3.1 Mole Valley's planning policy framework is required to be in line with national planning policy and take account of the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy - the South East Plan - which is establishing the planning agenda for the District for the period up to 2026. At a more local level the Mole Valley Local Plan (2000) contains policies which will remain in force until gradually superseded by the Local Development Framework, of which this Core Strategy is a key part. Appendix B lists those Local Plan policies that will be replaced by the Mole Valley Core Strategy upon adoption. Ultimately the development plan for the District will comprise the South East Plan, the Mole Valley Local Development Framework and the Minerals and Waste Development Framework prepared by Surrey County Council.
3.2 The Government has put sustainable development at the heart of its national planning strategies. The goal of sustainable development is to enable everyone to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life without compromising the quality of life of future generations. The Government's strategy for sustainable development, Securing the Future, launched in 2005, explains that this goal will be pursued in an integrated way through a sustainable, innovative and productive economy that delivers high levels of employment; and a just society that promotes social inclusion, sustainable communities and personal wellbeing. This will be done in ways that protect and enhance the physical and natural environment and uses resources and energy as efficiently as possible.
3.3 This goal is reflected in Planning Policy Statement 1: Delivering Sustainable Development which establishes the Government's overarching planning agenda including:
3.4 The Government's Planning White Paper - Planning for a Sustainable Future - sets out the emerging challenges and issues that it expects local planning authorities to tackle through their local planning strategies. These include:-
Meeting the challenge of climate change
The planning system can help meet the targets for the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases by:
Supporting sustainable economic development
Planning strategies need to be responsive and efficient and support vital economic development in a way which ensures it is consistent with wider environmental and social objectives and which ensures that all regions share in the benefit of economic development.
Increasing the supply of housing
The Government is looking to increase the supply of housing above currently planned rates to meet increases in population, smaller households and increased prosperity.
Protecting and enhancing the environment and natural resources
The Government recognises continued economic growth and the need to build more homes puts pressure on the environment and natural resources. It recognises the need of the planning system to protect and enhance the quality, character and amenity value of the countryside and urban areas as a whole through positive policies. The Government emphasise that a high level of protection should be given to the most valued townscapes and landscapes, wildlife habitats and natural resources; and those with international and national designations should receive the highest level of protection. Planning should contribute to improving the quality of water, land and air and the conservation of renewable and non-renewable resources, and to sustainable waste management.
Improving local and national infrastructure
The Government stresses the need to ensure the right infrastructure is in place at every level to ensure that the quality of life of local communities does not diminish and recognises that improving infrastructure provision is also vital for unlocking housing growth.
3.5 The South East Plan sets out the spatial strategy for the region and was published by Government on 6th May 2009.
3.6 The key elements of the South East Plan of most relevance to Mole Valley are considered to be:
3.7 The South East Plan can be viewed at the Council Office, the Help Shop and on the SEEPB's website, www.se-partnershipboard.org.uk.
3.8 The South East England Regional Economic Strategy has been prepared by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA). Its vision is that the South East will be a world class region achieving sustainable prosperity by 2016. It establishes headline targets of achieving an average annual increase in GVA per capita of at least 3%, increasing productivity per worker by an average of 2.4% and by reducing the rate of increase in the region’s ecological footprint. It also contains a range of detailed action centred targets. Those of greatest importance to spatial planning in Mole Valley are:
3.9 The South East Regional Economic Strategy can be viewed at the Council Office, the HelpShop and at SEEDA’s website at www.seeda.co.uk
3.10 The Gatwick Diamond Initiative (GDI) is a business led public-private partnership that aims to facilitate and co-ordinate the actions necessary to maintain a vibrant economy in the area that extends from Brighton to south London and from Dorking to East Grinstead. Most of Mole Valley, including Leatherhead and Dorking lies within the area of the GDI and the Council has agreed to work with other members of the Initiative – particularly the five other local planning authorities (Crawley, Horsham, Mid-Sussex, Reigate & Banstead and Tandridge) – to ensure that future land use planning decisions in the GDI area are consistent with the shared vision for the economic, social and environmental development of the sub-region as expressed in the Gatwick Diamond Futures Plan.
3.11 The Plan contains three strategic initiatives; Inspire, Connect and Grow which, have been developed in consultation between partners and are based on a commitment to work together to deliver world class assets and services. The principal elements of the Plan which are relevant to spatial planning in Mole Valley are as follows:
3.12 The Gatwick Diamond Futures Plan can be viewed at the Council Office, the HelpShop and on line at www.gatwickdiamond.co.uk
3.13 The Surrey Waste Plan is a generic term covering the waste development plan documents that have been prepared by Surrey County Council who are responsible for waste planning in Surrey. These development plan documents set out the planning framework for the development of waste management facilities in Surrey. The key aspects of the Waste Plan which are relevant to spatial planning in Mole Valley are as follows:
Priority will be given to the provision of waste facilities on industrial/employment sites, particularly in urban areas:
3.14 The Surrey Waste Plan can be viewed at the Council Office, the HelpShop and on Surrey County Council’s website. www.surreycc.gov.uk
3.15 In 2004 the Surrey Strategic Partnership produced Surrey’s Community Plan. It set out a vision for Surrey in 2020 as a county of distinctive, confident, caring, creative and safe communities, where individuals and organisations have taken responsibility for resolving the many challenges that the county faces. The strategy identified six key themes for Surrey:
3.16 A vision based on each theme was drawn up and action plans and delivery agencies identified. They formed the basis for Surrey’s 2005/06 Local Public Service Agreement and subsequent 2006/07 and 2008/11 Local Area Agreements which were agreed by Government.
3.17 Of the six themes in the strategy, Theme 3 – Housing and related Development – is the one with the greatest relevance to spatial planning. The outcomes from this theme include the provision of a broader range of housing options for Surrey citizens.
3.18 The Mole Valley Community Plan has been developed and underpinned by the Community Planning Group (the Local Strategic Partnership) that comprises representatives of the public and voluntary sector and local businesses. The Community Strategy is about working together to improve the quality of life of the District. It seeks ways to address social needs, maintain a successful local economy and at the same time safeguard the environment and use natural resources wisely. In doing this the long term aim of achieving sustainable development can be achieved. With this in mind the vision of the Community is that:-
'The needs of those who live and work in the District are met, the environment, prosperity and distinctive character of Mole Valley are sustained and problems that reduce the quality of life are tackled.'
3.19 The key aims of the Community Strategy are to make step changes to improve:-
3.20 The Community Plan was prepared in tandem with the early stages of the Core Strategy and as a result has been influential in determining many of the key issues and policies contained within this document.
3.21 The Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy (including the Strategic Environmental Assessment as required by European Directives) has been undertaken throughout the preparation of the document. When preparing the Core Strategy, the Council has to carry out a formal assessment of its contribution to sustainable development through an assessment of the environmental, economic and social effects of the Plan. The preparation of the Sustainability Appraisal has involved a number of stages, matching those of the preparation of the Core Strategy to ensure that the outcomes are an integral part of the plan making process and therefore influence its content. The Sustainability Appraisal Report of the Core Strategy can be viewed in hard copy at the same locations as the Core Strategy and via the Council's website, www.molevalley.gov.uk/localplans.
3.22 Under the European Habitats Regulations, a Habitats Regulation Assessment (known as an Appropriate Assessment) is also required to assess the potential impact of development proposals in the Plan on nature conservation sites of European importance. Mole Valley District includes the Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment Special Area of Conservation and a number of other European or Ramsar wildlife sites are located within the wider area. This Core Strategy has been assessed under the provisions of the Habitats Regulations to ensure that it will not have an adverse effect on any European or Ramsar wildlife site and this assessment has been recorded (please see the Appropriate Assessment of Mole Valley Core Strategy). The Core Strategy does not support any project or proposal where it cannot be demonstrated that the development would not have an adverse effect on the integrity of any European or Ramsar wildlife site. Any subsequent plan following this Core Strategy will similarly adhere to the requirements of the Habitats Regulations.
3.23 There is a significant number of plans, policies and programmes that influence the Core Strategy. They cannot all be identified here but are set out and examined in Appendix 1 of the Sustainability Appraisal Report. In addition, key guidance and sources of other information are referred to throughout the Core Strategy where particularly influential. The Core Strategy does not duplicate Government Guidance, but aims to build on it where a Mole Valley 'slant' or local interpretation is required.
3.24 Within the policy context set out above, the Mole Valley Core Strategy will therefore:
3.25 The remainder of the document is set out as shown in the following diagram.
Diagram 1: Structure of the Core Strategy
< Previous | ^ Top | Next >