The Deep Stuff (1) – SWJCS Site Allocations & Policies

Crookbarrow is interested in the relationship between depth psychology, deep ecology, and sustainability. However, concepts such as these may be difficult to grasp in the abstract, and may be best illustrated with reference to actual events.

Synchronicity, in the form of major climatic events co-inciding with key phases of the development planning process has been noticeable around Worcester in recent years.

Thus Examination of Worcester City Council’s Balanced Housing Market Development Plan Document (DPD) was preceded and followed by the Summer 2007  floods.

Equally syncronistic, a planned consultation event yesterday for a South Worcestershire Joint Core Strategy Site Allocations and Policies DPD - which presumes the outcome of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy Examination – had to be cancelled due to the snow.

Deep Stuff !

What is the difference between a Spatial Strategy and a Development Scenario ?

This question lies at the heart of the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy (WMRSS) Proposed Phase 2 Revision which is now the subject of Examination in Public.

When the Proposed Phase 2 Options were subject to consultation between January and March 2007, I asked for (and was most helpfully supplied with !) a very useful background document which dealt with the “Implications of the Housing Options.”

This “Implications” document referred to a number of Spatial Options against which the housing “development scenarios” (ie Options 1,2 & 3 in the Consultation report) could be assessed.

From recollection, these Spatial Options were as follows :

1. Focusing development on the Major Urban Areas
2. More development of Sub-Regional Centres
3. Development of New Settlements (ie Eco-Towns)
4. More dispersed patterns of development

In my response to the 2007 WMRSS Consultation, I pointed out that Option 1 above came out the most favourably against a range of environmental criteria, including impact on climate change, and Option 2 least favourably. I also expressed reservations (subsequently justified !) about the Government’s housing-based growth agenda.

In the event, the West Midlands Regional Assembly opted for both Spatial Option 2 and Housing Development Scenario 2. Whilst a subsequent report from the Government Office for the West Midlands has gone for something between Spatial Option (and Housing Development Scenario) 2 and 3.

My own preferred Housing Development Scenario (and indeed Spatial Strategy !) remains that contained in the existing WMRSS (ie incorporating the Phase 1 Revision), which approximates to Option 1 in the proposed Revision. However, I question whether even this scenario will be realisable in the period to 2016.

All comments welcome !