West Wiltshire District Council

Chapter 4 - Resources and Implementation

Resources

4.1

Some of the policies contained in the District Plan seek change in the form of new development proposals, and therefore have a resource implication with associated costs. The majority of policies, however, are for development control and guidance and do not have direct resource implications.

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Implementation

In housing, commercial and industrial developments the District Council will, where appropriate, enter into legal agreements with developers under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to provide for new infrastructure, social, recreational and community facilities, where the need for these arises directly from the development concerned. Provision should be commensurate with the scale and nature of the individual development. Provision may be on-site or contributions may be made to the provision of facilities elsewhere in the locality provided their location adequately relates to the development site.

4.2

The two principal resources required to implement development related policies are land and finance. Those sites identified in the District Plan are likely to come forward through planning applications for new development. It is unlikely with a few possible exceptions, that land assembly will be a major problem. All the proposals contained in the Plan are considered capable of implementation within the Plan period which runs to March 2011.

4.3

The District Council will continue to play an important role in the development of West Wiltshire by guiding and controlling change in a positive way, by investing in recreation and community services and in environmental enhancement schemes. The Council will also seek to secure the co-operation of local and other interests and private developers. In appropriate circumstances, and in line with advice in Circular 1/97, the developers of new housing, commercial and industrial development will be expected to provide new social, recreational and community facilities where a need arises directly from the development concerned and the scale of provision sought is reasonably related to the development proposed. Developers will be encouraged to submit a financial appraisal / residual valuation of the proposed development to assist with the negotiations.

4.4

The District Council recognises that, within financial constraints, major expenditure will be required to achieve many long term improvements such as major road schemes and improvements in physical and social infrastructure. The District Council has through the Plan given a clear indication of areas where new infrastructure will be required in order to enable the utilities and other bodies to plan for further provision and to provide a basis for co-operation and co-ordination between public sector authorities and private organisations in allocating appropriate resources in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the Plan.

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The Arts

Where appropriate, a percentage of the overall cost of development will be sought through negotiation to further an artistic objective in a practical manner. The determination of an application will have regard to the contribution made by the proposals to the appearance of the scheme and to the amenities of the area.

4.5

The District Council has developed, with the assistance of Southern Arts, and adopted an Arts Strategy through which it will actively pursue a greater commitment to the arts in general and in particular aims to improve opportunities for participation and provision of facilities. As part of the Arts Strategy the Council has resolved to adopt a Public Art Policy to further the aims of providing public art.

4.6

The ‘percentage for arts’ policy results from a campaign launched by the Arts Council in 1989 which sought to improve the built environment by employing the talent of Britain’s artists and craft people in building projects. The objective of the policy is to ensure that between 0.5 and 5% of project costs are spent in a way which will result in the visual arts being integrated into the design of the building or landscape.

4.7

No percentage is specified in the policy so as to allow maximum flexibility when considering schemes. The concept of incorporating public art can apply to many situations, eg architecture of a new building, landscaping of a new industrial area, provision of arts through craft workshops in redevelopments, landscaping of open spaces and recreational areas or the more conventional use of sculptures and paintings. The contribution made to the arts will be taken into consideration in the determination of applications and developers are advised to discuss possible contributions with the District Council at an early stage.

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Access for Everyone

The needs of the disabled should be adequately catered for in new development proposals for buildings open to the public and buildings used for employment or education purposes. Proposals should provide adequate access around buildings and external facilities for disabled people in the layout of development. Proposals should have regard to the relationship between buildings and the location and amount of disabled parking, other public access points and the design of the access facilities to be provided.

4.8

The District Council will seek to ensure that new development, which is used by the public, is designed to enable access by people with disabilities. Consideration should be given to the provision of adequate access around buildings for disabled people in the layout of development and to the relationship between buildings and car parking areas and other public access points. Simple features such as textured pavement surfaces, dropped kerbs and ramps should be provided along with appropriate and conveniently located car parking for the disabled. The District Council has produced supplementary planning guidance on this matter entitled ‘Access for Everyone’ in conjunction with West Wilts Access Group.

Monitoring

4.8a

In order to ensure that the aims and policies contained within this Plan are being implemented the District Council intends to monitor the progress of the Plan and to issue an Annual Monitoring Report. The Report will measure progress against the targets contained within the Plan, utilising output and outcome indicators compatible with national, regional and strategic indicators. Table 7 sets out indicative targets and indicators which will help to inform the design of future monitoring activity. In the case of housing issues, if there is a persistent and significant gap between what has been planned for and what is occurring in reality, the District Council will consider re-assignment of allocated housing sites between phases. This remedial action will be published with the Annual Monitoring Report and the District Council will adopt it as Supplementary Planning Guidance, following a period of public consultation.

Table 7: Monitoring: Targets and Indicators

Policy	Target	Output/Outcome Indicator	Action
Environmental Aims To protect, conserve and enhance both the natural and manmade environment To protect and conserve the Western Wiltshire Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, areas of nature conservation and/or scientific importance, conservation areas, listed buildings, scheduled ancient monuments and areas designated as open space in and around the towns as appropriate.
Countryside Policies C1-C11 and Built Environment Policy C40	Targets set out in Biodiversity Action Plan Targets set out in AONB Management Plans N/A N/A	Progress against targets Progress against targets Condition of wildlife sites in District Number of Tree Preservation Orders	Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually
Countryside Policies C13-C16	N/A	Changes in the state of archaeological resources	Establish baseline data Collect data biannually
Built Environment Policy C17	N/A N/A	Number of conservation area statements / character appraisals and other documents published as SPG Number of conservation areas reviewed and designated	Collect data quarterly / annually Collect data quarterly / annually
Built Environment Policies C26-C29	N/A	Number of listed buildings at risk restored	Establish baseline data Collect data quarterly / annually
Built Environment Policy C34	N/A	% of electricity from renewable resources	Establish baseline data Collect data annually
Recreation Aim To conserve existing resources and to allocate land for additional facilities to meet the increasing recreational needs of the District.
Open Space and Recreation Policies R1-R16	N/A	Area of public open space in the District	Establish baseline data (2004/5)
	N/A	Provision of new public open space	Collect data annually
	N/A	Extensions and improvements to greenspace networks and footpaths	Collect data annually
Housing Aims To ensure that there is an adequate supply of land and an appropriate mix of house types and sizes to meet the housing requirements of the whole community including the provision of affordable social housing to meet local needs.
Housing Policies H1a, H1b, H1, H3-H14, H17	Provision of about 14,000 dwellings in the period 1991 – 2011	Number of people living in the District Number of dwelling permissions granted Number of dwellings under construction Number of dwellings completed Number of dwellings needed to be provided each year until 2011 Take up of allocated sites Windfall site development trends Number of vacant dwellings	Collect data annually Collect data quarterly / annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually
Housing Policies H2, H22	Provision of 1420 new affordable homes 2001 - 2011	Stock of affordable homes Number of new affordable homes provided Housing Needs Update Housing Needs Assessment	Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data biannually Collect data every 3/5 years
To create more sustainable patterns of development in order to improve the quality of housing environments and meet wider social and economic needs, whilst conserving the natural environment and non-renewable resources. To maximise the proportion of housing development taking place on previously developed sites to meet the regional target of 50% of all housing development within the Plan period.
Housing Policies H1b, H1, H3, H4, H17 and Built Environment Policy C41	Provision of 50% of new dwellings on previously developed land (including conversions)	Numbers and % of new homes committed on brownfield sites, greenfield sites or through conversions	Collect data annually
Employment Aims To sustain a buoyant local economy and to create suitable conditions for the expansion of existing firms and the development of new businesses. To ensure an adequate supply of suitable land is available in the District in accordance with Structure Plan policies and to provide for a range of business requirements.
Employment Policies E1 – E8	Provision of about 150 hectares of additional employment land 1991 - 2011	Amount of new employment land permitted Amount of new employment land under construction Amount of new employment land completed Amount of new employment land needed to be provided each year until 2011 Take up of allocated sites Economic profile data	Collect data quarterly / annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually
To encourage the development of unused and derelict industrial land in accordance with the objectives of sustainable development.
Employment Policies E2, E4, E6, E8	N/A	Area of derelict and vacant industrial land and units	Collect data annually
Transport Aims To encourage the provision and maintenance of efficient, land-use integrated transport networks throughout West Wiltshire which contribute towards continued economic vitality, social inclusion and allow for sustainable growth.
Transport Policies T1-T12	N/A N/A	Level of public parking spaces and the proportion allocated for disabled users. Progress on programmed transport improvements	Collect data biannually Collect data annually
To require access by all transport modes to proposed developments which, where appropriate, incorporate benefits to the adjacent highway network. To reduce the length of motorised journeys and the reliance on the private car in favour of public transport, walking and cycling and to encourage the carriage of freight by rail.
Transport Policies T4-T12	N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A	Number of passenger journeys on local bus services Number of bus stops equipped with raised kerbs and covered waiting areas. Level of public cycle parking grant funded Rate of growth in car traffic Number of Travel Plans agreed with District Council / County Council Proportion of public parking spaces allocated for short stay use.	Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data every 5 years Collect data annually Collect data annually
To encourage transport arrangements that minimise harm to the natural and built environment, ensure that air quality is maintained and help to improve safety for all travellers.
Town Centres and Shopping Policy TC2	N/A	Air quality monitoring: levels of NO and particulate pollution	Collect data annually
Transport Policies T3, T6, T7, T8, T8a, T9, T10, T11, T12	N/A	Number of accidents involving users of all forms of transport	Collect data annually
Town Centre and Shopping Aims To sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of the five town centres in the District. To encourage new retail, leisure and mixed use development within or if necessary adjacent to the five town centres. To improve the environment of the five town centres. To ensure that there is provision for local shopping wherever possible.
Town Centre and Shopping Policies SP1, SP2, SP3, SP6, TC1, TC2	N/A N/A N/A N/A	Gross retail floorspace developed % of additional retail floorspace provided outside defined town centres or edge of centre locations Non A1 uses within Primary Retail Frontages Vacancy rates in Primary Retail Frontages	Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually Collect data annually
Tourism Aim To encourage the development of tourism in the District in a manner compatible with the principles of sustainable development and the character of the area.
Tourism Policies TO1, TO2	N/A N/A	Visitor numbers and tourism related expenditure Direct employment in tourism	Collect data every 5 years Collect data every 5 years
Tourism Policies TO3, TO4	N/A	Quantity and type of overnight accommodation	Collect data every 5 years
Community Facilities and Services To meet and enhance the educational, social and other needs of existing and new communities.
Community Facilities and Services Policies CF1, CF2, CF3 and Town Centres and Shopping Policy SP7	N/A	Changes in the numbers and types of rural facilities and services	Collect data every 5 years

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