Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council
Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council
Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council
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VISION AND OBJECTIVES<br />
VISION AND OBJECTIVES<br />
Objective 10<br />
To ensure that waste management, minerals and<br />
energy production proposals accord with strategic<br />
sustainability objectives for Merseyside and the<br />
region as a whole and comply with best<br />
environmental practice.<br />
A major priority in <strong>Knowsley</strong> is the need to<br />
increase the proportion of waste that is managed<br />
by sustainable means (through reduction, re-use<br />
or recycling). A strategy to facilitate this is<br />
currently being prepared at the Merseyside level.<br />
The UDP will also seek to ensure that minerals<br />
extraction and energy production proposals (such<br />
as oil or gas exploration proposals, or wind farms)<br />
are considered in the context of strategic needs in<br />
Merseyside and the North West.<br />
Objective 11<br />
To protect the openness and character of the<br />
Green Belt from inappropriate development.<br />
The designated Green Belt covers approximately<br />
half of <strong>Knowsley</strong>, and contains some areas of high<br />
quality landscape. It is regarded as a key<br />
environmental asset, providing a physical break<br />
between the Borough’s townships and<br />
opportunities for countryside recreation. The UDP<br />
therefore seeks to protect the openness of the<br />
Green Belt and to protect and enhance its<br />
environmental quality.<br />
In preparing this <strong>Plan</strong>, minor changes have been<br />
made to Green Belt boundaries to ensure they<br />
more accurately follow the current boundary of the<br />
built-up area. Any future changes to Green Belt<br />
boundaries, to accommodate new housing or<br />
economic development to 2021 and beyond, shall<br />
be determined within a future review of this <strong>Plan</strong>.<br />
This shall be informed by a strategic study of<br />
Green Belt across Merseyside and Halton in<br />
accordance with the Regional Spatial Strategy for<br />
the North West.<br />
Objective 12<br />
To support the rural economy by encouraging<br />
appropriate forms of rural diversification, and<br />
protecting agricultural land of the best and most<br />
versatile quality from permanent loss.<br />
Much of the land within the Green Belt is high<br />
quality agricultural land. There are also considered<br />
to be opportunities to diversify the economy in the<br />
Green Belt, for example by introducing more<br />
forestry or open recreational uses. The UDP<br />
therefore seeks to protect the stock of high quality<br />
agricultural land, and encourage the diversification<br />
of the rural economy.<br />
Objective 13<br />
To protect and where possible enhance the<br />
contribution made by open space to visual and<br />
residential amenity, ecology, culture,<br />
communities, health, access and strategic<br />
functions of space.<br />
The townships of <strong>Knowsley</strong> contain an extensive<br />
network of parks and other green spaces - this is<br />
considered to be one of the Borough’s most<br />
important environmental assets. The UDP sets<br />
standards that will ensure that an adequate<br />
quantity and quality of greenspaces is protected<br />
from development, and that opportunities will be<br />
sought to enhance existing greenspace networks.<br />
Objective 14<br />
To protect and manage <strong>Knowsley</strong>’s sites and<br />
species of nature conservation importance<br />
(including those identified as requiring protection<br />
in the North Merseyside Biodiversity Action<br />
<strong>Plan</strong>) and encourage a net gain in the<br />
biodiversity resource.<br />
The North Merseyside Biodiversity Action <strong>Plan</strong> sets<br />
priorities for the protection of habitats, sites and<br />
species of nature conservation importance.<br />
The UDP therefore identifies Sites of Biological<br />
Interest, and policies which will protect these sites,<br />
along with other important habitats and species,<br />
from unacceptable harm from development.<br />
Objective 15<br />
To ensure that new development protects or<br />
enhances the Borough’s stock of trees, hedges<br />
and woodland.<br />
The stock of trees, hedges and woodland (which is<br />
currently lower than in many areas in the North<br />
West) forms another important environmental<br />
asset. The UDP will ensure that new development<br />
will either protect existing trees or, where<br />
appropriate, ensure the planting of new trees<br />
and other landscaping to offset the impact of<br />
new development.<br />
Objective 16<br />
To ensure that buildings and features which<br />
represent the best of <strong>Knowsley</strong>’s historic heritage<br />
are preserved or enhanced.<br />
<strong>Knowsley</strong> contains 15 Conservation Areas, together<br />
with a number of Listed Buildings which are of<br />
recognised historic and/or architectural merit, as<br />
well as a number of important archaeological<br />
remains. The UDP will seek to protect these from<br />
unjustified harm or loss.<br />
Objective 17<br />
To ensure that new development protects or<br />
enhances the quality of air, land and the water<br />
environment in <strong>Knowsley</strong>.<br />
An important role of the planning system is to<br />
work in conjunction with other legislation to<br />
prevent pollution or hazard arising from new<br />
development (e.g. arising from air pollution, noise,<br />
water pollution, land contamination or flooding,<br />
or from the storage of hazardous substances).<br />
The UDP will seek to prevent pollution or harm<br />
resulting from these causes where the<br />
responsibility for this falls within the<br />
planning legislation.<br />
Objective 18<br />
To stimulate a high design quality in new<br />
development which will:<br />
a) Help to create a sense of place and pride in<br />
<strong>Knowsley</strong> and its constituent communities.<br />
b) Respond to and enhance the character of the<br />
townscape and landscape; and<br />
c) Make the Borough a more attractive place to<br />
live and invest in.<br />
A key emphasis of Government policy is to promote<br />
good quality design. <strong>Knowsley</strong> is currently<br />
responding to this challenge by preparing a Design<br />
Guide which will help to shape the design of new<br />
development in the Borough. Key issues in<br />
<strong>Knowsley</strong> include a relatively uniform built<br />
environment with few examples of really high<br />
quality or innovative urban design. The <strong>Plan</strong> will<br />
therefore aim to ensure that all new development<br />
is of the highest design quality and strengthens the<br />
character of individual townships.<br />
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KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006<br />
KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006<br />
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