Local Plans and National Planning Policy Framework: LPA Self Assessment
1A: A checklist covering the key elements of the NPPF
Achieving Sustainable Development
The presumption in favour of sustainable development and Core Planning principles (paras 6-17)What NPPF expects local plans to include to deliver its objectives / Questions to help understand whether your local plan includes what NPPF expects / Does your local plan address this issue and meet the NPPF’s expectations? / How significant are any differences?
Do they affect your overall strategy?
Policies in local plans should follow the approach of the presumption in favour of sustainable development and guide how it should be applied locally (15). / Does the plan positively seek opportunities to meet the development needs of the area?
Does the plan meet objectively assessed needs, with sufficient flexibility to adapt to rapid change, (subject to the caveats set out in para 14)?
Do you have a policy or policies which reflect the principles of the presumption in favour of sustainable development? A model policy is provided on the Planning Portal in the Local Plans section, as a suggestion (but this isn't prescriptive) / Paragraph 1.4 of the Central Lancashire Core Strategy (CS) covers this. The needs assessments underlying the housing and employment allocations in the LP are up-to-date and compliant.
CS and Chorley Local Plan 2012-2016 (LP) represent positive plans which meet objectively identified needs with policies and processes of monitoring and review to respond to change.
Model policy is included in Core Strategy
Sustainability is a cross-cutting theme of CS and LP. LP interprets CS policies including those on the locations of growth locally. All policies have been drafted to be worded positively in favour of sustainable development.
LP Policy V1 explicitly mentions the presumption in favour of appropriate sustainable development. / NPPF compliant
The NPPF sets out a set of 12 core land-use principles which should underpin plan-making (and decision-making) (17) / Does the plan meet up-to-date, objectively assessed development needs based on evidence?
Does it make effective use of land and specifically promote mixed use development?
Does it take account of wider geographic areas eg cross boundary and strategic issues? / Evidence – SHLAA, SHMA, Employment Land Schedule
The first bullet point is picked up by the CS and joint site allocation DDP'S
The second bullet point place shaping is covered by CS paragraph 1.19
In respect of the third bullet point, the Core Strategy is based on a housing viability assessment, and table one of the housing related changes document allocates housing land. Table 5 allocates employment land
Regarding the fourth bullet point Policy 17of the CS covers this
The fifth bullet point relates to the spatial portrait, a chapter in the CS is devoted to this and Policies 1, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20 and 21refer.
The sixth bullet point Policies 27, 28, 29 of the CS refer
The seventh bullet point Policies 4, 18, 19, 20, 21, 20, 30, 31
The eighth bullet point Policy 4 of the CS relates
The ninth bullet point Policies 9, 29, 31 of the CS relate
The tenth bullet point policies 16 and 21 of the CS relate
The eleventh bullet point Policies 1 and 3
The twelfth bullet point, Paragraph 4.2 and Policies 12 and 25 of the CS relate.
LP sites have been identified in accordance with the CS, and where possible, phasing and allocations has a presumption in favour of previously developed land being delivered first. A technical density study has informed assumptions about housing density which seek to respond to the character of the area whilst ensuring the efficient use of land.
The LP promotes the development of a number of mixed use sites across the Borough.
The LP has been prepared in close cooperation with Preston and South Ribble in order to ensure compatibility and take account of cross boundary issues etc. Strategic issues have also been tackled in the wider context as detailed in Chorley’s Statement of Compliance of the Duty to Cooperate.
1B: Delivering sustainable development
1. Building a strong, competitive economy (paras 18-22)What NPPF expects local plans to include to deliver its objectives / Questions to help understand whether your local plan includes what NPPF expects / Does your local plan address this issue and meet the NPPF’s expectations? / How significant are any differences?
Do they affect your overall strategy?
Set out a clear economic vision for the area which positively and proactively encourages sustainable economic growth (21) / How far does the plan articulate a clear economic vision for the area?
Are the policies flexible enough to accommodate requirements not anticipated in the plan and allow a rapid response to changes in economic circumstances? (21) / Paragraph 18
In respect of Cross cutting themes Paragraphs 1.21 and Figure 2 of the CS relate
Managing growth is covered from Paragraphs 5.1 through to 5.9
Paragraphs 18 to 20
Chapter nine of the CS covers delivering economic prosperity
In line with the CS, the LP protects important existing employment sites and allocates land for new employment development including the sub-regional site at Botany Bay/Great Knowley as well as sites for a range of employment needs.
Recognise and seek to address potential barriers to investment, including poor environment or any lack of infrastructure, services or housing (21) / In supporting economic development to what extent does it take into account the matters raised in paragraph 21 of the NPPF? This includes local and inward investment; supporting existing business sectors and new / emerging sectors; clusters and networks of knowledge / creative/high technology industries; economic regeneration, infrastructure provision and environmental enhancement; new working practices. / Paragraph 4.1 of the CS relates
In respect of the second bullet point Strategic sites are identified in Chapter 5 and Policy 1
Policy 9 of the CS relates to a performance monitoring framework which covers the third bullet point.
The fourth bullet point, Policy 15 (c) covers this
The fifth bullet point, Policy 1 covers this
The sixth bullet point, Policy 9(f) covers this
The LP employment allocations have been reviewed in order to ensure their deliverability and mixed use sites have been identified in order to make these more viable where appropriate. Masterplans will be prepared for the larger sites and will address any potential barriers to investment.
There is a presumption to retain sites in employment use, but there is the flexibility of allowing other uses where it can be demonstrated that the site is no longer suitable/viable for employment use.
Development management policies have been positively prepared and are well aligned with the Framework. A Central Employment Premises SPD has also been adopted.
Is there an up to date assessment of the deliverability of allocated employment sites, to meet local needs, to justify their long-term protection (taking into account that LPAs should avoid the long term protection of sites allocated for employment use where there is no reasonable prospect of an allocated site being used for that purpose) para (22) / Paragraph 22
Policy 10 of CS which is subject to change and also an SPD,
'Ensuring the vitality of town centres' has been prepared which covers this point
Chorley’s employment allocations were reviewed in the 2009 Employment Land Review. Only those that are suitable, available and deliverable have been carried forward in the LP. The viability of other sites has been enhanced with proposals for mixed use. Masterplans will be prepared for the larger sites and these will address any potential barriers to investment.
There is a presumption to retain sites in employment use, but there is the flexibility of allowing other uses where it can be demonstrated that the site is no longer suitable/viable for employment use.
Development management policies have been positively prepared and are well aligned with the Framework. A Central Employment Premises SPD has also been adopted.
Employment allocations support existing and emerging business sectors by identifying a wide range of sites for employment development in all parts of the Borough to meet the anticipated needs of the business sectors.
2. Ensuring the vitality of town centres (paras 23-27)
What NPPF expects local plans to include to deliver its objectives / Questions to help understand whether your local plan includes what NPPF expects / Does your local plan address this issue and meet the NPPF’s expectations? / How significant are any differences?
Do they affect your overall strategy?
Policies should be positive, promote competitive town centre environments, and set out policies for the management and growth of centres over the plan period (23) / To what extent does the plan and its policies have regard to the criteria set out in paragraph 23 of the NPPF for the management and growth of town centres over the plan period? This includes such matters as definition of networks and hierarchies; defining town centres; encouragement of residential development on appropriate sites; allocation of appropriate edge of centre sites where suitable and viable town centre sites are not available; consideration of retail and leisure proposals which cannot be accommodated in or adjacent to town centres. / CS Policy 1 details the retail hierarchy.
Paragraph 23
The first two bullet points Policy 11of the CS covers
The third, to sixth bullet points are covered by the LP– extent of town centre defined based on GVA advice.
The sixth bullet is also covered by a retail and leisure review that has been undertaken
The seventh bullet point the LP covers – GVA study advised on edge of centre sites.
The eighth bullet point CS Policy 11covers
The ninth bullet point is also a Site allocations matter –
In respect of the tenth point a decline is not being accepted.
Allocate a range of suitable sites to meet the scale and type of retail, leisure, commercial, office, tourism, cultural, community services and residential development needed in town centres (23) / Have you undertaken an assessment of the need to expand your town centre, considering the needs of town centre uses?
Have you identified primary and secondary shopping frontages? / White Young Green Study (date?) advised on this.
LP Policy EP6 defines primary and secondary frontages for Chorley Town Centre. Policy EP5 allocates additional retail sites within Chorley town Centre. Policies map defines district and local centres and policy EP7 seeks to ensure their vitality and viability.
Residential development is encouraged above retail units.
there is a proposed new Asda development within the town centre, expansion of Market Walk and potential for retail and leisure at Botany Bay.
Paragraph 24
The use of the Sequential Approach doesn't need to be replicated in policy
Paragraph 25
Policy 13 of the CS covers this paragraph
Assess the impact of retail and leisure and office proposals (26) / Has it assessed the impact of the policy on existing, committed and planned public and private investment in a centre or centres in the catchment area?
This is an assessment for planning applications / Yes, there is a proposed new Asda development within the town centre, expansion of Market Walk and potential for retail and leisure at Botany Bay.
Paragraph 26
This paragraph relates to the planning application process
Paragraph 27
This paragraph relates to the planning application process
3. Supporting a prosperous rural economy (para 28)
What NPPF expects local plans to include to deliver its objectives / Questions to help understand whether your local plan includes what NPPF expects / Does your local plan address this issue and meet the NPPF’s expectations? / How significant are any differences?
Do they affect your overall strategy?
Support sustainable economic growth in rural areas by taking a positive approach to new development. Planning strategies should maintain a prosperous rural economy by taking a positive approach to new development. (28) / Do your policies align with the objectives of para 28? These include policies to support sustainable growth of rural businesses; promote the development and diversification of agricultural businesses; support sustainable rural tourism and leisure developments / Paragraph 28
Policy 13 of the CS covers all the bullet points except last bullet which is covered by Policy 25
LP Policy EP1 identifies land to meet employment needs in rural areas.
The scope of the LP does not extend to small villages in terms of allocating sites to meet employment and housing needs. It is considered that the employment land needs of small villages and rural areas can be met by generous employment land provision in nearby local and district centres, protecting existing employment sites in rural areas, and supporting new rural tourism related development.
4. Promoting sustainable transport (paras 29-41)
What NPPF expects local plans to include to deliver its objectives / Questions to help understand whether your local plan includes what NPPF expects / Does your local plan address this issue and meet the NPPF’s expectations? / How significant are any differences?
Do they affect your overall strategy?
Facilitate sustainable development whilst contributing to wider sustainability and health objectives. (29)
Balance the transport system in favour of sustainable transport modes and give people a real choice about how they travel whilst recognising that different policies will be required in different communities and opportunities to maximise sustainable transport solutions will vary from urban to rural areas. (29)
Encourage solutions which support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and congestion (29)
Encourage solutions which support reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and reduce congestion by supporting a pattern of development which, where reasonable to do so, facilitates the use of sustainable modes of transport.(30) / Have you worked with adjoining authorities and transport providers on the provision of viable infrastructure?
This is necessary to support sustainable economic growth with particular regard to the facilities referred to in paragraph 31 of the NPPF.
To what extent do the policies consider the matters set out in paragraph 32 of the NPPF. These include opportunities for sustainable transport modes; safe and suitable access; cost-effective improvements to the transport network.