1. Widnes and Hale Green Belt Review Alasdair Cross Principal Officer – Planning and Transport Strategy Appleton, Kingsway & Riverside Area Forum 24 th September 2013

2. Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: Why are we reviewing the Green Belt? Prepare for ‘Delivery and Allocations Local Plan’ that follows Core Strategy. The DALP will replace/update the UDP Proposals Map Core Strategy Policy CS6 (Inspector required GB early review) NPPF (Para 17): “proactively drive and support sustainable economic development to deliver the homes, business and industrial units, infrastructure and thriving local places that the country needs. Every effort should be made objectively to identify and then meet the housing, business and other development needs of an area, and respond positively to wider opportunities for growth.”

3. Core Strategy has confirmed housing requirement to 2028 (based on Regional Spatial Strategy). WidnesRuncornHALTON Core Strategy Requirement4,2705,6609,930 Net Completions (April 2012) 165331 496 Committed (April 2012) 1,6683,6185,286 Potential Supply Identified (April 2012) 1,5934,8886,481 TOTAL IDENTIFIED (April 2012) 3,4268,83712,263 BALANCE (to be found)- 844+ 3,177+ 2,333 Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: Why are we reviewing the Green Belt?

4. EMPLOYMENT LAND Requirement to 2028260 Ha Requirement to 2028 including 20% flexibility factor 312 Ha Identified as available at 2010209 Ha West Runcorn (Runcorn Docks) 14 Ha Remodelling ‘churn’ within existing estates 130 Ha TOTAL IDENTIFIED (April 2010)353 Ha BALANCE (to be found) - 41 Ha Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: Why are we reviewing the Green Belt?

5. Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: What period do we need to plan for? NPPF, Paragraph 83: “Local planning authorities with Green Belts in their area should establish Green Belt boundaries in their Local Plans which set the framework for Green Belt and settlement policy. Once established, Green Belt boundaries should only be altered in exceptional circumstances, through the preparation or review of the Local Plan. At that time, authorities should consider the Green Belt boundaries having regard to their intended permanence in the long term, so that they should be capable of enduring beyond the plan period.”

6. Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: How much land do we need to find? WidnesRuncornHalton Core Strategy (to 2028) 4,2705,6609,930 Net Completions (April 2012) 165331496 Committed (April 2012) 1,6683,6185,286 Potential Supply (April 2012) 1,5934,8886,481 Supply (at April 2012) 3,4268,83712,263 BALANCE (to be found) WidnesRuncornHalton Units -8443,1772,333 Site Area (at 30dph / 80% coverage) -35 Ha 132 Ha 97 Ha … and beyond ?

7. Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: What does that look like?

8. Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: 1. Define Study Parcels

9. Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: 1. Define Study Parcels

10. Looking to identify ‘show stoppers’. Constraints that preclude development, e.g.; Flood risk (zones 3a & 3b) Risk (COMAH, Airport PSZ) Assets (Ancient Woodland, SSSIs, etc) Undeliverable (Contamination etc) Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: 2. Assess against constraints

11. 1.To check unrestricted sprawl 2.To prevent neighbouring towns from merging into one another 3.To assist in safeguarding countryside from encroachment 4.To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and 5.To assist urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict & other urban land Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: 3. Assess against Green Belt purposes

12. Assess remaining parcels against; Core Strategy principles Sustainability indicators Assess potential development capacity Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: 4. Core Strategy Principles & Sustainability

13. Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: Proposed Timetable Consultation on the proposed methodology Sep - Oct 2013 Stage 1- 3Oct - Nov 2013 Stage 4 Dec – Jan 2014 Green Belt Study Consultation Draft Report Mar – Jun 2014

14. Study will generate ‘broad categories’ of sites e.g. Unsuitable due to constraints Unsuitable due to sustainability / GB issues Potential sites Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: Study Results

15. The study will inform the Delivery and Allocations Local Plan (DALP): This local plan will identify sites to meet the Borough’s needs DALP will have phasing and safeguarding policies to protect sites that were GB DALP subject to normal public consultation process and examination by Inspector Widnes and Hale Green Belt Study: How will the study be used?