Balanced Communities and Community Cohesion

balanced communities: achieving balanced communities and strengthening community cohesion is one of the major themes underpinning the RDS. The provision of good quality housing offering a variety of house types, sizes and tenures to meet different needs, and development that provides opportunities for the community to share in local employment, shopping, leisure and social facilities, is fundamental to the building of more balanced communities. This will also contribute to creating and enhancing shared space - further information in this regard is set out in the core planning principle entitled 'Creating and Enhancing Shared Space.' Planning authorities should aim to use the range of planning powers they possess to create environments that are accessible to all and which enhance opportunities for shared communities.