Para 2.1 - COMMENT
The Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) should clearly inform the spatial vision and objectives in the Local Plan, leading to policies that embrace elements wider than traditional land-use planning and which focus on the distinctive characteristics and challenges of different parts of the District. However, we believe that the vision should not simply repeat the SCS vision, without at least articulating the spatial elements of that strategy.

We consider that the vision in the Local Plan should be spatial and locally distinctive, and, without being over-long, should provide more detail including references as to how important issues will be addressed and how towns, villages and communities will under go positive change over the course of the plan period, and how in particular well planned extensions to the main urban areas will help meet the District future development needs.

The strategic allocation of land west of Europa Way ('Myton Garden Suburb') is supported and we consider development at this location has a central role to play in delivering the (spatial) vision.


Para 2.5 - COMMENT
Broadly support the key principles for development of the Local Plan. However, to ensure that the principles are consistent with policies in the plan we believe that the proposed key (Environment) principle of "Distributing development across the District" should be replaced with the following text:

"Concentrating most new development within and/or on the edge of the main urban centres, with some also directed towards named sustainable village locations".

This change would bring the principle in line with Policy PO3: Broad Location of Growth which state's that the Council's preferred option is to "concentrate growth within...".

While we acknowledge the importance of seeking to maintain the identity of existing communities through "avoiding coalescence", we consider that this principle should be qualified so that it relates to coalescence between the urban area and nearby settlements. We also consider that avoiding coalescence should not be at the expense of other policy objectives in the plan and ultimately in delivering the most sustainable development strategy for the District as a whole.

In recognition of the opportunity for new development to provide an off-site financial contribution to help improve existing local community infrastructure ('Emphasis on Infrastructure') it is suggested that with regards education the key principle should be re-worded to read:

"ensuring new or improved education facilities are provided to meet the needs generated by major new developments"


As the spatial strategy should respond to the local context, current and anticipated issues over the course of the plan period, we consider that the spatial portrait and issues section should come before the vision. To support and achieve the Local Plan vision, the Council can then set the objectives that have been developed.