Part 7: An overview of the emerging preferred strategy
7.1
Achieving the Vision by 2026 depends upon the successful delivery of a
number of outcomes:
MAXIMISING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
7.2
A brighter future for Plan area economically means raising its economic
output (Gross Value Added – GVA for short) as well as the number of jobs.
The environmental goods and services, marine technology, tourism, public
sector, manufacturing, renewable and low carbon energy including nuclear
sectors have the potential to generate higher levels of GVA required. Other
important sectors include retailing, health and care. Provision needs to be
made for all these sectors in order to achieve both higher living standards
and sufficient jobs for the Plan area’s residents. For all sectors, it is vital to
provide for the formation of new businesses, for the expansion of existing
firms (so that they are not forced to relocate elsewhere), and for
investment.
7.3
The figures for employment floorspace provision on industrial and
business sites are based on the calculations included in the Anglesey and
Gwynedd Employment Land Review (2011). It is assumed that
development activity will remain subdued in the short term and then pick
up somewhat in the medium and longer term. The employment floorspace
provision figures exceeds what is likely to be built. This slight excess is
deliberate in order to offer choice to developers and occupiers, and to
ensure the market has the capacity to ‘move and churn’. If the economy
grows slower or faster than currently expected, the figures can be
reassessed and if necessary adjusted, when this Strategy is reviewed.
7.4
A particular emphasis has been placed on identifying sites which are
suitable for development associated with key sectors of manufacturing,
renewable and low carbon energy. The developability of sites is just as
important as overall numbers, so employment sites need to be suited to
modern business requirements and be capable of being viably developed.
Existing and proposed employment sites which satisfy those criteria will be
safeguarded for employment uses.
7.5
Higher levels of skills are a pre-requisite for higher productivity and higher
GVA, and in the future, a larger proportion of jobs will require high skills.
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The Strategy will facilitate a range of initiatives to achieve higher skills,
including promoting more apprenticeships, retaining locally more
graduates from the area’s University, and negotiating legal agreements
with developers to provide workforce training.
7.6
Strategic Policies will make specific employment allocations mainly within
the Regional Sub Centre and the Urban Service Centres across the Plan
area, and some allocations within the Rural Service Centres. Appropriate
small scale employment opportunities will be supported through criteria
based policies in and around Villages, Clusters and the Countryside. This
approach is consistent with the Strategy’s approach to the distribution of
housing growth across the Plan area.
HOUSING TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS
7.7
New housing units will improve housing availability and choice for people
who want to own or rent their own home. The Plan area needs more
homes to cater for household growth – arising mainly from people living
longer and local residents wanting a home of their own. There is also a
backlog of people on the social housing waiting lists.
7.8
The Plan will tackle issues arising from
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Using planning powers to influence tenure
Consolidation of existing policy support for purchasers and sellers of
affordable housing
Ensuring that affordable houses are of an appropriate design and size
7.9
Based on the Preferred Growth Scenario forecasts of housing
requirements, the Strategy provides for 7,665 additional homes during
2011-2026 in the Plan area. This is an average of around 511 new homes
per annum - a slightly higher rate than in the previous development plans’
strategies and a higher rate than the average build rate in the Plan area
over the previous 10 years period. This rate reflects the more optimistic
economic outlook in the Preferred Growth Scenario. Nevertheless, housing
market prospects mean it will be challenging to realise even this
moderately higher rate, especially in the short term.
7.10
In terms of the projected housing growth it is anticipated that this will be
achieved by providing for:
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7.11
55% of this growth in the Regional Sub Centre and the Urban
Service Centres;
20% of this growth in the Rural Service Centres; and
25% of this growth in the remaining Villages and Clusters.
A range of sizes and types of new housing is as important as the overall
amount. Recognising that home ownership is set to remain beyond the
reach of many, a proportion of new homes should be ‘affordable housing’,
either intermediate or social rented homes, subject to viability. It is vital
also to encourage a growth in the private rented sector. A significant
proportion of the forecast future increase in households will be of people
aged over 65, so a provision of suitable housing for older people
especially within larger development schemes will be sought.
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STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITIES – RURAL AND URBAN
7.12
The Strategy will seek to ensure that development will be distributed to
strengthen the network of settlements in accordance with the roles that
will be set out in the Plan’s Settlement Hierarchy. This approach will seek
to maintain the Plan area’s special mixed urban/ rural character as well as
its distinctive linguistic and cultural character. In locating development,
distinctive and separate settlements should be maintained through the
avoidance of coalescence. Priority will be given, where possible, to the reuse of suitable previously developed land and buildings within or near
settlements. Due to generally limited long term supply of brownfield sites,
greenfield sites within and adjacent to settlements that are readily
accessible by a choice of means of travel will be required.
7.13
The Strategy will set out how the individual character and complementary
roles of town centres will be enhanced through development,
improvements to the public realm, to public transport facilities, and to
pedestrian/cycle links. It will define the role of individual shopping centres
and set out the type of retail developments and other town centre uses
that should be located in these centres.
7.14
The Strategy will establish the priorities for future public and private
investment and collaboration. It will help to secure provision of the
infrastructure, services and facilities needed to sustain and enhance
communities and support new development. Policies to help achieve this
outcome will cover community assets, provision of physical and green
infrastructure, and infrastructure delivery mechanisms. It will support
initiatives that build stable, safe, healthy and strong communities, which
means respecting and enhancing the Welsh language and culture;
planning new development to help reduce crime, anti-social behaviour
and the fear of crime; promoting well-being and health; ensuring that
development is of local character.
ENHANCING THE AREA’S ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS
7.15
The Strategy aims to enhance the Plan area’s environmental sustainability
and help make it more resilient to the effects of climate change. Parts of
the area are at risk of flooding and predicted sea level rise will increase
that risk, so locating and designing new development so that flood risk is
minimised is needed. The Strategy will provide a framework for retaining
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the area’s distinctiveness, by protecting, maintaining and enhancing
landscape and townscape character. Policies to help achieve this outcome
will also cover the historic environment, biodiversity and geodiversity,
delivery of green infrastructure and design.
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