Stafford Road Corridor Area Action Plan

Policy Area 10Supporting InfrastructureProvisionPolicy AimThe AAP will support the ability of infrastructureproviders to meet the needs of growing communitiesand businesses in appropriate ways.Need for the PolicyCore Strategy RequirementsPolicy DEL1 sets requirements for documents such asAAPs to meet to ensure infrastructure is delivered. Theserequirements include setting out:• the range of infrastructure to be providedor supported,• the prioritisation of and resource for infrastructureprovision• the scale and form of obligation or levy to be appliedon each type of infrastructurethat generally smaller scale local enhancements may berequired as specific sites are developed.The Surface Water Management Plan will identify anysurface water infrastructure improvements required inthe AAP area, although these are likely to be minor. TheRenewable and Low Carbon Energy Study also identifiesinfrastructure needed in the local area.Options and Preferred Policy ApproachThe AAP needs to provide guidance and information onthe infrastructure needed to support the delivery of theplan. Specifically we feel it will also need to provideguidance on potential development needs atBushbury Substation.The Options around this are:Option 1Have a policy which addresses the needs ofinfrastructure providers. This policy could potentiallyprovide guidance to enable the appropriate investmentat Bushbury Substation whilst reflecting its Green Beltlocation. Information will also be provided in the AAPand the supporting Delivery Plan.Option 2Provide information in the AAP Delivery Plan. Anyproposals, such as those at Bushbury Substation, wouldthen be assessed against Core Strategy and nationalpolicy to facilitate the delivery of infrastructure.Issues Paper CommentsThis Policy Area formed part of the Delivery section inthe Issues Paper, and we now feel it needs a specificpolicy approach in the Options Report.National Grid requested that the Bushbury Substationsite is identified as a Major Developed Site in the GreenBelt. This is on the basis of the need for flexibility inGreen Belt policy as there is likely to be a need toexpand / develop the site to meet operational needsduring the plan period. Whilst the exact extent of this isnot known at this stage, it is likely to require anexpansion of the substation footprint.Other infrastructure providers indicated detailedcomments would be given at Options stage whenadditional information would be available about thelevels of growth in the area.EvidenceThe Infrastructure and Deliverability Study undertaken onthe Core Strategy identified that the level of developmentand growth in the Black Country did not require theprovision of large scale infrastructure enhancements toaccommodate the proposed growth. It was anticipatedAt this stage we feel Option 1 will provide clarity on thisissue, although the approach will be informed by theamount of information available from infrastructureproviders.The way forward will be informed by the responses tothe Options Report and the comments of theinfrastructure providers.QuestionsAre there any other infrastructure requirementsneeded in this AAP area? If so, please providedetails.DeliveryThe AAP will, where appropriate and possible, provide asupportive framework for service providers to deliveryinfrastructure to support growth and development in thearea.Sustainability AppraisalOption 1 is supported by the SA process as it will enablethe potential effects of the infrastructure provisionproposed through the Policy Area to be considered in64Options Report for the Development of the Stafford Road Corridor