Final LTP March 2006

Improving the Quality of Life for local people is at the forefront of the RSS and, as such, is fully reflected throughout our LTP2.  Indeed, a range of measures, such as improving air quality and road safety and making it easier for people to get to key facilities, are geared towards improving Quality of Life.  The SEA of our Provisional LTP2 also led to a number of recommendations relating to Quality of Life which have been incorporated into this Final LTP2.

For example, one of the objectives of the Black Country Study, which comprises part of the RSS review, is to:

'Protect and enhance the environment and create a safe, attractive and healthy place to live and work.'

The LTP2, in tandem with land use planning policies, is also improving our town and city centres so that they are more attractive places to work, invest, visit and, increasingly, to live.  Elsewhere, land use planning policies have or are being developed to prevent the demolition of erstwhile good housing in mature suburbs to replace it with higher density stock.; inevitably such actions adversely affect residents' Quality of Life.  One of the issues considered in framing such policies is whether there is adequate public transport provision.

Consultation with other stakeholders on both the LTP2 and the Environmental Report has helped us to identify further opportunities which will also improve the Quality of Life for local people.  For example, the Environment Agency and English Nature suggested that there are opportunities to enhance the natural environment through initiatives such as creating new habitats or tackling existing problems, for example poor drainage as part of wider transport schemes.  This approach which also 'adds value' is supported and will be strengthened through our emphasis on corporate working.

Further details as to how our LTP2 is addressing Quality of Life issues can be found in Section ‘Quality of Life Issues’.