New development blueprint takes major step forward
A new blue print for the future development of Wyre Forest
District takes a major step forward on the 9th December
when a new Planning framework comes into effect. The Local
Development Framework Core Strategy has been developed through
extensive consultation dating back to 2007.
The Core Strategy provides a vision and strategy for the
District looking 20 years into the future and makes provision for
4,000 new homes and growth in retail and office floorspace and
earmarks sufficient land for businesses to develop and create new
jobs. The strategy is not site specific, but it does focus
new development on brownfield sites in the main urban areas and
continues to safeguard the Green Belt.
Since 2004, the Wyre Forest District Local Plan has provided the
development blueprint for the District. Significant parts of this
Plan will remain saved until more detailed policies are introduced
in 2012. However, the Core Strategy itself does make a number of
significant changes that will affect the consideration of planning
applications in the district. The main change relates to the
requirement for developers to provide affordable housing.
Under the old system developers were required to provide affordable
housing on developments of either 15 or more homes. Through the
Core Strategy that threshold has been lowered to Developments of 10
dwellings or more within Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn, and
developments of 6 dwellings or more within Bewdley and the rural
areas of the District. Housing developments that meet this criteria
will be required to deliver 30% affordable
housing.
Cllr Stephen Clee, Cabinet Member for Regeneration said,
''Adopting the Core Strategy puts the District in a strong
position and gives certainty to developers in setting out a clear
position on the number of new homes to be provided in the district
and the extent of land earmarked for employment and other uses.
This is important as the Council is keen to see investment come in
to the area."
He continued… "Reducing the threshold at which developers are
required to deliver affordable housing will help increase the
supply of much needed social housing in the district. All too often
we have seen developments that just squeeze in below the previous
15 home threshold. This is important when a significant amount of
the district's supply is delivered through small and medium sized
development sites."
Following a public examination during the summer the blueprint
sets a new direction for the former British Sugar site with the
prospect of mixed-use regeneration of the former British Sugar site
to include a significant number of new homes. During the
examination, the site owners presented evidence indicating that
without the additional value of new homes, the massive 50 acre
former sugar beet site could remain undeveloped for years to come.
The view was taken that there is now a much greater likelihood of
employment generating uses being developed on the site. This is
important as it remains a corner stone for the economic development
of the area. The site remains earmarked for substantial new
business development as part of the mixed use approach. The precise
nature of the mix will be worked up through the Site Allocations
and Policies Development Plan Document (DPD) that will be subject
to public consultation in summer 2011.
The Core Strategy is a key element in the regeneration plans for
the district and links to the ReWyre Initiative. In the end the
Framework will consist of a folder of documents to including plans
for specific sites. Work now starts in earnest to develop these
site specific documents with further consultation envisaged during
summer 2011.
Date of issue - 3rd December 2010