The Vision

The Vision for Craven in 2021 is to rekindle the 'community spirit' of its rural friendly settlements and thriving market towns by encouraging self sufficient, vibrant and prosperous communities with a mix of people and a range of local shops and services, social facilities, open spaces and employment opportunities. The people of Craven will be proud of the distinctive character and environmental assets of their area and will seek to protect them, whilst providing for the social and economic needs of present and future generations.  Craven will be recognised as a friendly and attractive choice for work, home and leisure and visitors will continue to be welcomed. Connectivity between all aspects of life in the plan area will have been enhanced by means of an accessible, regular, integrated and affordable transport system.

This will be the key theme running through the Local Development Framework. The KEY ACTIONS are:

i) Safeguarding land for a road over Kildwick Level Crossing and to provide a railway station at Crosshills.

ii) Safeguarding the Skipton to Colne Railway Line and promote it's use for alternative sustainable transport in the short term.

i) Encouraging micro-generation schemes.

ii) Requiring 10% of the energy to be used in all major new developments to be produced from on-site renewable sources.

iii) Allowing some small and medium scale renewable energy schemes, including wind energy.

The rural landscape is one of the District's most important assets, and its protection will be a key priority for the Core Strategy.  The Core Strategy will also seek to enhance the District's built environment.  Policies will be written that aim to:

• Give priority to the enhancement of landscape character, natural processes, geological features, biodiversity value and other environmental assets in the open countryside.
• Conserve and enhance the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with any development within the area conforming to the Bowland Management Plan.
• Consider the potential impacts of climate change by requiring new developments to include sustainable drainage, water conservation and recycling systems in their design.
• Avoid development in areas at risk from flooding.
• Encourage developers to realise the opportunities that present themselves in Craven's built heritage.
• Allow the restoration and reuse of listed buildings and buildings within conservation areas provided the long term future of the heritage asset is secured.
• Improve the quality of design of all new developments in the District.
• Encourage development proposals that enhance existing recreation and open space facilities, or provide additional facilities.
• Require developers to take account of the need to reduce opportunities for crime and promote safe living environments.

Provision should be made for up to 37.5 hectares of employment land throughout the district on a range of sites by 2021. This should be phased in 2 stages and distributed according to the proposed Settlement Hierarchy as follows:

• Measures will be put into place to safeguard employment land, especially where it contributes to the vitality of the neighbourhood.
• If a site is no longer suitable for employment use, mixed use development should be considered as an alternative.
• The Core Strategy will support rural diversification to promote a strong and thriving rural economy and the regeneration of the countryside.
• The importance of tourism for the local economy is recognised and sustainable tourism and leisure initiatives that revitalise and sustain rural settlements will be supported.
• The vitality and viability of the town and village centres in the District will be maintained. New retail development will be encouraged in Skipton and a limited amount in the Local Service Centres to meet people's day to day needs.