The St. Helens Local Plan Draft Green Belt Review 2016 can be viewed and downloaded below:

• St. Helens Local Plan Draft Green Belt Review 2016
• Appendix 1 - Map of combined stage 1 Green Belt parcels assessment
• Appendix 2 - Data of combined Stage 1 Green Belt parcels assessment
• Appendix 3 - Site specific assessments - Sites screened out at GB Stage 2
• Appendix 4 - Site specific assessments – Sites carried forward to Stage 3 and 4 
• Appendix 5 - Map showing locations of proposed Green Belt changes
• Appendix 6 - Detailed plans for proposed Green Belt changes
• Appendix 7 - Promoted Green Belt sites plan

The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) is one of the key evidence base studies for the new St. Helens Local Plan providing an assessment of how much land is potentially available for housing in the urban areas of the Borough. It forms the basis for understanding the capacity of the Borough’s existing urban areas to accommodate new housing development.

In line with national guidance the SHLAA establishes realistic assumptions about the availability, suitability and likely economic viability of land to meet the identified need for housing over the Local Plan period. The SHLAA does not allocate any specific sites or suggest that planning permission be given on them. It is for the emerging Local Plan to decide where new housing should be located.

A number of housing related reports, documents and background studies have been undertaken and used to inform the Local Plan. The most recent study is the Mid-Mersey Strategic Housing Market Assessment published in 2016.

• Mid Mersey Strategic Housing Market Assessment 2016
• Merseyside and West Lancashire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2015
• Mid-Mersey Strategic Housing Market Assessment Report for St.Helens Council - October 2011
• St.Helens Housing Land Position Statement 2003-2013
• St.Helens Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2012

A number of Employment and Economic reports, documents and background studies have been undertaken and used to inform the Local Plan. The most recent studies that have been prepared are the St. Helens Allocations Local Plan Economic Evidence Base Paper 2015 and the St. Helens Employment Land Needs Study 2015.

• St. Helens Employment Land Needs Study October 2015
• St. Helens Allocations Local Plan Evidence Base Paper September 2015
• St. Helens Economic Land Position Statement 2009
• St. Helens Employment Land and Premises Study: Final Report
• St. Helens Employment Land and Premises Study: Appendix 1
• St. Helens Employment Land and Premises Study: Appendices 2-10
• Review of Employment Land in St. Helens to 2027
  

A study has been conducted by AECOM and Cushman & Wakefield on behalf of St. Helens Council to investigate the feasibility of delivery options for a road and rail-linked logistics development on land at the former Parkside colliery site. The study is available to view and download via the link below.

• Parkside Logistics and Rail Freight Interchange Study August 2016

Retail

A number of Retail and Town Centre Uses related reports, documents and background studies have been undertaken and used to inform the Local Plan process.

• St.Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study - Final Report January 2012
• St.Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 1 - St.Helens Catchment
• St.Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 2 - Household Survey
• St.Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 3 - On-Street Survey
• St.Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 4 - Business Surveys
• St.Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 5 - Health Check
• Assessments
• St.Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 6 - Quantitative Capacity Tables
• St.Helens & Earlestown Retail and Town Centre Uses Study: Appendix 7 - Earlestown Proposed Primary Shopping Area
• St.Helens Local Centre Study 2006 - Main Report
• St.Helens Local Centre Study 2006 - Appendices

Strategic Flood Risk Assessment

The St. Helens Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) 2014 was prepared by JBA Consulting in consultation with the Environment Agency.

The purpose of the SFRA is to provide up-to-date information on flood risk to help inform decisions made on planning applications, options for the allocation of land in the Council’s emerging Allocations Local Plan and the preparation of policies for the flood risk management.

The St. Helens SFRA Report consists of a combined Level 1 SFRA and a Level 2 SFRA. The Level 1 element of the Report updates the previous Level 1 SFRA that was prepared in 2009 and assesses sources of flood risk across the Borough. The Level 2 element of the Report includes detailed site assessments for potential development locations in the Borough and takes into account the presence of flood defences.

The SFRA should be used to inform the preparation of the Sequential Test and the Exception Test at the planning application stage.

The various elements of the SFRA can be downloaded by clicking on the links below. A User Guide has been prepared which provides specific guidance on how the SFRA should be used by all involved in the development planning process. Mapping is available in relation to flood risk zones, surface water flooding, historical flooding and flood risk management.

• St. Helens Council Strategic Flood Risk Assessment September 2014
• St. Helens Council SFRA - User Guide Report
• Appendix A Potential Development Sites Map
• Appendix A Flood Zones Index Map
• Appendix A Flood Zone Maps A-E
• Appendix A Flood Zone Maps F-H
• Appendix A Flood Zone Maps I-K
• Appendix A Flood Zone Maps L-N
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Index Map
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps A-E
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps F-I
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps J-L
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps M-P
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps Q-T
• Appendix A Surface Water 30 Year Event Maps U-W
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Index Map
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps A-E
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps F-I
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps J-M
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps N-P
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps Q-T
• Appendix A Surface Water 200 Year Event Maps U-W
• Appendix A Areas Susceptible to Ground Water Flooding
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Index Plan
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans A-D
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans H-J
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans E-G
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans K-M
• Appendix A Flood Risk Management Plans N-O
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Index Map
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps A-E
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps F-I
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps J-L
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps M-O
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps P- R
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps S-U
• Appendix A Historical Flooding Maps V-W
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Risk Index Map
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps A-D
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps E-G
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps H-J
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps K-L
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps M-O
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps P-Q
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps R-T
• Appendix A Surface Water Flood Maps U-W
• Appendix B Development Site Assessment Spreadsheet
• Appendix C Development Sites at Significant Surface Water Risk
• Appendix C Development Sites at Significant Surface Water Risk Site Maps
• Appendix D Flood Zones and Vulnerability Classifications Compatibility
• Appendix E Critical Drainage Area Assessment

Previously Developed Land

The Homes & Communities Agency (HCA) is, as of 1st December 2008, responsible for the collection and dissemination of data pertaining to Previously Developed Land (PDL) across England. This data was previously collected and managed by the National Land Use Database (NLUD) partnership (comprising Communities and Local Government and the HCA’s forerunner, EnPar - English Partnerships).

Open Space, Sports and Recreation Assessment (OSSRA) 2016

Documents making up the St. Helens Open Space, Sports and Recreation Assessment (OSSRA) 2016 prepared by Knight, Kavanagh & Page are available to view and download below.

• St. Helens Indoor and Built Sports Facilities Needs Assessment June 2016
• St. Helens Indoor and Built Sports Facilities Needs Assessment June 2016 - Golf Course Addendum
• St. Helens Open Space Assessment June 2016
• St. Helens Playing Pitch Strategy Assessment Report February 2016
• St. Helens Playing Pitch Strategy & Action Plan July 2016

At Cabinet on 24th August 2016, members resolved to approve the adoption by the Council of the 2016 Playing Pitch Strategy and Action Plan and to endorse both the Playing Pitch Strategy and Playing Pitch Assessment as supporting evidence for the preparation of the Local Plan. To view and download the Cabinet documents please see the 24th August Cabinet Agenda webpage.

Open Space Study 2006 

The St. Helens Open Space Space Study 2006 prepared by PMP is available to view and download below.

• St.Helens Open Space Study 2006

Greenways

A review into the St. Helens Greenway network and the planning policy needed to support the protection of the network is available to view and download below.

• St Helens Greenway Policy Review - Final Report February 2015

Documents relating to the St.Helens Landscape Character Assessment January 2006 prepared by Land Use Consultants can be viewed and downloaded below.

• St.Helens Borough Landscape Character Assessment January 2006
• Figure 1
• Figure 2
• Figure 3
• Figure 4
• Figure 5
• Figure 6
• Figure 7
• Figure 8
• Figure 9
• Figure 10
• Figure 11
• Figure 12
• Figure 13
• Figure 14
• Figure 15

Documents relating to the Phase 1 Habitats Survey can be viewed and downloaded below:

• Report on the Digital Capture of St Helens 1999/2000 Phase 1 Habitat Survey
• Phase 1 Survey Habitat Classification, Hierarchical Alphanumerical Reference Codes and Mapping Colours
• Phase 1 Habitat Survey 2000 Map

Minerals

• The Evidence Base for Minerals Planning in Merseyside Final Report August 2008
• Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Halton, and Warrington Joint Local Aggregate Assessment December 2015 
• Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Halton, and Warrington Joint Local Aggregate Assessment December 2016

Waste

To view and download documents relating to waste planning on Merseyside, including the Joint Waste Local Plan 2013,  please see the webpages of the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS). 

Monitoring

Monitoring Reports assess how Local Plan policies are being implemented and if they are working
successfully.