Many aspects of community planning will need to be considered before Transition Brighton and Hove can draw up its Energy Descent Plan. Several of TB&H's Interest Groups are already aware of this. Ann Baldridge, who co-ordinates The Food Group wishes to know about how Council wants to use all the land it owns and leases out that could be used for food growing. In this context, Graham Ennis has attempted to provide a calculation of around how much food could be grown locally using that land. A useful tool for mapping the different types of open spaces in Brighton and Hove is the Council Ecologist's website at www.citywildlife.org.uk.
The Core Strategy is the planning document that will provide the overall spatial vision and strategy for Brighton & Hove through to 2026. Contained in The Core Strategy are Brighton and Hove City Council's Preferred Options for future development in our city. These will become a central part of the 'Local Development Framework (LDF) which will replace the existing Local Plan. The Preferred Options document includes a spatial portrait of Brighton & Hove (page 9) - a little too general to provide a detailed answer to Ann's question, but informative nevertheless. Note too that the Government Office for the South East has called for a "more area-based approach" and a Refreshed Preferred Options Document is due to be published in Spring 2008. Subject to approval by the Council's Policy and Resources Committee, public consultation will follow.
The challenge for authors of Transition Brighton and Hove's Energy Descent Plan lies in the radical changes which will be needed in the Council's Core Strategy if this city is to take Climate Change at all seriously.
If the Local Development Framework is to allow for joined-up planning, then the imminent attempt to refresh The Council's Sustainability Strategy, especially if performed in accordance with One Planet Living's ten principles for sustainability, should have far-reaching effects on The Council's Core Strategy. The latter reflects the old economics of "jobs" and "growth" in its promotion of higher densities in urban areas, and makes inadequate adjustment to reducing oil dependency and tackling climate change.
[PRE] - page 39 - PROMOTING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY
[UDC] - page 44 - URBAN DESIGN & CONSERVATION
[OS] - page 50 - COUNTRYSIDE & OPEN SPACES
[AH] - page 57 - IMPROVING HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY
[E] - page 65 - PROMOTING ENTERPRISE
[CT] - page 75 - PROMOTING CULTURE & TOURISM
[L] - page 81 - PROMOTING LEARNING
[SC] - page 85 - STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES & INVOLVING PEOPLE
[S] - page 91 - REDUCING CRIME & INCREASING SAFETY
[H] – page 99 - IMPROVING HEALTH & WELL-BEING
[PST] – page 107 - PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
1. [SR] - page 111 - SEAFRONT REGENERATION
2. [SH] - page 114 - SHOREHAM HARBOUR
3. [UF] - page 118 - THE URBAN FRINGE
4. [CS] - page 120 - COMMUNITY STADIUM
5. [DC] - page 123 - DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS
6. POTENTIAL ACTION AREA PLANS – page 125
AREAS OF BRIGHTON & HOVE WHERE HIGHER DENSITY IS PROPOSED |
THE CORE STRATEGY and TRANSITION B & H
INFLUENCING OPEN SPACES POLICY | CONSULTATION ON NATURE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT | UPDATES ON THE CORE STRATEGY
Residents were also asked to comment openly on the Council’s Potential Area Action Plans and to choose which of the suggested areas (1. Hove Station area - land to the west/north west, 2. Lewes Road corridor, 3. London Road / Preston Road corridor) should receive priority.
The Preferred Options
1. Include a policy in the Core Strategy that requires that all developments to achieve the highest recognised standards of sustainable building design, management and recycling and provide gains in environmental and ecological properties. (PRE1)
2. The council will produce Supplementary Planning Documents specifying minimum performance standards, cumulative targets for increasing resource efficiency and impact assessment requirements in all development. (PRE2)
3. Include a policy in the Core Strategy that sets out how flood risk will be managed to accord with the Government's draft Planning Policy Statement 25 - Development and Flood Risk. (PRE3)
4. Include a policy in the Core Strategy that takes forward recommendations in the Shoreline Management Plan and the River Adur to Brighton Marina Coastal Defence Strategy relating to maintaining the existing defended coastline during the Core Strategy period. (PRE4)
With regard to Preferred Option 1, the term 'environmental and ecological properties' encompasses quality and efficient use of water (including surface and groundwater resources and coastal waters); energy; biodiversity; waste materials; air pollution; noise; microclimate and adaptability to climate change.
1. To raise the general density of development in the built-up area of the city, where appropriate, through predominantly low-to-medium rise development but making most efficient use of those areas which have potential for some tall buildings (over 6 storeys or 18m in height), supported by a city-wide strategy on protecting and enhancing key views. To do so through development that positively raises the standard of architecture and design in the city, that respects the diverse character of its neighbourhoods and which is inclusive and accessible. Within this approach, the following broad areas may be suitable for tall buildings, subject to further analysis:
# Brighton Marina
# Brighton Station / New England area
# Central seafront / King's Road (Brighton)
# Eastern Road / Edward Street
# Hove Station area
# Lewes Road corridor
# London Road / Preston Road corridor
# Western seafront / Kingsway (Hove) (UDC1)
This preferred option relates closely to the preferred option for the spatial strategy (SSI) in Part Four.
2. To produce a city-wide urban design framework which allows for the identification of:
(a) Areas which should generally be preserved
(b) Areas suitable for incremental enhancement
(c) Areas where positive measures are required to secure enhancement.
Those areas identified under criterion (a) may be subject to Conservation Area Studies or Area Action Plans. Those areas identified under criterion (b) will be defined by generic categories based upon: business and mixed use centres; residential areas; retail centres; and the seafront and policies will reflect these categories. Those areas identified under criterion (c) may be subject to Area Action Plans; area-based Supplementary Planning Documents; non-statutory Planning briefs; and/or Design Codes. Under (c), to give priority to the Lewes Road and London Road areas and the Valley Gardens area in conjunction with proposals for economic regeneration and traffic management. (UDC2)
3. To include a policy in the Core Strategy, which specifically and pro-actively seeks to improve the quality, legibility and accessibility of the public realm in the city, in a comprehensive manner in conjunction with other partners. Priority will be given to the identified areas for accommodating growth, the seafront and the Cultural Quarter. (UDC3)
4. With regard to the historic built environment, to include a policy that gives a high priority to the preservation and enhancement (where appropriate) of the city's existing statutorily listed buildings, statutorily listed historic parks and gardens, scheduled ancient monuments, buildings of local interest, the 33 locally designated conservation areas and the archaeologically sensitive areas, and to ensure that the historic built environment guides local distinctiveness. To take forward the Conservation Strategy and to include a policy that provides clear criteria for the consideration of any future conservation area designations and that takes a positive approach to the reuse of redundant historic buildings as part of wider regeneration schemes. (UDC4)
1. To include a policy in the Core Strategy which gives high priority to the retention of the beauty and character of the countryside and also promotes appropriate public access, via sustainable public transport modes, for casual recreation within the countryside. (OS1)
2. To include a policy in the Core Strategy to conserve and enhance the AONB/future South Downs National Park and to improve people's access to it. This will take into account the purpose of National Park status, which includes the promotion of opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of its special qualities by the public. Fundamentally, in respect of the National Park area within Brighton & Hove, the policy would seek to restrict any development other than that associated with countryside activities, farm diversification and the dwellings within the area and ensure that it would conserve the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area. (OS2)
3. To include a policy in the Core Strategy which relates to a city-wide open space framework. This policy will have regard to facilitating and improving equality of access to, participation in and enjoyment of: recreation; sport; play; nature conservation; the seafront; allotments; parks; and other types of open spaces, in a comprehensive manner in conjunction with other partners. Regard will also be given to improving the quality and variety of open space in the city. Attention will be given to the linking of the open spaces, the establishment of the Green Infrastructure Network, public safety within open spaces, biodiversity and to addressing deficiencies. The approach will generally seek to retain existing open spaces and if appropriate create additional open spaces. (OS3)
4. Within the policy, to ensure that future developments enhance existing open spaces and, where appropriate, contribute towards the provision of additional open spaces and/or facilities. High priority will be given to the different types of functions/uses the open spaces provide, the facilities offered, accessibility to all sectors of the community, and the future potential of all these elements. (OS4)
1. Plan to provide new housing/accommodation in accordance with the target set for the city in the South East Plan. Within the regional context, plan to meet the specific local housing and accommodation needs of all communities in Brighton & Hove. This will mean including policies in the Core Strategy aimed at:
a) Securing an appropriate mix of accommodation in terms of type and size to meet the needs of families and particular groups;
b) Securing an appropriate tenure mix in new affordable housing;
c) Clarifying the relevant planning considerations and locational criteria required for identifying any further gypsy and traveller sites that may be required in the plan period; and;
d) Providing for a decent standard of accommodation. (AH1)
2. Be assertive and proactive in securing the availability of local services and facilities required to serve new developments. This would mean including in the Core Strategy an appropriate policy to secure the relevant developer contributions. (AH2)
This preferred option is specifically linked to Preferred Option DC1on Developer Contributions (see Part Six).
3. To help secure additional affordable housing, allow greater flexibility of use on some employment sites. (AH3)
This preferred option relates to preferred options E1 and E3 on Employment in the Promoting Enterprise and Learning section.
4. Look to include a policy in the Core Strategy that seeks to increase the proportion of affordable housing required from new development on appropriate sites. This might mean increasing the target percentage for affordable housing above the current Local Plan level (40%) and/or looking to require a contribution to the city's affordable housing on sites providing less than 10 units. (AH4)
1. Continue to protect existing, identified office and industrial sites, but in order to encourage the provision of high quality employment sites which support the needs of modern business and which are vital to support the attractiveness of the city as a business location, allow enabling development on some sites and premises, provided that there is no net loss of employment floorspace on the site and the employment floorspace (or at least a proportion of it) is delivered first. Any enabling development should not unacceptably prejudice the amenity or viability of other businesses in the vicinity. (E1)
Sites considered suitable for enabling development and the types of employment uses considered appropriate on particular sites will be identified jn the Site Allocations DPD.
2. Allocate sufficient sites, capable of generating an additional 20,000 m2 of office floorspace, as part of mixed use developments for the period 2016-2026. The broad location for these sites should conform with the preferred spatial strategy for accommodating the sustainable development of the city. (E2)
Sites will be identified through the Site Allocations DPD or brought forward through Area Action Plans where appropriate.
3. Continue to safeguard other 'non-allocated1 employment sites in recognition of the need to retain an adequate stock and range of employment sites unless it can be demonstrated, by the applicant, that they are redundant and incapable of meeting the needs of business. Following an adequate test of redundancy, the preference will be given to alternative employment generating uses, followed by affordable housing. (E3)
This option refers to sites for offices, research and development, light industrial, general industrial and warehouse or storage uses (Use Classes B1, B2 and B8).
4. Encourage the creation of flexible, affordable business space to support innovation, research and development of key employment sectors, in particular the knowledge-based economy, creative industries and environmental technologies. (E4)
1. Include a policy in the Core Strategy that emphasises the importance of improving the quality of the existing cultural and tourist offer to provide high environmental standards, design and access and to remain competitive and which supports the strategic framework set out in the city's Tourism Strategy (i.e. proposals should build on the city's distinct tourism offer, reduce seasonality and widen local access). (CT1)
2. Include a policy in the Core Strategy that will reflect the results of the Hotel Futures Study currently being undertaken regarding current and future hotel capacity in the city. The policy will set the strategy for protection of hotel accommodation in the city and the approach towards new hotel accommodation; it should encourage hotel refurbishment and upgrade to meet consumer demand and reflect the types and categories of hotel accommodation in the city. (CT2)
Location(s) identified for hotel protection and new hotel accommodation will be included in the Site Allocations DPD.
3. Include a policy in the Core Strategy relating to the need to plan for a replacement facility for the existing Brighton Centre with a new state-of-the-art convention facility, incorporating the highest standard of environmental design, in order to ensure the future health of the city's conference, tourism and service economy and extend this development to benefit the surrounding area. (CT3).
More detailed guidance and site area is set out in the adopted SPD01-Brighton Centre: Area Planning and Urban Design Framework.
4. Create a flexible planning approach to the Cultural Quarter that can respond effectively to the economic prospects and diverse needs of the area; that improves the public realm to reflect its status; that preserves, enhances, interprets and promotes the historic form and setting of the area; that reflects the implications of the new licensing regime and the night-time economy; and that ensures there is sufficient investment in, and emphasis on, cultural and creative industries. (CT4)
1. Require that major development provides training opportunities for local people in construction. (L1)
2. Existing education and community establishments should provide a greater range of services and facilities for learning and training opportunities for local communities. (L2)
3. Promote the expansion of higher education through the development of an 'academic corridor' linking the universities and City College, especially building links to support greater integration with communities in the New Deal area ('eb4U') and linked to the direct provision of appropriate residential accommodation. (L3)
The 'academic corridor' is shown on the key diagram.
4. Prior to granting planning consent it should be ensured that appropriate education facilities are in place to serve the development. (L4)
1. Include a policy in the Core Strategy that actively supports the implementation of those spatial planning priorities identified in Neighbourhood Action Plans and the New Deal Area Delivery Plan and which actively supports the provision of Children's Centres in the city. (SC1)
2. Seek developer contributions for multi-functional community facilities when major new developments are proposed, where a shortfall of such facilities has been identified in that area, with particular regard to the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas and New Deal Area in the east of the city. (SC2)
This preferred option is specifically linked to Preferred Option DC1on Developer Contributions (see Part Six).
3. Identify key regeneration sites and mixed-used employment sites for possible future Area Action Plans where a more positive and focused approach is needed, with particular regard to utilising them for the benefit of the New Deal Area and the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. (SC3)
1. Include a policy in the Core Strategy that will deliver a safer city, particularly at night in areas with established late night uses, through effective coordination of relevant strategies and policy areas (e.g. planning, licensing, policing and public safety). Relevant areas of the city are central Brighton as well as other areas with an established concentration of late night uses. Within these areas there will be a special approach to public safety that will include seeking a good mix of uses and taking a cumulative impact approach to new proposals for large bars/pubs and nightclubs. Late night uses will continue to be allowed within these areas subject to good management. There will also be an enhanced requirement for planning contributions towards public safety improvements, particularly from late night uses. The policy will encourage late night bus services, facilitate measures to improve legibility (for example better signage) and give support to relevant environment improvement zones. (S1)
2. Include a policy, or wording within a generic policy, for identified deprived neighbourhoods (Neighbourhood Renewal Areas and the New Deal Area), which actively supports sustainable community safety improvements. These include proposals within community safety action plans; safe and increased use of streets and public spaces; and environmental road improvements (child friendly streets and home zones). (S2)
3. Introduce the requirement for planning contributions from all major developments (10 residential units or 1,000 m2 of commercial space) and 'appropriate' types of development (such as licensed premises) to go towards community/public safety improvements. This will be part of the general developer contributions policy. Contributions would go towards physical safety measures such as CCTV, lighting and planting or towards increased community policing and park supervision. (S3)
This preferred option is specifically linked to Preferred Option DC1on Developer Contributions (see Part Six).
4. Include a policy requiring a 'Secured by Design' measures statement for all 'appropriate' development proposals (to be defined by type rather than scale of development). A supporting SPD will be prepared, including sustainability considerations (e.g. minimising loss of soft planting and seeking renewable lighting solutions). (S4)
1. Include a policy in the Core Strategy to require Health Impact Assessments of new policy and major developments in the city to minimise negative impacts and maximise the positive impacts on health. (H1)
2. Policies should support the provision or expansion of community, health and sport and recreation facilities and improve access to existing ones. Through joint working identify and support a city wide integrated network of walk-in polyclinics; health centres and children's centres within reasonable walking distance of public transport; and access to critical care provision in hospitals. (H2)
3. Ensure planning policies include encouragement of design that promotes health, safety and active living for all age groups, including healthy living options for older people. Policies should address access to: green space, cultural facilities, transport options, exercise, and healthy food (including proposals to review the public domain to meet people's whole lifetime needs and overcoming barriers to access). (H3)
4. Include a policy to retain allotments and small scale agriculture in appropriate areas and encourage farmers markets and other access to healthy, affordable locally produced food options. (H4)
5. Include a generic policy in the Core Strategy that actively supports provision of, or access to, community facilities and access to open space or play facilities in the identified deprived neighbourhoods in the city. (H5)
1. The Core Strategy should support the relevant objectives of the Sustainable Transport Strategy (which include improving accessibility, reducing traffic and congestion, improving air quality and improving transport safety and security) by: (a) directing development to areas which have good public transport accessibility to and from all areas of the city, preferably along or adjacent to current and future Sustainable Transport Corridors; or (b) ensuring that development is located where measures can be taken to improve accessibility for all, especially by sustainable forms of transport, to essential services (hospitals, schools, employment, shopping and recreation facilities, parks and open spaces), as part of the development scheme. (PST1)
2. The Core Strategy should include a policy that all developments in the city should provide for, or make contributions to the provision, operation or maintenance of, sustainable transport facilities to access essential key services and, where relevant, contribute to improving sustainable access to and from the outlying areas, especially the identified deprived areas and areas where car ownership levels are low. (PST2)
3. The Core Strategy should include a policy that requires developers to carry out an assessment of their development proposals to determine the transport needs arising from the development and the means by which any adverse impacts would be mitigated. (PST3)
4. Seek to provide road safety measures and improve air quality by prioritising access in the city centre for pedestrians and public transport (including taxis), 'shopmobility' vehicles, delivery vehicles, emergency vehicles and essential business traffic, to support the city's regional role as a destination for tourism, shopping, healthcare and employment, and identify sites that facilitate the transfer of people and freight to sustainable transport modes, such as Park and Ride and Rail Transfer Stations. (PST4)
5. The Core Strategy should seek to significantly improve the public urban realm through both transport and development schemes by utilising high quality sustainable materials and best practice from across the world. (PST5)
1. [SR] - page 111 - SEAFRONT REGENERATION
2. [SH] - page 114 - SHOREHAM HARBOUR
3. [UF] - page 118 - THE URBAN FRINGE
4. [CS] - page 120 - COMMUNITY STADIUM
5. [DC] - page 123 - DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS
6. POTENTIAL ACTION AREA PLANS – page 125
Areas of Brighton & Hove where higher density is proposed
Feedback from members of Transition Brighton and Hove
1. Seafront regeneration - notably West Pier, Brighton Centre and the strip from Palace Pier to Marina (SR 1).
2. Shoreham Harbour - support the long-term regeneration for jobs, homes and leisure; but of a type and scale that does not require major transport infrastructure (SH 1).
3. The Urban Fringe - support change or management which must enhance diodiversity, seek multi-functional use (such as wildlife protection, recreation, local food production, cultural experience). Other key issues will be: protecting strategic views, creating gateways to the Downs, enhancing community facilities in areas of identified deficiency (including a community stadium) and any site needed for travellers and gypsies (UF1)
4. Community Stadium - if Sec of State grants permission the Council will work with applicant to ensure implementation at Falmer. If refused then the Strategy will support a stadium within Brighton and Hove (CS1)
5. Developer contributions - to take into account the several places where developer contributions have been proposed, and identify which should be secured at the submission stage (DC1). Introduce a policy to support this broader use of developer contributions (DC2)
6. Potential Action Area Plans - more detailed documents to support areas needing regeneration or conservation. These will include land to the west and north-west of Hove Station and the Lewes Road/ London Road corridors (LR2 study) which could also include the Valley Gardens transport and environmental measures proposals.
Area Action Plans are more detailed DPDs that can provide a planning framework to cover key areas of change or conservation identified in the Core Strategy. They are likely to include specific site allocations and will be subject to the same extensive process of community involvement as other DPDs.
All those areas to where it is proposed to direct significant mixed-use, higher-density development in the preferred Spatial Strategy in Part Four of this document may potentially be considered for Area Action Plans. The priorities for consideration, based upon the findings of community involvement and the likelihood of significant development in the early part of the Core Strategy period, are:
# Hove Station area - land to the west/north westThe Lewes Road and London Road corridors could be combined into a single Area Action Plan. Further consideration will be given to this following the recommendations of the 'LR2 Study', which has been commissioned by the council to look at the potential regeneration of this area. Such an Area Action Plan could also include the Valley Gardens area to the south, where major environmental improvements and traffic management measures are proposed in the Local Transport Plan and where the existing historic built environment needs active conservation.
Some areas for possible Area Action Plans will be also identified through the proposed city-wide urban design framework proposed by Preferred Option UDC2. The following areas have been suggested for possible Area Action Plans in preferred options in Part Five and Part Six:
# Shoreham Harbour (jointly with Adur District Council)
# Brighton Seafront - from Brighton Pier to Black Rock
# Brighton regional shopping centre
# The Cultural Quarter (extent of area to be defined)
# The Universities / 'Academic Corridor' (in consultation with Lewes District Council)
# The Urban Fringe
# A Community Stadium
Further work will be needed to establish which of these would most benefit from Area Action Plans and which should be prioritised; they will then be shown on the Key Diagram at the submission stage.
There is undoubtedly scope for redevelopment in areas such as Lewes Road and London Road/Preston Road corridors, but is the Council wise to mark these areas out for high-density development? Consider what is needed to reduce CO2 emissions. Consider too the worsening situation which will result from plans which are already being implemented.
The Vogue Gyratory and much of Lewes Road is already an air quality management area. Soon Veolia's 44 tonne lorries will be adding to the discomfort (one every 10 minutes) of residents without cars who walk from Round Hill along Lewes Road to B & Q, Comet etc.
The congestion caused by existing traffic, not all external, already means that London Road is traffic-dominated as the study commissioned by the Council recognises. Options such as diverting London-bound traffic along New England Street already look difficult to execute. Is growth in the quantity of buildings going to help transport planning in the future?
The Council's Transport Planning is going to be compounded by 'preferred options' based on 'market-led' economics whereby development is concentrated in towns and cities in the South East of England. Proposed developments at Brighton Marina threaten to draw a much greater volume of traffic into the east of our city. What happened to Regional Policy?
If we are really to tackle issues such as climate change and carbon emissions, should we not be addressing perspectives in economics which put 'people, communities & environment' at the centre, as outlined in E.F. Schumacher's 'A Guide For The Perplexed' and 'Small is Beautiful'.
Certain developers and government agencies are quick to relate their projects to the plight of the homeless. If we are really to tackle homelessness, is it wise to allow market-led economics to put extra pressure on land resources, making it impossible for a greater number of people to get onto the housing ladder?
E.F. Schumacher's pamphlet 'Think about Land', written in the 1970s for a housing charity, explains how 'cornering the market for a scarce and finite resource such as land' multiplies problems for the people who are last in line for occupying new developments. The system of Council housing was devised to allocate buildings to people who need them most. This concept is by no means dead either in the UK or internationally.
Community Involvement in the creation of new policy documents to replace Brighton and Hove City Council's Local Plan
The first draft of Core Strategy was approved at the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee on 28 September 2006. It was then launched publicly on 30th October 2006 and followed by a six week period of consultation. The document will be crucial in providing the overall spatial vision and strategy for Brighton & Hove through to 2026.
It will address important city wide matters including housing, the economy, retailing, community safety, tourism, transport, areas of regeneration and social infrastructure. It will indicate, in terms of broad areas, preferences for significant development.
The preferred options of The Core Strategy
The Preferred Options for future development in Brighton & Hove, due to be refreshed in Spring 2008, will be a central part of the 'Local Development Framework (LDF) which will replace the existing Local Plan.
Currently, Brighton and Hove City Council's Local Plan is the main document referred to by planning officers and the elected Councillors on the Planning Applications Sub-committee in deciding the outcome of planning applications e.g. major ones such as Brighton Marina (which will add to CO2 emissions through its traffic implications) and minor ones like Carelet's attempt to build on a greenfield site and open space valued by the Round Hill community.
All residents in Brighton and Hove can be stakeholders in the planning process by commenting on development proposals in any part of our city. However, for comments to count, they need to be in line with The Council's planning policies, so it is essential that residents are also stakeholders in the creation of these policies.
Relevance to the creation of Transition Brighton and Hove's Energy Descent Plan
Rob Hopkins of the Transition Towns movement emphasized the importance of finding out about your Local Authorities planning policies, because they represent where we are now and where public money (our Council Tax!) is being used to take us.
Moreover, if Transition Brighton and Hove is to make a serious attempt to create An Energy Descent Plan, if this is the point we want to get to, we have to take account of the detail of where we are now.
Community planning is a very complex challenge, not only because of financial constraints, but because of the Council's duty to look after so many areas of residents' daily lives.
If Transition Brighton and Hove's Food Group is concerned about land allocation, one place to start is protection of the city's existing open spaces. "Land needed to grow food" does not appear to be one of the Council's main priorities, as erosion of open spaces to housing development indicates. In recent years, the Council has shown lack of rigour in the implementation of its open spaces policies, omitting to undertake the qualitative assessments recommended in Diagram 1 and paragraph 10 of The Government's Planning Policy Guidance PPG17. Sample letter objecting to the Council's most recent Open Spaces Survey, undertaken in conjunction with the private consultancy PMP. This is an area in which Transition Brighton and Hove could try to exert a lot more influence.
Reviving The Council's Open Space Forum and making it belong to a Local Food lobby could be an achievable aim. Residents who have attended previous meetings of Brighton and Hove Open Space Forum at Hove Town Hall will be aware of the competing needs of open space users. Quad bike users do not mix with Friends of Whitehawk Hill with conservation interests at heart, and travellers often find themselves unwelcome as users of open space near to fixed residential dwellings. Residents looking for spaces to let their dogs roam free are often required to keep out of children's play areas.
Those present at Open Space Forums are well aware that space in our city is a limited commodity. It takes no time at all to learn that there are many different user-groups with competing interests. However, I cannot remember a meeting where feeding the local population has figured as an important interest. There is therefore scope for members of Transition Brighton & Hove to stake their claim for what we believe is becoming one of the most important uses for open space.
Involvement in Council consultations (such as the one below) to influence future policy is also a good way of getting to know the planning system. The authors of Transition Brighton and Hove's Energy Descent Plan are unlikely to be taken seriously unless they have a fairly detailed knowledge of current policies.
Consultation on Draft SPD – 'Nature Conservation and Development'
Brighton & Hove City Council has produced a revised draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) on 'Nature Conservation and Development'. An SPD is one of the material considerations that can be taken into account when determining a planning application. It forms a part of the council's new Local Development Framework (LDF).
The document is out for public consultation from 12th February 2008 to 25th March 2008 and the council is keen to gather your views on its content.
The draft SPD and supporting documents are available to view and download from the council’s web site by clicking here
Printed copies are available in the Jubilee (Brighton), Hove and Portslade libraries as well as Citydirect offices in Hove Town Hall and Bartholomew Square (Brighton). Alternatively, should you want a paper version please contact us at the address below.
Comments should be submitted in writing to Matthew Thomas, Ecologist, Countryside Team, Brighton & Hove City Council, Room 323, Hove Town Hall, Hove, BN3 3BQ, or by sending an e-mail to:Matthew.Thomas@brighton-hove.gov.uk by no later than 5 pm on Tuesday 25th March 2008
Thank you. Local Development Framework Team, City Planning Brighton & Hove City Council. Tel: 01273 292505
Note: Graham's calculation is based on the existence of 10,000 acres of municipal land around Brighton. The feasibility of his scheme for feeding the city, depends on this area of land being free from other essential uses. Some uses such as recreation and education could co-exist with local food production, as seen in Cuba. Others would have to be curtailed, so planners would need to anticipate the economic and social consequences of new policies - they might argue that curtailment of existing uses will not cause as much hardship as mass starvation.
Planners are already aware that there are many different types of open spaces. Not all land may be suitable for food production. Although food is basic to survival, a sustainable future depends too on other needs and commodities. Maintenance of public order / peace-keeping also gains importance during times of food shortages. The dual functioning of the Peace and Environment Centres in many of our cities is thoughtfully based.
A useful tool for mapping the different types of open spaces in Brighton and Hove is the Council Ecologist's website at www.citywildlife.org.uk. This allows residents interested in the conservation of local wildlife to register with the Council as Nature Wardens, and log the flora and fauna they see, providing the time of sighting and a precise grid reference on the city map.
Now that we have this useful mapping facility, showing the quantity and quality of open spaces in our city, we might suggest the idea of "Food Wardens" to plot a "dig for survival strategy".
Hi, yes I did calculate the land use and food output. The municipal farm land is used very badly. Conventional energy intense farming, lots of pesticide, fertilizer and fuel inputs, and farmers hostile to doing anything different. If they switched to an efficient, non oil/ferttilizer etc organic system, they could deliver about one third more food, very cheaply. But growing grains is not a good use of the land. Root crops, (spuds, etc) and switching to intesnive organic market gardening, would increase food output by about 400%, enabling us to feed all of Brighton from local food, using the system originated in Cuba.
The land would need to be divided into 1000 small small holding units, of ten acres each, to achieve this. Fish farming, (as practised in Bangladesh) would produce enough to supply Brighton's protein needs. The present use of the land can only be described as backward, out of date, and conservative.
Further comment by Graham Ennis of the Omega Institute.
I sadly have to stand by my calculations about the 10,000 acres of municipal land around Brighton. When peak oil hits, (we are now talking less than 10 years for major crisis here, with possibly $250 per barrel within five years or so) their conventional farming, with all its inputs, will simply go bankrupt. It also does not produce enough food for 250,000 plus City population from 10,000 acres. Bluntly, sometime in the future, perhaps ten to twenty years, Brighton becomes hungry.
Can Brighton land produce enough to feed the City?
Yes, but not doing it the way we are now.
The land needs to be reorganized, sub-divided, and switched to sustainable agriculture. This means intensive, zero net energy inputs, type organic farming, switching to horticulture, using methods like Cuban "Organoponics" (organic hydroponics) for the less good quality land, etc etc. Plus producing only efficient protein, (pigs, birds, fish, basicly.) No sheep or beef. I calculated that these methods would produce about enough food for 400,000 people on 10,000 acres. Sounds impossible, but its true. (polytunnels and advanced, hi-tech organics, = 100,000 Kilos yeild per hectare per year). Equals 4,166 Hectares of municiple land, times 100,000KG = 1600Kg of food per Brighton resident per year. (4.38Kg per day). In actuality, at 80% efficiency of production, = 3.5Kg per day per person. This now allows for protein production, (fish, pork, chicken, eggs) and a good organic diet. There is a surplus to trade for external inputs needed.
All this does not factor in that a WWII type "Dig for Victory" campaign utilizing all the back gardens and small spaces in Brighton would produce about one third to one half of the food needed anyway, using Cuban type methods.
Yes, Brighton can feed itself, but not with the present Council policies.
The council Allotment policy is a disgrace. It's impossible to get an allotment at the moment, inspite of many allotments abandoned and overgrown. The council has in place a two year ban on giving out any more allotments. Why???.
I tried to get ten allotments, for myself and nine friends, rented as a single plot, so we could work it collectively, using intensive organics, and prove that we could feed ourselves. (An important experiment, using advanced organics).
No allotments, especially for anything that smacked of organics or collective effort.
Click on Core Strategy Update: September 2007 for the latest on preparation of the Local Development Framework - the document which will replace Brighton and Hove City Council's Local Plan.
Timetable for the Brighton & Hove Core Strategy Refreshed Preferred Options document
This document will now be reported to the April 2008 meeting of the city council's Policy and Resources Committee. Subject to committtee approval, this document will be published for public consultation in April 2008. This delay to the timetable is to allow important background evidence to be incorporated into the final draft of the document. The evidence includes a flood risk assessment, a transport assessment and two housing studies. Subject to committtee approval, this document will be published for public consultation in April 2008.