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Background Studies

To produce information to assist with the preparation of LDF documents the following studies have been, or are proposed to be, undertaken.

Town Centres and Retailing

The study, undertaken in 2006 by White Young Green, had the following purposes:

• to determine the hierarchy of the existing market towns and other identified settlements and the role and function of each
• to define shopping and/or town centre boundaries
• to determine the quantitative and qualitative need for additional retail, leisure, cultural/tourism and office facilities in each settlement up to 2011 and 2016
• to assess the capacity of each centre to accommodate new development including the identification and assessment of potential development sites within or adjoining the centres
• to identify any specific constraints to accommodating this development and how these might be overcome
• to review the relevance of existing local plan town centre and retailing policies and provide advice on policies which should be included in the LDF
• to undertake a vitality and viability audit of each of the settlements and recommend an overall strategy for the centres

The Executive Summary is available to download here.

You can obtain a copy of the full report, including appendices, on CD Rom or as a hard copy for £50.00 (plus postage).

Urban Housing Potential Study

The study, undertaken by Baker Associates, aimed to assess the potential for defined settlements in the District to accommodate new housing for the period 2006 to 2026. It was completed in November 2006.

In summary, the report sets out:

• Information on specific sites that could be allocated for housing, or for mixed development, with an assessment of how sites could be developed in the context of policies, constraints and opportunities that the housing market presents
• the amount of development that could come forward from unspecified sources, i.e., from small windfall sites
• recommendations on the approach that should be taken to dwelling yields and density, and the policy context that will needed to realise the Council's preferred approach
• recommendations on the ways in which the release of sites from different sources might be managed as part of the 'plan, monitor, manage' process

The findings of the study will now be used to inform the development of the Local Development Framework including the preparation of the Core Strategy and allocation of development sites.

The final report is now available to download:

Urban Housing Potential Study Report.

Appendix 1.

Appendix 2.

Appendix 3.

Appendix 4.

Appendix 5.

If you require a copy of the Urban Housing Potential Study on CD Rom or a hard copy a charge of £20 will be payable (plus postage).

Housing Needs Assessment

To provide up to date evidence to ensure that there is a good basis for negotiating affordable housing in future housing developments, a desktop Housing Needs Assessment was commissioned from Rupert Scott, Affordable Housing Consultant. It was completed in September 2006.

The assessment followed the key principles of the Government's draft Practice Guidance on Housing Market Assessments (December 2005) and included the following:

• an assessment of the housing market (house prices, property availability, private rented market) in the District and the sub-areas (for the purposes of the assessment the District was split into six sub-areas comprising the 6 main settlements and their hinterland)
• identifying the current unmet (housing waiting list) and newly arising housing need (existing households falling into need and newly forming households unable to access the market)
• the requirement for additional affordable housing and how the shortfall in provision could be addressed

The findings of the Housing Needs Assessment will now be used to:

• to negotiate with developers on the amount of affordable housing to be provided on housing sites
• inform the preparation of the Local Development Framework including the Core Strategy policies and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document
• to support Housing Associations in bids for funding new affordable homes
• to inform the council's strategies and policies on housing

The Final Report is now available to download.

If you require a copy of the Housing Needs Assessment on CD Rom or a hard copy a charge of £10 will be payable (plus postage).

Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study

This was a joint study commissioned by Bridgnorth, North and South Shropshire District Councils and the Shropshire Hills AONB Partnership.

The aim of the study was to use a landscape sensitivity and capacity mapping methodology to inform site allocations Development Plan Documents. The study was undertaken in two stages, firstly to define land cover parcels around settlements and secondly to assess the sensitivity and capacity of each of these parcels to particular forms of development.

The final report can be downloaded by clicking on the following links:

Bridgnorth Sensitivity Study Report Part 1 and Part 2 Introduction

Part 2

Appendices

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

In April 2007, the Districts and Boroughs of Shropshire, Shropshire County Council and Telford and Wrekin Council, commissioned Halcrow to produce a Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) in accordance with Planning Policy Statement 25.

The SFRA was undertaken to provide a detailed and robust assessment of the nature and extent of all types of flooding and the implications that this may have for land use planning.

The SFRA is a strategic document which refines information on the probability of flooding, taking sources of flooding and the impacts of climate change into account. The SFRA provides the basis for applying the Sequential Test, which seeks to locate new development in areas appropriate to the development's vulnerability to flooding.

The written part of the SFRA (summary and full document) is available to view or download below.

The maps which accompany the SFRA are available for inspection at the Council's offices on request. Copies of the maps may also be purchased at a cost of £5.00 plus £3.00 per copy (plus VAT).

The Bridgnorth SFRA Summary Document.

Full Document Contents and Executive Summary.

1. Introduction.

2. Planning Context.

3. Flood Zone Maps.

4. Overview of PPS 25.

5. Study Methodology.

6. Flood Risk in the Study Area.

7. Flood Management, Defences, Warning and Response Plan.

8. Flood Risk Management Policies.

9. Guidance on the Application of the Sequential Test.

10. Guidance for Preparation of Flood Risk Assessments.

11. Guidance for the Application of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems.

12. Gap Analysis.

13. References / Glossary.

Appendix A.

Appendix B.

Appendix C.