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8th January 2009

Home > Planning and Environment > Planning > Planning Policy > Local Development Framework > Evidence base studies > Infrastructure > Infrastructure > Conclusions

10.0 Conclusions

 

• A wide range of relevant information has been brought together in this Background Paper on the constraints and opportunities for development as well as implications for policies in the Core Strategy.

 

• This Background Study provides a sound overview of the Borough’s infrastructure and the first iteration in the Infrastructure evidence base. There is a need to update the study as infrastructure providers revise their own plans and are able to respond more constructively to the evolving development proposals in the LDF .

 

• Some responses were not directly related to the information requested or were not sufficiently detailed or comprehensive.

 

• Some infrastructure providers have conveyed information which is relevant to the strategic identification of areas for development and have indicated the need for more collaboration with the Borough Council.

 

• The priorities and programmes of the infrastructure providers is different to the Borough Council’s which is determined by planning legislation geared to finding sustainable locations for development over a 20 year timescale.

 

• For some types of infrastructure, such as water and electricity supply, the infrastructure provision waits until required by developers.

 

• Infrastructure providers are not under a statutory obligation to supply information in a form which is relevant to Local Authority planning purposes as imposed by the Government and the Regional authorities.

 

• Some infrastructure providers indicated that they could not comment more specifically until they knew the amount and location of development.

 

• It seems that an iterative process of information gathering is therefore inevitable. One possibility would be for infrastructure providers to clarify and supplement their evidence prior to the public consultation on preferred options.