7.1 This chapter considers how the infrastructure required by the Borough will be secured to support the development in the Local Plan, and where there are issues of shortfall in existing infrastructure. Infrastructure comprises physical assets providing for a wide range of supporting service provision including, but not restricted to the following:
- Transport: footways, cycleways, highways, airports, railways, tramways, bus stops, bridleways, coach parking and park and ride
- Energy: gas extraction, supply pipelines, storage and distribution, electricity generation, sub-stations and distribution networks
- Water supply: storage, treatment and distribution networks
- Wastewater: sewer networks and treatment works
- Surface water drainage: networks including flood storage measures
- Flood defences
- Coastal defences
- Information and Communications Technology: high speed fibre broadband, wireless telecommunications masts
- Education
- Health centres and hospitals
- Emergency services
- Green Infrastructure: open space, parks, children’s play areas, sports pitches and courts, country parks, accessible natural green space, allotments and burial facilities
- Community services: libraries, community centres, youth services, social services, older peoples support, special needs and disability and places of worship
- Culture and Leisure: museums and galleries, performance venues, sports and fitness centres, swimming pools and stadiums
- Public realm: town squares, promenades, public building forecourts
7.2 The Council will engage directly with utility providers to ascertain likely needs for infrastructure to support the new plan. Projects identified as necessary will be set out in the Infrastructure Delivery Schedule, within the Infrastructure Delivery Plan that the Council will produce in support of the full Local Plan.
7.3 Statutory utility providers have duties to provide connections in many instances. However, the Council welcomes comment from statutory providers in relation to specific impacts and issues likely to result from one or other possible development strategy.
7.4 The existing Local Plan contains policies to require provision of infrastructure to the site, or where infrastructure will be provided off-site, to require developer contributions to ensure its provision. The Council considers such policies will be needed going forward. Infrastructure or developer contributions can only be required where directly related to the development.
7.5 Where development proposals for local infrastructure works that will benefit the Borough are proposed, it is suggested that the new plan provides a generally supportive policy, subject to compliance with the other policies of the plan.
Q47. Do you have any general comments about infrastructure provision?
Q48. Do you support the Council’s general approach to the requirement for infrastructure?
Transport
7.6 The new Local Transport Plan is in the early stages of production. Following its completion, it is anticipated that a new transport masterplan will be produced by the local transport authority setting out a programme of strategic transport schemes. The Council will seek to support schemes within the Borough that improve access to and from the Borough to the wider North West region and beyond. Important previously-programmed schemes have been completed, in particular:
- The Heyhouses to M55 Link Road (Lytham St Annes Way)
- The Preston Western Distributor Road (Edith Rigby Way)
Both schemes have resulted in significant reduction in journey times in and out of the Borough by road.
7.7 Key schemes that the Council is seeking to be delivered are:
- A key element of the Queensway strategic housing site that is under construction, the T5 Link Road will extend between the traffic island provided on the completed Lytham St Annes Way and Queensway, St Annes. This will provide access to the housing site but also will provide a route from M55 Junction 4 to the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone eastern phase which is under construction.
- A key priority to improve access to the Borough from the rest of the country is to increase the frequency of services on the South Fylde rail line. A scheme for the provision of a passing loop to enhance capacity has been developed and a strategic business case was submitted to the government in 2024.
- Provision of parking at Kirkham and Wesham station will encourage park-and-ride and to reduce the impacts of on street parking in Wesham. In particular it will provide mitigation for traffic arising from new developments that would otherwise access the motorway and M55 Junction 3 and make the full journey by road.
- There will be a need to investigate the impacts of new developments planned for up to 2042 on the likely usage of both M55 Junctions 3 and 4. This is expected to identify a programme of measures that will be needed.
Q49. Are there further transport schemes that should be investigated in order to support the Local Plan?
7.8 Aside from major schemes, the transport effects of the plan as a whole, and the direct impacts of specific schemes will need to be assessed, including parking, and any mitigation measures needed will have to be identified and set out in new policies for the allocation of sites. Such mitigation could include contributions towards off-site measures for highways, footpaths, cycleways or other transport infrastructure.
Q50. Do you have further comments on the provision of infrastructure and transport?
