Chapter 1
Aims & Objectives of the Plan
‘Sefton 2000+’
1.1 The starting point in the preparation of this Plan was the 1998 consultation document Sefton 2000+. It proposed that the broad aim of the new Plan should be:
‘To make a positive contribution to the prosperity and quality of life to all Sefton’s communities by promoting sustainable development.’
1.2 Sustainable development, in simple terms, means achieving a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. The contribution of the Plan to sustainable development was summarised in three themes:
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Promoting urban regeneration;
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Caring for the environment;
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Reducing disadvantage.
1.3 These were endorsed during the consultation programme and remain valid. However, since the conclusion of consultation on Sefton 2000+ there have been further policy developments nationally, regionally and locally which must be taken into account.
Action Plan for Regional Sustainability
1.4 In July 1999 the Government Office for the North West published Action for Sustainability. It was prepared by a regional partnership of agencies and local authorities and establishes four basic principles for creating a more sustainable Region, supported by indicators and targets to measure performance. In particular, this framework has influenced the preparation of the Regional Spatial Strategy for the North West, the importance of which is explained in the next chapter. These regional principles are now being carried forward and given a local focus to meet Sefton’s needs.
North West ‘Action for Sustainability’ Principles
‘LIVE’ – a healthy, safe and socially responsible region where all people have access to basic necessities and are enabled to improve their quality of life.
‘PROTECT’ – a distinctive, clean, tree-rich region which safeguards its wildlife, habitats and landscapes and acts to limit the local impacts of climate change.
‘SAVE’ – a Region which uses its resources wisely, makes full use of renewable alternatives, produces minimal waste and conserves its historic environment.
‘GROW’ – a thriving, prosperous and attractive region of high employment with the necessary infrastructure to support it and which uses land efficiently.
Sefton’s Sustainable Development Objectives
1.5 The Local Government Act 2000 places a duty on the Council to prepare a Community Strategy to ‘promote or improve the social, economic or environmental well-being’ of the Borough and ‘contribute to the achievement of sustainable development in the UK’. In addition to the Council, many public, private, community and voluntary organisations will have a part to play in achieving improvements in the quality of life.
1.6 The Sefton Borough Partnership has been formed to bring the contributions of the Council and its partners together. Following extensive consultation the Partnership has approved its third Community Strategy, A Vision for Sefton 2006 –2011, based on four main themes, with sustainable development and neighbourhood renewal as central principles.
Sefton’s Community Strategy – Themes
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Children and young people
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Safer and stronger communities
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Economic development and sustainability
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Healthier communities and older people
1.7 In preparing the Community Strategy, and setting its priorities and targets for sustainable development, the Sefton Borough Partnership have built on the Local Agenda 21 Action Plan. This was prepared by the Council in consultation with its partners and the general public and published in 2001. It is Sefton's local action framework for sustainable development and contributes to the Government's commitments made at the Rio Summit in 1992.
1.7 The Council will make an important contribution to meeting the aims and objectives of the Community Strategy through the services it provides and by implementing its own policies. The Council's current priorities are set out in its Corporate Plan 2006/07-2008/09, which identifies the adoption of this Plan as a target to support the promotion of sustainable development.
The Contribution of the Plan to Sustainable Development
1.8 The particular role of the Plan is to promote sustainable development in a long-term land use strategy and through policies for development and environmental improvement. In these respects it shows how the objectives of other related plans can be achieved. Where necessary the Plan will be used to guide choices if there are competing claims for the use of land, buildings and environmental resources. The law says that the Plan should be the primary consideration in making these planning decisions, but other relevant plans and strategies may be taken into account as "material considerations".
1.9 Figure 1.1 on the following pages gives an overview of how the Plan will contribute to sustainable development. It starts with the overall aim and three key principles referred to in paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 and relates these to the planning strategy and policy objectives set out in the following chapters of the Plan.
Aims, Principles & Objectives of the Plan
1.10 The strategies and plans referred to in this chapter cover the whole range of actions required to promote sustainable development - social, economic and environmental. Whilst some of these actions lie outside the scope of this Plan, its policies and proposals will have a direct or indirect role in implementing many of them. The main influences on the Plan’s aims, objectives and policies are illustrated in Figure 1.2.
Sustainability Appraisal
1.11 During the course of its preparation the Plan has been tested to see how well its policies meet the sustainable development objectives and targets of Action for Sustainability and the Local Agenda 21 Action Plan. The results are published in the Sustainability Appraisal of the Plan, which is available as a separate document. Summary comments are included after most policies in the Plan to indicate how the policy was amended, if at all, as a result of the sustainability appraisal.
Urban Priority Areas
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To promote regeneration in the Urban Priority Areas by concentrating development and infrastructure investment in support of strategies agreed by local partnerships.
Economic Development & Tourism
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To ensure that land and premises are available to maximise inward investment opportunities and meet the needs of local
businesses.
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To promote development and employment in key economic sectors and strategic locations.
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To consolidate and enhance Southport’s role as a major tourist destination.
Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal
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To ensure that adequate provision is made for additional housing, including affordable housing, having regard to Regional
Spatial Strategy.
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To identify area for clearance and replacement of homes which are unfit or where improvement is no longer practical.
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To encourage innovative design, the efficient use of land and maintain residential amenity.
Retail Development
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To ensure that where there is a need for major retailing development, it is located where it will contribute to the vitality and viability of existing town, district and local shopping centres.
Transport Infrastructure
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To safeguard and promote an integrated, sustainable transport network.
Energy, Minerals & Waste
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To increase the provision of renewable energy infrastructure to reduce reliance on fossil fuel.
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To ensure that the winning and working of minerals minimises any adverse social and environmental impacts and is consistent with national policy guidance and the strategic policy guidance for the North West.
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To ensure that waste is dealt with in a manner that does not allow any net losses to social and environmental interests.
Green Belt & Countryside
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To support urban regeneration and a sustainable pattern of development and physical change by restricting development in the Green Belt.
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To protect from development the best and most versatile agricultural land as a national resource.
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To enhance the environmental quality of Sefton’s rural area.
Nature Conservation
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To protect, enhance and encourage the positive management of Sefton’s sites, habitats and species of nature conservation value.
The Coast
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To ensure that development within the Sefton Coastal Planning Zone is limited to land uses dependent on a coastal location and which maintain or enhance the special characteristics of the Sefton Coast.
Urban Greenspace and Recreation
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To protect and improve urban greenspaces within the urban area and ensure that the amenities urban greenspace provide to the local people are maintained.
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To protect existing recreational open space and facilities from inappropriate development.
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To protect and enhance the opportunities for countryside recreation in Sefton.
Heritage Conservation
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To ensure that the historical and archaeological resource of the Borough is protected, preserved and, where appropriate, enhanced.
Accessible Development
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To ensure that there is a realistic choice of access to all development sites, for everyone.
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To reduce the adverse traffic impacts of a development by promoting more sustainable alternatives to single occupancy car use, especially for trips to and from work.
Design & Environmental Quality
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To ensure that all development is well designed and makes positive contribution to Sefton’s environment and to quality of life for residents and visitors.
Environment Protection
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To reduce the impact of development on the environment and people and to minimise environmental risk.
Miscellaneous Development
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To ensure that development does not harm amenity, and enhances the visual and other character of the surroundings.
1.10 The strategies and plans referred to in this chapter cover the whole range of actions required to promote sustainable development - social, economic and environmental. Whilst some of these actions lie outside the scope of this Plan, its policies and proposals will have a direct or indirect role in implementing many of them. The main influences on the Plan’s aims, objectives and policies are illustrated in Figure 1.2.
Sustainability Appraisal
1.11 During the course of its preparation the Plan has been tested to see how well its policies meet the sustainable development objectives and targets of Action for Sustainability and the Local Agenda 21 Action Plan. The results are published in the Sustainability Appraisal of the Plan, which is available as a separate document. Summary comments are included after most policies in the Plan to indicate how the policy was amended, if at all, as a result of the sustainability appraisal.
Promoting Sustainable Development – Key influences on the Plan