PFD Councillor Parker - 19 April 2006 Core Strategy - Report

PLANNING POOLE

CORE STRATEGY: PREFERRED OPTIONS – APRIL 2006

1.  Introduction

The new Local Development Framework

1.1  Borough of Poole is preparing a new Local Development Framework (LDF). Over time, this will replace Poole Local Plan First Alteration (adopted in March 2004). The LDF will consist of a series of documents:

·  a Core Strategy, which will set out the broad strategic policies for development in Poole;

·  Area Action Plans, providing a more detailed level of policies and addressing specific issues of implementation (there are currently two in preparation); and

·  Other local development documents which will deal with matters such as site-specific allocations and more detailed development control policies.

Purpose of the Core Strategy

1.2  The Core Strategy will set out how development should take place in Poole over the forthcoming years. Its purpose is to manage development to make Poole a better place. It should identify the key assets of Poole which we need to protect, and take account of the aspirations of Poole’s residents so that development can better address their needs. The end result should be a place which is prosperous, attractive and sensitive to the environment. However, it is important to recognise that development – whether this be new houses, employment uses, shops or other uses – is an essential part of this equation. Undoubtedly development brings pressures and difficulties, but it also can help to deliver our housing needs, a stronger economy and a better quality of life. The challenge for planning is to manage this process so that what is built is truly sustainable and meets the needs of present and future generations.

Preferred Options – what does this mean?

1.3  The Core Strategy will provide the strategic context for all other development plan documents in the LDF. This document presents the preferred options for Poole’s Core Strategy. For the most part these are not ‘either/or’ options, but rather a series of policy intentions designed to steer future development over the next 20 years. It sets out a Vision (a choice of two), and spatial planning objectives for Poole. There is also a Detailed Strategy which gives a clear statement of intent as to where Poole should be heading. This Preferred Options document includes a Key Diagram, which illustrates in broad terms the main elements of the spatial strategy.

1.4  The preferred options have been drawn up from a variety of considerations. There are national and regional policies which need to be taken into account. In addition, public and stakeholder consultation has already taken place on issues and options, which has given an indication of what local residents and other key stakeholders feel about the challenges facing Poole. Furthermore, research and evidence on a variety of issues has informed the preferred options being put forward.

What happens next?

1.5  This is not the end of the process. The purpose of this document is to seek your views on the preferred options being presented. These, along with on-going research and evidence-gathering, will be used to refine the preferred options into a submission document, complete with detailed policies, which will be presented to the Government in March 2007. After this, there will be an independent examination towards the end of 2007.

1.6  The preferred options document will be a material consideration when planning applications are considered by the Local Planning Authority. At each stage of its advancement, the Core Strategy will gain greater weight. Once it is adopted (likely to be 2008), it will replace some, but not all, of the policies in the current local plan. In principle, the policies to be replaced will be those which deal with strategic and broad issues, and not more detailed or site-specific policies. Appendix A sets out the existing adopted policies of Poole Local Plan First Alteration and illustrates how these policies might be carried forward into the new Local Development Framework.

1.7  The key stages of the Local Development Framework are set out in the Council’s Local Development Scheme (LDS). This includes significant milestones up to adoption of each local development document, including the Core Strategy. Figure 1.1 illustrates how the documents will evolve concurrently up to examination stage.

Figure 1.1: The Local Development Framework

How can I get involved?

1.8  You may have already been involved in moving the Core Strategy forward to this stage. In the Autumn of 2005 the Council consulted widely on the issues facing Poole, and possible options for dealing with these. You now have a chance to give us your views on what is proposed in this preferred options document.

What we are seeking Views on

1.9  We would like your views on the Core Strategy Preferred Options. In particular, we want to know which Vision you would prefer, and if you agree with the spatial planning objectives and detailed strategy. The following questions might help you to respond, but please do not feel restricted by these. There may be other comments which you would like to make.

Do you think the Core Strategy should have its own Vision (Preferred Option 1), or should it share the Vision of Poole Partnership set out in Shaping Poole’s Future (Preferred Option 2)?

Do you agree with the spatial planning objectives (Preferred Option 3)? Do we need to change any of these or are we missing anything?

Do you agree with the preferred options set out in the detailed strategy? Again, do we need to change any of these are has anything been missed?

1.10  A statutory period of 6 weeks will be given for people to make formal representations on this Preferred Options Report. This will take place from Friday 28th April to Friday 9th June 2006.

1.11  Representations should be made on the official form. This can be found:

·  at Appendix B in this document;

·  on the Council’s website (www.boroughofpoole.com);

·  at the Civic Centre; and

·  at all Poole libraries.

2.  Issues and Challenges facing Poole

Poole’s Context

2.1  Poole Borough covers an area of just over 6,400 hectares (about 25 square miles) and enjoys an environment of remarkable richness and diversity. The town is most famous for its location on the northern shores of Poole Harbour, one of the largest natural features of its kind in the world. The Harbour is of ecological, recreational and commercial importance, a balance which, in many ways, characterises the town.

2.2  Poole lies within the South East Dorset conurbation, which at the time of the 2001 Census, had an overall population of about 445,000, making it the second largest urban area in the South West Region. The resort town of Bournemouth shares a common boundary with the Borough to the east, whilst the northern boundary is formed by the River Stour, with Wimborne beyond. To the west lie Corfe Mullen and Upton. Further afield are the New Forest, Cranborne Chase and the Purbecks. Whilst there are clear functional links across the conurbation, it is also the case that the component settlements of Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch have their own distinctive characteristics, which reflects their separate history and function.

2.3  Poole has a uniquely valuable natural environment. Poole Harbour and areas of lowland heathland are internationally significant habitats, with Canford Heath forming the single largest remaining fragment of Dorset heathland. It also contains some of the country’s finest beaches.

2.4  The rail link with Waterloo brings London within 2 hours; Bournemouth (Hurn) International Airport is 10 miles from Poole Town Centre; and the Port offers direct links with Cherbourg and other continental ports. Road links to London and eastwards along the south coast, via the M3 and M27 Motorways, are generally good, although could benefit from some localised improvements. There is, however, a need for better road links north and westwards, notably linking the A31 to Poole, and the A350 towards Bristol.

Issues and Challenges

2.5  In last 30 years, Poole’s growth has seen significant increases in the town’s population, based primarily upon inward migration, much of which was associated with a diverse and expanding economy. In the past, the town physically grew outwards to accommodate this growth.

2.6  Poole has entered a new phase in its development. Opportunities for outward expansion are no longer available, with much of the fringes of the Borough being protected by international habitat designations, combined with a tightly drawn Green Belt around the built-up area preventing significant development. Furthermore, national and regional policy emphases have now shifted focus to place key urban areas at the heart of new growth and investment. This involves a process of regenerating existing urban areas, making more efficient use of existing land, and increasing densities in locations which provide the best access to jobs, facilities and public transport.

2.7  This is not without its difficulties. The urban focus places greater demands on land resources, results in higher densities, and can often see a lag between when development takes place and the provision of community facilities and transport infrastructure. High residential land values and house prices introduce further pressures on the urban area, creating a strong market for replacing other uses and single family dwellings with flats. Such matters are a cause for concern for local residents, and there is a growing perception that development needs to more adequately address local aspirations.

Consultation on Issues and Options

2.8  In October 2005, the Council produced an Issues and Options paper for the purposes of seeking views on the key challenges facing Poole over the next 20 years, and to consider possible ways of addressing these. The document set out a proposed Vision for Poole and, to aid discussion, a range of possible issues, together with suggested options. These were based upon work done by Poole Partnership (the local strategic partnership) and so had emerged from a wide cross-section of Poole’s community.

2.9  In addition to wider public consultation, a stakeholder event was held, attended by a range of interest groups, including those representing the economy, health and social/community sectors, and the environment. Presentations were also given at all of Poole’s area committees, and comments made at these meetings were noted. In summary, some of the issues raised through consultation concerned:

·  our sub-regional role;

·  the vitality and cultural attractiveness of Poole and its ability to retain young people;

·  meeting the needs of the full cross-section of our community, including the young, the elderly, people with disabilities and the socially excluded;

·  climate change and the implications of future sea level rises;

·  achieving economic aspirations without sacrificing quality of life;

·  achieving a sense of community and social responsibility;

·  protecting and enhancing Poole’s local distinctiveness;

·  regeneration needs to deliver community aspirations;

·  development being matched by supporting community facilities and other services;

·  reducing the gap between low and high incomes and creating a caring society;

·  addressing the fact that our population is ageing;

·  increasing accessibility and reducing the intrusiveness of cars and congestion;

·  overdevelopment of some areas, the predominance of flats in new developments, and the affordability of housing;

·  the importance of Bournemouth Airport as a strategically significant employment site;

·  meeting the needs of local companies in terms of opportunities to expand;

·  the importance of tourism to the local economy;

·  the location of the bus station and depot;

·  quality of design;

·  the need to protect our unique environment;

·  the need for improved links within the conurbation and beyond;

·  car parking;

·  the importance of Poole’s local centres; and

·  securing on-site recreation provision in larger developments.

3.  A Vision for Poole

3.1  Public consultation on Issues and Options proposed a vision for Poole. Whilst the response to this did not indicate a need for wholesale change, it was apparent that some amendments to the vision would better reflect the views of the public and stakeholders. It would also enable issues such as climate change and the role of Poole in the wider conurbation to be taken into account.

3.2  It is also the case, however, that the Issues and Options for the Core Strategy were drawn largely from the work of Poole Partnership in drawing up a community strategy for Poole. It is worth considering, therefore, whether there is merit in using Poole Partnership’s broader vision for Poole in the Core Strategy, thereby reflecting the community’s aspirations for the town, or to continue with a self-contained vision just for the Core Strategy. As this is a consultation stage on the preferred options, it would be appropriate to seek your views on how best the Core Strategy can reflect the aspirations of the people of Poole. For this reason, the proposed Vision differs from the other preferred options in this document in that you are being asked to state a preference for one of two presented options. More detail about the Community Strategy is contained in Section 5 of this document.

3.3  Preferred Option 1 sets out the vision which was proposed at he issues and options stage, as amended in the light of consultation. Preferred Option 2 is to use the Poole Partnership Vision. Preferred Option 3 sets out spatial planning objectives which explain in summary how the vision will be taken forward. Preferred Option 3 will be relevant to both Vision Options 1 and 2.

…OR…

3.4  The vision will be supported by a number of spatial planning objectives.

Preferred Option 3 - Spatial Planning Objectives

i)  To establish an area-based planning framework which is aimed at the delivery of local community needs and aspirations, physical, social and economic regeneration, and environmental enhancements. The priority areas are:

a)  Poole Bridge Regeneration Area Action Plan;

b)  Poole Town Centre North Area Action Plan;

c)  key locations within Prime Transport Corridors, including the three main Local Centres of Ashley Road, Ashley Cross and Broadstone, and other local centres

d)  the areas of Alderney, Hamworthy West and parts of the Town Centre, where social inclusion issues have been prioritised in the Local Area Agreement for Poole; and