Meeting documents

APPENDIX 1

Preparation of the Sub-Regional Spatial Strategy for the West of England

1.0 Introduction

1.1 By way of background Members will recall that under the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 the Regional Assembly (RA) as the Regional Planning Body are responsible for preparing a Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the South West which will form part of the statutory Development Plan.

1.2 It will set out a vision and broad development strategy for the sub region for the 2006-2026 period. All subsequent Local Development Documents prepared by local planning authorities will need to be in general conformity with the RSS.

1.3 As part of the `arrangements' allowed for in the Act the West of England Partnership has been set up to provide input into the RSS by carrying out studies for the former Avon area referred to as the West of England Joint Study Area (JSA). Based on these studies it will be for the four Unitary Authorities (UAs) to submit `first detailed proposals' to the Regional Assembly setting out a sub-regional spatial strategy and associated policies to be incorporated into the RSS. The matters to be covered in both the Joint Studies and `first detailed proposals' have been set out in briefs from the RA to the Partnership and UAs. The `first detailed proposals' are being developed through the Partnership and should preferably result in a joint submission from the UAs to the Regional Assembly in September.

1.4 Originally the Regional Assembly's programme anticipated the completion of the studies and submission of 'first detailed proposals' by the 31^st March 2005 but this has now been revised as it became apparent that Joint Study Area work would not be completed in time. The Regional Assembly's programme for the preparation of the RSS is now as follows:

1.5 Members will recall that a report to the 12^th January Council Executive meeting and 20^th January Council considered the West of England Partnership consultation documents "2026 - The Vision for the West of England in 2026 and delivery priorities" and "Your area : your vision - directions for change" (sub-regional spatial planning strategy).

1.6 The spatial strategy document identified a number of possible locations for sustainable urban extensions in the West of England which in Bath & North East Somerset included:

1.7 The areas identified would include a range of other uses, including employment and be supported by social, transport, environmental and utilities infrastructure. The priority would be to develop sustainable communities and to help improve the quality of life for existing communities.

1.8 Whilst the Vision was broadly supported (see minutes of meeting - Annex 1) the spatial strategy aimed at delivering the Visions priorities was not at that stage fully developed and the Council's view on possible locations for future development were subject to completion of a number of outstanding pieces of work.

2.0 Joint Study Area (JSA) Report to the Regional Assembly

2.1 The West of England Partnership acts as a steering group for the Joint Study Area work that has been undertaken to meet the Regional Assembly's brief for sub-regional input to the Regional Spatial Strategy. The work has been undertaken principally through the Partnership's Planning, Transportation and Environment Group (formerly the Joint Strategic Planning and Transportation Committee).

2.2 On the 14^th April 2005 the Partnership presented the JSA report to a panel of Regional Assembly Members. It sets out the results of studies on a range of matters important to the development of the sub-regional spatial strategy including the following key issues identified: forecast growth levels; economy; housing; transport; retailing; culture, health and education; environmental resources; spatial consideration and implementation. The summary is attached as Annex 2 and the full response can be viewed upon request.

2.3 Annex 3 sets out a summary of the views of Regional Assembly's Regional Spatial Planning and Transport Group on the JSA report (meeting of the 24^th May 2005).

2.4 The most contentious issue was the forecast growth levels for the economy. The Regional Assembly Panel take the view that insufficient weight has been given to recent economic forecasts produced by Cambridge Econometrics and rates of job growth experienced during the 1990's and since 2001. It called for further consideration of these higher growth rates and the risks of under-estimating future growth. Work carried out by the Joint Strategic Planning & Transportation Unit estimates a growth in jobs of around 3,200 per annum with a need for 4,700 dwellings per annum to meet the resulting demand.

2.5 However, higher employment forecasts for the Joint Study Area of 5,000 jobs per annum for 2001-2026 prepared for the Regional Assembly suggest a requirement for up to 6,200 dwellings per annum.

2.6 Further consultations are currently underway with the Regional Assembly with the aim of resolving these substantial differences in forecasts.

2.7 Other issues raised by the RA which are also subject to continuing work include:

2.8 In order to meet with the Regional Assembly's requests for additional information there is still outstanding work to be completed and this will also inform the development of the alternative spatial strategy options leading to a preferred strategy to be presented to the Regional Assembly as `first detailed proposals' in September.

2.9 However, it was not possible to meet the Regional Assembly's requirements for the 3^rd June concerning the RPG +25% and + 50% growth scenarios and discussions are taking place with the RA on this matter.

2.10 Work is continuing on technical work and `first detailed proposals' should be considered by the West of England Partnership in mid to late July and by the Executives/Cabinets of the four UAs in September before the submission date deadline of 13^th September set by the RA. Bath & North East Somerset Council Meeting would be able to consider the proposals at the 15^th September meeting.

2.11 The main areas of outstanding work are now:

2.12 Work on updating the Joint Study Area Response on items 1 & 2 is underway and specific reference to issues relating to growth rates is referred to above.

2.13 Updates on progress on items 3 - 7 are set out below.

2.14 Work to date has included preparing baseline information reports, including `baseline assessments' of locations beyond the urban areas that may need to be considered for urban extensions. This work has included multi-disciplinary workshops to which UA officers and other stakeholders have been invited to appraise the locations that were the subject of consultation in `Directions for Change'. These appraisals were undertaken against criteria supplied by the Regional Assembly for the appraisal of potential urban extensions.

2.15 A similar approach to areas for redevelopment and regeneration within the urban areas was discussed at these workshops; this is dependent on ongoing work to develop existing urban housing capacity studies in looking ahead to 2026 (see below).

2.16 The appraisal of locations has generated a number of strategic issues for developing spatial strategy as well as local considerations. It also identified the need for additional information to help define opportunities and capacities with greater confidence. The transport implications of development will require further consideration in the light of outputs from the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study (see below).

2.17 Work is now beginning on the next stage for the SSA: to appraise composite strategies that combine locations for development within and beyond the urban areas.

2.18 UA officers and the Joint Unit are currently assembling estimates of urban housing potential in accordance with the specification issued by consultants for the Regional Assembly. This work is intended to achieve a consistent approach across the region and will be used by the Regional Assembly as one of the factors to be taken into account in arriving at a housing distribution for the RSS. It is raising questions about the approach to estimating long-term potential beyond 2016 and it is hoped that it will provide useful feedback to help shape further work. However, it is essentially re-analysing information from the latest urban housing capacity studies rather than leading directly to new surveys and other approaches.

2.19 Discussions at the Planning, Transport and Environment Group and between officers and the Joint Unit have been exploring an area-based approach to long-term assessments of urban housing potential. The approach is based on identifying opportunity areas, regeneration areas, intensification areas and housing densification areas. The differing characteristics of such areas help to clarify the policy issues raised by different sources of long-term of supply for urban housing (e.g. the need to retain other existing uses, the wider social and economic objectives of urban renewal, environmental and housing improvement schemes, market-led regeneration, and the need for new physical and social infrastructure. This approach should help to estimate how delivery rates may be influenced in future.

2.20 The authorities have also been considering seeking consultancy assistance to verify their assessments of urban housing potential, which may include the advice on urban design and housing economics, and would entail working with housing and regeneration specialists within the authorities. Fundamental reviews of the previous assessments are not likely to be completed for some months and therefore not before the Assembly's deadline of 13 September for `first detailed proposals'.

2.21 The significance of the inner boundaries of the Green Belt around the Bristol and Bath urban areas has been considered in conjunction with the sustainability appraisal of areas that may need to be considered for urban extensions. Officers of the UAs and the Joint Unit are currently finalising a report on how the various functions of Green Belt (as listed in PPG 2) apply to different parts of its inner boundaries.

2.22 Not all the functions vary with location. For example, safeguarding the countryside from encroachment is common to all areas. However, the prevention of neighbouring towns merging together or preserving the character and setting of historic towns does not equally apply to all parts of the Green Belt.

2.23 To arrive at a spatial strategy it will be necessary to weigh the importance of maintaining Green Belt boundaries against the case for sustainable urban extensions in some locations. The purposes of the Bristol-Bath Green Belt, as designated and subsequently reviewed, will need to be considered. There may be some locations where these purposes are more critical than others. There may also be a case for seeking to extend the Green Belt in some areas if there is a need to support or strengthen the purposes of the Green Belt.

2.24 The Green Belt review also needs to consider how changes could be made so as to minimise the impact on the functions of the Green Belt and whether other policies (such as `green wedges', landscaping, public access or community forest) could help achieve those functions. The locations within the Green Belt of Bristol International Airport and Royal Portbury Dock also need to be considered.

2.25 The Greater Bristol Transport Study (GBSTS) was commissioned by GOSW and supported by the four UAs, the South West Regional Development Agency and the Highways Agency. It is intended to address the current and future strategic transport needs within the area up to 2031. It follows on from the earlier South West Area Multi Modal Study which, because of its wide coverage, was unable to examine the area in adequate detail.

2.26 The final report was to have been published in summer 2005. However in order for it to fully appraise preferred spatial strategy options, against which the study would develop a transport strategy, the programme has been revised. A six week consultation is proposed ending at the beginning of October with the final report due at the end of November 2005.

2.27 Early stages of the Study reviewed existing problems and solutions, and considered some impacts on existing problems of potential changes in land use. Initial results, which were the subject of public consultation, projected continuing long-term growth in road traffic, congestion and delays, even with wide-ranging transport improvements in roads and public transport and measures to manage the growth in travel demands. Different land-use patterns appeared to have only a small effect in limiting this growth in congestion.

2.28 The results of this work are still being examined and they will assist in developing the sub-regional spatial strategy. Further testing of land use scenarios is taking place which will also help the development of a preferred spatial strategy and the necessary transport solutions.

2.29 Clearly the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study has important implications for the Regional Spatial Strategy and also the Regional Transport Strategy (RTS). As the Study programme does not fit easily with the Regional Assembly's programme for developing the draft RSS, there will need to be a continuing dialogue between the Assembly, the authorities and the Partnership to ensure that conclusions arising from the Study can feed into the development of spatial strategy and the priorities of the RTS.

2.30 The Regional Assembly's brief for the Joint Study Area included the requirement to investigate the relationship between Bath as an employment centre and the growth in commuting from the north east part of Somerset and West Wiltshire towns.

2.31 2001 Census figures show that of the 51,958 jobs in Bath 27,807 are filled by those living and working in the city and 24,151 are filled by those commuting from outside the city. Many of those commute from Norton-Radstock (1,996), the rest of Bath & North East Somerset (6,155), Wiltshire (6,312), Somerset (2,685) and the north and east fringes of Bristol (1,820). This level of commuting results in travel patterns dominated by car commuting. Further work on the characteristics of the commuters, and the reasons why they either choose or need to live outside Bath are being investigated, together with comparison with other cities.

2.32 Officers of the UAs and the Joint Unit are discussing ideas about the form and content of `first detailed proposals' in the light of the Assembly's ideas, approaches used in other regions, and the Assembly's previous advice that they should be no more than 3 or 4 pages long, including a `key diagram'. The results of these discussions will be presented to the Joint Sub Groups' workshop in July.

3.0 Conclusions

3.1 The Regional Assembly had originally set a date of 31^st March 2005 for the completion of the necessary technical assessments to inform the development of a sub-regional spatial strategy for the West of England. The Regional Assembly in recognition that in all Joint Study Areas technical work remains outstanding put this date back to the 3^rd June. For the West of England Joint Study Area much of the work had been completed through the Joint Study Area report but there remains additional work which is in progress.

3.2 The studies will form the basis for informing the development of `first detailed proposals' which will need to be submitted jointly by the four UAs as advice to the Regional Assembly by the 13^th September.

3.3 The West of England Partnership should be in a position to consider `first detailed proposals' in July and following this a report to Bath & North East Somerset Executive on the 7^th September and Council on the 15^th September will seek the Council's agreement of the proposals for submission to the Regional Assembly.

3.4 However, it is recognised that ongoing work particularly on the GBSTS would mean that further amendments to the proposals may need to be made and continuous dialogue with the Regional Assembly will be essential.

ANNEX 1

Extract from Minutes of the 20^th January 2005 Council Meeting as amended at the 17^th March 2005 Council Meeting

198 BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET COUNCIL

THE BATH & NORTH EAST SOMERSET RESPONSE TO 209 VISION & SUB-REGIONAL SPATIAL PLANNING STRATEGY FOR THE WEST OF ENGLAND (Report 11).

The Council considered a report on a proposed response to the Vision and Strategies being drawn up for the South West Regional Assembly.

Mr Chris Benson made a statement on behalf of the Friends of the Earth drawing attention to the need for these documents to address environmental priorities. He was thanked for his statement (a copy of which is retained on the minute book) which it was agreed to consider during the debate on this issue.

On a proposal from Councillor Rosemary Todd seconded by Councillor Francine Haeberling it was RESOLVED that the Council`s response be approved as set out below.

Bath and North East Somerset Council welcomes the opportunity to comment on the West of England vision and the subregional spatial strategy consultation document.

The statement of the Partnership's Vision is warmly supported. In Bath and North East Somerset, the need for overall growth over the next 20 yrs is modest, and the environmental constraints on development substantial. However, there are unmet needs locally - for affordable housing in Bath, for jobs in Norton Radstock, for better amenities in Keynsham/Saltford, to name but a few. And in many areas of Bath and North East Somerset there is a shortfall in transport options which will be exacerbated by any growth.

This Council welcomes the opportunity through the West of England partnership to exert a greater influence on the future of the subregion through collaborative strategic planning, to stimulate growth selectively and to secure the investment from the public and private sector necessary to promote sustainable and balanced communities.

Before this Council can make final recommendations on the issues involved it will need the results of a number of studies currently being undertaken. These include:

Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study

Strategic Sustainability Appraisal

Urban housing potential

Relationship of Bath as an employment centre and commuting from Somerset and Wiltshire

Economic forecasting

West of England Strategic Economic Framework

West of England Business Sites and Premises Strategy

Capacity of areas to accommodate development

Green Belt implications

Public response to consultations

More detailed comments are given below, with the caveat that they be regarded as provisional until this further work is done.

The Vision

This Council congratulates the Partnership on a Vision which is wide-ranging in scope, specific in its objectives and clear in its function. This Council supports the partnership's aim of improved wellbeing - health, prosperity and capacity - through growth, especially in areas of disadvantage. The vision correctly recognises that the drive for growth must be counterbalanced by the protection of those distinctive features of city, town and rural living which give the subregion its identity. Sustainability of existing and future communities needs to be a guiding principle throughout the lifetime of the Vision.

The strength of the partnership will need to be realised through the benefits of coordinated working within the subregion, and through the enhanced influence which the subregion can exercise to attract investment to meet its existing and future needs.

This Council supports the principal themes of the Vision: quality of life, connectivity and accessibility, and the economy, as the important aspects of future well-being, but would wish to see a sharper focus to statements on the value of transport improvements. Investment in infrastructure is regarded as not simply `assisting' or `reinforcing' positive change, but as an enabling pre-condition.

Within Bath and North East Somerset, the need for regeneration is less acute than elsewhere in the subregion, but the district has a substantial need for more affordable housing, and a predicted need for a larger pool of vocational skills.

The Vision is largely compatible with Bath and North East Somerset's Community Strategy. The Local Strategic Partnership's shared ambitions: sustainable, distinctive, creative, inclusive and safe, require that an imaginative and joined-up approach to building successful and sustainable communities be pursued from the start. The West of England Partnership's Vision will be a positive factor in enabling the integration of health, education, community and other social amenities with plans for transport and housing.

The district is already a major tourist and cultural destination nationally and internationally, and is well-placed to engage with the rest of the Partnership in developing further this vital strand to the subregional economy.

The subregional spatial strategy

Bath and North East Somerset Council welcomes the balance struck throughout the consultation document between the need for change, renewal and development, and the need to protect and enhance the distinctive features of city, town and village life which express the identity of the subregion. This balance should be reflected in the relationship between the economy and the special qualities of the natural and built environment, and spatial planning will need to be informed by the recently published SW Environment Strategy, the SW Biodiversity Implementation Plan and Conservation Strategy.

Wherever development is located, a prime concern must be the creation of balanced communities. New housing should be matched by local services and facilities and accessible jobs. Research by UWE (ref) has given some indication of the facilities which can be supported by settlement populations of various sizes. In some areas, these facilities may already be available, with capacity for new residents. In others, urban extensions may generate the increased demand which justifies the inclusion of new facilities. In both cases, it is essential that such issues are considered to ensure that new communities are well served, and served locally.

A Strategic Sustainability Appraisal should be used iteratively during the evolution of a spatial strategy with full engagement of all four authorities.

Bath and North East Somerset Council recognises that the preferred areas for development will also depend heavily on the improvements to the transport infrastructure which can be secured. It is recommended that the spatial strategy incorporate a phasing mechanism to ensure that new homes are not built in advance of the construction/provision of enabling transport links to resolve existing deficits and allow for enhanced travel needs.

This Council notes with some concern the predicted rate of job creation for the West of England mentioned in the consultation document. The uncertainty associated with such a prediction must throw doubt on the predicted number of new homes required.

Turning to the implications for Bath and North East Somerset of the spatial strategy document, it is recognised that some extension to Bath into greenfield areas should be explored, if the city's needs for affordable housing and employment sites cannot be met by brownfield redevelopment. Growth in Bath city will need to be stimulated if Bath is to retain its role vis a vis Bristol and Swindon; the Partnership will provide the collaborative impetus to enable this growth. At the same time, growth will need to be tempered to avoid damage to its environs and jeopardising its World Heritage status. The areas proposed in the consultation leaflet are important to the setting of the World heritage site. Development at Odd Down would have an adverse impact of the Cotswold Area of Outstanding natural Beauty, while topography argues against building in the Englishcombe area.

The eastern part of the district is heavily interconnected with Wiltshire and the northeast of Somerset, and the present and future relationship is the subject of a separate study.

The West of England Vision favours develop to aid regeneration in south Bristol together with infrastructure improvements. The Whitchurch area could contribute to the development of a south Bristol orbital route linking the Avon Ring Road at Hick's Gate with the A37 and Bristol Airport on the A38. Environmental studies have indicated some scope for growth at Whitchurch (provided that Stockwood Vale, an important landscape feature, is retained) because of its relative proximity to facilities in Bristol. However, new opportunities for employment would need to be encouraged, as would the additional amenities to ensure that Whitchurch remained a viable community.

If a south Bristol orbital route is developed, together with improvements to the A37, it could enable access to the motorway system from Norton Radstock. This could enhance the economic prospects and in the longer term allow further housing. But such housing would need to be limited to the south of Midsomer Norton and the town's capacity is unlikely to be as large as suggested in the consultation leaflet.

Some development at Hicks Gate would be compatible with the regeneration of south Bristol with improved transport infrastructure. Attention would need to be given to traffic congestion problems on this part of the A4 however, and to the erosion of the Green Belt separation of Keynsham and Bristol.

This separation must be maintained in the current review of the Green Belt, but, with this proviso, limited expansion in the Keynsham/Saltford area could be considered. The level of development suggested would need to be accompanied by substantial investment to help correct the imbalance between homes and jobs, but there could be an opportunity to improve local facilities and services to support an enlarged community. A key issue is the impact on the principles of the Green Belt in the area of enlargement or possible coalescence of settlements. Of equal importance is the retention of the gap between Keynsham/Saltford and Bath.

ANNEX 2

West of England Joint Study area Report to the Regional Assembly 14th April 2005 - Summary

Introduction

The West of England is economically one of the strongest city regions in the UK and the largest in the South West region. It is a densely populated mix of urban and rural areas, with most of its residents and jobs in the principal urban areas. It also has outstanding environmental qualities that are part of its attraction to residents and businesses. Although part of the South West, it also has strong links with other regions.

The West of England has consulted widely on a Vision that will underpin the spatial strategy. The Joint Study Area Report responds to the Regional Assembly's technical brief and regional strategies, in the light of public consultation and local community strategies.

Key Issues

The Joint Study Area Report provides information that will help develop Vision 2026. It does not contain policy proposals. These will be included in `first detailed proposals' for the Regional Spatial Strategy and other sub-regional strategies.

This report recognises the scale, complexity, and distinctive characteristics and needs of the sub-region. Specifically, it takes account of the priority Vision 2026 gives to :

A number of key issues for the spatial strategy are highlighted, to achieve sustainable growth and improve quality of life, including:

Future Growth

Future rates of growth should be considered by reference to economic forecasts, demographic projections of population and households and other factors that contribute to housing needs. Current forecasts and projections show a wide range of figures for future housing growth. These forecasts are subject to expectations about job growth, changes in economic activity, demographic changes, and assessments of the existing backlog of housing needs. Their implications will need to be considered in conjunction with other information about how growth might be accommodated, its spatial implications and the need for supporting infrastructure, before reaching policy conclusions about what levels of growth should be accommodated.

Economy

There are differing economic forecasts that reflect variations over economic cycles and other assumptions. Some of these uncertainties require further investigation, especially in relation to recent forecasts prepared for the Regional Assembly. The implications for population, migration and household growth depend on how economic activity levels will be affected by an ageing population. However, it is clear that there will be continuing growth in the demand for office accommodation, local service jobs and employment at strategic sites, including the Airport, with less change in the demand for industrial sites.

Most of the demand will be in Bristol, but there are also important needs in Bath, Weston-super-Mare and South Gloucestershire. New developments should provide for employment in local services and existing local employment needs should be considered, especially in urban areas where there may be competition for sites from housing.

Housing

There are increasing problems in the affordability of housing, in spite of recent increases in new housing completions, especially in Bristol. Brownfield sites provide more than 50% of new housing and the proportion is increasing. However, the stock of social and affordable housing is diminishing and there is a large backlog of unmet housing need. Special housing needs, including those of Gypsies and travellers also need to be considered.

The West of England Partnership has agreed to produce an action plan in response to the independent West of England Housing Market Study, to ensure it makes the fullest possible contribution to solutions, in conjunction with regional bodies and the Government. Social and economic partners of the Partnership are making significant contributions to this work.

Transport

The area suffers major problems of traffic congestion and under-investment in transport infrastructure. Shortages of capacity and conflicts between sub-regional and long-distance journeys will require high priorities for investment through the Regional Transport Strategy. The Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study is currently investigating strategic transport solutions and every effort is being made to integrate the study with development of the spatial strategy. However the Transport Study programme means that important aspects of transport and land use strategy will need continuing development through the Regional Spatial Strategy beyond the timetables set for the Joint Study Area and `first detailed proposals'.

Retailing and Town Centres

There are major proposals for shopping in Bath and Bristol. Opportunities in Weston-super-Mare should result from the Area Development Framework. Smaller centres may need to adapt to population growth in their catchments and the future role of out-of-town centres needs to be considered, especially at Cribbs Causeway. Projections of the need for increased floorspace need to take into account changing social trends, including Internet shopping. The wider roles of the main centres also need to be considered.

Culture, Health and Education

The spatial strategy will need to consider relationships between these sectors and population growth and their roles in achieving sustainable development, which have social, economic and environmental dimensions, especially in relation to urban regeneration and social inclusion. The Partnership recognises the essential contribution of these sectors to the overall quality of life and attractiveness of the sub-region, to communities and investors alike.

Environmental Resources

The West of England has distinctive and important environmental resources. Biodiversity, flood risk, water resources, landscape, energy use, renewable energy, mineral extraction and waste management will all need consideration in the Regional Spatial Strategy and its sub-regional policy framework. These issues have a very high priority in the area, and public responses to the Vision 2026 consultation stressed the importance of clearly defining our understanding and future actions in these areas.

Spatial Considerations

The Vision contains a number of aims that have significant implications for spatial planning.

The urban and rural areas are varied and inter-related. Most of the area's population and employment is concentrated in the urban areas, which contain a wide range of development opportunities. Area-based strategies for renewal offer the best prospects to optimise these varied opportunities. The potential for additional housing in the urban areas will depend on policies, funding and market conditions.

Projected housing requirements imply a continuing need for greenfield developmentand related development in sustainable new communities.

Beyond the urban areas, opportunities for development may exist by means of urban extensions or the expansion of smaller towns. However, there are potential conflicts with the Green Belt and with environmental and social considerations.

Social and economic changes in the rural areas also need to be considered in relation to the need for local housing and employment, community facilities and transport. The rural areas are closely related to the urban areas, but they also have distinct roles, including agriculture.

Implementation

Implementation will rely on funding as well as the planning system. It is important for strategic infrastructure and local services to be provided in step with development to achieve sustainable development. Effective co-ordination will require clear infrastructure priorities to be identified and supported by the Regional Spatial Strategy. It will also require funding regimes to be aligned with planning aims and this may require new delivery mechanisms to be devised. Different approaches to the co-ordinated funding and delivery of infrastructure are being applied in other parts of the country and their experiences need to be evaluated in relation to the needs of the West of England in an implementation plan that will be developed to support the sub-regional spatial strategy and `first detailed proposals' for the Regional Spatial Strategy.

ANNEX 3

West of England Joint Study Area

RSPTG Panel Meeting Summary

Action Points:

1 In conjunction with the SWRA, GOSW and RDA undertake further technical work to assess a range of potential jobs (and the subsequent range of houses required) that could be delivered per year over the RSS plan period. This should take into consideration further liaison with Cambridge Econometrics and rationalisation with figures generated by the SWRDA.

2 Widen the technical work to reflect the possibility of a range of job projections.

3 Undertake a risk assessment to assess the implications for the JSA strategy/housing implications if alternative job forecasts are implemented.

4 What are the implications of not planning for a continuation of high job provision?

5 Arrange a further meeting between the Steering Group and the RSPTG Panel to advance the process and discuss in greater depth specific key issues.

6 Articulate in greater detail the wider role of the JSA (Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-mare) its key status for the South West region as a whole, as well as how it contributes on a national scale.

7 Demonstrate the implications between economic growth (and hence housing/ population) and key service provision, such as health and education. What are the "front loading" requirements?

8 Undertake further work to ascertain the implications on infrastructure provision (particularly roads) for a continuation of brownfield developments.

9 Articulate how brownfield development can be effective in delivering and meeting affordable housing requirements and how this relates to urban extensions.

10 What levels of affordable housing can be achieved through the testing of growth options?

11 Articulate with greater clarity how the role and function of the Green Belt has been reviewed and then applied to a variety of sustainable urban extensions, i.e. not precluding potential urban extensions.

11 The Partnership to consider testing the RPG10 +50% growth option in the Greater Bristol Transport Study.