering retail in Stafford Town Centre, rather than out-of-town retail parks. Need for rural economic development Demand for greater support to be given to independent businesses across the borough. Calls to diversify industry in the borough, with restrictions