<strong>Argyll</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Bute</strong> <strong>Proposed</strong> <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong><strong>Representation</strong> FormPlease use a separate form for each issue/site/aspect2 Please indicate which document you are making a representation on:Tick one box only<strong>Proposed</strong> <strong>Local</strong>Draft Supplementary<strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>√GuidanceOtherEnvironmental Report(please specify)3 Please tell us which part of the above document you wish to make a representation on.Fill in all that applyPage No(s) Chapter No(s) Paragraph No(s)Policy ReferenceSite Referencee.g. H3001Policy TitleSite Name4 Please indicate whether your representation is in support of the document or whetheryou would wish to see it changed (i.e. your representation is an objection)Tick one box onlySeek a change/Support as writtenObjection√5a Please provide your reasons for supporting or objecting to the matter you havehighlighted.This is not been submitted as an objection to any specific part of the draft <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>, but ingeneral support alongside comments seeking the addition of detailed proposals for developments on theRosneath Peninsula.The Rosneath Peninsula West Community <strong>Development</strong> Trust fully supports the Key Policy Themes of the proposed<strong>Argyll</strong> & <strong>Bute</strong> <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>. The objectives of the Trust, reflecting the ambitions of people in the PeninsulaWest local communities, mirror those of the <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> in its policies for protecting <strong>and</strong> enhancing theenvironment, growing a sustainable economy, including the development of renewables, strengthening communities,maximising resources <strong>and</strong> improving connectivity <strong>and</strong> infrastructure. The Trust welcomes the intention that delivery ofthese policies will be partly implemented through the consideration of planning applications against all relevant policieswithin the <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> (LDP 1.4).With reference to planning applications, the Community <strong>Development</strong> Trust has extensive recent local experience ofdevelopment work leading to a wind farm planning application. The Trust welcomes the continuing commitment of theCouncil, through the <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>, to promoting <strong>and</strong> supporting such developments. The Trust supports thefact that the <strong>Plan</strong> proposes the retention of a balanced approach to renewable development, which recognises not onlytheir economic, environmental <strong>and</strong> social importance, but also the l<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>and</strong> visual issues concerned.As an organisation in an area including Cove <strong>and</strong> Kilcreggan, which saw the number of children reduced by 23% <strong>and</strong>adults of working age by 7% falling between 2001 <strong>and</strong> 2009, <strong>and</strong> are designated by the <strong>Plan</strong> as ‘Key Rural Settlements’,the Trust supports the view expressed in the plan that sustainable long-term economic growth is needed ‘to support theretention <strong>and</strong> growth of our population’ through attention to services, the natural <strong>and</strong> built environment <strong>and</strong> quality-oflife(1.6.1).The Trust supports the recognition in the <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> that ‘an effective l<strong>and</strong> supply‘ will be required ‘toaccommodate new business <strong>and</strong> retail opportunities, homes, leisure facilities together with the necessary infrastructure<strong>and</strong> services required to support them.’ These resources all featured in the Peninsula West Community Action <strong>Plan</strong>,
which was based on a wide-ranging community consultation, involving a household survey sent all adults in the Trustarea, a young people's survey, a community groups’ survey, a business survey <strong>and</strong> very well attended projectprioritisation events open to all members of the local community. As the improvements in the Community Action Pl<strong>and</strong>rawn up by the Trust <strong>and</strong> its 400+ members to meet identified local needs, very closely match this <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong><strong>Plan</strong> list, the Trust welcomes the intention to steer significant new developments to particular areas, including the localKey Rural Settlements (1.6.2).It is also encouraging to read Key Objective C, <strong>and</strong> its stated intention that the Council will be seeking ‘to work inpartnership with local communities in a way that recognises their particular needs to deliver successful <strong>and</strong> sustainablelocal regeneration;’ Following its creation in 2010, the main work of the Trust was to establish community need <strong>and</strong>develop proposals to respond to that need through community involvement in surveys <strong>and</strong> interactive events, <strong>and</strong> it isgood to anticipate positive partnership working with the Council <strong>and</strong> other statutory bodies in finding ways to implementthe Community Action <strong>Plan</strong>, which brought together information about the improvements required locally to respond tothe needs identified.Within the context of the positive nature of the Policy Themes <strong>and</strong> Key Objectives, the Community <strong>Development</strong> Trustis disappointed that the sections of the <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> dealing with Helensburgh <strong>and</strong> Lomond (2.3) focuslargely on Helensburgh <strong>and</strong> its adjacent communities. Whilst those communities may be ‘subject to differentdevelopment pressures from the rest of <strong>Argyll</strong> & <strong>Bute</strong>’ (2.3.1), the communities of the Rosneath Peninsula share thepressures experienced by smaller communities across the Council area.Distance <strong>and</strong> relative inaccessibility from main population centres have contributed to features of decline on theRosneath Peninsula in recent years, including: derelict public amenities; weak <strong>and</strong> costly transport links; very limitedfacilities for young people; an absence of local job opportunities; lack of affordable housing; lack of special needshousing for older people; closure of the Council library; the sale of former community centre <strong>and</strong> church hall; <strong>and</strong>environmental degradation.It is therefore unfortunate that the section on Helensburgh <strong>and</strong> Lomond only refers to ‘taking into account ....... the needsof the Rosneath Peninsula’ in the most general terms, <strong>and</strong> that the only other relevant general references are to improvedferry services <strong>and</strong> community led renewable energy projects. Whilst Cove <strong>and</strong> Kilcreggan <strong>and</strong> separately Rosneath aredesignated Key Rural Settlements <strong>and</strong> are also both Areas for Action, the only actions identified for Kilcreggan areenvironmental enhancements <strong>and</strong> an enhanced passenger ferry terminal, <strong>and</strong> the only actions identified for Rosneath arefor medium scale housing development, Camsail Wood forest restoration <strong>and</strong> management <strong>and</strong> a broad reference tovillage centre development <strong>and</strong> environmental improvement.5bPlease indicate the changes that would be required for you to remove your objectionThe Community <strong>Development</strong> Trust underst<strong>and</strong>s that the detailed housing proposals made in the draft <strong>Local</strong><strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> reflect the terms of the <strong>Argyll</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Bute</strong> Housing Needs <strong>and</strong> Dem<strong>and</strong> Assessment (HNDA). Howeverthe Trust is aware of a very widely expressed need on the Rosneath Peninsula for both affordable housing for youngerpeople <strong>and</strong> families, <strong>and</strong> for special needs accommodation for older people <strong>and</strong> people other age groups with particularneeds. These housing developments are needed on the Rosneath Peninsula to address the population decline in children<strong>and</strong> families, which is a strategic <strong>and</strong> local issue recognised in many parts of the <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong>. Housing isalso required to address the needs of older people, who have no local access to special needs accommodation.Recognising the terms of the current HNDA, the Trust would want to see a commitment within the <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong><strong>Plan</strong> to the Council working with the Trust on a new form of rural housing needs <strong>and</strong> dem<strong>and</strong> assessment, which wouldassess the housing needs in of the Key Rural Settlements on the Rosneath peninsula. Potential sites have been identifiedbeyond the top of Church Road in Cove for affordable housing, <strong>and</strong> on Shore Road or Fort Road for special needshousing.Whilst the CAP was completed for the Peninsula West area, the comments made by people in Rosneath <strong>and</strong> Clynder,within the Cove Windfarm planning application process, suggest that the needs expressed <strong>and</strong> developments proposed inthe Community Action <strong>Plan</strong> fairly reflect the views <strong>and</strong> ambitions of people across the whole of the Rosneath Peninsula.The Community <strong>Development</strong> Trust recognises that it is not possible to include very detailed local area analysis <strong>and</strong>project planning within a <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Development</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> for <strong>Argyll</strong> & <strong>Bute</strong>. However, within the section concerningHelensburgh <strong>and</strong> Lomond, the Trust would want to see recognition of the key importance of the Rosneath PeninsulaWest Community Action <strong>Plan</strong>, with its assessment of local needs, <strong>and</strong> its detailed project proposals to meet those needs,including: youth <strong>and</strong> recreation facilities; arts <strong>and</strong> culture events <strong>and</strong> festivals; employment, business <strong>and</strong> tourism