To help us to understand the key sustainability issues for Wigan borough we have reviewed a wide range of relevant documents and data, and consulted our partners, stakeholders and communities. The information we have gathered is contained in the Sustainable Community Strategy for Wigan borough (called Vision 2026) and in a series of "Topic Papers" (which explain the background to the borough's sustainability issues, subject by subject). The key sustainability issues in Wigan borough are:
- Tackling and adapting to climate change
- Inefficient use of resources
- Environmental protection and pollution
- Unsustainable travel and congestion
- Sustainable economic growth, employment and skills
- Deprivation and inequalities
- Unhealthy lifestyles and people's quality of life
The borough's Sustainable Community Strategy (external link) spells out what kind of borough local people say they want to see in the future and what action we will all need to take to achieve this sustainable community. The strategy says:- "Sustainability must underpin everything we do, to ensure we achieve a sensible balance between the environmental, social and economic impacts of our actions".
The Topic Papers are an important part of the borough's Local Development Framework (the new local planning system). This sets out how the borough's physical space, infrastructure and buildings will look and work in the future. The main plan from this framework (the Core Strategy) has been informed and shaped by a detailed Sustainability Appraisal process. This acts as a check that plans and decisions accord with sustainable development.
