Welcome

1. Welcome Housing, Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

2. It is important to remember that this is only a Partial Review of selected elements of the RSS – not a Full Review. • It is not proposed to undertake a fundamental review of RSS. • We will not be reconsidering the overall strategy and vision that RSS seeks to achieve; these are agreed and will remain the backbone of RSS. • The overall strategy and those elements of the RSS not included in the Partial Review are not subject to revision and will continue to be in place as a statutory part of the development plan system.

3. Topics covered by the Review • 3 key priorities: • Housing (inc revision of district housing numbers, housing market areas, affordability) • Renewable energy • Waste

4. Topics covered by the Review • Other issues: • Gypsies & Travellers pitch provision by District • Travelling Showpeople pitch provision by District • Review of Regional Car Parking standards

5. Timetable

6. Combined approach covering: Sustainability Appraisal Strategic Environmental Assessment Habitat Regulation Assessment Health Impact Assessment Equality Impact Assessment Rural Proofing Integrated into one process covering 5 stages Stage A: The production of an SA Scoping Report Stage B: Developing and refining options Stage C: Preparation of the SA \ SEA Report Stage D: Consultation on the Revision and SA \ SEA Report, led by GONW Stage E: monitoring and responding to adverse effects SEA / SA Process

7. Engagement • High level political engagement via NWRA Executive Board and its successor organisation from July 2008 • Building upon best practice from previous reviews of RSS (also RES) • Primarily web based – though facility for those who cannot access IT to be involved via hard copy, dedicated freephone number etc • Supplemented by workshops during June 2008 for options stage • Working with CAG Consultants to deliver this • Specialist techniques being developed to work with Gypsy & Traveller and Travelling Showpeople communities • Use of other techniques to raise awareness

8. Beyond RSS - Towards a Single Regional Strategy • Current Government Consultation on Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration (SNR) • Proposal to develop a Single Regional Strategy to replace RSS and RES with a Single Regional Strategy (subject to primary legislation) • Assembly already working with NWDA colleagues on initial work to develop a Single Regional Strategy • Work on Partial Review will form an input into Single Regional Strategy and not be abortive • Proposed to give the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) the responsibility for developing the Single Regional Strategy, working closely with local authorities and other partners. The statutory functions of Regional Assemblies with respect to the RSS would be transferred to the RDAs (subject to primary legislation) • Assembly already working with closely with NWDA colleagues on Partial Review of RSS • Until these proposals are implemented the RSS responsibilities will stay with the Assembly (and its post July 2008 successor body), which will continue with bringing forward the Partial Review of RSS.

9. Any Questions?

10. Homes for the Future

11. Issues to be addressed - One Existing policy issues which need to be refined • Overall housing provision • Affordable housing provision • Target for the re-use of previously-developed land • Housing trajectory • Lifetime Homes • Code for Sustainable Homes

12. Issues to be addressed - Two Additional policy issues which need to be reflected through the Partial Review: • Planning on the basis of Housing Market Areas • Managing the release of land within and across Housing Market Areas • Rural housing provision (affordable and market housing) • Broad locations – Growth Points and Eco-towns

13. Issues to be addressed - Three Other Links • Links with other policy areas being reviewed in the Partial Review • Links with other policy areas not covered in the Partial Review. • Links to cross cutting themes • Links to other regional strategies • Cross-boundary issues

14. Issues to be addressed - Four Social, Environmental and Infrastructure Implications • Social Implications • Infrastructure implications • Environmental Impacts

15. Evidence Base - One • Regional Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) for the North West. • Provides a picture of each of the 27 housing market areas identified in the region. • Looks at a number of scenarios exploring the level of housing growth which may be needed across the region over the period 2007 to 2032, driven both by demographic and by economic factors. • The range of figures produced by the Regional Strategic Housing Market Assessment work is from around 24,659 to 30,329 average annual dwellings per annum.

16. Evidence Base - Two • The lower end of the range is close to the status quo position which continues the rate of at least 23,111 dwellings per annum • As a region we are required to test the advice provided to the Government by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit. • The higher end of the range set out in the Regional Strategic Housing Market Assessment work (30,329 dwellings per annum (average)) falls within the range that we anticipate will be covered by the NHPAU’s advice (28,000 – 32,000)

17. Set out by Housing Market Areas and Local Planning Authority areas in the North West Give the overall level of housing provision for the period 2007 to 2032. Give an affordable housing target for the region and each Housing Market Area Set a target for the proportion of housing development that will be on previously-developed land (PDL). The target for the region will continue to be at least 70% on previously-developed land. set out how we will achieve a good mix of housing Set out the region’s housing density policies including any target. Identify broad strategic locations for new housing developments and criteria test the advice provided to the Government by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit We assume that all new housing provision will be built to Code for Sustainable Homes standards What has been decided?

18. Option A1.1 • Continue the level of overall provision set out in the Proposed Changes to Submitted Draft RSS – at least 23,111 dwellings per annum (577,775 new dwellings over the plan period (2007 – 2032)); • Continue the existing spatial distribution • Sub-region Spatial distribution Annual average dwelling requirement Overall provision 2007 – 2032 (net of clearance replacement) North West At least 23,111At least

19. Option A1.2 • Continue the level of overall provision set out in the Proposed Changes to Submitted Draft RSS – at least 23,111 dwellings per annum (577,775 new dwellings over the plan period (2007-2032)); • Revised spatial distribution to increase the level of provision in rural areas

20. Option A2.1 • The lower end of the range to be proposed by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) – in the region of 28,000 dwellings per annum (700,000 new dwellings over the plan period (2007 – 2032)); • Continue the existing spatial distribution

21. Option A2.2 • The lower end of the range to be proposed by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) – in the region of 28,000 dwellings per annum (700,000 new dwellings over the plan period (2007 – 2032)); • Revised spatial distribution to increase the level of provision in rural areas

22. Option A3.1 • The higher end of the range to be proposed by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit - in the region of 32,000 dwellings per annum(800,000 new dwellings over the plan period (2007 – 2032)); • Continue the existing spatial distribution

23. Option A3.2 • The higher end of the range to be proposed by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit - in the region of 32,000 dwellings per annum(800,000 new dwellings over the plan period (2007 – 2032)); • Revised spatial distribution to increase the level of provision in rural areas

24. Rural Housing Provision • Option C1: Give no indication of the level of housing provision in rural areas • Option C2: Give a figure for the level of provision to be made in settlements of less than 10,000 population as part of the overall housing provision figure • Option C3: Give a figure for the level of provision to be made in settlements of less than 3,000 population and between 3,000 – 10,000 population as part of the overall housing provision figure.

25. Affordable Housing Provision • Option D1: an absolute target (expressed as number of dwellings) • Option D2: a proportional target (percentage of the overall housing provision for the region and each Housing Market Area)?

26. Broad Locations • Broad locations of any shortlisted growth points (which may include any or all of the following bids - Greater Manchester; Liverpool / Wirral; St Helens / Halton / Warrington; Central Lancashire, Blackpool; West Cheshire; Carlisle) or future growth point or eco-town proposals. • Housing Market Renewal Initiative Pathfinder Areas • West Cumbria and Furness • Lancashire Coastal Towns of Blackpool / Fleetwood and Morecambe • Other urban areas in the Manchester and Liverpool City Regions in need of housing regeneration / market restructuring

27. Any Questions?

28. Issues to be considered • Integral part of the wider housing agenda • What is the difference between a site and a pitch? (or a yard) • Results of a series of Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessments (GTAA’s) • Transit sites

29. Somewhere to live • How legal sites offer a better physical environment for Gypsies & Travellers (eg water, power etc) and access to services such as schools, doctors etc • Benefits of closer integration with settled community, reducing isolation and marginalisation for Gypsies & Travellers • Benefits of access to services such as schools, doctors resulting in improvement of health, life expectancy for Gypsies & Travellers • Reduction in illegal camping improves the quality of life of every community • Resource and costs savings for local authorities/ police in enforcing and cleaning up illegal encampments.

30. What has been decided • The RSS will specify pitch numbers required (but not their location) for each local planning authority (LPA), in light of the GTAA’s conducted and a strategic view of need, supply and demand across the region is taken. • In order to adapt to current working and living patterns of Gypsies & Travellers, the RSS policy will seek to promote the establishment of a mix of permanent and transit provision.

31. Option One Use the results from the studies to distribute new provision based on the existing identified ‘need where it arises’ basis.

32. Option Two Use the results from the studies to distribute new provision based on the existing identified ‘need where it arises’ basis and then modify the figures (upwards or downwards as appropriate) to ensure a minimum level of pitch provision in every district.

33. Option Three Working with sub-regional partnerships and the Gypsy & Traveller Community / the Showmen’s Guild agree a more balanced share of meeting need across districts, reflecting a wider range of factors other than solely the ‘need where it arises’ basis.

34. Any Questions?

35. Next steps Thank you