Planning in Southampton

A Healthy City

To improve the health of the city, proposals for the intensification of healthcare uses on existing sites in accessible locations (as defined by the Public Transport Accessibility Levels map in Appendix 2) will be supported subject to meeting other relevant LDF policies. New and relocated health facilities should be in accessible locations where there is demonstrated need and should be linked to community hubs where appropriate. Proposals involving the loss of community – based primary health care facilities must demonstrate that adequate alternative provision is made to meet the needs of the community serviced by the facility. The principal acute health care centres in Southampton are safeguarded for health provision with a presumption in favour of continued expansion within their existing sites, accompanied by suitable travel plans to reduce dependency on the car. Within the safeguarded sites, proposals for non – health care uses must demonstrate that the land is no longer required for health care. The principal centres are: 1. Southampton General Hospital; 2. Princess Anne Hospital; 3. Royal South Hants Hospital; to be developed as a new city centre Health Campus 4. Western Community Hospital Planning applications for major developments may be required to submit Health Impact Assessments (HIA) in order to assess how they will impact on the health of residents. Developer contributions, including travel plans, may be sought from new development to support any additional health infrastructure in accordance with Policy CS 25.

An Educated City

The development of new inspirational, high quality education and related facilities which encourage community use of their facilities will be promoted. The main sites of the University of Southampton and Southampton Solent University will be safeguarded to allow expansion of these facilities through intensification on their existing sites. Other sites used for education purposes will be safeguarded unless it can be demonstrated that: 1. The land and / or buildings are no longer needed for educational use as demonstrated on a case by case basis; and 2. a) Any existing community / sports facility is being retained on site for use by the community; or b) the community/sports facility is relocated to another accessible site where there are equivalent community benefits. The nature of the facility and catchment of its users will be taken into account in assessing the acceptability of the proposed locations; or c) there is no community need for the facility. Developer contributions, including travel plans, may be sought from new development to support any additional education infrastructure required in accordance with Policy CS 25.

Accessible & Attractive Waterfront

As a maritime city, links with the waterfront help to define the relationship between the city, its rivers and the sea and safeguard the city's seaport character. Development on waterfront sites should, where appropriate, achieve greater integration between the city and its waterfront through 1. improving the physical connections to and from the waterfront including provision of well designed, attractive and safe public access to the waterfront; and 2. preserving key views of the water and maritime activity from the city and reproviding key views which have been lost. Incorporation of additional public access might be considered inappropriate where it would damage the business interests of the occupiers of waterfront employment sites, would compromise safety or where additional public access might conflict with nature conservation objectives. Developer contributions may be sought from relevant developments to improve access to the waterfront in accordance with Policy CS 25.

Fundamentals of Design

Development should follow a robust design process which should be analysis-based, context driven and innovative against the twelve fundamental principles below. It should include appreciation for Southampton's heritage, regional status, waterside location, natural environment and diverse neighbourhoods. Developments must ensure that resource efficiency measures, a range of sustainable materials and renewable/sustainable energy generation devices are incorporated and integrated into the development. They should also make a positive contribution to tackling climate change (see Policy CS 20). Furthermore development should: Architecture 1. Respond positively and integrate with its local surroundings, character and architectural vernacular without being a pastiche of the past; 2. Contribute positively to the unique image of Southampton and local distinctiveness via innovative and high quality design including new landmark or tall buildings in appropriate locations and locally distinctive gateways and approaches; Historic Environment & Conservation 3. Reflect the importance of the city's archaeology, historic and cultural heritage; Public Realm & Open Space 4. Promote safe, secure, functional and accessible streets and quality spaces that contribute to place making and the quality of the public realm; 5. Protect, preserve or recreate key views of important landmarks as set out in the City Centre Action Plan and Site and Policies DPD (see also CS 12); Landscape 6. Contribute to the 'greening of the city' incorporating landscape qualities, Green Infrastructure and biodiversity; 7. Impact positively on health, safety and amenity of the city and its citizens, including incorporating appropriate flood reduction or mitigation measures (see CS 23); Connection Movement & Inclusive Access 8. Promote a highly accessible, well connected city including an accessible waterfront (see CS 12); 9. Improve accessibility throughout the city by ensuring that developments, including buildings, streets and public spaces, are accessible to all users including senior citizens and disabled people; Urban Form and Scale 10. Place 'people first', designing out the risk of crime and promoting development at a human scale; 11. Make higher densities work, being of an appropriate scale, massing and appearance, in particular of appropriate height and density; 12. Promote adaptable buildings of mixed-uses which are flexible to respond to change.

Access to Jobs

To enable people with difficulties in entering or returning to the labour market to successfully access jobs

Economic Growth

To achieve economic growth (GVA) in the city, contributing to South Hampshire growth

Safeguarding Employment Sites

To safeguard existing employment sites for employment uses

Office Location

To achieve sustainable office development focused on the City Centre

Port of Southampton

To facilitate port growth within its existing boundary To ensure that there are no unacceptable environmental impacts connected with port growth

Access to Jobs

Measures will be sought from major employment generating development to promote access to the jobs it creates amongst those residents of the city who can have difficulty entering or returning to the labour market. For this policy, major employment generating developments include retail, leisure and office development greater than 1,000 square metres; industrial development greater than 1,700 square metres; warehouse development greater than 4,000 square metres; (all figures gross); and any other development likely to generate 50 full time equivalent jobs or more. The policy will also apply to construction jobs related to such major developments and to major residential developments.

Economic Growth

The Council will contribute to the objectives of increased economic / employment growth and competitiveness focussed on urban areas set out in the PUSH South Hampshire Strategy South East Plan's strategy for South Hampshire, devised by PUSH. It will do this by: 1. Identifying sites in the City Centre Action Plan capable of delivering major 322,000 sq m of office development in the city centre; at least 110,000 sq m (subject to ongoing monitoring) between 2006 and 2026, and further office development beyond 2026 through the City Centre Action Plan 2. Promoting key sectors and their supporting infrastructure 3. Safeguarding all existing employment sites and allocations, subject to Policy CS 7, through the Sites and Policies DPD or City Centre Action Plan, within which approximately 97,000 sq m of industrial / warehouse development will be delivered 4. Providing appropriate support to the Port of Southampton (see Policy CS 9) 5. Securing appropriate access for local people to jobs (see Policy CS 24)

Safeguarding Employment Sites

All existing employment sites and allocations will be safeguarded for employment use, through the Sites and Policies DPD or City Centre Action Plan unless: 1. There is clear evidence that a site is not, and is not likely to become, viable for employment use; or 2. There is a strong justification to release a site from employment safeguarding, on the following grounds: a) The redevelopment of the site, given its specific location, could deliver strong and distinctive planning / regeneration benefits, or b) The site is no longer suitable for employment use taking into account, its accessibility and its effect on residential amenity and the environment including the Habitats Regulations; and these grounds outweigh the strong need to safeguard employment sites taking into account the following specific issues: c) Any location-specific employment needs met by a site (e.g. for waterfront marine use); and d) The benefit of retaining an employment site close to the priority neighbourhoods. Where a site is released from safeguarding, the requirement will be for a mix of uses to include suitable B1, B2 and / or B8 employment. The Sites and Policies DPD will provide further guidance where appropriate on the types of employment use suitable to particular sites, to recognise amenity issues for example.

Office Location

There is a need for at least 110,00 322,000 sq m of additional office development in Southampton (see Policy CS 6). The preferred location for major office development is Southampton city centre. The preferred locations for medium scale office developments are the city, town or district centres. Office proposals in other locations will be directed towards these centres first, where possible, in line with Government guidance PPS6. This policy applies to office development greater than 750 sq m gross. Medium scale office developments are between 750 – 1,500 sq m gross; and major office developments are greater than 1,500 sq m gross. A redevelopment of an existing industrial site to offices will be acceptable in principle outside the city centre if that site is within approximately 500 metres of Southampton Central railway station; and there are no available sites within the city centre closer to the Central railway station.

Port of Southampton

The Council will promote and facilitate the growth of the International Gateway Port of Southampton. Within the city operational port growth will take place within the existing port boundaries as defined on the Proposals Map. Within the city, the Council will facilitate growth by: 1. Refusing planning permission for non port related development within the port; except for uses which form an integral part of a cruise line terminal within the city centre, which help create a visitor destination and do not significantly increase the footprint of the terminal area. 2. Supporting an increase in transhipments (ship to ship), rail freight to / from the port and appropriate road improvements leading to the port (see Policy CS 18), having regard (where relevant) to the transport needs of the city centre as well as the port.

Tackling and Adapting to Climate Change

To work towards carbon neutrality; maximising energy efficiency, incorporating renewable energy and offsetting remaining emissions; To conserve water resources and manage surface water run-off

Tackling and Adapting to Climate Change

Southampton City Council will continue to implement the measures identified in the Council's Climate Change and Air Quality Strategy (2004) and any subsequent revisions to the strategy. The sustainability of development proposals will be judged against the standards outlined in the 'Requirements for new developments' table below. Requirements for New Developments All residential development achieves at least the following level of the Code for Sustainable Homes All non-residential developments with a floor space of over 500 m2 achieve at least the following BREEAM standards. From adoption (2010): Level 3 BREEAM 'very good' From 2012: Level 4 BREEAM 'excellent' From 2016: Level 6 BREEAM 'excellent' 1. Low Carbon Development All development must be low carbon, with a view to carbon neutrality where appropriate. Developers should demonstrate how their proposal will achieve this through adopting the following sequential approach to reducing carbon emissions; a) Improving energy efficiency - Maximise the integration of energy efficiency measures into the design of all buildings, b) Incorporating renewable energy - All developments, either new build or conversion, with a floorspace greater than 500 m2, or one or more residential units (based on the size of the final development footprint), will be required to incorporate decentralised and renewable or low-carbon energy sources to reduce predicted CO2 emissions by at least the percentage values for each type of development stated in the 'Requirements for reductions in CO2 emissions' table below. Where specific opportunities exist, development will be required to connect to existing Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems or make equivalent CO2 savings through other on-site renewable or low-carbon energy measures. Requirements for Reductions in CO2 Emissions Development type: Low Rise Residential, 4 Storey + Residential, Schools/Colleges, Offices, Light Industrial Minimum CO2 emission reduction required: 20%, 15%, 15%, 15%, 12.5% c) Contributing to the Carbon Offset Fund - From 2012 - once energy efficiency measures and renewable or low-carbon technology opportunities have been maximised, any remaining CO2 emissions can be offset through contributions to a carbon offset fund, which will be invested in off-site renewable energy and energy efficiency projects throughout the city. This will be in place for 2012 when the requirements for new development increase. 2. Conserving Water Resources and Surface Run-off Management a) Improving Water Efficiency - All development should maximise water efficiency through the installation of high performance internal fittings, as well as rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems where viable. These water efficiency measures must be integrated into the design of all development to a level that allows it to achieve at least the Code for Sustainable Homes / BREEAM standards or equivalent in accordance with the 'Requirements for new development' table above. b) Managing Surface Run-off - Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) and measures to reduce or avoid water contamination and safeguard groundwater supply should be incorporated into all development, unless it can be demonstrated that this is not appropriate in a specific location. These surface run-off management measures should be integrated into the design of all development to a level that allows it to achieve at least the Code for Sustainable Homes / BREEAM standards or equivalent in accordance with the 'Requirements for new development table' above. 3. Identifying Opportunities to Site Decentralised Energy Supplies Opportunities to site large-scale renewable or low-carbon energy generation centres will be identified through the City Centre Action Plan and the Sites and Policies DPD. Smaller-scale decentralised schemes will be encouraged within proposed development schemes. The potential for proposed developments to connect into existing smaller-scale schemes in nearby developments will be dealt with through individual applications.

Climate Change Challenge

Ensure that Southampton addresses the challenge of climate change.

Renewable Energy and Combined Heat and Power

To support the uptake of renewable energy and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) in the city to reduce the development's predicted CO2 emissions.

Protection of Open Space

To improve the quality and retain the quantity of Southampton's open space and ensure they are accessible; To retain gaps between settlements

Promoting Biodiversity and Protecting Habitats

To promote biodiversity; To safeguard and extend the green grid network

Flood Risk

To direct development away from sites of highest flood risk; To avoid inappropriate development in areas of flood risk

Protecting and Enhancing Open Space

The Council will retain the quantity and improve the quality and accessibility of the city's diverse and multi–functional open spaces and help deliver new open space both within and beyond the city to meet the needs of all age groups through 1. Protecting and enhancing key open spaces including Southampton Common, central, district and local parks; 2. Replacing or reconfiguring other open spaces in order to achieve wider community benefits such as improving the quality of open space, or providing a more even distribution across the city; 3. Safeguarding and, when opportunities arise, extending the green grid (see Policy 22); 4. Seeking developer contributions to provide high quality, accessible open spaces. The Council will work with neighbouring authorities to protect the strategic gaps between Southampton and Eastleigh and Southampton and Hedge End / Bursledon / Netley.

Promoting Biodiversity and Protecting Habitats

Effective protection of biodiversity cannot be achieved by focusing solely on land within the city. The Council will work with other PUSH authorities to achieve a sub-regional approach, in particular through the Green Infrastructure Strategy for South Hampshire. Within Southampton the Council will promote biodiversity through: 1. Ensuring development does not adversely affect the integrity of international designations, and the necessary mitigation measures are provided; or the development otherwise meets the Habitats Directive; 2. Ensuring development is unlikely to have an unacceptable impact on a national or local designation; and that any such impact (on these or other features of biodiversity value) is avoided, mitigated or as a last resort compensated for. 1. Safeguarding international, national and local designated sites from inappropriate development; 2. Giving appropriate consideration to internationally and nationally protected and important habitats and species; 3. Safeguarding and extending the existing Green Grid to provide a network of wildlife corridors and stepping stones between areas of green space within the city and linking to the surrounding countryside; 4. Ensuring that development retains, protects and enhances features of biological interest and provides for the appropriate management of these features; 5. Ensuring development seeks to produce a net gain in biodiversity by designing in provisions for wildlife and ensuring any unavoidable impacts are appropriately mitigated. Developer contributions may be sought from relevant developments, or other funding secured, to support the provision and improvement of green infrastructure in accordance with Policy CS 25.

Flood Risk

The Council will work with the Environment Agency and other key stakeholders to manage flood risk in the city, particularly in relation to new development in the flood risk zones within the city centre and Northam. PPS25, including the flood risk hierarchy, will be taken into account (and where necessary balanced against other PPSs) in determining planning applications and preparing two subsequent DPDs (the City Centre Action Plan and the Sites and Policies DPD). The Council will undertake an additional assessment for the flood risk zones within the city centre and Northam in order to inform these DPDs. The DPDs will set out the range of options for managing flood risk in new development incrementally over time, including the major development quarter. Development will achieve an appropriate degree of safety taking into account standards of defence and sea level rise over the life of the development. Individual developers should prepare a scheme specific flood risk assessment in order to inform their proposal at an early stage. Developer contributions may be sought from relevant developments to support the provision of infrastructure to help to control and mitigate flood risk in accordance with Policy CS 25.

Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement

Conserve and enhance the city's biodiversity, ensuring that designated sites and protected species are safeguarded. Nature conservation opportunities in existing open spaces and in new development will be maximised and local awareness of biodiversity issues raised.

Flood Risk and Climate Adaptation

Adopts an 'avoid, reduce and mitigate' approach to flooding to achieve an appropriate degree of safety, so adapting positively to sea level rise.

Historic Environment

The Council will safeguard from inappropriate development and, where appropriate, enhance important historical assets and their settings and the character of areas of acknowledged importance including listed buildings, conservation areas, sites of archaeological importance and their setting and parks and gardens of special historic interest. The Council will promote the retention of buildings and structures of local architectural or historical importance identified on the Local List. The significant level of proposed development in the city centre (including the major development quarter) will need to pay particular attention to the medieval walled town and the remains of the Saxon town, Hamwic which are nationally important. Proposals within the Old Town should also respect and, where necessary, reinstate the historic street pattern where possible. New development should respect and reflect the underlying archaeology of the area. A guiding principle will be to avoid damage to archaeological deposits where possible and to put in place appropriate mitigation measures where damage is unavoidable. Developer contributions may be sought from relevant developments to support the protection and improvement of the historic environment. Historic assets such as buildings should be re-used where possible.

Affordable Housing

To deliver 35% affordable housing on large sites and 20% on sites of 5-14 dwellings To deliver a mix of social rented and intermediate affordable housing types

Housing Mix and Type

To provide a balance of house types including affordable housing, homes for senior citizens and for disabled people To deliver increased amounts of family homes

Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation and Accommodation for Travelling Showpeople

To set out criteria for the location of sites for Gypsy and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

Housing Delivery

To deliver 16,300 homes within Southampton between 2006-2026

Housing Density

To deliver Southampton's housing target at appropriate densities across the city.

Affordable Housing

On housing sites where 15 or more net dwellings are proposed, or which exceed 0.5 hectares in size (irrespective of the number of dwellings), the Council will seek provision, through negotiation, of 35% affordable housing. On sites where 5 – 14 net dwellings are proposed the Council will seek provision, through negotiation, of 20% affordable housing. The proportion of affordable housing to be provided by a particular site will take into account:- 1. The costs relating to the development; in particular the financial viability of developing the site (using an approved viability model) 2. The need to contribute towards the sub-regional target whereby the total provision of affordable housing is made up of 65% social rented and 35% intermediate affordable housing 3. The proximity of local services and the accessibility of the site to public transport 4. Constraints on the development of the site imposed by other planning objectives 5. The need to achieve a successful housing development in terms of the location and mix of affordable homes. The affordable housing requirement will be applied to the net number of new housing units which are being proposed on site. The delivery of affordable housing will be provided in accordance with the following hierarchy of provision:- 1. On-site as part of the development and distributed across the development as much as is reasonable and practical to create a sustainable, balanced community. 2. On an alternative site, where provision would result in a more effective use of available resources or would meet an identified housing need, such as providing a better social mix and wider housing choice. 3. Commuted financial payment to be utilised in providing affordable housing on an alternative site. Planning conditions and /or obligations will be used to ensure that the affordable housing will remain at an affordable price for future eligible households, or for the subsidy to be recycled to alternative affordable housing provision.

Housing Mix and Type

The Council will provide a mix of housing types and more sustainable and balanced communities through:- 1. The provision of a target of 30% of total dwellings (gross) as family homes on sites of ten or more dwellings or which exceed 0.5 hectares. The appropriate percentage of family housing for each site will depend upon the established character and density of the neighbourhood and the viability of the scheme. 2. No net loss of family homes on sites capable of accommodating a mix of residential units unless there are overriding policy considerations justifying this loss. 3. Control of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) where planning permission is required, particularly those properties which provide accommodation for students. 4. Improvement of, and an increase in, the provision of homes for senior citizens and disabled people of all ages. 5. Variation in the levels of housing density (see Policy CS 5). Family homes are dwellings of three or more bedrooms with direct access to useable private amenity space or garden for the sole use of the household. The private amenity space or garden should be fit for purpose and with the following minimum sizes: Flats and maisonettes – 20sq m Terraced homes – 50sq m Semi-detached homes – 70sq m Detached homes – 90sq m The requirements in points 1-3 above do not apply to specialist housing schemes entirely comprised of accommodation specifically for senior citizens, supported accommodation for people with disabilities and purpose built student accommodation.

Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation and Accommodation for Travelling Showpeople

The Council will allocate sufficient sites in the Sites and Policies DPD to meet the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers and travelling showpeople as required by the Partial Review of the South East Plan for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. Criteria for the location of such sites which can be temporary or permanent must take into account issues of sustainability that ensure that: 1. The amenities of nearby residential and / or business uses, are not adversely affected; 2. The site has a satisfactory means of access and adequate parking provision and turning space, to accommodate the occupants; 3. The traffic from the site is not generated on a scale which is inappropriate to the locality and which is likely to cause a hazard to road safety; 4. The site is capable of accessing utilities; and is located within a reasonable distance from local facilities, such as schools, welfare and health services; 5. The site is capable of being landscaped and screened from surrounding uses and protected from environmental damage; 6. The site is located in a position that will minimise the tension between its occupants and the settled community; 7. The site is not located in an area at high risk of flooding, does not damage nature conservation interests and is not significantly contaminated.

Housing Delivery

An additional 16,300 homes will be provided within the City of Southampton between 2006 and 2026. 2,150 homes have been completed between 2006/7 and 2007/8. The pattern of future delivery is expected to be (approximately):- 1. 850 completions in 2008/9. 2. 5,750 completions on allocated and identified sites between April 2009 and March 2014 (the 5 year supply) and 10,150 completions on allocated and identified sites between April 2009 and March 2019 (the 10 year supply) (These delivery levels do not include windfall sites.) 3. 3,150 completions between 2019/20 and 2025/26. (Figures are rounded to the nearest 50 units)

Housing Density

Whilst there is continuing pressure for higher densities in order to deliver development in Southampton, development will only be permitted which is of an appropriate density for its context. High densities should be limited to the most accessible areas, namely the city centre, areas close to and within Shirley town centre and the district centres, as well as the key public transport corridors shown on the map in Appendix 2 and other major sites allocated in the LDF for significant intensification. The majority of development should be on previously developed land. The net density levels should generally accord with: Density Residential Accessibility (PTAL value)* Low 35 - 50dph 1 & 2 Medium 50 - 100dph 3 & 4 High Over 100dph 5 & 6 The development density proposed should be justified in the Design and Access statement submitted with the planning application. It will be assessed with regard to the following criteria: 1. The need to protect and enhance the character of existing neighbourhoods; 2. The quality and quantity of open space; 3. Flood risk and appropriate reduction and mitigation measures; 4. Accessibility using public transport; 5. Adopted character or conservation area appraisals; 6. The efficient and effective use of land.

Infrastructure Provision

The Council will continue to work with infrastructure providers to further review the needs for infrastructure within the city for the next 20 years. Proposals for physical infrastructure that help meet the needs generated by new development and by existing communities within Southampton will be permitted, subject to meeting other relevant LDF policies. The Council will seek developer contributions towards directly related measures to deliver a high quality development.

The Delivery of Infrastructure and Developer Contributions

Development will only be permitted if the necessary infrastructure, services, facilities and amenities to meet the needs of the development are available or will be provided at the appropriate time. The Council will continue to work with infrastructure providers to further review the needs for infrastructure within the city for the next 20 years. Proposals for physical infrastructure that help meet the needs generated by new development and by existing communities within Southampton will be permitted, subject to meeting other relevant LDF policies. The Council will seek developer contributions towards directly related measures to deliver a high quality development.

City Centre Approach

Southampton city centre, as defined on the Proposals Map, will be the focus for major development to enhance the city's regional status. A City Centre Action Plan will be prepared to identify sites and policies to promote and co-ordinate high quality development. A distinctive sense of place will be created, drawing on and linking to the city's heritage, parks and waterfront. Development will include: 1. A major development quarter in the west of the city centre (see Policy CS 2) and a wide range of other development sites; 2. Approximately 90,000 130,000 square metres (gross) of comparison retail floorspace (see Table 1 and Policy CS 2); 3. At least 110,000 322,000 square metres (gross) of additional office floorspace 4. Further leisure / cultural / hotel development, for example: restaurants, bars, cinema, events arena, cultural quarter and events to attract visitors. 5. Approximately 5,450 dwellings. Specific initiatives include: the public realm improvement of the QE2 Mile linking the city centre to the waterfront enhanced public transport facilities including at the central railway station the creation of a cultural quarter in Northern Above Bar. Developer contributions may be sought to mitigate the impacts of development on, and improve links to, surrounding residential communities and to support the provision of infrastructure in accordance with Policy CS 25.

Major Development Quarter

The major development quarter (as shown on the Proposals Map) is a strategic site in the western part of the city centre with the potential for major commercial intensification. It broadly includes the area west of Portland Terrace, the West Quay Mall and Western Esplanade; north of the port, and south of the railway line (though including Central Station). The area includes part of the existing primary shopping area. Development will be facilitated in the major development quarter if it will enhance the city centre's regional commercial status and is able to form part of a comprehensive high density mixed use scheme across the whole quarter. The mix of uses across the major development quarter as a whole will include retail (subject to the tests below) and offices. It will include leisure, hotel, cultural or tourist uses. It can also include some residential uses (although such uses should not dominate) and associated community uses subject to satisfactory resolution of flood risk issues. Retail development will be directed to the city centre's existing primary shopping area (PSA) first in line with the PPS6 sequential approach. Retail development outside the primary shopping area but within the major development quarter will be facilitated through the City Centre Action Plan where it can be demonstrated that: 1. It is part of a coherent expansion of the primary shopping area, linked to the existing primary shopping area by good / clear pedestrian links and lined where possible by "shop" windows; and 2. There is a need for the development which is unlikely to be met within the existing primary shopping area. This test will be judged by looking at additional needs from 2005, through to both five years ahead (from the determination of a planning application), and through to 2026. The City Centre Action Plan will provide further guidance on the phasing, layout and extent of expansion, in-order to meet all of the objectives above. Subject to ongoing monitoring, the need for retail expansion of the primary shopping area in the major development quarter is unlikely to occur before 2016 at the earliest. Development adjacent to the primary shopping area within the major development quarter may include a mix of uses but will not be permitted if it is likely to prejudice the provision of the required retail development in that location.

Town, district and local centres, community hubs and community facilities

The Council will support the role of the town and district centres in providing shops and local services in safe, accessible locations. New development should make a positive contribution to the centre's viability and vitality, promote and enhance its attractiveness, respect where possible the historic street patterns and building lines and improve its connectivity to surrounding residential neighbourhoods. Non-residential development serving a city wider or sub regional catchment will be focused on the following hierarchy of centres with a sequential approach. New development must be at a scale appropriate to the size and role of the centre. 1. City Centre; Southampton city centre serves city wide and regional needs (see 4.4) 2. Shirley Town Centre; 3. Four District Centres; Portswood, Bitterne, Woolston and Lordshill The town centre and district centres meet the 'week to week' needs for their area of the city and local non food and community services. The aims for Shirley (serving a wide area of western Southampton); Portswood (serving the north of the city) and Bitterne (serving the north east of the city) are to maintain the health of the centres, improve the street scene and successfully integrate local facilities. Lordshill district centre is to undergo a comprehensive redevelopment to improve its design and expand the range of services to serve the north western area of the city and neighbouring areas. Woolston district centre serves the city east of the River Itchen (along with Bitterne). The priority for the area will be to ensure that the adjacent Centenary Quay redevelopment complements and enhances the centre and to deliver improvements in the street scene 4. A network of Local Centres: Local centres meet the 'day to day' needs for the immediate neighbourhood. Bevois Valley Midanbury – The Castle Bitterne Park Triangle Portswood Road Burgess Road St. James Road Cumbrian Way / Kendal Ave St. Mary's Road Exford Avenue Swaythling Hinkler Road Thornhill Park Road Maybush Weston Merryoak Winchester Road Each centre should capitalise on any opportunities for enhancement as they arise. Community hubs will, where possible, be developed in, or close to, existing town or district centres and may be developed elsewhere if practical and sustainable opportunities arise. Proposals for comprehensive redevelopment of a local centre will be considered where the centre can be demonstrated to be failing and where the proposals can demonstrate the community benefits of redevelopment and justify any loss of retail facilities.

Transport: Reduce – Manage - Invest

To achieve a modal shift away from the private car to alternative travel modes To deliver strategic transport infrastructure and services To locate development in order to encourage sustainable transport modes including active travel (walking and cycling) within the city

Car and Cycle Parking

To deliver well designed parking provision which seeks to enhance the local environment; To set out interim parking standards to be followed until the completion of the Parking Review; To reduce proportion of long stay city centre car parking

Transport: Reduce – Manage – Invest

To support the regional economy, enhance air quality and achieve a modal shift to more environmentally sustainable transport, a 'reduce-manage-invest' approach will be taken. In relation to strategic transport the Council will work with adjoining authorities and through Transport for South Hampshire to support Southampton's role as an international gateway and regional transport hub by: 1. Supporting freight movements to and from the Port of Southampton, with a presumption in favour of rail freight and 'transhipment' (ship to ship). Development should not prejudice access to the Port of Southampton along the key road corridors identified on the Key Diagram; 2. Supporting improvements in, and links to, the national rail network and station facilities (particularly a major redevelopment of Central Station); 3. Supporting the enhancement of the existing regional coach facility and enhancing bus interchange facilities in the city centre; ferry services; and appropriate lorry parking; 4. Maintaining appropriate access to the strategic road network incorporating the A33, M271, M27, M3 and A34; 5. Ensuring good sustainable transport linkages with the wider South Hampshire sub-region including the Strategic Development Area at Hedge End and the South Hampshire Strategic Employment Zone at Eastleigh; 6. Securing strategic developer contributions to address the increased travel demands of new development. In particular to seek to deliver: a) Enhancements to the eastern approach to Southampton, including improved bus priority and the provision of a high occupancy vehicle lane from Windhover to the city centre; b) Enhancements to rail services and infrastructure, including the potential for direct services from Hedge End to Southampton; c) Three park and ride sites, on the eastern, northern and western approaches to Southampton and any associated bus priority measures or mitigation measures for the strategic or local road network which are necessary; d) Mitigation measures for the M271, M27 and M3 Motorways, including Active Traffic Management, junction improvements and improved access to the Port of Southampton. In relation to citywide transport the Council will continue to: 7. Promote patterns and forms of development that reduce the need to travel, especially by car, and which seek to promote active lifestyles, by promoting major city centre growth (Policy CS 1) and higher density residential development in accessible locations (Policy CS 5). Residential development should conform to home zone design principles unless highway safety measures dictate otherwise. 8. Support infrastructure and secure developer contributions which promote public transport and active travel (walking and cycling) particularly in relation to the city, town, district and local centres. This will include a high quality street scene including better signing (through the Legible Cities programme). Where appropriate, new development should promote access to the Rights of Way network. 9. Plan for the upgrading of the A33 from West Quay Road to Marsh Lane via Town Quay, Platform Road and Terminus Terrace to improve access to the Port of Southampton at Dock Gate 4 and accommodate the additional travel demands of city centre development; 10. Require a transport assessment (TA) and travel plan for major developments in order to assess their transport impact on the strategic and local road network and require the provision of mitigation or infrastructure measures arising from the TA, including improvements to: a) Public transport; b) Walking and cycling facilities; c) Access for mobility impaired people; d) Road Improvements; and e) Promotion of other sustainable travel initiatives (e.g. car sharing, I.T and homeworking). 11. Require new developments to consider impact on air quality, particularly in Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) through the promotion of access by sustainable modes of travel.

Car & Cycle Parking

Parking for all development must have regard to the Council's maximum car parking and minimum cycle parking standards which will be set out in a Supplementary Planning Document. The following criteria will also be taken into account when assessing car parking provision: 1. the scale and travel needs of the development; 2. the level of Public Transport Accessibility (PTAL map – see Appendix 2); 3. the location of the development; 4. the density of the development; 5. parking schemes such as car clubs, other parking arrangements and current controls/restrictions; 6. spaces for disabled people where appropriate. Parking provision should be well designed and seek to enhance the local environment. Parking in residential developments should aim for CABE 'Good' criteria in terms of 'Building for Life' standards. The proportion of long stay car parking will be reduced in the city centre over the plan period, in line with Park and Ride (P&R) provision. Commercial development will contribute towards the implementation of the P&R sites and any necessary associated measures. The City Centre Action Plan will give further consideration to the provision of parking. The SPD will also include maximum parking levels for the University of Southampton sites. Parking enforcement areas will be maintained and extended where appropriate around the city centre, University of Southampton and General Hospital. Parking at railway stations will be permitted in accordance with the standards providing that it serves new development along with interchange facilities.

Sustainable Transport and Road Management

Ensure that all development reduces the need to travel and is supported by a superior alternative transport system, attracting people to walk, cycle or use the bus or train. Manage car trips and deliver appropriate mitigation measures. Ensure that road space is managed fairly, improve air quality, control congestion and improve the street scene.