Key Themes and Priority Actions

Social Infrastructure

We are committed to developing new homes in South Hampshire only if the economy and infrastructure can support them, and to ensuring that new development delivers resilient, sustainable communities, not soulless housing estates or fragmented pockets of development that do nothing to enhance their neighbourhood. We will engage effectively with partners in public, private and third sectors to develop with them the right level of community infrastructure requirements and prepare a programme of investment that can be funded by developer contributions (including via a community infrastructure levy or development tariff) and mainstream service investment or other sources of funding that may be identified over the business plan period.

Climate Change

Preparing a Climate Change Strategy for the Sub Region, building on strategic wide ranging studies and initiatives already undertaken by PUSH, is essential both to establish principles for long-term planning beyond 2026 and providing a basis for managing growth effectively over the next 20 years. We will also be seeking to exploit the business opportunities created by reducing carbon emissions and waste generation, as part of our ambition for South Hampshire to be a centre of excellence in environmental technologies.

Green Infrastructure

The evidence base for a Green Infrastructure Strategy has been developed by PUSH and this will shortly be followed by the preparation of the strategy statement and a high level implementation plan to drive investment and to inform Local Development Frameworks. Pending completion of this work our approach is to concentrate initially on: urban fringe projects that support existing neighbouring populations in areas likely to be subject to significant growth; and maintaining separation between settlements and preserving wildlife corridors.

Flood Protection

PUSH has undertaken a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) for the sub-region. This shows that some areas, particularly in Portsmouth and Southampton, may be prone to unacceptable risk without further investment in flood protection. PUSH is working with the Environment Agency, on ways to improve flood protection including in areas that are already defended but to a standard that should be improved and where new development is proposed as part of urban regeneration. A flood risk protocol is being developed collaboratively with the EA to inform decision making in Local Development Frameworks. If necessary, we will redirect development to less flood-prone locations on the basis of the approach in the protocol.

Water Management: supply and waste water disposal

PUSH, working with the Environment Agency has completed an Integrated Water Management study  4Mb into the requirements for water supply, water quality, drainage and disposal of waste water, and for designated conservation sites, on a sub-regional basis. Together with other work done by the Agency and the water companies this will guide investment in water related infrastructure over the next 25 years, including addressing existing inadequacies in such infrastructure such as severe capacity constraints in drainage and surface run-off infrastructure. A pilot project will be undertaken in Portsmouth to test ways of separating foul drainage and surface runoff infrastructure to increase capacity. We will also be adopting sustainable drainage where possible to assist in our biodiversity objectives as well as minimising flood risk.

Sustainable Construction

A PUSH policy framework on sustainable construction has been adopted and will be implemented through local development frameworks. Developers will be required to build all new housing developments to the standards of at least level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes and moving progressively to level 6 by 2016 in line with Government policy. Particular attention will be given to the two Strategic Development Areas and urban extensions. A similar approach will apply towards non-residential development.

Energy

PUSH is contributing to regional targets to secure an increasing supply of renewable and low carbon energy over the business plan period. A study has been completed which provides a comprehensive review of energy needs across the sub-region and a stock-take of the current baseline supply position. The study also provides a strategic action plan to inform the PUSH Climate Change Strategy and secure a reduction in the carbon footprint of the sub region.

Waste and resource recovery

Through the collaborative partnership that operates in Hampshire known as Project Integra, together with on minerals and waste planning South Hampshire authorities already have demonstrable achievement in the recycling of domestic waste. Work is currently taking place to build on the success of these partnerships by the development of an integrated approach towards the total waste stream. The overall aim to minimise waste arisings but also to secure energy from residual waste incineration. PUSH will also be working with developers to minimise construction waste from new development schemes.