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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 />

22<br />

KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006<br />

KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006<br />

23

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