RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

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Section 3 Spatial Strategy
3.9 Policy SS1 refers to several Government policy statements and commitments relating to sustainable development.
These and other key documents including PPS1 Delivering Sustainable Development and the 2003 Sustainable
Communities Plan are kept under regular review. Regional and local partners will need to keep abreast of changes to
national policies for sustainable development and reflect these when reviewing their plans and strategies. The policies of
this RSS reflect current understanding of the standards expected. Read together, they seek to use resources wisely and
ensure that all development is compatible with environmental limits, including in regard to carbon performance, and that
no development adversely affects the integrity of sites of European or international importance for wildlife.
POLICY SS2: Overall Spatial Strategy
In seeking the more sustainable relationships described in Policy SS1 the spatial strategy directs most strategically
significant growth to the region’s major urban areas where:
• strategic networks connect and public transport accessibility is at its best and has the most scope for
improvement; and
• there is the greatest potential to build on existing concentrations of activities and physical and social
infrastructure and to use growth as a means of extending and enhancing them efficiently.
Within this context Local Development Documents should develop policies which:
• ensure new development contributes towards the creation of more sustainable communities in accordance with
the definition above and, in particular, require that new development contributes to improving quality of life,
community cohesion and social inclusion, including by making suitable and timely provision for the needs of the
health and social services sectors and primary, secondary, further and higher education particularly in areas of
new development and priority areas for regeneration; and
• adopt an approach to the location of major development which prioritises the re-use of previously developed
land in and around urban areas to the fullest extent possible while ensuring an adequate supply of land for
development consistent with the achievement of a sustainable pattern of growth and the delivery of housing in
accordance with Policy H1.
The target is for 60% of development to be on previously developed land.
3.10 The main strategy is to concentrate development at the region’s cities and other significant urban areas including selected
market towns. They provide its focal points for retailing and other commercial activities, administration, culture and
tourism. They provide access to public transport and are a focus for improving the interchange facilities required to
strengthen public transport.
3.11 Where new housing is proposed consideration needs to be given to its implications for the full range of health and social
infrastructure that should be provided or augmented in parallel with development. Local Development Documents need
to take account of the 2004 Regional Social Strategy and 2005 Regional Health Strategy together with advice from local
education authorities, primary care trusts and the Strategic Health Authority, the police and other service providers.
3.12 The regional target for re-use of previously developed land should be monitored in relation to housing and employment
development. The extent to which the 60% target is achieved will vary across the region. The Annual Monitoring Report
should track performance in different parts of the region and whether the regional target is being achieved. The review of
RSS should consider whether the target should be amended.