Brierley Hill Area Action Plan Preferred Options Baseline Report
1 Introduction to the Brierley Hill Area Action Plan
Brierley Hill Area Action Plan
1.1 In August 2006, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council began work on the Brierley Hill Area Action Plan. Under the new planning system of ‘Local Development Frameworks’ (LDFs), Area Action Plans may be prepared by the Local Authority for an area which is likely to undergo significant change or regeneration. The Area Action Plan will contain a vision for what we want to achieve in Brierley Hill, set out a strategy for its development and regeneration and will allocate sites within the centre for certain uses. Furthermore, it will consider how the growth of the town centre should be proactively phased and implemented.
1.2 The history of Brierley Hill is extensive, but the Council, alongside a number of key regeneration partners, have aimed to have Brierley Hill, Merry Hill and the Waterfront enhanced and recognised as a fully functioning town centre. The Area Action Plan is a vital component in this aim. Not only will the Area Action Plan be the starting point on helping to make decisions on planning applications but it will also help to set out the planning basis for the long term future of the Brierley Hill area.
1.3 This Baseline Report is the evidence base from which the AAP has been developed for Brierley Hill and should be read in conjunction with the Preferred Options Document. The Baseline Report is intentionally in draft format so that it may be altered and added to, as legislation and circumstances change, before being finalised at submission stage.
How to Use this Document
1.4 This document presents you with the evidence gathered through research and consultation and information used to inform the preferred option report. As with the Preferred Option report, this Baseline document is also open for comment and we would appreciate your views on any evidence used, or perhaps evidence which has been omitted, to be sent to the address below.
Rachel Gandolfi or Tim Brown
Planning Policy Section
Directorate of the Urban Environment
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
3 St. James's Road, Dudley
West Midlands, DY1 1HZ
Tel: 01384 816964 or 01384 817215
Fax: 01384 814141
Email: Rachel.Gandolfi@dudley.gov.uk or Tim.Brown@dudley.gov.uk
1.5 The Area Action Plan may be viewed and downloaded from the Council's website on the following link:
1.6 http://www.dudley.gov.uk/environment--planning/
planning/local-development-framework/bhill-aap