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PART l CHAPTER 2: STRATEGY
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2.1
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Introduction
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| 2.1.1 |
This Chapter describes what the Council is trying to achieve
through the Wolverhampton Unitary Development Plan (UDP), which provides
the framework for the way in which Wolverhampton will change over the period
to 2011. |
| 2.1.2 |
The Chapter comprises the following elements: |
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- A Vision statement and set of objectives
- A set of guiding principles
- An area development framework or spatial strategy
- A set of strategic (Part I) policies for the development and use of
land
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| 2.1.3 |
In devising this strategy the UDP provides a logical and
transparent hierarchy of policies. The aim of the Strategy is to interpret
national and regional guidance and a range of local initiatives so as to
formulate a land use planning response to the issues facing the City over
the UDP period. |
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2.2
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Vision and Objectives
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| 2.2.1 |
The overall Vision of the UDP is: |
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'To create a more sustainable Wolverhampton
by improving the economic, social and environmental well being for everyone
within the City; to contribute to raising the quality of life of residents
and to support the development of strong and inclusive communities'. |
| 2.2.2 |
To implement the Vision, the UDP has three objectives. These
are: |
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- economic regeneration
- social inclusion
- protecting and enhancing the environment
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| 2.2.3 |
The UDP review has been prepared within the context of a ten
year vision for Wolverhampton, as set out in the Community Plan and associated
strategies detailed in Chapter 1. These seek to promote the City's economic,
social and environmental well being and to help improve people's quality
of life. A careful balance is however needed between these sometimes competing
aims. The Plan seeks to achieve this balance through the concept of sustainable
development which seeks to meet current needs and improve people's quality
of life without damaging the environment or detracting from the present
or future needs of others, especially future generations. |
| 2.2.4 |
Land use planning is central to the achievement of sustainability
because it guides and directs how land and buildings should be used over
extended timescales. It impacts, therefore, on the use of resources and
the quality of life for people who live and work in and visit the City. |
| 2.2.5 |
In order to seek conformity with the Vision, a continuous
process of Sustainability and Equality Appraisal has taken place throughout
the preparation of the UDP. The Sustainability and Equality Appraisal assesses
the UDP strategy and individual policies and proposals in terms of their
impact upon three key 'sustainable assets'; Economic well being, People
and society, and Environment. The Sustainability and Equality Appraisal
is produced as part of the Plan. |
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| 2.2.6 |
The ability of the UDP to deliver its objectives is summarised
below: |
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Economic Regeneration
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| 2.2.7 |
Economic regeneration within the City is a principal objective
of UK Government and European Union assistance programmes and the Wolverhampton
Community Plan. Continued economic regeneration and diversification is vital
to the future prosperity of the City in order to help reduce unemployment
and stimulate the creation of job opportunities for local people over the
UDP period. |
| 2.2.8 |
Examples of how planning can influence and help promote economic
regeneration include: |
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- Promoting and opening up sites for business development
- Protecting existing employment sites and premises from redevelopment
to other uses
- Improving the highway and public transport infrastructure through
improved roads and traffic management and extensions to the Midland
Metro
- Tackling inequalities in the job market by targeting employment opportunities
in areas of high unemployment and poverty
- Ensuring that planning policies encourage initiative and innovation
by adopting a flexible and efficient response to the needs of the market
in response to changes in technology and market demands
- Promoting secure and attractive environments
(1)
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Social Inclusion
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| 2.2.9 |
It is vital to consider the needs of all residents of the
City when considering development proposals. Government and local policies
and programmes aim to reduce social exclusion and increase equality of opportunity
in order to, for example, improve people's quality of life, providing sufficient
and convenient local services to meet everyday needs and accessible job
opportunities. |
| 2.2.10 |
Residents including those from black and ethnic minority communities,
people with disabilities, women, people with children, older people, young
people, unemployed people and people on low incomes can all suffer in varying
degrees from social exclusion and disadvantage. The Council is committed
to help eliminate disadvantage and discrimination. Examples of how planning
can influence and help promote social inclusion and reduce disadvantage
include: |
| 2.2.11 |
Black and Ethnic Minorities: |
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- Through the layout and design of buildings to meet particular religious,
community and cultural needs;
- Encouraging a range of housing size, types and tenures to meet, for
example, the needs of larger families;
- Providing local employment and business opportunities, which respond
to diverse cultural services and facilities;
- Monitoring of planning applications and decisions to ensure that discrimination
is not taking place in the delivery of the planning service.
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| 2.2.12 |
Women, People with Children and Older People: |
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- Incorporating community safety and "planning out crime" in the design
and layout of all developments;
- Providing improved, well lit and safe pedestrian routes, especially
those which serve local primary schools, local centres and other neighbourhood
facilities;
- Road safety improvement schemes, giving priority to pedestrians and
cyclists;
- Safeguarding local centres, shops and other neighbourhood/community
facilities, within the constraints of the planning development control
system;
- Improving public transport interchange facilities between bus, metro
and rail;
- Considering the particular needs of these people and young people
in the preparation of planning site development briefs, neighbourhood
plans and Action Plans, etc;
- Encouraging mixed use schemes that create compatible and complimentary
activity throughout the day and evening;
- Providing children's play facilities within major new housing developments
or on another easily accessible recreational open space within the neighbourhood.
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| 2.2.13 |
Unemployed People and People on Low Incomes: |
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- Promoting and encouraging the provision of new investment in employment
creating development;
- Safeguarding good quality employment sites and buildings for continued
or new employment provision;
- Linking areas of need and disadvantage to areas of job opportunity
and growth, through for example improved public transport provision
and working with training providers to improve the employment prospects
of local people;
- Using planning agreements on major employment development schemes
(where applicable) to secure new training and skill enhancement for
local people.
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| 2.2.14 |
Young People: |
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- Encouraging the dual-use of school and further education facilities,
where appropriate, particularly catering for sport, recreation, art
and drama activities;
- Helping schools on particular environmental and planning related projects
as part of the curriculum;
- Consulting and discussing with schools, their pupils and teachers
on new proposals in the area, in particular Action Plans and local planning
site development briefs;
- Consulting and engaging with the Youth Council on for example planning
issues and policy, major developments and opportunities to encourage
the private sector to more fully consider the needs of young people.
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| 2.2.15 |
People with Disabilities: |
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- Ensuring that new developments are easily accessible for people with
disabilities;
- Working to ensure that existing public buildings are accessible for
people with disabilities;
- Consulting with the 'One Voice' disability forum on planning policies
and development proposals.
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| 2.2.16 |
The above examples are not mutually exclusive - community
safety and "planning out crime" within new development help all the community,
but they do have a greater beneficial impact upon particular vulnerable
people and groups. Planning can only have a direct influence on certain
activities. The Community Plan, Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and partner
programmes and actions all place a high priority on addressing inequality
and social exclusion. |
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Protecting and Enhancing the Environment
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| 2.2.17 |
Wolverhampton has many environmental resources which help
to provide a healthy, safe and attractive environment for residents and
visitors. This includes places such as nature conservation sites, canals,
public open spaces and historic buildings, and natural resources, such the
air that we breathe, water and soil. |
| 2.2.18 |
UDP policies have a major role to play in protecting and
enhancing the quality of environmental resources by encouraging sustainable
development. It is important to locate and design new development so that
it does not harm local and global environmental resources, but enhances
quality of life and makes best use of derelict and underused land and buildings
in the City. A high quality environment is also a key factor in encouraging
new investment and social and economic regeneration. Good quality design,
which takes into account community safety and includes green open space
and improved access for all members of the community is vital. |
| 2.2.19 |
Planning can help to protect and enhance the environment
by: |
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- protecting and increasing access to the historic, built and natural
environment;
- ensuring the design of all new development is of high quality and
helps to create a safe and secure environment;
- helping local people to increase their understanding of environmental
issues and get involved;
- protecting the recreation and nature conservation value of the Green
Belt;
- securing improvements to the public spaces in the City.
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2.3
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Guiding Principles
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| 2.3.1 |
To translate the UDP objectives into specific policies and
proposals, and to ensure consistency and compatibility between the Community
Plan, LA21 Strategy and the constituent parts of the UDP Vision, requires
the development of Guiding Principles. The scale, pattern and design of
development in Wolverhampton over the UDP period will be guided by the principles
set out below. The principles are grouped under the three objectives of
the Plan. |
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Economic Regeneration
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| P1 |
the UDP will seek to strengthen and diversify the City's
employment base by attracting new investment and safeguarding existing jobs. |
| P2 |
the UDP will seek to create a leading 'industrial city'
with an increasing number of businesses that are creative, enterprising
and use the latest technologies. |
| P3 |
the UDP will promote an extensive and diverse service
sector, through in particular the further development and
strengthening of the City Centre, and
the strengthening of Bilston and Wednesfield town
centres and the district and local centres. (2) |
| P4 |
the UDP will seek to ensure that the benefits of economic
development are shared by all, particularly the residents of those areas
of greatest need. It will promote better access for local people to a broader
range of job opportunities to reduce disparities between different areas
of the City. |
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| P5 |
the UDP will seek to generate a more positive image for
the City through the development of high quality environments,
and the use of good design practices
and promoting conservation-led regeneration. (3) |
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Social Inclusion
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| P6 |
the UDP will seek to ensure that proper consideration
is given in development proposals and plans to the needs of all the community,
particularly disadvantaged people and groups, in order to assist in promoting
social inclusion and equality of opportunity. |
| P7 |
the UDP will seek to promote community safety and reduce
crime through the location and design of development. |
| P8 |
the UDP will enable the provision of an adequate quantity
and range of housing to meet local needs and aspirations and create balanced
communities. |
| P9 |
the UDP will promote the development of sustainable communities
by protecting and improving opportunities for access to services and facilities,
giving priority to those which are appropriate to the location and character
of the area in question, including health, welfare and lifelong learning,
transport, utilities, shopping, recreation and open space. It will aim to
provide new development, facilities and services as close as possible to
the point of need through promoting a hierarchy of centres. |
| P10 |
the UDP will support development that helps to promote
a contemporary, lively and culturally diverse City, subject to other Plan
policies, particularly the need to safeguard residential amenity, promote
high quality design and protect key environmental resources. |
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Protecting and Improving the Environment
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| P11 |
the UDP will protect and enhance environmental assets,
giving special attention to irreplaceable resources and to the distinctive
character of local environments. It will give priority to conserving and
enhancing designated areas, historic buildings, archaeology, geodiversity,
nature conservation resources and biodiversity, and ensuring a high standard
of design which is sustainable and promotes the sympathetic integration
of new land use and development. |
| P12 |
the UDP will promote sustainable land use and management,
especially through the restoration, reuse and enhancement of degraded environmental
assets, including the recycling of previously used land and buildings for
the most appropriate new use. |
| P13 |
the UDP will promote better accessibility to work, services
and facilities in ways which reduce the need for unnecessary travel, and
will promote the use of non car based transport for necessary trips and
leisure travel, where possible. It will guide new development to locations
which offer a choice of transport modes for movement of people and freight. |
| P14 |
the UDP will encourage the use of recycled and renewable
resources, reduce energy conservation and waste reduction. |
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2.4
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Part I Policies
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2.4.1 The policies in the remainder of this Chapter, together
with Policies IMR1 - IMR4 in the Implementation, Monitoring and Review Chapter,
form the UDP Part I policies. The Guiding Principles that underpin each
Part I policy are listed in brackets next to each policy heading. Throughout
the UDP, Part I policies are shown in bold type. A number of the Strategic
Part I policies listed in 2.10 also have a detailed Part II element. The
whole policy text is provided in Part II of the Plan. |
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2.5
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Area Development Framework
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| 2.5.1 |
In the light of the Vision, Objectives and Guiding Principles,
an overall approach to the location of development in the City has been
formulated, illustrated by a Key Diagram (Map 2.1). To take forward the
overall thrust of the review of Regional Planning Guidance (RPG11) and the
Regional Economic Strategy, large scale development should be directed to
Strategic Regeneration Areas, sites within or adjacent to defined centres,
and the Strategic Regeneration Corridors which link the City's major investment
opportunities with areas of greatest need. |
| 2.5.2 |
Development of " town centre uses" (as defined by Policy SH2)
meeting city-wide needs will generally be directed to Wolverhampton City
Centre. The City Centre is a sub regional centre providing a wide range
of employment, shopping, educational and community services and is the most
accessible location in the City by a choice of means of transport. Therefore
it is also the most suitable location for very high density housing developments,
which will help to create a vibrant and sustainable mixed use environment.
(6) |
| 2.5.3 |
Bilston Town Centre and Wednesfield Village Centre are important
centres on the eastern side of the City. They offer a range of employment
opportunities, community services and facilities and are important public
transport termini. By directing additional growth to these centres the UDP
will reinforce their roles by supporting existing facilities and reducing
the need to travel outside the City boundary to access jobs and services.
High density housing, particularly living over the
shop, is also suitable within these centres. (6) |
| 2.5.4 |
Away from the City Centre and
Town Centres a network of 35 district and local centres meets the day to
day needs of local areas. New developments in these locations will be small
in scale and directly related to satisfying the needs of the surrounding
residential area. (6) |
| 2.5.5 4 |
Outside these locations, large-scale employment, high
density housing and other development which has specific locational
requirements (such as Park and Ride), or that is inappropriate in an existing
centre, will be directed to four
Strategic Regeneration Corridors, where possible and
appropriate. These corridors are defined on the basis of their ability
to promote City-wide economic regeneration, their proximity to defined priority
neighbourhoods, the location of brownfield development opportunities and
existing or proposed public transport facilities. The Strategic Regeneration
Corridors and Areas contain the majority of
sites identified for large-scale employment and housing
development and the balance of UDP housing allocations.
These areas are likely to contain other sites which may be suitable for
high density mixed use developments should opportunities arise. (6) |
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| 2.5.6 5 |
Within this framework, all development proposals will be subject
to an overall appraisal of their sustainability. This appraisal will have
regard to such factors as the availability of previously developed land
and buildings; infrastructure capacity; the ability to build communities
and the range of services provided; the location and accessibility of potential
development sites by modes other than the car; the physical suitability
of sites to accommodate the development proposed; and a wide range of environmental
factors. Policies S1 to S4 are the principal means by which the Area Development
Framework will be implemented. |
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2.6
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Strategic Regeneration Areas
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| Policy S1: Strategic Regeneration
Areas (P1, P2, P3, P4, P8, P9, P10, P11, P12, P13) |
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| See
amended map |
| The following Strategic Regeneration
Areas, shown on the Proposals Map and Map
2.1, will be subject to major change over the lifetime of
the Plan: |
| 1. |
Wolverhampton City Centre Inset* See Chapter
15: City Centre |
| 2. |
Wolverhampton City Centre Urban Village, including
St John's Urban Village See Chapter
15: City Centre |
| 3. |
Bilston Town Centre Inset* See Chapter
16: Bilston Town Centre |
| 4. |
Bilston Urban Village* See Chapter
16: Bilston Town Centre |
| 5. |
Wednesfield Village Centre Inset* See Chapter
17: Wednesfield Village Centre |
| 6. |
All Saints and Blakenhall Community Development
(ABCD) New Deal for Communities Area* |
| 7. |
Wolverhampton Science Park See Chapter
9: Business and Industry |
| Those identified with an asterisk
are or will be the subject of Master/ Action Plans or existing
Action Plan reviews. |
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| 2.6.1 |
The Strategic Regeneration Areas listed in Policy S1 are
located within the Walsall, Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire Regeneration
Zone, the boundary of which is shown on Map 2.1. Where appropriate, the
Council will prepare detailed Action Plans to guide the development of these
Areas. The three centres - Wolverhampton City Centre, Bilston Town Centre
and Wednesfield Village Centre are subject to detailed policies set out
in Chapters 15, 16 and 17, with proposals identified on separate inset maps
for each centre. Detailed proposals for Bilston Urban Village and the All
Saints and Blakenhall Community Development (ABCD) New Deal for Communities
Area are referred to below. |
| 2.6.2 |
Wolverhampton Science Park and its future expansion is considered
in the Business and Industry Chapter. The Wobaston Road and Hilton Cross
Regional Investment Sites, the Wobaston Road Major Investment Site (which
are in South Staffordshire) and the Wolverhampton Business Park Regional
Investment Site, are also shown on Map 2.1, because they are of strategic
importance to the economic regeneration of the Wolverhampton Travel To Work
Area (see Business and Industry Chapter). |
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Map 2.1
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Wolverhampton Area Development Framework Key Diagram (4)
(5)
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Click map to enlarge |
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Map 2.2
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Priority Neighbourhoods
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Click map to enlarge |
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Bilston Urban Village
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| 2.6.3 |
The site of the proposed Bilston Urban Village lies south
of the Black Country Route and Bilston Town Centre and is bounded to the
east by the Midland Metro, to the south by the Bradley Arm canal and to
the west by Coseley Road and Highfields Road. It comprises some 40 hectares
(100 acres) of development land currently characterised by dereliction,
uneven topography, low grade uses such as scrapyards and open space of variable
quality. Most of the land is onwed by the City Council and Advantage West
Midlands. |
| 2.6.4 |
A Master Plan for the entire area has been prepared which
proposes a radical alteration in the landform and a mixture of land uses
focusing on residential and employment uses. The Master Plan proposes the
following principal aims: |
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- To transform a largely degraded environment into a form of development
of high quality and which encompasses the principles of sustainable
development
- To support economic activity within the adjacent Bilston Town Centre
- To ensure that the benefits of the Urban Village are available to
the widest number of people.
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| 2.6.5 |
Alterations to the landform are proposed for two main reasons.
Firstly, ground conditions, including mine workings and made ground, require
wide-ranging remedial works to be undertaken. Extensive site investigations
indicate that much of the material is capable of reuse. Reclamation on this
scale will represent value for money provided that material can be reworked
within the site. |
| 2.6.6 |
Secondly, this movement of material will be used to create
more efficient development plots and to help to define the urban village
area. This landform will essentially involve the re-creation of the catchment
of the Bilston Brook, which runs through the site, in culvert, along a Southwest
to Northeast axis. This will signal a major transformation of the area and
will boost investor confidence and improve the quality of life for residents
living around the area. |
| 2.6.7 |
The key proposals of the Master Plan include: |
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- The creation of a new park at the heart of the development incorporating
a significant area of open water.
- A mixture of land uses, predominantly for housing and employment.
- A network of new pedestrian and cycle links across the site and the
improvement of existing links, particularly from Bradley to Bilston
Town Centre.
- The development of quality public transport through the site with
links to the Metro and the bus station.
- Residential development of a consistently high quality and at urban
densities, incorporating the latest techniques in, for example, energy
efficiency, and taking account of orientation, views across the site
and easy access to facilities.
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| 2.6.8 |
The development of the Urban Village represents the largest
mixed-use development opportunity within the City, is entirely on previously
developed land and will make a significant contribution to the City's housing
requirements within the Plan period. Providing improved links across the
Black Country Route can be established it has the potential to boost spend
within Bilston Town Centre. Bilston wards show persistent high levels of
unemployment and the proposed employment areas will give opportunities for
new and established residents of Bilston to access new jobs. |
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| 2.6.9 |
The nature of the proposed development will require changes
in land use designations across the site. Current designations include employment
areas, a private sports ground and public open space. Outline planning permission
has been granted, subject to a number of planning obligations. |
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All Saints and Blakenhall Community Development (ABCD) New Deal for
Communities Area
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| 2.6.10 |
The ABCD programme started in 2001 and will continue until
2010/11. A Master Plan for the area is being
has been produced which
will set out the physical regeneration proposals over the medium to long
term which provides a framework for the ABCD
area, identifying the key levers for change. Priority areas for action detailed
in the Master Plan include: |
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- The Spine Roads (Dudley Rd, Birmingham Rd)
- Blakenhall Gardens
- All Saints
- Industrial areas
- Parks zone / Open space strategy
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This plan will include land use,
major development and transportation proposals. The Master Plan will be
the subject of extensive consultation before being agreed by the ABCD Partnership.
The City Council will then formally adopt the Plan as Supplementary Planning
Guidance. The ABCD area's long term vision, objectives, key themes and action
programmes are set out in the original submission and in the Delivery Plan.
(7) |
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2.7
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Strategic Regeneration Corridors
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| Policy S2: Strategic Regeneration
Corridors (P1, P2, P3, P4, P7, P8, P9, P10, P11, P12, P13) |
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| The following four Strategic Regeneration
Corridors are shown on Map 2.1: |
| a |
A449 Stafford Road / West-Coast Main Railway
Line Corridor; |
| b |
Wednesfield Corridor: A4124 from Wolverhampton
to Wednesfield (proposed for a metro extension); |
| c |
A454 Willenhall Road Corridor (major link to
the Black Country Route and M6 motorway); |
| d |
Bilston Corridor: Wolverhampton to Bilston
metro line, A41 Bilston Road and Black Country Route. |
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| Within these Corridors particular
attention will be given to the following development and regeneration
initiatives: |
| 1. |
Employment investment to provide opportunities
for local people to access new jobs; |
| 2. |
Further public transport improvements and the
creation of better linkages between the Corridors and nearby
Priority Neighbourhoods; |
| 3. |
Encouraging high quality higher density housing
development on appropriate sites; |
| 4. |
Improving environmental conditions and image,
including high quality 'gateway development' and landscaping,
control of advert hoardings and commercial signage, traffic
management and safety measures, cycling and pedestrian facilities
and preserving key environmental assets; |
| 5. |
Opportunities will be considered to introduce
new park and ride facilities to support the vitality and viability
of the City Centre and to encourage more people to utilise public
transport, subject to local amenity and traffic considerations;
and |
| 6. |
Continued improvement to town, district and
local centres, details of which are set out elsewhere in the
Plan. |
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| 2.7.1 |
Policy S2 identifies four Strategic Regeneration Corridors,
shown diagrammatically on Map 2.1. (4) (5)
The purpose of the corridors is to identify those areas of the City where
priority will be given to projects which promote City wide economic regeneration. |
| 2.7.2 |
The Strategic Regeneration Corridors have been identified
on the basis of the following characteristics: |
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| 1. |
They contain concentrations of investment opportunities. The corridors
contain and link the Strategic Regeneration Areas listed in Policy
S1. These areas are anticipated to undergo major change over the Plan
period and will be the focus for large scale investment in the City.
In addition, the corridors contain concentrations of other smaller
business and housing allocations identified in the UDP. |
| 2. |
They are focussed upon major public transport investment routes,
notably existing and proposed metro lines and bus showcase routes.
As a result of this investment, these routes will be associated with
high frequency bus and light rail services and will offer a choice
of modes of transport to serve developments along them. |
| 3. |
They provide linkages between investment opportunities and areas
of greatest need. The Strategic Regeneration Corridors contain strong
physical linkages between major investment opportunities listed above
and the Priority Neighbourhoods, the areas of highest unemployment
and poverty in the City. |
| 4. |
They provide important external links between the City and other
key centres and major regeneration initiatives in the region. These
include key locations within the Wolverhampton-Telford High Technology
corridor, adjacent High Technology corridors and the Regeneration
Zone as identified in Regional Planning Guidance Review and the Regional
Economic Strategy. These other principal nodes include Telford to
the west, Walsall to the east and West Bromwich, Dudley and Birmingham
to the south east. |
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| 2.7.3 |
Within the corridors priority will be given to a range of
initiatives that are able to promote sustainable economic and community
regeneration and promote patterns of development that support the Plan's
Guiding Principles, in particular: |
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- Development able to provide employment opportunities for local people,
particularly in Priority Neighbourhoods (see 2.8.1), through targeted
training and recruitment programmes.
- Major improvements in public transport at and between key nodes along
the corridor. Priority will also be given to improvements in physical
linkages between regeneration opportunities, existing service and employment
centres and areas of greatest need in order to reduce social exclusion.
- Encouraging high quality, high density residential development. High
public transport accessibility associated with the corridors makes them
appropriate for residential developments that accommodate large numbers
of people who use centres within them for the majority of their shopping,
employment, leisure and services needs.
- Improvements in environmental conditions and control over advert hoardings
and other commercial signage. The corridors form the principal links
between Wolverhampton and the West Midlands conurbation and provide
important cross City links. They also contain a number of 'gateways'
and high profile sites where high quality development can enhance the
overall image of the City.
- Park and ride facilities. The corridors contain opportunities to
provide park and ride facilities making use of existing and proposed
public transport accessibility
- The enhancement of the City Centre, town, district and local centres.
The City Centre forms the hub of the four corridors, with Bilston and
Wednesfield forming the principal nodes on the A41 / Metro line 1 corridor
and the Wednesfield corridor respectively. The corridors also contain
a number of district and local centres which provide a focus for local
shopping, employment and community needs in highly accessible locations.
Enhancing the vitality and viability of these centres and the links
between them and adjacent residential areas will serve to reduce social
exclusion though the provision of improved local services easily accessible
from where people live.
- Creating a carefully balanced mix of land uses which
are "good neighbours".
(8) |
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| 2.7.4 |
In addition to these initiatives, the Stafford Road corridor
has an important function in supporting a range of projects in the Wolverhampton
- Telford High Technology Corridor, a principal policy tool of the Regional
Economic Strategy (RES) and Regional Planning Guidance review. The High
Technology Corridor is an area where the Regional Development Agency seeks
to concentrate certain cluster and high technology businesses generally
by linking businesses to Universities and other research centres. The Stafford
Road corridor contains a concentration of research and development establishments
at the University and Wolverhampton Science Park whose expertise can be
transferred to the existing business base. The corridor also contains a
number of high profile, high quality development opportunities capable of
attracting new high technology companies. The principal development opportunities
are at Wolverhampton Business Park, Wobaston Road and Wolverhampton Science
Park. |
| 2.7.5 |
Where appropriate, the Council will prepare detailed action
plans to guide the development of these corridors. Further information on
the key development opportunities within the corridors can be found in the
relevant Chapters of the Plan. |
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2.8 Local Area and Neighbourhood Renewal
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| Policy S3: Local Area and Neighbourhood
Renewal (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9, P10, P11, P12,
P13) |
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| Local area and neighbourhood renewal
initiatives and development proposals will be promoted and encouraged
throughout the City, with special emphasis on Priority Neighbourhoods.
The Priority Neighbourhoods are identified on Map
2.2. |
| Such initiatives and proposals
will help to secure sustainable improvements to the quality
of life and prosperity of local people, through: |
| 1. |
Promoting and encouraging employment development
in appropriate locations to provide local jobs; |
| 2. |
Improving the existing housing stock; |
| 3. |
Providing opportunities for new mixed tenure
and special needs housing; |
| 4. |
The beneficial development and reuse of previously
developed ("brownfield") land and buildings; |
| 5. |
Meeting, where practical, the cultural, leisure
and recreational needs of the local community; |
| 6. |
Improving the natural and built environment
and protecting key environmental assets; |
| 7. |
Reducing the impact of traffic; |
| 8. |
Securing development and other improvements
that help to improve community safety,
reduce the opportunities for crime and encourage social
inclusion; |
| 9. |
Improving accessibility and providing a choice
of transport modes for all the community, especially people
with disabilities; |
| 10. |
Acting as a focus for new investment through
a range of funding opportunities from the Council, the private
sector, AWM, Government, European and other sources; and |
| 11. |
Seeking to improve district and local centres
to provide a range of services and facilities, particularly
for food shopping. |
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(9) |
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| 2.8.1 |
The Wolverhampton Strategic Partnership has adopted a Wolverhampton
Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy (see 1.11.17). In developing the strategy,
85 distinct neighbourhoods were identified and profiles prepared for each
neighbourhood. This process confirmed that the City contains both highly
affluent and deeply deprived areas. For example, St. Peter's ward, ranked
316 most deprived nationally, adjoins Tettenhall Regis, ranked 3,055, and
just touches Tettenhall Wightwick, ranked 4,928. Using various deprivation
rankings and information from local consultations, 29 Priority Neighbourhoods,
which suffer from the highest levels of multiple deprivation, were identified
(see Map 2.2). |
| 2.8.2 |
In order to "close the gap" in quality of life between neighbourhoods,
the Wolverhampton Strategic Partnership, through the Neighbourhood Renewal
Strategy, is promoting a neighbourhood management approach focusing mainly,
but not solely, on priority neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood Management pilot
projects are being progressed, with the aid of the Neighbourhood Renewal
Fund, to identify the detailed needs of particular neighbourhoods and the
priorities of the people who live there, and to jointly agree and implement
action plans. Further pilots will be identified in future years and, eventually,
neighbourhood management will be rolled-out across the City as a whole. |
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2.9 Mixed Use Development
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| Policy S4: Mixed Use Development
(P4, P5, P9, P10, P11, P12, P13) |
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| All development proposals should
contribute towards providing a well-balanced mix of uses in
an area which work together to create vital, viable and sustainable
neighbourhoods. Large areas of single use should be avoided
unless this is necessary in order to protect residential amenity
or meet other major policy aims. |
| Mixed use development of individual
sites and buildings will be encouraged at appropriate locations
in or adjacent to centres and on key nodes in strategic regeneration
corridors, where it will contribute towards minimising the need
to travel and increasing local diversity and vitality. The design
of such proposals should integrate compatible uses in a manner
which creates an interesting and vibrant urban environment and
does not prejudice the amenities of existing and proposed residents
and other service users. |
| Proposals that include major residential
elements should provide an appropriate mix of dwellings, community
services and recreation facilities, reflecting the wider needs
of the neighbourhood. |
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| 2.9.1 |
Areas where housing, employment, retail, recreation and community
uses are mixed are not new - they have always been a feature of urban areas.
In recent years, however, there has been a recognition of the important
role mixed use development can play in delivering a sustainable urban environment,
through reducing the need to travel, producing vibrant and interesting places,
contributing towards regeneration and making new and better use of existing
redundant and vacant buildings. There have been focused attempts to promote
mixed use in Wolverhampton, ranging from proposals to create whole new mixed
use areas e.g. Bilston Urban Village, to the introduction of new uses into
town and city centres e.g. 'living over the shop'. Sites which are currently
allocated for mixed use development include a number of City Centre sites
(see City Centre Chapter) and the predominantly residential mixed use site
allocations shown on the Proposals Map (see Policy H4 / Table 13.2). |
| 2.9.2 |
The mix of uses within a building, street or wider area can
help to determine how well used a place is. In general, a mix of uses provides
interest, diversity and vitality in the urban environment in contrast to
the possible dullness and monotony of a single use area and can help to
generate activity throughout the day and evening. Mixed use areas can also
group housing, jobs, shops and services at locations within the local neighbourhood
which help reduce distances people have to travel and promote the use of
public transport, walking and cycling. |
| 2.9.3 |
An appropriate mix of housing, employment, community and retail
uses at a macro (area) level can help to produce balanced, sustainable communities
in most areas. However, to safeguard the amenity of local residents, it
is necessary to allocate some single use areas for land uses such as industry,
which are likely to create pollution and / or large volumes of traffic.
Mixed use at a micro (site and building) level is best suited to locations
within or adjacent to centres and other key public transport nodes where
it can help to make the most of opportunities for higher densities and intensive
activities. For example, in such locations, housing provides customers for
shops and offices, makes use of space above them and generates activity
when they are closed. |
| 2.9.4 |
It is important that uses are mixed in ways that ensure compatibility.
For example, community or open space uses can provide a useful buffer between
employment and residential uses. High standards of acoustic insulation,
double-glazing, efficient waste disposal and good space standards can ensure
that residential amenity is not compromised in mixed use development. |
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2.10 Strategic Policies
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| 2.10.1 |
The following Strategic Policies are Part I policies which
are repeated and justified within the subject chapters of the Plan. (Please
see relevant chapter for reasons for proposed changes) |
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| D1: Design
Quality (P5, P9) |
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| All development proposals should
demonstrate a high standard of design and contribute towards
creating a strong sense of place. Proposals
should be evolved from an understanding of local distinctiveness
and the historic context. Poor and mediocre designs will
be unacceptable. |
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| Policy
D10: Community Safety (P7) |
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| Proposals should take full account
of the need to prevent crime, reduce the fear of crime and promote
community safety throughout the design process. |
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| Policy
EP1: Pollution Control (P10, P14) |
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| Development which may result in
pollution of air, ground or water or pollution through noise,
smell, dust, vibration, light, heat or radiation will only be
permitted where it can be shown that there would be no material
adverse impact on: |
- The immediate, medium or long term health, safety or
amenity of users of the land or surrounding areas; or
- Quality and enjoyment of the environment.
|
| Where appropriate, conditions or
planning obligations will be used to reduce such impacts to
acceptable levels. |
| Pollution sensitive developments
will not be permitted where users of the land may be subject
to the adverse impacts of existing or proposed potentially polluting
uses, unless conditions or planning obligations can be used
to reduce such impacts to acceptable levels. |
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| Policy
EP13: Waste And Development (P9, P11, P12, P14) |
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| The Council will seek to ensure
that: |
- Sufficient waste management facilities are provided across
the City, in appropriate locations, in
accordance with applicable waste management legislation
(7), to meet adopted regional, sub-regional and local
waste management targets;
- All development is designed so that, throughout construction
and operation, the production and transportation of waste
is minimised and the recovery of waste is maximised.
- Opportunities to utilise sustainable
transport modes, including rail and water, will be taken
where possible. (8)
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| Policy
EP16: Energy Conservation (P9, P13, P14) |
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| The conservation and efficient
use of energy will be maximised by: |
- Ensuring that the energy demands of developments are minimised
through appropriate location, orientation, siting and design;
- Encouraging the production and use of renewable energy.
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| Policy
HE1: Preservation Of Local Character And Distinctiveness
(P11) |
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| All development proposals should
take account of locally distinctive character types, respect
the positive attributes of character areas and retain physical
features which strongly and positively contribute to the local
character and distinctiveness of the City's landscape and townscape.
In particular, proposals should take account of the special
contribution of conservation areas, historic parks and gardens,
listed and local list buildings, the canal network, archaeological
sites and protected trees. |
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| Policy
N1: Promotion Of Nature Conservation (P11) |
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| The Council, in partnership with
a range of organisations and adjoining local authorities,
and developers (1) will seek
to secure the appropriate study, protection, management, enhancement
and expansion of Wolverhampton's existing nature conservation
resource, including the creation of new habitats and features
of value for nature conservation. The value of Local Nature
Reserves and Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation will
be strongly protected. |
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| Policy
G1: Protection Of The Green Belt (P11) |
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| Within the Green Belt, inappropriate
development will not be permitted except in very special circumstances,
where the harm caused is clearly outweighed by other considerations.
Any such case will be referred to the Secretary of State as
a departure from the UDP. |
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| B1: Economic
Prosperity (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) |
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| The Council will seek to improve
Wolverhampton's prosperity by granting planning permissions
for inward investment, the establishment of new small and medium
sized enterprises and the expansion or relocation of existing
businesses on existing and allocated sites / buildings within
the City. |
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| B2: Balanced
Portfolio of Employment Land (P1, P2, P3) |
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| The Council will work towards the
provision of a balanced portfolio and geographical spread of
Class B employment land that is readily capable of development
and well served (or capable of being served) by existing infrastructure. |
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| Policy
SH1: Centres Strategy (P1, P3, P8, P9, P13) |
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| The network of centres shown on
the Proposals Map will be maintained and enhanced as a means
of providing access to a wide range of shops, services and other
activities in readily accessible locations, and as a focus for
regeneration in the City. Centre uses, as defined in Policy
SH2, will be expected to locate within centres and will be subject
to the application of a sequential approach. In applying this
strategy the following broad roles of centres will be recognised: |
- Wolverhampton City Centre will be maintained in its role
as a sub-regional centre and the principal location for
employment, shopping, commerce and leisure activity in the
City. Uses serving a sub-regional or City-wide catchment
area will be encouraged to locate within the City Centre.
- Bilston and Wednesfield will function as town centres
providing a wide range of shopping and other services in
the sectors of the City that they serve. Appropriate activities
will be encouraged to locate within them.
- The 10 district centres identified on the Proposals Map
and listed in Policy SH6
7, will be supported as
the focus of convenience shopping and other local services,
social, leisure and community uses within their respective
localities.
- The 25 local centres identified on the Proposals Map and
listed in Policy SH7
8, will be fostered and
protected in order that an accessible range of local shops
and services is available, especially to those who do not
have access to a car.
(59) |
| Outside identified centres, centre
uses will only be permitted where they are small in scale and
meet the day to day needs of a population living mainly within
walking distance which cannot conveniently be served from an
identified centre , as required by
Policy SH9. The development of large scale centre uses in out
of centre locations will only be permitted in exceptional circumstances
and subject to Policy SH3 and where relevant SH11-13. (9) |
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| Policy
C1: Health, Education and other Community Services (P6,
P9, P13) |
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| Subject to other UDP policies,
the Council will seek to meet existing and future needs for
community services, by: |
- Protecting land and buildings in community service use;
- Encouraging improvements in access to existing community
service facilities;
- Supporting the expansion and improvement of community
facilities and the provision of new facilities, in accessible
locations.
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| Where major new developments are
proposed (especially residential and mixed-use schemes) contributions
towards the provision of new community facilities may be required
to serve the needs of the development and the local area. |
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| Policy
R1: Local Standards for Open Space, Sport and Recreation Facilities
(P6, P9, P11) |
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| The Council will carry out assessments
of the existing and future needs of Wolverhampton communities
for different types of open space, sport and recreation facilities.
These assessments will be used to set local standards for different
types of provision, in terms of quantity, quality and accessibility.
Audits will be undertaken to define areas of deficit or surplus
in relation to these standards. |
| The Council will seek to ensure
that open space, sport and recreation standards are met, both
across the City and at a local level, by: |
- Resisting the loss of open space, sport and recreation
facilities required to meet local needs;
- Improving the provision, quality and accessibility of
such facilities, where resources allow, and encouraging
their appropriate management;
- Ensuring that new developments meet their own open space,
sport and recreation needs.
- Ensuring that links are provided between
adjacent open spaces. (1)
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| Policy
H1: Housing (P1, P6, P8) |
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| The Council will seek to: |
- Maintain existing residential populations in the City
and, where appropriate, increase levels, particularly within
inner urban areas;
- Improve the condition and use of the existing housing
stock;
- Identify sufficient land and buildings
to provide for the housing needs and aspirations of the
whole community and meet Regional Planning Guidance targets;
- Locate as much new housing as possible on appropriate
previously-developed sites within the urban area, particularly
at places with good public transport
accessibility within
walking distance of centres, strategic regeneration corridors,
and other good quality public transport nodes, where
high densities will be promoted;
- Ensure that new housing is developed to a high standard
of design and provides appropriate services to meet the
needs of new residents and the wider community.
(1)
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| Policy
H2: Housing Land Provision (P8) |
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| Sites will be made available for
the provision of 5,590
6,090 new dwellings over the
period 2002 2003-2011,
through completion of committed sites
and granting permission for housing ,
by permitting appropriate development on allocated sites
and other suitable land and buildings within the urban area.
Such provision will be subject to monitoring and review. (2) |
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| Policy
AM1: Access, Mobility and New Development (P6, P9, P13) |
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| The Council will work in partnership
with Centro, neighbouring authorities, the health community,
business sector and transport operators to improve access and
mobility for all members of the community. |
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| All new development will be expected
to contribute towards improvements in access and mobility, by
ensuring that people have a wide choice of mode of transport
to access the site, including public transport, cycling and
walking. Such contributions will be
sought in accordance with UDP Policy IMR2 'Planning Obligations
and Agreements.' (1) |
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| REASONS FOR PROPOSED CHANGES |
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1.
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In response to objection 20/48 |
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2.
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In response to objection 83/205 |
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3.
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In response to objection 182/820 |
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4.
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Map 2.1 amended to include Walsall railway
corridor in response to objection 134/492 |
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5.
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Map 2.1 amended to reflect likely proposed
metro route through Wednesfield |
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6.
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In response to objection 127/454 |
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7.
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In response to updated information |
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8.
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In response to objections 28/79 & 72/155 |
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9.
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In response to objection 20/40 |
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