Growth of Scarborough Study - Scarborough Borough Council

elative to other regional and sub-regional centres? To what extent does
growing Scarborough achieve a ‘strategic fit’ with inter-regional, regional and
sub-regional plans and strategies and, importantly, vice versa?
• As such there is recognition of the need for Scarborough to accommodate the
bulk of new housing provision within the Borough – which raises the question
whether there is capacity to expand that role in the future and if so on what
basis and where?
• Similarly, there is an acknowledgement that given the peripherality and
economic challenges of coastal towns, diversification of the local economy
should be a key priority and as such suitable and sufficient land for employment
use should be allocated – which raises the question whether such land is
sufficient/suitable and that other measures are proving effective in bringing
about desirable economic development?
2.2.5 This favourable policy environment presents a strong foundation on which to build a
growth strategy and, given the fluidity of emerging regional planning policies, to influence
future policy.
2.3 Summary of key capacity issues
2.3.1 Stage one of the study – the capacity assessments detailed in the following chapters –
concluded by identifying the following critical capacity issues that would need to be
addressed as part of a growth strategy (most of which are inter-linked):
• Poor economic performance is the most critical issue facing Scarborough
town (see commentary below) – this in itself presents a strong case for the
need for regeneration in the town through interventions to support critical mass
• The quality (suitability and access) of employment space currently
available in the town is limited and insufficient to support the extent of
economic diversification and growth required for regeneration –
employment land policy within the LDF and incentives to bring sites forward for
development should be an essential part of future planning strategy
• The restricted capacities of sewage treatment infrastructure and
electricity supply will require substantial investment should growth take
place – also affecting the availability of suitable sites, we have identified that
the Seamer area is near capacity in some services
• Locational peripherality, perceived image and quality of transport
connections are key factors that act as a key psychological and actual
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