In answer to a question posed at last night's meeting in Nairn, the Development Plans Manager stated that Nairn was seen as both a dormitory town and a thriving local centre.
However national policy changes are being proposed with respect to the sustainability section of the Consolidated SPP document (where, if you like, all the planning 'rule books' are being popped into one easy to access volume) to take account of the implications to planning policy of the recent Climate Change Act:
"Development plans should promote a pattern of development which reduces the need to travel..."
Since the findings of the SOLUTIONS report (see earlier post) indicate that socioeconomic factors are always uppermost in people's minds - so basically they will travel if it is in their interest to do so regardless of the design of place they live in - then surely any development proposed must be based on a careful analysis of the needs of all those living or wishing to live in the area to minimise the requirement to travel and to make sure employment, schools, health care, amenity etc are within easy access by walking, cycling or efficient public transport.
This analysis has not been undertaken, but to my mind should form part of the better place making strategy that the Government is so keen to encourage. That is why genuinely working with the public is so important; to really get to know communities; who lives in a place and what do they really need? We can then start to plan for a properly sustainable future.
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