CITY OF STOKE-ON-TRENT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT ...

Thematic Options4.13 1. No changes to the town and city centre boundaries as shown on the 2001City Plan2. Amendment of town centre boundaries to reflect existing local changes on theground since City Plan 20013. Amendment of boundaries to reflect existing local changes on the ground aswell as facilitating regeneration priorities where appropriate4. Amendment to all boundaries to encompass greater growth on the edge oftown centresPolicy SS11City and Town Centre Boundaries for the following centres are shown on theTown Centre Proposals Maps (Plans 3 - 9):a) City Centreb) Longtonc) Tunstalld) Bursleme) Stoke-Upon-Trentf) Meirg) FentonReasoned Justification4.14 City and town centre boundaries are an important policy theme in the consideration ofthe location of development, particularly in terms of town centre uses, including retail,leisure and tourism as set out in PPS6: Planning for Town Centres. The City has anetwork of existing centres of different sizes, where commercial and communityservices, facilities and jobs of varying scales are concentrated. One of the overallaims of the Core Strategy is to create more sustainable patterns of developmentthrough the appropriate location of development and ensuring linkages to existingactivities, functions and facilities. In order to do this, policies within this developmentportfolio need to protect, enhance and promote the roles of centres as an accessiblefocus for a variety of economic, cultural and social activities on either a local, subregionalor regional scale.4.15 Retailing is the cornerstone of all of these centres and the protection of this shoppingfunction is essential to their future. The hierarchy of towns within Stoke-on-Trentmeans a balance needs to be struck in ensuring the size of the centres reflects thelocal situation, existing hierarchy and aids appropriate enhancement but does notcreate a situation which allows for an increase in the size of a centre at the expenseof supporting and protecting its central focus, jeopardising the vitality and viability ofexisting shopping facilities or the functions and prospects of other nearby centres.4.16 Wherever possible growth should be accommodated by more efficient use of landand buildings within existing centres. Only where growth cannot be accommodatedin identified existing centres should local planning authorities plan for the extension ofthe primary shopping area or town centre. In some cases the boundaries of centres,as set out in the City Plan 2001, adequately reflect the existing situation, such as thesmaller centres of Fenton and Burslem, to increase the size of these centres wouldput at risk in-centre regeneration.37