Bradford District Local Infrastructure Baseline Study - working draft ...

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview
It is important that the polices and proposals of the Core Strategy DPD and the Local
Infrastructure Plan (LIP) are based on an up-to-date, robust and reliable evidence base to
ensure a thorough understanding of the needs, opportunities and any constraints of the
area.
An assessment of infrastructure has to be led by an overall vision for the development of the
District as expressed in the Sustainable Community Strategy and Core Strategy.
Comprehensive and integrated infrastructure planning however cannot be undertaken
without knowledge of the existing provisions and gaps, likely future requirements as well as
the standards and forecasting criteria used by the infrastructure providers. The infrastructure
planning process thus also provides an appropriate forum for integrated decision making
around land use planning by unlocking opportunities for sustainable development and
achieving innovative funding and delivery mechanisms.
This Local Infrastructure Baseline Study (draft) has therefore been produced to set out the
current infrastructure context in the district, by achieving a basic knowledge and
understanding of the issues relating to the provision of infrastructure. This will inform the
emerging Core Strategy and identify how the Council and its key partners intend to
implement the LDF and deliver the associated infrastructure requirements.
This report provides a picture of the District in terms of key infrastructure issues and also
their spatial relevance. It covers physical, social and green infrastructure in Bradford, in
order to ensure that it embraces all matters necessary for the achievement of LDF policies,
proposals and aspirations. It draws on a range of information about the important aspects of
the District including housing, the local economy, environment, transportation and
community facilities including schools, shopping and sporting facilities that form the evidence
base for the local infrastructure planning process.
In accordance with good practice advice by the Planning Advisory Service (PAS), including
the online Plan Making Manual, the Council considers the gathering of evidence as an
iterative process which must be continued throughout the plan preparation process. The
reason for this is because the evidence is key to other aspects of plan production including,
Sustainability Appraisal, Infrastructure Planning and Delivery, Options Generation and
Community Engagement. The Local Infrastructure Baseline Study has therefore been
deliberately left in ‘Draft’ format and will be supplemented with additional information during
the course of the preparation of the Core Strategy DPD. As part of the ongoing consultation
process, the report will be made publicly available to all consultees for comments and
review.
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