Optimus Template

Response to the Bristol Core Strategy Publication Version Consultation.doc Download

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Bristol Civic Society supports much of the Bristol Core Strategy Publication Version, and recognises the Council’s urgent need to replace the Bristol Development Plan (1998).  We comment only on the soundness of the document, as required at this stage of the planning policy process.

The society recognises that the Core Strategy is high-level policy, which leaves the detail to other Local Development Scheme documents.  However, in the Society’s view, the Core Strategy is unsound if it lacks a programme to create local area character-specific development plans, because it fails to demonstrate a ‘reasoned justification of the strategy’.  We believe that government guidance supports this view.  Paragraph 4.2, of PPS 12, states the need for planning to deal with the unique needs and characteristics of places.

Paragraph 4.5 of PPS 12 says:

“It is essential that the core strategy makes clear spatial choices about where developments should go in broad terms.”

In the Society’s view, the Core Strategy would become sound if it included a programme to obtain evidence to produce a succession of local area action plans.

Only local plans can show how the Core Strategy can deliver 9,000 new homes in the central areas, 10,000 in south Bristol, 2,000 in the Inner East area and 3,000 in the Northern Arc (the regeneration areas). 

Without such plans, the Core Strategy will not demonstrate that:

(i)                 the regeneration areas have the capacity to absorb the new homes

(ii)               the local settings of the new homes will satisfy the national place-making policy to build distinctive local sustainable communities within a comprehensive city-wide spatial strategy.

(iii)             it can deliver the Core Strategy’s indispensable employment, mixed use and green infrastructure targets.

 

The Core Strategy would be sound if it includes an agreed programme of a sequence of Area Action Plans.  Residents will then understand the vision for their neighbourhood because they will play their part in the plan’s production.  Developers will be certain of the outcome of planning process.  The Council will be in the best position to “stand by its plans” because of the status of the Area Action Plan in development management. 

Because the areas suitable for AAPs would lie in regeneration areas identified with public involvement, the Society believes a further round of public consultation that would delay the Local Development Scheme would be unnecessary. 

The Area Action Plan (AAP)

An AAP is a more effective planning tool to deliver planning policy than a Supplementary Planning Document or a Masterplan.  When adopted, the AAP becomes part of the planning framework.  The SPD and Masterplan’s status is limited to the category, “planning advice”.

 

Submitted By:

John Frenkel (jfrenkel)

Submitted On:

20 Jan 2010

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File Author:

John Frenkel

Submitted On:

20 Jan 2010

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