A wide range of quality facilities and services is crucial to maintain and improve the quality of life for local people. To achieve this we need to work with others to deliver long-term solutions and actions based on identified needs.
Key Issues
Providing community facilities: inc. leisure centres, community centres, libraries, skate parks, parks and open spaces
Creating and maintaining local services: GP surgeries, hospitals, dentists, schools & other education / training services
Ensuring community safety: Tackling crime and disorder, anti-social behaviour, vandalism
Transport: Integrated bus services, rail stations, cycle routes, footpaths, improving accessibility for the disabled & elderly
Alleviating parking and traffic congestion
Although Amber Valley has below-average rates of unemployment (as compared to national and regional figures), there is a need to address pockets of deprivation where long term unemployment, low incomes and low levels of qualifications are concentrated. In today’s competitive economic climate we cannot afford to stand still and need to plan for sustainable economic growth, providing greater and more varied job opportunities for local people.
Regeneration of town centre
Tackling pockets of deprivation, particularly in the eastern parts of the Borough
Retaining and improving industrial estates
Bridging job and skills gaps: inc. providing training opportunities
Location of new employment sites
Meeting shopping and entertainment needs
Managing the impact of supermarkets on existing retail centres
Promoting tourism
Supporting the rural economy: inc. farm diversification
Much of Amber Valley comprises attractive natural landscapes that help to create the environment that we enjoy as well as providing valuable wildlife habitats. Furthermore, the Borough has an important built heritage with numerous conservation areas and listed buildings that give our town and villages their distinct character. We must protect these precious and valuable assets. Furthermore, we have to play our part in tackling climate change by finding ways to reduce carbon emissions. However other parts of the Borough provide a poorer quality environment, including areas of dereliction. A sustainable environment is also about allowing some development in order to maintain the quality of services and people’s quality of life. A balanced approach is therefore needed to protect the environment whilst achieving appropriate development in the right locations.
Development pressures: inc. meeting the need for development
Tackling climate change: inc. providing renewable energy
Protecting the Green Belt and the countryside
Managing the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site
Preserving listed buildings and conservation areas
Protection from flooding inc. avoiding development on flood plains
Enhancing wildlife and biodiversity
Reclaiming derelict land
We must plan for housing growth in the Borough up to 2026, to meet the requirements set out in the emerging East Midlands Regional Plan. The latest figures in the Regional Plan, following the publication of Proposed Modifications by the Government, equate to an average of 472 additional dwellings per annum between 2001-2026. However, taking into account recent housebuilding rates between 2001-2008, the annual requirement rises to 504 per annum between 2008-2026. Our task is to find the most sustainable locations for this additional housing development, whilst at the same time ensuring that a wide range of house types and tenures is provided to meet the diverse needs of local communities.
Lack of affordable housing for local people: inc.lack of rural affordable housing
Location of new housing
Providing sites for gypsies and travellers
Responding to changes in the population: inc. the need to cater for more elderly people
Utilising existing housing stock: inc empty properties, second homes
Design of new housing development
Information and associated progress with regard to the Core Strategy and Community Strategy is available to view on this web site and the Amber Valley Partnership’s Website: http://www.ambervalley-partnership.org.uk/ respectively. You can also call our Core Strategy Hotline on 01773 841584.
