A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Harper Adams University
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A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Harper Adams University Copyright and moral rights for this thesis and, where applicable, any accompanying data are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This thesis and the accompanying data cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content of the thesis and accompanying research data (where applicable) must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holder/s. When referring to this thesis and any accompanying data, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given. Assessing rural sustainable housing development: In Shropshire and Herefordshire Colin Edward Fernley (MSc, BSc, MCIPS) A Thesis Submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Harper Adams University September 2019 Acknowledgements I would like to take this opportunity to present sincere gratitude to the following people who have had direct support and contribution, in the production of this Thesis. From an academic perspective: Professor Alistair Scott (University of Northumberland) for his initial contributions to the positional relevance of the research programme in respect of rural planning and development. Doctor Nicola Randall (Harper Adams University) for her encouragement and guidance towards the construction and relevance of data, in all aspects of the research programme. A special ‘Thank You’ to Ms Emma Pierce-Jenkins my Director of Studies (Harper Adams University) who has provided me with the comfort and means of connectivity towards assembling my thought processes, into a workable and acceptable format to produce this Thesis and her extensive and invaluable knowledge of the UK planning system. From a public perspective: All the kind and generous people who gave up their valuable time, who were also willing to share their personal thoughts and opinions with a complete stranger, by taking part in the interviews and street surveys. From a Family perspective: ‘Sorry’ if sometimes I was a bit vague and distant, I was as always there for you, but was just thinking. Your love, support and understanding collectively has provided me with the inspiration, fortitude and determination to follow and achieve my dream and for that I will be eternally grateful. ii Glossary AMR Authority Monitoring Report AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty CoU Change of Use CPRE Campaign for the Protection of Rural England DCLG Department for Communities and Local Government DEFRA Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs EU European Union FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation IMD Indices of Multiple Deprivation LA21 Local Agenda 21 LDF Local Development Framework LGIU Local Government Information Unit LPA Local Planning Authority MHCLG Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government NIMBY Not In My Back Yard NPPF National Planning Policy Framework OAN Objectively Assessed Need ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister ONS Office of National Statistics OS Ordnance Survey PDL Previously Developed Land PPG Planning Policy Guideline PPS Planning Policy Statement RSS Regional Spatial Strategy SAMDev Site Allocation and Management of Development SDI Sustainable Development Indicator SPSS Statistical Package for the Social Sciences SSSI Sites of Special Scientific Interest TCPA Town and Country Planning Act UK United Kingdom UNCED United Nations Conference on Environment and Development UNDESA United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs UNECE United Nations Economic Commission for Europe USA United States of America WCED World Commission on Environment and Development iii Contents Page Chapter 1: Introduction 1 1.1 Defining Sustainable Development 1 1.2 Localism and Planning 3 1.3 Research Aim and Questions 7 1.4 Research Objectives 7 1.5 Chaptered structure of research 8 Chapter 2: Background and Literature Review 11 2.1 Sustainable Development 11 2.1.1 Measuring sustainability and the use of Indicators 12 2.2 Challenges in achieving Rural Sustainability 16 2.2.1 Employment in rural areas 18 2.2.2 Inward and outward migration in rural areas 20 2.2.3 Ageing rural populations 23 2.3 Planning for additional housing 26 2.3.1 Building on Greenbelt, Greenfield and Brownfield sites 27 2.3.2 Addressing housing needs 31 2.3.3 Housing provision 32 2.4 Governmental change and its consequences 35 2.4.1 Devolution of power and governance 35 2.4.2 Transitional changes in governance 36 2.4.3 Localism and decision making 37 2.5 Planning and Policy changes 39 2.6 Local Plans and the National Planning Policy Framework 43 2.7 Neighbourhood Plans 45 2.8 Governance, moral obligations and personal aspirations 46 2.9 Conclusions and justification for research 51 Chapter 3: Methods 54 3.1 A ’Systems’ theory approach 55 iv 3.2 Local Planning Authority ‘Case Study’ selection 59 3.2.1 Parish ‘Case Study’ selection 60 3.3 Additional dwellings: Requirements, targets and delivery 61 3.3.1 National additional dwellings 61 3.3.2 County additional dwellings 62 3.3.3 Parish additional dwellings 62 3.4 Sample parish data collection and filtration 63 3.4.1 Case Studies: Planning application refusals 65 3.5. Applying sustainability to decision making 66 3.5.1 Case Studies: Planning application approvals with conditions 67 3.6 Collection of primary data 68 3.6.1 Research method: Interviews 68 3.6.2 Research method: Focus Groups 69 3.6.3 Research method: Survey via a questionnaire 70 3.6.4 Administration of survey methods 72 3.6.5 Conducting the survey 73 3.6.6 Ethical considerations 75 3.7 Methods of analysis 75 Chapter 4: Case Study profiles 77 4.1 Alignment of Local and National planning policies 79 4.2 Case Study one: Shropshire Local Planning Authority policies 80 4.2.1 Shropshire Case Study parishes 81 4.3 Case Study two: Herefordshire Local Planning Authority policies 84 4.3.1 Herefordshire Case Study parishes 85 Chapter 5: Rural housing requirements and targets 87 5.1 Aim 87 5.2 Objectives 88 5.3 Methods 89 5.4 Results from objectives 89 v 5.4.1 National housing stock levels 89 5.4.2 Local Planning Authority housing targets 91 5.4.2.1 Shropshire additional dwellings targets and commitments 93 5.4.2.2 Herefordshire additional dwellings targets and commitments 94 5.4.3 Case Study planning applications, approvals and refusals 96 5.4.4 Case study committed additional dwellings annual trends 97 5.4.5 Planning application decisions pre and post NPPF 98 5.5 The influences of Neighbourhood Plans 100 5.5.1 Targets and commitments of additional dwellings post NPPF 100 5.5.2 Shropshire sample parishes planning applications post NPPF 101 5.5.3 Herefordshire sample parishes planning applications post NPPF 104 5.6 Discussion 107 5.7 Conclusion and recommendations for further work 109 Chapter 6: Sustainability in decision making 111 6.1 Introduction 111 6.1.1 Study framework 111 6.1.2 Study Aim and objectives 112 6.2 Methods 113 6.3 Results of study objectives 113 6.3.1 Case Study parishes planning approvals and refusals 114 6.3.2 Scales of dwelling development 120 6.3.2.1 Scales of refused dwelling development 120 6.3.2.2 Scales of approved dwelling development 122 6.3.3 The application of sustainability in planning policies 123 6.3.3.1 Material Considerations in planning application refusals 126 6.3.4 Material Considerations and achieving sustainability 128 6.3.4.1 Material Considerations in planning approvals 129 6.3.4.2 Shropshire Local Planning Authority Policies 129 6.3.4.3 Herefordshire Local Planning Authority Policies 131 vi 6.3.4.4 Conditions applied to planning approvals 133 6.3.4.5 Public and Planning Committee involvement 135 6.3.5 Land development: Re-use and Re-cycle 136 6.3.5.1 Previously Developed Land (PDL) 136 6.3.5.2 Change of Use (CoU) 136 6.3.5.3 Identification of previous development uses 138 6.4 Discussion 140 6.4.1 Planning a county’s sustainable future 140 6.4.2 Scales of housing development 142 6.4.3 Sustainable use of previously developed sites 142 6.4.4 Neighbourhood Plans and planning policy 143 6.5 Conclusions and recommendations for further work 145 Chapter 7: ‘Social Attitude’ towards rural housing development 147 7.1 Study aim and objectives 148 7.2 Methods 149 7.3 Results 149 7.3.1 Objective 1: Democracy and Planning 150 7.3.1.1 Localism and Neighbourhood Plans 158 7.3.2 Objective 2: Sample parishes with retail and service outlets 162 7.3.3 Objective 3: Housing numbers and residents well-being 167 7.3.3.1 Indicators of well-being 173 7.4 Discussion 180 7.4.1 Democracy and Localism in rural communities 180 7.4.2 Neighbourhood Plans: A ‘Social Contract’? 182 7.4.3 More housing: Not In My Back Yard! 183 7.4.4 Parish life-cycles and their sustainability 184 7.5 Conclusions 185 7.6 Recommendation for further work 186 vii Chapter 8: Research conclusions 188 References 196 Appendix 1: Shropshire sample Parish demographics 206 Appendix 2: Herefordshire sample Parish demographic 207 Appendix 3: All sample Parish planning refusals 208 Appendix 4: Shropshire sample Parish Local Planning Policies cited 218 Appendix 5: Herefordshire sample Parish Local Planning Policies cited 230 Appendix 6: Shropshire sample Parish, Conditions on planning approvals 246 Appendix 7: Herefordshire sample Parish, Conditions on planning approvals 250 Appendix 8: Scoring from Ishikawa determining study areas 254 Appendix 9: Letter of intent for a Focus Group sent to sample Parish Clerks 256 Appendix 10: Poster of interest in taking part in a Focus Group 257 Appendix 11: Letter of introduction to Parish Clerks defining intent of survey 258 Appendix 12: Sample Questionnaire for Parish survey 259 Appendix 13: Sample Questionnaire for retail and service outlet survey 264 viii Table of Figures Page Fig.