3.1.1 An important factor in producing an effective Local Plan for Burnley and addressing the challenges that have been identified is having a clear idea about the place that Burnley will be at the end of the Plan period. The vision for Burnley is:
| In 2032: “The borough is a place of choice. Its excellent road and rail links to Manchester, Preston and Leeds and its attractive countryside setting have encouraged people to remain and to move into the borough. It is a place where businesses want to invest because of its skilled workforce, entrepreneurial culture, its competitive modern economy and its reputation for advanced manufacturing and engineering. Burnley town centre has firmly established itself as a vibrant retail and service centre for much of Pennine Lancashire. It is complemented by the more specialist independent retail and leisure offer provided by the attractive historic market town of Padiham. The borough’s rich industrial heritage and attractive countryside and recreational offer have helped it become firmly established as a prime residential location. The Leeds & Liverpool Canal is now flanked, in the regenerated Weavers’ Triangle, by contemporary homes and bars. Fine historic parks form part of a well-connected network of greenspaces, including the Brun Valley Forest Park, linked to the wider countryside and the South Pennine uplands. This network has significantly improved the health of residents and the quality of the natural and built environment, extended the range of visitor opportunities and helped Burnley adapt to climate change. The borough’s heritage is a source of pride that runs alongside the celebration of the multicultural and diverse nature of its communities that play such an important part in invigorating its economic, cultural and social life. The borough is a desirable place to live offering a choice of high quality, affordable and aspirational homes as well as a diverse range of high quality employment opportunities. The Burnley Bridge Business Park, the Knowledge Park and a vibrant cultural and educational offer centred on the Weavers’ Triangle have secured Burnley’s reputation as an important employment centre for Pennine Lancashire. Education and training has been key to this. The borough has established itself as a hub of educational excellence with attainment levels above the national average and quality training and apprenticeship opportunities at Burnley College and the University of Central Lancashire.” |
3.2.1 In order to achieve the vision and address the issues that have been identified, a number of strategic plan objectives have been identified. The policies in the Plan will set out how development will be managed so as to deliver these objectives and achieve the overall Plan vision.
| Delivering Sustainable Growth | |
| 1. | To minimise the adverse impacts of climate change and support growth to meet the need for jobs, homes and services in the context of moving towards a low carbon economy and stemming population decline. Growth will be managed so that it takes place in the most appropriate locations, promotes the re-use of previously-developed land and buildings, energy efficiency and sustainable design; and encourages the use of decentralised and renewable or low carbon energy sources. |
| Population and Housing | |
| 2. | To revitalise the housing market by encouraging a well-integrated mix of high quality, aspirational and affordable homes of different types and tenures to meet the needs of a wide range of households and support economic growth. |
| Economy and Employment | |
| 3. | To create an environment that supports economic prosperity, growth, entrepreneurship and a diverse business base. |
| 4. | To enhance and develop Burnley town centre’s role as a sub-regional commercial centre and Padiham’s as a market town, supported by a network of other smaller centres that supply accessible services to local neighbourhoods; encouraging development that supports these service centres to ensure they are vibrant and prosperous. |
| The Natural Environment | |
| 5. | To protect and enhance the borough’s distinctive landscape character and high quality network of habitats and open spaces necessary for people and wildlife to thrive. |
| 6. | To improve mental and physical health and wellbeing by improving environmental quality and increasing opportunities for exercise and for sport and recreation, including improved access to nature and the wider countryside. |
| The Built and Historic Environment | |
| 7. | To create a safe, healthy, attractive, locally distinctive and accessible public realm for all. |
| 8. | To ensure that the intrinsic qualities and distinctive character of the historic environment is protected and, where possible, enhanced; and that heritage assets are used positively to promote and support regeneration and recreation and stimulate ‘pride of place’. |
| Accessibility, Transport and Other Infrastructure | |
| 9. | To improve connectivity to major cities, including Manchester and Leeds, and provide infrastructure that supports sustainable economic growth and travel patterns. |
| 10. | To establish Burnley as a centre of educational excellence with high levels of educational attainment and a skilled, highly qualified workforce that meets the needs of the borough's economy. |
| Community Involvement | |
| 11. | To promote a diverse, vibrant and creative local culture encouraging pride and community cohesion and to seek community involvement in planning the future of the borough. |
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