DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

2.1 The overall vision which the Local Plan seeks to achieve is:

“to establish a framework for achieving a sustainable balance between development necessary to meet the needs of the District and the conservation of the diverse character of the area’s built and natural environments. In striving to achieve this balance, the Plan will help to ensure a better quality of life for residents, visitors and future generations.”

2.2 The Local Plan is designed to set out the Council’s policies and proposals for the use and development of land within the District. As part of the Council’s role in respect of the social, economic and environmental well being of the area, the Council have produced a Corporate Management Plan, which has provided part of the wider framework for the preparation of the Local Plan vision and aims.

2.3 The vision refers to the need to achieve a sustainable balance between development needs and protection of the environment. Sustainable development is now at the forefront of the environmental and planning agenda. Sustainable development is commonly defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. It encompasses the four main elements of, environment, economy, community and natural resources. The land use planning implications of these issues have been used to inform the development of the Local Plan aims and objectives.

2.4 The overriding aim of the Local Plan is to seek to encourage sustainable patterns of development. In seeking to achieve these aims, the Council will first seek solutions that bring social economic and environmental benefits, and second ensure that any unavoidable adverse impacts are mitigated or compensated to achieve a net gain from development.

2.5 In addition, each chapter of the Local Plan has a specific aim, which together with their associated objectives have guided the formulation of the Development Strategy. The principal elements of the Development Strategy are to:

* accommodate the development needs of the District as set out in the Worcestershire County Structure Plan 1996-2011, in a sustainable manner by concentrating housing and employment development in the main towns of Kidderminster and Stourport-on-Severn.

* place an emphasis on urban regeneration and recycling of land and buildings particularly for mixed use development in or adjacent to the main town centres.

* concentrate retail, commercial, leisure and office uses in Kidderminster Town Centre and to a lesser extent Stourport-on-Severn town centre.

* enable the diversification of the rural economy whilst generally limiting rural housing provision to local needs.

* conserve and enhance the District’s environmental assets including the countryside, natural and built heritage.

* locate development so as to reduce the need to travel, provide a choice of travel modes, and support the provision of alternative modes to the private car.

* maintain the existing adopted Green Belt boundaries unless exceptional circumstances require otherwise.