Draft Local Plan Review

Overall, the Theatres Trust is disappointing by the general lack of cultural content within this draft local plan. Culture plays a key role in developing vibrant town and village centres which are the economic and social heart of sustainable communities. Culture and cultural activity helps develop a sense of place and is what makes communities and places unique and special.

Cultural and community facilities support the day to day needs of local communities and help promote well-being and improve quality of life. While Policy P19, does mention the loss of community and social infrastructure will not be supported, the wording needs strengthening as it focuses on local services rather than cultural facilities, and a definition for social infrastructure is needed to avoid ambiguity and to properly reflect guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework.

As you would be aware, the NPPF provides clear directions about the importance of safeguarding and promoting culture activities and venues.
* One of the 12 core planning principles (paragraph 17) is the need to plan for culture to support social wellbeing and sustainable communities.
* Paragraph 23 recognises the important role town centres play in supporting communities and notes that cultural venues make a valuable contribution to the vibrancy and success of these centres.
* Paragraph 70 states that in 'promoting healthy communities', planning decisions should 'plan positively for cultural buildings' and 'guard against the loss of cultural facilities and services.'
* Paragraph 156 directs local planning authorities to ensure their local plan includes cultural policies that reflect the NPPF.

Recommended changes:

1) The policy is renamed 'Local Services and Community and Social Facilities' or similar to reflect the full purpose of the policy.

2) The accompanying text and the Glossary should contain an explanation for the term 'community and social facilities'. We recommend this succinct all inclusive description which would obviate the need to provide examples: community and social facilities provide for the health and wellbeing, social, educational, spiritual, recreational, leisure and cultural needs of the community.

3) The policy be enhanced with the following criteria:

Development of new community and social facilities will be supported and should enhance the well-being of the local community, and the vitality and viability of centres.

Major developments are required to incorporate, where practicable, opportunities for cultural activities, including providing public realm capable of hosting events and performances to widen public access to art and culture, including through the interpretation of the heritage of the site and area.

The loss or change of use of existing community and social facilities will be resisted unless
* replacement facilities are provided on site or within the vicinity which meet the need of the local population, or necessary services can be delivered from other facilities without leading to, or increasing, any shortfall in provision; or
* it has been demonstrated that there is no longer a community need for the facility or demand for another community use on site.

The temporary and meanwhile use of vacant buildings and sites by creative, cultural and community organisations will also be supported, particularly where they help activate and revitalise town centre locations and the public realm.

Council will apply the 'agent of change' principle, whereby if a development would potentially result in conflict between a cultural activity and another use, especially in terms of noise, then the development responsible for the change must secure the implementation of appropriate mitigation.

4) Alternatively, some of these standards could be used to enhance Policy P2 Maintain Strong, Competitive Town Centres

Overall, the Theatres Trust is disappointing by the general lack of cultural content within this draft local plan. Culture plays a key role in developing vibrant town and village centres which are the economic and social heart of sustainable communities. Culture and cultural activity helps develop a sense of place and is what makes communities and places unique and special.

Cultural and community facilities support the day to day needs of local communities and help promote well-being and improve quality of life. While Policy P19, does mention the loss of community and social infrastructure will not be supported, the wording needs strengthening as it focuses on local services rather than cultural facilities, and a definition for social infrastructure is needed to avoid ambiguity and to properly reflect guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework.

As you would be aware, the NPPF provides clear directions about the importance of safeguarding and promoting culture activities and venues.
* One of the 12 core planning principles (paragraph 17) is the need to plan for culture to support social wellbeing and sustainable communities.
* Paragraph 23 recognises the important role town centres play in supporting communities and notes that cultural venues make a valuable contribution to the vibrancy and success of these centres.
* Paragraph 70 states that in 'promoting healthy communities', planning decisions should 'plan positively for cultural buildings' and 'guard against the loss of cultural facilities and services.'
* Paragraph 156 directs local planning authorities to ensure their local plan includes cultural policies that reflect the NPPF.

Recommended changes:

1) The policy is renamed 'Local Services and Community and Social Facilities' or similar to reflect the full purpose of the policy.

2) The accompanying text and the Glossary should contain an explanation for the term 'community and social facilities'. We recommend this succinct all inclusive description which would obviate the need to provide examples: community and social facilities provide for the health and wellbeing, social, educational, spiritual, recreational, leisure and cultural needs of the community.

3) The policy be enhanced with the following criteria:

Development of new community and social facilities will be supported and should enhance the well-being of the local community, and the vitality and viability of centres.

Major developments are required to incorporate, where practicable, opportunities for cultural activities, including providing public realm capable of hosting events and performances to widen public access to art and culture, including through the interpretation of the heritage of the site and area.

The loss or change of use of existing community and social facilities will be resisted unless
* replacement facilities are provided on site or within the vicinity which meet the need of the local population, or necessary services can be delivered from other facilities without leading to, or increasing, any shortfall in provision; or
* it has been demonstrated that there is no longer a community need for the facility or demand for another community use on site.

The temporary and meanwhile use of vacant buildings and sites by creative, cultural and community organisations will also be supported, particularly where they help activate and revitalise town centre locations and the public realm.

Council will apply the 'agent of change' principle, whereby if a development would potentially result in conflict between a cultural activity and another use, especially in terms of noise, then the development responsible for the change must secure the implementation of appropriate mitigation.

4) Alternatively, some of these standards could be used to enhance Policy P2 Maintain Strong, Competitive Town Centres