"A Borough for Success"
Rugby Borough Development Plan
Adopted Local Plan - July 2006 - Written Statement - Chapter 2
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CORE STRATEGY
2.1 The Local Plan provides a land use context for the future of Rugby
Borough. It is a corporate document and therefore it seeks to reflect
the wider purpose and aims of the Borough Council whilst also having regard
to other guidance produced by Government and Regional bodies.
The Purpose
2.2 The Borough Council’s stated purpose is as follows:
“The Council will take a lead and work with others to improve the
prosperity, environment and quality of life of all who live and work in
the Borough.”
In seeking to meet its purpose, the Council will work with other agencies
and partners where appropriate.
The VisionThe Council has identified its vision for the Borough. The latest vision was published in the Community Plan for Rugby. The Local Plan vision for Rugby is an elaboration on this and is of: • a prosperous Borough that provides opportunities for work,
relaxation and leisure; |
The Strategy
2.3 Rugby is located close to strategic transport routes and provides a focus for a significant hinterland. It is also within the influence of the major centres of Leicester, Northampton and particularly Coventry, which is especially important to the western section of the Borough in terms of employment, shopping and leisure activities. These factors are recognised in the Regional Spatial Strategy, which has designated Rugby as one of the 5 sub-regional foci, combined with an increased emphasis on the major urban areas, including Coventry, meeting their own needs.
2.4 It is anticipated that the sub-regional foci will primarily meet local housing needs and assist in the development of a balanced network of vital and vibrant town and city centres, including major retail, leisure and office developments, and acting as service centres for their rural hinterlands.
2.5 The Regional Spatial Strategy is part of the development plan for the area and the Local Plan must be in conformity with it and the Warwickshire Structure Plan.
2.6 The current review of the Regional Spatial Strategy, and the assessment of the specific role of each of the sub-regional foci, will provide more detailed guidance that will provide the basis for the Council’s Development Plan Documents required under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
2.7 In the rural area, agricultural employment has been declining over many years. With the decline of this traditional employment base, the rural villages have become predominantly dormitory settlements for those working in nearby towns and cities.
2.8 It is against this background that the Borough Local Plan is reviewed. The Local Plan seeks to promote a sustainable approach to development, which protects and enhances the quality of life for all those who live and visit the Borough.
| A Strategy for the Local Plan has therefore been developed which
is consistent with both the ‘Vision’ for Rugby and the
national and regional planning context: The Local Plan Review will: • Promote the growth of Rugby town as a vibrant sub-regional centre which acts as the focus for investment • With an emphasis on previously developed land, ensure that sufficient land is available within the Borough to meet the needs of the Borough’s population to 2011 and in respect of housing to 2016 and, where appropriate, sites are protected for housing, employment, environmental, leisure and retail purposes. • Maintain the Green Belt in the Borough and protect and where possible, enhance the environmental and cultural assets of the Borough. • Seek to concentrate the majority of housing and employment development on the main town of Rugby, whilst recognising the need to provide for local needs in the rural area. • Protect important community facilities and services and provide opportunities for new employment developments within the rural area. |
2.9 Therefore, in seeking to deliver the Local Plan Strategy for Rugby, the ensuing objectives are followed throughout the Plan.
Objectives
• To ensure the provision of an adequate amount of housing which is of high quality in varied and attractive residential environments, to meet the needs of the Borough’s residents and strategic requirements.
2.10 The Community Plan identifies affordability as the key issue facing the Borough’s residents over the coming years. This issue is also a national problem and the Council has been set an important planning context through both the Structure Plan and the Regional Spatial Strategy. The Borough Council has a Housing Needs Survey which also identifies a pressing need for affordable dwellings. The Local Plan, alongside the Council’s Housing Strategy, addresses how this and other housing needs can be delivered.
• To ensure the provision and protection of employment opportunities which reflects strategic requirements and meets the needs of the Borough’s residents.
2.11 The Borough Council produces an annual Economic Prosperity Strategy which sets the economic vision for the Borough. It is important in seeking to deliver that strategy and whilst also having regard to the Warwickshire Structure Plan and Regional Spatial Strategy that the Local Plan identifies sufficient employment land for the employment needs of the residents of the Borough to be met. In addition, it will be important, particularly in the current climate of maximising the use of previously developed land and buildings for the Local Plan to ensure that important existing employment sites are adequately protected.
• To ensure adequate provision is made for sporting, leisure & recreation activities for the Borough’s residents and visitors.
2.12 The opportunity to take part in leisure and recreation activities is a key factor affecting people’s quality of life. The Community Plan identifies this as important. Whilst affordability of provision is seen as a key factor, this is not an area which the Local Plan is able to deliver. However, in association with the Council’s Leisure Strategy, the Local Plan can address the availability, provision and protection of sport and leisure facilities, both formal and informal.
• To protect and enhance the environmental and cultural assets of the Borough.
2.13 The environment, which includes natural, built and historic assets, and culture of the Borough contribute to Rugby’s unique character and attraction and are important in their own right to the cultural heritage of the Borough, as well as to the local economy. The Council produces both a Cultural and Local Environment strategy and these are important for setting the context within which the Local Plan can deliver the land use aspects. In addition the Community Plan identifies the green areas in and around Rugby town as playing an important role and suggests every opportunity should be taken to enhance these areas.
• To assist the positive development of the rural economy.
2.14 Rural affairs are identified both in the Community Plan and the Economic Prosperity Strategy as important. The Community Plan in particular is seeking an improvement in the numbers of rural businesses by 2006. The Local Plan addresses the continued need for rural diversification given the significant recent changes that have taken place to the rural economy. However, in seeking to deliver the aims of the Community Plan, the Local Plan must also have regard to national planning policy which places significant restrictions on developments in the countryside. It will also be important to balance the requirements of sustainability and reducing the need to travel by private car with the needs of the rural area.
• To ensure the efficient, effective and sustainable use of land and other resources and in particular to focus development on sustainable, previously developed sites.
2.15 Ensuring an efficient and sustainable use of land, which includes the re-use of existing buildings, also helps to protect the countryside and other green spaces and safeguards them for future generations. The priority for development of previously developed land and buildings is now enshrined in both national and regional policy. In addition, the Council’s Community Plan identifies the green areas in Rugby as making an important contribution to the quality of the environment. Therefore, the Local Plan will seek to deliver as much development as possible in the Plan period on previously developed sites whilst also having regard to the location of those sites and the contribution they can make to reducing the need to travel by private car.
• To focus development on Rugby town and a limited number of rural centres of population with adequate local services to maximise accessibility and transport choice and reduce the need to travel.
2.16 Focusing development on centres where an adequate range of services and facilities exist will be an important component of the Local Plan strategy. The Structure Plan encourages such an approach and in adopting this the Council will be seeking to deliver some of the aims of its own Local Sustainability Strategy. Such a strategy helps in reducing the need for journeys and in protecting the countryside.
• To maintain and enhance Rugby town centre.
2.17 A vital and viable town centre is important for the economy of the Borough. A vibrant town centre not only provides essential services for local residents but can also be a key attraction for visitors to an area. The Council’s Economic Prosperity Strategy and the Rugby Town Centre Action Plan both envisage the town centre undergoing major improvements in the coming years. The Local Plan will in many ways be the delivery arm for those improvements. The core of the town centre should provide the majority of shopping, social and leisure facilities for residents and visitors to the Borough whilst respecting and where possible, enhancing the character of the townscape. Locating these facilities away from the town centre when sites are available within it can serve to undermine the function of the town centre and ultimately damage the Borough’s economy. It is also important that the town centre is a pleasant environment in which to spend time, both during the day and in the evening. The Local Plan will therefore need to address the mix and type of uses within the town centre.
• To protect facilities and services of value to the local community.
2.18 Particularly in the rural parts of the Borough, community facilities such as public houses and shops and also employment and tourist facilities, are essential. Very often, such facilities serve to improve the quality of life in many of the settlements in the Borough and it is important that a certain level be maintained to support the needs of the population. In seeking to address the loss of facilities throughout the Borough, a number of related issues, raised through the Community Plan may also be included. Community facilities contribute towards an inclusive society and they foster a community spirit. Many facilities contribute greatly to the tourist economy and this is an area the community and the Council would wish to see a significant improvement in the future. Finally, the protection of local facilities may also reduce the need for travel over long distances to access more central services.
• To ensure that development protects and enhances the amenities, promotes the safety of the community and is accessible to all.
2.19 Community safety is highlighted through the Community Plan as a high priority for Rugby. The Local Plan has a role to play not only in achieving safety through appropriate location and design of development but also can aid in tackling issues such as crime. It is important the Local Plan ensures that those amenities which are valued and contribute to the well being of the community are protected and wherever possible enhanced. In addition, it is equally important that the Local Plan is able to resist those developments which may pose a risk to public safety.
2.20 The location and design of development is also important in ensuring that developments do not preclude their use by any sections of the community, particularly people with disabilities or older and vulnerable persons.
2.21 Table 1 overleaf is included to show how the proposed objectives of this Local Plan are consistent with National, Regional and Strategic objectives:
Table 1: National, Regional & Strategic objectives
|
National Set out in Government guidance |
Regional Set out in RSS |
Structure Plan Set out in the WASP |
Local Plan Review |
|
1. Guiding principles: • Living within environmental limits 2. Shared priorities for UK action: 3. A Sustainable Economy 4. Building Sustainable Communities 5. Managing the Environment and Resources |
1. To support the diversification and modernisation of the Region’s economy whilst ensuring that opportunities for growth are linked to meeting needs and reducing social exclusion 2. To improve significantly the Region’s transport systems to a quality comparable to that of competitor regions. 3. To ensure that the quality of the environment is conserved and enhanced across all parts of the Region 4. To retain the Green Belt, but to allow an adjustment of boundaries where this is necessary to support urban regeneration 5. To support the cities of the Region to meet their local and sub-regional development needs 6. To promote the development of a network of strategic centres across the Region 7. To create a joined-up multi-centred regional structure, where all areas have distinct roles to play 8. To secure the regeneration of the rural areas of the Region |
1. Support enterprise and competitiveness and provide for a variety of employment opportunities to meet local needs 2. Support agriculture and the rural economy 3. Encourage new tourism, recreation and leisure activities where these are compatible with the built environment 4. Use development to strengthen communities and to encourage a sense of community 5. Concentrate development in towns, preferably on previously developed land 6. Reduce the distances people need to travel, whilst acknowledging the continuing role of commuting in the County and the need to facilitate this through transport improvement 7. Protect the integrity of the Green Belt through an acknowledgement of its established aims 8. Protect from unnecessary harm the environment and our cultural, historical and social heritage 9. Make towns attractive, convenient and safe places to live in, work in and use, and to establish them as the collective centres for a variety of uses 10. Support walking, cycling and public transport as alternatives to the private car 11. Maintain and improve a regional and county strategic transport network 12. Provide homes to meet the needs of the community including households moving into the County from Coventry and Birmingham 13. Encourage the use of renewable natural resources and conserve non-renewable resources |
1. To ensure the provision of an adequate amount of housing, which is of high quality in varied and attractive residential environments, to meet the needs of the Borough’s residents and strategic requirements 2. To ensure the provision and protection of employment opportunities which reflects strategic requirements and meets the needs of the Borough’s residents 3. To ensure adequate provision is made for sporting, leisure & recreation activities for the Borough’s residents 4. To protect and enhance the environmental and cultural assets of the Borough 5. To ensure the efficient, effective and sustainable use of land and other resources and in particular to focus development on sustainable, previously developed sites 6. To assist the positive development of the rural economy 7. To focus development on Rugby and other centres with adequate local services, to maximise accessibility and transport choice and reduce the need to travel 8. To maintain and enhance Rugby town centre 9. To protect facilities and services of value to the local community 10. To ensure that development protects and enhances the amenities and promotes the safety of the community and is accessible to all |