Opportunities will be taken wherever possible to protect and enhance the environment, at the same time as facilitating development and change which meets other objectives of the Plan.

Traffic calming techniques will be applied to new developments as part of the design process, and to town centres and residential areas where it is appropriate to reduce the impact of motor vehicles.

Schemes and initiatives which contribute to such needs will be encouraged and supported. Developments and facilities should also provide as fully as possible for pedestrian safety and personal  security.

This will be achieved particularly through the management of traffic, siting of land uses, sensitive design and appropriate development control policies.

Works by utility services will be facilitated wherever possible, subject to satisfactory siting of ancillary equipment and adequate reinstatement of road and footpath surfaces and of open land where disturbed.

Such improvement schemes will be related to the scale of the proposal, or where they can be designed to serve other needs at the same time, an appropriate contribution would be expected from the developer.  In considering the need for highway improvements associated with a development proposal, account will be taken of the desirability of making the development as accessible as reasonably possible to public transport, and of ensuring that existing public transport services are not unacceptably impeded.

In suitable circumstances this may include schemes to utilise the energy potential of sewage treatment and landfill sites.

Proposals for renewable energy projects will be subject to full and detailed consideration of the more local environmental implications. Any environmental damage or loss of amenity caused by the proposed development, or ancillary activities, should be minimised and balanced against the benefits to the national economy and global environment.

This is to facilitate and encourage new job creating developments, including the attraction of businesses into Tameside and the modernisation or expansion of existing enterprises.

This is to facilitate a spread of employment opportunities, in terms both of geographical location and site characteristics, and to provide, among other things, for the start up of small firms and the growth of existing local enterprises.

This will be achieved, wherever appropriate and practical, by measures, such as derelict land reclamation, local access improvements and land assembly, that will overcome the constraints which may be holding back the take up of vacant land and the efficient use or re-use of previously developed sites.

This will include measures, such as derelict land reclamation and environmental improvement, which will improve appearance and encourage development and investment.

In order to meet demographic needs and the need for replacement of cleared dwellings, land will be made available for not less than 9100 new dwellings to be constructed during the period from mid-1986 to mid-2001.

This will be seen as a means of maximising and diversifying the supply of housing to meet need and demand, particularly where it contributes to the provision of affordable / social housing, special needs housing and dwellings for smaller households.

There will be particular emphasis towards encouraging the provision of affordable housing as an integral part of large housing developments in suitable locations.

This will be achieved through the use of the Council's own land and through co-operation and negotiation with other housing agencies and the developers of privately owned residential sites.

This will extend to new initiatives and innovative schemes in the housing field which assist in the provision of specialised forms of accommodation within the overall sphere of housing need.

Whilst such provision could be on a private site, consideration will continue to be given to provision of a local authority site, taking account of expressed demand and other evidence of need, such as problems caused by use of unauthorised sites. In assessing this need, account will also be taken of alternative provision in neighbouring authorities and on private sites.

This will include in particular the use of disused upper floors of shops and other business premises, and former mills where suitable, especially where it meets the needs of those households unable to compete in the housing market.

Provision may be required to meet the direct needs of new development and of areas where existing provision is inadequate, or where forecast population changes indicate that additional provision will become necessary during the plan period.

Their strength, vitality, diversity and character will be protected and enhanced, to ensure continued access to a wide range of facilities for the community as a whole.

Further car parking schemes will be carried out, including provision of public parking in association with redevelopment projects, in order to improve town centre accessibility and to replace lost spaces. This will be subject to capacity being available on the associated highway network.

The Council will identify suitable sites for commercial development or redevelopment within the town centres, wherever possible.

Local shopping centres and parades will be reinforced by new development where appropriate, and enhanced through environmental improvement, access and car parking measures where possible.

This will be particularly so where these are likely to encourage visitor spending in the Borough, support economic development and widen the choice and opportunities for Tameside residents.

Facilities and amenities which cannot be saved as part of a development should be replaced or relocated.

Those features and areas which are identified as attractive or potentially attractive to tourists will be protected and enhanced.

The attractiveness of the canals to residents and visitors will continue to be enhanced.

Existing local facilities will be improved where necessary and additional provision will be sought in areas of deficiency.

This will be achieved through improving areas of attraction or potential, providing open space by means of derelict land reclamation, promoting existing areas as an integrated network, and continuing the emphasis on the use and development for this purpose of Tameside's river valleys, country and town parks.

This will incorporate new and existing public footpaths, concessionary routes, bridleways, cycleways, canal towpaths, river valley paths and disused railway lines, making use of greenways wherever possible. The provision within the Borough of sections of proposed long distance recreational routes will be supported.

The object will be to provide efficient and safe access both to/from and within the Borough and to stimulate investment and employment, in so far as this can be achieved without large scale light and disruption and with the minimum of adverse environmental effects

The Council will anticipate such improvements in formulating transportation policies and proposals within the Borough.

This will be to ensure that the local transportation needs of those without access to private cars can be adequately met, and that public transport can develop as a co-ordinated and energy efficient alternative to private road transport and as a means of containing the increase in traffic congestion and vehicle emissions.

This will be achieved by measures including the provision of new stations, improved facilities at existing stations including attention to special needs, and additional local station car parking and cycle storage facilities. High priority will be given to station parking where it can reduce pressure on the highway system.

This will be achieved by the provision of suitably designed and integrated bus terminal and interchange facilities, the introduction of schemes which give priority or assistance to buses within the highway network, and the adoption of other measures to improve the quality of bus travel

Where possible, physical and other traffic management measures will be used to prevent the use of unsuitable roads by heavy lorries, particularly within residential areas.

A Borough-wide network of cycle routes will be defined in consultation with landowners and other interested parties, utilising off-highway tracks wherever possible. The provision of cycle storage or parking facilities will be encouraged, particularly in town and local centres and at rail and bus stations, and the needs of cyclists will be considered in highway design, traffic management and maintenance schemes.

Public rights of way will be protected where they fall within sites proposed for development, subject to consideration of the opportunities which may be available in appropriate cases for local re-routing.

Particular attention will be given to protection of moorland, wetland and ancient semi-woodland habitats, and to avoiding adverse effects on wildlife species which are protected by law.

This will be achieved with the assistance of a survey of habitats and a nature conservation strategy. Schemes and management practices which help to retain and enhance natural history interests and to provide further opportunities for wildlife in urban as well as rural areas will be encouraged and supported.

This will be carried out in accordance with agreed woodland and landscape strategies, and may include the establishment of community woodlands.

Measures necessary for their investigation, conservation and interpretation will be encouraged and supported, in the light of the educational, recreational and tourism potential which they may have.

The Green Belt will continue to be protected from inappropriate development, thereby maintaining the framework of open land separating and surrounding the urban areas of the Borough.

This will be achieved by the sympathetic siting of new uses and by promotion of joint countryside management agreements with landowners, farm tenants and other interested parties.

The natural regeneration of despoiled areas will be allowed to continue where this would contribute to natural history, habitat formation or landscape interest, without perpetuating an eyesore or hazard.

This will be achieved through the formulation of woodland and landscape strategies and in conjunction with landowners and farm tenants. Measures will include encouragement for the development of a variety of attractive landscape types and the re-establishment of a countryside character in parts of Tameside, particularly in the river valleys and other areas of the urban fringe.

So far as possible, the Council will ensure that viable holdings are not severed by urban development, major road schemes or other forms of permanent development, and that the best and most versatile agricultural land is protected in its entirety, in order to encourage continued investment and good management.

This will be achieved through initiatives by the National Rivers Authority and North West Water and by other measures.

The object will be particularly to improve the appearance of industrial areas, to screen unsightly or unduly prominent development and to make canal and riverside areas more attractive. Where their impact on the environment of the valley is severe, the Council will consider relocation of unsightly and unneighbourly activities.

These will provide existing or potential corridors for wildlife and may include informal recreation routes. Wherever appropriate, the Green Wedges will be enhanced and extended.

Where another form of development is otherwise acceptable the Council will be prepared to consider the economic viability and appropriateness of the prior extraction of minerals before this proceeds.

Such workings will be included within comprehensive landscaping or restoration schemes, or both, when extensions to the workings are under consideration.

The provision of rail or water links to existing and new mineral workings will also be encouraged if practical.

The opportunities which landfill may in some cases provide for landscape improvement or recreational development will also be taken into account.