Joint Core Strategy Public consultation Reg25

8. Area-wide policies

Supporting text

8.1 Sustainable neighbourhoods are a key element of the Vision for this strategy to 2026. This fulfils government policy emphasis, which have been reiterated in numerous national policy statements and guidance and also in the Regional Spatial Strategy. Most recently the new Supplement to Planning Policy Statement 1 - Planning and Climate Change, provides important advice for all developments to minimise emissions and respond to the effects of climate change. It will be important in the Norwich area to ensure that development fulfils this emphasis and meets the challenge of climate change. This will require a local energy study to inform an Energy Plan, set local energy standards for new development and facilitate the creation of local decentralised energy networks.

8.2 This requires an overarching policy approach, which affects the planning for all settlements, large and small and the major growth areas planned in this strategy. It also finds expression in several of the generic policies for strategic subjects in sections of this report.

8.3 Sustainable neighbourhoods means that those communities will enjoy the facilities, the high quality movement opportunities, the job opportunities and the recreational and leisure opportunities that should be part of the quality of life for everyone. It also requires that construction methods and the transport system enables sustainable use of resources, minimising the emission of carbon dioxide and thus the impact on climate change.

Reasoned justification:

Housing Provision

8.4 The Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England sets out the new dwelling requirement for both the whole of the Broadland, Norwich and South Norfolk Area, as well as the requirement for the Norwich Policy Area. In order to meet the obligation set out in PPS 3 to have a 15-year housing land supply at the point of adoption, provision is also made to meet the supply for the period 2021-2026. The calculations for the amount of housing for which land remains to be allocated is set out in the table below. The extent to which delivery of housing is meeting these requirements will be monitored using housing trajectories for the three-district area and the NPA.

The proposed level of housing development for particular locations is set out in the Settlement Hierarchy and Strategic Growth Locations.

8.5 Government and local authorities are keen to ensure that housing provision meets the need of the community, both existing and future. As well as providing housing developments of different scales across a range of settlements, this also means including an appropriate mix of sizes, types and tenures of homes within these developments. This will meet the needs of a range of households of different sizes, ages and incomes. Provision will also be made for specialist housing where appropriate. This could include supported housing, care facilities and retirement communities.

8.6 The mix of house types and tenures will be based on the most up-to-date evidence at the time applications are made. The findings of the most recent housing needs assessment for the three districts indicates that 43% of overall housing need can only be met by affordable housing. Affordable housing is defined as 'housing provided for rent, sale or shared equity at prices permanently below the current market rate, which people in housing need are able to afford'. In order to make realistic inroads into the identified need and meet the RSS target of 35% of all housing completions being affordable, 40% affordable housing will be sought on all qualifying sites. PPS3 sets a national indicative threshold of 15 units above which an element of affordable housing is required. However, in order to provide affordable housing across a wide range of sites and maximise the amount provided a contribution will be sought on all sites of 5 units or more.

8.7 In some instances providing 40% affordable housing on-site will not be viable, particularly without public subsidy. In such circumstances a financial contribution, such as a grant from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), will be sought. Where developers, as a last resort, seek the affordable housing contribution off-site, this would need to be as equivalent provision on a suitable alternative site or a financial contribution equal to the land value plus the average National Affordable Housing Programme grant for the type of housing proposed. In circumstances where viability is a concern and either a reduced percentage or off-site provision is proposed, applicants will need to demonstrate this via an 'open book' approach.

8.8 In addition to providing a proportion of affordable homes on the majority of market housing sites, provision will also be made for affordable homes to meet a demonstrated local need on sites that would not otherwise be released for housing. These 'exceptions' sites may be allocated through Site Specific Policies or could come forward when a specific need is demonstrated in a particular settlement or group of settlements. Exceptions site allocations will be considered in settlements classified in the hierarchy as Other Villages or above, whilst applications arising from specific local needs assessments will also be considered in these settlements and in other locations if appropriate.

8.9 The Government requires that local authorities make provision for Gypsy and Traveller sites to meet the identified needs for the area. This is in order to reduce the problems associated with unauthorised sites and tackle a number of the problems faced by these communities, particularly relating to low educational achievement and poor health. An early review of the RSS covering Gypsy and Traveller needs has identified an initial requirement for permanent pitches up to 2011. Typically a pitch is a space for two, or possibly more vans, to accommodate a family; two vans allows one for travelling and another left on site. For periods a pitch may be empty, whilst at other times e.g. family events, there may be more than two vans.

8.10 In order to best meet the needs of these communities sites will ideally be located in and around Norwich and in locations which facilitate access to local services and which follow the patterns of movement of the community, such as the broad corridors around the A11, A47, A140 and A143/A1066.

8.11 Transit sites for Gypsies and Travellers and sites for Travelling Showpeople will be identified as the need for such sites becomes known.

Reasoned justification:

8.12 Achieving the full economic potential of the area is dependent on improved connectivity, including the implementation of the priorities set out in the sustainable transport policy and maintaining and enhancing the environment and quality of life in the area.

8.13 Enhancing the knowledge economy and promoting innovation will be important across all sectors and parts of the area. However, the expansion of activity at the Norwich Research Park, a refocus on employment and education in and around the city centre, building on the early success of the Hethel Engineering Centre will play a particularly important role.

8.14 It will be particularly important to ensure that a range and choice of small scale employment sites are allocated and retained, including sites suitable for low value workshop type uses.

8.15 Tourism, leisure, and cultural industries are recognised as crucial sectors in the local economy that are also fundamental to local quality of life and the attraction and retention of other businesses and staff.

Reasoned Justification

8.16 Transportation and access issues for the Joint Core Strategy are improved strategic links to the region and beyond and access to jobs and services across the area.

8.17 Good strategic access reduces the perceived isolation of Norfolk. Improvements help stimulate and enhance the local economy by making the area more attractive for inward investment so crucial to maintaining the balance between housing and job growth. Improvements in strategic infrastructure such as the rail network and trunk roads are generally very expensive. In some instances the core strategy may be able to deliver improvements, but it is often the case that improvements to infrastructure providing longer distance strategic links have to be delivered by outside agencies such as Network Rail and the Highways Agency. The Plan needs to ensure that it promotes these improvements by providing a context for them to occur and ensuring their importance is recognised.

8.18 Identified strategic improvements are:

• A11 yet to be dualled at Elvedon, although programmed for 2012

• A47 improvements planned, however significant stretches remain single carriageway

• Rail link to London is slow at about 2 hours and the journey reliability needs to be improved

• A140 Long Stratton Bypass is identified in the Local Transport Plan however not prioritised in the Regional Funding Allocation (RFA)

• Norwich Northern Distribution Road is identified in the East of England Plan and in the RFA and is a major scheme in the Local Transport Plan as a strategic element of the Norwich Area Transportation Strategy providing transport infrastructure to unlock growth and improving surface access to Norwich Airport.

• The only regionally significant airports are Stansted and Norwich. Norwich International Airport provides access to a wide range of international destinations via Schiphol and has domestic flights to locations including Scotland, the North West and the south west.

8.19 The levels of growth in the core strategy will require that the consequent need to travel is managed. Ensuring that all residents have good access to local jobs and services, preferably by either walking or cycling will reduce the need to travel and promote healthier lifestyles. For longer trips and in rural areas where there are fewer local services and employment opportunities, public transport will be promoted. To meet the RSS, climate change and objectives of the Joint Core Strategy public transport will be promoted ahead of car based improvements, particularly in the urban areas. To meet the diversity of travel need, there has to be new and innovative ways of providing public transport:

• High Quality rapid bus services, in and around the city

• Maximise use of the local rail network to serve existing communities and locations for large scale growth.

• Promotion and wider use of community transport schemes

• Greater use of non-scheduled services such as flexi bus and dial a ride services.

8.20 In rural areas there will remain a reliance on the private car, but the impacts on the Norwich urban area can be minimised by promotion and improvement of the already extensive network of Park and Ride sites.

Reasoned Justification

8.21 Outside Norwich the area retains a largely rural character and high environmental quality. Small towns and numerous villages are spread through attractive countryside, which also provides the setting for the city of Norwich. River valleys and other green areas extend into and adjoin more built-up areas, creating a close relationship between urban and rural. Particular features include the Broads Area, of National Park status, and areas of international nature conservation importance. More generally, there is a variety of landscape types which gives a distinctive character to individual parts of the area; and wildlife habitats of national or local importance are found in the urban area as well as the countryside. As well as these semi-natural aspects, there is also a strong historic influence. There is a rich concentration of historic assets, dominated by the mediaeval city of Norwich and its hinterland of market towns, but also including historic buildings, halls and parklands in the surrounding countryside. Ancient monuments and archaeological remains add a further layer to this historic character. Together, the semi-natural and built assets create an environmental quality that is enjoyed by both residents and visitors.

8.22 The area has a wealth of environmental assets ranging from international and national status, to those of local importance. In accordance with national and regional policy, it is important that these are safeguarded and enhanced for the benefit of current and future generations. These assets include biodiversity (wildlife and habitats), built heritage (including buildings, conservation areas, parks and parklands), ancient monuments and archaeology, geodiversity (geological features), and landscape character; as well as more general aspects such as the countryside and rural character, and the setting of Norwich, towns and villages, and the Broads.

8.23 A Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy has been produced on behalf of the Greater Norwich Development Partnership. This proposes a multi-functional network of green-spaces and green-links, having regard to factors such as existing and potential open spaces, natural and semi- natural areas, ecological networks, landscape, geo-diversity and accessibility. The relevant spatial elements will be taken forward, as appropriate, through the Local Development Frameworks of the constituent Authorities.

Reasoned Justification

8.24 Whilst planning can make specific allocations for development sites it is vital that the softer supporting infrastructure is provided joining liveability and practicality to the theoretical allocations. This is achieved through agencies working together, e.g. health agencies responsible for health prevention working with authorities providing open space to ensure opportunities for exercise are locally available. The Policy as presented is explicit in the aspects that need to accompany new development, and the way in which it functions. Developers should be aware of these expectations at the earliest opportunity so as they can plan for facilities in their schemes In part the policy is a list of expectations that will be enacted through other agencies spending programmes, or LSP work, or LAA documents. Again public agencies need to plan in advance and programme the support services for when the new population begins to be established. Part of the implementation will be through legal agreements or Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) accompanying planning applications for the new development.