Draft Bradford District Local Plan - Preferred Options (Regulation 18) February 2021

Comment

Representation ID: 15818

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

Spatial Priority Areas (SPA's) were first established in the 2014 SEP and have been amended several times since including summer 2020 with new areas to reflect wider policy priorities including regeneration and urban renewal, Towns Fund locations, and economic and environmental resilience.

The SPA's within Bradford District are currently:

Main Urban Centre - Bradford City Centre
Investment Locations - Mixed use - Canal Rd Corridor
- Regeneration - Shipley & Keighley
Future Growth Location - Apperley Bridge / Esholt & Holme Wood Urban Extension

Through the Leeds City Region SoCG Bradford have committed to the importance of SPAs, including Matters 7, 13 and 21 in the Statement which relate to 'Inclusive Growth', 'Housing' and 'Transport' respectively. While the plans proposals support these SPA's it would benefit from making greater reference to SPAs and their relevance to numerous policy areas.

Comment

Representation ID: 15821

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

Policy SP9 provides direction on how developments can build in resilience to the impacts of climate change, including through incorporation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), tree planting and green roofs which is welcomed.

Further consideration could also be given to how properties can be made more resilient to flooding when it occurs to ensure they are brought back into use sooner and with less resources required for the recovery/repair phase. This Policy could also be enhanced by referencing the role of digital infrastructure/technology in supporting climate change ambitions and environmental sustainability, for instance by reducing the need to travel or supporting smart monitoring of energy use.

Comment

Representation ID: 15822

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

The Enterprise Zone (EZ) Programme in the Leeds City Region covers 10 West Yorkshire sites. Phase 2 covers nine sites along the M62/A1 corridors including the site identified in the plan. The programme is funded by over £20m through Growth Deal which ends on 31 March 2021.

The reference to EZ sites is welcome and significant progress has already been made on the Bradford EZ sites, particularly at Gain Lane where construction has commenced and Parry Lane where a planning application has been submitted to the council.

However, the EZs business incentives are due to end 31 March 2022 for businesses to locate in EZ areas. The Combined Authority are currently considering options to support these sites beyond the Growth Deal funding, but no decisions have yet been made. To ensure that the Plan is as up to date as possible, we suggest further discussion on the role and status of EZs need to be held prior to the publication draft of the Plan.

Comment

Representation ID: 15823

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

As part of the Planning Delivery Fund, the Combined Authority were successfully awarded funding to provide strategic support in partnership with Leeds City Region Local Authorities to ensure investment in design quality in development plans. It is in this capacity that the following comments relating to Urban Design are made.

The Combined Authority is supportive of the inclusion of policies relating to urban design. We welcome the ambition to significantly improve quality in housing and neighbourhood design, and to create inclusive, accessible, distinctive and healthy places. Bradford’s high population of children and young people is reflected in policies that prioritise green space, doorstep play and safe routes to play destinations.

Policies could be further strengthened by including welcoming and safe routes to schools as a requirement.

Comment

Representation ID: 15824

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

As part of the Planning Delivery Fund, the Combined Authority were successfully awarded funding to provide strategic support in partnership with Leeds City Region Local Authorities to ensure investment in design quality in development plans. It is in this capacity that the following comments relating to Urban Design are made.

The Combined Authority is supportive of the inclusion of policies relating to urban design. We welcome the ambition to significantly improve quality in housing and neighbourhood design, and to create inclusive, accessible, distinctive and healthy places. Bradford’s high population of children and young people is reflected in policies that prioritise green space, doorstep play and safe routes to play destinations.

Policies could be further strengthened by including welcoming and safe routes to schools as a requirement.

The wording of Policy SP10 (Green Infrastructure) and SP15 (Creating Healthy Places) could be stronger, moving from text such as ‘The Council will seek to...’ to more explicit requirements such as ‘development proposals must show how they will provide...’ and ‘it is expected that developments will...’

Comment

Representation ID: 15825

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

As part of the Planning Delivery Fund, the Combined Authority were successfully awarded funding to provide strategic support in partnership with Leeds City Region Local Authorities to ensure investment in design quality in development plans. It is in this capacity that the following comments relating to Urban Design are made.

The Combined Authority is supportive of the inclusion of policies relating to urban design. We welcome the ambition to significantly improve quality in housing and neighbourhood design, and to create inclusive, accessible, distinctive and healthy places. Bradford’s high population of children and young people is reflected in policies that prioritise green space, doorstep play and safe routes to play destinations.

Policies could be further strengthened by including welcoming and safe routes to schools as a requirement.

Comment

Representation ID: 15826

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

Priority 4 in the SEP, Infrastructure for Growth includes a commitment to ensuring a sufficient supply of minerals and waste infrastructure to sustain and support growth in housing, business and transport infrastructure.

In this capacity it is noted that the Plan includes a number of related policies and we would welcome engagement with Bradford on minerals and waste matters, such as making use of sub-regional evidence sources, including the West Yorkshire Waste Capacity and Needs Assessment Model.

Comment

Representation ID: 15827

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

Priority 4 in the SEP, Infrastructure for Growth includes a commitment to ensuring a sufficient supply of minerals and waste infrastructure to sustain and support growth in housing, business and transport infrastructure.

In this capacity it is noted that the Plan includes a number of related policies and we would welcome engagement with Bradford on minerals and waste matters, such as making use of sub-regional evidence sources, including the West Yorkshire Waste Capacity and Needs Assessment Model.

Comment

Representation ID: 15830

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

We are encouraged that the Local Plan provides several policy hooks that dovetail well with the WY Transport Strategy and draft West Yorkshire Connectivity Infrastructure Plan.

The Local Plan settlement hierarchy approach, which directs growth in the main centres and along strategic transport corridors, is consistent with other Partner Councils in West Yorkshire. The quantum of development proposed in the smaller settlements is reduced with the focus on the larger settlements in the districts.

This approach is supported and aligns well with programmed and future transport investments particularly schemes identified in the West Yorkshire Transport Fund and Transforming Cities Fund. It also aligns well with the existing public transport network provision that tend to be strongest in the main centres.

Comment

Representation ID: 15831

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

Housing Distribution

We are encouraged that the Local Plan provides several policy hooks that dovetail well with the WY Transport Strategy and draft West Yorkshire Connectivity Infrastructure Plan.

The Local Plan settlement hierarchy approach, which directs growth in the main centres and along strategic transport corridors, is consistent with other Partner Councils in West Yorkshire. The quantum of development proposed in the smaller settlements is reduced with the focus on the larger settlements in the districts.

This approach is supported and aligns well with programmed and future transport investments particularly schemes identified in the West Yorkshire Transport Fund and Transforming Cities Fund. It also aligns well with the existing public transport network provision that tend to be strongest in the main centres.