Growth of Scarborough Study - Scarborough Borough Council

10.6.3 In view of this our recommendations for taking the strategy forward has clear
implications for planning and other policies, namely:
• That a comprehensive regeneration strategy is required for the town, integrating
social and environmental requirements with the fundamental economic
development factors
• That employment land allocations and strategic policy requires radical review,
e.g. too much emphasis in Scarborough town is given to Scarborough Business
park at the expense of smaller serviced provision for SMEs such as creative
industries
• That there is a unique window of opportunity (see conclusions below) to
influence emerging regional policy, particularly with reference to spatial
development patterns, economic development, housing distribution and
housing/jobs balance
• That further detailed feasibility studies are required to inform selection of
sustainable development sites.
(b) Window of opportunity
10.6.4 At the time of writing, regional planning and economic policy is in a dynamic state. In
particular, Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) is entering a crucial stage in its Sustainability
Appraisal (SA)/Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) that will inform the policymaking
process, whilst public consultation is currently underway on the Regional
Economic Strategy (RES) Review. Both the RSS and RES – and the Government’s
Northern Way Strategy – recognise the need and opportunity for regeneration in the
coastal sub-region, within which Scarborough is identified in policy as the sub-regional
centre. This, however, should be backed up by a clear, coherent and comprehensive
approach to ensure that Scarborough maintains and enhances such status in the
regional hierarchy.
10.6.5 This is recognised in part by the SA/SEA of the RSS spatial options, which in line with
Option B (linking need to opportunity) recommends that regional planning strategy
should focus more on local service provision and the complementary role of settlements
in peripheral areas, rather than “traditional approaches” to peripherality which have
tended to place greater emphasis on generating competitive advantage and a wider
skills base through, for example, improved transport links. We believe that, in the case of
Scarborough as a sub-regional centre, a combination of these approaches to
peripherality will assist in securing economic and social benefits for the wider sub-region
Doc No CBHABG000/3 Rev: 0 Date: May 2005 94
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