The Regeneration and Renaissance of the District
The Vision for the Regeneration and Renaissance of Calderdale
3.13 Calderdale Council’s vision statement is noted at the start of this Section. One of the Council’s corporate priorities that underpins this vision is the promotion of sustainable economic growth, respecting local heritage and improving our towns, villages and neighbourhoods. The successful regeneration and renaissance of Calderdale requires a holistic approach dealing with the whole range of associated economic, environmental and social problems in a comprehensive and co-ordinated fashion. Consistent with these wider Council objectives, the regeneration of urban and rural communities is a fundamental objective for the UDP and a vital component of its sustainability agenda and is therefore encompassed in the Part One POLICY GP 4 ‘PROMOTION OF URBAN AND RURAL REGENERATION AND RENAISSANCE’.
3.14 The UDP and in particular POLICY GP 4 ‘PROMOTION OF URBAN AND RURAL REGENERATION AND RENAISSANCE’, identifies how priorities and locations for land use can help to achieve the Council’s vision. The aim is to foster the regeneration of existing urban and rural settlements of all sizes, making them more attractive, high quality and safe places in which to live, work, shop, spend leisure time and invest, whilst also protecting and enhancing the attractive features and tackling problem areas. This approach is outlined in Policy S3 of the RSS. In addition the Urban and Rural White Papers (2000) set out the Government’s broad approach to help achieve this. Whilst some of the measures that can be taken to help achieve the aims are influenced by the planning process, some are not, but nevertheless these may be of equal significance to regeneration. The UDP aims to provide the appropriate framework for land use and development decisions, which will assist the process of regeneration.
The Focus of Regeneration and Renaissance
3.15 There are two principal thrusts to the regeneration and renaissance agenda that are being pursued throughout the UDP. The first aim is centred on urban areas and is founded on the Government’s vision contained in the Urban White Paper 'Our Towns and Cities: the Future - Delivering an Urban Renaissance' (2000) that towns, cities and suburbs should offer a high quality of life and opportunity for all. The new vision of urban living is of:-
- communities shaping their own future;
- people living in attractive, well kept towns and cities;
- good design and planning which makes it practical to live in an environmentally sustainable way;
- the creation and sharing of prosperity; and
- good quality services that meet the needs of all.
3.16 In short, this is a vision of an urban renaissance that will benefit everyone, making towns and cities vibrant and more attractive and secure places where people will choose to live, and helping protect the countryside from development pressure.
3.17 The second focus of the regeneration and renaissance vision is based on the outlying countryside areas and the overall aim founded on the Rural White Paper: Our Countryside - the Future (2000) is to sustain and enhance the distinctive environment, economy and social fabric of the countryside for the benefit of all.
How can the Regeneration and Renaissance Agenda be Achieved?
3.18 The regeneration and renaissance agenda involves the co-ordination of the programmes and plans of both public and private sectors to ensure that resources are used effectively to bring about new job opportunities, better housing and general living conditions and to protect and enhance the environment in its widest sense. The scale and pace of regeneration will be affected by the availability of resources and government funding programmes. Most importantly, the regeneration process should be led by or at least supported by the people most affected, the local community. This will require considerable co-operation between the public and a number of key partners from the public, private and voluntary sectors.
3.19 The aims of the regeneration and renaissance agenda can be achieved through various Council policies and initiatives, the UDP being one such means. Within the UDP there are various policies which either individually or collectively can help achieve the aims. The UDP’s policies and proposals will therefore encourage and promote appropriate regeneration opportunities through:-
- giving preference to the development of previously developed land;
- providing adequate land in appropriate locations for employment related purposes;
- providing adequate land in appropriate locations for housing and ensuring the provision of adequate levels of affordable housing;
- encouraging the concept of mixed use development in appropriate locations;
- encouraging retailing in appropriate locations;
- promoting the re-use and redevelopment of derelict, underused and empty land and buildings;
- enabling and encouraging housing renewal to take place;
- maintaining and building healthy communities;
- eradicating social exclusion;
- protecting and creating biodiversity, open spaces, leisure areas and sports and recreation facilities;
- promoting safety and crime prevention measures in development;
- encouraging the provision and use of sustainable modes of transport;
- protecting areas of environmental importance from inappropriate development;
- developing tourism; and
- encouraging the diversification of the rural economy.
3.20 Accordingly, POLICY GP 4 ‘PROMOTION OF URBAN AND RURAL REGENERATION AND RENAISSANCE’ identifies how policies and proposals can contribute to the regeneration and renaissance objectives of the District:-
POLICY GP 4
PROMOTION OF URBAN AND RURAL REGENERATION AND RENAISSANCE
POLICIES AND PROPOSALS SHOULD SEEK TO PROMOTE AND CONTRIBUTE TO URBAN AND RURAL REGENERATION AND RENAISSANCE BY:-- STRENGTHENING AND BROADENING THE ECONOMIC BASE AND INCREASING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED PARTS OF THE DISTRICT;
- BRINGING DERELICT, REDUNDANT, AND UNDERUSED LAND AND BUILDINGS BACK INTO USE;
- THE APPROPRIATE RE-USE OF LAND AND BUILDINGS WITHIN EXISTING SETTLEMENTS;
- SEEKING TO ENSURE THE PROTECTION AND ENHANCED PROVISION OF LOCAL SERVICES, SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES, INCLUDING RECREATION FACILITIES AND OPEN SPACE, IN ACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS;
- CREATING ATTRACTIVE, SAFE AND SECURE RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER URBAN ENVIRONMENTS;
- VALUING LOCAL DISTINCTIVENESS AND IMPROVING THE DISTRICT'S IMAGE THROUGH HIGH STANDARDS OF DESIGN;
- RECOGNISING EXISTING AND POTENTIAL BIODIVERSITY VALUE;
- CONTRIBUTING TO A CLEAN, ATTRACTIVE AND SAFE NATURAL AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT; AND
- INVOLVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
3.21 Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency for Yorkshire and the Humber has established two Renaissance Initiatives within Calderdale: one for Halifax and the other for the Upper Calder Valley. These initiatives seek to ensure that these areas have a clear long-term vision of their economic future. Both Renaissance Projects have provided a focus for community involvement and have produced long-term visions of their respective areas. The UDP seeks to incorporate elements of these visions. The Upper Calder Valley Renaissance is generally covered in Section 4 (paragraphs 4.80 to 4.83 and Policy E 19 ‘Regeneration Priority Areas in the Upper Calder Valley.’), whilst that for Halifax is incorporated into Section 6 (paragraphs 6.39 to 6.40 and Policy S 10 ‘Halifax Residential Priority Regeneration Area’).