Priorities into objectives
In section 4 of the Phase 1 Local Plan consultation in 2020 we identified nine potential priorities which we could use to shape the content and approaches in our new Local Plan.
In section 5 we discussed a number of potential guiding principles that we might use to develop choices and options to inform where we put new development in our Local Plan.
View the Phase 1 consultation document
Potential priorities – what you told us
In response to our consultation you told us that you broadly supported the potential priorities we had identified to guide the policies and strategy of the new Local Plan.
Key themes in relation to some of the issues raised were:
- priorities should be weighted according to importance with different views about which are most important – developers and some businesses supported meeting needs for both homes and employment land identified in the West of England Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) as most important and considered that Green Belt and greenfield land would be required to meet these needs, members of the public and others would like more weight given to carbon neutrality, protecting the environment, protecting the Green Belt and flood plain from development and community benefit and involvement.
- climate change and health and well-being issues should be overarching key priorities as they are cross cutting themes.
- support the urban focus and regeneration strategy and that this should be a priority
- support for some appropriate growth in rural areas
- support for locating development in areas where there is existing good walking cycling and public transport access to a range of services and facilities and employment or where this can be provided.
- support for provision of appropriate infrastructure alongside new development from members of the public and others. The development industry also supported but raised issues about the impact on viability
Guiding principles – what you told us
In response to our consultation on ‘Developing a Growth Strategy: potential guiding principles’, you told us that you broadly supported all six potential guiding principles in helping us to assess the suitability of different locations in South Gloucestershire to accommodate new growth.
Key themes in relation to some of the issues raised were:
- the guiding principles may form a component of the sub-regional strategy, but it is inappropriate to pre-determine these at the local level in advance of a draft SDS and associated evidence base (including the sustainability appraisal)
- important to reflect the SDS emerging evidence base in respect of the need for employment land and the deliverability of particular locations having regard to market signals
- the need for a review of the Green Belt, however this review should not be an opportunity to increase housing allocations – some support for a proportion of Green Belt land being released to achieve an acceptable quantum of housing
- guiding principles 3, 4 and 6 should recognise the potential role of new development in enhancing and strengthening these principles as opposed to simply seeing them as constraints that require protection from new development
- consideration should be given to expressing the guiding principles in priority order
- the most sustainable locations in South Gloucestershire are often urban fringe locations, or settlements that benefit from or good transport links to the Bristol urban area
- the guiding principles should allow for the potential for new housing to be developed in areas that may not have excellent public transport connections but could support the general day to day needs of new residents using a combination of local services and facilities and delivery services
- development must be provided with infrastructure and the council should clarify that supporting infrastructure required is viable and achievable
- areas at highest risk of flooding should be avoided along with environmental assets of most importance such as the AONB and Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation and Ramsar sites (These three types of site are sites of international importance for wildlife and habitats and protected under a range of national and international legislation)
- the guiding principles need to consider the change in lifestyle and travel to work patterns that have accelerated over the last year due to Covid-19
- consideration should be given to the strategic context of Severnside
In addition, you told us that we should consider the following new guiding principles:
- availability/developer involvement should be considered as a guiding principle as it is fundamental to inform the deliverability of any site options, and important when considering the viability of the Plan
- a diverse, sustainable and resilient settlement pattern: To achieve a diverse, pattern of development, where residential neighbourhoods have access to central facilities at a range of scales from urban to rural, to accommodate community needs and provide a variety of lifestyle opportunities
You can view all the responses to our consultation on the potential priorities and guiding principles, and key statistics from the Phase 1 consultation here.
Priorities and guiding principles – what we have decided to do in Local Plan Phase 2
Although there was support for all the priorities and principles, concerns were raised as to their relative importance with different suggestions as to how to rank them according to significance. However, national guidance requires us to consider many different aspects of development and its impact on the environment and communities. The role of the local plan and wider planning system is to reconcile these different aspects of development and environmental impact. We consider that it is important to express all these objectives and then consider how they can best be delivered through the full range of policies and spatial strategy of the plan.
In considering the responses to the potential priorities and guiding principles, it was also clear that there was an overlap between the content of both sections.
To increase clarity and focus in these sections and the document as a whole, it was decided to bring them together into one single set of objectives for the Plan. Furthermore, some people commented that ‘climate change’ and ‘health and well being’ are cross cutting themes which affect many different areas in the Plan and would be better expressed as over-arching objectives.
We have therefore brought together the potential priorities and guiding principles from Phase 1 into a new set of combined over-arching objectives and sub objectives. In doing so we have taken into account comments made during the Phase 1 consultation.
It is important to recognise that these are high level objectives and not the strategy for growth.
Overarching objectives
- contribute to zero carbon ambition by 2030 and adapting to the impacts of climate change
- delivering sustainable communities
- improving health and well-being
Sub-objectives
Homes
- allocate sites to deliver new homes of different sizes, types and tenures, including affordable homes, to meet the needs identified in the West of England Spatial Development Strategy
- ensure deliverability of new homes by providing a range of small and large sites in sustainable locations across South Gloucestershire
Travel and transport
- locate new homes, jobs or settlements in places where key services and facilities are easily accessed by walking and cycling and effective public transport, or in locations where key services and facilities are capable of being provided as part of the new development
- minimise the need to travel and, where travel is necessary, decarbonise it by prioritising walking, cycling and effective public transport
- safeguard land required for new transport schemes
- enable more active lifestyles including walking, cycling, sport and recreation
Environment
- increase our resilience to climate change impacts and threats, including flood risk, poor air-quality, overheating and our natural environment
- avoid directing growth to locations which would cause unacceptable harm to ecological, landscape and heritage designations and their settings
- protect and enhance the character, distinctiveness, quality and intrinsic features of the natural and historic environment
- avoid directing growth to areas at a high risk of flooding
- establish, maintain and enhance the function and connectivity of green infrastructure and nature recovery networks
- apply the mitigation hierarchy and achieve biodiversity net gain in new developments
- protect existing trees and increase tree cover by planting new trees and require the replacement of trees lost to development
Design and place-making
- respond to key natural, built, historic and landscape assets and character of both the local landscape and townscape to create high-quality developments, which add to, or create, a positive sense of place
- require zero carbon, energy-efficient building design and construction and support retrofitting to decarbonise heating
- buildings and infrastructure should be designed and built to deal with and adapt to climate change
- new communities should be designed to facilitate walking, cycling and public transport by providing high-quality, safe connections and routes
- new homes and infrastructure should be adaptable and accessible to cater for households whose needs may change over time, and for our ageing population
- optimise the quality, density and range of uses in all new development, with higher density in the most accessible locations
- ensure new homes and workplaces provide high quality private outdoor space and internal layouts, with positive residential amenity
- streets and areas of public realm should be safe, functional, accessible and attractive, with new streets being tree lined
- ensure access to high-quality green infrastructure, nature rich habitat and open spaces for all our communities
Economy
- allocate and safeguard employment land required to meet the needs identified by the West of England Spatial Development Strategy
- ensure a “green” economic recovery through the growth of green technology and businesses which contribute to carbon reduction
- ensure safeguarded employment areas are flexible and attractive to accommodate businesses of all sizes, including key local sectors in a rapidly changing economic and retail environment
- plan for a better balance between local jobs and resident workers in our communities
- rethink town centres and high streets, in terms of what they offer and how they operate, delivering local regeneration which contributes to positive and inclusive development and change
- significantly increase renewable and low-carbon energy generation
Infrastructure
- direct development to those locations well-served or capable of being well served by existing utilities and infrastructure
- ensure that the delivery of new development is supported by the timely provision of all necessary infrastructure
- new development should enable and support the long-term success and sustainability of schools, sports and community infrastructure and public open spaces
- build on and enhance digital connectivity across the area
- infrastructure for alternative-fuel vehicles should be available in new developments
What happens next with our draft objectives and sub objectives?
These objectives and sub objectives will shape our approach to the generation of options and strategies for new homes, jobs, renewable energy, green infrastructure and draft planning policies.
When the SDS is released for consultation, we may need to modify and cross reference its objectives and priorities with our draft objectives and sub objectives.
Read the next chapter – New homes and jobs – key targets and information
Go back to the Local Plan 2020 – Phase 2 Urban, Rural and Key Issues document landing page.