Example District Council Reg 18 Draft Local Plan
Chapter 3 - Vision and Strategic Objectives
The Vision for Example District's Local Plan Comment
3.1 The vision for Example District's new Local Plan looks to maximise the potential of the District, through supporting the delivery of jobs, growing the economy, enhancing the role of the town centres, and enabling villages and smaller settlements to deliver appropriate forms of sustainable growth. Together these will aim to provide a high quality of life to residents throughout the District, making Example District the best district in which to live, work, invest and visit.
3.2 The Council is preparing a new Corporate Plan which includes the following five key areas:
- Connecting Communities
- A Sustainable Example District
- Enabling Economic Opportunity
- High Quality Affordable Housing
- Being an Effective Council.
3.3 The Local Plan will consider the priorities and ambitions of the Corporate Plan, once it is adopted.
2041 Vision for Example District Comment
In 2041 Example District will continue to be a vibrant part of Example County. It will have strong links to the growing economies of City 1, City 2, and City 3, in particular. The distinctive local character, unique local heritage and environmental and cultural assets will be a source of enjoyment of all and will be enhanced where possible. Such features will continue to make an essential contribution to the economy, such as attracting people to live and work in Example District and will continue to contribute to the visitor economy.
The District will have a successful, diverse economy providing employment opportunities for the local workforce, equipped with a wide range of skills to meet employer needs. It will be an area of sustainable, high quality growth and a popular place to work, live, visit and invest in.
The District will have drastically lower carbon emissions than present, and energy and transport infrastructure which supports low carbon lifestyles for Example District residents. The built environment is suitably prepared for hotter temperatures and the impacts of disruptive weather.
Example District will provide a high quality of life, consisting of sustainable urban and rural communities where people want to live and work and are able to do so in quality and enhanced environments. The District will be a safe place to live with strong communities.
The network of town and village centres will grow and develop appropriately, according to their size, and will provide a range of accessible services in a good environment. This will be achieved by:
- Creating the right balance of jobs, housing, services and infrastructure;
- Ensuring that development is sustainable in terms of location, use and form;
- Balancing the development needs of the District with the protection and enhancement of the natural and built environment;
- Addressing and mitigating any negative effects of development on the built and natural environment, including the effects of Climate Change;
- Working with partners and residents to develop a place that is welcoming to all.
Summary of Proposed Changes
The vision for the district has been amended to strengthen the Council's commitment to tackling climate change and updated to include the change in plan period to 2041, and the areas of growth proposed through the Local Plan Review.
Strategic Objectives for the Local Plan Comment
3.4 To help prepare detailed policies and proposals, the overarching objectives of the Local Plan need to be clearly set out. The objectives listed below have been used in a consistent way in both this document and the parallel Sustainability Appraisal process. As before, with the challenges facing the Local Plan, the Strategic Objectives have been categorised as economic, social or environmental.
Economic - Enhancing Prosperity
Objective 1
To welcome and encourage development that supports the sustainable growth and diversification of the local economy
Objective 2
To develop a strong, successful and sustainable economy that provides a sufficient number and wide range of employment opportunities for local people by:
- Providing a range of well-located sites and premises for employment
- Supporting the retention of existing jobs and the development of local businesses
- Promoting additional growth and diversification of the District's economy, particularly in "knowledge-rich" business and higher skill level jobs
- Actively attracting inward investment: Encouraging the attainment of high educational qualifications and skill levels;
- Stimulating tourism; and
- Supporting the important agricultural economy and protecting quality farmland
Objective 3
To broaden and diversify the employment base of the District to meet the needs of a changing local economy by:
- Identifying and encouraging development and diversification opportunities for specific employment sectors within Town 1, Town 2 and Town 3;
- Ensuring an adequate and appropriate supply of land and premises;
- Increasing inward investment; and
- Encouraging appropriate employment and diversification schemes to assist the rural economy and supporting existing employment uses in sustainable and accessible locations throughout the District.
Objective 4
To strengthen the economic vitality and viability of town centres by adapting to changing consumer patterns in shopping, living and leisure.
Objective 5
To facilitate and sustain a network of sustainable communities which offer a sense of place, that are safe, inclusive and can respond to the needs of local people, establishing an appropriate spatial strategy that will guide the scale, location and form of new development across the District, providing the long term basis for the for the planning of Example District.
Objective 6
To facilitate and enhance the role of Town 1 as an important Sub-Regional centre by ensuring the town is the main focus for new housing, employment and other facilities, as well as enhancing the role and function of the market towns and the Larger Villages.
Objective 7
To make effective use of land by maximising the amount of development on appropriate previously developed sites and on sites in locations which reduce the need to travel.
Objective 8
To retain and improve accessibility for all to employment, services, community, leisure and cultural activities through:
- Integrating development and transport provision, ensuring new development is located where it is most accessible by a range of modes of transport;
- Retaining and upgrading existing infrastructure related to transport and communications; and
- Ensuring choice and encouraging the use of public transport, walking and cycling, for as many journeys as possible.
Objective 9
To make provision for an adequate supply and choice of land for new housing, employment, retail, leisure, culture and other necessary development, to meet the needs of the District to the year 2041, and in so doing improve the quality of life for all, whilst safeguarding the best and most versatile of our agricultural land.
Social - Housing, Health, Social and Community Needs
Objective 10
To ensure that new residential development includes a mix and range of housing types which are suitable for a variety of needs, including the need for affordable and local-need housing in the District.
Objective 11
To support new and existing community infrastructure. To ensure that relevant community and other infrastructure needs such as facilities for leisure, new or enhanced open space provision, green infrastructure, health, education, affordable housing, transport, water infrastructure and the arts as arising from new development is delivered through on and off site contributions. To contribute to improving the health and well-being of residents.
Environmental - Protection and Enhancement of Environment
Objective 12
To protect and enhance the District's natural, historic, cultural assets, blue green infrastructure (including trees, woodland, and watercourses) and the built environment through good design, sensitive use and management Improved networks that respect important local characteristics, by ensuring new development is well designed, promotes local distinctiveness, integrates effectively with its setting and secures community safety.
Objective 13
To proactively plan for and reduce the impacts of, and address climate change through adaptation and mitigation and to move to a low carbon economy, in order for the district to play its part in meeting national ambitions to meet net zero carbon by 2050. New development is appropriately designed to significantly reduce carbon emissions and is not exposed unnecessarily to the risk of flooding nor increases the risk of flooding elsewhere. Opportunities to incorporate blue green infrastructure (including trees, woodland, and watercourses) and adaptation for wildlife as a response to increases in flood risk are properly investigated, including through the provision of biodiversity net gain.
Objective 14
To promote the prudent use of finite natural resources and the positive use of renewable resources, through the design, location and layout of development and by optimising the use of existing infrastructure, wherever possible.
Summary of Proposed Changes
The Local Plan Objectives have been amended to accord with strengthened national policy on climate change and biodiversity net gain. The objectives have also been amended to reference the Council's commitment to reach net zero carbon by 2050 through the adaptation and mitigation.
