3.0 Strategies and policies
3.1 As well as background
evidence above there are a number of strategies and good practice
guidance on tourism which will impact on the scope of tourism
policy within the
LDF
.
Communities and Local Government Good Practice Guide on
Planning for Tourism
3.2 This advice note was
issued in 2006 as a replacement to Planning Policy Guidance 21. The
purpose of the guidance is to ensure that planners understand the
importance of tourism when preparing development plans and
recommending on planning decisions. It advises that it will be
appropriate for the core strategy document to cover tourism issues
together with any objectives relevant to tourism. Local authorities
will need to consider whether any policies for tourism are needed
beyond what is set out in the core strategy and whether tourism is
to be addressed as a single issue or as part of a wider topic.
Where site allocations for tourism are made these should follow
from the objectives set out in the core strategy. Where tourism is
an important element of a
LDF
, the approach will need to
be based upon a robust understanding of the characteristics of and
trends within the tourism industry based on similar issues to those
set out in Regional Spatial Strategy (
RSS
)
3.3 This advice has been
taken into account both in the 2007 Tourism and Leisure Plan and
the
LDF
. Tourism
will be considered as a core issue in the
LDF
, under the local economy
section.
Tourism South East Advice
3.4
TSE
advice accords with Havant Borough
Council’s aspiration and wishes to see the
LDF
system reflect the
importance of this growth industry with the inclusion of planning
policies that support appropriate sustainable growth of the tourism
sector in the area.
TSE
believes that tourism should explicitly feature in any ‘economic
development’ chapter.
3.5 Policy should reflect
the benefits that tourism can bring to the area and to the local
economy. Where applications for tourism development are put
forward, policy should seek a balanced view between the need to
protect the environment and countryside and the benefits that the
tourism initiatives may bring to the area, even if this benefit is
likely to be only modest in terms of income generation.
3.6 In terms of
accommodation,
TSE
supports
the protection of existing visitor accommodation, particularly
where there is considerable pressure for the loss of these to other
uses. Planning policy needs a requirement by which the Council has
to have sufficient evidence in the form of a marketing report and
evidence of a clear and demonstrable lack of demand for the
facility should be provided.
TSE
has produced its own guidance on
how to implement tourist accommodation retention policies in
development plans [12].
3.7
TSE
encourages a positive stance
towards the provision of new visitor accommodation in the form of
conversions of a wider range of existing (rural) buildings;
appropriate extensions of existing accommodation; appropriate
additions to accommodation; and entirely new provision where this
is supportable and appropriate. It advocates that all tourism
developments (including rural) should be of appropriate scale and
design as to be congruent with their surroundings using local
materials and labour.
3.8 Policy should not be
excessively prescriptive by restricting hotel development to
specific (allocated) locations or zones unless research in this
area has been completed.
3.9 The
LDF
should promote
opportunities to diversify the economic base of the region’s
coastal resorts, whilst consolidating and upgrading tourism
facilities in ways that promote higher value activity, reduce
seasonality and support urban regeneration.
South East Plan
3.10 The South East Plan identifies
coastal resorts specifically and consider local planning
authorities should identify and define ‘core areas’ which encompass
the key visitor attractions and facilities and prioritise
investment into these areas, and to which specific tourism related
planning policies apply for the purposes of controlling
inappropriate development; co-ordinating environmentally
sustainable development objectives; identifying land for particular
types of tourism related development; and identifying necessary
infrastructure investments. It also gives priority to improving the
quality of existing attractions to meet changing consumer demands
and high environmental standards in terms of design and access.
Policies for visitor accommodation should be based upon an
understanding of the needs and characteristics of the different
accommodation sub-sectors.
3.11 The plan proposes the upgrading and
enhancement of existing un-serviced accommodation where this will
not harm the landscape quality or environmental assets. It requires
particular attention to be made to identifying suitable alternative
sites for the relocation of holiday parks that are under threat
from coastal erosion and flooding.
The Havant Borough-Wide Tourism and Leisure Plan 2007-2012
3.12 The Tourism and Leisure plan
outlines a framework for the development and management of tourism
and leisure in the borough. Its aim is to develop and extend the
borough’s position as a diverse and quality destination. It will be
taken into consideration when devising tourism based policies for
the
LDF
in order
to ensure its objectives are met.
3.13 The objectives of the Tourism and
Leisure Plan are to:
- Enhance the promotion of Havant’s tourism and leisure
offer.
- Raise the quality of Havant’s tourism and leisure offer.
- Improve the image of the borough among residents and
visitors.
- Facilitate the delivery of improvements to raise participation,
health and well-being.
- Maximise opportunities for learning and skills development to
support tourism and leisure businesses and prosperity for
residents.
- Attract inward investment, especially those who can deliver
prominent sites e.g. hotels and conference and leisure
facilities.
3.14 There are a number of priorities in
the accompanying Action Plan to the Tourism and Leisure Plan. Those
which are of principal relevance to the
LDF
are the following:
- Improve the image and vibrancy of town centres.
- Support funding bids to achieve the vision outlined in the 2006
project ‘Destination Hayling Island’ which was the framework of a
bid for Big Lottery funding.
- Investigate the potential of aspirations to develop the Civic
Centre site to provide new leisure facilities.
- Support the Community Allotment Project to utilise under used
spaces.
- Progress the Campdown Project ensuring maximum future community
use
- Support the development of Havant Thicket Reservoir.
- Progress the development of hotel and conference facilities at
Dunsbury Hill Farm.
- Replace / improve park buildings in particular those in Bidbury
Mead and Waterlooville Recreation Grounds.
- Ensure additional leisure facilities are provided for
Waterlooville
MDA
residents. Key potential projects include dry-side provision
at Waterlooville Leisure Centre and a new artificial turf
pitch.
- Support the development of facilities at Havant and
Waterlooville Football Club.
3.15 Not all of these priorities are
tourism specific or will be covered by tourism specific policies in
the
LDF
, but they
will be taken into consideration.
Havant Borough District Wide Local Plan 2011
3.16 The current development plan for
Havant Borough has policies relating to the protection, development
and improvement of tourist attractions, tourist accommodation and
also ancillary facilities. These policies should stay or be covered
in the
LDF
as they
are effective at protecting and maintaining tourism within the
borough. The plan also identifies areas as ‘core areas’ for tourism
development on Hayling Island. These are: Creek Road; Rails Lane;
Central Beachlands; Mill Rythe Holiday Centre; Lakeside Holiday
Centre; Sinah Warren Holiday Centre; and the static holiday caravan
area in Eastoke. The designations of these areas should be looked
at again and whether they should be taken forward into the
LDF
. There could
possibly be a Supplementary Planning Document on identified tourist
core areas in future.