Planning in St. Helens

Health and Wellbeing

The Council will work with its health and wellbeing partners to promote public health principles, maximise opportunities for people to lead healthy and active lifestyles, and reduce health inequalities for residents within the Borough. Through the planning system, the Council will seek to: 1. encourage improved access to a choice of homes and jobs that meet the needs of the area; 2. ensure the provision of easy-to-maintain, safe and attractive public areas and green spaces to serve new development that minimise the opportunity for and fear of crime and anti-social behaviour and that promote social cohesion and mental wellbeing; 3. encourage people to be physically active by providing opportunities for walking, cycling, outdoor recreation and sport including, where appropriate, the provision of opportunities for physical activity within the design of new development; 4. guide the location of food and drink uses such as hot food takeaways, drinking establishments, restaurants, cafes and other uses that may have negative health impacts having regard to their impact on other land uses in the local area; 5. maximise the levels of accessibility between homes, educational establishments, jobs, public transport services, health and other services, recreational opportunities and community, cultural and leisure facilities; 6. encourage measures to achieve affordable warmth; 7. promote Active Design principles as established by Sport England; and 8. manage air quality and pollution.

Development Principles

New development in St Helens Borough will be required to support the following development principles where relevant: 1. Create sustainable communities with a strong sense of place. 2. Meet the challenges of population retention and growth by: a) Providing for a mix of types and tenures of quality homes to meet the needs and aspirations of all existing and future residents in sustainable locations; b) Maintaining, and where possible enhancing, accessibility to a good range of services and facilities; and c) Providing and contributing to assessed infrastructure and service requirements where appropriate. 3. Improve the economic well-being of the Borough's residents by: a) Contributing to the creation and retention of a range of employment and training opportunities that are readily accessible by non-car modes of transport to the Borough's residents, including local unemployed and disadvantaged people; b) Contributing to the reduction of socio-economic inequality including health inequalities within St Helens Borough, and between the Borough and other parts of the UK; and c) Contributing to and complementing the regeneration of the Borough. 4. Contribute to inclusive communities by seeking to address the requirements of: a) An ageing population, particularly in terms of housing, health and wellbeing; b) Children, young people and families; c) People with special needs, including those with a disability; and d) The specific identified needs of minority groups in the Borough, including Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. 5. Contribute to a high quality built and natural environment by: a) Securing high quality design in all development and a high standard of amenity for all existing and future occupants of land and buildings; b) Taking account of the Borough's landscape character and townscape, and the distinctive roles and settings of different areas of the Borough, in the location and design of new development; c) Protecting, conserving, and / or enhancing the Borough's natural, built and historic environments; d) Protecting and enhancing the quality of the Borough's natural resources including water, air, land, and biodiversity; and e) Making effective use of land, buildings, and existing infrastructure (including through the remediation of contaminated land). 6. Minimise the need to travel and maximise the use of sustainable transport by: a) Guiding development to sustainable and accessible locations or locations that can be made sustainable and accessible; b) Encouraging a shift towards more sustainable modes of transport for people, goods and freight and encouraging the use of lower carbon transport; c) Encouraging safe and sustainable access for all, particularly by promoting the use of public transport, walking, and cycling between homes and employment; and d) Supporting the provision and retention of shared space, community facilities and other local services (such as local shops, health facilities, education provision, meeting places, sports venues, cultural buildings, public houses, and places of worship). 7. Promote healthy communities by improving access and opportunities for formal and informal recreation (including through the use of green infrastructure), improving cycling and walking routes, and minimising air, soil, and water pollution. 8. Lower St Helens Borough's carbon footprint and adapt to the effects of climate change by: a) Contributing to reductions in carbon emissions from all sources; b) Meeting appropriate standards for sustainability and energy efficiency and promoting the use of renewable energy and sustainable construction; c) Assessing and addressing the impact of climate change through mitigation and / or adaption measures; d) Using water, energy, minerals and waste resources in an efficient and effective way; e) Ensuring that all new development addresses the need to mitigate and, where appropriate, adapt to flood risk; and f) Making best use of existing building materials (including historic features and materials) in order to reduce waste and lower energy consumption.

Ensuring Quality Development

All proposals for development will be expected, as appropriate having regard to their scale, location, and nature, to meet or exceed the following requirements: 1. Quality of the Built Environment a) Maintain or enhance the character and appearance of the local environment, with a focus on the importance of local distinctiveness, as well as using good design to improve the quality of areas that may have become run down and be in need of regeneration, for example with regard to the siting, layout, massing, scale, design and materials used in any building work, the building-to-plot ratio and landscaping; b) Avoid causing unacceptable harm to the amenities of the local area and surrounding residential and other land uses and occupiers; c) Ensure that the occupiers of new developments will enjoy a high standard of amenity and will not be unacceptably affected by neighbouring uses and vice versa; d) Link in with surrounding movement patterns and not be prejudicial to the development of neighbouring land for example by creating landlocked sites; e) Be located and designed so as to minimise opportunities for crime, for example by maximising natural surveillance; f) Respect any existing natural features of the site by conserving, restoring or enhancing biodiversity and minimising any adverse impact on important natural features; g) Provide landscaping, including tree-lined streets, as an integral part of the development, protecting existing landscape features such as trees, hedges and watercourses and enhancing the public realm; h) Encourage the inclusion of, or make a contribution to public art within appropriate schemes (for example where the development would be of a substantial size and / or in a prominent gateway or town centre location); i) Provide for the needs of special groups in the community such as the elderly and those with disabilities as identified in Policy LPC01; and j) Protect the setting, integrity, and character of heritage assets in accordance with Policy LPC11. 2. Environmental Quality a) Ensure protection of watercourses and other water bodies from encroachment, modification and degradation and enable water bodies that are already modified or degraded to be improved to form sustainable, natural environments where feasible; b) Minimise and mitigate to acceptable levels any effects that the development may have on air quality; light, land and / or water pollution (including contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater resources); and levels of noise, vibration, smells, dust and electromagnetic fields in the area; c) Ensure that any contamination or ground stability issues that exist on the site of the proposed development would be remediated to an appropriate standard, taking into account its intended use and making use of sustainable remediation technologies; and d) Include satisfactory arrangements for the disposal of foul sewage, liquid waste, trade effluent and contaminated surface water. 3. Resource Management a) Ensure that development involving demolition and / or construction works minimises the generation of waste and promotes the use of recycled and / or locally sourced building materials in accordance with policy WM8 of the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan 2013 (or any equivalent policy in a successor document); b) Avoid prejudicing the delivery/improvement of utility infrastructure; c) Promote energy efficiency and the generation and use of low carbon and renewable energy in accordance with Policy LPC13; and d) Avoid loss of or damage to high quality agricultural land and / or soils (except where clearly justified by wider public benefits) and minimise such loss or damage where this is shown to be unavoidable.

Householder Developments

Proposals for the alteration and / or extension of an existing dwelling will be approved where: 1. They would respect and / or enhance the appearance and character of the existing dwelling and any other buildings within the site or the surrounding area in terms of scale, size, design, and facing materials; 2. There would be no significant impact on the living conditions of any occupier(s) of neighbouring properties caused by overlooking, or reduction of daylight / sunlight in habitable rooms or garden areas; 3. They would not have an overbearing or over-dominant effect on the outlook from any habitable room(s) or gardens in any neighbouring dwelling; 4. They would not cause harm to the safety of users of any highway (including drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians) for example due to inadequate provision for off road parking, or lack of visibility; and 5. Any car parking or other features associated with the development would avoid causing harm in respect of visual appearance, character or any of the other factors set out above.

Extension, Alteration, Reuse or Replacement of Buildings in the Green Belt

Proposals for the alteration, conversion, extension, or replacement of an existing building in the Green Belt will be allowed subject to the following criteria: 1. The proposal must not have a materially greater impact on the openness or purposes of the Green Belt than the existing building. As a general guideline, proposals should not extend an original building by more than 30% (by volume) either individually or cumulatively with other extension(s). A replacement building should generally be no more than 30% larger (by volume) than the original building it would replace; 2. Garaging, storage or other ancillary structures will not be allowed unless, in conjunction with the remainder of the existing and any other proposed development, they fall within the requirements set out above; 3. The proposal would not result in a need for any additional building(s) that would have a harmful effect on the openness or purposes of the Green Belt; 4. Any existing building to be converted must be permanent and of substantial construction, capable of conversion without the need for major or complete reconstruction. As a guideline if the proposals would result in a need for more than 30% (by volume) of the existing structure to be replaced this is likely to contravene this requirement; 5. The curtilage of the development should relate appropriately to the size and form of the existing building(s) and landscape features, and avoid causing unnecessary further impact on the openness and purposes of the Green Belt; and 6. Vehicular access must be capable of being provided, does not lead to a need for highway improvements or other works that would have a harmful effect on the openness and purposes of Green Belt.

Prominent Gateway Corridors

1. The prominent gateway corridors include the lengths of motorways, 'A' roads, waterways, and railway lines that cross the Borough. 2. Along the prominent gateway corridors, priority will be given as appropriate to the delivery of measures that will improve the visual appearance of the area (with particular priority to any areas that are of poor or mediocre visual quality, prominent road junctions and railway stations). Priority will also be given to delivering any necessary measures to improve access to railway stations. 3. All proposals for new development that would be within or visible from one or more prominent gateway corridor(s) must, as appropriate, having regard to its scale and nature: a) be of high architectural quality, ensuring that the density, design, height, and layout of any building(s) respond positively to the site and its setting; and b) provide appropriate landscaping as an integral part of their design and layout.

Advertisements

Proposals for advertisement display will be granted consent provided they would have an acceptable impact upon amenity or public safety. Amenity 1. Advertisements should respect the scale of and be sympathetic to their surroundings and not dominate any building(s), the street scene or any nearby open and / or publicly accessible area(s). 2. Advertisements should respect the design and appearance of any building(s) on which they would be displayed. 3. Advertisements displayed on or within the setting of a Listed Building must be of particularly high quality, respecting the size, materials, proportions and detailing of the building concerned. Advertisements that could affect the character or appearance of a Conservation Area must respect the predominant building styles and design that lend the area its special character. 4. Consideration will be given to the size, location, and means of any illumination of any proposed advertisement and whether the proposal would lead to there being a proliferation of advertisements creating clutter in the area. Public Safety 5. The location, siting, illumination, design and scale of any proposed advertisement must not compromise the safety of pedestrians, drivers or other users of the public highway, for example by hindering their movement, obscuring visibility or by causing a distraction.

The Local Economy

1. The Council will work with partner organisations to: a) help meet the Liverpool City Region's needs for economic growth, job creation and skills development; b) maximise the economic opportunities presented by St Helens Borough's location in relation to strategic road and rail routes; c) ensure the necessary infrastructure is provided to support business needs (see Policy LPA07); d) support the creation of and expansion of small businesses; and e) support businesses and organisations in the economic recovery and renewal from the COVID-19 pandemic. 2. The Council will aim to deliver a minimum of 173.24 hectares of land for employment development between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2037 to meet the needs of St Helens Borough. 3. The sites as shown in Table 4.1 and on the Policies Map are allocated for development for the employment uses indicated. 4. Proposals to develop or re-develop any of the above allocated sites for uses not listed in Table 4.1 will be refused, unless it has been demonstrated that: a) the site is no longer both suitable and viable for an employment use identified in Table 4.1; and b) the site has been offered for employment use on the open market at a reasonable price in a manner and for a period agreed with the Council; and c) the results of the marketing exercise have been transparently shared with the Council; and d) no employment use can be delivered as part of a mixed-use scheme on the site. 5. Other sites and buildings that are currently or were last used for employment use (or for sui generis use generating employment), including those in the employment areas listed in appendix 5, will be protected from changes to other uses, unless justified. Changes of use of such sites and buildings will be justified and permitted where it is demonstrated either that: a) the land or building (or any part of it) is no longer suitable and economically viable for light industrial, offices and research and development, B2 or B8 uses in accordance with the Local Economy Supplementary Planning Document; or b) the land use planning benefits of the proposed development would outweigh the benefits of retaining the site or building in its existing use (including vacant buildings and sites). 6. Proposals for the re-use, re-configuration, or re-development for light industrial, offices and research and development, B2 or B8 uses of land or buildings used for light industrial, offices and research and development, B2 or B8 uses (including where such proposals would lead to a more intensive use of the land or buildings) will be supported, subject to compliance with other policies in the Plan. 7. Proposals for Class E uses in locations outside a defined centre will be subject to a condition to prohibit town centre uses (as defined in the glossary of the NPPF) unless the requirements of Policy LPC04 are satisfied. 8. The Council will support proposals to help diversify the rural economy, including through the re-use of suitable buildings in rural areas for appropriate employment uses, subject to other policies in the Plan. 9. The Council will support the protection, creation, enhancement and expansion of tourism, cultural and visitor resources, facilities, and attractions by favourably considering proposals that are appropriate to the local character and appearance of the area and that will: i) increase the range and quality of the accommodation offer in the Borough: or ii) enhance an existing tourist or visitor attraction; or iii) attract investment to the Borough and create or safeguard jobs; or iv) enable the economic or physical regeneration of a site or area; or v) improve the quality and diversity of the Borough's visitor offer; or vi) help to maintain existing natural, historical, or cultural assets. 10. The Council will prevent the unjustified loss of existing tourism, cultural and visitor resources and assets. 11. The Council will support the use of local suppliers of goods and services and the creation of apprenticeships and training opportunities for local people in accordance with the requirements of the Local Economy Supplementary Planning Document.

Strategic Employment Sites

1. The following sites allocated under Policy LPA03 shall constitute Strategic Employment Sites: 1EA: Omega South Western Extension, Land north of Finches Plantation, Bold; 6EA: Land west of Millfield Lane, south of Liverpool Road and north of Clipsley Brook, Haydock; 7EA: Parkside East, Newton-le-Willows; and 8EA: Parkside West, Newton-le-Willows. 2. Any planning application for development within a Strategic Employment Site must be supported by a comprehensive masterplan covering the whole Site, which must set out details of at least: a) amount of development and proposed uses; b) phasing of development across the whole site; c) indicative layout and design details for the whole site, that must provide for an attractive built form with high quality landscaping when viewed from within the development and elsewhere; d) measures to provide good levels of accessibility to the whole site by public transport, pedestrian and cycling links; e) indicative layout promoting permeability and accessibility by public transport, cycling and walking; f) a Green Infrastructure Plan addressing biodiversity, geodiversity, greenways, ecological network, landscape character, trees, woodland and water storage issues in a holistic and integrated way; g) measures to address any potential flood risk and surface water drainage issues in accordance with Policy LPC12; h) measures to promote energy efficiency and generation of renewable or low carbon energy in accordance with Policy LPC13; i) a comprehensive strategy for the provision of all new, expanded and / or enhanced infrastructure that is required to serve the development of the whole site; and j) how development of the site as a whole would comply with other relevant policies of the Local Plan. 3. Detailed development proposals within a Strategic Employment Site must be accompanied by a comprehensive package of training schemes and / or other measures to enable local residents (including unemployed and disadvantaged people) to access and benefit fully from the employment opportunities provided at the Site. 4. Development within Strategic Employment Sites will be required, subject to compliance with Policy LPA07, provide or make financial contributions towards the provision, expansion and / or enhancement of transport infrastructure (including road, public transport, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure) and / or other infrastructure to serve the needs of the development. Such provision may be either on-site or off-site and must be provided in time to meet the needs of the development. Where the specific development proposal would only cover part of the Strategic Employment Site, the provision and / or contributions must be in accordance with the comprehensive masterplan for the whole site referred to in paragraph 2 of this Policy. 5. The masterplans for each Strategic Employment Site, and any planning application for development within any other allocated employment site, must address site specific requirements set out in appendix 5 (in the case of sites 1EA and 6EA) and Policies LPA09 and LPA10 (in the case of sites 7EA and 8EA).

Parkside East

1. The Parkside East site (identified as Site 7EA in Policy LPA03) shall be considered suitable in principle for development of a Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) with the primary purpose of facilitating the movement of freight by rail and its on-site storage and transfer between rail and other transport modes. 2. The site is also considered suitable in principle for other forms of B2 and B8 employment use provided that they would: a) bring significant inward investment, local employment, and training benefits for the local community; and b) (i) be rail served (i.e., requiring on-site access to a railway); or (ii) be of a layout and scale that would not prejudice the ability to develop an effectively laid out SRFI or other rail served employment development (including any necessary rail and road infrastructure, buildings, and landscaping), on at least 60ha of the site, at any time in the future. 3. Proposals for development within site 7EA will be required to: a) satisfy the masterplanning requirements set out in Policy LPA03.1; b) create safe and convenient access from Junction 22 of the M6 for Heavy Goods Vehicles and other vehicles; c) mitigate any adverse impacts on the surrounding strategic and local road network; d) comply with Policy LPC11 in relation to the protection of designated heritage assets; e) achieve direct rail access to and from the Liverpool / Manchester ('Chat Moss') and the West Coast Main Lines (unless agreed otherwise by the Council); f) be designed to minimise impacts on residential amenity; g) establish and implement a Travel Plan that incorporates measures to encourage travel to / from the development using sustainable transport modes, including access by public transport, cycle and foot, in accordance with Policy LPA07; h) make provision for the positive management of existing and new environmental assets; i) put training schemes in place (where practicable) to increase the opportunity for the local population to obtain access to employment at the site; and j) ensure the timely delivery of the rail terminal infrastructure of the SRFI or other rail served employment development, in accordance with the comprehensive masterplan to be prepared for the whole site as required by Policy LPA03.1, section 2. Within this, details of the phasing for the whole site must include a clear and justified employment floorspace trigger for the delivery of the rail terminal infrastructure. 4. That part of site 7EA which falls to the west of the M6 is safeguarded from all forms of development unless it can be shown that such development within it will not prejudice, or may provide, effective and deliverable future siding facilities in connection with the development of an SRFI or other rail-enabled development within the part of the site which falls to the east of the M6 (see Policies Map).

Parkside West

1. The Parkside West site (identified as site 8EA in Policy LPA03) shall be considered suitable for B2 and B8 uses. 2. Proposals for development within site 8EA will be required to: a) Satisfy the masterplanning requirements set out in Policy LPA03.1; b) Provide safe and convenient access to and from the M6 for Heavy Goods Vehicles and other vehicles: i. Access to an initial phase of development can (subject to detailed assessment) be provided off the A49 (Winwick Road) ii. Later phases of development should be served by a new link road from the east (linking to Junction 22 of the M6) iii. The amount of development achievable within each phase must be determined using a comprehensive transport assessment to be approved by the relevant highway authorities; c) Suitably mitigate any adverse impacts on the M6 (Junction 22) or other parts of the highway network (strategic and local); d) Include suitable measures to control impact of increased traffic movement or uses within the site on residential amenity, noise and / or air quality in the surrounding area; e) Include measures to mitigate any adverse impacts on the Battle of Winwick Registered Battlefield and other heritage assets in the area; f) Secure suitable access to the site by walking and cycling, such as, the provision of segregated walking and cycling routes which must run through the site and link to nearby highways; and improved bus provision, including upgraded bus stops; g) Establish and implement a Travel Plan incorporating measures to encourage travel to / from the development by sustainable modes; h) Make provision for the positive management of existing and new environmental assets; and i) Put training schemes in place (where practicable) to increase the opportunity for the local population to obtain access to employment at the site. The development of Parkside West (site 8EA) must ensure that the part of site 7EA (Parkside East) which falls to the west of the M6 (as shown on the Policies Map) is safeguarded from all forms of development unless it can be shown that such development within it will not prejudice, or may provide, effective and deliverable future siding facilities in connection with the development of an SRFI or other rail-enabled development on land to the east of the M6 (site 7EA).

Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Development

1. Proposals for development that would produce and / or distribute decentralised, low carbon or renewable energy will be permitted provided that they would: a) avoid causing unacceptable harm to the appearance or character of the surrounding landscape; natural resources; biodiversity; geodiversity; water or air quality; aviation or road safety; public amenity; or the living conditions of occupiers of any nearby dwellings; b) comply with relevant national and local policies concerning new development in the Green Belt; and c) comply with Policy LPC11 'Historic Environment'. When proposals are being assessed against these criteria, regard will be had to any environmental, social and / or economic benefits that the proposals would provide, and their number, scale, siting, design, and any cumulative impact in conjunction with other proposals. 2. Proposals that would otherwise result in an unacceptable impact under paragraph 1 of this Policy must be mitigated by appropriate measures agreed by the Council. All proposals must be accompanied by information that shows how the local environment would be protected, and how the site would be restored when energy production or distribution ends. 3. Relevant evidence that will be taken into account in assessing the suitability of any proposals under paragraph 1 of this Policy will include (alongside any other relevant material): the Liverpool City Region Renewable Energy Capacity Study 2010; any document(s) that may supersede this; the Merseyside Historic Landscape Characterisation Study; the evidence base for the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan; and the St Helens Landscape Character Assessment. 4. New developments for housing, employment or other uses will be required to meet high standards of sustainable design and construction and minimise carbon emissions equivalent to CSH level 4, i.e. 19% carbon reduction against Part L 2013 unless proven unviable. To this end they should use energy efficiently and where feasible incorporate decentralised energy systems that would use or generate renewable or other forms of low carbon energy. Large scale schemes that would generate a significant source or demand for heat should also be supported by evidence considering the feasibility of serving the development by means of a district heating scheme. Proposals for new development within a strategic employment site or a strategic housing site (as defined in Policies LPA03.1 and LPA04.1) must, unless this is shown not to be practicable or viable, ensure that at least 10% of their energy needs can be met from renewable and / or other low carbon energy source(s).

Strategic Aims, Objectives and Key Delivery Mechanisms

a) contribute to the restoration, creation and / or enlargement of natural habitats and other landscape features of benefit to the function and zoning of the NIA; and b) contribute to the creation and / or management of habitats as set out in the NIA Focus Area Profiles.

Landscape Protection and Enhancement

1. Proposals for new development must, as appropriate having regard to their scale and nature: a) seek to conserve, maintain, enhance and / or restore any landscape features that are important to the character of the local area; b) demonstrably form the best option for meeting the aims of the development whilst minimising impacts on the landscape and appearance of the area and respecting local distinctiveness; c) be informed by relevant guidance including the St Helens Landscape Character Assessment and the Merseyside Historic Character Study; and d) include assessments of the impact of the proposal on the landscape and appearance of the area, carried out in accordance with any relevant best practice guidelines. 2. Where a development would lead to harm to the landscape or visual character of the area, mitigation measures will be sought to reduce the scale of such harm. Where the development would (despite any such measures) cause significant harm but also bring significant benefits, suitable compensation measures may be sought. If significant harm cannot be avoided, suitably mitigated, or compensated, planning permission will be refused unless the development would bring exceptional benefits that would outweigh the harm.

Trees and Woodland

1. The Council will, working where necessary with the Mersey Forest and other partner organisations, seek to increase the extent of tree cover across the Borough and to protect and enhance the multi-purpose value of trees, woodlands, and hedgerows. 2. New development, as appropriate having regard to its scale and nature, will be required to include the planting of new trees, woodlands, hedgerows and / or financial contributions towards off-site provision. Arrangements should be made for any tree(s) or hedgerow(s) that are planted to be replaced in the event of failure or damage within a prescribed period. 3. Proposals for new development will only be permitted if they would conserve, enhance and / or manage existing trees, woodlands, and hedgerows as appropriate, for example by being laid out to provide adequate spacing between existing trees and buildings and including long term management proposals. 4. Any development proposal that would affect a site containing tree(s) or woodland must be accompanied by a tree survey and an arboricultural constraints/implications report, produced to the current British Standard, to enable the effect of the development on the tree(s) to be properly assessed and appropriate tree protection measures to be identified. Any approved tree protection measures must then be maintained throughout the period of any demolition and / or construction works. 5. Development resulting in the loss or deterioration of any area of ancient woodland or of any ancient or veteran tree will be refused unless there are wholly exceptional circumstances in which the need for, and benefits of, the development would clearly outweigh any resultant loss and a suitable mitigation strategy exists. 6. Development proposals should be designed and laid out in a manner that would retain any tree subject to a Tree Preservation Order, any other protected tree, any other tree of value including any veteran tree, trees of value as a group, any tree of substantive heritage value or any length of hedgerow, unless it can be justified for good arboricultural reasons or there is a clearly demonstrated public benefit that would outweigh the value of the tree(s) and or hedgerow(s). Where any tree is justifiably lost its replacement will normally be required on at least a 2 for 1 ratio, with impacts on woodlands mitigated in line with Policy LPC06. Any tree(s) planted must be replaced in the event of failure or damage during a prescribed period. 7. Proposals that would enhance the value and / or contribution of woodland in respect of recreational or educational needs; health; the landscape or townscape; heritage; biodiversity; tourism; and / or economic regeneration will be supported.

Green Infrastructure

1. Green Infrastructure in St Helens Borough comprises a network of multi-functional natural assets, including green space, trees, woodlands, mosslands, grasslands and wetlands, located within urban, semi-urban and rural areas. This network is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental and quality of life benefits for local communities and forms an important element of the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Ecological Network. 2. The Council will work with other organisations where necessary to: a) expand tree cover in appropriate locations across the Borough to improve landscape character, water and air quality and the value of trees to wildlife; b) strengthen and expand the network of wildlife sites, corridors and stepping stone habitats to secure a net gain in biodiversity; c) improve and increase the connectivity of the Greenway network; d) increase the accessibility of open space within walking distance of housing, health, employment and education establishments to promote healthy lifestyles; e) reduce the risk of flooding, improve river water quality and riverine and riparian habitats within the Sankey Catchment; and f) ensure that development proposals on strategic employment and housing sites incorporate holistic Green Infrastructure Plans. 3. Developers will be required to provide long-term management arrangements for new and existing green infrastructure within development sites. 4. Development that would contribute to or provide opportunities to enhance the function of existing green infrastructure and its connectivity from residential areas, town, district and local centres, employment areas and other open spaces, will be encouraged. Development that would result in the loss, fragmentation or isolation of green infrastructure assets will be refused. The only exceptions to this will be where it has been demonstrated that: a) appropriate protection or retention of Green Infrastructure assets cannot be achieved in the pursuit of wider planning objectives; b) the development would bring benefits that would override the resultant harm; and c) there are no realistic alternatives to the proposed development that would avoid such harm. In such cases, mitigation, for example, in the form of incorporating the identified Green Infrastructure assets into the scheme design and layout through a masterplanning process to maintain the key Green Infrastructure assets and connections, and / or as a last resort compensatory provision will be required.

Open Space

1. The Council will seek to ensure that the Borough's network of open spaces is protected, managed, enhanced and where appropriate expanded. To achieve this, it will support the implementation of programmes and strategies to manage and enhance all forms of open space, including where applicable through the use of Green Flag or similar designations. 2. Development proposals that would result in the loss of open space will only be permitted where: a) it has been clearly demonstrated that the open space (having regard to the standards referred to in Table 8.1) is surplus to requirements; or b) the open space that would be lost would be replaced by new provision that is equivalent or better in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or c) the proposed development is for alternative sports and / or recreational provision, the benefits of which would clearly outweigh the loss of the existing open space. 3. New residential development will be required to contribute towards the provision, expansion and / or enhancement of open space to meet needs in accordance with Policies LPA07 and LPD03.

Biodiversity and Geological Conservation

1. In accordance with NPPF paragraph 174, the Council is committed to ensuring the protection and enhancement of St Helen's biodiversity and geological assets and interests. In order to do this, the Council will have regard to the following hierarchy of nature conservation sites when making planning decisions, according to their designation as follows: - International and European Sites - Sites of Special Scientific Interest - Local Wildlife Sites - Local Nature reserves - Local Geological Sites - Priority Habitat(s) - Impact on Legal Protected Species and/or priority Species The following hierarchy of sites and habitats are found in the Borough: I) International Functionally Linked Land (FLL) for sites of international nature importance (European Sites) including the Ribble and Alt Estuaries Special Protection Area (SPA), Martin Mere SPA, the Mersey Estuary SPA, Liverpool Bay SPA. II) National Sites of national nature importance, which in St Helens Borough include 2 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Stanley Bank Meadow and Highfield Moss. III) Local Sites of local nature and geological importance, which in St Helens Borough include Local Nature Reserves (LNRs), Local Wildlife Sites (LWSs) and Local Geology Sites (LGSs). In addition, priority habitats and species, and legally protected species. 2. Development that is likely to have a significant effect (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects) on one or more internationally important site(s), including any areas of supporting habitat that are functionally linked to the site(s), must be accompanied by sufficient evidence to enable the Council to make a Habitats Regulations Assessment. Adverse effects should be avoided, or where this is not possible, be mitigated to protect the integrity of the site(s). Development that would adversely affect the integrity of one or more internationally important site(s) will only be permitted where there are no alternative solutions and there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest, and where suitable compensatory provision has been made. Any mitigation or compensatory provision must be assessed in a project–related Habitats Regulations Assessment and be fully functional before any likely adverse effect arises. 3. Development that would cause significant harm to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Local Wildlife Site, Local Nature Reserve, Local Geological Site, Priority Habitat(s), legally Protected Species and / or Priority Species, without adequate mitigation, will be refused. 4. Development that would be likely to cause any harm to ecological or geological interests will only be permitted in: a) Sites of Special Scientific Interest where there are no alternatives and where the benefits of the development would clearly outweigh any harm to the nature conservation value of the site and its broader contribution to the Liverpool City Region (LCR) ecological network; and b) Local Sites (Local Wildlife Sites, Local Nature Reserves and Local Geological Sites) and Priority Habitats: where the benefits of the development would clearly outweigh any harm to the nature conservation value of the site (or Priority Habitat) and its broader contribution to the LCR Ecological Network. 5. Where necessary to avoid harm, appropriate mitigation, replacement or other compensatory provision will be required. The location of such measures will be targeted, using the following sequential approach (with (a) being the preferred approach and (d) being the least preferred): a) on the development site; b) locations within the immediate locality and /or supporting LCR Ecological Network; c) locations that fall within the LCR Nature Improvement Area and within the Borough; and lastly d) locations that fall within the LCR Nature Improvement Area but outside the Borough. This sequential approach will also apply to the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain improvements to be delivered in line with new development, in accordance with the Environment Act. 6. Development proposals that would affect a nationally or locally designated nature conservation site, Priority Habitat(s), legally protected species or Priority Species must be supported by an Ecological Appraisal and include details of any necessary avoidance, mitigation and / or compensation proposals, and of any proposed management measures. 7. Further details concerning the implementation of this policy will be set out in the Council's proposed Nature Conservation Supplementary Planning Document.

Greenways

1. The Council will work with other organisations to protect and enhance the strategic network of greenways shown on the Policies Map. Its objectives in this regard will be to: a) provide a continuous off-road network of footpath, cycle and bridleway routes that will be publicly accessible and that will provide linkages between main urban areas and between urban areas and the countryside; b) give additional definition and protection to the network of wildlife corridors and historic and archaeological resources; c) contribute to the sub-regional network of cross boundary green infrastructure corridors; and d) support economic development by improving the appearance of the area and helping people to travel sustainably between homes and workplaces. 2. Development proposals that would affect a Greenway will be refused if they would: a) prejudice the continuity of public access to the greenway; b) harm the integrity of the Greenway in terms of off-road linkages, character or amenity; c) harm the appearance of the Greenway; or d) impair the integrity of the Greenway as a wildlife corridor or its resilience to development pressures and climate change. 3. The Council will support the expansion of the Greenway network, including through the provision of new routes, such as those set out in Figure 7.1, subject to the availability of funding and other feasibility requirements being met.

Ecological Network

1. The Council will, working where necessary with other organisations, seek to ensure greater resilience of the natural environment and secure a net gain in biodiversity. To this end it will seek to strengthen those elements of the Liverpool City Region (LCR) Ecological Network, including wildlife sites, wildlife corridors, and 'steppingstone' habitats that fall within the Borough. 2. The LCR Nature Improvement Area (NIA) is an area within which particular priority will be given to habitat management, enhancement, restoration, and creation. Development within the part of the NIA that lies within St Helens Borough will be permitted where it would: a) enable or contribute towards the effective functioning of the NIA; and b) contribute to the creation and / or management of habitats as set out in the NIA Focus Area Profiles.

Flood Risk and Water Management

Flood Risk 1. The impact of development proposals on flood risk and water management assets will be considered in accordance with case law, legislation, and the National Planning Policy Framework. 2. Measures to manage or mitigate flood risk associated with or caused by new development must (as appropriate having regard to its scale and nature): a) be designed to contribute to the biodiversity of the Borough unless it has been demonstrated that this would not be technically feasible; b) protect heritage assets (such as buried archaeology); c) be fully described in the development proposal; and d) be funded by the developer, including long-term maintenance. 3. Any proposal for major development on a site that would abut, run alongside, or straddle any watercourse in the Borough, must include measures to temporarily attenuate and filter flood water in order to: improve water quality; reduce peak flows during flooding; and reduce downstream flood risk, unless it has been demonstrated that this is not feasible or viable. In cases where measures are not currently feasible or viable, the development must not compromise the ability to implement such measures in the future. 4. The Flood Water Storage Safeguarding Areas as defined on the Policies Map shall be safeguarded for the provision of flood storage. Development within or adjacent to these areas that would have a negative impact on their function as a flood storage area or on their potential to be developed for flood storage infrastructure will not be permitted. Water Quality 5. Development that would adversely affect the quality or quantity of water in any watercourse or of groundwater or cause deterioration in water body or element classification levels defined in the Water Framework Directive (WFD) (or in any national regulations covering this matter) will not be permitted. Any planning application for development that could (without effective mitigation) cause such harm must be supported by a Construction Management Plan that sets out how the water environment will be protected during the construction process. Sustainable Drainage Systems 6. Inclusion of sustainable drainage systems within proposed major development sites will be assessed in accordance with national policy. Surface water should be managed in accordance with the following hierarchy (with a) being the preferred option and d) being the least favourable option): a) an adequate soakaway or other form of infiltration system; b) an attenuated discharge to watercourse; c) an attenuated discharge to public surface water sewer; d) an attenuated discharge to public combined sewer. 7. Surface water management infrastructure within new developments should, where feasible, include above ground features designed to deliver benefits to biodiversity and / or landscape. 8. Discharge of surface water to a public sewer will not be permitted unless clear evidence has been submitted demonstrating why no suitable alternative option(s) exist. Development proposals should identify how any necessary surface water drainage infrastructure will be appropriately maintained. The drainage proposals on all sites should be designed to address the drainage needs of the whole site. Where development would proceed in different phases or with multiple developers involved, the drainage proposals should cover all phases and the full construction period. Any development proposal should demonstrate unfettered rights to discharge between various phases. 9. If a development on a greenfield site would discharge to a public sewer, the rates of proposed discharge (peak flow and overall volume) from the development should not exceed the existing greenfield run-off rates. If a development on a previously developed site would discharge to a public sewer, the discharge rates (peak flow and overall volume) must be as close as reasonably practicable to those that would apply if the site were a greenfield site. As a guideline, a reduction of at least 30% may be sought, rising to at least 50% in Critical Drainage Areas or in areas identified as having an intermediate or high risk of surface water flooding. Storm water storage capacity should normally include an allowance of 40% to address the likely future effects of climate change. 10. Proposals for the soft or hard landscaping of any development site should, where practicable, demonstrably reduce the expected rate of surface water discharge from the site. 11. Applications for planning permission should have regard to the St Helens Borough Council Sustainable Drainage Systems Guidance. Protection of water and wastewater assets 12. Development that would compromise the physical integrity or the effective maintenance of any water or wastewater infrastructure asset will not be permitted.

Minerals

1. The Council will seek to ensure that the Borough of St Helens provides a steady and adequate supply of minerals to contribute towards local, regional, and national needs. To minimise the need for primary mineral extraction, provision of substitute, secondary or recycled sources will be encouraged in preference to land-won resources. This will include the provision of suitably designed and located temporary materials-recycling facilities on the sites of major demolition or construction projects and suitably designed and located permanent recycling plants for construction and demolition waste. 2. A Mineral Safeguarding Area has been defined around deposits of coal, clay (including brick clay and fire clay) and sandstone, considered to be of current or future economic importance. Proposals for non-mineral related development will be permitted (subject to compliance with other Plan policies) within the Mineral Safeguarding Area where it has been demonstrated that: a) the mineral resource would be extracted satisfactorily prior to the non-mineral development taking place (in accordance with paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Policy, and other relevant policies); or b) the minerals are either not present, are no longer of any economic value, or have already been fully extracted; or c) the prior extraction of minerals is not feasible, for reasons such as the depth of the deposit or because extraction would lead to or exacerbate ground instability; or d) the prior extraction of minerals would have unacceptable impacts on neighbouring uses, the amenity of local communities or on the environment; or e) the prior extraction of minerals would result in abnormal costs and / or delays that would jeopardise the viability of the development; or f) the need for the proposed development outweighs the need to safeguard the mineral resource; or g) the proposed development is compatible with the purposes of safeguarding the mineral; or h) the proposed development is of a temporary nature and can be completed and the site restored to a condition that does not inhibit future extraction of the minerals; or i) the development is included on the list of exempt developments (as set out in the reasoned justification of this policy). 3. Development for non-mineral related use(s) on or close to existing mineral workings or existing or planned mineral infrastructure will be permitted provided it would not have an unacceptable impact on the continuation of mineral workings or on the operation of the mineral infrastructure. Where the development is likely to have a significant impact on the continuation of mineral working or on the operation of the mineral's infrastructure, the applicant will be required to clearly demonstrate that either: a) the mineral working and / or mineral infrastructure is no longer required to meet the current or anticipated future needs of the minerals, construction, or waste management industries; or b) the need for the proposed development outweighs the need to continue the mineral working and / or the need to safeguard the mineral infrastructure; or c) an alternative site within an acceptable distance would be provided for the mineral working or infrastructure that is at least as appropriate for the relevant mineral working or infrastructure use(s) as the safeguarded site. 4. Proposals for the exploration, extraction, storage, processing and / or distribution of minerals will be permitted if it has been demonstrated that: a) any adverse impacts relating to any of the criteria set out in paragraph 5 of this Policy would be avoided or appropriately mitigated; b) the location of the proposed development would be suitable, taking into account all relevant environmental, geological and technical considerations; and c) provisions for the restoration and aftercare of the site have been made and will be implemented at the earliest opportunity to an agreed timescale and to a standard and manner consistent with an agreed end use and the character, setting and landscape context of the surrounding area. 5. The criteria referred to in paragraph 4(a) of this Policy include: a) amenity (e.g., dust, noise, visual intrusion, vibration or other nuisance); b) air and water quality; c) lighting; d) landscape character and setting; e) traffic, including air and rail, and access; f) risk of contamination to land; g) soil resources and the impact on best and most versatile agricultural land; h) flood risk and drainage; i) disposal of mineral waste; j) land stability, including subsidence and risk of damage to buildings, structures and land; k) ecology, including habitats, species and designated sites (particularly the internationally important nature sites); and l) heritage assets and their setting. 6. Proposals for the development of onshore oil and gas resources (including coal bed methane, coal mine methane, shale gas and oil) must clearly demonstrate that the highest levels of environmental, health and social protection and benefit consistent with prevailing national policy and regulation and industry best practice standards, including those relating to Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Regulations Assessment, will be provided.

Waste

The Council will promote the sustainable management of waste in accordance with the waste hierarchy (as defined in national planning policy). In accordance with the Merseyside and Halton Joint Waste Local Plan 2013 (or any Plan that may supersede or supplement this) it will work to: a) identify and safeguard (where appropriate) waste management sites in appropriate locations; b) assist in the implementation of a resource-recovery led strategy for sustainable waste management; c) ensure that the Borough contributes to meeting the identified sub-regional needs for waste management facilities and sites; d) encourage good design in new development in order to minimise waste, promote the use of reclaimed and recycled materials and to facilitate the storage, collection and recycling of waste; e) encourage the sustainable transport of waste and promote the use of mechanisms such as waste audits and waste management plans to minimise the generation of waste; and f) ensure that waste management facilities are developed whilst minimising any negative impacts on the environment and communities of the Borough.

Open Space and Residential Development

1. Proposals for new residential development of 40 dwellings or more will be required to make provision for new open space, or the expansion or enhancement of existing open space provision, where: a) there are existing deficiencies in the quantity, accessibility or quality of open space(s) in the area; b) the development would generate a need for open space that cannot be satisfactorily or fully met by existing provision in the area; or c) it is appropriate to provide certain typologies of open space as part of the design to provide accessible children's play areas and create a visually attractive development. 2. The standards set out in Table 8.1 will be used to guide the type, quantity and quality of open space that is required. The following matters will be considered: a) the estimated number of residents who would occupy the development (based upon the number of new residential bed spaces that would be provided); and b) the quantity, accessibility, and quality of existing provision in the area. 3. Provision for outdoor sports facilities will be achieved through contributions to enhance existing facilities or the provision of new facilities, which will be informed by the Council's latest Playing Pitch Strategy and Action Plan. 4. The required amount of open space should be provided on the development site unless it has been demonstrated that developer contributions towards the provision, expansion, or enhancement of off-site open space within the locality would be more suitable. The appropriate balance between provision of new open space and the expansion or enhancement of existing open space will be determined having regard to: a) the amount, proximity and quality of existing open space in the area; b) the type and density of the proposed housing development; c) the numbers of new dwellings to be created; and d) any other practical site-specific factors. 5. Development proposals that would include new open space must incorporate suitable arrangements for its long-term management and maintenance and ensure that it will have continued public access. 6. Any new open space created will be afforded protection in accordance with Policy LPC05.

Air Quality

1. Development proposals must demonstrate that they will not: a) impede the achievement of any objective(s) or measure(s) set out in an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) Action Plan; or b) introduce a significant new source of any air pollutant, or new development whose users or occupiers would be particularly susceptible to air pollution, within an AQMA; or c) lead to a significant deterioration in local air quality resulting in unacceptable effects on human health, local amenity, or the natural environment, that would require a new AQMA to be created; or d) having regard to established local and national standards, lead to an unacceptable decline in air quality in any area. 2. Major development schemes should demonstrably promote a shift to the use of sustainable modes of transport to minimise the impact of vehicle emissions on air quality. 3. New development that would result in increased traffic flows on the M62 past Manchester Mosses Special Area of Conservation (SAC) of more than 1000 vehicles per day or 200 Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) per day must be accompanied by evidence identifying whether the resultant impacts on air quality would cause a significant effect on ecological interests within the SAC. Where such effects are identified they would need to be considered in accordance with Policy LPC06.

Historic Environment

1. The Council will promote the conservation and enhancement of the Borough's heritage assets and their settings in a manner that is appropriate to the significance of each asset. These include designated heritage assets such as Scheduled Monuments, Registered Battlefields, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, Registered Parks and Gardens, and non-designated above ground assets and areas of archaeological interest. 2. All proposals for development that may affect a heritage asset, or its setting should be accompanied by an Assessment of Significance that should form part of a Design and Access Statement and / or a Heritage Impact Assessment and clearly set out the significance of the heritage asset including any contribution made by its setting. The proposals should demonstrate how they respond to the significance of the asset. Merseyside Historic Environment Record (HER) should be consulted as a minimum. 3. The impact of development proposals on the significance of heritage assets and their settings will be considered in accordance with case law, legislation, and the National Planning Policy Framework. 4. Development proposals that would lead to substantial harm to (or total loss of significance of) a designated heritage asset will be refused permission unless it can be demonstrated that: a) the substantial harm or total loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or total loss; or b) all the other exceptions set out in paragraph 195 of the National Planning Policy Framework (or any successor national policy that supersedes this paragraph) apply. 5. Development involving harm to or loss of any non-designated heritage asset (such as any building identified on a Local List prepared by the Council) will only be permitted where the benefits are considered sufficient to outweigh the harm, having regard to the scale of the harm and the significance of the heritage asset. 6. Where the complete or partial loss of any heritage asset is justified, the asset's significance must be recorded to a standard agreed by the Council and made publicly available. 7. Any development proposal that may affect one or more asset(s) of archaeological interest (whether designated or not) must include an appropriate desk-based assessment and where necessary a field evaluation, carried out by a suitably qualified person(s). Such evidence should identify any likely features of archaeological interest within or close to the site and how these would be affected by the proposal. 8. Development proposals affecting archaeological remains may be required (depending on the significance of the remains) to preserve the remains in situ or to secure the appropriate excavation and recording of the significance of the remains by a suitably qualified person. 9. The Council will: a) prepare, update and promote the implementation of Heritage Asset Appraisals and Management Plans and give appropriate weight to these in development control decisions; b) work with partner organisations to interpret and educate the public about the heritage of the Borough; c) take appropriate measures to improve public access to heritage assets; and d) seek to secure the effective conservation and use of all heritage assets that are 'at Risk' within the Borough.

Meeting St Helens Borough's Housing Needs

1. In the period from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2037 a minimum of 10,206 net additional dwellings should be provided in the Borough of St Helens, at an average of at least 486 dwellings per annum. 2. The housing requirement will be met from the following sources: a) Completions; b) Sites with planning permission; c) Housing allocations shown on the Policies Map and listed in Table 4.5; d) Sites without planning permission identified in the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA); and e) 'Windfall' development, including development on small sites not individually identified in the SHLAA, sub-division of dwellings and conversions / changes of use. 3. New development should optimise the amount of housing developed on a site. New development should therefore aim to achieve the following minimum densities: a) at least 40 dwellings per hectare (dph) on sites that are within or adjacent to St Helens or Earlestown Town Centres; and b) at least 30 dph on all sites outside St Helens and Earlestown town centres. Densities of less than 30 dph will only be appropriate where they are necessary to achieve a clear planning objective. 4. The delivery of new housing development will be monitored annually to ensure that: a) an adequate supply of new housing is provided at all times in accordance with the Housing Delivery Test set out in national policy; and b) there is a deliverable supply of housing that is sufficient to provide at least 5 years' worth of new housing development against the housing requirement. The 5-year land supply to be maintained shall include any buffer that is required under national policy. If annual monitoring demonstrates the deliverable housing land supply falls significantly below the required level, taking into account the requirements in relation to housing delivery set out in national policy, a partial or full plan update will be considered to bring forward additional sites.

Strategic Housing Sites

1. The following sites allocated under Policy LPA0429 shall constitute Strategic Housing Sites: • 2HA: Land at Florida Farm (South of A580), Slag Lane, Blackbrook • 4HA: Land bounded by Reginald Road / Bold Road / Travers Entry / Gorsey Lane / Crawford Street, Bold (Bold Forest Garden Suburb) • 5HA: Land South of Gartons Lane and former St.Theresa's Social Club, Gartons Lane, Bold • 6HA: Land at Cowley Street, Cowley Hill, Town Centre • 9HA: Former Linkway Distribution Park, Elton Head Road, Thatto Heath • 10HA: Moss Nook Urban Village, Watery Lane, Moss Nook 2. Any planning application for development within a Strategic Housing Site must be supported by a comprehensive masterplan covering the whole site that must set out details of at least: a) amount of development and proposed uses; b) phasing of development across the whole site; c) indicative layout and design details for the whole site that must provide for an attractive built form with high quality landscaping when viewed from within the development and elsewhere; d) measures to provide good levels of accessibility to the whole site from the surrounding area by public transport, walking and cycling; e) indicative layout promoting permeability and accessibility by public transport, cycling and walking; f) a Green Infrastructure Plan addressing biodiversity, geodiversity, greenways, (including any proposed new greenways as referred to in Policy LPC07), ecological network, landscape character, trees, woodland and water storage in a holistic and integrated way; g) measures to address any potential flood risk and surface water drainage issues in accordance with Policy LPC12; h) measures to promote energy efficiency and generation of renewable or low carbon energy in accordance with Policy LPC13; i) a comprehensive strategy for the provision of all new, expanded and / or enhanced infrastructure that is required to serve the development of the whole site; and j) details of how development of the site as a whole would comply with other relevant policies of the Local Plan. 3. Detailed development proposals within a Strategic Housing Site will be required, subject to compliance with Policy LPA07, to provide or make financial contributions towards the provision, expansion and / or enhancement of transport infrastructure (including road, public transport, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure) and / or other infrastructure to serve the needs of the development. Such provision may be either on-site or off-site and must be provided in time to meet the needs of the development. Where a specific development proposal would only cover part of a Strategic Housing Site, the provision and / or contributions must be in accordance with the comprehensive masterplan for the whole site referred to in paragraph 2 of this Policy. 4. The masterplans for each Strategic Housing Site, and any planning application for development within any other allocated housing site, must address the indicative requirements set out in appendix 5 (in the case of sites 2HA, 5HA, 6HA, 9HA and 10HA) and Policy LPA11 (in the case of site 4HA).

Safeguarded Land

1. The sites identified as Safeguarded Land on the Policies Map have been removed from the Green Belt in order to meet longer term development needs well beyond this Plan period. Such Safeguarded Land is not allocated for development in this Plan period. The future uses that the sites are safeguarded for are listed in Tables 4.13 and 4.14. 2. Planning permission for the development of the safeguarded sites for the purposes identified in Tables 4.13 and 4.14 will only be granted following a future Local Plan update (full or partial) that proposes such development based on the evidence showing a need for additional land or issues with the supply of land identified by this Local Plan. Otherwise, proposals for housing and employment development of safeguarded sites in this Plan period will be refused. 3. Other forms of development on Safeguarded Land will only be permitted where the proposal is: a) necessary for the operation of existing permitted use(s) on the land; or b) for a temporary use that would retain the open nature of the land and would not prejudice the potential future development of the land for the purposes stated for each site in Tables 4.13 and 4.14. 4. Development on any other site that would prevent or limit development of Safeguarded Land for its potential future uses identified in Tables 4.13 and 4.14 will not be permitted.

Bold Forest Garden Suburb

The Bold Forest Garden Suburb site (identified as site 4HA in Policy LPA04) is allocated for housing development, with an indicative site capacity of 2,988 dwellings, of which a minimum of 510 dwellings will be delivered during the plan period. The site boundaries are set out in the appendix 5 site 4HA profile and on the Policies Map. 1. Development of the site should deliver the following requirements: Housing a) At least 30% of homes to be delivered on site should fall within the definition of 'affordable housing' in accordance with Policy LPC02, with the affordable housing mix reflecting Policy LPC02, part 3), unless up-to-date and robust evidence indicates otherwise; b) Provide an appropriate mix and standard of housing to meet local needs in accordance with policy LPC01; c) Deliver at least 10% of the site's energy needs from renewable and / or other low carbon energy sources in accordance with Policy LPC13, part 4), unless this is shown to not be practicable or viable; Design and Layout d) The development of this site should be consistent with the vision, aims, objectives and policies of the Bold Forest Park Area Action Plan (2017); e) The layout must avoid causing excessive noise or disturbance to occupiers of existing dwellings and businesses within or around the site and for users of walking and cycling routes and open spaces; Social Infrastructure f) Contributions towards primary and secondary school provision in the area, to meet the identified need for additional school places, through the extension of existing schools and / or delivery of new school facilities; g) Provision of a new GP surgery within the development, which could be in the form of the relocation and expansion of an active practice onto the site; h) Provide a small local centre containing community and retail facilities; Play, Open Space and Green Infrastructure i) Provision of an accessible, comprehensive, high quality and connected network of multi-functional green spaces in accordance with a Green Infrastructure Plan to be provided as part of the comprehensive masterplan approach for the whole site as required by Policy LPA04.1, section 2 f); j) Retention of existing and provision of new high quality, well designed and accessible open space and play space provision in accordance with Policies LPC05 and LPD03. Details of how open spaces will be subsequently maintained will need to be considered through the masterplanning process; Landscape and Biodiversity k) The development must provide a well landscaped setting including extensive green links through and around the site, and tree planting to reduce impact on the landscape and promote the objective of the BFPAAP to increase tree cover by 30% across the Bold Forest as a whole; l) Any adverse impacts on biodiversity interests within the existing Local Wildlife Site (LWS 108 as indicated on the Policies Map) and the proposed extension to this must be either avoided or minimised. Any resultant harm must be adequately mitigated; Access and Highways m) Provision of safe access arrangements for the site; n) Creation of a permeable layout with a range of highways provided through the site with access via the B5204, Neills Road and Gorsey Lane; o) Provision of a bus service through the site between Clock Face and St Helens Junction, and the layout of the site must be compatible with this; p) Provision of a permeable network of foot, bridleway, and cycle routes through the site to facilitate access between homes, workplaces, recreational facilities, and other key services in the area. These must, where necessary, be segregated to ensure safety and include new provision in line with Policy INF6 "Creating an Accessible Forest Park" of the Bold Forest Park Area Action Plan 2017; q) Provision of any other measures necessary to secure suitable access to the site by walking, cycling and public transport such as: i. The provision of new accessible bus stops to an agreed specification through the site so that none of the proposed dwellings are more than 400 metres walking distance from a bus stop; and ii. A financial contribution towards the improvements of St Helens Junction station; r) Masterplanning of site must take into account the opportunity to expand the Greenway network, and make provision for this in line with Policy LPC07, and the accompanying Figure 7.1; and s) Masterplanning of the site must be informed by the findings of the Bold Forest Garden Suburb Transport Review (August 2019) and any other relevant evidence. 2. As above, financial contributions or the provision of on-site infrastructure for education, health and offsite highway works may be required. The detailed infrastructure requirements to support the delivery of the site will be further assessed through the comprehensive masterplanning process. 3. In accordance with Policy LPA04.1, section 2), any planning application for development within the site will need to accord with a

Housing Mix

1. New market and affordable housing should be well designed to address local housing need and include a range of types, tenures and sizes of homes as informed by up-to-date, relevant evidence including the Borough's latest Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA). 2. Where a proposal for new housing would be on a greenfield site on which the site as a whole would deliver 25 or more new homes, the Council will apply optional standards as set out in Parts M4(2) and M4(3)(2)(a) of the Building Regulations 2010 (as amended) so that: a) at least 20 % of the new dwellings across the whole site must be designed to the "accessible and adaptable" standard set out in Part M4(2); and b) at least 5% of the new dwellings across the whole site must be designed to the "wheelchair user adaptable" dwellings standard set out in Part M4(3)(2)(a). If the standards in Part M4(2) or Part M4(3)(2)(a) are amended or superseded by new standards, the Council will apply the relevant amending or superseding provisions in the same proportions as set out above. 3. Exceptions to paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Policy may be made where the applicant has submitted an independent viability assessment, prepared by a suitably qualified person, which clearly demonstrates that meeting the requirements would render the scheme un-viable. In such cases the Council will weigh any benefits of allowing the scheme in the form submitted against the extent of any failure to meet the requirements in full. 4. The Council will work with partners to facilitate the provision of bungalows, and specialist and supported housing for elderly and vulnerable people. Provision of sheltered housing, extra care housing, retirement accommodation and residential care homes should be easily accessible by walking and public transport to a suitable range of services to meet the needs of future occupiers. 5. The Council will support the delivery of suitably designed and located self-build and custom-build schemes in the Borough where they would conform with all relevant local and national policies. 6. Proposals for the change of use or sub-division of existing buildings to form flats or Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) will be granted permission provided they would: a) retain a suitable mix of housing types to meet needs in the area; b) avoid harming the character and / or appearance of the area; c) avoid harming the amenities enjoyed by occupiers of neighbouring residential properties; d) provide satisfactory levels of amenity for their future occupier(s) in terms of outlook and natural light; and e) comply with parking standards referred to in Policy LPA06 and to be set out in the future review of the Council's Ensuring a Choice of Travel Supplementary Planning Document.

Affordable Housing

1. The Council will support the delivery of affordable housing by encouraging new provision by Registered Providers of Social Housing. 2. Proposals for new open market housing developments of 10 units or more, or when the number of units is not known, sites of 0.5ha or more, will be required to contribute as follows: i) at least 30% of new dwellings provided on greenfield sites in Affordable Housing Zones 2 and 3 must fall within the definition of 'affordable housing'; or ii) at least 10% of new dwellings provided on brownfield sites in Affordable Housing Zone 3 must fall within the definition of 'affordable housing'. 3. The types of affordable housing to be provided on any site must be informed by the latest evidence concerning need. Where an affordable housing requirement is triggered in line with paragraph 2 of this Policy: a) at least 10% of the overall number of homes to be provided should be available for affordable home ownership (unless this would significantly prejudice the ability to meet the identified needs of specific groups); and b) any remaining proportion of the affordable housing to be provided should be for affordable rented accommodation. 4. The provision of affordable housing may vary on a site-by-site basis taking into account evidence of local need and where appropriate, the economic viability of the development. Any relaxation of the affordable housing requirements set out in paragraphs 2 or 3 of this Policy will only be supported if: a) it is fully justified by an independent site-specific viability appraisal; and b) the benefits of proceeding with the development outweigh the failure to provide the full affordable housing contribution. 5. Any affordable housing provision must be within the application site unless the applicant has demonstrated either that: a) insufficient local need exists to justify on-site provision; or b) there would be overriding benefits by making alternative provision 'off site' in which case a commuted sum in lieu of on-site provision will be required. The level of any such commuted sum should be in accordance with guidance set out in the Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document. 6. Where affordable housing is to be provided on site, adequate provisions must be made, for example through conditions and / or a Section 106 agreement, to ensure that such housing is made available in perpetuity for occupation by persons who are in affordable housing need, or for any subsidy to be recycled to support affordable housing provision elsewhere.

Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

1. The following sites are allocated for the provision of pitches to help meet the Borough's identified need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation of 18 pitches over the Plan period, and are identified on the Policies Map: Site Ref: GTA01, Site Location: Land north of Sherdley Road and west of Sutton Heath Road, Sherdley Road, Thatto Heath, Size (hectares): 0.39, Type of Site: Permanent, Indicative Number of Pitches: 8 Site Ref: GTA02, Site Location: Land adjacent to land east of Sherdley Road Caravan Park, Sherdley Road, Thatto Heath, Size (hectares): 0.09, Type of Site: Transit (Limited length of stay), Indicative Number of Pitches: 3 2. Site GTA01 is suitable for the provision of permanent Gypsy and Traveller pitches including amenity buildings. Site GTA02 is suitable for the provision of transit (limited length of stay) accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers. Development, either within these sites or on adjacent land, will not be permitted if it would not be compatible with the intended use of site GTA01 or GTA02 for Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation. 3. The loss of an existing site or pitch that is or was last used to provide accommodation for Gypsies or Travellers, or for Travelling Showpeople, to another land use will not be permitted unless: a) The level of provision of the type of facility that would be lost would, following implementation of the proposal, significantly exceed the Council's latest assessment of need (across the Borough as a whole) and remain so for the remainder of the Plan period, and the site has been marketed for its existing or most recent use for a substantial period of time and in a manner agreed with the Local Planning Authority; or b) The proposed loss of the existing site, pitch or plot is necessary to provide essential improvements to the accommodation for gypsies, travellers or for travelling show-people within the site; or c) The site is unsuitable for its existing use and alternative accommodation, of a scale, quality, and suitability to meet needs at least equivalent to those that would be lost, would be provided. 4. Proposals for new, re-configured or expanded sites for Gypsies and Travellers or Travelling Showpeople will only be permitted where they would: a) have a suitable and safe site layout and design, including adequate internal circulation, parking and amenity spaces, marked pitches and amenity buildings/facilities, all of which should accord with any relevant national government guidance and be informed where possible by the outcome of consultation with local users; b) provide for suitable physical environmental conditions within the site for example in relation to ground conditions and flood risk; c) provide adequate levels of amenity and privacy for occupiers of each plot/pitch; d) avoid causing harm to the living conditions of occupiers of neighbouring properties; e) respect the character of the local built and / or natural environment; f) provide for access by road that would be suitable for all types of vehicles and caravans likely to access the site; and g) be served by safe and convenient access by walking or public transport to a local, district or town centre, education and health facilities, and employment opportunities in the surrounding area. 5. In addition to meeting the criteria in paragraph 4 of this Policy, any proposals to provide accommodation for Travelling Showpeople must: a) be located and designed so as to avoid causing disturbance to occupiers of adjacent properties for example due to noise from the maintenance and / or testing of equipment; b) avoid prejudicing the operations of any existing employment uses; and c) allow for the provision of suitable space and storage for rides and associated equipment, where applicable. Conditions and / or Section 106 obligations may be used to limit the hours within which equipment can be tested.

Design and Layout of New Housing

New residential developments will be required to: 1. be of a high quality design and use good architecture that respects and/or enhances the character of the surrounding area in terms of appearance, materials used, scale, mass, and pattern of structures, spaces and streets; 2. enhance local distinctiveness by reflecting good aspects of the character and environment of the local area, maintaining a strong sense of place, improving any poorer aspects and adding new features that benefit the local environment over the full lifetime of the development; 3. provide appropriate landscaping, including tree-lined streets, using native tree and shrub species and where appropriate other boundary treatments, thereby providing a strong Green Infrastructure in line with Policy LPA08; 4. provide a safe, secure, attractive, permeable, legible and useable environment for all users, that reinforces existing connections and creates new ones where necessary, including for pedestrians, cyclists, less mobile people and the elderly; 5. promote safe living environments that encourage natural surveillance and reduce the levels and fear of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour; 6. ensure heritage assets are treated in accordance with Policy LPC11 to support the Council's ambition to promote the conservation and enhancement of the Borough's heritage assets and their settings in a manner appropriate to their significance; 7. consider the Borough's environmental assets (including, but not limited to, biodiversity and associated habitats, landscapes, trees, woodland and hedgerows) in accordance with policies LPC06, LPC08, LPC09 and LPC10, and where practicable incorporate positive aspects of these features into its design and layout; 8. provide a satisfactory level of privacy, outlook and natural lighting for its future residents and for occupiers of neighbouring properties; 9. incorporate waste storage and recycling facilities, public transport infrastructure and car parking for residents and visitors (in line with Policy LPA06), all designed and integrated in a way that will preserve or enhance the street scene and safeguard amenity; and 10. be laid out and designed to ensure that the development is inclusive and accessible to all intended and future users, consistent with Policy LPC01.

Developer Contributions and Infrastructure

1. Developers should contribute towards the provision or improvement of infrastructure and services where their development would create or exacerbate a need for additional infrastructure or services. Where such need is identified, contributions may be secured through: a) Planning obligations (or other legally binding agreements); and / or b) A tariff based system such as the Community Infrastructure Levy. 2. Where the suitability of development depends upon the provision of additional or improved infrastructure or service capacity, that development should be phased to coincide with the provision of such infrastructure or capacity. 3. In applying this Policy, regard will be had to relevant evidence including the latest version of the St Helens Infrastructure Delivery Plan. 4. When assessing planning proposals, the Council and other decision makers will pay due regard to any impact that developer contributions towards infrastructure provision or other policy requirements may have on the economic viability of new development. In this context, consideration will be given to economic viability evidence including any site specific development appraisal that may have been submitted to determine the ability of the development scheme to support the required level of contributions. In light of the viability evidence, where a developer can demonstrate that meeting all policy requirements would not be viable, a pragmatic approach will be taken to s106 contributions on sites within zone 1. 5. Decision makers will, as a general rule, apply the following hierarchy for developer contributions in cases where viability constraints can be demonstrated (with i) being the highest priority): i) contributions that are essential for public safety (for example essential highway works or flood risk mitigation) or to achieve a minimum acceptable level of design quality; ii) contributions that are necessary to provide affordable housing or to address a local infrastructure requirement or deficiency that would be caused or exacerbated by the development, depending on site surroundings and the level of existing infrastructure, for example education needs or green space provision in areas of deficit; and iii) contributions that would not fall into categories i) or ii) as set out above. 6. Decisions on planning applications may deviate from the above hierarchy where a specific need to do so has been identified. The Council will provide further guidance in a future Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document and in the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (including any future updates to this).

Digital Communications

All new housing and employment development should make provision for the latest generation of information and digital communication (ICT) networks to a standard that is compatible with the infrastructure available or is likely to become available in the Plan period, in the area in which the development would be sited. Proposals for the development of new digital communications infrastructure will be assessed against the following criteria: 1. In the case of proposals for infrastructure to be sited on a new mast, it must be demonstrated that there is no realistic option of siting the infrastructure more suitably (in a manner that is less visually intrusive) on an existing mast, building or other structure; 2. There should be no suitable alternative site(s) available that could more satisfactorily meet the identified need for the proposed development; 3. Building-mounted dishes and apparatus must normally be placed in the least obtrusive position possible, and designed and sited to reduce visual clutter, taking account of the architectural detailing, materials and colour of the host building and its neighbours; 4. Development must not have an unacceptable impact, including cumulative impact, on residential amenity, landscape or townscape character, or wildlife; 5. Any development that could affect the character or setting of a heritage asset must satisfy the requirements of Policy LPC11; 6. Existing landscape features must be utilised and / or an appropriate landscaping scheme be implemented to minimise any impact on the visual amenity, character or appearance of the surrounding area; 7. Apparatus, mountings, and ancillary structures should be coloured in a durable finish to minimise any visual harm that would arise from the proposal; and 8. Underground facilities and ducts should be sited and laid to minimise harm to tree roots or areas of archaeological importance. The Council will continue to work with its Liverpool City Region partners to improve digital infrastructure within the Borough.

Spatial Strategy

1. The sustainable regeneration and growth of St Helens Borough through to 2037 and beyond will be focussed (as far as practicable, having regard to the availability of suitable sites) on the Key Settlements, namely St Helens Core Area, Blackbrook and Haydock, Newton-le-Willows and Earlestown, Rainford, Billinge, Garswood and Rainhill. 2. New development will be directed to sustainable locations that are appropriate to its scale and nature and that will enable movements between homes, jobs and key services and facilities to be made by sustainable non-car modes of transport. 3. The re-use of suitable previously developed land in Key Settlements will remain a key priority. A substantial proportion of new housing throughout the Plan period will be on such sites. This will be encouraged through the use of Policies LPA07 and LPC02 to support the delivery of sites, particularly those on Previously Developed Land, by, for example, setting lower thresholds for developer contributions on previously developed sites to reflect the higher costs and lower sales values typically associated with redeveloping such sites where appropriate. 4. Comprehensive regeneration of the wider Borough will be delivered by the English Cities Fund Regeneration Partnership, through the provision of quality housing, new commercial activity, upgraded infrastructure and the overall improvement of the social and economic viability of the Borough on a phased basis. 5. This Plan releases land from the Green Belt to enable the needs for housing and employment development to be met in full over the Plan period up to 31 March 2037, in the most sustainable locations. Other land is removed from the Green Belt and safeguarded to allow for longer term housing and / or employment needs to be met after 31 March 2037. Such Safeguarded Land is not allocated for development in the Plan period and planning permission for permanent development should only be granted following an update of this Plan. Within the remaining areas of Green Belt (shown on the Policies Map) new development shall be regarded as inappropriate unless it falls within one of the exceptions set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (or any successor document). Inappropriate development in the Green Belt shall not be approved except in very special circumstances. Delivery of compensatory improvement measures within areas remaining in the Green Belt will be required following any release of Green Belt land for development purposes. Details of such improvements will be considered during the Development Management process and assessed on an individual application basis. 6. Substantial new employment development (set out in Policy LPA03 and excluding town centre uses) will take place on large sites that are capable of accommodating large employment buildings (over 9,000m2) and are close to the M6 and M62. High quality road, public transport and active travel links will be required between existing and proposed residential areas, particularly those with high deprivation levels, and areas of employment growth. Existing employment areas will be retained where they are suitable and viable for this use in order to maintain a diverse portfolio of accessible employment opportunities across the Borough. Suitable development that would diversify the rural economy will also be supported. 7. Parkside West and Parkside East form transformational employment opportunity sites that will make a major contribution to the economic development of St Helens Borough, the Liverpool City Region and beyond. Development that prejudices their development in accordance with Policies LPA03, LPA09 and LPA10 will not be allowed. 8. The preferred locations for new town centre development shall be within St Helens Town Centre (as the Borough's principal town centre), Earlestown Town Centre, and the Borough's network of district and local centres, in line with Policies LPB01, LPB02 and LPC04. 9. The quality of life, health and wellbeing of St Helens Borough's residents, workers and visitors and the quality of the natural environment will be supported by: a) taking steps to maintain, enhance, connect and / or expand the Borough's network of ecological, open space and recreational sites and greenways in accordance with Policy LPA08; b) seeking improvements to the quality of open space within and around new development; c) requiring new development proposals to mitigate their contribution to climate change and to adapt to its impacts; d) supporting the delivery of landscape reclamation and improvement projects in locations such as the Bold Forest Park and Sankey Valley Park; and e) requiring development to support healthy lifestyles in accordance with Policy LPA12. 10. The provision of a convenient, safe, and sustainable transport network, and the delivery of improvements to the network, will be required in line with Policy LPA06. 11. New development that would deliver regeneration within the key settlements and accord with other Plan policies will be supported. Regeneration in these settlements will also be promoted by (in addition to the measures set out above) focussing available resources on its effective delivery and preventing development that would adversely impact upon or jeopardise the delivery of regeneration proposals.

St Helens Town Centre and Central Spatial Area

1. The Council will promote the Central Spatial Area as an accessible and welcoming destination for new development that accords with paragraphs 2 to 9 of this Policy and that would help create a high quality built environment. Development that would support the delivery and implementation of the Council-led strategy for the future regeneration and development of St Helens Town Centre will be supported. 2. The English Cities Fund Regeneration Partnership will help deliver a comprehensive redevelopment of the Town Centre and Central Spatial Area, including new commercial activity, upgraded infrastructure, the provision of quality housing, and the overall improvement of the social and economic viability of the area. 3. Proposals for retail and leisure development will be directed to suitable locations within the Town Centre and then other sequentially preferable sites in line with Policy LPC04 and national policy. A town centre 'area of opportunity' for future retail, leisure and cultural development is shown indicatively on the Policies Map. Development that would result in significant harm to the Town Centre's vitality and viability or prejudice planned investment within it will be resisted. 4. Proposals for change of use of units in the Primary Shopping Area in St Helens Town Centre will be refused unless they would be to a main town centre use or uses that would contribute positively to the overall vitality and viability of the centre. 5. New development proposals will be required, where appropriate having regard to their location, nature, and scale, to facilitate linked trips between the Primary Shopping Area and other existing and proposed developments within the St Helens Central Spatial Area, including Asda on Kirkland Street; The Range on Chalon Way; St Helens and Ravenhead Retail Parks; Linkway West; Tesco Extra on Linkway; and St Helens RLFC Stadium. 6. Regular health checks will be undertaken to monitor the vitality and viability of St Helens Town Centre. 7. Proposals for housing or a mix of housing and other suitable use(s) within or on the edge of the Town Centre will be supported where they would avoid prejudicing the retail and service role of the Town Centre. 8. New development in the vicinity of St Helens Canal will be required to, as appropriate, improve the public realm by retaining and enhancing the existing waterway, positively integrating with the canal, and securing improvements to Green Infrastructure in line with Policy LPA08. 9. Pedestrian and vehicular accessibility within and around the Town Centre will be managed in line with the road-user hierarchy set out in the Liverpool City Region: Transport Plan for Growth in order to: a) maintain pedestrian priority within the Town Centre and extend pedestrian links to adjacent areas; b) make suitable provision for cyclists; c) support the Town Centre as the hub of the public transport network in St Helens Borough; and d) make appropriate provision for cars and service vehicles.

Earlestown Town Centre

1. The Council will seek to safeguard and enhance the function and role of Earlestown Town Centre as the second town centre within the Borough. 2. Main town centre uses will be directed to suitable locations within the defined Town Centre first and then other sites in accordance with the sequential approach set out in Policy LPC04 and national policy.

Food and Drink Uses

1. Planning permission for new restaurant and café uses or where the existing use class E cannot be demonstrated will only be granted if: a) the proposal would not result in a concentration of food and drink uses that would: i) result in the loss of retail shops to such an extent that it would be detrimental to the vitality and viability of any town, district, local centre, or shopping parade; and c) any external ventilation or extractor system and / or waste storage connected with the proposed use would not: i) significantly harm the external appearance of the building or the street scene, or ii) harm the residential amenity of any neighbouring property through noise or odours. 2. In considering the criteria set out in paragraphs 1 of this Policy the Council will also take into account any cumulative impacts that the proposal may have in combination with any other existing or permitted food and drink uses nearby. 3. Planning permission for a hot food takeaway will only be granted if it would be located: a) within the defined Town Centre of St Helens or Earlestown; or b) if located outside the Town Centre of St Helens or Earlestown, be outside a 400m exclusion zone measured from the boundary of any primary or secondary school or sixth form college. 4. For the purposes of paragraph 3 of this Policy, the 400m exclusion zones are defined in the St Helens Hot Food Takeaway Supplementary Planning Document 2011 and / or any future Supplementary Planning Document that may supersede this. Where an exclusion zone has a boundary that cuts wholly or partly through the building that is subject to the application or its curtilage, the whole building and its curtilage shall be considered to be within the exclusion zone.

Earlestown Town Centre

1. The Council will seek to safeguard and enhance the function and role of Earlestown Town Centre as the second town centre within the Borough. 2. Main town centre uses will be directed to suitable locations within the defined Town Centre first and then other sites in accordance with the sequential approach set out in Policy LPC04 and national policy. The preferred location for new retail development shall be within the defined Primary Shopping Area. 3. Development that would result in a significant adverse impact on the Town Centre's vitality and viability or planned investment within it will be resisted in accordance with Policy LPC04 and national policy. 4. The delivery and implementation of a Council-led strategy to provide a framework for the future regeneration and development of the town centre will be supported. The English Cities Fund Regeneration Partnership will help deliver a mix of residential, leisure, business and retail development all centred around the Town Centre.

Town and Local Centres

1. The Council will support the vitality and viability of its defined network and hierarchy of centres, which comprise: a) St Helens - Principal Town Centre b) Earlestown - Town Centre c) Rainhill and Thatto Heath - District Centres d) Prescot, Rainford, Billinge, Gerards Bridge, Bold Heath, Haydock, Rainhill Village, Parr Stocks, Newton-le-Willows and Town Green - Local Centres Sustainable retail and other main town centre uses will be directed to these centres and supported where they would contribute to the vitality and viability of such centres and where they would not undermine the role and function of other centres. The Council will permit development that is appropriate in terms of its scale and nature relative to the role and function of each centre. 2. Proposals for main town centre uses will be subject to a sequential approach to development in line with national policy. This will require development for such uses to be located as a first preference in suitable locations within town, district, or local centres and then (as a second preference) in edge-of-centre locations. Only if suitable sites in such locations are not available should out-of-centre sites be considered. The Primary Shopping Area (PSA) shall be the preferred location for proposed retail development in St Helens and Earlestown, with edge-of-centre in the context of such proposals being defined as locations that are well connected to and up to 300m from the PSA. 3. When considering proposals in out-of-centre locations, preference will be given to accessible sites that are well connected to a defined centre as listed in paragraph 1 of this Policy. 4. The sequential approach will not apply to applications for small scale rural offices or other small scale rural development. 5. All proposals for retail development that would not be located within a defined centre must be accompanied by an assessment of their likely impact on existing centre(s) if they would be above the floorspace threshold for the area in which they would be located as set out below: Location of proposal | Floorspace threshold (gross) Within 800m of the boundary of Earlestown Primary Shopping Area or of a District Centre | 300m2 Within 800m of the boundary of a Local Centre | 200m2 All other cases | 500m2 6. All proposals for leisure uses that would fall outside of a defined centre must be accompanied by an assessment of their likely impact on existing centre(s) if they would be above the size threshold for the area in which they would be located as set out below: Location of proposal | Floorspace threshold (gross) Within 800m of the boundary of Earlestown Town Centre or of a District Centre | 300m2 Within 800m of the boundary of a Local Centre | 200m2 All other cases | 500m2 7. Where more than one impact threshold applies, the lower impact threshold will take precedence. 8. Impact assessment thresholds will apply to applications for new floorspace, changes of use and variations of condition to remove or amend restrictions on how units may operate.

Food and Drink

1. Proposals for food and drink uses (including restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments and the sale of hot food for consumption off the premises) which consist of new built development or those that are not classed as permitted development for Change of Use under use Class E or are Sui Generis will only be permitted where all of the following criteria are met: a) they would not cause significant harm to local amenity, public health, highway safety or community safety; b) they would not cause significant harm to the character of the area or the vitality and viability of any town, district, local centre, or shopping parade; and c) any external ventilation or extractor system and / or waste storage connected with the proposed use would not: i) significantly harm the external appearance of the building or the street scene, or ii) harm the residential amenity of any neighbouring property through noise or odours. 2. In considering the criteria set out in paragraphs 1 of this Policy the Council will also take into account any cumulative impacts that the proposal may have in combination with any other existing or permitted food and drink uses nearby. 3. Planning permission for a hot food takeaway will only be granted if it would be located: a) within the defined Town Centre of St Helens or Earlestown; or b) if located outside the Town Centre of St Helens or Earlestown, be outside a 400m exclusion zone measured from the boundary of any primary or secondary school or sixth form college. 4. For the purposes of paragraph 3 of this Policy, the 400m exclusion zones are defined in the St Helens Hot Food Takeaway Supplementary Planning Document 2011 and / or any future Supplementary Planning Document that may supersede this. Where an exclusion zone has a boundary that cuts wholly or partly through the building that is subject to the application or its curtilage, the whole building and its curtilage shall be considered to be within the exclusion zone.

Transport and Travel Accessibility

1. The Council will work to improve transport accessibility, enable good levels of accessibility between homes, jobs and services, improve air quality and minimise carbon emissions. To achieve these priorities, it will seek to: a) Secure the delivery of new or improved road, rail, walking, cycling, and / or bus infrastructure where required; b) Ensure that new development is sufficiently accessible by road transport, walking, cycling and public transport; c) Secure improvements to existing motorway capacity and infrastructure with particular priority being given to the M6 Junction 23 and M62 Junction 7; d) Improve the accessibility to jobs, homes and services by all modes of transport and protect opportunities to achieve such improvements; e) Secure the delivery of: i) a new rail station at Carr Mill; ii) any necessary improvements to local stations and rail lines; iii) the proposed Skelmersdale Rail Link; and iv) any infrastructure required to deliver HS2 or HS3 (Northern Powerhouse Rail); … and f) Protect former railway lines and corridors from development that could hinder their future re-use for sustainable modes of transport. 2. All proposals for new development that would generate significant amounts of transport movement must be supported by a Transport Assessment or Transport Statement, the scope of which must be agreed by the Council. 3. New development will only be permitted if it would: a) maintain the safe and efficient flow of traffic on the surrounding highway network. Development proposals will not be permitted where vehicle movements would cause severe harm to the highway network; b) be located and designed to enable a suitable level of access (having regard to the scale and nature of the proposal) to existing and / or proposed public transport services; c) provide appropriate provision of charging points for electric vehicles; d) enable good levels of accessibility by walking and cycling between homes, jobs and services; e) provide for safe and convenient pedestrian, cycle and vehicular access and movement to, from and within the development; f) include adequate access arrangements for emergency, service and refuse collection vehicles; and g) provide sufficient on-site parking for persons of limited mobility, service vehicles, and cycles that must at least meet the Council's minimum standards, and adequate parking for all other vehicles. 4. To minimise air and noise pollution and carbon emissions, non-residential forms of development that would generate a significant amount of transport movement by employees or visitors must be supported by suitably formulated Travel Plans. Conditions and/or legal agreements will be used to ensure that Travel Plans submitted in such cases are fully implemented and monitored. 5. Development that would generate significant movement of freight must be located where there is a safe, convenient, and environmentally acceptable access route to a suitable part of the Key Route Network. The part of the Network that is marked as 'Key Route Network – non freight' on the Policies Map shall not be regarded as suitable in this context. Access into a new development (of any land use) directly from the Key Route Network will only be allowed if this would not unduly restrict the capacity of the road or cause harm to highway safety, and where no more suitable alternative exists or would be provided by the development. 6. Direct access from new development on to the Strategic Road Network will only be permitted as a last resort, where agreed by National Highways and where the necessary levels of transport accessibility and safety could not be more suitably provided by other means. 7. Where rail facilities are available or would be made so as part of a development generating significant movement of freight, this will be regarded as a benefit. 8. Development proposals must not prevent or jeopardise the implementation of planned transport schemes unless it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Council that: a) the transport scheme is no longer required; b) there is a feasible and viable alternative to it; or c) the benefits of the proposed development would outweigh those of the planned transport scheme. Planned transport schemes include but are not limited to proposals for new or upgraded footpath, cycle path, bridleway, road, rail, bus and / or other public transport facilities that would be on the same site as, adjacent to or be otherwise affected by the development. 9. Further details of the operation of this Policy, for example those related to the Council's vehicle and cycle parking standards, standards for vehicle charging point provision, and to the requirements concerning transport assessments, transport statements and travel plans will be set out in a future review of the Council's Ensuring a Choice of Travel Supplementary Planning Document.