5 March 2015 Chapter 11 Urban Environments • Adequate servicing of residential areas; • The need to encourage energy efficiency in the residential environment; • To recognise environmental constraints to development; • Land use conflict arising at the rural-urban interface; and • To recognise the potential for conflict between expected rural and residential amenities at sensitive locations on the urban periphery of Blenheim. These issues are addressed in turn by the following six sets of objectives and policies. Methods of implementing these follow at the end of this section. 11.2.2 Objectives and Policies Objective 1 The maintenance and creation of residential environments which provide for the existing and future needs of the community. Policy 1.1 Accommodate residential growth and development of Blenheim within the current boundaries of the town. Policy 1.2 Enable the development of infill sites where they can make use of the capacity of existing services, and any adverse effects on amenity values can be avoided. Policy 1.3 Maintain higher density residential use close to open spaces and/ or within the inner residential sector of Blenheim located within easy walking distance to the west and south of the Central Business Zone. Policy 1.4 Enable lower density residential use at the Blenheim urban periphery, to provide for a transitional environment between expected urban and rural amenities. Policy 1.5 Ensure where proposals for the expansion of urban areas are proposed, that the relationship between urban limits and surrounding rural areas is managed to achieve the following: • Compact urban form; • Integrity of the road network; • Maintenance of rural character and amenity values; • Appropriate planning for service infrastructure; and • Maintenance and enhancement of the productive soils of rural land. Policy 1.6 Hold further growth in Renwick on areas of land where suitable sewerage disposal is not achievable by way of septic tank systems until such time as the reticulated scheme is provided. Policy 1.7 Recognise Ward and Seddon as focal points for growth if the Clifford Bay development proceeds. 11 - 3