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Area Action Planning for the rural-urban fringe in St. Helens

St.Helens rural-urban fringe
This demonstration project aims to test the application of Area Action Plans (AAPs) to the rural urban fringe. The project aims to produce an AAP for the rural urban fringe of St Helens, which lies within the area of the Mersey Community Forest. The project should provide an example of good practice to feature in guidance to assist other authorities and help realise the vision for the rural urban fringe.


Background
A draft vision of Unlocking the Potential of the Rural Urban Fringe was published for consultation early in 2004. The potential of the rural urban fringe can be realised through a more widespread and strategic application there of landscape regeneration, community participation, public green space provision and improved access, and sustainable development.

The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act introduces a new development plan system with a ‘Local Development Framework’ (LDF). The LDF provides for the preparation of ‘Area Action Plans’ (AAPs) intended for ‘areas of conservation or change’. The rural urban fringe is frequently an area of rapid land use change and development, or one that could benefit from environmentally led regeneration. The project aims to test and demonstrate the application of AAPs to the delivery of a vision for improvements in the rural urban fringe. 

In assessing the project, among other things, we will pay particular attention to how the local community has contributed to the AAP through closer participation in the decision making process. 

Partners
The Mersey Forest Team is managing the project with the following partners:

  • The Mersey Forest Partnership
  • Integrated Countryside and Environment Programme (ICEP) on Merseyside
  • St Helens Local Strategic Partnership (LSP)
  • St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council
  • Dr David Shaw, Liverpool University, Chair of ICEP Steering Group 


Progress
A Project Plan has been prepared. The St Helens Local Strategic Partnership (Healthy Environments sub-group) has given the project its strong backing.

Information that will inform the Area Action Plan is being gathered. This will include the policies for the rural urban fringe in existing plans and strategies, and an examination of St Helens in relation to the ten functions for the rural urban fringe set out in Unlocking the potential of the rural urban fringe.