2. Relationship of the AAP to National, Regional and Local Policy

The Bradley AAP is guided by and in conformity with higher level planning policy, which includes:

1. National – planning policy statements and guidance, including minerals planning policy statements and guidance⁽¹⁴⁾.

2. Regional – North West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) and the Core Strategy of the Lancashire Minerals and Waste Local Development Framework. N.B. The Government has made clear its intention to abolish regional spatial strategies at the earliest opportunity.

3. Local – Replacement Pendle Local Plan (2001-2016) and the emerging Core Strategy and Land-use Allocations Development Plan Documents.

The Bradley AAP has regard to guidance in National Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and is in general conformity with the emerging Pendle Core Strategy and Land Use Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD). It should be read in conjunction with these other planning policy documents.

The Bradley AAP seeks to complement existing higher tier planning policy by addressing local distinctiveness and in particular the key issues and objectives identified for the regeneration of Bradley (see Chapters 3 and 4 of this AAP). Where policies from the Replacement Pendle Local Plan (2001-2016) apply they are referred to in the appropriate AAP policies and are listed in Appendix 3.

The Bradley AAP will not deliver significant numbers of new housing during the remaining lifetime of the Replacement Pendle Local Plan or the Core Strategy which will replace it. The Bradley AAP will primarily replace housing demolished within Bradley as part of the regeneration proposals.

The Bradley AAP is in conformity with the Replacement Pendle Local Plan (2001-2016) with one notable exception. The Riverside Mill site is identified as a Protected Employment Area in Policy 22, but this AAP re-allocates the site for housing. Policy 22 of the Local Plan is therefore, in part, superseded by Policy 1.1 of this AAP.

This matter, along with further details regarding the relationship of the Bradley AAP to the Pendle Replacement Local Plan, the RSS and national planning guidance, is discussed further in the Technical Paper which accompanies this AAP.

Spatial planning objectives for local areas, as set out in the LDF, should be aligned not only with national and regional plans, but also with the shared local priorities set out in the Sustainable Community Strategy (PPS 12, 2008).

‘Our Pendle Our Future’ Pendle’s Sustainable Community Strategy (2008-2018) establishes the following strategic vision for Pendle:

“We want Pendle to be a place where quality of life continues to improve and where people respect one another and their neighbourhood. We want Pendle to be a place where everyone aspires to reach their full potential. We want to be recognised locally, regionally and nationally as a great area to live, learn, work, play and visit.”

The Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS) presents a shared commitment by a range of organisations to work together to achieve that vision by tackling a wide range of economic, social and environmental issues. The main priority goals within the SCS which the Bradley AAP will contribute towards achieving are:

• To support confident communities that are socially cohesive, creative, tolerant and considerate of all ages and cultures.
• To create a vibrant housing market offering a mix of high quality and affordable housing for all.
• To help create a borough which feels safe and crime continues to fall.
• To help people live long, healthy and independent lives.
• To deepen our understanding and respect for the environment.

The need to address issues associated with housing market renewal is one of the primary drivers for producing the Bradley AAP.

In 2004 Elevate East Lancashire (now Regenerate Pennine Lancashire) submitted their prospectus to the Government which set out a vision and a number of core objectives for regenerating East Lancashire.

RPL's vision for the East Lancashire Pathfinder area is that it becomes:

“A place of choice to live: known for the varied and distinctive character of its towns; for its environmental quality and heritage; for celebrating its cultural diversity; as a place which offers residents access to a high standard of housing, education, employment, security and healthcare. A Place to Live, Work, Relax and Visit.”

The Core Objectives of the strategy seek to:

• Establish housing choice and create sustainable communities. (This is the central strand of the strategy and provides the foundation for housing market renewal in East Lancashire).
• Maximise access to high value employment.
• Maximise the value of the area’s landscape and historic character.
• Build community cohesion, and

• Develop effective neighbourhood management and service delivery.

These are embraced in the objectives of the Bradley AAP set out in Chapter 4.

The mechanism through which the RPL strategy is translated into local strategy and actions is through the production of Area Development Frameworks. The Nelson Area Development Framework identified that the town centre, together with the neighbouring wards of Whitefield and Bradley are the highest priorities for investment under the HMR Programme (Nelson ADF, 2004). These three areas are all the subject of significant planned and current investment from HMR and economic development funding and private sector investment. Further details can be found in section 4 of the accompanying Technical Paper.

In 2006, RPL (then Elevate) published the Transformational Agenda – the HMR Scheme Update for 2006-19. This document outlines a series of interventions that are of the type and scale necessary to bring about social, economic and environmental change within East Lancashire. It identifies a number of interventions in Nelson which are necessary to support the transformational agenda. This includes the diversification of the housing market through renovation, clearance and the development of new homes. The Bradley AAP will help to deliver this.

As part of the Comprehensive Spending Review undertaken in 2010 by the incoming Government, the Housing Market Renewal programme has been cancelled with effect from the end of March 2011. However, the Government has indicated that funding bids to support ongoing HMR activities can be made to the Regional Growth Fund that has been created. Other funding may be made available by the Government to allow HMR activities to be completed however this is, as yet, uncertain.

Despite the loss of the HMR programme, the need to address housing market failure, and its relationship to the economic performance of Pennine Lancashire, is recognised going forward in both the Pennine Lancashire Housing Strategy 2009-2029 (PLHS) and the Pennine Lancashire Integrated Economic Strategy (PLIES).

The Bradley AAP will contribute to meeting the following objectives in the PLHS:

Objective 1: To ensure a sufficient quantity, high quality, and appropriate type of housing supply to meet the economic aspirations and social needs of Pennine Lancashire;

Objective 2: To develop sustainable neighbourhoods that can retain successful households and offer opportunities to inward movers and investors, reducing the disparities between neighbourhoods within Pennine Lancashire, providing linkages to economic growth;

Objective 3: To meet the housing, health and support needs of our residents and vulnerable people.

The PLIES sets out an Integrated Economic Strategy for Pennine Lancashire for the period up to 2020. It recognises that 'quality of place' is key to economic growth and the generation of wealth for the local population. The Bradley AAP will contribute to several objectives within this strategy, including:

• Tackling urban deprivation across Pennine Lancashire and promoting the high quality neighbourhood environments needed to attract and retain skilled labour, and

• Addressing image and quality of place to make Pennine Lancashire a natural place for new investment and a desirable place to live.