BADMINTON ESTATE: south gloucestershire core strategy - RESPONSE COMMENTS CONCERNING “THE PLAN FOR GROWTH”
The Badminton Estate welcomes this initiative to put the UK on a path to sustainable, long term economic growth and particularly with regard to the second of the four stated ambitions, namely:-
“To make the UK one of the best places in Europe to start, finance and grow a business” – with Note G of particular relevance with regard to the aim of achieving:-
“An increase in the proportion of planning applications approved and dealt with on time”.
It is the Badminton Estate’s desire for planning applications to be considered in a future policy framework that is more encouraging for employment and rural development, including housing, in identified and suitable rural areas.
The Badminton Estate appreciates that “The Plan for Growth” sets out a range of policy objectives to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth – of which planning related considerations form but one part of the overall tax, investment, economic, and work force related aspirations. In this response, as related to the South Gloucestershire Core Strategy, the emphasis is inevitably on planning related aspects as these apply to rural areas. In identifying various relevant topics from “The Plan for Growth” document the Badminton Estate trust that the Core Strategy will take on board and reflect aspects of the document that will promote sustainable development in rural areas, to include economic, social and environmental dimensions and to encourage opportunities for additional development that will support rural communities, whether through employment, residential, or community proposals.
With regard to the planning system and the proposed reform set out at para 1.34 the Badminton Estate welcomes the overall proposals – yet feels that radical and fundamental reforms can take too long to plan and progress, especially if there is to be adequate consultation and debate.
On specific points, however, there is particular welcome for:-
A powerful new presumption in favour of sustainable development.
Localised choice about the use of previously developed land.
Support for bringing forward neighbourhood plans provided these can involve sufficient consultation with land owners and local communities alike (P23, para 1.34).
Promotion of skills and employment, especially for young people (P9)
In rural areas it is often all the harder for young people to find employment – especially where public transport to urban conurbations may not be adequate to serve for the working day and private transport is often too expensive for the young to afford. As well as the encouragement for new enterprise zones based on major urban centres, it is important for incentives to be given for new employment opportunities and a balance between working, and living, locally in rural areas.
Planning (P24, Section 2.4 onwards)
The Badminton Estate welcomes the expectation that Local Planning Authorities and other bodies should prioritise growth and jobs, as well as a new presumption in favour of sustainable development (Action 2, p 44). All too often, however, sustainable development is deemed to apply in the main to urban areas – and with the result that little or no development in rural areas will lead to stagnation. An example of this, as related the Policy CS15 Table is the very limited allowance for additional housing in South Glos rural areas outside the north and east fringes of the Bristol urban area, Yate and Thornbury.
Within rural areas, therefore, it should be acknowledged that sustainable development can include locating development where it will provide opportunity to minimise the need to travel and allow safe and convenient access to local employment and services – by walking, cycling and public transport. Suitable villages in rural areas can be identified to offer the most appropriate locations for such development.
It is also important to acknowledge that in rural areas essential community services are often shared between adjacent settlements or local groups of villages (as noted in the Badminton Estate response to Section 6: Managing Future Development. – with the identified potential for future development in such villages as Acton Turville and Tormarton and which proposals would contribute towards sustainable development in rural areas, rather than rural stagnation.
In response to Planning Action 3 (P44, para 2.13), therefore, the indicated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) should include key economic, social and environmental objectives for rural areas that will relate to housing, employment and community services – all to be reflected in the Core Strategy.
Action 4 neighbourhood plans, as part of local community planning and the Parish level are encouraged to take account of both employment and housing needs that can assist in sustaining rural communities.
Action 6 (P45) although the emphasis here is on Previously Developed Land (PDL) within urban areas and cities, with the Core Strategy it should also be noted that PDL and redevelopment opportunities also occur, and should be encouraged, in suitable rural areas.
Action 7 (P45) is also supported in terms of converting commercial premises to residential – provided that this does not lead to the loss of significant employment premises that will be needed in order to balance a sustainable community.
Action 8 (P44) is supported in terms of speeding up the determination of planning applications and simplifying the application/determination process is also supported.
With regard to digital infrastructure and Action 1 (P100), support is encouraged for fast or super fast broadband access in rural areas as well as for businesses in enterprise zones – since super fast broadband is also a key business growth enabler in rural areas, where access to other facilities is more limited than in urban areas.
Related to construction (P115): As set out at Action 8 (P116) wholehearted support is given for all programmes that will encourage or assist first time buyers to purchase a new home, alongside ongoing initiatives for affordable housing schemes in the let or shared equity market. In rural areas, therefore, suitable villages or groups of villages (with a range of services and community infrastructure) should be identified for such new housing and to allow growth of such villages, especially where associated with local employment opportunities.
Concerning tourism, whilst supporting the identified actions, as a general point for the rural economy, it is suggested that there should be more encouragement for rural based tourism, given that the UK Countryside is a great asset in terms of its diverse landscape and range of heritage, habitat and wildlife interests.
Martin J Leay
On behalf of the Badminton Estate
26th May 2011
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