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

POLICY GP1: ENCOURAGING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

To promote sustainable development by making Calderdale a place where people want to live, work and visit through:-

1. The improvement of employment opportunities, mixed use development, traffic reduction measures and better public transport links;
2. The effective protection and enhancement of the environment;
3. The conservation and efficient use of resources; and
4. The promotion of development which recognises the needs of everyone including safety and security issues.

POLICY GP2: LOCATION OF DEVELOPMENT

In order to promote development in sustainable locations, reduce travel demand and to protect the countryside, all new development should be sited with regard to the following sequence of locational preferences:-

1. On brownfield land within an urban area which is well related to the road network, accessible by good quality public transport, and to services/facilities within the urban area;
2. On an infill site within the main urban areas accessible by good quality public transport, close to services/facilities and subject to achieving urban greenspace and conserving or enhancing the character of the area;
3. On a site within a transport corridor forming an extension to the urban areas of Halifax, Brighouse or Elland, served by good quality public transport, accessible to job opportunities and services/facilities, preference to be given to a previously developed site before greenfield land;
4. Within the market towns of Todmorden and Hebden Bridge or within the smaller settlements of Mytholmroyd, Northowram, Ripponden and Shelf on sites accessible by good quality public transport, well-related to the road network, accessible to job opportunities and close to services/facilities, preference to be given to previously developed land before greenfield sites;

5. On a greenfield site in a transport corridor, accessible by good quality public transport, well related to the road network, accessible to job opportunities and close to services/facilities.

Greenfield sites should be avoided and only regarded as a last resort.

(This policy should be read in conjunction with the sequential approaches for shopping, leisure and housing development within  the specific sections).

POLICY GP3: DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE URBAN AREAS

Proposals on any site outside the urban areas or transport corridors will be expected to demonstrate that they:-

1. Support sustainable development principles;
2. Are accessible, or can be made accessible by public transport;
3. Are easily accessible to local facilities, local population or employment opportunities; and
4. Will support rural diversification or regeneration.

The individual circumstances of each case will be weighed carefully to ensure that suitable sites are not rejected.

POLICY GP4: 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:-

1. Strengthening and broadening the economic base and increasing employment opportunities, particularly in the economically deprived parts of the District;
2. Bringing derelict, redundant, and underused land and buildings back into use;
3. The appropriate re-use of land and buildings within existing settlements;
4. Seeking to ensure the protection and enhanced provision of local services, social and community facilities, including recreation facilities and open space, in accessible locations;
5. Creating attractive, safe and secure residential and other urban environments;
6. Valuing local distinctiveness and improving the District's image through high standards of design;
7. Recognising existing and potential biodiversity value;
8. Contributing to a clean, attractive and safe natural and built environment; and
9. Involving the local communities.

POLICY GE1: MEETING THE ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT

The employment needs of the District's mixed economy can be met by:-

1. Allocating land which meets the requirements of existing Calderdale businesses and those businesses new to the district;
2. Safeguarding employment land and buildings capable of re-use and development;
3. Using the development control process, where possible and appropriate, to assist economic development through legal agreements;
4. Providing for office uses in town centres, and in other appropriate areas subject to certain conditions;
5. Providing for warehouse development in appropriate locations;
6. Promoting tourism and related development;
7. Accommodating hotels, motels and other visitor accommodation; and
8. Accommodating the diversification of the rural economy.

POLICY GE2: PROVISION OF EMPLOYMENT LAND

Provision is made for about 120 hectares of employment land in Calderdale between 2001 and 2016.

POLICY GE3: THE DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SITES FOR NON-EMPLOYMENT USES

Where non-employment uses are proposed on sites whose current or last use is/was for employment purposes, (Use Classes B1 to B8) the provision of a contribution to offset the permanent loss of such a land resource will be sought. Such contributions should help towards economic development initiatives that will assist in bringing economic benefits to the area in which the development is located, be fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind with the employment resource that is being lost and commensurate with the development proposed.

This policy applies only to sites where the site area is 0.5ha or more, or where employment floorspace lost is 1000sq.m or more.

POLICY GE4: PRIORITIES FOR THE RECLAMATION AND RESTORATION OF DERELICT LAND AND BUILDINGS

The Council is supportive of development proposals for the reclamation and restoration of derelict and degraded land and buildings. Priority will be given to the re-use of land for employment purposes, but in circumstances where this is not achievable or appropriate other uses that contribute positively to the visual and physical environmental quality of the area will be supported.

POLICY GH1: MEETING CALDERDALE'S HOUSING NEEDS

The housing needs of Calderdale will be met through:-

1. The improvement and maintenance of existing housing and the bringing back into use of empty homes;
2. The conversion of empty and underused non-residential properties, including those above shops and business premises, to housing;
3. The allocation of a range of sites to enable a mix of house types and sizes to be built where such dwellings are accessible to schools, jobs, shops and leisure opportunities, not only by car but also by public transport, walking and cycling;
4. The provision of affordable housing for those who cannot afford to buy or rent housing which meets their needs in the open market and the dispersal of this housing throughout individual development sites;
5. The provision of specialised housing accommodation for disadvantaged groups; and
6. Recognition of the need to integrate housing development with open space provision, community safety and crime prevention, good design reflecting the needs of communities and the availability of infrastructure, including school place provision.

POLICY GH2: PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL DWELLINGS

1. Provision will be made for around 6750 additional dwellings to be created within Calderdale between 1st April 2001 and 31st March 2016.
2. To prevent oversupply of housing, the council will produce SPD to enable the refusal of planning permission, for housing developments which might otherwise be acceptable under UDP policies, when the forecast net increase in housing stock for the following five years exceeds the prevailing RSS required annual average for that period.

Part B

The target for the proportion of new housing built on previously developed land or arising through the conversion of existing buildings will be in the order of 85%. This figure will be reviewed in the light of up-dates to the Urban Capacity Study.

POLICY GS1: RETAIL STRATEGY

The benefits of a modern, competitive, environmentally attractive and sustainable retailing sector including the upgrading, modernisation and enhancement of retailing provision within town centres and locations highlighted within the retail hierarchy will be sought which meet the needs of Calderdale's residents.

As part of this strategy the vitality and viability of existing centres will be maintained to ensure that they remain attractive to shoppers and visitors and can compete effectively with other centres and other forms of retailing.

POLICY GS2: THE LOCATION OF RETAIL AND KEY TOWN CENTRE AND LEISURE USES

Retail development intended to serve a wide catchment area or which might have a significant effect upon local shopping patterns, or key town centre and leisure uses should be sited within an existing town centre. Where suitable central sites are not available a sequential approach to site selection should be adopted, with edge of centre sites having preference over out of centre locations. Development should be appropriate to the scale, and character of the centre and the catchment that the development seeks to serve. Proposals for retail facilities which in themselves or together with other similar developments with planning permission in the locality could seriously affect the vitality and viability of any nearby town centre, or would give rise to unacceptable environmental, amenity, traffic, sustainability or other problems will not be permitted.

POLICY GS3: SCALE OF RETAIL PROPOSALS

Retail development proposals should relate to the scale, role and character of the centre within which the development is to be located and the catchment that the development seeks to serve. Where the development is not in scale or character the application should be accompanied by a full appraisal of sustainability.

POLICY GOS1: THE PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF OPEN SPACE, SPORTS AND RECREATION FACILITIES

Open space, sport and recreation facilities will be protected from inappropriate development and their provision and improvement to meet the needs of all Calderdale's residents will be supported. Such facilities shall:-

1. Be in convenient and suitable locations well related to the community and users they are intended to serve;
2. Conform to the objectives of sustainable development; and
3. Be accessible by walking, cycling, public and private transport.

POLICY GOS2: AUDIT AND ASSESSMENT OF OPEN SPACE, SPORT AND RECREATION FACILITIES AND NEEDS

An audit of open space, sports, recreational and other facilities and an assessment of community needs for these facilities will be undertaken. The results of this assessment will inform and guide the Council and developers in establishing need for existing and additional facilities, provide local open space and sports/recreational standards and determine whether land is surplus to requirements. Policies protecting open space (OS1, OS3 and OS6) would not be applicable to land declared surplus under this audit.

POLICY GBE1: THE CONTRIBUTION OF DESIGN TO THE QUALITY OF THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

All new development will be required to achieve high standards of design that makes a positive contribution to the quality of the local environment. In particular development should:-

1. Promote sustainable forms of development and embrace the objectives of sustainable design;
2. Promote community safety including crime prevention measures;
3. Create or retain a sense of local identity;
4. Create roads, footpaths and public spaces that are attractive and safe, and put sustainable forms of transport and in particular walking, cycling and public transport, before other motor vehicles;
5. Promote accessibility by constructing buildings that all sectors of the community can easily reach and enter;
6. Protect and enhance the District's architectural and historic heritage, landscape and amenity, and contribute to its special character; and
7. Not harm the character or quality of the wider environment and improve local biodiversity.

POLICY GBE2: PIECEMEAL DEVELOPMENT

Planning permission will not be granted for the piecemeal development of land which would prejudice the development of a larger area of land for an appropriate beneficial use as indicated on the Proposals Map.

POLICY GT1: PROVISION OF A SUSTAINABLE, SAFE AND EFFICIENT TRANSPORT SYSTEM

In order to alleviate problems of congestion, pollution, environmental intrusion, unconstrained traffic growth and those caused by unsustainable development, the provision of an efficient, safe, sustainable and integrated transport system will be sought which, in conjunction with land use planning policy:-

1. Ensures equality of accessibility including that of the disabled and mobility impaired;
2. Encourages the use and provision of public transport and multi-occupancy of vehicles;
3. Improves conditions for cycling, walking and non-car borne mobility;
4. Reduces the overall need to travel and supports the reduction of traffic growth whilst also allowing for necessary new highways and traffic management schemes; and
5. Assists in securing sustainable development.

POLICY GT2: PRIORITIES FOR TRANSPORT INVESTMENT

To ensure that transport investment is directed towards proposals that support the development of sustainable communities and satisfy sustainable travel needs (including those of the disadvantaged and people with physical disabilities), particular emphasis will be placed on investment that:-

1. Improves conditions for pedestrians, cyclists and non-car borne mobility;
2. Improves traffic and travel conditions, giving priority to the needs of public transport, business and industry in both urban and rural areas;
3. Improves road safety with an emphasis on achieving the maximum reduction in number and severity of accidents;
4. Assists in urban regeneration or rural diversification;
5. Achieves good accessibility to jobs within and outside Calderdale; and
6. Improves poor environmental conditions resulting from traffic congestion, noise pollution and other problems.

Investment will not automatically cater for peak private vehicle demands, nor provide additional road capacity to improve traffic conditions except where it may be necessary in order to support the needs of sustainable development within the District.

POLICY GT3: STRATEGIC ROAD NETWORK

To assist in the determination of land-use proposals and the allocation of resources in accordance with Policy GT2, a strategic road network has been defined, (shown on the Proposals Map) which designates roads according to their function and helps to define the transport corridors within Policy GP2 as follows:-

Category 1 - Roads that carry inter-regional traffic through Calderdale (the M62, for which the highways agency is highway authority. For the purposes of Policy GP2, the M62 does not form a transport corridor where development should be focussed).

Category 2 - Roads which link major centres within Calderdale and which connect these centres to the Category 1 network and to major centres within West Yorkshire and other adjacent areas.

Category 3 - Roads which link secondary centres within Calderdale to major centres within the District and in adjacent areas and to the Category 1 and 2 networks.

POLICY GT4: HIERARCHY OF CONSIDERATION

To assist in the consideration of development proposals and the design of schemes for transport a hierarchy of consideration has been defined. This will ensure that the needs and safety of each group of road users are sequentially considered and that each user group is given proper consideration so that new schemes will ideally improve existing conditions and in any event will not make conditions worse for the more vulnerable transport users. The Hierarchy of Consideration is as follows:-

1. Pedestrians, people with disabilities and emergency services;
2. Cyclists and horse riders;
3. Public transport users;
4. Taxis and motorcyclists;
5. Deliveries to local areas;
6. Shoppers travelling by car;
7. Other freight movements;
8. Other high occupancy vehicles; and
9. Other private cars.

The actual priorities and facilities provided for each road user group will vary with individual circumstances and it may not always be possible or necessary to provide adequate facilities for all road users. However, wherever possible facilities should be provided for pedestrians, people with disabilities, cyclists and bus users.

POLICY GT5: TRANSPORT ASSESSMENTS

Where a Transport Assessment (TA) is required to be submitted alongside a planning application, the TA will be expected to take account of the Hierarchy of Consideration (Policy GT4) and show how the needs of public transport, pedestrians, cyclists, the disabled and wheelchair users, have been taken into account. The measures needed to mitigate any transport problems arising from the development should be set out in the assessment and the Council will seek to ensure that these are implemented as part of the development through the use of planning conditions or planning obligations.

POLICY GT6: HIGHWAY AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS ASSOCIATED WITH DEVELOPMENT

Where highway or pedestrian access improvements are required to facilitate the development of sites identified within the UDP, enable other land to be brought forward for development or implement the findings of a Transport Assessment (TA), the council will seek to assist developers to achieve such improvements and ensure that development and associated highway or pedestrian access improvements are carried out in a comprehensive way, which:-

1. Optimise development in accordance with sustainable development principles;
2. Facilitate direct, safe and attractive pedestrian movements;
3. Safeguard the proper planning of the district;
4. Take account of the Hierarchy of Consideration (Policy GT4); and
5. Other relevant UDP Policies.

POLICY GT7: HIGHWAY PROPOSALS

The following improvement to the strategic road network will be safeguarded:-

Halifax, North-South Traffic Improvements, (Church Street Widening).

POLICY GCF1: INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER NEEDS ARISING FROM DEVELOPMENT

All education, highways, sewerage, drainage, flood prevention, landscaping, open space, nature conservation, public transport or other identified needs generated directly by any development within a local area should be provided in a timely manner by the developer either on or off-site. Conditions will be imposed, where necessary, to the grant of planning permission to ensure the provision of adequate facilities to an appropriate timescale. Alternatively a planning obligation may be entered into to secure necessary facilities through either direct provision and/or by a financial contribution to be made for the timely provision of facilities nearby.

POLICY GCF2: DEVELOPMENT ENABLING STATUTORY UNDERTAKERS

Development which will enable statutory undertakers to meet their statutory obligations and to comply with the relevant environmental standards enacted in Government and European Union legislation will be permitted provided that:-

1. Mitigation measures are put in place to alleviate significant adverse impacts from the development;
2. The design of the development respects the character of the area and
3. The development is consistent with other relevant UDP Policies.

POLICY GCF3: STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR COMMUNITY FACILITIES

The provision and improvement of a wide range of social, community, education, sports, arts, health and other facilities to meet the needs of all Calderdale’s residents will be supported. Such facilities shall:-

1. Be in locations well related to the community and users they are intended to serve;
2. Be accessible by good quality public transport, and by private transport, including walking and cycling; and
3. Create no unacceptable environmental, amenity, traffic, safety or other problems.

POLICY GCF4: MATCHING SCHOOL FACILITIES TO EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

In order to ensure that the range and quality of school sites, buildings and facilities match the needs of education in Calderdale, the Council will continue to prepare and, subject to the availability of resources, implement development programmes. In meeting this objective, the Council will:-

1. Achieve the improvement of school premises in need of alteration, repair or maintenance to meet the changing requirements of curriculum delivery and community use;
2. Create new or extended schools in areas of need; and
3. Close existing schools where the existing provision is no longer necessary or most appropriate.

POLICY GCF5: CRITERIA FOR PREPARING EDUCATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAMMES

Programmes for the provision of new, refurbished or extended educational buildings and facilities, in line with the Council’s Asset Management Plan and the School’s Asset Management Plan, will be prepared and be subject to the following criteria:-

1. The design and location of the proposed works enhances community use of the educational premises;
2. The proposals incorporate adequate space to meet the educational needs of the curriculum offered;
3. The proposals, where appropriate, incorporate adequate car parking, servicing arrangements and appropriate facilities to accommodate public transport;
4. The proposals incorporate inclusive design elements to ensure reasonable access for the disabled;
5. The proposals would not cause an unacceptable loss of amenity to the occupiers of property around the site;
6. The proposals would, where reasonable, be designed in line with the DFES Building Bulletins;
7. The proposals would create no unacceptable environmental, amenity, traffic, safety or other problems; and
8. Would be consistent with other relevant UDP Policies.

POLICY GNE1: CONTAINMENT OF THE URBAN AREA

A Green Belt will be maintained around the main built-up areas. The Plan will seek to restrain development outside the urban areas through the general extent of the Green Belt.

POLICY GNE2: PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Development should protect, conserve and enhance the character, quality and diversity of the natural, historic and cultural environment (whether in urban or outlying areas) within the district in order to improve the quality of life for all and to maintain the natural heritage of the district for use by future generations and for its own sake.

POLICY GEP1: PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

Development should contribute to the management of pollution, hazards and flood risk through relevant control measures and risk minimisation.

POLICY GEP2: MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Development proposals should incorporate the sustainable and efficient use of the District's natural resources and maximise the use of potential renewable energy resources.

POLICY GM1: MINERALS STRATEGY

Provision will be made for a continuing supply of minerals including aggregates and recycled and secondary materials in accordance with national and regional guidance having regard to the need to encourage the efficient use of aggregates and minimisation of waste, and to safeguard the environment and protect local communities.

Measures will be undertaken to ensure that mineral working does not create unacceptable environmental, amenity, traffic, safety and other effects on the landscape, environment and local inhabitants, and that sites are restored to a beneficial after-use.

POLICY GM2: AGGREGATE MINERALS

Proposals for aggregate mineral extraction will be assessed against the aim of maintaining a land-bank of permitted reserves of aggregate minerals, and will continue to contribute towards meeting Calderdale's share of the aggregates demand in the region on the advice of the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Aggregates Working Party, in accordance with regional and national guidance.

POLICY GM3: RECYCLING

The recycling and re-use of minerals and materials (such as concrete, brick, ash and colliery shale) will be encouraged as alternatives to newly won minerals wherever this is feasible and where it can be carried out in an environmentally acceptable manner, for the  purpose of safeguarding resources and in order to minimise the need for new or extensions to mineral workings.

POLICY GWM1: WASTE STRATEGY

A Waste Management Hierarchy will be promoted in accordance with national and regional guidance which favours, in order of priority:-

1. Reduction
2. Re-use
3. Recovery, recycling and composting,
4. Energy recovery; and
5. Disposal to landfill

POLICY GWM2: NEW WASTE FACILITIES

Proposals for the development of new waste facilities will be considered on the basis of:-

1. Local need and/or regional requirements;
2. The proximity principle;
3. Regional self-sufficiency;
4. The Waste Management Hierarchy in Policy GWM1; and
5. Other relevant considerations.