Planning in Wigan

Health and well-being

We will help to improve health and well-being and substantially reduce health inequalities in the borough by: 1. Supporting the provision of new and improved accommodation for community-based healthcare where such improvements are needed and in response to development at Northleigh Park / South of Hindley, taking opportunities to co-locate with other services wherever practicable. 2. Supporting the enhancement of acute healthcare provision in Wigan and Leigh and improved accessibility to key acute healthcare locations outside of the borough, such as at Liverpool and Manchester. 3. Requiring a Health Impact Assessment to be submitted in support of all development proposals for which an Environmental Impact Assessment is required (or other proposals where the council considers that a Health Impact Assessment is needed) showing, as far as is reasonable, how the proposals will impact positively on health and well-being. 4. Considering the health impacts of major developments and other relevant proposals.

Open space, sport and recreation

We will protect and enhance valuable open spaces, sporting and recreational facilities so as to maximise opportunities for people to undertake a wide range of sport and recreation activities throughout the borough, by: 1. Maintaining and enhancing our 3 'principal parks' (Mesnes Park, Wigan and Haigh Hall and Pennington Flash Country Parks) and 15 'township parks' as the focus for a wide range of informal and formal play, recreation and sports activities within the borough or their township respectively. 2. Enabling better allotment provision in the borough in terms of quantity, accessibility and quality. 3. Maintaining and enhancing our Local Nature Reserves and designating new reserves, especially in the east of the borough. 4. Maintaining and enhancing our other natural and semi-natural green space and our larger areas of amenity green space (over 0.25 hectares), so that they are safe and that informal play and compatible recreational uses are encouraged and good public access is maintained where appropriate, only allowing the loss of such an area where it is of low community value and there is comparable or better alternative provision. 5. Supporting the community use of school and club-based sport and recreation facilities and ensuring that such use is incorporated in new or replacement provision when possible. 6. Maintaining and enhancing walking and cycling routes through parks and open space where they provide appropriate links within the wider network of routes. 7. Determining proposals for development that would result in the loss of open space or land or buildings in use or most recently in use for sport and recreation, in accordance with national planning policy and our local standards which will be established in a subsequent development plan document. 8. Maintaining and improving other opportunities for sport and recreation activities, notably: 1. Play space for people who live more than 500 metres from one of the principal parks or township parks. 2. Provision for football, rugby, cricket and other pitch sports, with an emphasis on improving the quality of pitches and the provision of changing facilities and increasing provision for mini and junior players

Open space, sport and recreation

We will help to make the borough a healthier and more active community by protecting the best of our existing open spaces and improving the provision of sport and recreation facilities by: 1. Protecting our principal parks and other important open spaces from development, particularly Haigh Country Park, Haigh/Wigan Mesnes Park, Wigan Pennington Flash Country Park, Leigh Abram Park and Ashton, Pennington Hall Park, Leigh and their settings, and ensuring that new development does not prejudice their integrity or recreational function. 2. Protecting our township parks and ensuring that all residents have access to a township or principal park within 15 minutes journey time of their home. 3. Protecting allotments and enabling their better provision through the development process and maintenance of appropriate management and action plans. 4. Ensuring that all new amenity green space (over 0.25 hectares), so that they are safe and that informal play and compatible recreational uses are encouraged and good public access is maintained where appropriate, only allowing the loss of such an area where it is of low community value and there is comparable or better alternative provision. 5. Supporting the community use of school and club-based sport and recreation facilities and ensuring that such use is incorporated in new or replacement provision when possible. 6. Maintaining and enhancing walking and cycling routes through parks and open space where they provide appropriate links within the wider network of routes. 7. Determining proposals for development that would result in the loss of open space or land or buildings in use or most recently in use for sport and recreation, in accordance with national planning policy and our local standards which will be established in a subsequent development plan document. 8. Maintaining and improving other opportunities for sport and recreation activities, notably: 1. Play space for people who live more than 500 metres from one of the principal parks or township parks. 2. Provision for football, rugby, cricket and other pitch sports, with an emphasis on improving the quality of pitches and the provision of changing facilities and increasing provision for mini and junior players relative to senior pitch provision. 3. Provision for non pitch sports (including tennis, bowls and athletics).

Community facilities

We will extend and enhance opportunities for people to participate in community activities by: 1. Enabling the provision of new and improved community facilities for the purpose of accommodating meetings, worship, indoor sports, social activities and events, performances and other community activities and services. 2. Expecting new community facilities to be accessible to the communities that they are intended to serve, preferably being in or around the town centre or local centre serving the area. 3. Requiring the provision of appropriate community facilities in or as part of new large scale housing developments. 4. Only allowing development that would result in the loss of a community facility when either: 1. It can be demonstrated that there is no longer a need for the facility; or 2. An alternative facility of equivalent or better standard will be provided, either on-site or elsewhere, in accordance with the provisions above.

Education and learning

We will help to substantially improve levels of knowledge, skills and qualifications in the borough and reduce inequalities in education and learning, by: 1. Supporting proposals for new and improved schools and school buildings, either on their existing site or on a suitable alternative site. 2. Supporting the provision of appropriate facilities to provide specialist and vocational training and support, particularly in areas where there are high numbers of working age adults with low skill levels. 3. Supporting the modernisation and expansion of Further Education provision in the borough, particularly in central Wigan and central Leigh, and supporting proposals to improve accessibility to existing college sites on the western fringe of the borough and to/from colleges and universities in neighbouring districts that serve the borough. 4. Facilitating the use of the built and natural environment of the borough as an education resource, including in Greenheart. 5. Supporting the enhancement of sporting and recreational facilities as part of education provision.

Design

We will improve the built environment of the borough and help make it a better place to live, visit and for businesses to locate and thrive by ensuring that, as appropriate, new development: 1. Respects and acknowledges the character and identity of the borough and its locality, in terms of the materials, siting, size, scale and details used. 2. Is integrated effectively with its surroundings and helps to create attractive places. 3. Meets established standards for design. 4. Includes measures to minimise the impact of and adapt to climate change and conserve natural resources and meets established national standards for sustainability and national carbon reduction targets. 5. Is accessible for all in terms of movements to, through and within it, providing recognisable routes, junctions and focal points and a clear definition between public and private space. 6. Incorporates high quality landscaping. 7. Is designed and uses materials that facilitate easy maintenance. 8. Is designed to reduce the risk of crime and anti-social behaviour. 9. Can be well serviced, including making provision for waste storage and collection. 10. Incorporates, or makes provision for, public art.

Economy and employment

We will help create sustainable economic growth; boost our economic performance and profile; and provide a wider range of job opportunities, by: 1. Bringing forward a range of employment sites of the right quality in terms of location, accommodation provision and supporting infrastructure, to attract, maintain and grow businesses, especially within the east-west core of the borough. The range of sites will focus on providing opportunities for the following key employment sectors in particular: 1. Manufacturing and engineering, including food and drink processing 2. Logistics / distribution 3. Digital information and communications technology 4. Creative/digital/new media 5. Financial and professional services 6. Environmental technologies 7. Construction sector businesses. 2. Against the qualitative factors set out above, making provision for approximately 200 hectares (gross) of employment land between 2011 and 2026, including reviewing sites allocated previously and undeveloped. 3. Safeguarding existing employment sites and buildings that are capable of continuing to meet the needs of employment uses and for which there is likely to be sufficient demand. 4. Encouraging a suitable supply of small, cost-effective premises for new business start-ups, including managed 'incubator' accommodation. 5. Ensuring that there is a phased approach, through a subsequent local plan, to the availability of employment land, with effective mechanisms in place to maintain a sufficient supply of suitable sites that are readily available and attractive to investors. 6. Promoting and enabling Wigan, Leigh and Ashton town centres to be developed as key locations for businesses and jobs 7. Encourage the provision of next generation broadband infrastructure to key employment locations. 8. Enabling good public transport access to key employment locations both within and outside the borough for job opportunities, notably Manchester, Salford, Bolton, Warrington, St. Helens, Liverpool and Preston. 9. Seeking agreement with employers and developers to enter into local labour and training agreements through planning obligations or other mechanisms where appropriate.

Low-carbon development

We will reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide arising from new development and help reduce the impacts of climate change on our environment, economy and quality of life by: 1. Encouraging all development, where relevant, to conform to the energy hierarchy by: 1. minimising the demand for energy, before 2. maximising the efficiency of energy use, before 3. implementing low-carbon dioxide and renewable energy technologies. 2. Encouraging those proposing residential development of 10 units or more and/or non-residential development of more than 700 square metres to produce and submit a carbon reduction strategy setting out how the development will incorporate or make provision for, subject to viability, decentralised, renewable or low carbon energy sources to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of energy use by at least 15%. 3. Encouraging new development to be designed, orientated and constructed so that it can maximise energy efficiency, reduce reliance on fossil fuel energy and take advantage of opportunities for renewable or low carbon dioxide technologies. 4. Encouraging reasonable improvements to be made to the energy performance of the existing building when an extension or other change to a building is proposed.

Green Belt and safeguarded land

There will be no alterations to the boundaries of the Green Belt. Development within the Green Belt will only be allowed in accordance with national planning policy. Limited infilling or redevelopment will continue to be allowed at previously-developed, brownfield sites in the Green Belt, in accordance with national planning policy. Infilling development will continue to be allowed within the settlement boundaries of Haigh and Bickershaw in the Green Belt, in accordance with national planning policy. Outside of the broad locations for new development, the function, status and detailed boundaries of safeguarded land will be reviewed in a subsequent plan. Where appropriate, sites will be allocated for development on safeguarded land within the east-west core. Following this review, remaining safeguarded land both within and outside of the east-west core will be kept free of permanent development in order to maintain its availability for development in the longer term.

Strategic landscape and green infrastructure

We will improve the natural environments and open spaces within and between our towns and other settlements - our strategic landscape and green infrastructure - for the benefit of people and wildlife, and help make the borough a better place to live and visit and for businesses

Wildlife habitats and species

We will help wildlife to prosper and safeguard important geological features by: 1. Protecting our Special Area of Conservation at Manchester Mosses (and other internationally designated sites outside of the borough) and European protected species in accordance with legislation. 2. Protecting and enhancing our Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Species of Principal Importance in England in accordance with legislation and national planning policy as applicable. 3. Protecting our Sites of Biological Importance and regionally important geological sites from development that would adversely affect the integrity of a site, unless there is an overriding public interest, and encouraging active management to maintain and enhance sites. 4. Protecting, maintaining and promoting the active management of our Local Nature Reserves. 5. Protecting and enhancing regional and local priority habitats and species and other features of value to wildlife ensuring, as far as practicable, that habitats are part of linked networks and not fragmented. 6. Requiring reasonable provision to be made for wildlife habitats and features beneficial to geological conservation as part of new development. 7. Taking account of the impact of climate change in the enhancement of existing and the creation of new wildlife habitats. 8. Enabling more people to appreciate, enjoy and learn about wildlife and geo-diversity in the borough, particularly within Greenheart.

Waste

We will ensure greater efficiency in the use of resources by: 1. Requiring proposals for the development of waste management facilities to demonstrate that they will enable the waste that they will handle to be dealt with as far up the waste hierarchy as practicable, namely: 1. preparing for re-use, before 2. recycling, before 3. other recovery, before 4. disposal, as a last resort. 2. Working with other authorities through the Greater Manchester Joint Waste Development Plan Document to identify and safeguard sites for waste management processes, and the collection, batching and loading of waste as necessary, in appropriate locations, including meeting the requirements of the borough's Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategy and ensuring waste is able to be transported by rail or canal as far as is practicable. 3. Encouraging provision for recycling, including innovative community recycling schemes, within appropriate large residential developments. 4. Requiring the preparation of site waste management plans for major developments and waste management plans for other developments as appropriate.

Minerals

We will help meet our future need for minerals whilst minimising the adverse impacts on our environment, economy and quality of life by: 1. Making an appropriate contribution to Greater Manchester's apportionment of aggregates and the maintenance of its landbank. 2. Promoting and, where possible, requiring efficiency in the use of minerals in development, including by encouraging the reuse of materials and the use of recycled and secondary materials as alternatives to primary aggregates. 3. Working with other district councils through the Greater Manchester Joint Minerals Development Plan Document to define minerals safeguarding areas as well as identifying sites, preferred areas and/or areas of search for future mineral working and identifying and safeguarding sites for storage, processing and transfer of minerals in appropriate locations. 4. Facilitating the movement of minerals by rail or canal where feasible or practicable. 5. Ensuring effective restoration and aftercare of extraction sites where necessary. 6. Not allowing further peat extraction on our remaining areas of remnant mossland and giving due consideration to its role in mitigating climate change and as a wildlife habitat in considering any proposals for additional peat extraction elsewhere. 7. Giving due consideration to lowland bog as a valuable habitat and carbon sink and only permitting peat extraction where areas of degraded lowland bog arising from previous peat-working require restoration.

Flooding

We will help reduce the risk of flooding from all sources, notably in our flood zones 3 and 2, our critical drainage areas, and other areas vulnerable to surface water flooding, including locations downstream by ensuring that development: 1. Follows a sequential approach in accordance with national planning policy. 2. Is supported by a detailed Flood Risk Assessment where appropriate. 3. Incorporates appropriate mitigation and/or management measures to achieve, where possible, a reduction in flood risk overall. Development on greenfield sites should not increase the rate of surface water run-off. On previously-developed land, a reduction of at least 30% will be sought, rising to a minimum of 50% in critical drainage areas.

Environmental protection

We will help maintain, enhance and protect our environment for the benefit of people and wildlife, and make the borough a better place for people to live and businesses to locate and thrive, by: 1. Protecting our 'best and most versatile' agricultural land from irreversible loss in accordance with national planning policy and where appropriate seeking to retain and re-use soils on major development sites. 2. Actively seeking the reclamation and re-use of derelict and other previously-developed sites to bring land back into positive use. 3. Tackling land contamination and land stability issues, primarily on sites affected by past industrial uses and coal mining activities, by promoting the appropriate re-use of sites, supporting the identification of contamination and stability issues and requiring appropriate remediation. 4. Managing air quality, particularly in our Air Quality Management Areas, including by minimising the air pollution (and carbon dioxide emissions) likely to arise from new development. 5. Ensuring that new development does not give rise to the pollution of any watercourse, groundwater or mossland or result in the transfer of contaminated run-off to surface water sewers. 6. Supporting strategies, projects and plans to improve water quality within the Rivers Douglas and Mersey and their tributaries. 7. Ensuring that new development is planned and designed so that it does not have an unacceptable adverse impact on amenity and quality of life and/or that it will not itself be impacted upon in such a way by existing uses or activities in the area.

Strategic landscape and green infrastructure

We will improve the natural environments and open spaces within and between our towns and other settlements - our strategic landscape and green infrastructure - for the benefit of people and wildlife, and help make the borough a better place to live and visit and for businesses to locate and thrive, by: 1. Strengthening the landscape character of the borough through the appropriate location and treatment of development and the ongoing restoration of despoiled landscapes and natural and semi-natural features, particularly in Greenheart, other locations close to the edge of our towns and other settlements, and in the mosslands. 2. Managing our green infrastructure as one extensive high quality and multi-functional network and safeguarding it from development that would compromise its integrity, by: 1. Safeguarding and, where possible and practicable, managing land sensitively and positively to support a diverse range of wildlife, again notably in Greenheart and the mosslands. 2. Enhancing and extending networks and other access opportunities for walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and other outdoor recreational pursuits in ways that are compatible with food production, wildlife and carbon storage, particularly in Greenheart but also at other countryside and greenway locations. 3. Identifying appropriate green areas to store flood waters away from homes, businesses and community buildings. 4. Incorporating measures that will help to reduce the extent of climate change and/or adapt to a changing climate. 5. Requiring key strategic landscaping on all new major development proposals and incorporating new green infrastructure in larger areas of new development, to help secure regeneration and/or economic development. 6. Greening the urban environment by developing and improving networks of smaller scale, urban green infrastructure including parks, gardens, allotments, trees and green roofs. 7. Protecting trees and woodlands of value to amenity.

Greenheart

An area from north to south through the core of the borough, its 'Greenheart', will be developed as a high quality countryside park that helps boost the borough's image, supports regeneration and encourages healthier lifestyles, by: 1. Promoting and supporting the extensive wildlife habitats including wetlands, waterways and woodland. 2. Providing attractive and accessible sporting, recreational and leisure facilities to be enjoyed by residents and visitors. 3. Continuing the regeneration of derelict and despoiled land, including the site of the former Bickershaw Colliery and boosting the attractiveness of key employment sites such as Westwood, to provide sustainable economic benefits for local communities. 4. Enhancing and developing key gateway locations to Greenheart at Haigh Hall Country Park in the north, Wigan Flashes and Three Sisters at Ashton-in-Makerfield in the west, Amberswood near Hindley in the centre and Pennington Flash and the former Bickershaw Colliery at Leigh in the east to help make Greenheart an attractive and accessible visitor destination. 5. Linking local communities in the borough and beyond, to a wide network of individual sites through good quality paths and trails, signage, interpretation materials and public art, including routes for cyclists and horse-riders.

Historic environment

We will help wildlife to prosper and safeguard important geological features by: 1. Protecting our Special Area of Conservation at Manchester Mosses (and other internationally designated sites outside of the borough) and European protected species in accordance with legislation. 2. Protecting and enhancing our Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Species of Principal Importance in England in accordance with legislation and national planning policy as applicable. 3. Protecting our Sites of Biological Importance and regionally important geological sites from development that would adversely affect the integrity of a site, unless there is an overriding public interest, and encouraging active management to maintain and enhance sites. 4. Protecting, maintaining and promoting the active management of our Local Nature Reserves. 5. Protecting and enhancing regional and local priority habitats and species and other features of value to wildlife ensuring, as far as practicable, that habitats are part of linked networks and not fragmented. 6. Requiring reasonable provision to be made for wildlife habitats and features beneficial to geological conservation as part of new development. 7. Taking account of the impact of climate change in the enhancement of existing and the creation of new wildlife habitats. 8. Enabling more people to appreciate, enjoy and learn about wildlife and geo-diversity in the borough, particularly within Greenheart.

Housing

We will help ensure that there is sufficient housing in the borough to meet people's needs and support a good quality of life by: 1. Making provision for an average of at least 1,000 net additional dwellings per year between 2011 and 2026. 2. Focusing at least 80% of new housing in the east-west core of the borough. 3. Encouraging new housing on previously-developed, brownfield land (including the re-use of existing buildings). 4. Reducing the proportion of empty homes and promoting the re-use of vacant buildings for residential use where appropriate. 5. Maintaining a five-year supply of deliverable housing land. 6. Ensuring that provision is made for an appropriate mix of house types, sizes, tenures and affordability, specialist, extra-care housing and 'lifetime homes'. 7. Seeking the provision of 25% affordable housing on all sites consisting of 10 dwellings or more where this is viable. Where this is demonstrated not to be viable, a reduced level of affordable housing provision will be negotiated. The approach towards the provision of affordable housing will take into account up to date information on housing needs in the borough. The provision should be of an agreed mix of styles and types; be consistent in terms of design, standards and quality to other housing on the site and be subject to occupancy controls to ensure that it remains affordable for subsequent occupiers. 8. Providing a new site or sites for gypsies and travellers and travelling showpeople to meet any shortfall in pitches and plots, taking into account: 1. The impact of the development (including any business activities likely to be carried out on site) on the appearance of the area, on residential amenity and on privacy for nearby properties. 2. The proximity and ease of access to shops, schools, medical facilities and other amenities. 3. The ability to provide safe and convenient vehicular and pedestrian access. 4. The availability of adequate infrastructure such as water, energy and drainage. 5. The provision of adequate levels of space, privacy and residential amenity for occupiers.

Housing

We will help ensure that there is sufficient housing in the borough to meet people's needs and support a good quality of life by: 1. Making provision for an average of at least 1,000 net additional dwellings per

A key strategic site - Northleigh Park

Land between Leigh Road, Hindley Green, Westleigh Lane and Nel Pan Lane, Leigh, known as 'Northleigh Park' and shown on the Policies Map will be brought forward on a phased basis for a comprehensive high quality development of around: Approximately 1,100 homes up to 2026, 8 hectares of new employment provision, in addition to any redevelopment of existing uses at Leigh Road, 18 hectares of strategic 'green infrastructure' (open space, woodland, walking and cycling routes, flood mitigation and wildlife space), The provision of appropriate community facilities including a local centre. The scheme will involve the delivery of a number of benefits to the local area including: 1. a link road from the A579 Atherleigh Way to the A578 Leigh Road 2. good accessibility for bus services and direct pedestrian and cycle links between housing and the facilities that serve them. 3. measures to ensure the protection of the functional flood plain and restriction of surface water run-off from the site into Westleigh Brook to no more than existing rates. 4. good physical links for walking, cycling and, as appropriate, horse-riding within the site and to/from surrounding residential areas, and key locations in Greenheart, and accommodating a section of the proposed National Cycle Network route 55. 5. the comprehensive remediation or mitigation of landfill, landfill gas, colliery spoil, mine shafts, coal seams and geological fault within the site. 6. the provision of an appropriate level of affordable housing. 7. high environmental standards in terms of energy efficiency, design and low carbon technologies. Planning permission for the site has been approved in outline. The development will be delivered on a phased basis set by the conditions on the outline planning permission, related to the delivery of key infrastructure. Any subsequent reserved matters approvals will be in accordance with the outline planning permission.

Broad locations for new development

The following areas of safeguarded land are identified as broad locations for new development and specific sites will be allocated in a subsequent plan. Planning applications which reflect the overall scale and form of development envisaged in each broad location may be permitted in advance of sites being allocated in order to contribute to the supply of housing land in the short term. Allocations and specific proposals will need to take account of: the capacity of infrastructure serving the area / site the ability to integrate the development with the local community the ability to deliver the development including addressing site constraints and provision of the physical and green infrastructure needed 1. South of Hindley Housing and employment development with approximately 1,000 dwellings up to 2026. A through-road from the A578 Leigh Road to the A58 Liverpool Road will be required and a substantial proportion of the site will be required for strategic green infrastructure, including the retention and improvement of existing facilities, notably Leyland Park and adjacent playing pitches, and the provision of links to Greenheart. The development will need to be effectively integrated with the existing town of Hindley. 2. East of Atherton Housing development close to the railway station and employment development as an extension of Chanters Industrial Estate with approximately 450 dwellings up to 2026. There will be a substantial area of strategic 'green infrastructure' in between the two areas of potential development. 3. Garrett Hall, Astley Housing development with approximately 600 dwellings up to 2026. A substantial proportion of the site will be required for strategic 'green infrastructure' which will also serve to provide a buffer from the employment area to the south. 4. East of Wigan Road, Landgate, Ashton-in-Makerfield Employment and housing development with approximately 300 dwellings up to 2026. A route for a bypass for Bryn Cross to/from Bryn Road and the South Lancashire Industrial Estate shall be allowed for and incorporated in the access for the employment development. Existing playing field provision and fishing ponds will be safeguarded and there would be opportunities to improve links for local communities into Greenheart. 5. Golborne and Lowton Housing development with approximately 1,000 dwellings on safeguarded land up to 2026. 6. Standish Housing development with approximately 1,000 dwellings on safeguarded land up to 2026.

Developer contributions

We will ensure that there is capacity for new development and help make the borough an attractive place for people to live and businesses to locate and thrive, by: 1. Ensuring that development funds, or contributes to the funding of, necessary off-site works or programmes in accordance with the provisions of legislation, national planning policy and other local planning policies and provided that it is viable. 2. Ensuring that a levy is placed on development to fund, or contribute to the funding of, improving our infrastructure in accordance with the provisions of legislation, national planning policy, other local planning policies and our infrastructure delivery plan and provided that it is viable.

Developer contributions

We will ensure that there is capacity for new development and help make the borough an attractive place for people to live and businesses to locate and thrive, by: 1. Ensuring that development funds, or contributes to the funding of, necessary off-site works or programmes in accordance with the provisions of legislation, national planning policy and other local planning policies and provided that it is viable. 2. Ensuring that a levy is placed on development to fund, or contribute to the funding of, improving our infrastructure in accordance with the provisions of legislation, national planning policy, other local planning policies and our infrastructure delivery plan and provided that it is viable.

Presumption in favour of sustainable development

In considering development proposals we will take a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in the National Planning Policy Framework. We will work proactively with applicants to find solutions which mean that proposals can be approved wherever possible, and to secure development that improves the economic, social and environmental conditions in the area. Planning applications that accord with the policies in this Core Strategy and subsequent plans will be approved without delay, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Where there are no policies relevant to the application or relevant policies are out of date at the time of making the decision we will grant permission unless material considerations indicate otherwise, taking into account whether: Any adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework taken as a whole; or Specific policies in that Framework indicate that development should be restricted.

Spatial strategy for Wigan Borough

Development will be directed primarily towards the east-west core of the borough, notably the towns of Wigan, Ince, Hindley, Platt Bridge, Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley, Astley and Ashton-in-Makerfield, in order to achieve transformational regeneration and create attractive places for people to live and businesses to locate and thrive. Beyond the east-west core, development will be focused on Golborne and Lowton and Standish. In doing so the Borough will capitalise on its strategic location between the growth areas of Manchester, Liverpool and Central Lancashire, to be more competitive economically and attract businesses, diversify our housing offer and meet housing needs, improve our transport infrastructure and enable people to take advantage of the opportunities for education, jobs and leisure in those locations. In the west of the borough development will be focused on Wigan, including the town centre and the south of the town. In the south-west of the borough development will be focused on Ashton-in-Makerfield, including the town centre and a broad location for new development at 'Landgate'. In the centre of the borough development will be focused on Platt Bridge, Hindley, a key strategic site at Northleigh Park and a broad location for new development south of Hindley. In the east of the borough development will be focused on Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley and Astley, including their town centres, and at broad locations for new development east of Atherton and between Tyldesley, Astley and Mosley Common. In the south of the borough a broad location for new housing development is identified at Golborne and Lowton. In the north of the borough a broad location for new housing development is identified at Standish. Elsewhere in the borough, in Aspull, Shevington, Orrell and Billinge, development will be limited to redevelopment opportunities, existing allocations for development and suitable infill or other small sites. The full extent of the Green Belt will be maintained. An area from north to south through the core of the borough – its Greenheart – will be enhanced as a high quality countryside park. A community infrastructure levy or similar mechanism will be applied to ensure that all eligible development contributes to the delivery of the infrastructure that the whole borough needs.

Our town and local centres

Our town centres will be enhanced as thriving, attractive and locally distinctive places, which can support a broad range of activities. Within these centres we will support proposals to improve their prosperity. New retail development and other main town centre uses will be directed to our town and local centres. Wigan Wigan is our principal town centre and has an important sub-regional role. It will be enhanced as the prime location for shopping, offices, education, leisure, entertainment, arts, tourism and cultural uses serving the west and centre of the borough and its wider hinterland. Our subsequent local plan will review the town centre boundary and will contain detailed policies to: 1. Respond to the shift in activity eastwards within the town centre as a result of the development of the Grand Arcade and the 'Wigan Life Centre' in order to maintain its vitality and viability and its successful function as a large 'market town'. 2. Better integrate the town centre with surrounding areas. 3. Better integrate the provision of rail services between the two stations and with other forms of transport, notably bus services. 4. Improve the quality of the town's streets and spaces, including the planting of street trees. 5. Make it a more attractive location for economic development. Leigh Leigh is a main town centre. It will be enhanced as the focus for shopping, offices, education, leisure, entertainment, arts, tourism and cultural uses serving the east of the borough. Our subsequent local plan will review the town centre boundary, notably to the south and east, and develop detailed policies to: 1. Bring about an 'urban renaissance' in Leigh to raise its profile and image and create a thriving and prosperous centre. 2. Improve the range of services and opportunities for people in the east of the borough. 3. Increase the number of shoppers and visitors, encourage people to stay longer and increase consumer spending in the town centre 4. Improve accessibility overall, including linkages between the town centre and surrounding areas, prioritising delivery of the 'Leigh

Accessibility

We will improve accessibility to key destinations for people and goods and connect people to opportunities both within and outside the borough by: 1. Promoting and seeking the delivery of the following major transport infrastructure interventions: 1. The A49 Diversion 2. Wigan Transport Hub 3. Westleigh Lane to A578 Leigh Road 4. A579 Atherleigh Way to Westleigh Lane 5. A578 Leigh Road to A58 Liverpool Road 6. Leigh – Salford - Manchester busway 2. Promoting accessibility improvements across the borough especially within our town centres and to/from key cross boundary locations such as Manchester, Bolton, St Helens, Warrington, Liverpool and Preston, particularly by public transport. 3. Seeking to maximise use of the existing bus and rail network and improve opportunities for bus travel and interchange, particularly in our town centres and at rail stations. 4. Enabling opportunities for the development of rail freight in the borough particularly that which maximises the potential of the West Coast mainline. 5. Maximising the capacity, efficiency and safety of the road network, reducing, as far as is practicable, the adverse impact of transport on our communities, town centres and the wider environment. 6. Developing and enhancing our on and off-road networks for walking and cycling, to connect local residents to employment and community facilities as well as for leisure purposes. 7. Ensuring the provision of appropriate, well designed, convenient, safe and secure parking for cycles, motorcycles, cars, coaches and vans / lorries, including as part of new development. 8. Enabling 'equality of access' to our transport networks and facilities for disabled people and other vulnerable groups. 9. Promoting the use of travel plans and requiring them to be produced and implemented for appropriate development. 10. Supporting the appropriate provision of infrastructure for the charging of electric vehicles. 11. Achieving these improvements through developing and implementing a Transport Strategy for the borough.