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CHAPTER 11: COMMUNITY SERVICES
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11.1
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Introduction
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| 11.1.1 |
A wide variety of community services are provided in Wolverhampton,
ranging from hospitals and schools to pubs, community centres and cemeteries.
Recent years have seen an increase in the proportion of people employed
in the community service sector, and further growth is forecast. |
| 11.1.2 |
As part of the creation of a Learning City, a Caring City,
a Healthy City and a City of Communities and Neighbourhoods, the Wolverhampton
Partnership Community Plan (2002-2012) aims to: |
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· Create a City where more people can take part in learning
throughout their lives and reach their full potential; · Develop a City
Learning Quarter and new University facilities to cater for 22,000 students
in the City Centre; · Create a new City Academy and four new specialist
schools for 14-19 year olds; · Provide a range of modern health care facilities
in the right place and in proportion to need; · Redevelop New Cross Hospital
to include a Cardiac Centre and more facilities for treating cancer patients,
and take other traditional hospital-based services closer to people's homes;
· Provide new buildings for family doctors, a Children's Centre and a new
hospital at Penn to treat people with mental illness; · Ensure more good
quality childcare is available across the City; · Improve community facilities
and increase the number of local people involved in community or voluntary
activities. |
| 11.1.3 |
A healthy lifestyle and access to health and social care
facilities is crucial to everyone's quality of life. This is also a close
relationship between health and regeneration. Good health is important in
relation to employment (paid or voluntary), in increasing social inclusion
and ability to participate in social, leisure and recreational activities. |
| 11.1.4 |
The Wolverhampton Learning Partnership is the 'learning arm'
of the Wolverhampton Strategic Partnership. The vision in its Learning Plan
is to:
"Enhance the skills, prosperity and self-esteem of all the people of Wolverhampton".
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To assist in achieving the Learning Plan objectives and targets
requires good quality buildings and associated facilities in which to undertake
learning, training and formal education. |
| 11.1.5 |
Lifelong Learning encompasses school, higher and further education,
work based training and a wide variety of less formal education undertaken
in local communities and at home. Continual education and learning new skills
plays a crucial part in improving people's quality of life; is a cornerstone
of economic regeneration and future prosperity and lays the foundation for
a socially inclusive and just society. |
| 11.1.6 |
The City Council is the largest provider of social, welfare
and education services in Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton Health Authority
is responsible for the provision of hospital and primary health care facilities.
A variety of other organisations are involved in the provision of community
services and, in recent years, the voluntary sector has expanded to become
a significant provider. Many of the larger community service providers have
major land holdings and have developed estates strategies to guide future
development. |
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11.2
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Community Needs
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| Policy C1: Health, Education and
other Community Services (Part I) |
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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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| 11.2.1 |
Community services tend to have limited and uncertain access
to funding and so have difficulties competing on the open market for land
and premises. Social trends can also have an impact on service needs. For
example, an anticipated rise in the number of elderly people in future years
will mean an increased need for suitable facilities for dependent elderly
people. The Council will continue to work in partnership with other community
service providers to ensure that the essential land and premises required
to deliver community services are protected and that new sites are provided,
where necessary, to respond to changing service needs. |
| 11.2.2 |
Where new or replacement community facilities are proposed,
it is particularly important that they are located where there is good access
to public transport and cycling and pedestrian links, and that satisfactory
access is provided for people with disabilities, the elderly and those with
children. Policies in Chapter 14: Access and Mobility and Policy D11 and
SPG on Access and Facilities for People with Disabilities provide policy
context and detailed guidance on accessibility issues. |
| 11.2.3 |
Public service, cultural, community, health and education
facilities which serve more than 'local needs' are defined as 'centre uses'
under Policy SH2 and are therefore subject to Policies SH1 and SH32.
This requires the application of a sequential approach to site selection,
with preference given to sites within an appropriate defined centre. Major
proposals, which will attract large numbers of users, should be located
within or on the edge of the City Centre or Wednesfield or Bilston town
centres. Favourable consideration will be given to the location of smaller
community facilities within or on the edge of district or local centres
(see Policies SH76
and SH87).
Proposals for community facilities which meet an identified
local need may be permitted in out of centre locations where they are small
in scale and satisfy the requirements of Policy SH9. (4)
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| 11.2.4 |
Major new developments, which will significantly increase
local demand for health, education and other community services, may be
required to make a financial contribution towards the cost of providing
such facilities. |
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11.3
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Community Meeting Places
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| Policy C2: Community Meeting
Places |
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| Proposals involving the
loss of community meeting places, including clubs, public houses
and community centres, will only be permitted if it can be demonstrated
that: |
| 1. |
There is no longer a need for the facility,
or for any other community use which could be accommodated on
the site; |
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There are other existing facilities,
in an equally or more convenient location, which would accommodate
any community activities displaced by the proposed development;
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| 3. |
The proposal would involve the replacement
of the facility in an equally convenient location; or |
| 4. |
It would not be possible to retain the
facility or provide an alternative facility because, despite
all reasonable efforts, this would not be economically
viable. (1) |
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| 11.3.1 |
The Council has a strong commitment to support the variety
of community and voluntary groups, including religious groups, which exist
in Wolverhampton. Many such groups have difficulty finding a suitable meeting
place, to act as a focus for social, cultural or religious activities. In
order to meet this need, it is important to protect existing meeting places
and maximise their use, and also to provide land and premises for a variety
of new facilities. Special consideration should be given to the needs of
ethnic communities and communities suffering from deprivation or social
exclusion. Meeting places can include community centres, school halls, religious
buildings, clubs and public houses. |
| 11.3.2 |
Policy C2 indicates a presumption in favour of retaining
community meeting places, particularly in neighbourhoods where there are
few such facilities. When considering applications for redevelopment or
change of use of community meeting places to other non-community uses, the
Council will expect developers to provide detailed evidence to demonstrate
compliance with this policy e.g. public consultation
results, marketing evidence, a revenue investment appraisal, a structural
report or detailed proposals showing how existing uses will be accommodated
elsewhere. SPG on Places of Worship provides specific guidance on
proposals involving religious buildings. (2) |
| 11.3.3 |
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has published the Public
House Viability Test: Advice for Planners (2000) which will be taken into
account by the Council when considering proposals for the change of use
or redevelopment of pubs. |
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11.2
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Education and Childcare Facilities
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| Policy C3: Education Facilities |
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| Land and buildings in educational
use should be retained where there is a recognised need for
such facilities. Development which will lead to the improvement
of education facilities in the City will be supported where
this will not conflict with other UDP policies. Dual-use of
both existing and proposed education facilities will be encouraged. |
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| 11.2.1 |
Education facilities constitute a major land use in Wolverhampton.
Wolverhampton Local Education Authority has produced a School Organisation
Plan to cover the period 2001-2006. The Plan, which will be reviewed annually,
assesses school places in the City and determines present and future accommodation
needs. Varying changes in the population structure of different parts of
Wolverhampton have resulted in the need to rationalise school premises in
some areas and increase the capacity of oversubscribed schools in other
areas. This will result in the need to extend, remodel or dispose of land
and buildings on a number of school sites. |
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| 11.2.2 |
It is important to retain grounds and buildings for educational
use where these are required to serve current or future needs. However,
where grounds and buildings in educational use are declared surplus to requirements,
appropriate redevelopment will be encouraged, subject to Policy R5 regarding
the protection of sports grounds. Alternative community uses should be considered
before any other uses. The re-use of existing buildings should also be considered,
particularly within the Green Belt (see Policy G2). Extensions to existing
education facilities will be encouraged, subject to other UDP policies. |
| 11.2.3 |
A number of education facilities fall within the Green Belt,
which places limitations on any future development. However, the Council
has designated a number of these sites as Major Developed Sites, to allow
a limited amount of expansion and redevelopment to take place, for the benefit
of lifelong learning in the City. Major housing developments due to come
forward over the lifetime of the Plan, such as Bilston Urban Village, will
impact on school place provision and may result in the need for new or expanded
school facilities. |
| 11.2.4 |
Within Wolverhampton City Centre there are a number of innovative
proposals within the 'Learning Quarter', including the establishment of
a City Academy. Further details are set out in Chapter 15. Wolverhampton
University has an estates strategy and is undergoing a major expansion of
its City Centre Campus, which will continue for a number of years. The Campus
serves 14,000 students and employs 2,000 staff. |
| 11.2.5 |
A growing number of education establishments, particularly
secondary schools, Wolverhampton University and colleges, have opened up
a range of valuable facilities for wider use by the local community. These
include sport, arts, theatre and dance activities, adult education and the
use of meeting rooms by local groups in the evenings. In some areas such
sites provide the only available local swimming pool, sports hall or outdoor
sports pitches. The Council recognises that schools (particularly secondary
schools) and colleges are an important community asset and encourages greater
dual-use of facilities through a Strategy for Community Use of School Facilities
(see also Policy R8). Decisions on dual-use of schools are taken by the
governing body in consultation with the Local Education Authority and the
local community. |
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| Policy C4: Day Nurseries |
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provision of day nurseries will be encouraged, where a need
exists. (3) |
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| 11.2.6 |
The provision of conveniently located childcare for pre-school
age children is very important both economically and socially, as it allows
parents to continue to, or return to work. The Early Years Development and
Child Care Plan includes a commitment to provide school nursery places for
all three year olds in the City. However, a large proportion of childcare
is provided by privately-run day nurseries, play groups and crèches. SPG
on Day Nurseries provides specific guidance on proposals involving non-residential
care for children up to five years of age, including play groups and crèches.
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| 11.2.7 |
The lack of childcare facilities close to Wolverhampton employment
sites can be a barrier to economically active women entering the workforce.
Therefore, the Council will encourage
support the provision of crèche
childcare facilities as part of any
new commercial and retail development in Wolverhampton
City Centre and large-scale employment developments
to serve workers and shoppers. Commercial
and retail developments in Wolverhampton City Centre will also be encouraged
to provide childcare facilities, to serve workers and shoppers. (3) |
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11.3
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Health Facilities
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| Policy C54:
Health Service Improvements |
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| The Council will work with
the Health Authority and other health service providers to identify
appropriate sites and premises for the implementation of health
service improvements. |
| All proposals to develop
or improve health services should be located and designed so
as to maximise accessibility by non-car modes of transport whilst
providing sufficient access arrangements for emergency vehicles
and those who need to use cars. |
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| 11.3.1 |
The Council wishes to support and encourage the provision
of new or improved health and social care facilities in appropriate locations
to serve local people. This will be particularly important in areas where
existing provision is poor and inadequate and where, for example, new healthy
living centres or GP group practice facilities are needed. The Health Authority
and other providers will be consulted at an early stage on the needs of
particular areas when major development proposals are being considered. |
| 11.3.2 |
Policies and proposals elsewhere in the plan cover other health
related matters such as improving air quality by encouraging high traffic
generating activities to locate in areas which are already (or have potential
to be) served by public transport, improvements to public transport, placing
a high priority on the needs of pedestrians to help increase walking, protection
of key environmental resources such as green spaces and in dealing with
contaminated land. |
| 11.3.3 |
In recent years, there have been major changes in thinking
about the way that health and social care should be provided, linked to
national government requirements to improve health and tackle health inequalities.
These include a move towards providing care close to where people live,
wherever practical. Wolverhampton's Health Improvement Programme (HImP)
brings together key actions arising from national and local strategies and
makes proposals for the future development of health and social care facilities
in Wolverhampton. Proposals arising from the HImP which relate to land use
are detailed in the Wolverhampton Health Community Estates Strategy. |
| 11.3.4 |
Plans are already underway to radically improve the buildings
and facilities provided by The Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust at
New Cross Hospital, located to the north east of the City Centre. This may
result in the release of parts of the site for redevelopment. As part of
the resulting service reorganisation, outpatient, investigation and day
case treatments will move from New Cross Hospital to new Primary Care Centres.
These easily accessible, walk-in centres will compliment hospital and GP
services by providing treatment for minor conditions. At least two Primary
Care Centres will be provided, one located in or near the City Centre and
another in Bilston. |
| 11.3.5 |
Another major proposal is to refurbish, consolidate and expand
facilities provided by GP surgeries across Wolverhampton, to provide further,
good quality primary care close to where people live. There are also plans
to create a specialist Children's Centre and to close the three existing
continuing care homes for the elderly infirm and replace them with a new
facility located in or near the City Centre. Policy H13: Special Needs Housing,
Policy H14: Residential Care Homes and associated SPG provide guidance on
proposals involving the provision of public and private nursing homes for
the elderly and housing for others with special needs. |
| 11.3.6 |
It is important that all new or improved health facilities
are located and designed so that local people can easily access services.
Proposals should demonstrate accessibility by a range of means of transport
and should be located as near as possible to where people live, both in
order to increase accessibility and to reduce the need for car journeys. |
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| Policy C6C5:
New Cross Hospital |
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| The Council will work closely
with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust and other partners, within
the context of the estate strategy and master plan, to ensure
that the major redevelopment proposals for the New Cross Hospital
complex address the following matters: |
| 1. |
Improved public transport accessibility
and related facilities; |
| 2. |
Enhanced vehicular, pedestrian and
cycling circulation networks; |
| 3. |
Provision of adequate car parking to
meet the long-term needs of the hospital, linked to a green
transport plan; |
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Sustainable energy, waste treatment
and recycling facilities; |
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Improved building and environment design
and layout; |
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Quality hard and soft landscaping,
including recreational open space and sitting-out areas; |
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Key gateway sites, buildings and entrance
points and appropriate signage; |
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Public art provision; |
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Protecting the amenity and environment
of local residents. |
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| 11.3.7 |
Over a ten year period New Cross Hospital will undergo major
changes. The developments will, when complete, provide a first class hospital
for the City and the surrounding area. The programme includes the following
major developments to be completed in the first 5 years or so: new cardiac
and radiology centres; replacement of the existing boiler facilities with
a new energy centre; development of a Medical Zone; and extensions to the
undergraduate teaching facility. The Hospital Trust are also negotiating
with the Department of Health to bring forward a major scheme for the redevelopment
of other key facilities. |
| 11.3.8 |
All of these developments will be set within an emerging
master plan for the whole hospital complex and most will require planning
permission. It is therefore important for the City Council to work in partnership
with the Hospital Trust, local people and other partners such as Centro
and bus operators, in order to secure the master plan objectives. The New
Cross Hospital site is shown on the Proposals Map. |
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| Policy C6: Bentley Bridge |
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| The Bentley Bridge Park site (shown
on the Proposals Map) [Map
11/1] has planning permission for Class A1 retail development.
If these permissions are not implemented then planning permission
for centre uses as defined in Policy SH2 will only be granted
subject to Policy SH3. |
| The site would be suitable for
a mixed use development which could incorporate: |
- a Medipark comprising the following uses:
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- High technology industry, business, research
and development uses related to health care and medical technologies; |
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- Heath care related office and education
uses; |
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- Health workers accommodation subject to
Policy H6. |
- Limited housing development subject to Policy H6
- Education facilities
- Business development within classes B1, B2 and B8 subject
to Policies B5, B6 and B8.
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will only be permitted as part of a comprehensive scheme as
set out in a Masterplan to be approved by the Council.
(5) |
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| 11.3.9 |
In addition to the proposals for New
Cross Hospital, a partnership of the Royal Hospitals Trust, the City College,
the City Council, Black Country LSC and Wolverhampton University are considering
plans for a Medipark in the City. The Medipark will contain a range of facilities
including research and development, offices, education provision and health
workers accommodation. These facilities will be based around the medical
technologies/health sector and be strongly linked both physically and functionally
to New Cross Hospital. Given its location close to New Cross, the mixed
nature of adjacent land uses and proximity to the proposed Metro line, the
most appropriate location for this facility is the undeveloped area of Bentley
Bridge Park, potentially as part of a mixed use scheme including housing,
education and business uses. This site will only become available for development
if the planning permissions for Class A1 retail development are not implemented.
If these permissions are implemented, other locations for the Medipark will
be considered. (5) |
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| Policy C7: Medical Practices
In Residential Areas |
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| Changes of use of dwelling
houses to medical practices and extensions to existing practices
within residential areas will be permitted if: |
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There is proper provision of safe access
and adequate parking for staff and patients, which will not
harm the amenity of local residents; |
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Any alterations or extensions to the
premises would not prejudice their return to full residential
use at a later date; and |
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If the property is linked to a dwelling
house, the problem of noise transference and loss of amenity
can be adequately controlled. |
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| 11.3.9 |
Medical practices include doctors, dentists, opticians, chiropodists
and homeopaths and other similar uses. Such practices are typically located
in local centres or in residential areas. Local and district centres are
particularly appropriate locations for medical practices (see Policies SH6
and SH7), subject to Policy C8 and Policy SH9 regarding active ground floor
frontages. Whilst locating or extending medical practices in residential
areas may be appropriate in terms of accessibility, it is important that
the amenity of local residents is respected. Similar principles will also
apply to veterinary surgeries, where particular effort should be taken to
avoid nuisances caused by noise, smell and waste. |
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| Policy C8: Access To Medical
Practices |
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| New medical practices should
provide at least one patients surgery on the ground floor which
has satisfactory access for people with disabilities, elderly
people and people with young children. This policy will apply
to changes of use and new development. |
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| 11.3.10 |
A number of existing medical practices occupy only the upper
floors of a building. This arrangement restricts access for people with
disabilities, the elderly and those with young children. Therefore, it is
important that proposals to develop new practices or redevelop existing
practices, allow for the access and treatment of patients at ground level.
In cases of exceptional and urgent need, temporary planning permission may
be granted for the use of upper floors as surgeries on the understanding
that at least one surgery is provided on the ground floor as quickly as
is practical. |
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11.4
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Cemetery Provision
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| Policy C9: Cemetery Provision |
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| Consideration will be given
to the provision of additional cemetery and woodland burial
facilities where there is an identified need, subject to: |
| 1. |
Appropriate protection of nature conservation
value and preservation of features which contribute towards
area of special character interest; |
| 2. |
Appropriate ground conditions; and |
| 3. |
Good accessibility. |
| The following site has been
safeguarded for cemetery use: Land off Barnhurst Lane, adj.
Aldersley School |
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| 11.4.1 |
The Council has identified an urgent need for more cemetery
and woodland burial sites to meet Wolverhampton's needs beyond 2003. A number
of potential sites have been identified to meet this need, which are of
an appropriate size and location and have suitable ground conditions for
such use. Part of one of these sites falls within the City Boundary and
is shown on the Proposals Map. If it is necessary to identify further sites
during the Plan period, they will be assessed against criteria in Policy
C9 and other UDP policies. |
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REASONS FOR PROPOSED CHANGES |
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In response to objection 147/652 |
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2 |
In response to objection 179/798 |
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In response to objection 147/648 |
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For clarification |
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5 |
In response to updated information and objections
180/810, 207/1002, 99/319 |
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