Proposed Submission Core Strategy and Policies Development Plan Document Review

Whilst the policy is generally supported, the requirement that sites should "where possible" be within 1km of services including public transport is too prescriptive, albeit ineffective. Proximity to good public transport is desirable but 1km is too far from such services. On the other hand, if the site is close to public transport, there is no need for the site to be within 1km of other services. A more general statement would be better, such as "within reasonable distance" or "reasonably accessible to".

That said, in practice any site put forward which is beyond 1km from services will still be compliant because it will not be possible for that site will to be within 1km of services! To make the policy more effective, the word "preferably" should replace "where possible" and this applies also to criterion b vii.