Shenstone Neighbourhood PlanWorking Groups launch event

18th June 2013

How the Working Groups will work• Working Party has to be a minimum

of 4 (including the lead person)• Working Party members are either

residents, have a business, own a property or own land in the parish– Any exceptions need to be agreed by

Steering Group• Each Working Party is responsible for

its own secretarial services

So how do we produce a Plan?

What will a sustainable Shenstone look like in 15 years’ time?

What should the Vision be?We table a paper version of the vision contained in the Lichfield Local Plan for discussion/debate:• The high quality living environment and ambiance of Shenstone will be maintained and

enhanced by particular emphasis on good design quality in development, continued environmental enhancement in the Conservation Area and careful traffic management. Shenstone will remain a compact, safe, healthy and stable community, functioning as a local service centre offering a range of good quality services and facilities for the village and its hinterland. There will continue to be excellent transport connections to nearby towns. Opportunities will be sought to improve links to open space in the south of the village.

• The impact of traffic within the village will be reduced and controlled to acceptable limits, and improved links for pedestrians and cyclists will be sought.

• The vital contribution made to the character of the village by the Conservation Area, and range of trees which contribute to the heavily wooded nature of the centre of the village will be recognised through continued protection and enhancement.

• Shenstone will accommodate a proportionate level of village growth which reflects the existing character and qualities of the village and which addresses local need, whilst maintaining a self-contained community with clear physical boundaries.

So how do we produce a Plan?

1. What are the issues we want to address?

2. What evidence do we need?3. What are the possible options for

addressing each issue?4. What is the preferred option for

each issue?

Evidence gathering• Know your baseline – audit what is here today

• Look at what has happened in the past– Planning permissions, take-up of new

development• Workshops, debates• Talk to the experts– Estate agents, local providers–We can help with technical stakeholders

Some ‘rules’• You cannot propose policies which

simply say ‘no’ to development• Proposals have to be ‘deliverable’• You have to have the landowners of

sites in the plan on board

What the Local Plan says• Housing– Shenstone will deliver 50 – 150

dwellings up to 2028– Priority on infill and brownfield sites– Identify allocations– Can review green belt boundaries–Must provide for the needs of the local

community• Affordable housing, starter homes, smaller

homes

What the Local Plan says• Employment– Importance of local employment– Improvements to rail services and

facilities in the village will be supported– Future role and function of Birchbrook IE

and Shenstone BP can be considered

What the Local Plan says• Services and facilities– Loss of existing services and facilities will

be resisted unless replacement provided– Improvements to pedestrian & cycle routes,

traffic management supported– Protection and provision of local facilities

supported, e.g. allotments– Reduce severance of Birmingham Road– Provide additional playspace, sports and

green space

What the Local Plan says• Environment–Maintain high quality local living

environment– Recognise and protect the Conservation

Area• High quality new buildings reflecting local

vernacular– Traffic management and safety• Additional parking for station

Any Questions?

Working Groups – we ask people’s views on the groups and the mix of issues

Environment Community Housing Employment(Retail)

Transport

Open spaces

Education Numbers Sites Traffic

Design Health Sites Sectors ParkingEnergy Arts &

cultureAffordable housing

Non-car movement

Recreation MixTourism

The issues for the Working Groups

Housing• How much extra housing should we

permit?• Where should new

housing be located?• Are there particular

types of housing that need to be provided?

• What should new housing look like?

Employment (retail)• What should the future of Birchbrook

IE and Shenstone BP be?• How can we support our existing

businesses?• How can we create

more local employment opportunities?

Transport• Can we improve traffic flow through

the village?• How can we address HGVs coming

through the village?• How do we best

address the parking problems?

• How can we increasing walking and cycling?

Community• How can we

ensure there is sufficient capacity at our schools?

• Do we need to provide for additional capacity at the GP surgery?

Community

• Should we provide new arts facilities?

• Do we need to improve the leisure offer?

• How can we make the most of our tourism assets?

Environment• How do we best

preserve and enhance our environment?

• Do we need to protect green spaces from development

• What sources of energy should be provided by new development?

Next Steps• Get together with your fellow Working

Group members– Introduce yourselves– Start kicking some thoughts around– Appoint a lead

• Arrange your first formal meeting• I will arrange for each group member

to have a Support Document

Process1. Working Groups identify key issues2. We hold a public event to ask the

community about ‘their Shenstone’– Present and refine issues

3. Ongoing work on evidence gathering

4. Workshop with Working Groups to consider solutions– There will be many cross-cutting issues

Graham JonesShenstone Neighbourhood Plan

leadTel: 01543 483506

Email: graham.jones@email.com

Chris BowdenNavigus PlanningTel: 01206 700260

Email: chris@navigusplanning.co.uk