SP1 The Plan will favour the protection or enhancement of the best qualities of Monmouthshire’s built environment through good design in all development proposals. Design should promote sustainable development, reflect the topography, natural setting and any existing built form of quality in the vicinity of proposals and provide benefit to the community as a whole.

SP2 Provision is made to meet a need for about 5000 residential units within the County in the period 1996 - 2011.
(‘About’ will be interpreted as plus or minus 150 and does not include a ‘flexibility allowance’)

SP3 Land is identified for employment development in all main areas of the County that is sufficient, at recent rates of take-up, to cater for the anticipated needs within the plan period and provide a degree of choice.

SP4 The vitality, attractiveness and viability of existing County, Local and Neighbourhood Centres will be protected and enhanced.

SP5 The Plan will promote the efficient and safe movement of people and goods, and` protect the environment by promoting land use policies that:
i. reduce growth in the length and number of motorised journeys and reliance on the motorcar;
ii. promote land uses and layouts that reduce the need to travel;
iii. seek to ensure the most effective use of the existing and future transport network and target resources to best effect; and
iv. encourage alternative means of travel that have less environmental impact.

SP6 Safeguard the following proposed highway schemes from development that would prejudice their implementation:
i. M4 - Relief Road (Magor to Castleton);
ii. A465T - Heads of the Valleys Dualling (Abergavenny to Hirwaun);
iii. B4293 - New Monnow Bridge and Approach Roads; and
iv. B4245 - Magor Undy Bypass.

SP7 The Plan will promote the preservation or enhancement of Monmouthshire's historic environment. Development that would harm the special character of the historic environment will not be permitted.

SP8 The Plan will promote the enhancement of Monmouthshire’s natural environment, and will seek to protect from inappropriate development species and land designated for: -
i. international, national and local nature conservation value;
ii. its landscape character, including the coast;
iii. its value as green space between and within settlements; or
iv. high agricultural quality.

SP9 The Plan will protect or enhance leisure and recreation facilities by the retention of open spaces and the development of new facilities, including play and sports provision in accessible and appropriate locations.

SP10 Tourism Developments will be favoured where they: -
i. assist the development of the local economy; and
ii. safeguard or enhance the quality of the environment and the interests of local communities.

SP11 The provision of community facilities, which are readily available to all Monmouthshire’s residents, will be promoted in accessible and appropriate locations.

SP12 The Plan will:
safeguard mineral resources the extraction of which is or may become economic and environmentally acceptable;
provide for the County to make a fair and sustainable contribution towards meeting the regional need for aggregate minerals;
ensure that the environmental impacts caused by mineral operations are kept to an acceptable minimum; and
ensure that sites are restored to a beneficial after-use.

SP13 A sustainable approach to waste management based on a hierarchy of reduction, reuse, recovery and safe disposal will be promoted and an adequate network of waste management facilities provided that meet the requirements of the EU Waste Directives.

SP14 The Plan will promote the generation of energy from renewable sources where that is consistent with other polices and will encourage appropriate energy conservation measures in the design of development.