Planning in Stoke-on-Trent

Open Space/Sport/Recreation

The plan area's open space, sports and leisure assets will be enhanced, maintained and protected through the following measures - 1. Close partnership working to deliver the key elements of the Urban North Staffordshire Green Space Strategy 2. Close partnership working to deliver improved quality and accessibility, and additional sports and leisure facilities will be developed to meet local needs identified in Newcastle's Leisure Needs and Playing Pitch Strategy and Stoke's Sport and Physical Activity Strategy and any approved revisions or replacement strategies 3. Ensuring that all new residential development will be linked to existing and new open spaces and sport and recreation facilities through a series of well defined safe routes/streets, incorporating pedestrian friendly routes and cycle ways 4. Ensuring that the plan area's network of open spaces, sports and leisure assets are interlinked and accessible to all, secure, and provide quality leisure and amenity facilities 5. Developer contributions will be sought to provide a key funding source to meet the needs of new residents and for the delivery of Newcastle's Leisure Needs and Playing Pitch Strategy, Stoke's Sport and Physical Activity Strategy and the Urban North Staffordshire Green Space Strategy and any approved revisions or replacement strategies

Design Quality

New development should be well designed to respec

Design Quality

New development should be well designed to respect the character, identity and context of Newcastle and Stoke-on-Trent's unique townscape and landscape and in particular, the built heritage, its historic environment, its rural setting and the settlement pattern created by the hierarchy of centres. New development should also: 1. Promote the image and distinctive identity of Newcastle and Stoke-on-Trent through the enhancement of strategic and local gateway locations and key transport corridors. 2. Be based on an understanding and respect for Newcastle's and Stoke-on-Trent's built, natural and social heritage. 3. Protect important and longer distance views of historic landmarks and rural vistas. 4. Contribute positively to an areas identity and heritage (both natural and built) in terms of scale, density, layout, use of appropriate vernacular materials for buildings and surfaces and access. 5. Be easy to get to and to move through and around, providing recognisable routes and interchanges and landmarks that are well connected to public transport, community facilities, the services of individual communities and neighbourhoods across the whole plan area. 6. Have public and private spaces that are safe, attractive, easily distinguished, accessible, complement the built form and foster civic pride. 7. Ensure a balanced mix of uses that work together and encourage sustainable living in the use of water, energy and re-use of materials and minimises the impact on climatic change. 8. Provide active ground floor frontages where located in the City Centre, Newcastle Town centre, local or district centres. 10. Be accessible to all users. 11. Be safe, uncluttered, varied, and attractive. 12. Contribute positively to healthy lifestyles. 13. Support and foster innovative management and service delivery.

Spatial Principles of Economic Development

1. Diversification and modernisation of the centres for new business investment, particularly in terms of retailing, education, leisure, entertainment, culture, office development and residential development that is appropriate in scale and nature to the respective centre. 2. Development of the City Centre of Stoke-on-Trent as the main focus for mixed use regeneration incorporating new office led schemes and Newcastle Town Centre as a focus for office development incorporated into mixed use schemes. 3. Harnessing the creative and knowledge assets of North Staffordshire to develop high value business growth, in particular investment in Keele University and Keele Science Park, The University Quarter including Staffordshire University and University Hospital, and in the new growth sectors of medical and healthcare technologies and creative industries. 4. Improvement in the levels of productivity, modernisation and competitiveness of existing economic activities, whilst attracting new functions to the conurbation, especially in terms of service-based industries. 5. Promoting North Staffordshire's unique heritage and its cultural distinctiveness to strengthen its viability as a tourist destination; to underpin its image as a vibrant, dynamic and innovative sub-region and to promote the economic potential of re-use of buildings, particularly those of heritage value. 6. Capitalising on North Staffordshire's potentially strong geographical position, its people and its productive asset base. 7. Strategically planned land use on major brownfield sites for high value business growth to complement smaller scale, localised employment development elsewhere in the plan area.

Sustainability and Climate Change

Development which positively addresses the impacts of climate change and delivers a sustainable approach will be encouraged. The highest standards of energy and natural resource efficiency will be achieved by: - 1. Requiring that all new development, as a minimum, complies with on-site or near-site renewable or low carbon energy targets set out in current or future national guidance and the Regional Spatial Strategy and takes positive measures to reduce carbon emissions to the levels set out in the Regional Spatial Strategy. 2. Ensuring the use of construction methods which minimise the use of non-renewable resources and which maximise the use of recycled and locally sourced materials. 3. Requiring all new developments to incorporate the use of Sustainable Urban Drainage Schemes (SUDS). 4. Developing habitat systems which are resilient to climate change in accordance with latest best practice. 5. Supporting local initiatives to address climate change such as the North Staffordshire Warm Zone and other initiatives that may emerge. 6. Requiring best practice standards where supported by future local or regional evidence. 7. All new development shall be located in locations at lowest possible flood risk as identified in the SFRA and all suitable flood mitigation measures shall be investigated and where possible incorporated into the development. Opportunities will be sought to open up culverted watercourses to alleviate flood risk, create and improve habitats and develop green corridors. Where these requirements are impractical and/or unviable, the onus will be on the developer to demonstrate that this is the case.

Natural Assets

The quality and quantity of the plan area's natural assets will be protected, maintained and enhanced through the following measures – 1. Working with relevant partners to enhance the plan area's natural habitats and biodiversity to achieve the outcomes and targets set out UK Biodiversity Action Plan, the Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan and the Staffordshire Geodiversity Action Plan; 2. Working with relevant partners to achieve significant improvements to the condition of the plan area's internationally designated Ramsar sites, nationally designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), locally designated Sites of Biological Importance (SBI) and Local Wildlife Sites, Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) and Local Nature Reserves; 3. Ensuring that the location, scale and nature of all development planned and delivered through this Core Spatial Strategy avoids and mitigates adverse impacts, and wherever possible enhances, the plan area's distinctive natural assets, landscape character, waterways, network of urban green corridors and priority species and habitats identified in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and the Staffordshire Biodiversity Action Plan; 4. Ensuring that the value of previously developed land as a source of biodiversity is recognised and appropriate measures are taken to reduce the negative impact of development upon this resource and wherever possible to achieve an enhancement. 5. Development that is likely to contribute additional nutrients to Black Firs and Cranberry Bog will not be permitted.

Historic Environment

Both Councils will seek to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of the historic heritage of the City and the Borough including buildings, monuments, sites and areas of special archaeological, architectural or historic interest.

Stoke-on-Trent Inner Urban Core Area Spatial Policy

1. For the plan period 2006-2026, delivery of a minimum of 5,800 dwellings (net) where they will best support renewal of the local housing market, communities and town centres. 2. The creation of more sustainable communities based on a programme of progressive urban renewal providing improvements to the urban fabric and building stock and taking advantage of the area's proximity to services, greenspace, watercourses and topography. 3. Appraisal of detailed proposals to determine their impacts and appropriate contributions to infrastructure provision. 4. Investment in health and education, possibly including higher level school facilities. 5. Further investment in sports, leisure facilities and greenspace where shortfalls are identified. 6. Bus priority measures along radial routes. 7. Cycleway improvements. 8. The Hanley-Bentilee link road remains under review. 9. Bus Priority measures will be further developed including the following routes • Longton – Fenton – City Centre; • Fenton – Stoke – Newcastle; • Stoke - Stoke Station – City Centre; • City Centre - Bucknall – Bentilee; • City Centre – Burslem – Tunstall; • City Centre – Smallthorne – Sneyd Green; and • City Centre – Etruria Valley – Burslem. 10. It is proposed to develop the following transport infrastructure proposals: • Etruria Valley Park and Ride Facility; • Cycleway improvements; • Canal enhancements; • Etruria Valley to City Centre and Burslem Link; • Stoke Town Centre highway improvements including the Inner Relief Road; • Burslem Town Centre highway improvements. 11. Burslem providing opportunities for a wide range of housing, bringing vacant land and buildings into new uses. Accessibility and connections to surrounding communities will be improved and highway improvements carried out in the town centre. The town's image will be enhanced by high standards of conservation, improvements to the public realm and design and innovation in the ceramics industry will be supported. Sustainable mixed use schemes will provide for some 2,000m2 of additional retail development. 12. Middleport having a range of housing types, including significant amounts of family housing. Access and circulation will be improved for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians, including provision for public transport services and linkages. 13. Etruria Valley being a major mixed use area for employment in the south and housing in the north. Improved sustainable transport facilities will be used as a catalyst for a major inward investment offer. A new link from the A500 to the City Centre and Burslem plus park and ride facilities will be a critical element. 14. City Centre North West becoming a gateway to the City Centre with high quality and well connected residential neighbourhoods, employment, community infrastructure and open spaces. 15. City Centre East (Northwood) having improved connections, particularly for pedestrians, to the City Centre and Northwood Park. There may be opportunities for selective infill or small scale development. 16. City Centre South providing attractive waterside developments at City Waterside and Etruria. Linkages to key hubs such as the City Centre, city approaches, railway station and university quarter will be strengthened. Opening up the Caldon Canal offers a key opportunity to provide a sustainable and well connected neighbourhood led by a range of good quality market housing with strong pedestrian linkages to the City Centre. 17. South Shelton (University Quarter) providing integrated education-led development with both local and sub regional impact. Enhancement of the University Boulevard (College Road) to provide a quality strategic link between the railway station, University Quarter and City Centre. The quality of existing housing environment will be raised and new housing will respond to the potential attraction of the area to younger residents, higher income households and the needs of local black and minority ethnic communities. 18. Stoke being a focus for regeneration led by employment and services with housing in a supporting role. At least 4,000m2 net retail floorspace will be brought forward. There is an opportunity to create high quality mixed use including a commercial residential boulevard linking a regenerated town centre to its surroundings.

Stoke-on-Trent Outer Urban Area Spatial Policy

1. For the period 2006-2026, a minimum of 5,100 dwellings (net) will be built in the Outer Urban Area subject to the outcome of the Regional Spatial Strategy Revision as referred to in paragraph 2.11. Such development will be located where this best supports the renewal of the local housing market, communities and town centres, and will seek to address the imbalances caused by a predominance of social housing, and generally improve the quality of the housing stock. 2. The Outer Urban Area must be allowed to grow in a manner which meets local needs but which does not prejudice the sustainable regeneration of the Inner Urban Core. During the plan period, development within the Outer Urban Area should complement the growth planned for the Inner Urban Core. This will be achieved as follows. • Longton is the third largest retail centre in North Staffordshire and principally serves the southern part of the City. There is scope for additional retail development in the region of 11,000m² within the existing town centre to 2021. • Tunstall serves a local catchment in the northern part of the City and has the potential to accommodate a further 8000m² of retail floorspace within the town centre by 2021 in a manner which can support the core of the centre. Work is progressing to complete the Tunstall Northern Bypass and provision is made for the south western access road to release substantial areas of development land to the south west of the centre. • Fenton – has limited existing retail provision and has scope for an additional 500m² of retail development, to serve a local catchment only. Fenton also serves as a sport and leisure focus for the City. • Meir – provides the eastern gateway to the City and serves a localised catchment. There is potential to accommodate a modest additional 500m2 of retail floorspace. 3. Housing development in the outer parts of the City will play a part in meeting local needs and delivering the national housing growth agenda having regard to local circumstances. Specific housing development will be focused in the following regeneration priority areas: • The Meir 'Area of Major Intervention' (AMI) - The overarching objective for Meir is to establish the area as a strong sustainable neighbourhood that retains the existing community and attracts new residents to help establish a critical mass of population that can help to support the regeneration of the housing stock and sustain an improved range of local shops and services. • 'General Renewal Areas' (GRA's) at: Birches Head, Dresden, Normacot, Smallthorne and Tunstall; There is no identified need for large scale redevelopment in Birches Head. It is intended the focus should be on strengthening routes, creating gateways: enhancing key routes through the neighbourhood, and improving the quality of key gateway locations. The future investment in other General Renewal Areas is under review. • 'Suburban Estates' at: Abbey Hulton, Bentilee, Blurton, Coalville, Fegg Hayes and Norton. The aspiration for the suburban estates is to provide high quality affordable family housing that should not compete with the Inner Urban Core. 4. Of the total allocation for the sub area about 300 dwellings and 900 dwellings respectively are reserved for the transformation of the Meir AMI and other areas of housing intervention including general renewal areas and suburban estates. 5. Diversification of the economy will be achieved through focused major employment development, including Chatterley Whitfield Su

Newcastle and Kidsgrove Urban Neighbourhoods Area Spatial Policy

1. For the period 2006 – 2026, a minimum of 4,800 net additional dwellings will be provided within the urban area subject to the outcome of the Regional Spatial Strategy Revision as referred to in paragraph 2.11, of which approximately 25% will be affordable. These figures are purely indicative and will be adjusted further through subsequent Development Plan Documents. The figure for 'Newcastle Urban Central' comprises the communities within the Renew Pathfinder boundary. As such it includes development in the Town Centre, which is addressed separately in the Newcastle Town Centre Area Spatial Strategy. Kidsgrove - 600 Newcastle Urban Central (including Silverdale, Thistleberry, Knutton, Cross Heath, Chesterton and the Town Centre) – 3,200 Newcastle Urban South and East (including Clayton, Westlands, Seabridge, May Bank, Wolstanton, Porthill and Bradwell) – 1,000 2. Retail development outside of Newcastle Town Centre will be of a nature and scale appropriate to the role of each local centre and will primarily be to meet identified local requirements. 3. A minimum of 104ha of employment land will be brought forward over the plan period. 4. Close partnership working between the Council, RENEW North Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council, local Registered Social Landlords, and the private sector, will create an urban community that boasts a number of distinctive, attractive and vibrant residential neighbourhoods offering a greater choice of housing types, tenures and prices. 5. The density of new development will balance the need to make the most efficient use of land and the need to provide a wide range of housing types, tenures, sizes and prices. In some areas it may be appropriate to plan for lower densities where there is an identified need for higher value housing. 6. The Chatterley Valley site currently being brought forward by Advantage West Midlands will provide a significant volume of high value added employment opportunities in accordance with its identified role as the plan area's Regional Investment Site. 7. Significant qualitative improvements will be made to the Borough's green spaces and sports facilities in accordance with the Urban North Staffordshire Green Space Strategy and the Newcastle-under-Lyme Leisure Needs Assessment and Playing Pitch Strategy. 8. The Council will work with partners, including the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone, to link the most disadvantaged communities with new employment and learning, particularly in the further and higher education sectors, in order to promote social cohesion and create a modern labour market. 9. In accordance with the North Staffs Local Transport Plan actions will be taken to improve accessibility, road safety, and to promote sustainable modes of travel.

Rural Area Spatial Policy

1. There will be a maximum of 900 net additional dwellings of high design quality primarily located on sustainable brownfield land within the village envelopes of the key rural service centres (see Key Diagram), namely - Loggerheads, Madeley and the villages of Audley Parish, to meet identified local requirements – in particular, the need for affordable housing. 2. The Council will take a positive approach towards rural enterprise relating to the availability of the local workforce. In particular opportunities will be sought to encourage: • The sensitive and sustainable diversification of traditional rural economies • A positive contribution towards enhancing local landscape and biodiversity • Appropriate re-use, conversion, or replacement of existing buildings in sustainable locations • Provision of essential rural services 3. Investment in Keele University and Science Park will be fostered to help strengthen the local knowledge and skills base and facilitate the growth and competitiveness of high value business development, thereby increasing local job opportunities in these sectors. 4. A positive approach will be taken towards development for supported and special needs housing where it supports the Housing Strategy for Newcastle Borough. 5. The quality of the village and canal conservation areas will be preserved and enhanced through the completion of a rolling programme of conservation area appraisals and management plans by 2012. 6. All new development will need to reflect the following policies: Design Quality, Built Heritage, and Natural Assets. 7. The implementation of the Rights of Way Improvement Plan for Staffordshire will work to facilitate the improved provision of off road routes for horses and cyclists and its integration with an enhanced public network. 8. The strategic location of Apedale Community Country Park will continue to be exploited to provide a key leisure and recreation resource with wide visitor appeal and will act as a catalyst for a new Community Park in the Lower Apedale Valley and other community recreational facilities, thereby affording excellent access to the countryside for walkers, cyclists, horse riders and those with mobility impairments. 9. In accordance with the Staffordshire Local Transport Plan a positive approach will be taken towards practical measures to improve accessibility by public transport. Such measures could include: • Subsidised bus services • Community transport schemes • Developing practical transport solutions to assist members of the community in special need to access employment opportunities

Affordable Housing

1. All development involving housing above the following size thresholds must make provision for an element of affordable housing to meet identified need in the latest published evidence of need. 2. New residential development within the urban area, on sites or parts of sites proposed to, or capable of, accommodating 15 or more dwellings will be required to contribute towards affordable housing at a rate equivalent to a target of 25% of the total dwellings to be provided. 3. New residential development within the rural areas, on sites of 5 dwellings or more will be required to contribute towards affordable housing at a rate equivalent to a target of 25% of the total dwellings to be provided. 4. In some areas the local need for affordable housing may be for less than 25%. In this case a financial contribution to off site affordable housing provision will be required at the equivalent rate to meet priority needs elsewhere. 5. Housing developments within the identified City Centre boundary will not be required to provide affordable housing to assist promotion of this new housing market sector and ensure increased investment in the quality of adjacent public spaces. 6. In other areas, particularly within Areas of Major Intervention, a higher level of affordable provision will be accommodated on the site if demonstrated by local needs surveys. Increased provision will be funded from a cocktail of sources including developer contributions. 7. Within the plan area the affordable housing mix will be negotiated on a site by site basis to reflect the nature of development and local needs. Generally, affordable housing types will be expected to reflect that of the site as a whole. 8. Affordable housing units should be fully integrated with the market housing, be built to the same design, quality and space standards and should not be visually distinguishable from other development on site. It should be assumed that affordable housing will be required to be provided without subsidy. 9. Within the rural area, where published evidence of need highlights a local need not capable of being met through normal housing provision policy, sites may be released as Rural Exception Sites – as defined in Planning Policy Statement 3. If such a site cannot be accommodated within an existing village, then a site immediately adjoining the village may be deemed appropriate. The scale of development should not exceed the level of need identified. Schemes should be able to be afforded by local people identified as having housing need and will remain affordable in perpetuity.

Gypsy and Travellers

Additional pitches will be located wherever possible on sites which – 1. Provide good access to shops, education, healthcare facilities and other essentials services. 2. Provide safe and convenient access to public transport and the highway network. 3. Have the capacity to incorporate all necessary on - site infrastructure e.g. parking, storage, waste disposal, play and residential amenity space. 4. Minimise any negative impacts upon local landscapes, environments and neighbouring communities.

Spatial Principles of Targeted Regeneration

1. New housing will be primarily directed towards sites within: • the Inner Urban Core, including the City Centre; • Newcastle Town Centre; • Neighbourhoods within General Renewal Areas and Areas of Major Intervention and other Areas of Housing Intervention identified by RENEW North Staffordshire, and • within the identified significant urban centres, All as indicated on the Key Diagram and where it can demonstrably support the Housing Market Renewal Strategy. Within the Inner Urban Core particular emphasis will be given to development within Areas of Major Intervention. 2. Employment provision will be focused towards sites accessible to and within the North Staffordshire Regeneration Zone. 3. Chatterley Valley is designated as the area's Regional Investment Site and will be taken forward for delivery by Advantage West Midlands as a high priority. 4. Staffordshire University and University Hospital will continue to be the focus for high value business growth in the medical and healthcare technologies and creative industries sector. 5. Keele University and Science Park will continue to be the focus for high value business growth in a range of knowledge based industries. 6. Retail and office development will be focused towards the City Centre and Newcastle Town Centre. Development in other centres will be of a nature and scale appropriate to their respective position and role within the hierarchy of centres. 7. New development will be prioritised in favour of previously developed land where it can support sustainable patterns of development and provides access to services and service centres by foot, public transport and cycling.

Planning Obligations

Developers are expected to have regard to the consequences that may arise from development. Development proposals should, therefore, include provision for necessary on site and off site infrastructure, community facilities and/or mitigation measures where this is necessary to ensure comprehensive planning and to avoid placing an additional burden on the existing community and area. These may include: 1. Transport measures, facilities or improvements; 2. Utility services and/or improvements; 3. Affordable housing; 4. Education and community facilities; 5. Open spaces, sports and recreation facilities; 6. Environmental improvements and/or mitigation measures 7. Or such other requirements which may be considered reasonable having regard to all material considerations Where appropriate, the local authority will consider entering into joint development schemes, assisting with site assembly, using powers of compulsory purchase or using other means available under its planning and associated powers, including planning conditions or planning obligations, in order to implement policies and proposals in this Strategy, or to obtain mitigation measures where necessary.

Minerals in Stoke-on-Trent

Scarce Etruria Marl resources and reserves are located within the mineral safeguarding areas and permitted clay workings shown on Plan 9. All reasonable steps should be taken to avoid sterilisation of the mineral.

Comprehensive Area Regeneration

A comprehensive, area-based approach will be taken to the design and implementation of regeneration proposals using all reasonable means available. Development proposals that would prejudice an integrated and comprehensive approach will not be permitted. Partnership working will be prioritised towards: 1. Developing integrated renewal strategies for the most deprived communities; 2. Housing market improvements combined with improved local services; 3. Concentrated action within identified housing market renewal areas and the regeneration zone, including business support, skills training, access improvements, land assembly and environmental improvement; 4. Developing strategies for employment growth and the creation of new residential environments in areas of opportunity; 5. Identification of the complementary roles and identities of each of the centres within the plan area as catalysts for regeneration, and 6. Delivering high quality development within the plan area.

City Centre of Stoke-on-Trent Area Spatial Policy

1. For the plan period 2006-2026 the strategy seeks to repopulate the City Centre and revitalise a housing market which is currently weak. Provision will be made for a minimum of 500 dwellings designed to contribute positively to the character, vibrancy and sustainability of the City Centre. 2. Over the plan period 2006 - 2026 mixed use proposals will provide for 80,000m2 of additional gross comparison retail floorspace to 2021 and a further 40,000m2 to 2026 plus 85,000m2 of additional gross office floorspace within or on the edge of the core City Centre. 3. The City Centre of Stoke-on-Trent is the largest retail destination in North Staffordshire and South Cheshire. The Centre has a primary role at a sub-regional level in attracting large scale shopping development. It is the popular location for business and brands of national renown. The aim is to promote a broad spectrum of uses, attractions and facilities, encompassing commercial development, shopping, leisure and cultural attractions, community facilities and housing. It will be important to ensure that the City Centre retains the focus for city centre type uses with new development in the remainder of the plan area fulfilling a complementary rather than competitive role and recognising the individuality of the other centres within the hierarchy. 4. The primary shopping area will be expanded between Lichfield Street/Stafford Street/Bryan Street and the Potteries Way to the north, east and south. An additional magnet of attraction will be created by the retail led redevelopment of the East and West Precincts to complement the developing retail focus at the Potteries Shopping centre. 5. The Cultural Quarter will be enhanced and its appeal expanded to incorporate more creative activities and complementary functions. 6. A new, large scale, high density central business district will be provided in the south western sector of the centre to help diversify the local economy and support the shopping area. This is of critical importance to the delivery of the City Centre's long term growth prospects. Hope Village will become an exciting and vibrant quarter of the City Centre where people choose to live, work and visit. It will be a viable and high quality mixed use area including business, leisure and support retail provision, together with a high quality residential environment appropriate for a city centre location which respects the area's historical context. It will be important to consider the details of pedestrian and cycle movement in association with public realm and greenspace enhancements to ensure that the severance effects of the new Inner Ring Road do not create undue barriers to connections between the inner urban core area to the north and north west and the City Centre to the south and south east. 7. High density city centre living will be encouraged and the Hope Village area will be regenerated to provide for residential and appropriate commercial uses, all in keeping with the leisure based activities within the area. 8. The Etruria Road corridor and western links of the Potteries Way will be the focus for complementary city centre uses which cannot reasonably be accommodated within the traditional core and which would not prejudice the sustained regeneration of that core. 9. Land to the north and south of the corridor will be brought forward for a mix of residential and employment uses. 10. The growth of traffic generation in the City Centre will be reduced by the introduction of remote park and ride facilities. The City Centre will be served by a strategic network of perimeter quality public car parks. 11. Public transport access to the City Centre will be enhanced by development of quality bus routes along radiating roads and linking to improvements for all public transport modes within the centre and to a new bus station in close proximity to the East and West Precincts development. 12. The National Cycle Network passing through the area will be provided with better connections to the rest of the City. 13. Public places and green spaces within the City Centre will be improved for the benefit of pedestrians and better connections provided between Central Forest Park, Festival Park and Hanley Park via the City Centre. 14. The missing links of the Potteries Way will be provided and steps taken to reduce the constraints to non-vehicular movement provided by the existing highway and connections along Etruria Road (the Business Boulevard) to Festival Park, the A500 and Newcastle improved. The connection between the City Centre to the University Quarter, Stoke railway station and Stoke Town Centre by means of the University Boulevard will be enhanced. How to provide detailed better linkages to Burslem in the north and to the east of the City by means of the Hanley-Bentilee Link Road are being considered. 15. High standards of urban design will be expected for the City Centre which embrace the best principles of modern design and are sensitive to the existing, valued character of the area.

Newcastle Town Centre Area Spatial Policy

1. Over the plan period (2006-2026) proposals will provide for - • 25,000m² of additional gross comparison retail floorspace to 2021 and a further 10,000m² to 2026; this will be appropriate in terms of the role of the Town Centre and capable of meeting the needs of Town Centre users. • 60,000m² of additional gross office floorspace within, or on the edge of the town centre, to accommodate new employment of a type in keeping with the role of the Town Centre. 2. Opportunities will be taken to maximise the potential for Town Centre living. This will be achieved primarily as part of high density, mixed use schemes designed to contribute positively to the character, vibrancy and sustainability of the Town Centre. 3. As one of the two strategic centres in the conurbation, the Town Centre will continue to develop in a balanced way as a complementary service centre to the City Centre with a strong retail offer, a strengthened financial and professional sector, and as a focus for new leisure and residential opportunities, all accommodated within mixed development wherever practicable. 4. The Town Centre's unique market town character and ambience will be enhanced through directing public investment and developer contributions towards enhancing the attractiveness and viability of the Open Market and the Town Centre's award winning public realm and open spaces. A greater mix and intensity of Town Centre uses will be encouraged to create a stronger gateway to the Town Centre from the north and north west and to capitalise on natural features such as the Lyme Brook, so long as the main function of the primary shopping area is maintained and enhanced. 5. A spatial framework will be formulated, identifying distinct zones both within the primary shopping area and beyond, aimed at maintaining their distinctive characters and helping to break through the perceived barrier of the inner ring road. 6. All development within the Town Centre will work with the topography and be required to meet the high quality design standards set out in supplementary planning documents and in keeping with the Town Centre's distinctive market town character, and will enhance the vitality and viability of the Town Centre by contributing towards the existing vibrant mix of retail, nightlife, leisure, employment and residential uses. New development will recognise the importance of landmark sites and work to improve connections to and within the Town Centre and particularly the need to overcome the severance created by the inner ring road. 7. The Borough Council will work with partners to help to secure a new leisure complex on land within or adjacent to the Town Centre. 8. Links with Keele University and Science Park, the University Hospital of North Staffordshire and Newcastle College of Further Education will play a key role in marketing the town as a university town and place for research and learning.

Spatial Principles of Movement and Access

1. Improving accessibility and social inclusion through providing for a compact sub region of sustainable linked communities, which have a range of services and facilities, and which are well connected to major employment and service centres and the network of green open space. 2. Maximising the accessibility of new residential, employment, retail, development, health and education centres, green open space, leisure and sport facilities as well as strategic transport interchanges, such as railway stations, by walking, cycling and public transport. 3. Where necessary allocating land for the provision of essential infrastructure. 4. Promoting travel awareness and encouraging the production of Green Travel Plans and the latest information and communication technologies. 5. Increase the safety of travel by ensuring developments adopt design principles which work to create safer environments and where appropriate by delivering infrastructure improvements with new development. 6. Progressive development of Park and Ride facilities. 7. Encouraging the use of waterways as lines of communication and enhancing and safeguarding rail travel. 8. Addressing the environmental impacts of travel including congestion, air quality and noise pollution. 9. Secure developer contributions towards the delivery of schemes that support the key objectives of the Staffordshire and North Staffordshire Local Transport Plans.