East Ayrshire Local Plan - Volume 1 East Ayrshire Council - The Scottish Government
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East Ayrshire Council
East Ayrshire Local Plan
Volume 1
Quality | Equality | Access | Partnership
2 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 2010
Foreword
Since the adoption of the last East Ayrshire Local
Plan in April 2003, there has been substantial
developer interest in East Ayrshire, generated largely
by improved communication links between Kilmarnock
and the Glasgow conurbation through the recent
upgrading of the A77 to motorway status. Increased
developer interest has, in particular, been evidenced
by a rapid take up and development of housing sites.
In order to respond positively to increasing development
demands, the Council has therefore made a conscious
decision to prepare an early alteration to the local
plan, to reflect changing circumstances and to
provide an adequate supply of development land to
meet anticipated demands to 2017 and beyond.
In this regard, the Council has now produced the East
Ayrshire Local Plan 2010 which fully reflects and respects
the provisions of the new Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan.
Production of both documents in tandem has ensured full
co-ordination of strategic and local development planning in
the area and will provide a strong, positive and proactive
planning base for future development throughout East
Ayrshire in the years to come.
As with the adopted local plan 2003, this local plan aims to
actively promote and enhance the economic, social and
physical environment of East Ayrshire as a means of
improving the quality of life of all residents of the area. The
plan has been designed, in particular, to help achieve the
aims and aspirations of the Council’s Community Plan,
especially with regard to the improvement of opportunities
and the environment. In addition, the plan identifies a range
of development sites for housing, industry and other uses to
meet future anticipated demands and provides the Council’s
policy and physical framework for future development
throughout the authority area.
I very much welcome the production of the local plan and
acknowledge, with thanks, the efforts of all those involved in
its preparation. I feel sure that all users of the planning
system will benefit greatly from the information contained in
the local plan and that the approach to new development
advocated in the document will be of long term benefit to
East Ayrshire as a whole.
Councillor Douglas Reid
Leader of the Council
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 3
Contents (iii) Minerals
Minerals Profile
23
23
Policy Context 23
Executive Summary 6 Strategic Planning Context 23
Prime Objectives of the Local Plan 23
The Strategic Approach 6
Mineral Development Strategy 23
Stabilising Population Levels 6
Encouraging Economic Development
Improving Accessibility
6
7
5 Investing in Communities
(i) Investing in Housing
24
24
Developing Strong andVibrant Communities 8
Housing Profile 24
Safeguarding and Enhancing the Quality of the
Built and Natural Environment 8 Policy Context 24
Assessment of the Plan 8 Strategic Planning Context 24
Prime Objective of the Local Plan 26
1 Introduction
Format of the Local Plan
9
9
East Ayrshire Housing Land Allocations
Housing in the StrategicExpansion Locations
26
28
Provisions of the Local Plan 10 Affordable Housing 29
Monitoring and Review 10 Community Care Housing 30
Social Rented Housing 30
2 The Development Strategy
The European, National and Local Context for the Plan
11
11
Non-Permanent Dwellings
Enabling Development
30
30
Housing in the Countryside 30
National Policy and Guidance 11
Master Plans and Design Statements for
The Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan 12
Larger Scale Housing Developments 31
The East Ayrshire Community Plan 13
Housing Development Strategy 31
The Strategic Aims ofthe Local Plan 14
(ii) Investing in Retailing & Town Centre Activities 32
The General Development Strategy 15
Retail and Town CentreActivity Profile 32
3 Creating Successful Communities
Creating SuccessfulCommunities Profile
16
16
Policy Context
Strategic Planning Context
32
32
Prime Objective of the Local Plan 32
Policy Context 16
East Ayrshire Retail Requirements 32
Strategic Planning Context 16
Kilmarnock Town Centre and the Kilmarnock
Prime Objectives of the Local Plan 17
Town Centre Strategy 32
Provision of Essential Infrastructure 17
Cumnock Town Centre and Cumnock Town
Developer Contributions 18 CentreRenewal Strategy 34
Creating SuccessfulCommunities Strategy 19 Other Town Centres 35
4 Investing inthe Economy
(i) Business and Industry
20
20
Out of Town Centres
Retail and Town Centre Activities
35
Development Strategy 35
Business and Industry Profile 20 (iii) Investing in Community Facility and
Policy Context 20 Service Infrastructure 36
Strategic Planning Context 20 Community Facility and Service Infrastructure Profile 36
Prime Objectives of the Local Plan 21 Policy Context 36
Business and Industry Strategy 21 Strategic Planning Context 36
(ii) Tourism 22 Prime Objective of the Local Plan 37
Tourism Profile 22 Provision of Leisure,Cultural and Sporting Facilities 37
Policy Context 22 Renewable Energy 37
Strategic Planning Context 22 Telecommunications 37
Prime Objective of the Local Plan 22 Community Facility and Service Infrastructure
Tourism Development Strategy 22 Development Strategy 38
4 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 2010
(iv) Investing in Waste Management 38 Glossary of Terms 50
Waste Management Profile 38
Policy Context 38 Local Plan Schedules 56
Strategic Planning Context 38
Schedule 1: 56
Prime Objective of the Local Plan 39
Schedule 2: 56
Existing Waste Management Facilities 39
Schedule 3: 57
Future Waste Management Requirements 39
Schedule 3: 58
Waste ManagementDevelopment Strategy 39
Schedule 3: 59
6 Investing
and Access
in Transportation
40
Schedule 4:
Schedule 5:
59
59
Schedule 6: 59
Transportation and Access Profile 40 Schedule 6: 60
Policy Context 40 Schedule 7: 60
Strategic Planning Context 40 Schedule 8: 61
Prime Objective of the Local Plan 41 Schedule 9: 61
Transport Assessmentsand Appraisals 41
Transportation Components of the Kilmarnock APPENDIX 1:
Town Centre Strategy and Cumnock
East Ayrshire Community Plan Themes and Aims 62
Town Centre Regeneration 42
Improving Community Safety 62
Transport Development Strategy 42
Promoting Lifelong Learning 62
7 Protecting the Environment
Environment Profile
43
43
Improving Health and Wellbeing
Delivering Community Regeneration
62
62
Policy Context 43 APPENDIX 2:
Strategic Planning Context 44
Sites of Local Nature Conservation Interest 63
Prime Objective of the Local Plan 44
(i) Built Heritage 45 APPENDIX 2(a):
(ii) Townscape and Design 45
Sites of National and Local Nature
Master Plans andDesign Statements 45
Conservation Interest 64
(iii) Natural Heritage 46
Sites of International Importance 46 APPENDIX 3:
Sites of National Importance 46
Agricultural Land Classification 66
Sites of Local Interest 46
(iv) Landscape and the Rural Environment 46 APPENDIX 4:
Green Networks 47
East Ayrshire Local Plan: Action Programme 67
(v) Environmental Protection 47
Flooding 47
Contaminated Land 47
Water Quality 47
Environment Development Strategy 48
8 Monitoring,
and Review
Evaluation
49
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 5
The Strategic Approach
Executive The Local Plan has been firmly placed in the context of
Scottish Ministers’ National Planning Framework and all
current national planning advice and guidance produced by
Summary the Scottish Government and also fully respects and reflects
the provisions of the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan. In this
regard, the local plan is specifically geared towards:
Overall Aims and • stabilising the population of Ayrshire in 2025 at
current (2005) levels;
Objectives of the Plan • encouraging and facilitating economic development;
The East Ayrshire Local Plan • improving accessibility both within, and to
2010 has been designed opportunities outside, Ayrshire;
specifically to help achieve, • developing strong and vibrant communities; and
in land use terms, the vision of • safeguarding and enhancing the quality of the built
the Council’s Community Plan, and natural environment.
which is to ensure that:
‘East Ayrshire will be a place
with strong, vibrant communities
where everyone has a good
quality of life and access to
opportunities, choices and high
quality services which are
sustainable, accessible and
meet people’s needs.’
In this regard, the Local Plan has
adopted a primary strategic aim
which aspires:
‘to promote sustainable
development, to maximise
the economic potential Stabilising Population Levels
of East Ayrshire and to improve In order to halt population decline and to help sustain local
the quality of life of its residents.’ communities, the Council has adopted the principal objective
of the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan, to stabilise the population
of East Ayrshire by 2025 at current (2005) levels. The local
plan aims to achieve this objective by:
• providing an adequate supply, range and type of
housing sites throughout East Ayrshire’s communities
to meet all future anticipated needs and requirements;
• creating living and working environments of the
highest possible quality for all residents of the area, in
order to help retain population and attract new inward
investment; and
• facilitating appropriate and sympathetic residential
development within the countryside in order to help
stem rural population decline.
6 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 2010
Encouraging Economic Development Improving Accessibility
A strong and vibrant business and industrial base is seen as In order to provide an improved, integrated and sustainable
an essential pre-requisite to the creation of successful transport infrastructure and to promote the development of
communities within East Ayrshire. In order to help achieve stronger communication links with Ayrshire, the Glasgow
an effective economy throughout East Ayrshire’s conurbation and national strategic transportation networks,
communities, the local plan the plan:
• directs all strategic business and industrial • supports the upgrading of the A77 south of
developments to sites within Kilmarnock and Kilmarnock, including upgrading and improvement of
Cumnock / Auchinleck areas; the Bellfield Interchange;
• identifies and safeguards suitable business and • encourages the development of the A76 Trunk Road
industrial locations throughout East Ayrshire’s as a first class strategic route, including provision of a
communities; by-pass for Mauchline;
• directs major office developments to Kilmarnock and • seeks improvement of strategic road links to the M74
Cumnock; through improvements of the A70 and A71 roads;
• encourages the development of rail freight based • seeks improved passenger rail services between
industries at appropriate locations on the rail network; Kilmarnock and Glasgow, and the establishment of
new passenger rail halts at Mauchline, Hurlford
• encourages farm diversification, diversification of the
and Cumnock and at Altonhill and Queens Drive
rural economy and the development of appropriate
in Kilmarnock
new rural businesses and industries;
In order to help address the threat posed by climate change,
• encourages working from home subject to certain
to reduce energy consumption and to reduce CO2 emissions
criteria being met; and
caused by road traffic, the plan also
• promotes sympathetic and appropriate tourism related
• promotes the transportation of freight by rail rather
development in local communities and throughout the
than by road;
rural area.
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 7
• promotes development of the local cycle and footpath The Council also aims, through the local plan, to ensure that
networks and the creation of improved and further developers contribute to the creation of successful
links with national cycle and footpath routes; and communities and high quality new developments by:
• ensures that new developments are easily accessible • requiring that appropriate levels of service
and, wherever possible, adequately served by a range infrastructure are provided within new residential
of different modes of transport. developments;
• requiring that developers of new retail and
Developing Strong and commercial leisure developments make appropriate
Vibrant Communities contributions to help facilitate improvements to the
environmental quality of the public realm; and
In order to make East Ayrshire a desirable location within
which people would wish to live and work, the Council • requiring that developers of new residential
recognises that local communities must be of the highest developments provide adequate community facilities
quality and provided with a full range of services and and amenities to meet the needs of local residents
facilities to support local populations and to cater for the living within each new development proposed.
needs of all residents and visitors to the area. To achieve The Council also requires prospective developers of
these objectives, the local plan aims, in particular; larger scale developments, particularly those residential
• to provide an adequate supply of effective housing developments in the strategic expansion locations identified
land and associated leisure, recreational, community in the local plan, to produce Master Plans and will also request
and other facilities and services to meet anticipated developers to produce design statements to accompany their
demand; and development proposals, as considered appropriate.
• to strengthen and improve the viability and vitality of
the retail and economic base of East Ayrshire. Safeguarding and Enhancing the Quality
In order to achieve these aims, the local plan:
of the Built and Natural Environment
The Council is committed to protecting, conserving and
• directs all major future residential, economic and
enhancing the character, appearance and amenity of the
retail development to Kilmarnock;
East Ayrshire communities and their rural settings, especially
• promotes as a priority, the regeneration of the former as regards their landscape quality and the built and natural
Coalfield Area communities; environment. The local plan therefore aims:
• encourages the reuse of brownfield redevelopment • to protect, preserve and, where appropriate, enhance
sites and existing properties for new development all built and natural heritage resources requiring
purposes; conservation;
• directs development meeting particular identified • to protect, preserve and enhance the landscape
needs to specific development opportunity sites; and character and appearance of the area;
• requires all new developments to be of the highest • to prepare Article 4 Directions for Conservation Areas;
quality of design and in keeping with the character
• to encourage appropriate and sensitive forest,
and appearance of the area in which they are located.
woodland and tree management throughout the area;
• to develop, improve and enhance those areas of land
despoiled by past coal and other mineral extraction;
• to prepare and implement Environmental
Improvement Action Plans for particular identified
areas; and
• to establish and protect a Green Network
for East Ayrshire.
Assessment of the Plan
As an integral part of the plan preparation process, all of the
aims, strategies, policies and proposals contained within the
local plan have been made the subject of a full Sustainability
Appraisal which accompanies the Local Plan as a separate
supporting document.
8 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 2010
1 Introduction
1
1.1 What will East Ayrshire be like in 2017?
The East Ayrshire Community Plan has a vision for
East Ayrshire, stating that:
‘East Ayrshire will be a place with strong, vibrant
communities where everyone has a good quality of
life and access to opportunities, choices and high
quality services which are sustainable, accessible
and meet people’s needs.’
Introduction 1.2 The Community Plan itself is a blueprint as to how
the Council and its partners will work towards
achieving that vision. In turn, the East Ayrshire Local
Plan will play a key role in ensuring that the vision of
the Community Plan is achieved in land use terms.
Its main purpose is to encourage and guide future
development, including housing, shops, offices,
schools and other community facilities, to the right
locations and to ensure that such developments are
designed and laid out to the highest standards.
1.3 Houses, offices and shops, are not generally provided
by the Council. However, the Council is determined to
work in partnership with developers and investment
companies to ensure that East Ayrshire grows and
prospers. The confidence to enable companies to
invest in East Ayrshire must come from the Local Plan.
Format of the Local Plan
1.4 The local plan has been produced in a three volume
format, as follows:
Volume 1:
Introduction and Strategic Approach
1.5 Volume 1 of the plan addresses the various planning
issues facing East Ayrshire on a subject by subject
basis, providing a broad profile of each subject
discussed and its national and strategic planning
context. The main aims and objectives of the plan
relating to each subject are identified and a series of
development strategies set out, detailing how these
particular aims and objectives can best be achieved.
Volume 2:
Strategic and General Development
Management Policies
1.6 Volume 2 of the plan sets out, again on a subject by
subject basis, those strategic and general policies
designed to implement the development strategies
formulated in Volume 1 of the document and to
provide a policy base for making informed decisions
on planning applications. Volume 2 also lists all major
development proposals programmed by the Council
and other public agencies and bodies and makes
recommendations to relevant parties to follow certain
stated courses of action to help achieve the objectives
of the plan.
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 9
Volume 3: Development Strategies - Development Strategies
Settlement and Rural Area (denoted by DS in the plan) set out the Council’s
approach to achieving the aims of the local plan.
Development Opportunities
Strategic Policies - Strategic Policies indicate how the
1.7 Volume 3 of the plan identifies, on a series of maps,
Council will address key development issues and
those Housing, Business and Industry, and
meet strategic planning objectives.
Miscellaneous Opportunity Sites that are required to
meet future demand in the local plan period to 2017. General Policies - General Policies indicate the
In those settlements identified in the Ayrshire Joint attitude of the Council to new development on a topic
Structure Plan as Strategic Expansion Locations (ie by topic basis and act as a guide for the management
the communities of Kilmarnock, Cumnock / of development. The policies are designed to be
Auchinleck, Stewarton and Mauchline) the broad flexible and adaptable to change, in order to be
scale and direction of future, longer term development responsive to future development opportunities as
beyond the local plan period to 2025 have also been they arise.
indicated on the local plan maps pertaining to the
Proposals - Proposals detail the committed
settlements concerned.
development intentions of the Council, other public
1.8 The Council has made every possible effort to ensure agencies or private developers.
that the development opportunity sites identified in
Recommendations - The Council itself may not be in
Volume 3 of the plan are effective and deliverable.
a position to implement some developments
However, it is accepted that a number of sites
proposed. In these circumstances, recommendations
identified may be subject to certain development
are made to other bodies asking them to take action
constraints, particularly with regard to flood risk,
in accordance with the Plan.
transport impacts and ground conditions which require
detailed site investigation and analysis and which Each of the aims, strategies, policies, proposals and
cannot be adequately assessed or quantified by the recommendations of the plan have been give unique
Council as part of the local plan preparation process. reference numbers to aid comprehension of the
In this regard, potential developers of any of the document and to facilitate their assessment in
development sites identified should satisfy themselves strategic environmental and socio-economic terms.
that ground conditions are suitable for the particular
development proposed, that adequate measures can
be taken to mitigate any potential flood risk and that
Assessment of the Plan
the transport impacts of their particular developments 1.11 As an integral part of the plan preparation process,
are acceptable to the Council as Roads Authority. They all of the aims, strategies, policies and proposals
should also note that the inclusion of a development contained within the document have been made the
opportunity site in the plan does not remove the subject of a full Sustainability Appraisal. The appraisal
requirement to obtain all other necessary consents, process has comprised both a comprehensive Strategic
authorisations or licences required under associated Environmental Assessment of the plan, carried out to
environmental protection or other legislation. meet the statutory provisions of the Environmental
Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland)
1.9 A series of schedules and appendices is attached to
Regulations 2004 and the Environmental Assessment
the plan, supplementing the information contained in
(Scotland) Act 2005, and a non statutory assessment
the document, and a glossary of terms is also
of all local plan provisions in socio-economic terms.
provided. In the interests of clarity and openness, a
The Sustainability Appraisal itself, accompanies the
schedule of those development opportunity sites
local plan as a separate supporting document.
identified in the plan which are in Council ownership
have also been included in the document.
Monitoring and Review
Provisions of the Local Plan 1.12 The provisions of the local plan will be regularly
monitored and reviewed to keep it relevant and up-to-
1.10 The local plan identifies a series of aims, strategies,
date. In order to assist in this process, an Action Plan
policies, proposals and recommendations which,
has been produced, setting out a proposed programme
together, are intended to help meet the Council’s
as regard the implementation of the specific proposals
vision described in Paragraph 1.1 above and to
contained in the document. This Action Plan is
provide for future appropriate, sympathetic and
reproduced as Appendix 4 of the plan, and it is
sustainable development throughout East Ayrshire.
proposed that the Action Plan itself will be monitored
Aims - The Aims of the plan have been formulated to on an annual basis, allowing the Council to regularly
help achieve the aspirations of the Council to promote assess the degree to which individual proposals of the
sustainable development, to improve natural and built plan are being implemented and achieved.
amenities for residents and visitors and to regenerate
communities.
10 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 20102 The Development
2
Strategy
The European, National and Local
Context for the Plan
2.1 In preparing its development strategy to 2017 the
Council is required to take account of European
legislation, national planning policies, advice and
The guidance, the provisions of the Ayrshire Joint
Structure Plan and other statements of commitment
by the Council or its partners.
Development 2.2 The Government’s commitment to sustainable
development has been of fully reflected in the
Strategy preparation of the East Ayrshire Local Plan.
The Council is keen to promote sustainable forms and
patterns of development while conserving natural
resources and protecting and enhancing the
environment and this approach is a central
component of the plan.
National Policy and Guidance
2.3 Although many documents have been considered in
the preparation of the plan, there are three documents
at a national level that have been particularly important
in shaping the local plan’s development strategy:
• The National Planning Framework
• People and Place: Regeneration Policy
Statement; and
• Choosing our Future: Scotland’s Sustainable
Development Strategy
The National Planning Framework
and East Ayrshire.
Planning Requirements
• to strengthen strategic transport corridors with
Ireland and the Continent;
• to improve links with Scotland’s central belt;
• to cluster export orientated industries along
transport corridors;
• to promote regeneration and economic
diversification in small towns;
• to develop cultural, business and activity based
tourism; and
• to improve environmental quality in the former
mining areas
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 11The Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan
People and Place: Regeneration 2.5 The Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan was approved by
Policy Statement and East Ayrshire Scottish Ministers in November 2007. By law, the
local plan must conform to the Structure Plan.
Planning Requirements
2.6 The structure plan has five key objectives
• to pursue opportunities for regeneration with a
regional impact across Ayrshire, particularly within (i) to stabilise the population of Ayrshire in 2025 at
the Coalfield Area and Kilmarnock Town Centre. current (2005) levels (SP1);
• to ensure that the status of regeneration projects is (ii) to support measures that encourage economic
reflected in the priorities of delivery agencies. development underpinned by a sustainable
population (SP2);
• to work with the Community Planning Partnership
in Ayrshire to foster a more strategic approach to (iii) to seek improved accessibility both within, and to
regeneration which links effectively with local and opportunities outside, Ayrshire (SP3);
regional economic opportunities. (iv) to develop strong and vibrant communities by
realising their potential for regeneration and
growth and through the promotion of appropriate
development in rural areas (SP4); and
(v) to safeguard and enhance the quality of the
Choosing Our Future: Scotland’s environment (SP5).
Sustainable Development Strategy 2.7 Whilst meeting strict guidelines for sustainable
and East Ayrshire. development and taking into account the provisions of
the National Planning Framework, the structure plan
Planning Requirements requires East Ayrshire Council:
• investing substantially in public transport • to provide for integrated and complimentary
and rail infrastructure; development within the Core Investment Area
• improving the quality of our green space and and to promote it as the primary focus for all
streetscape; major development;
• environmental regeneration of the most deprived • to support an appropriate scale of residential,
neighbourhoods; business and environmental action in the
Investment Corridors;
• moving away from our dependence on landfill in
the treatment of waste and investing in recycling; • to support Service Centres as the primary foci
for development in Investment Corridors;
• protecting communities from flooding;
• to provide for an appropriate level of
• using Strategic Environmental Assessment to
development commensurate with capacity to
identify and mitigate potential impacts of
accommodate growth in Local Communities;
development on biodiversity, soil, water, air,
and
landscapes etc;
• to support Rural Areas through measures that
• reducing greenhouse gas emissions and getting
seek to diversify the rural economy and
more energy from renewable sources;
facilitate new rural business and industry.
• providing more affordable housing and improving
the existing housing stock; and
• improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
2.4 The preceding boxes outline the national context
within which the local plan development strategy has
been prepared.
12 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 20102.8 The structure of the settlement hierarchy, as it relates The East Ayrshire Community Plan
to East Ayrshire, is provided in Table 1 below:
2.9 The East Ayrshire Community Plan is the most
Table 1: East Ayrshire Local Plan important strategic operational document produced by
Settlement Hierarchy the Council. It sets down in four themes and
associated Action Plans what the Council and its
partners will do:
Local Plan Settlement Hierarchy • to promote social justice and inclusion;
Core Investment Area • to ensure effective community engagement in
Major town – Kilmarnock the planning and development of local services;
Local Communities – Hurlford*, Crookedholm*, • to succeed in joint working and engaging people;
Crosshouse*, Knockentiber+ • to ensure quality and accessibility; and
Glasgow Link Corridor • to deliver continuous improvement and best value.
Service Centre – Stewarton 2.10 The East Ayrshire Local Plan is designed to manage
and allocate sufficient land in the right places so that
Local Communtities – Kilmaurs*, Fenwick+, Dunlop+
new development is of the required standard and is in
Other Communities – Laigh Fenwick, Lugton, accord with the aims of the Community Plan.
Waterside (by Kilmarnock), Moscow
2.11 Of the four themes identified as part of the Community
Irvine Valley Corridor Plan, the theme of ‘Delivering Community
Regeneration’ is of particular relevance to the local
Service Centre – Galston
plan. Through the Delivering Community Regeneration
Local Communities – Darvel+, Newmilns+ Action Plan, the Council is committed to:
Other Communities – Priestland • regenerating town centres and villages, and
dealing with rundown areas;
Cumnock Link Corridor
• growing and supporting new and existing
Service Centres – Cumnock, Auchinleck businesses, including the social economy;
Local Communities – Catrine*, Drongan*, Logan / • developing employability initiatives, including
Lugar+, Mauchline*, Muirkirk+, New Cumnock+, within the social economy;
Ochiltree +, Sorn+
• growing tourism and increasing visits and
Other Communities – Burnside, Coalhall, Cronberry, participation in cultural and leisure activities;
Hayhill, Leggate/Connel Park/Bank Glen, Rankinston
Sinclairston and Skares, • promoting transport solutions, particularly for
rural areas, ensuring that good quality
Doon Valley Corridor affordable choices are available;
Service Centre – Dalmellington • supporting the provision of sustainable housing
Local Communities – Bellsbank+, Dalrymple*, Patna* solutions;
Other Communities – Burnton, Hollybush, Polnessan, • protecting, conserving and enhancing the
Skeldon Mills, Waterside natural environment;
• mitigating against and adapting to the negative
Key
effects of climate change;
* Local Community with significant development
• supporting parents and carers, communities,
opportunities.
service providers and agencies to break
+Local Community with small scale development intergenerational cycles of poverty, inequality
opportunities. and poor outcomes in and through the early
years
Note: Limited development may be considered
acceptable in the ‘Other Communities’ listed above, 2.12 A full list of the Community Plan themes and aims is
as considered appropriate. provided in Appendix 1 of the local plan.
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 13The Strategic Aims of
the Local Plan
2.13 The local plan has an important role to play in
achieving all of the Community Plan themes and
aspirations detailed above as well as achieving the
wider objectives set down in the Ayrshire Joint
Structure Plan and all relevant national documents.
To this end, the local plan has adopted a single
primary strategic aim which is:
‘to promote sustainable development,
to maximise the economic potential
of East Ayrshire and to improve the
quality of life of its residents.’
2.14 This primary aim is, in turn, supported by a series of
more specific, related aims which endeavour to
balance the need for development against the need to 2.15 In order to help achieve the primary and other
conserve the unique character of the area. These strategic aims of the local plan, a general
aims are: development strategy has been adopted by the
Council relating to the whole of East Ayrshire. This
(i) to stem out migration and maintain resident
general strategy is detailed below. However, in order
populations at, or about, current levels (AIM1);
to provide more detailed strategic guidance and
(ii) to maintain and improve the integrity, vitality and advice a series of topic based Development Strategies
viability of the area settlements and their rural has also been formulated and these are contained in
settings (AIM 2). the individual chapters within Volume 1 of the plan.
(iii) to facilitate the expansion and diversification Both the general and topic based strategies detailed in
of the East Ayrshire economy and to maximise the plan are supplemented and supported by a series
the economic potential of the area for industrial, of strategic and general development policies which
business, commercial and tourism development are set out, again on a topic by topic basis, in Volume
(AIM3); 2 of the document.
(iv) to protect, conserve and enhance the character,
appearance and amenity of East Ayrshire,
especially as regards its landscape quality, the
built and natural environment and areas of natural
heritage and built heritage importance (AIM 4);
(v) to maximise benefits to the area by promoting an
improved and integrated transportation
infrastructure and promoting the development of
stronger communication links with the national
strategic road and rail networks (AIM5);
(vi) to provide an adequate supply of effective
housing land and associated leisure,
recreational, community and other facilities and
services to meet anticipated demand (AIM6);
(vii) to strengthen and improve the viability and
vitality of the retail and office base of East
Ayrshire (AIM7); 2.16 The local plan has been specifically designed to create
(viii) to promote appropriate development in rural successful communities and to help achieve the
areas (AIM8); and highest quality of development on the ground. The
plan is also designed specifically to ensure that a full
(ix) to address the threat posed by climate change, to range of services and facilities is provided to support
encourage the more efficient use of resources, to local populations and to cater for the needs of all
reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions residents and visitors to the area. Chapter 3 in Volume
and to facilitate the development of renewable 1 of the local plan describes the particular approach
sources of energy (AIM9) adopted by the Council to achieve these goals.
14 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 2010The General Development Strategy
(i) directs all major strategic residential, retail
and economic related developments to the
major town of Kilmarnock and promotes the
development of the necessary transport and
service infrastructure required to facilitate the
developments concerned; (Development
Strategy DS1);
(ii) promotes improved accessibility to Scotland’s
central belt, Ayrshire’s Gateway Locations, the
M74 and the south; (Development Strategy DS2);
(iii) encourages appropriate and sympathetic
development which contributes positively to
rural and farm diversification throughout the
rural area (Development Strategy DS3);
(iv) promotes the former Coalfield Areas as a
national regeneration priority (Development
Strategy DS4);
(v) encourages the redevelopment and reuse of
brownfield land and vacant, derelict and
underutilised existing buildings for new
development purposes (Development
Strategy DS5);
(vi) directs development meeting particular
identified needs to specific development
opportunity sites (Development Strategy DS6);
(vii) safeguards and protects sensitive rural areas
from inappropriate development (Development
Strategy DS7); and
(viii) requires all new developments to be of the
highest quality of design and in keeping with
the character and appearance of the area in
which they are located (Development Strategy
DS8).
Note: The inclusion of a development opportunity site
in the plan does not remove the requirement for
developers to obtain all other necessary consents,
authorisations or licenses required by associated
environmental protection or other legislation.
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 153 Creating Successful
3
Communities
Creating Successful
Communities Profile
3.1 The profile of East Ayrshire in relation to creating
successful communities is characterised by:
Creating • high levels of demand for residential
development placing considerable pressure
on existing service infrastructure and
Successful community facilities in certain areas;
• contributions currently being sought from
Communities developers of residential sites for the
provision of appropriate sporting, leisure
and recreational facilities through the
Council’s Sports, Leisure and Recreation
Fund; and
• provision of public art within developments
being encouraged through the Council’s
current ‘Percent for Art’ policy.
Policy Context
3.2 The policy context for this section is provided by:
• Scottish Government Circular 1/2010:
Planning Agreements
• Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan
Strategic Planning Context
3.3 The Ayrshire Structure Plan requires the Council to
allocate land to stabilise the population in 2025 at
2005 levels. In doing so, it is estimated that
approximately 7,300 new houses will require to
be built in East Ayrshire in identified locations
during the local plan period to 2017.
3.4 The Structure Plan also sets out the guiding
principles for sustainable development and
specifically states that:
• developers will be expected to mitigate the
significant adverse impacts of their
developments and to ensure the costs
involved are not borne locally; and
• where new developments are proposed,
developers will be expected to contribute
towards overcoming any existing
infrastructure constraints.
3.5 The Council considers it imperative that all new
developments should be of the highest quality and
integrate fully with both any existing or proposed
developments within the area. In this regard, all
developers will be required to provide the
16 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 2010infrastructure necessary to service their developments, part of the Q&SIII Investment Programme, it will be
either individually or in conjunction with other undertaking its multi million pound Irvine Bay
developers, and to ensure that all necessary Improvement Scheme project which will significantly
community or other facilities are put into place in improve river and coastal water quality and the water
order to service residents or other users of the environments in both East and North Ayrshire. The
developments concerned. Improvement Scheme has taken consideration of
proposed development with both Councils and
Prime Objectives of the Local Plan involves the construction of a new storm sewer
running from the centre of Kilmarnock to the
3.6 The Council aims to ensure that developers contribute Gatehead Tanks. Additional storage at this site will
to the creation of successful communities and high hold storm water prior to a controlled release to the
quality new developments by: treatment works. The new pipeline continues to run
• requiring that appropriate levels of service from the Gatehead Tanks, through North Ayrshire, to
infrastructure are provided within new connect with the Meadowhead Waste Water
residential developments in order to meet the Treatment Works near Irvine.
programme of development identified in the 3.9 Scottish Water has also undertaken a study of the water
Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan; network in the Kilmarnock area which has provided
• requiring developers of new retail and baseline information. A subsequent study carried out
commercial leisure developments to make scenario modelling for Kilmarnock to investigate the
appropriate contributions to help facilitate impact of proposed new local plan greenfield release
improvements to the environmental quality of developments on the water supply network and to
the public realm; and determine whether all new and existing properties
within the town would receive an adequate security of
• requiring that developers of new residential supply and at an adequate level of service. The study
developments provide adequate community concluded that, in general terms, new greenfield
facilities and amenities to meet the needs of release sites in Kilmarnock can be developed without
local residents living within each new resulting in any unacceptable significant adverse
development proposed. impact on the water supply network.
3.10 Scottish Water is required under Ministerial Direction
Provision of Essential Infrastructure to provide new strategic capacity in terms of water
(i) Provision of Water and and waste treatment works to meet the needs of
developers as they arise. Funding is not, however,
Sewerage Infrastructure
available to provide improvements to local
3.7 The Council is aware that the existing water and infrastructure which remain the responsibility of
sewerage infrastructure of East Ayrshire may not be individual developers, although Scottish Water may
able to cope with the levels of construction necessary make a contribution. When preparing their
to retain population at 2005 levels, as required by the development proposals for the short and medium
Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan. In order to deliver the term, all developers, either individually or collectively,
rate of residential development as identified in the are therefore advised to design their infrastructure
structure plan, developers are strongly encouraged to requirements, bearing in mind any future long term
work in partnership with Scottish Water, the Council development requirements they may have in the area.
and, where appropriate, with other developers in Early consultation with Scottish Water is
order to deliver the water and sewerage infrastructure recommended to identify any such requirements.
required to service their individual developments and
to ensure that new development in accord with the
plan is progressed timeously.
3.8 The current situation relating to sewerage provision in
East Ayrshire is described in Scottish Water’s
investment plan for the period 2006 to 2010, this
period representing the first four years of its current
capital programme, Quality and Standards III (Q&SIII)
which also extends to cover the period 2010 to
2014. Scottish Water recognises that there are
currently sewerage infrastructure constraints in East
Ayrshire within the Irvine Valley Sewer catchment
area (ie in the communities of Darvel, Newmilns,
Galston, Hurlford, Crookedholm, Kilmarnock,
Fenwick, Kilmaurs, Knockentiber, Crosshouse and
Gatehead). Scottish Water has announced that, as
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 173.11 In general terms, the provision of water and sewerage undertaker. Other than in exceptional circumstances,
infrastructure is an integral component of all they will also be required to provide, or contribute
residential and other development throughout East towards the cost of providing, new or improved
Ayrshire. It is therefore considered that essential non- community facilities or amenities, or to supplement
strategic water and sewerage infrastructure designed existing provision, where these are required as a
to serve a development and which would not have consequence of the development being proposed, on
been necessary but for the development, should be its own, or as a result of the cumulative impact of
provided directly by the particular developer development in the area. The plan also includes
concerned. It is not considered appropriate that such policies setting out the circumstances in which
service provision should be funded by developer developer contributions will be sought from wind farm
contributions as described below. and minerals operators.
(ii) Provision of Other Service Infrastructure 3.14 Where financial contributions are agreed with the
Council in lieu of direct facility or amenity provision,
3.12 As with the provision of water and sewerage the sums payable will be index linked to British
infrastructure, the provision of all other essential, non Construction Standard Index (BCSI) to the date of
strategic service infrastructure such as gas, electricity, agreement. Facilities that are to be provided directly
telecommunications and certain roads and by the developer will require to be provided either
transportation infrastructure designed to serve a within the period of the local plan, on completion of
development and which would not be necessary but the development or, in exceptional circumstances,
for the development should be provided in full by the before the development begins.
particular developer concerned. Developer
contributions will not be used by the Council to fund 3.15 Developer contributions, where required, will be
such infrastructure provision. sought through planning conditions or, where this is
not feasible, planning or other legal agreements,
Developer Contributions where the tests in Circular 1/2010 are met. The
General Principles contributions sought will relate in scale and kind to
the development proposed and its individual or
3.13 The local plan sets out ambitious proposals for the cumulative effects.
future development and regeneration of East Ayrshire.
Aligned to these proposals is the need to provide 3.16 The Council has identified community and other
adequate infrastructure to serve all new developments public facilities that are likely to require to be provided
and facilities and amenities to meet the needs of local or improved in settlements in the core investment
populations. Developers will require to provide service area and the investment corridors to meet the
infrastructure essential for their development where increased demand resulting from the new
this is not provided by the relevant statutory developments proposed in the plan. It has also
18 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 2010identified a core area wide project for the Kilmarnock Contributions may be waived or reduced in
Core Area and a corridor wide project for each of the exceptional circumstances, for example where the
investment corridors. Where appropriate, individual council is satisfied that a development would have
contributions may be pooled in order to achieve the exceptional development costs; would have particular
delivery of the relevant facilities. Supplementary economic, social or other benefits; is enabling
Planning Guidance sets out how the nature and level development, as defined in the plan; or where
of contributions will be calculated and how pooled affordable housing is to be provided.
contributions and funding for core area wide and
investment corridor wide projects will be used. Creating Successful
3.17 New developments can impact significantly on a wide Communities Strategy
range of existing services, facilities and amenities.
These can include education infrastructure, In order to enable the creation of successful
transportation infrastructure, community facilities, communities, the Plan:
recreation and green space initiatives and, in some (i) seeks to ensure that appropriate water,
cases, town centre improvement projects. The sewerage and other services infrastructure
council’s Facilities Survey has identified locations required to serve new development is provided
where existing deficiencies are likely to be (Development Strategy DS9);
exacerbated by the effects of new developments
proposed in the plan. Transportation infrastructure for (ii) encourages developers to work with Scottish
which developer contributions will be sought, subject Water, either individually or collectively with
to the provisions of Circular 1/2010, include key other developers as required, to provide the
projects identified in the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan water and sewerage infrastructure required for
and the council’s Local Transport Strategy. their developments (Development Strategy
Contributions may also be directed towards the DS10); and
funding of transport modelling exercises to assess the (iii) requires developers to provide, or to contribute to
potential cumulative transport effects of developing the cost of providing or improving, local community
strategic expansion locations. The education, infrastructure, facilities or amenities where these
community and recreation facilities and green space are required as a consequence of the development
initiatives that the Council considers likely to require being proposed, either on its own, or as a result of
developer contributions are identified in the relevant the cumulative impact of development in the area
settlement chapters in Volume 3 of the plan. Whether (Development Strategy DS11).
developer contributions will be required for any
particular development and, if so, their nature and
scale, will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 194 Investing in
4
the Economy
(i) Business and Industry
Business and Industry Profile
4.1 The business and industry profile of East Ayrshire is
characterised by
Investing in • a decline in agriculture and traditional
engineering, textile and extraction industries
the Economy • under representation of service, technology and
business industries
The Investing in the Economy • pockets of high levels of deprivation and
unemployment
Section of the Local Plan
• a legacy of brownfield and despoiled land
addresses the following issues:
generally unsuited for the needs of modern
• Investing in Business companies
and Industry; • increased commuting to the Glasgow
conurbation.
• Investing in Tourism; and
• Investing in Minerals Policy Context
Developments 4.2 The policy context for the business and industry
section of the plan is provided by a variety of national
planning policy and advice, particularly:
• Scottish Planning Policy (SPP);
• PAN 52 – Planning in Small Towns; and
• PAN 73 – Rural Diversification.
• PAN 84 – Reducing Carbon Emissions in New
Development
4.3 In addition, the following documents are also relevant
to the local plan:
• The National Planning Framework
• People and Place: Regeneration Statement by
the Scottish Executive, and
• Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy.
Strategic Planning Context
4.4 The Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan requires East
Ayrshire Council to safeguard, promote and enhance:
• the strategic industrial / business sites at
Kilmarnock North (Mosside), Rowallan and
Moorfield;
• Kilmarnock Town Centre as a business location;
and
• a bulk freight facility at Barony, Auchinleck
20 EAST AYRSHIRE LOCAL PL AN 20104.5 In addition it encourages consideration and limited 4.8 The Kilmarnock Town Centre Strategy, which was
expansion, as opportunities allow, for industrial and approved in December 2005 but is currently under
business development within the identified Service review, identifies two particular sites for office /
Centres (Cumnock / Auchinleck, Stewarton, commercial development at Green Street (‘Top of the
Dalmellington and Galston). Within all other Town’) and Holmquarry Road. Further sites with
communities the structure plan recommends that an potential for office development have also been
adequate supply of industrial and business land be identified at Strand Street and Park Street. However,
identified to cater for locally based demand. Rural Class 4 business uses are also considered acceptable
Diversification (eg the development of local quality uses within Kilmarnock town centre as a whole, as
food initiatives) is also supported, provided it can be well as in other town centres throughout East Ayrshire.
suitably accommodated and does not compromise the
4.9 In addition to the office sites identified in Kilmarnock
environmental quality of the countryside itself. The
town centre, Cumnock town centre has also been
structure plan also supports proposals which expand
identified as a suitable location for new retail and
or consolidate higher educational and associated
office developments as part of the Council’s plans for
research and development facilities, thus contributing
the regeneration of Cumnock Town Centre.
to the growth of the knowledge economy throughout
East Ayrshire. 4.10 Existing and potential industrial and business land
and premises have been safeguarded, as appropriate,
both within the East Ayrshire communities and in the
rural area. A list of all effective Business and
Industrial Development Opportunity Sites and those
Miscellaneous Development Opportunity Sites with
potential for industrial or business development is
detailed in Schedule 1, in Volume 1 of the plan.
Business and Industry Strategy
In summary, the business and industry strategy
of the local plan:
(i) directs all strategic business and industrial
developments to sites within Kilmarnock and
Cumnock / Auchinleck areas (Development
Prime Objectives of the Local Plan Strategy DS12)
4.6 Although the Council and its partners are committed (ii) identifies and safeguards suitable business and
to developing the economy of East Ayrshire as a industrial locations within the Service Centres
whole, the focus of the local plan, as it pertains to and throughout East Ayrshire’s communities
business and industry, is: (Development Strategy DS13);
• to capitalise on economic opportunities within (iii) directs major office developments to Kilmarnock
the core investment area and those arising from and Cumnock (Development Strategy DS14)
the extension of the M77 into Ayrshire; (iv) encourages the development of rail freight
• to regenerate the economy of the Coalfield based industries at existing coal disposal points
Communities; and and other appropriate locations on the rail
network (Development Strategy DS15)
• to stimulate the development of knowledge
based industries and service sector (v) encourages development of the traditional rural
development within East Ayrshire. activities of agricultural and forestry, farm
diversification and diversification of the rural
4.7 Accordingly, the local plan safeguards those industrial / economy with other sensitive uses of land
business sites that are easily accessible to the A77 / including the development of appropriate new
M77. Preliminary investigations have been undertaken rural businesses and industries (Development
to ascertain the means by which enhanced and more Strategy DS16)
direct access from the A77 / M77 to the Rowallan
Business Park and the adjacent Kilmarnock North (vi) encourages working from home subject to
(Mosside) strategic business site can best be achieved. certain criteria being met (Development
The provision of improved access and the development Strategy DS17), and
of these industrial / business areas as a gateway feature (vii) assesses all business and industry proposals on
for the town, would do much to promote the northern sites not specifically identified for such
part of Kilmarnock as a premier business and industrial purposes against certain stated criteria
location in the West of Scotland. (Development Strategy DS18)
Volume 1: Introduction And Strategic Approach 214.11 To enable the Council to deal effectively with all • the area’s cultural heritage focussed on
business and industry matters that may arise during Robert Burns
the life of the local plan, a comprehensive list of
• tapping into tourist / visitor traffic passing
policies is provided in Part 2 of the document.
through East Ayrshire.
4.16 A Schedule of all those Miscellaneous Development
(ii) Tourism Opportunity Sites with potential for tourism, leisure
and recreational use is detailed in Schedule 2 of the
Tourism Profile plan, to be found at the rear of Volume 1 of the plan.
4.12 The tourism profile of East Ayrshire is characterised by
• a small number of significant tourist attractions Tourism Development Strategy
• areas of high scenic quality and nature In summary, the tourism strategy of the plan:
conservation interest containing little or no (i) promotes sympathetic tourism developments,
tourism / visitor related infrastructure including a comprehensive range of tourist
accommodation throughout the area
Policy Context (Development Strategy DS19)
4.13 There is no specific national policy or guidance on the
subject of tourism. However, salient points from
Scotland’s Sustainable Development Strategy, SPP and
PAN52; Planning for Small Towns, have been considered,
as appropriate, in developing the tourism strategy.
Strategic Planning Context
4.14 The strategic context for tourism is provided by the
Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan which:
• promotes the development of tourism to
increase the range, geographic spread and
quality of accommodation, facilities, attractions
and supporting infrastructure;
• explores the potential offered by the natural
environment in developing a Biosphere Reserve
in the southern parts of Ayrshire;
• safeguards and promotes the locations,
landscape and buildings associated with Robert
(ii) promotes the Doon and Irvine Valleys as
Burns and seeks designation of these locations
tourism gateways to East Ayrshire.
as a possible World Heritage Site; and
(Development Strategy DS20)
• supports the development of outdoor access
(iii) promotes Loch Doon and Glen Afton as tourist
tourism, together with associated
destinations (Development Strategy DS21)
accommodation and infrastructure.
(iv) promotes the Muirkirk Uplands and the River
Prime Objective of the Local Plan Nith area for green tourism purposes
(Development Strategy DS22);
4.15 The prime objective of the local plan insofar as
tourism is concerned is to maximise the role that (v) promotes strategic cycle routes and footpath
tourism can play in the regeneration of the local links with the national cycle and footpath
economy and to increase visitor numbers based on: networks, (Development Strategy DS23) and
• the area’s built and cultural heritage based on (vi) encourages and promotes tourism
Dumfries House and Estate, Dean Castle developments based on the area’s built and
Country Park, Loudoun Castle and Estate and cultural heritage, particularly in relation to the
other historic properties in the area area’s association with Robert Burns, to
Dumfries House and Estate, Loudoun Castle
• the sustainable use and promotion of the and Estate and to other buildings or areas of
landscape quality of the area and its associated significant historic, architectural or cultural
nature conservation interest; importance (Development Strategy DS 24).
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