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Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion THE YORKSHIRE & HUMBER PLAN EXAMINATION IN PUBLIC BACKGROUND PAPER 9 HOW THE PLAN ADDRESSES SOCIAL INCLUSION SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION The draft Yorkshire and Humber Plan was submitted to Government in December 2005. It forms the new draft Regional Spatial Strategy for this Region. Public consultation took place on the draft Plan between January and April 2006. The Examination In Public to test the Plan is taking place in September/October 2006. This background paper forms one of ten papers prepared by the Yorkshire and Humber Assembly (YHA) to help explain the Plan’s approach. This paper adopts a ‘thematic’ or ‘cross-cutting’ approach to demonstrate how different parts of the Plan collectively seek to address social inclusion. Specifically, this paper: Considers the national policy position (Section 2) Summarises the key features of social exclusion in the Region (Section 3) Considers how the current RSS (2004) deals with social inclusion (Section 4) Overviews the approach of the draft Yorkshire and Humber Plan to social inclusion (Section 5) Identifies and explains in detail how different parts of the Plan address social inclusion (Appendix 1) SECTION 2 - BACKGROUND National Policy Position Minimising social exclusion and promoting social inclusion and social justice is a priority of all levels of Government in the UK. Responsibility at a national level is now the remit of the Department of Communities and Local Government1, which leads on policy and delivery in addressing social inclusion and deprivation. Successive Governments have sought out to tackle social inclusion by a wide range of policies and increasingly seeking to adopt a multidimensional partnership approach to implementation. 1 DCCG was created in May 2006 to promote community cohesion and equality and with responsibility for housing, urban regeneration, planning, the regions and local government. 1 Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion The establishment of the Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) in 1997 introduced the concept of ‘social exclusion’, broadly defined as a combination of problems faced by those who live in deprived areas- sometimes referred to as multiple deprivations. Examples include poor health, family breakdown, lack of skills, low educational attainment levels and poor housing and physical environment. Initiatives have included implementing a national strategy for neighbourhood renewal, encouraging employment through enterprise schemes, tackling crime through neighbourhood wardens and CCTV schemes. The new Social Exclusion Taskforce (which replaces the SEU) is led by the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Social Exclusion. An Action Plan is being prepared setting out how the Government will reach the most at-risk and focus on hard-toreach groups, including children in care, people with mental health problems and teenagers at risk of pregnancy. A cross-Government approach is employed with the DCLG leading on the policy and delivery of addressing social inclusion and deprivation in deprived areas and, through the responsibilities for local government, regional matters, housing and sustainable communities seeking to ensure that all communities share economic prosperity and are socially inclusive. The Government emphasizes the importance working with external stakeholders. SECTION 3 - FEATURES OF SOCIAL INCLUSION IN THE REGION The Region is diverse with a large number of sub-areas with distinct local economies, communities, local culture and traditions. There are considerable disparities of income and deprivation levels across the Region. In broad terms, the northern part of the Region has the lowest levels of social inclusion and highest household incomes. Conversely the lowest household incomes and highest indicators of deprivation and exclusion are found in the industrial cities and towns in West and South Yorkshire and in urban areas on both banks of the Humber. Even in the most prosperous areas of the Region about 1 in 5 households are judged to suffer from severe exclusion. By most measures of deprivation Yorkshire and Humber is between 6th – 9th of the English Regions. The following features and characteristics of social exclusion are taken from Progress in the Region 2005 (Yorkshire Futures). Education & Skills Region performs below the England average in attainment at Key Stage 2. Region is bottom of England regions for GCE/ GNVG results. Region ranks 6 of 9 in attainment of NVQ level 3 and 4. Deprivation Almost 30% of the Region’s Super Output Areas (SOA’s) fall into the 20% most deprived in England. The most deprived areas are in the urban areas of West and South Yorkshire and Hull. 2 Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Income & Employment Bradford, Doncaster, Hull and North East Lincolnshire have the highest percentage of SOA for income deprivation. In 2004, gross average weekly earnings were £392.90- 7th of 9 English Regions- with average annual household incomes over £5000 less than the England average. Health Life expectancy at birth is 75.5 years for males (England average 76.2) and 80.3 for females (England average 80.7). Life expectancy ranges from 73.7 years in Hull to 78.4 in Craven for men and 79.1 in Bradford to 82.7 Ryedale. Child Poverty Region has 22.4% households with children living in poverty, compared with the England average of 15.3%. At a local authority level they range from 33.1% in Hull to 11.8% in Craven. Crime and Community Safety Region has the second highest rate of recorded crime in the English Regions and Wales. There has been a decrease in crime between 2003/4 and 2004/5. Local authorities with the highest % of SOA whose crime and disorder score falls within the most deprived quintile are Bradford, Leeds, Hull and North East Lincolnshire. SECTION 4 – THE CURRENT RSS APPROACH TO SOCIAL EXCLUSION The current RSS (2004) identified social exclusion as a ‘KEY OBJECTIVE’ (Social Progress Which Recognises the Needs of Everyone) and a ‘STRATEGIC THEME’ (Promoting Social Inclusion). Policy S2 Regeneration Priority Areas sets the priority for regional regeneration initiatives and programmes: Firstly, South Yorkshire and the coalfields (eligible for Objective 1 Funding) Secondly, the most deprived parts of the older industrial area and the remote rural and coastal areas (eligible for EU Objective 2 funding). Policy P1 Strategic Patterns of Development supports the delivery of regeneration and concentration of development. The Spatial Strategy (P1) was related to the four sub-regions in terms of Objective 1 and 2 areas and the general extent of social exclusion. There are important references in the RSS (2004) to: access to jobs and training 3 Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion access to affordable housing and making best use of the existing stock widening travel choice and reducing car dependency improving access to health, education, retail, leisure facilities, open space, sport and recreation. The current RSS (December 2004) has numerous policy references to the need to tackle poverty and social exclusion. The main spatial expression is based on the then extent of Objective 1 and 2 areas. RSS 2004 is a good starting point for the Plan’s approach to tackling exclusion. It recognises more explicitly the extent of social exclusion in all parts of the Region and more recent deprivation information available by Super Output Area (see pages 12-14 of the Yorkshire and Humber Plan December 2005). SECTION 5 - THE PLAN’S APPROACH TO SOCIAL INCLUSION The Plan has developed the approach taken in the current RSS to address the issue of social exclusion in the Region. Appendix 1 provides a detailed breakdown as to how the Plan addresses the issue of social inclusion in the Region, through the Plan’s core approach, sub area policies and thematic policies. Overall, the draft Yorkshire and Humber Plan seeks to improve the quality of life and health of residents within the Region and a priority is addressing the problems associated with excluded communities. In particular, the Plan aims to transform the social conditions within older industrial areas, which often have higher concentrations of exclusion apparent. Section 2 of the Plan summarises the key characteristics regarding the quality of life in the Region. It recognises the wide variations and concentrations of deprivation and exclusion within the Region. The core approach, sub-area policies and thematic chapters attempt to reflect these variations and provide for greater social equality across the Region. Core and Sub Area Approaches The core approach emphasises the importance of connecting excluded communities with the benefits and opportunities arising from growth. The Plan recognises the need for a more interventionist approach to connect people in need with opportunities. The urban focus adopted in the draft Plan will help to achieve this by locating new development in the regions urban areas where most significant levels of deprivation are concentrated. The Plan also supports the enhancement of communities in the smaller settlements of the coastal and rural areas. The Plan’s sub area policies address the issues of isolation and peripherality facing the Region’s rural and coastal areas – in a way that is responsive to the different needs of the sub areas. The current RSS (December 2004) includes ‘regeneration priority areas’ for the Region. The Plan addresses the regeneration needs of the Region through its Core 4 Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion and Sub Area approaches. This provides a more responsive and spatially specific means of establishing regeneration priorities that are meaningful to the whole region. For example policies LCR1 and LCR2 for Leeds City Region aim to spread the economic growth across the whole city region and to better connect excluded communities with job opportunities. The 5 growth areas indicated in Policy LCR2 have typically high levels of social exclusion and will greatly benefit as locations for investment and from improved access to Leeds and other town/city centres. This has also been the approach for South Yorkshire and Humber Estuary subareas. Additionally, regeneration schemes for both these sub-areas have been identified as regionally significant investment priorities (see Background Paper 7 for more information). A key emphasis for the Coast and Remoter Rural sub-areas is the promotion of economic diversification, which will help support the local economies and provide greater local opportunities for residents and local businesses. In all the sub-areas, the role of public transport has been highlighted as an important aspect of connecting excluded communities. The Plans focus on Regional, Sub Regional and Principal Service centres will help to reduce the need to travel and provide these places as accessible locations for the provision of jobs, services and facilities. Improved accessibility for people is a key theme of the Plan. Thematic Policies In terms of housing, Policy H3 of the draft Plan provides affordable housing targets at a local authority level. These figures reflect the variations in affordability across the Region and will play an integral role in dealing with social inequalities. Policy H4 is aimed at addressing the issue of inadequate housing mix across the Region, which is inhibiting the development of sustainable communities. The housing distribution approach (see Background Paper 2) has sought to achieve a better balance between future housing and economic growth. The Plan’s economic policies, particularly E1, promote proximity and access to employment, training and skills development. The focussing of most new development within the urban centres (E2) will enable the best possible level of access to services for the whole community. In addition, the Policy E7 promotes the diversification and strengthening of the rural economy, which seeks to provide new opportunities for residents in these areas. Overall the Plan seeks to support competitive and diverse economy (see Background Paper 8) which will help toward providing good quality employment opportunities for all. In the environment section, improvements in access to woodlands and recreational areas by means other then personal car is a key theme of Policy ENV7. Policy ENV11 recognises that there is a strong relationship between poor health and social exclusion. It targets economic development in proximity to the areas 5 Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion characterised by social exclusion and promotes the accessibility of health care facilities and recreational facilities. These policies attempt to increase the overall health and social inclusion for residents and provide an opportunity for greater participation in recreational activities. One of the key themes of the Regional Transport Strategy is the promotion of improved public transport. Improving access to public transport is a key step in connecting excluded communities with employment, services and leisure facilities. The transport policies seek to improve availability and accessibility of public transport within both urban and rural areas. Policy T5 also aims to provide public transport access to tourist locations. The promotion of walking and cycling will also help engender better health. Policy YH8 in the Core Approach requires a ‘transport orientated’ approach to ensure that development is focussed along existing or planned public transport, walking and cycling. SECTION 6 - CONCLUSIONS The sustainability Appraisal of the Plan (see Background Paper 3 identifies ‘reduced social inequalities’ as one of the likely cumulative impacts of the Plan policies. The scooping stage of the appraisal had identified health inequalities, growing disparities, income levels and social exclusion as social inequalities which collectively formed one of the key sustainability issues facing the Region. The current RSS (December 2004) includes a chapter on ‘Social Infrastructure’. The approach taken to ‘social issues’ in the Plan has been to integrate and address social issues throughout the Plan and its different types of Polices. Yorkshire and Humber Assembly July 2006 6 Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Appendix 1: WHERE AND HOW THE PLAN ADDRESSES SOCIAL INCLUSION PLAN REFERENCES TO SOCIAL INCLUSION FURTHER EXPLANATION Executive summary & key diagram Page ii). Key Spatial Priorities The Region needs … improve the quality of life prosperity and health of current and future generations. Key priorities are: Transform economic, environmental and social conditions in the older industrialized parts of south Yorkshire, west Yorkshire and the Humber…. The Executive Summary and Key Diagrams seek to capture the main message of the Plan, which includes promoting social inclusion. There is evidence of social exclusion in all parts of the Region, with deprived households and excluded communities alongside areas characterized by overall prosperity. However, there are particular concentration of exclusion in the older industrialised areas of South and West Yorkshire and north and south of the Humber and also in the coastal areas and some of the Region’s more remote rural upland areas. Section 2 The Yorkshire And Humber Region Page 8 Paragraph 2.1 This section considers the main characteristics…. trends and issues that the Plan needs to take into account. Page 9 Paragraph 2.4 The Regions characteristics can be most easily summarised under five headings, including the “quality of life of the Region”. Page 11 Quality of life in the Region lists Wide variations and concentration of deprivation and exclusion The Region has a disproportionately high numbers of England’s most deprived areas. Fig 2.1 shows the indices of deprivation (2004) by quintile (20% bands). The most deprived areas being large parts of the urban areas of South and West Yorkshire and Hull, with significant concentrations in coalfield communities, main towns south of the Humber, some of the coastal area and a number of the more remote Pennine areas and rural areas The Region has above average recorded crime rates and below average life expectancy compared with the England average, with the worst conditions in the Region’s industrialised areas. i The Plan must focus on spatial matters, but to, do so it needs to consider the Region’s historical and prevailing specific characteristics, trends and issues. A key concern of the Plan is promoting social progress and sustainable communities. Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Paragraph 2.9 Page 15 By 2021…. a significantly larger population over 65, 25% more in 2021 than 2001…. the fastest growing sub group will be the very elderly (requiring) the greatest health, social and community support Policy Implications and Sustainability Issues Page 16 Paragraph 2.12 …if trends continue (and without intervention)… There will be varied economic performance across the Region with “winning” and “losing” areas. There will still be an uneven pattern of quality of life across the Region with evident social exclusion and in equality. Table 2.5 Key Sustainability Issues in The Region Page 17 Social inequalities rising health inequalities and growing disparities in income levels and social exclusion (within the Region and with other Regions) ii The population of all countries with mature developed economies continues to become more aged as birth rates decline and life expectancy increases. This trend has obvious benefits for most individuals and societies but important consequences for all scales of spatial planning. It will pose major challenges and opportunities for all parts of the Region. The challenges will be particularly acute in areas of particular high concentrations of income deprived older households and in area of general deprivation. Paragraph 2.12 considers projecting recent growth rates and Trends to the end of the Plan period in 2021. The Plan generally seeks to maximise the growth potential of the Region and its sub areas in a sustainable way and to connect excluded communities and households to the opportunities, services and facilities that growth will offer. In the past, economic growth has not benefited everyone in the Region equally. There is evidence that the disparity in wealth and quality of life across the Region is growing. The Plan seeks to narrow this gap. Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Table 26 Progress in the Region 2005-Policy Implications Page 18 Advanced economy- raise employment rates Educated And Skilled people - improve GCSE/Academic Qualifications - improve Basic Skills - address Skills Gaps First Class Quality of Life- address economic inactivity - improve community well being These are the main actions identified in Progress in the Region 2005, which relate directly to achieving more sociable inclusion. Increasing the proportion of the working age population in employment, improving educational attainment and skills and improving community well being all are vital to secure a good quality of life for all. Helping to create inclusive sustainable communities with improved accessibility can support these actions. Table 3.1 Advancing Together Objectives Page 29 ‘Advancing Together’, the starting point for all the Region’s Strategic stresses the significance of social inclusion a socially cohesive and inclusive Region Table 3.2 The Plan’s Spatial Vision Page 30 By the end of the Plan period, in 2021, the region will…. reduced inequalities across its area Table 3.3 Plan Objectives Page 31 B Seeking social equality and inclusion iii Promoting social inclusion is a key part of the Plan’s Spatial Vision and Plan Objectives. Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Section 4 Core Approach 4.6 Headlines of the Core Approach Page 33 Achieve a focus of development and investment to better connect with excluded communities. Policy YH 1 Overall Approach Page 34 Growth and change will be managed; ……to; Better connect excluded communities with the benefits and opportunities arising from growth. Improve people’s accessibility to housing, employment, shopping, cultural, health, education, leisure facilities and services. Policy YH3 Key spatial priorities Page 39 All Plans…. aim to 1) transform…. social conditions in the older industrialised parts of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and the Humber Page 43 Policy YH5 Urban Focus A Regional and Sub Regional centre will be the prime focus for housing, employment (and community and social facilities in the Region) Policy YH7 Vibrant Rural and Coast Areas Page 47 The enhancement of…. communities will be achieved through spatial planning… Policy YH8 Location of Development Page 48 A In distributing land for development LPAs, in support of policies YH5, YH6 and YH7 1). concentrate the majority…. on regional and sub regional centre. iv These “headlines” are the basis of the high level approach to deliver the Plan’s spatial vision. The emphasis on benefiting the Regions excluded communities is shared by all the Regions strategies. The Plan seeks to “connect” most new development by both proximity and good public transport. Improved links between excluded communities and households and the facilities, services and jobs that can improve their quality of life. The overall approach also links back to Scenario B‘matching needs with opportunities’. This is a key component of the Plan: the concept of transformational change. The Plan commends a broadly-based approach to meeting the needs of deprived communities to create sustainable communities where physical economic and social initiatives acting together improve the quality of life. Focusing most new development, including market orientated social and community facilities in the Region’s major cities and towns in locations which are accessible to all sectors of the community has particular benefits for excluded households and communities. Concentrations of social exclusion are spread across the Region, not just in the larger settlements. The Plan supports strengthening the role of Principal Service Centres and Local Service Centres with appropriate scale new development and meeting locally derived affordable housing needs where justified by demand and the needs of the local economy. This reinforces earlier YH policies about the requirement that local planning authorities when making plans and determining planning application ensure development patterns are more concentrated and accessible by non-car users and that this approach will have wide ranging benefits for all, including excluded communities. Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Section 6 Leeds City Region Policy LCR 1 / 2 Page 79 Leeds City Region Sub Area Policy B. Economic Development Help connect disadvantaged communities to the job opportunities being generated. E. Strategic Patterns of development ….encourage growth broadly across the south of the City Region. F. Regionally significant investment priorities. ….support the Growth Area Priorities At: Airedale North of Bradford Bradford and Leeds- areas of restructuring and regeneration Coalfield Regeneration Area Aire Valley South of Leeds and East Leeds (EASEL) South Dewsbury Section 7 South Yorkshire Sub Area Policy SY1 Page 92 E Strategic Patterns of Development Focus Most New development at Sheffield…. Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham. Promote development at the sub area’s Main Towns- Cudworth, Goldthorpe, Hoyland, Penistone, Wombwell, Mexborough, Thorne, Dinnington, Chapeltown and Stocksbridge Allow limited development in Local Service Centres…. and particularly where this helps to regenerate for coalfield settlements in the Dearne Valley. F Regionally Significant Investment priorities. Investment In large scale regeneration and master planning in Sheffield and the Sub Regional Centres v The Leeds City Region contains almost half the Region’s population. It has concentrations of both prosperity and poverty. There are particular concentrations of deprivation in the southern parts of the main urban core areas, in the industrial towns and coal mining communities and in parts of the Pennine Fringe. The Plan’s policies aim to spread the benefits of the continued growth of Leeds – within the City Region, particularly to the five Growth Area’s and to the rest of the Region. The five growth areas are all characterised by relatively high levels of social exclusion. All four districts, Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley and Rotherham are in England’s 1st quintile (top 20%) in terms of the Indices of Deprivation 2004. This means multiple exclusion, including poor health, disability, limiting long term illness and high levels of crime is focused on the larger settlements. Because of historical patterns of industrialisation, these conditions characterise many of the smaller and relatively remote settlements where rebuilding locals economies is often more problematic than partnership and public intervention in larger towns and cities. A fundamental transformation of the sub area economy and urban environment is well underway. This needs to continue to widen access to jobs and enhanced lifestyles for the sub area’s excluded communities. Sheffield in particular has undergone a major revival, with ambitions to go further and thereby increase prosperity and tackle deprivation in its City Region and the wider sub region. Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Section 8 Humber Estuary Sub area policy Policy HE1 Page 101 B Economic Development Encourage growing and diversifying the local economics of the three main urban areas E Strategic Patterns of Development Focus most development on the main urban areas. F Regionally Significant Investment Priorities Secure rapid urban renaissance progress in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe. Section 9 YORK SUB AREA Policy Y1 Page 110 B Economy Spread the benefits of York’s economic success to other parts of the sub area and ensure that all members of the community have access to employment opportunities D Transport connections Improve public transport links between LSC’s….York….Principal Service Centres vi Hull is England’s 6th most deprived local authority area. Grimsby and Scunthorpe are smaller settlements, have strong evidence of the relatively deprivation and exclusion, albeit at a lesser scale. Improving quality of life, skills incomes and access to good quality social and community facilities for the sub area’s excluded groups is a challenge for all the Region’s strategies. The Plan has an unambiguous focus on ensuring that new development and major urban regeneration initiatives focus on the sub areas three main settlements with development commensurate with the role and needs of local service centres, including Goole. Developing the range of activities related to the ports (Global Gateway), the service role of city and town centres and fostering the manufacturing sector will provide more jobs to increase activity rates and income levels, with particular benefits for the sub area’s excluded communities. The York sub area has strong connections to the wider Leeds City Region and it is continuing to develop a strong local economy, mainly based on York itself, together with its unique built environment, location at the centre of the Region and the confluence of important multi modal routes, and its strong representation in growth sectors York, in common with all the Region’s larger areas has pockets of deprivation – as does Selby. Much of the sub area is rural in nature, where deprived and relatively affluent households live in close proximity. As well as the Region wide policies to address exclusion the Plan seeks to support the further economic diversification York (subject to safeguarding York’s nationally significant character) to create more jobs and further progress to improve accessibility to benefit all households, particularly excluded communities & households. Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Section 10 VALE AND TEES LINKS SUB AREA Policy VTL 1 Page 117 B Economic Development Diversify the sub area economy to lessen dependence on the agricultural economy and reduce out – commuting. Support the growth of Catterick Garrison. G Joined up working ….develop good local transport links between these centres (PSC) and their catchments Support the renewal and regeneration of the Tees Valley City Region and the main urban area of the Leeds City Region. Section 11 COAST SUB AREA Policy C1 Page 126 B Economic Development Diversify the sub area’s economic base D Transport Connections Strengthen transport services…. E Strategic Patterns of Development Focus the majority of growth on Scarborough with significant development at Bridlington…. Allow small scale development….LSC coast settlements F Regionally Significant Investment Priorities environment as a basis for economic diversification and regeneration Improve….built….natural vii The Districts which make up the sub area have, overall the Region’s lowest levels of deprivation. However, much of this relative affluence is based on economic activity and income earned by communities outside the sub area. Deprived households are mostly spread across the sub area, sharing most of the characteristics of all the Region’s deprived households, but with rural / market Town factors, like relative isolation and very limited affordable housing opportunities. The Plan promotes appropriate scale economic diversification – especially in PSC’s to create new jobs, improved public transport to increase accessibility and more affordable housing in sustainable locations to meet local needs. The growth of Catterick Garrison over the Plan period will create significant new local jobs for the North East part of the sub area. Overall the Plan supports the regeneration of the main City Regions to the north and south as the location for most new jobs, sub region-level services and housing within their main urban areas. The Coast sub area has some of the Region’s most polarised and challenging social and economical conditions, with high quality natural and built environments as the context for high levels of urban and rural deprivation. Social exclusion is evident across the whole sub area, with particular concentrations in Scarborough and Bridlington, but also less urban areas like South Holderness and also near the Tees Valley City Region area. To address social inclusion, the Plan priorities include diversifying the sub area economy by focusing most growth at Scarborough and Bridlington to develop economic critical mass and momentum, better non-car connections between the sub area’s communities and to inland larger urban area’s with a full range of social, educational, health and employment facilities. The growing importance of distinctive diverse life and work styles and the ageing population demographic trends has particular employment opportunity benefits for the Coast sub area. Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Section 12 REMOTER RURAL SUB AREA Page 133 Policy RR1 B Economic Development Foster economic diversification Encourage creative, diverse and low impact enterprises, which provide employment opportunities and contribute to meeting local needs. D Transport Connections Encourage innovative public transport initiatives…. to improve access to service centres and to more distant larger centres. Section 13 POLICY H3 Page 154 The Provision of Affordable Housing A On developments of more than 15 homes authorities should seek. i. 40% in areas of high need (all North Yorkshire DC’s and East Riding U.A) ii. Between 30-35% in areas of medium need (Leeds, Wakefield, Kirklees and Sheffield). iii. Less than 29% in areas of low need (Bradford, Calderdale, Barnsley, Rotherham, Doncaster, North Lincolnshire, East Lincolnshire and Hull) POLICY H4 Page 158 Housing Mix A The following areas in the Region would particularly benefit from a change in the current mix of housing provision. i. Hull ii. The Former coalfield areas of West and South Yorkshire iii. The former textile towns of West Yorkshire iv. The larger coastal towns viii Most of the Region’s Northern upland areas centred on the Yorkshire Dales and North Yorkshire Moors National Parks and adjoining AONB areas are included in the Remoter Rural sub area. Protecting and improving the natural and built environment is the pre-eminent policy approach. However, the decline of upland farming and the wider agricultural economy and pressure on the limited housing stock continues to have a particular severe effect on the sub area’s lower income and excluded households. The Plan seeks to promote a more sustainable local economy – based on small, low impact enterprises mainly in LSC’s, more affordable housing and other measures to ensure an increased and safeguarded stock of affordable housing and better public transport to link people to jobs and services. The 2003 Affordability Index (A1) (the relationship at a district level of average cost of housing and incomes) identified a wide range of conditions across the Region ranging from about 2.2 in Hull to 7.8 in Harrogate. Today the A1 is likely to be over 10 in some parts of the Region. Access to affordable housing is a problem for excluded and low-income families in many parts of the Region. Policy H.3 develops national guidance to provide local authority level affordable housing targets for new housing and mixed use developments. A significant number of the Region’s cities and towns have significant housing communities based on specific features of age, type or tenure and often based on a largely historical local economy. These areas often share common features of obselesence, lack of social and community facilities and quality green space. The community usually has high concentration of social exclusion. The plan commends, where justified major intervention and master planning to improve conditions for all and to create mixed and more sustainable local communities. Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion Section 14 ECONOMY Page 110 Policy E1 Creating a successful and competitive regional economy C. Facilitate the spatial links between job opportunities, skills development (and needs), business productivity and investment and the needs of excluded communities. It is clear that income deprivation and the inability to access paid employment is, perhaps the most important determinant of social exclusion. This Policy applies the high-level directional core approach policies YH1, YH3 and YH4, which collectively seek to improve the access of excluded communities to the facilities, and opportunities they need to secure quality of life improvements. Policy E1 specifically promotes proximity and access to jobs, training and up skilling opportunities. There is a strong relationship between high levels of social exclusion, below average levels of people of working age in the workforce and low skills, training and educational attainment levels. The Region as a whole is significantly below the England average with particularly wide gaps evident in the industrial areas of South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and around the Humber and in parts of the coast. This policy seeks to promote an integrated approach and strong linkage – by proximity and good non-car links between excluded communities, training opportunities and jobs, particular in growth sectors. Section 15 ENVIRONMENT Page 221 Policy ENV 7 Agriculture Development of poorer agricultural land (if justified) will facilitate one or more of: C Creation of woodland especially in East, South and West Yorkshire F Recreation projects, especially in areas of poor health in South and West Yorkshire Page 241 ENV. 11 Health and Recreation A Improve health by….. i. Targeting economic development in and around urban areas, especially ix Most of the Region’s Towns and cities are deficient in quality urban green space and suffer from limited access to nearby countryside, other than by car. Recreation projects on former farmland around the Region’s industrial cities and towns with good access to areas of concentrated deprivation can have particular benefits for excluded households. There is a close relationship between high levels of employment and participation in sport and recreation and lower levels of preventable ill health and long-term illness. This policy reinforces strengthening these links by focussing economic development and improving cycling and walking routes in and around the Region’s main concentrations of ii. iii. Hull, South and West Yorkshire Safeguarding and enhancing facilities for sport and recreation Maximizing opportunities to develop walking and cycling routes….Hull, South and West Yorkshire B Ensure adequate and accessible health care facilities by: i. Retaining and developing major health care facilities within major cities and towns and supporting provision of outreach facilities in rural areas ii. Locating health care facilities in places accessible by good public Transport and means other than by car ` x Background Paper 9 – Social Inclusion social inclusion. Participation rates for sport and recreation are lower than the England average across the Region and are generally lowest in areas of deprivation. Hence the Plan supports safeguarding and enhancing sport and recreation facilities with a particular emphasis on good access to areas characterised by high levels of exclusion. Good access to healthcare is an important feature of quality of life. As the Region’s population ages and healthcare provision changes, it is important that facilities are accessible to all especially elderly and low income households who often have demanding healthcare issues and limited or no access to a private car. This means that all major healthcare facilities should be accessible by good public transport and appropriate facilities should address the needs of households in more remote small settlements and rural areas.