2.PLANNING CONTEXT: LOCAL

Core strategy.

The Local Plan for the forest of dean district comprises of the Core Strategy the Allocations Plan and the Area Action Plan for the Cinderford Northern Quarter. The Forest of Dean District Local Plan second preferred option, 2022 has been published and is out for consultation. Taking into consideration any amendments following consultation it will be adopted mid-2023. The main policy document that guides development in the study area is the Core Strategy 2012. The strategy sets out an overall vision of how the district and places within it should evolve and a strategy for how they should be delivered. The Core Strategy is the main part of the Local Development Framework (LDF). It will be used to guide change up to 2026. (Core strategy, 2012) It provides the spatial context for much of the change that the Community Strategy). This runs till 2020 but is still relevant to the current development proposals. It’s remit is to focus on improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of their areas and contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. (Community Plan, 2008) In paragraph 3.52 of the core strategy the aspirations of the community plan are reiterated and are relevant to the development of this new development;

• A place where the future matters

• A place where communities feel safe and are safe.

• A place that offers local people a quality home appropriate to their needs and lifestyle

• A place with a strong ,prosperous and diverse economy.

• A place where everyone can access the services they need.

The Core Strategy summarises the overall nature of the Forest of Dean. This summary is particularly relevant and influences the nature of a new development needed in the forest. One of the key components of the Garden Communities approach is that of economic sustainability. The new town needs to be a mixed development encouraging living, working, retail and leisure within its boundary encouraging a holistic 20-minute economy. It should not be simply a dormitory town perpetuating a commuter economy.

"In population terms The Forest of Dean is one of the smaller Gloucestershire districts, but despite its beautiful rural setting there are a number of social problems faced by local residents. In particular, there are issues with affordable housing, health (especially cancer death rates), educational attainment, and an ageing population. Furthermore, while unemployment is low in the district, this is mainly due to large volumes of out-commuting by residents and the pervasive use of cars to make these journeys puts pressure on the sensitive local environment. ......"(Forest of Dean Story, 2005).

There are 10 workers resident in the district for every 6 jobs. This ratio compares with Cotswold District (9.4 jobs per 10 workers), Gloucester (10.3) and Stroud (7.6)(Core Strategy, 2012 paragraph 3.2.) The need to reduce the commuting traffic from the district is reiterated in the core strategy strategic vision. The mechanism for delivering this is to increase the number of jobs available within the local area. The movement out of the district not only effects the environment but takes young people away and retail spending which impacts town centres across the district. Any largescale development would need to create a sustainable local economy and be considered part of the network of major urban centres of the forest, Lydney, Cinderford and Coleford. This supports the core strategy’s overarching vision; for the District of the Forest of Dean to be a “thriving and sustainable community” (Core Strategy, 2012). This vision translated directly to the 5 key objectives which underpin the specific policies which are the mechanism for delivering the best outcomes for the people of the Forest of Dean.

The five key objectives of the Core strategy are;

• Providing quality environments throughout the district-to protect the 1 environment for the benefit of the community and in order to attract new businesses.

• Develop a more self-contained and diverse local economy including 2 tourism-to address out commuting and enable more sustainable transport patterns while providing a greater range and number of jobs and improving the services and facilities that are accessible.

• Providing homes including affordable homes- to meet the housing needs of the community.

• Facilitate regeneration- to support a stronger more sustainable economy in a better-quality environment.

• Creating safer communities with better facilities (Core Strategy2012)

Allocations Plan, 2006 – 2026 (Adopted 2018)

The Forest of Dean District Council Allocations Plan 2006 to 2026 Adopted June 2018 lists 51 specific sites. The Allocations Plan (AP) is complementary to the Core Strategy (CS) and must be read together with it. Both plans cover the period to 2026. The great majority of the policies in the AP are site specific, however there are some which apply across the whole district in certain circumstances or which apply to certain types of development or alternatively have more general themes. The most relevant to the proposed development are listed below and form a bridge between the CS (strategic) or the NPPF and the local (AP/ NDP) scale. (Allocation Plan,2018)

POLICY

Number Purpose And Relevance

Sustainable development AP1

Renewable Energy AP2

Design of development AP4

Historic Character local distinctiveness AP5

Biodiversity AP7

To illustrate how the sustainable development aims of the CS can be achieved and to provide a policy expressing these aims in a manner which is in keeping with the NPPF.

To support renewable energy subject to appropriate environmental safeguards

To make clear the basis on which the design of new development will be evaluated

To ensure proposals take account of historic character and local distinctiveness

To ensure that there is a net gain in biodiversity through the implementation of the Plan, in keeping with the NPPF

Green Infrastructure AP8

To encourage the provision of GI both as an integral part of development and elsewhere and to ensure that development provides GI where appropriate