Settlement Spatial Plans
There is an increasing demand from towns and large villages to have a deep understanding of how their settlements function and what are the different potential futures for how, when and where they might grow.
Most often this thinking is needed to inform new or reviewed neighbourhood plans, but now clients are asking for the same but to frame their representations on draft Local Plans and major planning applications.
Over the years we have learned a lot about how different scales and patterns of housing growth trigger the needs for vital supporting infrastructure upgrades. The failure of the plan led system to deliver timely upgrades, or any upgrades at all, is arguably the main reason many communities object to future housing schemes. Settlements are complex and dynamic in how they function – Local Plans rarely come forward quickly enough to keep up and planning authorities rarely have the resource to focus on anything but the largest settlements.
We have therefore created a new product - a Settlement Spatial Plan - and have been using them to support clients.
What is the purpose of a Settlement Spatial Plan?
It can either drive the site assessment and allocation process of a neighbourhood plan. Or it can be used to influence Local Plan decisions on strategic allocations and infrastructure delivery. It can also be used to counter poor major development proposals by highlighting their weaknesses and showing the advantages of a better alternative
How is a Settlement Spatial Plan created?
Our method is a collaborative project blending our professional planning, development and scenario planning expertise with the local council’s in-depth intelligence of how their place works, or doesn’t work, and of who are the key land, property and infrastructure players. We deploy a number of mapping and data layering techniques together with spatial planning modelling to create viable visions of the future. We then illustrate those visions in ways that encourage and enable local communities to actively engage with the project.
What size or type of settlement is a Settlement Spatial Plan useful for?
We think any local council anticipating growth of 500 homes or more over the next decade will benefit from using this product, many others below that scale but facing strong pressure for development will also find it useful. It will be especially helpful for those towns facing the loss of a local district council or the prospect of major Green Belt land releases for the first time in a generation.
Would you like to find out more about Settlement Spatial Plans?
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