Strategic Planning in the Black Country. Ian Culley, Lead Planning Manager, City of Wolverhampton Council

Transcription

1 Strategic Planning in the Black Country Ian Culley, Lead Planning Manager, City of Wolverhampton Council

2 Overview 1. The Black Country 2. The Core Strategy 3. The Core Strategy Review 4. Summary

3 1. The Black Country

4 1.1 About the area Distinctive sub-region of four metropolitan local authorities forming the NW part of the West Midlands conurbation. Home to 1.1m people and 440,000 households and growing. 36,000 businesses with GVA of 17bn. But.legacy of industrial contraction and concentrations of economic and social challenges. Development viability a major challenge

5 1.2 Issues in Common Industrial legacy Linkages to Birmingham and the Shires Pattern of many centres, large and small with local identities

6 2. The existing Core Strategy

7 2.1 Black Country Local Plan coverage Tier 1 Plan - Black Country Joint Core Strategy examined in July 2010 and adopted in October 2011 Suite of 15 Tier 2 Plans (SADs, AAPs and Neighbourhood Plans) adopted between the four Councils to guide delivery.

8 2.2 The Core Strategy From Review of Regional Spatial Strategy (2008) Regional recognition of regeneration need Political backing for aspirational approach (fore-runner of LEP)

9 2.3 The Spatial Strategy Its about growth and regeneration 63,000 new homes and 650ha of employment land. Strong spatial strategy of focussing development and urban restructuring into the Growth Network of Strategic Centres and Regeneration Corridors. Outside the growth network the green-belt is safeguarded and attractive residential areas protected.

10 2.4 What went well? Sound Plan! Joint working before, during and after Improved relations, profile and image Saved Money c. 400,000 per LPA?

11 2.5 What was not so good Took ages ( ) Day-to-day work very hard Difficult decisions deferred to detailed allocations & AAPs

12 3. The Core Strategy Review

13 3.1 The Core Strategy Review guiding principles It s a Review not starting from scratch. The existing brownfield first approach will remain and the existing spatial strategy retained where we can. But we need to Plan for more growth the Review period is to 2036 will this stretch the strategy? Are the other targets up-to-date e.g. offices and retail? We need to reflect up-to-date national policy and other policy drivers e.g. the public health agenda - is the existing suite of policies still fit for purpose?

14 3.2 Scope and context (1) Will be planning for a longer period (up to 2036) More challenging this time round Population and economy are growing Need to plan for more households, more jobs and infrastructure needed to support them Pressure to meet other areas housing needs e.g. Birmingham Plan Also expected to help deliver regional priorities e.g. Midland Metro,M6 J10 improvements

15 3.3 Scope and context (2) Town Centres review role of centres and scope for new development Delivery and Viability identify constraints to development/ barriers to investment Environmental Assets identify priorities for natural and built environment Infrastructure (including waste) facilities we will need to support other development

16 3.4 The key challenges Challenge 1 Meeting our housing needs Meeting our own OAN the need is now 78,190 homes , after completions and commitments we need to find land for a further 32-36,000 homes. Brownfield supply is finite at around 10,000 homes so a headline gap of 22,000. Challenge 2 Providing for sustained employment growth Evidence indicates the need for a new generation of strategic employment sites but we have limited space within the existing urban area We also need to retain sustainable urban employment areas Challenge 3 The role of the Green-belt Some green-belt release is inevitable and can deliver major benefits But it can t be at the cost of key brownfield sites which make up the majority of our supply And even the green-belt has limited capacity Challenge 4 Viability Long standing issue in the Black Country affecting all types of development We ve been very successful in securing external funding but need to spend it. Challenge 5 Effective Cross-boundary working The Black Country may not be able to meet all of its needs so we will need to work with our Neighbours. Need to sustain existing good relationships.

17 3.5 Core Strategy Governance Strong political and executive leadership Individual LPAs have retained decision making with individual Cabinet and Full Council approvals required at key stages. Consensus based approach No joint committee. We use existing Black Country structures, which are advisory only. but timetabling is an issue with 4 separate processes

18 3.6 Timetable and next steps July-September Issues and Options Consultation September Draft Plan Consultation February Publication Plan Consultation June Submission of Core Strategy Autumn Adoption of Core Strategy

19 3.7 Timetable - evidence

20 4. Summary

21 4.1 Pulling it together The Black Country has an up to date and robust Plan covering a large and hugely complex urban area. We work together well, at all levels and at times in challenging circumstances. Our review has commenced but we aren t starting from scratch. We are building on existing management structures and working arrangements, and we are confident that we can do it again on time and to budget. New government announcements and guidance potentially makes things more complicated, and our external world is continually changing. But our priorities remain.

22 Thank you Website: Contact details: