Plan for Neighbourhoods

This section sets out a bold and unified vision for the future of Crawshawbooth, Rawtenstall, and Waterfoot.m At the heart of this vision is a commitment to blending modern living with rich heritage, accessible countryside, and thriving local economies. Through investment in people, places, and opportunities, we aim to create safe, dynamic, and attractive towns that support all generations where businesses can grow, creativity can flourish, and communities can thrive.

To ensure we stay on track, we've defined clear Aims and Measures of Success, including stronger perceptions of our towns, improved employment and health outcomes, increased footfall, and greater community confidence. These outcomes will guide our progress and hold us accountable.

To bring this vision to life, we’ve identified a set of Strategic Objectives focused on improving access, safety, economic opportunity, cultural identity, and overall wellbeing. These objectives will inform every aspect of planning, design, and delivery.

Finally, our Delivery Themes provide a practical framework for how we’ll turn ambition into action whether that’s supporting local enterprise in Rawtenstall, promoting wellbeing across all towns, celebrating creativity in Waterfoot, or empowering young people to lead the change.

VISION

Crawshawbooth, Rawtenstall, and Waterfoot will each follow their own unique paths to becoming vibrant, future-focused town centres, blending modern living with our proud heritage and beautiful countryside. These towns will be attractive, safe, and exciting, meeting the needs of all generations while preserving their rich history.

Our stunning natural backdrop will be integrated into everyday life, with accessible green spaces, rivers, parks, and trails encouraging active, healthy lifestyles and a strong connection to the environment.

As our towns evolve, young people will play a key role in shaping welcoming, creative spaces that compete with larger neighbouring towns. People will be inspired to try new retail ventures, activities, and events that attract both current residents and visitors, ensuring our towns remain dynamic and innovative.

Through supporting a healthier and more confident families and individuals to shall remove barriers to work, empowering residents to access better job opportunities, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to succeed in the evolving local economy.

The future of our towns will be driven by our diverse communities, local businesses, cultural groups, and voluntary sectors working together to sustain thriving, bustling town centres. Our arts, culture, and events will be celebrated, transforming our towns into destinations that draw visitors and foster local pride.

With improved walking and cycling networks, vibrant public spaces, and better transport links, our town centres will be safer, more accessible, and lively throughout the day and night, ensuring everyone feels welcome and empowered to shape their communities.

AIMS AND JUDGING SUCCESS

To achieve this Vision, our success will be judged through key economic and inclusive growth outcomes including:

• Improved perceptions by residents, businesses and visitors for all the towns
• Business growth and enhanced local employment opportunities
• Enhanced townscape that is more attractive and accessible to residents, businesses and visitors
• Reduction in crime and anti-social behaviour across our towns and communities
• Towns that are used by more people, for more time
• Increased commercial property occupancy rates
• Residents can safely and confidently move around and between towns and the surrounding countryside
• Young people are empowered to contribute to shaping their towns
• To reduce crime and through community engagement and effective interventions.
• Improved health and wellbeing for all communities
• Improved life chances of residents with access to support, training, and employment opportunities so reaching their full potential.

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES

To achieve this vision the following strategic objectives have been agreed by the Board that will deliver long term sustainability for the whole of the Rawtenstall Built up Urban Area are:

• Achieve vibrant and attractive towns where people can visit, relax, work and shop
• Towns connected to their communities and the surrounding countryside allowing ease of access for all
• Increased footfall in the town centres
• Towns and communities that support opportunity for all by having the confidence to access better employment
• All users of the town and neighbourhoods to feel safe throughout the day
• Work with our creative communities in Waterfoot
• Foster a strong cultural identity that drives tourism, investment, and local pride.
• To support new and existing businesses and creative entrepreneurs to drive the local economy
• Improve local neighbourhoods through community-focused regeneration including housing quality
• To have better health and well-being outcomes for our residents

To meet these challenges we propose to deliver the Investment Programme through the development and delivery of a set of agreed Delivery Themes:

• Rawtenstall - the opportunity town
• Healthy Towns
• Waterfoot Arts Town
• Empower younger people to shape the town centres

It is important that when developing the investment plan that we are guided by some Key Principles that underpin everything we do

• Environmental sustainable
• Inclusive growth
• Promote health and well being
• Promote our heritage