AAPs cover areas of significant development, or urban expansion, or regeneration opportunities, or “sensitive areas”, or areas which are the focus of various area based initiatives (ABIs).  AAPs should focus upon implementation. AAPs will not only deal with urban areas of significant change or development, but also areas of conservation and landscape management (both high quality and degraded landscapes), which may be equally relevant to Sport England’s agenda for sport and active recreation in the countryside. The PPS12 Companion Guide (p.102) identifies some specific activities associated with producing an AAP.

• Undertake an overview of issues, natural resources, needs and constraints facing the area action plan area, and how these relate to the wider spatial strategy for the local planning authority area as a whole.
• Develop a spatial vision and spatial objectives for the area.
• Consider linkages with policies in the regional spatial strategy.
• Consider linkages with policies in other development plan documents, establishing the chain of conformity with these.
• Consider linkages and fit with other local strategies and initiatives including the community strategy, strategies for regeneration area and the local transport plan.
• Set out details of the locations, type, allocations and quantum of proposed development.
• Summarise the proposed strategy, including options for development which may include:
• Quantum and locations of development including sites;
• Proposed improvements to community infrastructure (education, health, leisure etc.) to meet additional needs resulting from development;
• Outline details of planning gain that will be sought, and any other criteria for development (e.g. accessibility standards); and
• Outline strategy for maximising positive impacts (e.g. training initiatives) and mitigating negative impacts.
• Set out details of the implementation framework.
• Set out details of the monitoring framework, including relevant targets and indicators.
• Explain consultation arrangements.

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