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Countryside Agency Archive

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Area Action Planning in Plymouth's rural-urban fringe

The project seeks to establish a coordinated spatial policy and Area Action Plan for Plymouth’s urban/ rural fringe. The steering group is composed of representatives from the AONB’s and National Park, local planning authorities , Groundwork and the Tamar Estuaries Consultative Forum.


Background and Context
Plymouth’s rural-urban fringe is characterised and somewhat framed like a picture, by the Tamar Valley AONB and South Devon AONB, Dartmoor National Park, major transport corridors, and coast/ port / estuary much of which carries European environmental designations Quarrying, MOD facilities, a proposed new settlement at Sherford and other major development pressures, together with the influence of Plymouth on the surrounding countryside. 

The area is also characterised by areas of protected landscapes and environment, butting right up to up the city limits. These include 3 AONB’s that have new Management Plans, Dartmoor National Park, and the Tamar Estuary Management Plan. These provide an opportunity for better linkages into the new planning frameworks. 

The project
 

An Area Action Plan study will allow development of a consistent strategic approach for the entire rural-urban fringe area, whilst also enabling the joining up of the major issues such as regeneration and new housing, landscape protection and biodiversity, recreation and health, the productive landscape and transportation. 

The main objectives are:

  • To realise the potential of the rural-urban fringe. 
  • To strengthen the links between town and country.
  • To build links between protected landscape policy, particularly within the new AONB management plans, National Park Plan, Estuary Plan and Plymouth City Council.
  • Input into alignment with the new planning system.
  • Identify links between rural-urban fringe projects and regeneration projects in Plymouth.