Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision: Planning Constraints and Opportunities GIS Mapping

January 2009

To assist in the development of a planning-criteria based Option, the Regional Planning Body commissioned Land Use Consultants (LUC) to use GIS and produce a series of geographical maps for the West Midlands Region, illustrating a range of planning constraints and opportunities.

Constraints were identified as:
- Greenbelt - analysis was run at both 100% and 95% constraint
- Built-up areas - analysis was run at 90% constraint
- Flood risk zones 2 & 3
- Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- Site of Special Scientific Interest
- Special Area of Conservation
- Special Protection Area
- RAMSAR sites
- Grade 1 Agriculture Land
- National Nature Reserves
- Ancient Woodland
- The Peak District National Park

Opportunities were identified as:
- Population at 2017
- 60 minutes Public Transport isochrones to Hospitals
- 30 minutes Public Transport isochrones to Primary Schools
- 40 minutes Public Transport isochrones to Regional Employment Land Sites
- 40 minutes Public Transport isochrones to Secondary Schools

Motorways, Primary Roads and A-Roads in the Region were also mapped, to allow an assessment to be made, in terms of access to the road network.

Key Findings were as follows:
- All Districts are constrained by planning constraints to some extent
- All Districts have 'opportunity areas' associated with them
- The balance of the constraints is mainly towards the Conurbation and Greenbelt areas
- The balance of opportunities is largely towards the areas of Herefordshire and Shropshire

Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision: Planning constraints and opportunities GIS mapping (final)

Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision: Planning constraints and opportunities: maps 1-10

Gypsy and Traveller Site Provision: Planning constraints and opportunities: maps 11-21