Sustainability of Settlements
The Borough Council has carried out a study of the sustainability of settlements across the Borough in order to inform the spatial planning framework within the Core Strategy. The main aims of the study were to identify the most sustainable settlements across the Borough which may be suitable for future development, identify those settlements that have particular needs, consider different policy approaches and inform policy development for rural settlements, and consider the role and function of Settlement Policy Boundaries and alternative policy options.
The study identifies a range of criteria used to judge / compare settlements (for example, the availability of shops and medical facilities) in terms of their sustainability. The draft study suggests a number of alternative policy options based on the categorisation of settlements within a hierarchy, setting out the advantages and disadvantages of the various options. The policy options also consider how to meet local needs, and how to deal with those settlements that fall outside of the hierarchy.
The draft study has previously been sent to all Council Members, Parish and Town Councils and Parish Plan steering groups and a copy of this is available to download below. The feedback received has been used to develop the Core Strategy policy framework for rural settlements.
Microsoft Word Document, 171KB
