Physical Infrastructure and the Integrated Regional Strategy

Will KempPlanning Policy Manager

Local Government Yorkshire and Humber

Overview

• Context

• Current evidence

• Future needs

Context: Need to look at infrastructure

•Capacity: opportunities and constraints (ie optimal use of existing infrastructure)•Cross-boundary issues•Strategic alignment•Need to identify sub-regional priorities•Economies of scale for local planning authorities (LPAs)

Context: Guidance

•Housing Green Paper (2007): ‘improved infrastructure planning’•Draft Community Infrastructure Levy (consultation 2009): Funding for delivery •PPS12: requires evidence of supporting infrastructure for LDF Core Strategies•Planning Advisory Service (2008): LDFs and infrastructure planning and delivery

Context: RSS Update (2009)

•Arups Study (2008)

•Individual engagement with utilities

•RSS Consultation responses

Context: lessons learnt

Context: Key messages from meetings with Utilities

•Electricity: base load requirements for high-rise development more exacting than for low-rise •Gas: scope for off-takes diminishes with distance and gas network hierarchy (acute in rural areas)•Telecoms: unlikely to constrain growth, but need to help transition to ‘fibre to the home’•Water supply: unlikely to be a constraint •Wastewater treatment: good coverage at a local level, but unclear regional picture•General process: need to consult providers – but at the right time (i.e. the more specific the better)

Context: RSS Update

Current evidence: Areas of Operation

Current evidence: Assets

Current evidence: Networks

Current evidence: Capacity

Future needs: IRS timescale

•Spring 2010: Evidence Base•Summer 2010: Policy Options•Autumn 2010: Options Consultation - Informal•Spring 2011: Draft IRS Consultation - Formal•Winter 2011: EiP•Autumn 2012: Final IRS

Future needs: Guidance

CLG/ BIS Policy Statement on SRSsa)Purpose ‘Long Term Strategic Framework’‘Promote Sustainable Economic Growth’b) Context‘How the Strategy’s plans for sustainable economic growth, housing and other development have taken account of available infrastructure, capacity and strategic requirements’

Future needs: Approach

Key Principles

• Strategic v Local Distinction

• Proactive and Reactive Input

• Joined up regional, sub-regional and local work

Future needs: strategic focus

Strategic Development Constraints•Transport, Flood Defences, Water/ Wastewater TreatmentStrategic Services•Gas, electricity, telecoms, (secondary) education, healthcare (hospitals), police, waste, green infrastructureStrategic Facilities•Other

Future needs: Sub-regional priorities

•Missing maps (assets, networks)•Composite maps (sub-regional)•Regional Water Cycle Scoping Study•Infrastructure assessment tables

Conclusions

• Endebted to RDA/RUG/utilities• Right to be pro-active, but capacity

assessment not always possible• Need to engage utilities at right stage

(i.e. with draft final numbers)• Need to join up evidence base (need

for comments on Phase 2 work)• Need to identify sub-regional issues

and focus on strategic showstoppers