Replacement Calderdale UDP : Adopted 25 August 2006 (as amended August 2009)

Replacement Calderdale UDP : Adopted 25 August 2006

• Foreword
• 1 Introduction
• 2 Calderdale in Context
• Strategic and Core Part One Policies
• 3 Guiding Principles and Key Themes
• 4 Employment, The Economy, Tourism and Regeneration
• 5 Housing
  • Introduction
  • Strategy for Housing
  • Existing Housing Areas
  • Additional Housing
  • Non-Allocated Sites
  • Density and Type of Dwellings
  • Living Over Shops and Other Business Premises
  • Affordable Housing
  • Accessible Housing
  • Houses in Multiple Occupation
  • Gypsies
• 6 Retailing and Town Centres
• 7 Open Space, Sport and Recreation Facilities
• 8 The Built and Historic Environment
• 9 Transport
• 10 Infrastructure, Education and Community Facilities
• 11 Natural Environment and the Countryside
• 12 Environmental Protection
• 13 Minerals
• 14 Waste Management
• 15 Monitoring and Review of the Plan
• Annex A Privacy, Daylighting and Amenity Space
• Annex B Trees On or Adjacent to Development Sites
• Appendix 1 National Planning Policy
• Appendix 2 National Minerals Policy
• Appendix 3 Supporting Published Documents
• Appendix 4 Glossary of Terms
• Appendix 5 Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Appendix 6 Policy Topic Index
• Appendix 7 Policy Number Comparison
• Appendix 8 Supplementary Maps

Existing Housing Areas

5.3 There are approximately 85,500 dwellings in Calderdale, the majority of which are concentrated within well defined housing areas in the main towns. The remaining dwellings are located in smaller settlements or in a scattered pattern throughout the outlying areas of the District. Existing residential areas perform a vital role within the District. They are an integral part of the fabric contributing to the identity of Calderdale. Furthermore, the retention of the existing stock needs to be safeguarded as it reduces demands for new housing and land.

5.4 The consolidation and retention of such areas complements the objectives of Central Government and RSS (2004). In addition, within these main housing areas are located the schools, facilities and public transport to meet the needs of the local population. Any significant change to this broad picture of the distribution of housing in Calderdale cannot therefore be proposed. In addition, it is clear that people are increasingly concerned with their quality of life and place great emphasis on the maintenance or creation of a good housing environment. Most people will no longer tolerate the mixing of incompatible industrial and commercial land uses with residential land uses, still, so often a legacy of the past in Calderdale. The Council believes that this concern for the reasonable segregation of incompatible land uses should be reflected in UDP policies. Therefore, the Council will support and encourage improving residential standards of housing areas by defining Primary Housing Areas (PHAs) on the Proposals Map. Within these areas proposals for housing development on previously developed land will normally be supported, subject to policies and guidelines designed to protect and enhance the quality of the residential environment. It is appreciated that these housing areas will contain and require a mix of non-residential uses which support and enhance residential amenity by providing much needed local facilities such as shops, schools, religious and community buildings and public houses. Evolution of these areas, reinforced by decisions on planning applications, will over time achieve the clearer segregation of incompatible land uses. The objective is to resolve conflicts where neighbouring uses are clearly reducing the quality of people's lives. Removing areas of mixed-use is not the intention, particularly those areas where businesses on a small scale exist and which have evolved historically, as for example, in the Hebden Bridge area. The Plan recognises the value of such areas in giving the District its character and being attractive to tourists. The following Policies therefore apply:-

5.5 Policy H 2 ‘Primary Housing Areas’ places great emphasis on the existing housing areas, whether privately or publicly owned, to help meet the District’s housing needs. It is therefore, important to improve these areas to meet the needs and aspirations of the people who live or would seek to live within them. The Council has devised and sustained a number of programmes of area housing improvements (such as General Improvement Areas for privately owned housing and Estates Improvements for houses within the public sector). It is vital that the momentum of these initiatives to improve the existing housing stock are maintained and possibly increased in the future. Current priorities are reflected in the Council’s Housing Strategy prepared by Housing and Community Support.

5.6 The Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Act (1996) together with the allied changes to the home renovations grant system has required the Council to review its policies with regard to tackling unfitness and disrepair in the private sector. Area improvement remains a focus for renovation activity. The West Central Halifax Renewal Area (Calderdale’s first) is being implemented through a phased programme of 'Group Repair'. Further areas for possible Renewal Area declaration are being investigated as part of the Council’s private sector Housing Strategy. The Council recognises that area improvement is most sustainable when integrated within a wider regeneration strategy. For example, an area in Sowerby Bridge is being targeted for renovation where the benefits are linked with a wider programme of social and economic regeneration in the town associated with Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) funds. It is equally apparent that not all areas of older housing may be suitable for programming along formal Renewal Area lines. Therefore, the following applies in respect of private housing area improvement:-

5.7 Not all the problems of private housing disrepair can be successfully tackled by area based policies. These policies need to be supported by measures to tackle individual properties. The new discretionary renovation grant system has enabled the authority to target resources to households with special problems and most in need, such as the disabled and elderly. At the same time there are an estimated 1,450 priority empty private dwellings. Investment will be needed in partnership with external agencies to bring these back into use. If this investment does not take place, then the likelihood of housing demolition will increase, possibly leading to the need for further land to be allocated for new housing development. The Council has adopted a co-ordinated, proactive approach to tackling the problem of long term empty homes. Therefore:-

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