17 Implementation and Monitoring

17.1 Introduction

17.1.1 The UDP will only guide development in Monmouthshire if the policies contained within it are put into action. They must also be constantly monitored, in order to ensure the effectiveness of the Plan’s aims, objectives and targets. This is in keeping with Government Guidance that requires planning authorities to monitor and evaluate their plans. This chapter highlights ways that the UDP policies will be turned into action by outlining general implementation and monitoring principles, which apply across the whole range of land uses dealt with in this Plan. The chapter also deals with more specific methods and development proposals, which are applicable to the land use topics detailed in Part II of the UDP, e.g. Housing, Shopping, etc.

17.2 General Implementation Principles

17.2.1 The main way the Council will put the UDP into action is by using the plan in deciding planning applications. The Council receives approximately 1200 - 1300 planning applications per year, and in their consideration can seek to ensure that new development is in keeping with the policies in the UDP.

17.2.2 The policies in the UDP can also be upheld by the planning powers the Council has to protect the local environment. These include making Tree Preservation Orders and requesting the listing of buildings of architectural and historic value. Certain major developments need an environmental assessment, an all encompassing technical study which examines the impact the particular development will have on the environment. Where development is carried out without permission, which is contrary to the UDP and harms the local environment, the Council can take enforcement action to uphold the plan’s objectives.

17.2.3 The various departments of the Council provide a wide variety of services (other than Planning) which impact on the environment of Monmouthshire. These include, improvements to roads, provision of educational land recreational facilities and pollution monitoring. They all contribute towards the implementation of the policies in the Plan.

17.2.4 The UDP aims to ensure that the needs of all of Monmouthshire’s residents and visitors are met. Thus consultation with the public on planning issues will not stop when the UDP is adopted. Wherever possible, comments will be invited on major developments, as well as on future changes to the Plan.

17.2.5 The Council will work with developers in order to try and improve their schemes and reduce any harmful impacts on the environment. Developers may be expected to provide for sustainable transport, recreation and drainage improvements, for example. This can be carried out through negotiation, planning conditions and by planning (section 106) agreements. Developers and occupiers of commercial properties will also be encouraged to provide or contribute to the physical fabric and the social / cultural life of Monmouthshire, as these often benefit the providers, residents and visitors alike.

17.3 General Monitoring Principles

17.3.1 The UDP provides a firm and clear policy statement guiding development in Monmouthshire up to 2011. However as environmental, social and economic circumstances change, the policies in the UDP will be constantly monitored to identify if policies need to be strengthened, maintained or changed.

17.3.2 In keeping with the UDP’s overriding aim of promoting sustainability, the detailed Sustainability Appraisal proves an effective method of seeing how well the plan is performing in meeting the aims, objectives and targets highlighted both in the Strategic Policies (Part 1 of the Plan) and for each land use topic area (Part II of the Plan).

17.3.3 Monitoring also involves carrying out survey work and using a broad range of information to improve the UDP. The Council carries out regular survey work, either by the Officers of the Council or through other agencies. This is detailed below under each land use topic. Any new statutory designation or major development proposal will also be monitored.

17.3.4 An annual monitoring report will be published to show whether development has been carried out in line with the policies in the Plan. Planning applications and appeal decisions will be analysed, along with the results of survey work, in order to pick up on development trends, new issues and unexpected changes that may need further study. This will be useful in identifying the strengths and weaknesses of the Plan, with the aim of improving the usefulness of the UDP as the basis for effectively managing development in Monmouthshire.

17.3.5 Preparatory work for the Local Development Plan (LDP) will commence as soon as the UDP is adopted. This will take into account the results of monitoring, legislative changes and revisions to Government Guidance. A full review of consultation and monitoring will be undertaken as part of this process. A Community Involvement Scheme will be produced, outlining how all statutory agencies, representative bodies and members of the public will be involved.

17.4 Implementation and Monitoring of UDP Policies

17.4.1 Chapter 2: Environment

  • Adoption of ‘Access for All: A Design Guide for an Accessible Environment Monmouthshire’. This SPG sets out to encourage developers to provide equal accessibility options for all.
  • Encouragement of commercial tourist facilities to advertise using approved ‘white on brown’ signs (where appropriate) in order to prevent sign cluttering, particularly in attractive rural locations.
  • On potentially contaminated and unstable sites, requiring the developer to produce a land contamination / stability survey before planning permission is granted (where there are reasonable grounds to suspect contamination).
  • Requiring developers to submit an environmental statement to assess, on certain major developments, what impact the development would have on the environment (part of the environmental assessment process).
  • Monitoring of planning decisions to see if they comply with the policies in the UDP.

17.4.2 Chapter 3: Design

  • Promotion of good design by the County Council Design Panel. This involves examining the design of existing development, reviewing whether better design principles could have been incorporated into a planning permission and making recommendations for the consideration of future planning applications.
  • Where appropriate, requiring Design Statements to be provided with planning applications demonstrating how applicants for planning permission have taken account the need for good design in their development proposals.
  • Production of design guidance (as SPG) to assist those who wish to develop land or property to incorporate good design practice. This will provide more detailed guidance on how the Council would like to see appropriate design considerations incorporated into new development. This will cover a variety of different land uses and the different aspects of design, such as materials, density, etc.
  • Production of SPG on advertisements.

17.4.3 Chapter 4: Housing

  • Production of the annual ‘Joint Housing Land Availability Study’ with the Welsh Development Agency and the Welsh Assembly Government, which helps to assess whether the amount of land allocated for housing in the UDP is at approximately the right levels.
  • Production of Development Briefs (SPG) for housing sites where appropriate. These provide more detailed guidance on how the Council would like to see those sites developed, taking into account planning considerations, and development constraints and opportunities.
  • In association with the Council’s Housing section, the production of a periodic ‘Housing Needs Survey’ to assist the Council and Housing Associations to target available resources at those in housing need. This is particularly relevant to people with particular housing needs, such as people who need affordable housing or housing for people in need of care.
  • Ensuring, where appropriate, the provision of affordable housing associated with new housing development to meet local needs through section 106 Planning Obligations.
  • Promoting the conversion of vacant floors above shops in town centres to residential use through the Council’s ‘Void Space Initiative’.
  • Monitoring key indicators of population growth, including dwelling completions, electoral roll, National Health records and school registers to assess projected population and its composition.
  • Analysis of the 2001 Census, particularly social and economic data to inform UDP policy formation and appraisal.
  • Production of in-house population projections using improved data sets.
  • The above mechanisms will ensure that the effects of changes in housing land provision will be monitored, with any effects addressed by the LDP.

17.4.4 Chapter 5: Employment

  • Production of an annual survey of industrial land availability, which helps to assess whether the amount of land allocated for employment in the UDP is at the right levels. An early review of industrial land availability and take up will be incorporated into preparation for the next plan period.
  • Production of Development Briefs (SPG) for employment sites where appropriate. These provide more detailed guidance on how the Council would like to see those sites developed, taking into account planning considerations, and development constraints and opportunities.
  • Hold regional seminars, inviting interested bodies such as developers and estate agents to promote the take-up of employment land in the County.
  • Host an Economic Development Forum to produce an annual Action Programme and Review, to update and complement the current Economic Development Action Plan.
  • Production of Economic Progress quarterly reports.

17.4.5 Chapter 8: Shopping

  • Production of an annual retail survey as a background paper, which looks at the vitality and viability of Town Centres within Monmouthshire. This analyses how each town centre is performing in terms of shopping habits, vacancy, national retailer representation and footfall amongst other indicators. Future provision of shopping facilities and strategy / policy is also examined.
  • Production of Development Briefs (SPG) for retail redevelopment sites. These provide more detailed guidance on how the Council would like to see those sites developed, taking into account planning considerations, and development constraints and opportunities.
  • Facilitating links with the business community through area management in Abergavenny, Caldicot, Chepstow and Monmouth, in order to increase town centre turnover and footfall, and decrease shop vacancy.
  • Implementation of the Central Government ‘Rural Rate Relief’ scheme, in order to support Post Offices and general stores in villages. This helps to maintain existing and encourages new retail and community facilities in rural areas.

17.4.6 Chapter 9: Movement

  • Production of the Monmouthshire Cycling Strategy as SPG. This promotes the development of cycling and highlights proposed cycling routes in Monmouthshire.
  • Implementation of the Monmouthshire Local Transport Plan in order to promote sustainable forms of transport that provides for all sectors of the community sustains economic growth and promotes safety and environmental improvement. To assist with more detailed monitoring of the Local Transport Plan outside agencies, such as Sewta, will be used on an adhoc basis, with an early review undertaken during preparation for the next plan period.
  • Promote the use of public transport by putting passenger information on the ‘Internet’ (world wide computer network), subsidising bus services.
  • Production of the Monmouthshire Road Safety Plan in order to improve road safety in the Council by identifying a series of actions, relating to education, engineering and enforcement, amongst other areas and setting performance indicators for their achievement.
  • Where funds allow, the implementation of pedestrianisation schemes, car / coach-parking schemes, traffic calming schemes and the support of proposals for new railway stations.
  • Requiring developers to submit a traffic impact assessment, where the traffic generated by the development may necessitate transport improvements.
  • Monitoring exhaust emissions to ensure air quality levels are acceptable.

17.4.7 Chapter 10: Conservation of the Built Environment

  • Production of an appraisal for each Conservation Area as SPG. This will describe the special qualities and features that give each Conservation Area its special character and appearance and, provide useful guidance on how the Council would like to see the Conservation Areas developed, taking into account planning considerations, and development constraints and opportunities.
  • Review the existing Conservation Areas to see if changes to boundaries need to be amended and to assess possible new designations.
  • Production of SPG on ‘Development in Conservation Areas’, ‘The Conversion of Agricultural Buildings’, ‘Listed Buildings’, ‘Archaeology’ and ‘Shop fronts’.
  • The establishment of an ‘Historic Buildings at Risk Register’ in order to try to ensure that valuable built features of the County’s environment do not irretrievably fall into disrepair.

17.4.8 Chapter 11: Countryside

  • Update the landscape assessment of Monmouthshire using the ‘LANDMAP’ methodology and a Geographical Information System. The results of this survey work to date is contained within the ‘LANDMAP’ draft SPG.
  • Host the Countryside Strategy Forum in order to produce bi-annual Action Programme and Review, to supplement the current Countryside Strategy.
  • Annual monitoring of the length of public footpaths open within the County.
  • Involvement in rolling forward the ‘Wye Valley AONB Management Plan’ and production of SPG for the AONB to help to conserve the natural beauty of the area.
  • Production, with relevant organisations of coastal management planning documents as SPG. They will expand on the policies within UDP’s by looking at environmental management issues for the environmentally important coastline of Severn Estuary. This will include a ‘Severn Estuary Strategy’, a ‘Local Environment Agency Plan’ and a series of shoreline management plans.

17.4.9 Chapter 12: Nature Conservation

  • Production of the Monmouthshire Local Biodiversity Action Plan as SPG, with additional SPG on the ‘Selection and Designation of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation’ and ‘Trees’.

17.4.10 Chapter 13: Recreation & Leisure

  • Production of a ‘Recreational and Open Space Strategy’ as SPG, periodically updated through surveys of the quality and quantity of provision throughout the County. This identifies the needs of the local population for sport and recreation facilities, and will enable the Council to assess its standards based on local need.
  • Production of a development brief (SPG) for commercial leisure and entertainment development use on sites identified in the Plan. This provides more detailed guidance on how the Council would like to see these sites developed, taking into account planning considerations, and development constraints and opportunities.
  • Annually review the Recreational and Open Space Standards, developer contribution costings and an annual report of the section 106 expenditure and income.

17.4.11 Chapter 14: Community Facilities

  • Ensuring, where appropriate, the provision of community benefits associated with new development. Amongst other benefits this can include serviced land for education, health and social services, childcare facilities and crime prevention measures, through Section 106 Planning Obligations if appropriate.
  • Promoting joint schemes between developers, businesses, and institutions to provide child care facilities.
  • Working with Community Councils in ensuring the adequate provision of land for cemetery use.
  • Liaising with developers, architects and designers to identify appropriate sites for community art and the best type of artwork for a site.
  • In tandem with the ‘Joint Housing Land Availability Study’ to conduct a survey of the County’s village shops, post offices and public houses to help to measure the vitality and viability of settlements outside the five main towns.

17.4.12 Chapter 15: Minerals

  • Production of an annual survey, which assesses the sales, distribution and reserves of materials for use as aggregate minerals.
  • Monitoring of planning conditions for extraction sites with regard to vibration, air over pressure and hours of operation.
  • Review of Planning Conditions for extraction sites to assess the effectiveness of working restoration and aftercare arrangements, and update them to modern standards, if necessary. This will occur no later than fifteen years after the relevant permission was granted.

17.4.13 Chapter 16: Waste Planning Management

  • Monitoring of waste arising within the County and the development of waste management facilities in order to identify the capacity for dealing with waste both locally and regionally.
  • Assessing the need to enable new forms of management techniques to be developed as technological advances are made.