Chapter 10: Quality Places and Infrastructure
Introduction and Summary
10.1 A key government focus is to increase the amount of housing being built. Whilst this is important, development also needs to be of a high quality in order to create successful places for our communities. This is supported by the National Planning Policy Framework. High quality development relies not only on good design. It requires joined-up thinking about achieving net-zero carbon emissions, green space, public realm, transport and the provision of buildings which are sympathetic to local character, history, nature and the landscape. High quality development also relies on the timely provision of infrastructure to ensure that the community has the facilities and services it needs to function successfully.
10.2 In addition to supporting high quality development, the government puts emphasis on delivery and sees the planning system as having a key role in securing infrastructure and ensuring no undue delay. This may require innovative new partnerships to be established with a specific delivery focus. For Greater Exeter area we consider a new joint board is required to achieve joined-up infrastructure prioritisation, agree collaborative funding and facilitate development delivery.
10.3 The provision of high quality development and a focus on delivery are two key elements of the GESP draft vision. This refers to making ambitious investment decisions whilst also highlighting the link between prosperous, healthy lives and the quality of homes.
10.4 With this in mind, this chapter includes policies which seek to direct the delivery of great places in the Greater Exeter area. The draft policies in this chapter propose:
- The strategic importance of delivering great places through masterplanning
- Innovative mechanisms to deliver the quantity of new homes needed
- The application of garden city principles for allocations and a series of potential new Garden Communities (dependent on the sites chosen following this consultation)
- An infrastructure categorisation approach for Greater Exeter area
- The strategic infrastructure proposals for Greater Exeter area
- The expectations regarding viability appraisal