1.4      The Core Strategy was developed by the District Council over the past a five years period between 2006 and 2011. In formulating the Vision, Objectives and Policies within this the Plan a range of issues have been were taken into account:

1. The Sustainable Community Strategy of Newark & Sherwood District Council and Nottinghamshire County Council and other strategies and programmes. For further information see Appendix B.
2. National Planning Policy - National policy on specific aspects of spatial planning are were contained within guidance documents known either as Planning Policy Statements (PPS) or Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG). This guidance covers ed broad topic areas such as housing, employment, town centres, green belts and biodiversity, etc and can be were prescriptive on detailed issues. PPS12: Creating strong, safe and prosperous communities through Local Spatial Planning, published in 2008, sets out Government policy on Spatial Planning. Further information on this national planning policy guidance can be viewed at: http://www.communities.gov.uk/ planningandbuilding. A key requirement of the new planning system introduced by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 is the delivery of sustainable development. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) replaced the PPSs and PPGs on 27 March 2012.
3. Growth Point Status - The New Growth Point Initiative is was part of the Government’s response to the shortage of housing across the country. New Growth Points are were not planning designations but arrangements whereby local authorities have agreed higher growth targets in partnership with Government and are guaranteed access to increased levels of funding for necessary infrastructure. Newark and Sherwood was designated as a New Growth Point by the Government because of its location, its potential for regeneration, its need for substantial affordable housing and the need for new infrastructure improvements such as transport and communications, healthcare, education, recreation and leisure. The Growth Point Initiative ended in 2016, and therefore requirements to plan for significantly higher housing figures above assessed needs have been removed. Now the District Council working in partnership with neighboring authorities must plan for objectively assessed housing need as set out at paragraph 1.6 and 1.7.
4. The Regional Plan - Regional planning policy is was set out in the East Midlands Regional Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy) published on 12th March 2009 by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. The Regional Plan represents ed the strategic part of the statutory ‘Development Plan’ and, beyond its role in establishing the broad strategy within which Local Development Frameworks have to be prepared, it is material to considerations and decisions that have to be taken on individual planning applications and appeals. The Regional Plan that providesd a broad strategy for development and investment up to 2026. It identifies the scale and distribution of provision for new housing and sets priorities for economic development, the environment, transport, infrastructure, agriculture, energy, minerals and waste treatment and disposal. The Newark and Sherwood LDF is legally obliged to be in general conformity with the provisions of the Regional Plan. The East Midlands Regional Plan was revoked by the Secretary of State on 20 March 2013.
5. Public Consultation and Participation - there have been were four rounds of public consultation on the Core Strategy. The District Council consulted widely with stakeholder groups, including the Local Strategic Partnership, Town and Parish Councils, community groups, the Government and other statutory consultees. The District Council also held a range of consultation events for the general public including a number of roadshows. The various rounds of consultation were also publicised in the local media. The results of the consultation helped to inform the formulation of the Core Strategy.
6. Evidence Base - In developing the Core Strategy the District Council has undertaken undertook research into a variety of subject areas to that helped shape the policies of the plan. In many cases this has involved working closely with other stakeholders including infrastructure providers to produce the various studies and strategies. This evidence base which underpins ned our Core Strategy and includesd the following reports:

• Affordable Housing Viability Study
• Community Green Space Provision and Improvement Plans
• Developer Tariff Review
• District-wide Landscape Character Area Assessment
• District wide Transport Study
• Green Infrastructure Study
• Green Spaces Strategy
• Habitat Regulation Screening Assessment
• Housing Needs, Market and Affordability Study
• Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP)
• Newark & Sherwood Local Housing Strategy
• Northern Sub-Regional Employment Land Review and 2010 Update Report
• Economic Growth and Prosperity - Supporting Paper
• Retail and Town Centres Study
• State of the District Report 2009
• Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (Level 1 and Level 2 for Strategic Sites)
• Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA)
• Water Cycle Study

These reports are available to view on our website on the Local Development Framework Evidence Base and Plan Review pages at:

www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/planningpolicy 

7.       Newark & Sherwood Infrastructure Delivery Plan - The purpose of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) is was to identify the various forms of infrastructure that are required to meet the level of growth anticipated in Newark and Sherwood District over the plan period (2006 to 2026.) To inform this, a baseline assessment of the existing infrastructure within the District has been carried out to identify the current infrastructure provision, variations of the level of provision across the District and the level of growth that can be supported by that existing infrastructure. Where a shortfall exists to meet the forecast growth, the required infrastructure has been identified. The IDP also identifies a broad cost estimate for that infrastructure, the appropriate funding mechanism and an outline programme for delivery. The IDP appendices included a detailed Delivery Programme for the 3 strategic sites that are allocated a tLand South of Newark, Land East of Newark and Land around Fernwood.

8.       Results of the Sustainability Appraisal - The District Council is was required to ensure that documents prepared for the Local Development Framework are were subject to a Sustainability Appraisal (SA), which incorporatesd the requirements of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Carrying out the process of Sustainability Appraisal is a statutory requirement within the spatial planning process. It provides a means to assess the economic, social and environmental effects of the strategies and policies of the LDF from the outset of the plan preparation process. The purpose of SA is to promote sustainable development through the better integration of sustainability considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans. The Core Strategy is accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal Report which considers the likely significant environmental, economic and social effects of the Core Strategy. A copy of the summary of its findings can be found in Appendix C. The full Sustainability Appraisal Report can be viewed on the District Council's website at: www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/planningpolicy.

9.       Results of the Habitats Regulations Screening - The Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora requiresd that any plan or project that is likely to have a significant effect on a designated habitat site, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, is to be subject to an Appropriate Assessment (AA) of its implications for the site in view of the site's conservation objectives. In Newark and Sherwood, there is one designated habitat site, Birklands and Bilhaugh Special Area of Conservation (SAC), located within Sherwood Forest. A Screening Report for the Core Strategy has been undertaken to assess and screen the policies within it to see if they would adversely affect the designated habitat. The Screening Report can be viewed at: www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/planningpolicy.