Improving North Wiltshire
North Wiltshire Local Development Framework
Core Strategy
A Second Consultation on the ISSUES that affect North
Wiltshire and the OPTIONS to deal with them.
May 2007 Welcome…
A new Planning system for preparing Plans for the future of places was introduced to England and Wales in 2004. The old style Local Plans, Structure Plans and Regional Planning Guidance has been replaced by Local Development Frameworks (LDFs) and Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS).
The Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) is an important document within the LDF as it will establish the overall context for future growth in North Wiltshire and will set out a Vision for the area. All other documents within the LDF from then on will have to conform with the Core Strategy.
So the Core Strategy is an important document that will determine how your environment will change over the next 20 years. Your views are therefore important to us.
A previous consultation on the general principles of what the Core Strategy should contain was published in January 2006. It is not intended to repeat that consultation. This document takes the results of that consultation into account and then provides more detail on the Issues that affect the District and the Options that may be available to deal with them.
We intend to produce the Core Strategy DPD according to the following timetable.
Issues & Options Consultation (A) (completed) February 2006
Second Issues & Options Consultation (this document) May 2007*
Preferred Options document (Formal Consultation) Nov/Dec 2007
Submission to the Secretary of State (Formal Consultation) April 2008
Examination (By Independent Inspector) October 2008
Adoption (By the Secretary of State) April 2009
(*Currently at this stage)
The consultation period for this Second consultation on the Core Strategy Issues and Options document runs from 18th May to 13th July. The consultation responses will be considered and will result in the publication of the Preferred Options document in Nov/Dec 2007. There will then be a formal consultation period. In accordance with the Council’s policy all representations will be considered by the Spatial Planning Team and the representations will be used to inform the content of the Core Strategy DPD that we will submit to the Secretary of State for approval.
We welcome all responses to this consultation:
To help you give us your views, a separate response form has been produced. If you require a copy or would like to use an electronic copy of the response form, please visit our website at www.northwilts.gov.uk/ldf
Or you can contact the Spatial Plans Team at [email protected]
Or you can also comment by telephone on 01249 706524
Alternative formats of this document are available, such as larger print, audio or translated – to request a different format please contact the Spatial Plans Team using the details above.
If you have any general questions about the North Wiltshire Local Development Framework, including any opinions about this document, please contact any member of the Spatial Plans Team.
Address: Spatial Plans Team Planning Services North Wiltshire District Council Monkton Park Chippenham Wiltshire SN15 1ER
Note:
To help you understand the terminology used within this document you will find a glossary of terms at the end of this document. Throughout this document italic text has been used to indicate terms or references that are explained in more detail within the glossary found in Appendix 1. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
Contents:
1. Introduction...... 3 2. What do we mean by Issues and Options? ...... 4 3. A “Spatial Portrait” of North Wiltshire...... 6 Diversity and Perceptions of North Wiltshire ...... 8 4. The Main Issues ...... 10 Main Issue 1: Sustainability...... 11 Main Issue 2: Housing Development...... 11 Main Issue 3: Employment and Economic Development ...... 12 Main Issue 4: The Built Environment...... 12 Main Issue 5: The Natural Environment ...... 12 Main Issue 6: Transport...... 13 Main Issue 7: Infrastructure...... 13 Main Issue 8: Leisure ...... 13 Main Issue 9: Retail and Town Centres...... 14 5. Spatial Vision...... 15 North Wiltshire’s Spatial Vision:...... 16 6. Strategic Objectives...... 18 7. The Spatial Strategy ...... 20 A Spatial Strategy for North Wiltshire:...... 20 Vision for Chippenham: ...... 23 Vision for Calne: ...... 24 Vision for Corsham:...... 25 Vision for Malmesbury:...... 25 Vision for Wootton Bassett: ...... 25 8. Core Policies...... 28 Delivering Sustainable Development...... 28 Location of Development...... 31 What Scale of Housing Development is anticipated?...... 40 Phasing Policy...... 44 Affordable Housing Provision ...... 46 Gypsy and Traveller Site Search Criteria ...... 51 Natural Environment...... 52 Historic Environment ...... 54 Climate Change - Reduction in Carbon Dioxide Emissions ...... 55 Employment and Economic Development ...... 57 Retail and Town Centre Uses...... 71 Health and Education ...... 85 Leisure...... 97 Tourism ...... 103 Community Infrastructure – Developers Contributions...... 105 Special Policy Areas...... 106 Chippenham – Strategically Significant Town ...... 108 The Options for the Growth of the Other Towns...... 115
9. Generic Development Control Policies...... 121
Appendix 1 – Glossary of Terms...... 172 Appendix 2 – Profile of the District...... 181 Appendix 3 – National, Regional and Local Policy Context ...... 185 Appendix 4 – Affordable Housing and Gypsy and Traveller Site Search...... 198 Appendix 4A - Affordable Housing Site Search Criteria ...... 199 Appendix 4B - Gypsy and Traveller Site Search Criteria...... 202
1 North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
2 North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
1. Introduction
1.1 In January 2006, North Wiltshire District Council undertook an extensive consultation on what were the main Issues that affected the District and offered nine general approaches to dealing with those issues. This stimulated very useful discussions and responses. The information gathered from that consultation process has been assessed and a report produced, which can be found at www.northwilts.gov.uk/ldf. All the information and feedback gathered has been considered and has informed the development of this second Issues and Options document.
1.2 The production timetable for the Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD) has been altered. As a result of reviewing the decisions that have been made by the independent Inspectors (who have looked at other Core Strategies in the country) and taking advice from government departments, we made the decision that more information would have to be presented within the Core Strategy DPD than originally intended. In addition, the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) produced by the South West Regional Assembly had reached a stage where its emerging content should be reflected in the North Wiltshire Core Strategy.
1.3 The Core Strategy DPD is an important document within the Local Development Framework (LDF). It will set out the key elements of the planning framework for the District. It will provide an overall Vision for the area, locations for development, and the type of development that is suitable. All other documents we produce as part of the LDF will have to conform with the Core Strategy.
1.4 Once we have considered the representations that are made in response to this second Issues and Options document, we will then be choosing the relevant options to take onto the next stage of the process. This will be in the form of a Core Strategy Preferred Options document and formal consultation will begin on that document in November/December 2007.
1.5 There is an existing framework of National, Regional and Local Planning policy documents that we must take into account when preparing a Core Strategy. The challenge that the Core Strategy faces is to marry these documents1 with those elements of the North Wiltshire Community Strategy that relate to the use and
1 National Planning Policy Statements (PPS), produced by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG). Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), produced by the South West Regional Assembly setting out the strategic planning policy for the Region. Other strategies, importantly the new planning system aims to deliver the land use aspects of other strategies. The District Council may produce these strategies or they may be produced by others.
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development of land. It is important that the Core Strategy is underlined by the aspirations of the community.
1.6 The Core Strategy will be designed to be representative of the whole of the North Wiltshire community. This includes everyone that has a direct or indirect interest in North Wiltshire, people who live, work and visit here.
2. What do we mean by Issues and Options?
2.1 Before the Council can prepare detailed planning policy documents about the types and location of development, we need to decide in broad terms what areas of the District are suitable for further development and the form that development should take.
2.2 This document presents more detail than the previous consultation in January 2006 about:
• the direction of future growth within individual settlements,
• the development control policies that could apply,
• the options for considering what, if any, settlement hierarchy should be followed in the District, and
• how the “places” of North Wiltshire will look by the year 2026.
2.3 We wish to consult with everyone that has an interest in North Wiltshire. The consultation process we will follow is set out in the North Wiltshire Statement of Community Involvement (SCI2). At this stage we will consult by attending group meetings, running consultation events and accepting representations. We will advertise the consultation through our website and by email/letter to specific contacts on our community database.
2.4 In accordance with the requirements of the SCI, a Spatial Planning Team Newsletter has been prepared to highlight the main points of this document.
2 Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) – a document of the LDF, establishing who will be consulted and how and when this is undertaken for documents produced for the LDF. See www.northwilts.gov.uk/ldf
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2.5 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires Local Development Documents to be subject to a Sustainability Appraisal (SA), which incorporates the requirements of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive3. The SA Scoping Report4 has been produced and was consulted upon between October to December 2005. The Scoping report was updated in October 2006 and is under continuous review.
2.6 The Core Strategy must conform to relevant National, Regional and County planning policy. However, guidance published by the Government has clearly stated that planning documents need to be produced in consultation with the communities they will serve. Where possible conflicts arise it is important that these are made clear from the outset.
3 Directive on the Assessment of the Effects of Certain Plans and Programmes on the Environment (2001/42/EC) 4 The purpose of the Scoping Report is to enable better integration of sustainability considerations into the preparation of planning documents. This important stage has been undertaken in advance of the production of the Core Strategy Issues and Options.
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3. A “Spatial Portrait” of North Wiltshire
3.1 This section briefly describes the North Wiltshire area to which the Core Strategy applies and is meant to highlight the main features that it should be taking into account. Further facts regarding the ‘Profile of the District’ can be found in Appendix 2.
3.2 North Wiltshire is a predominately rural authority located in the South West of England between the Bath/Bristol conurbation and the Swindon Urban Area. North Wiltshire covers an area of approximately 76,700 hectares and has a population of about 129,410. North Wiltshire has six medium sized market towns surrounded by numerous villages and rural settlements. The six main towns, in order of population size, are Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Bassett, Corsham, Malmesbury, and Cricklade. Lyneham has a population larger than that of Malmesbury and Cricklade, however this is due to the presence of a large Military base and should be considered to be a “special case”.
3.3 Retail centres in the District are to be found in the towns of Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Bassett, Corsham, Malmesbury and Cricklade. In the past it has been considered that in order to maintain the vitality and viability of these centres, it is important that retail, leisure and other key town centre uses are focused at these
towns.
3.4 Chippenham is the largest town in North Wiltshire and contains a busy town centre and, in recent decades, an expanding urban area. Its strategic role has been recognised in the Draft South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). That document, presently in a draft form, proposes Chippenham as a ‘Strategically Significant Town’. This would mean that the town would be a focus for future growth.
3.5 Chippenham has direct transport links with the towns of West Wiltshire including Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury and Warminster along the A350. The City of Bath is located 10 miles to the west of Chippenham and is easily accessible by road (via the A4) and by rail, (through the main railway line from London to Bristol) with a station at Chippenham. The M4 motorway runs east - west through the District with junctions 16 and 17 located within it.
3.6 The population of the District is growing rapidly, illustrated by a 10.9% population growth from 1991 to 2001. This increase can be attributed primarily to the large amount of in-migration attracted by this desirable and economically active District. The population of the District is now estimated to be 129,410 (April 2005), with 80,540 or
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62% of people located in the main urban areas. The remaining 38% live in settlements with a population below 4,000.
3.7 The District has a rich variety of valued landscapes and built environments. The Cotswold and North Wessex Downs, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) together cover 25% of the District and are in place to conserve and enhance the special qualities of those areas. The District has a variety of historic and nature conservation designations with two Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), 31 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), 65 Conservation Areas, about 5,500 Listed Buildings and a number of Historic Parks and Gardens. There are large areas of sites of valued archaeological interest. Both the historic and the natural environments are under pressure from further development.
3.8 There is a statutory Green Belt in the south west of the District, which is part of the Green Belt surrounding the City of Bath. In addition, the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) intends to prevent coalescence of Swindon with the settlements that surround it
by requiring the designation of strategic gaps in that area.
3.9 Employment within the District has grown over the period 1996 -2004 with an annual increase of 1.6% above both County and National averages. The level of economic activity is 81.1% compared with an England and Wales average of 74.4%. The District’s unemployment rate is equally encouraging with only 2.5% of the economically active population out of work, compared with a national figure of 5.1%.
3.10 The largest employment sectors in North Wiltshire are the Public Sector (25.5%), Distribution, Hotels and Restaurants (25.1%), Manufacturing (18.1%), and Banking, Finance and Insurance (15.4%). North Wiltshire is in a good position to continue to perform strongly in terms of economic development as it is easily accessible to the M4 with locations such as Chippenham and Wootton Bassett set to remain strategically important for potential inward investors. However, the economic activity and job opportunities offered by larger work places at Bristol, Bath and Swindon continue to lead to out-commuting from North Wiltshire. Of the main settlements, Chippenham has the highest level of self containment where around 50% of the population both live and work in the town.
3.11 However, the District must seek to provide a balance between housing and employment in order to redress the unsustainable patterns of movement to improve self containment. Future developments should seek to avoid the current tendency towards creating dormitory towns where people increasingly live in the towns of North
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Wiltshire but work elsewhere. In particular, this is true of those settlements in North
Wiltshire that are close to the western edge of Swindon.
3.12 The District is one of the least deprived areas in the Country with 52 of its 84 neighbourhoods falling within the 20% least deprived areas category. Similarly the crime rates in North Wiltshire are low with 70 of the 84 neighbourhoods falling in the lowest 20% in the Country. However, there are some pockets of social and economic deprivation within the District. The areas with the highest levels of deprivation are most deprived in the categories of educational achievement, income and employment.
3.13 The District has a number of tourist attractions including the house and grounds of the Bowood Estate, the villages of Castle Combe and Lacock, Corsham Court and Park, Lackham Country Park, Lacock and Malmesbury Abbeys and the Cotswold Water Park which contains a large concentration of man-made lakes. Castle Combe Circuit draws
in large motor sport crowds to the District.
3.14 The “mean average” house price has risen due to the higher demand likely caused by the desirable location of the District attracting in-migration. This is exacerbated by Country-wide effects of higher divorce rates, more people living alone and an ageing population. The Council’s Housing Strategy indicates that over 50% of the population have an average household income of less that £30,000 and are unable to afford the least expensive 2 bedroom property in the District. This problem of affordability has continued to increase over a number of years as house prices have risen, the average price of a house is now £231,148. The District, therefore, has a shortfall in the number of affordable housing units required to meet its needs.
3.15 The provision and location of both housing and employment developments is an important issue within the District. However, there must also be careful consideration given to the provision of adequate infrastructure, services, retail, open spaces, health, community facilities and other land uses which are vital for viable sustainable
Diversity and Perceptions of North Wiltshire
3.16 It is important that we recognise that the “Spatial Portrait” is not the only means by which we can understand a picture of North Wiltshire. The District is diverse, not only in its physical but also its social characteristics. As with most communities this diversity will be reflected in the considerable variety of views and perceptions that we should take into account. Based on previous consultations and community involvement in the course of developing the development plan documents and the Community Strategy, it is valuable to consider the following points:
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• People living, working and visiting North Wiltshire highly value its assets.
• The community is made up of a range of demographics, races, cultures and religions - recognising, accepting and valuing this diversity is important.
• Whilst figures indicate that crime levels are low in North Wiltshire, people do fear crime and this is especially true of the young and of elderly people.
• The District’s economy has a range of employment sectors and is not reliant on a single dominant sector. The employment within sectors has changed over recent years, seeing a loss in manufacturing and a growth in service based sectors.
• There is a concern that the lack of homes of an affordable price in the District is excluding many from entering into the housing market and giving rise to a category of people who have grown up in the area but who are not able to afford to live here and who potentially leave the area as a result.
• Concern over the perception and treatment of young people by the rest of the community.
• There is a perception from young people that there isn’t very much for them to do in North Wiltshire.
• There are pockets of social and economic deprivation within the District.
• The diverse communities have a range of views and needs.
• Perception that there is a lack of local employment, which results in people out- commuting, whilst recognising that people’s reasons for where they live and work are complex.
• Rural isolation highlights the need to examine the often complex linkages between people’s relationship with the rural and urban areas of the District, in terms of transport needs, services and opportunities. For example, accessing housing, employment, health care, education, and recreation.
Note: It is not intended to consult further on the content of the Spatial Portrait. The consultation responses from the first Issues and Options consultation have been considered. Where appropriate, these have been incorporated into the Portrait set out above. No substantial concern was raised over the content of the Portrait. Where more appropriate or updated data have become available then it has been used to reflect the most up-to-date position.
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4. The Main Issues
4.1 A number of Main Issues have been highlighted through the following consultations that have been undertaken in recent years:
• The North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011
• The People’s Voice questionnaire – September 2004
• The Community Area Plans.
• Community Strategies. The North Wiltshire Community Strategy 2005 and the Wiltshire Sustainable Community Strategy.
• Various Training Events held for Parish and Towns councillors
• The Spatial Planning Advisory Group meetings.
• District Councillors’ ongoing interaction with the community.
• The First Core Strategy Issues and Options questionnaire, leaflet and online responses in addition to six consultation forums.
4.2 Issues have also arisen from the information gathered from stakeholders and other sources when producing the various studies, surveys and strategies that form the evidence base for the Local Development Framework (LDF). These include:
• Swindon and Sub-Region Housing Market Assessment*
• North Wiltshire Housing Strategy 2005-08*
• North Wiltshire Employment Land Review 2006*
• Wiltshire and Swindon Workspace Strategy 2004*
• Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment (ongoing)
• Housing Land Availability Assessment (ongoing)
• Retail Needs Assessment (ongoing)
• Chippenham Transport Model (work to be undertaken in the Summer 2007)
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• Housing Needs Survey* 2005, undertaken by Fordham Research
• Historic Local Plan Studies – (the Urban Capacity Study)*, North Wiltshire Retail Needs Assessment*, Landscape Character Assessment* , Employment Land Study*, Rural Buffer Study, Open Space Study*
* Available on the Council’s website: www.northwilts.gov.uk
4.3 A number of key issues affecting the community have arisen from these consultations, studies and documents. Whilst many of the documents referred to above and in Appendix 3 (this appendix details relevant National, Regional and Local Policies and Strategies that the LDF must consider) have indicated issues, it is not the intention that all of them will be listed within the Core Strategy. The Issues identified here are a synthesis of the often cross-cutting issues that arise from each piece of work or government Planning Policy Statement (PPS).
Main Issue 1: Sustainability
4.4 There is a need to reduce the District’s impact on matters that may affect climate change and the aim to minimise the “carbon footprint” of the District. There is a requirement to address the longer term sustainability of development and its associated impacts. The widest concept of sustainability should be addressed; it is not only necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but there is a need to maintain or create vital and viable communities – now and in the future. The future poses a different demographic make-up for the District, influenced by in-migration, an ageing population and changes in family lifestyles, this must be planned for.
Main Issue 2: Housing Development
4.5 There is a requirement to accommodate the emerging housing requirements that are set out in the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).
4.6 The ability to deliver affordable housing is an issue in the context of the proposal for historically low house building rates in the District, as there is continued high demand for housing. There is the issue of providing appropriate housing accommodation for all members of the community. The ability to manage the appropriate development locations in order to create or maintain sustainable communities is a key issue.
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Main Issue 3: Employment and Economic Development
4.7 There is a need to address the needs for the emerging job growth requirements set out in the Draft RSS. There is a need to provide the right employment opportunities at the appropriate locations and adapt to changing work patterns and practices.
4.8 There is an issue about the future sustainable re-use of Ministry Of Defence (MOD) sites across the District when they are no longer required for Military purposes Currently the MOD controls a substantial amount of land (about 1250 hectares) across the District.
4.9 There is an expectation of continuing the growth of employment seen over the past 10 years, maintaining low levels of unemployment and encouraging inward investment.
4.10 There is a need to rebalance housing and employment opportunities across the District to reverse the trend of out-commuting.
Main Issue 4: The Built Environment
4.11 The protection and enhancement of the character of the District remains an important issue. This seeks to ensure that high quality design that not only enhances the environment but also reflects the character of the District. There is also pressure to reduce the levels of crime and reduce the fear of crime through appropriate design.
4.12 The statutory designation of Conservation Areas seeks to protect the built environment, these cover a large proportion of the urban area and often also their setting. Future development pressure has the potential to adversely impact upon these designated areas.
4.13 Protecting the identity of settlements remains of key interest by preventing their coalescence with Swindon in the North East of the District and in the South-West, with Bath.
Main Issue 5: The Natural Environment
4.14 The protection, enhancement and accommodation of the biodiversity and geodiversity of the District is an issue of increasing importance due to the predicted impacts of climate change.
4.15 Statutory designations to protect natural environment cover a large proportion of the District, these include Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest together with a range of other national and local designations. Future
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development pressure has the potential to adversely impact upon these designated areas.
4.16 There is also a need to manage our water resources to enhance the quality of life for the community, accommodate future growth and to protect, enhance and accommodate biodiversity.
Main Issue 6: Transport
4.17 High levels of car ownership, out commuting, pockets of congestion and problems associated with on street parking all continue to be raised as issues.
4.18 Together with low levels of public transport use this suggests a need to tackle the ability of the community to use multiple modes of transport to reach destinations, to promote viable alternatives to car use. This is in the context of few rail connections within the District and an untapped potential for new rail stations and rail services.
Main Issue 7: Infrastructure
4.19 “Social” Infrastructure 5 – There is a need to maintain existing and promote new facilities as the population grows. There will be a need to fund appropriate provision from future developments. Response to the Issues and Options Paper A highlighted access to quality health and education facilities as a concern in North Wiltshire.
4.20 “Physical” Infrastructure – There is a need to create the appropriate capacity of services for water, sewerage, waste, and transport. Some of these have to be in place before or during the period of development if unacceptable problems are to be avoided.
Main Issue 8: Leisure
4.21 A growing population will increase demand for leisure facilities. If the Council continues to rely on its current facilities it will soon be under providing for this new need.
4.22 The Council’s leisure provision is further under threat from an ageing facilities stock. To meet this threat the district requires long-term capital investment to support and maintain its quality. The Council must consider not only how it can make best use of its existing leisure stock but where it should locate new development to maximise the range and accessibility of provision.
5 Such facilities would include clinics surgeries for doctors, dentists as well as community halls, schools and the range of shops an services that people expect to have close proximity access.
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Main Issue 9: Retail and Town Centres
4.23 There is a need to recognise that different settlements support a varied range of facilities and services. North Wiltshire suffers from considerable “leakage” of expenditure to retail centres outside of the District, there is a need to improve the “retail offer” of North Wiltshire whilst ensuring the vitality and viability of our town centres and District-wide services and facilities. Whilst considering these issues we must decide what the future is for North Wiltshire’s towns, what their role should be and what we expect from them.
4.23 The above nine Main Issues are those that the Core Strategy will seek to address in order to achieve the Vision for the future, assisted through the delivery the Strategic Objectives.
4.25 Therefore the Main Issues are dealt with in greater detail in later sections.
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5. Spatial Vision
5.1 The Spatial Vision sets the context for future planning and development in North Wiltshire, addressing the issues that exist in our area.
5.2 At a national level, the Government has set out four aims for sustainable development6; these are:
• social progress which recognises the needs of everyone;
• effective protection of the environment;
• the prudent use of natural resources; and,
• the maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.
5.3 The Government’s position on the delivery of sustainable development is detailed in Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1), which states:
“Planning should facilitate and promote sustainable and inclusive patterns of urban and rural development by:
- making suitable land available for development in line with economic, social and environmental objectives to improve people’s quality of life;
- contributing to sustainable economic development;
- protecting and enhancing the natural and historic environment, the quality and character of the countryside, and existing communities;
- ensuring high quality development through good and inclusive design, and the efficient use of resources; and
- ensuring that development supports existing communities and contributes to the creation of safe, sustainable, liveable and mixed communities with good access to jobs and key services for all members of the community.” (PPS1, paragraph 5)
5.4 Whilst acknowledging the importance of these general points, it is critical that the response in the Core Strategy, is made specific to North Wiltshire if they are to bring about appropriate development. The following paragraphs identify critical statements made by North Wiltshire District Council that gives this local response.
5.5 The Council’s Corporate Business Plan 2007 – 2010 offers North Wiltshire District Council’s commitment to sustainability:
6 A Better Quality of Life – A Strategy for Sustainable Development for the UK – CM 4345, May 1999
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“Community: To promote vibrant, safe and inclusive communities.
Environment: To protect and enhance the local environment.
Customers: To put our customers at the heart of everything we do.”
5.6 The North Wiltshire Community Strategy 2005 states the importance of the environment and the high quality of life that North Wiltshire residents enjoy:
“Consultation in local communities has shown that we are proud of our unique environment and the quality of life that we enjoy and we are keen that we preserve and enhance North Wiltshire for the future.”
5.7 The Spatial Vision builds on the Spatial Portrait of the District and takes account of existing plans and strategies to set out how North Wiltshire will develop through to 2026. The Strategic Objectives, Spatial Strategy and Core Policies will flow from this Vision. It cannot encompass every aspiration for the future, but concentrates on the overarching aims that need to be accomplished over the next twenty years.
North Wiltshire’s Spatial Vision:
5.8 The Vision:
“Planning to improve North Wiltshire through sustainable development.”
5.9 The Spatial Vision identifies the purpose of spatial planning across North Wiltshire and in doing so sets the Vision not just for the Core Strategy Development Plan Document but for all of the Local Development Framework Documents. The overarching Vision is to improve North Wiltshire through sustainable development, supported by five underlying aims. We consider that these aims have been expressed by the local community as well as incorporating the objectives for sustainable development set out at the National, Regional and County level.
• To facilitate a sustainable pattern of land uses to increase self-containment of settlements and reduce the consumption of natural resources whilst making best use of existing assets.
• To protect, enhance and provide housing and facilities for community needs.
• To facilitate good quality design and protect existing amenities.
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• To enhance the quality of life of residents and visitors to North Wiltshire through the conservation and enhancement of the valued built and natural environments.
• To facilitate sustainable business development for a prosperous and robust economy.
Note:
It is not intended to consult further on this section. The Spatial Vision was consulted upon in the First Core Strategy Issues and Options which broadly concluded that the Vision should encompass the wide range of issues that are facing the District. It was also suggested that the current Vision contained within the Adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 accurately set out a Vision for North Wiltshire. With some updating the Vision above is therefore proposed as the LDF Vision.
However, the consultation also revealed a need for a clear Spatial Strategy to be provided, along with the setting out of a number of Visions for different places around the District. These would create a more detailed picture of how the Spatial Vision would be implemented in order to influence the future of North Wiltshire. This detail has been suggested within the following sections.
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6. Strategic Objectives
6.1 The Strategic Objectives are put in place to provide indicators that will allow us to measure the success of the Core Strategy in delivering the Spatial Vision for the District.
Ref: Description of Objective
SO1 To promote sustainable development across the District and support other adjoining Authorities in also doing so.
SO2 To increase the self containment of settlements. Providing the opportunity for people to satisfy their needs for housing, employment, shopping, education, leisure, worship, health, other community facilities and services, locally or in places that minimise the need to travel and are accessible safely and conveniently by non-car modes of travel.
SO3 To minimise the impact development has on climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting more environmentally friendly technologies and practices in both new and existing developments, including the use of energy from renewable resources. Consideration will be given to sustainable locations for developments, and the design and materials of developments across the District.
SO4 To provide sufficient housing and employment to meet the requirements of the 2016 Structure Plan and the 2006-2026 Regional Spatial Strategy targets. Providing decent housing accommodation to all sectors of the community.
SO5 To retain appropriate employment sites throughout the District, recognising the important role that each employment site has. Where employment sites are lost to other more appropriate uses then additional supply will be provided to replace that which has been lost.
SO6 To maintain and promote Chippenham’s role as a regionally significant town. To provide for an average annual housing completion rate of 225 dwellings in the period 2006-2026, and provide for an additional job growth of 6,300 jobs within the Chippenham Travel to Work Area. Delivering the Vision for Chippenham through supporting and enhancing its role as a Strategic Centre
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for retail, leisure, cultural and entertainment activities, along with social services and community services.
SO7 To maintain the significant roles of the main towns. Provision to be made for the residual strategic housing requirement to be located at these settlements. Increasing their self-containment by providing an adequate supply of employment land, facilities and services, and continue to maintain and enhance the existing range of retail outlets.
SO8 To allow small scale development at small towns and villages, that is required to meet an identified local need or maintains the viability of local services and facilities. Seek the creation of innovative local retailing solutions in villages.
SO9 To ensure that new development respects the character and setting of its surroundings.
SO10 To ensure that new development contributes to the provision of adequate services and infrastructure.
SO11 To preserve and enhance the biodiversity and geodiversity of the District. To ensure that the natural environment, including wildlife habitats and landscape character, is conserved and protected and that development identifies, protects and enhances important assets.
SO12 To maintain a Strategic Gap(s) in order to prevent settlements coalescing with the Swindon urban area.
6.2 The Core Strategy acknowledges that development is often about resolving conflicting objectives and that the strategy and policy framework will need to be applied flexibly in certain circumstances in order to meet communities’ needs and aspirations.
QUESTION 1: Do you have any views on the Strategic Objectives?
19 North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
7. The Spatial Strategy
7.1 The Spatial Strategy is intended to show how the Spatial Vision and Strategic Objectives will be delivered. This section therefore shows how the places of North Wiltshire are expected to develop in the future. The Spatial Strategy is based on a hierarchical approach to the identification of roles for settlements in order to conform with the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). This Strategy sets out the hierarchy as follows:
Tier Draft RSS Policy
Tier 1 Development Policy A – Development at the Strategically Significant Cities and Towns (SSCTs)
Tier 2 Development Policy B – Development at Market Towns
Tier 3 Development Policy C – Development in Small Towns and Villages
Other Unidentified villages and rural areas (There is no specific Draft RSS policy)
More details on these tiers can be found in Appendix 3, and Options for the Tiers are presented in Core Policy 1 – Location of Development. The Spatial Strategy below sets out the generic approach to settlements, which may appear at each of these Tiers.
A Spatial Strategy for North Wiltshire:
7.2 A Spatial Strategy intends to set out the framework that will allow the achievement of a sustainable pattern of development across the District. It seeks to balance the relevant economic, social and environmental matters that will contribute to improving the quality of life in the District.
7.3 The North Wiltshire Spatial Strategy is intended to guide the location of new development in the District and steer development and the provision of services and infrastructure towards achieving the Vision and Objectives. Development must be of a scale that is commensurate to its surroundings. Residential development, linked to job creation, will be focused on previously developed land within the District's larger settlements and must contribute to securing balanced patterns of land uses with the aim of increasing a settlement’s self containment and reducing the need for travel.
7.4 Residential allocations in the Local Development Framework (LDF) will be proportionate to the size of the settlement and made in consideration of the potential to
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increase self-containment and increase the range of services and facilities available to all. This Spatial Strategy will categorise settlements into four tiers of a settlement hierarchy, detailing the different roles that settlements will play in the different tiers.
7.5 To ensure the growth is sustainable, only settlements which have an appropriate range of services and facilities will continue to grow. Housing provision will look to address the affordable housing requirement of the settlement and the surrounding area. In addition to the provision of affordable housing, the strategy seeks to ensure that new development proposals provide the community infrastructure that is required as a consequence of development and that existing service provision is expanded, where necessary.
7.6 All documents in the LDF will minimise the loss of countryside; protecting and enhancing the District’s environmental assets. Developments must minimise impact, but where impacts are unavoidable mitigation measures must be put in place.
7.7 Retailing activities will be focused in Chippenham, acting as North Wiltshire’s retail centre. Below that level there are four other towns where retailing will be focused. These towns are: Calne, Corsham, Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett. The LDF will manage the type and location of retailing in the main towns. In other settlements the LDF will strive to support innovative local retailing solutions, aiding in their self containment.
7.8 The main towns and villages of North Wiltshire are evenly distributed and are easily accessible. In contrast with many parts of the South-West Region, they are not significantly remote, although public transport and other modes of transport between them can often be seen to be limited. In a survey of settlements7 in 2005 only two of the 89 recognisable villages and hamlets did not have access to public transport. The Wiltshire Local Transport Plan highlighted that the safety of rural roads was of concern.
7.9 Focusing development at the main towns maintains the viability of services and facilities at these locations. The promotion of self containment will be encouraged, however only those villages and small towns that have an appropriate range of services and facilities will be identified as having potential for very limited residential development. Developments at these settlements will be focused on meeting local needs only (as defined in the Draft RSS). If an identified settlement loses a service or facility this will give rise to their reassessment and should be taken into account when assessing development proposals. The villages of Lacock and Castle Combe, whilst supporting a good range of services and facilities, have not been included in
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recognition of their specific role and function which arises from the conservation of their historic importance.
7.10 The Core Strategy’s hierarchical approach to the consideration of settlements and their associated development, as detailed within the Regional and County planning policy documents, is supported. North Wiltshire will facilitate (or support where appropriate) the different roles of the following Tiers of settlements through the LDF:
7.11 Tier 1 - Strategically Significant Towns:
• Swindon (North Wiltshire will continue to support Swindon’s role)
• Chippenham
7.12 These settlements should be the primary focus for development as they offer the greatest potential level of self-containment. Provision should be made to maintain and enhance their roles as centres of services and employment opportunities. They currently offer the greatest level of accessibility by means other than car to cultural activities, transport, health, education and other services. Provision will be made to maintain and enhance the strategic function of these towns through the development of a wide range of commercial and public services, community and cultural facilities and non-car links to the communities they serve. They offer the ability to make best use of land for housing and economic development, creating opportunities for sustainable settlements.
7.13 The LDF will seek to enhance Chippenham’s role as a Strategic Centre and ensure that the majority of North Wiltshire’s new development takes place here. Chippenham should be the focus for retailing, leisure facilities, commercial and cultural developments in the District. With Chippenham acting as a focal point for development in the future there is potential to:
- improve the quality of the urban environment;
- provide good social and community facilities, offering a range of services, including of health care facilities, schools, higher education, cultural, leisure and places to meet and worship, in order to create healthy and secure living conditions
- focus services and facilities to allow for increased accessibility from non car uses.
7 Wiltshire County Council, “Rural Facilities Survey 2005” (Oct 2006).
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Vision for Chippenham:
In twenty years Chippenham will be a settlement that continues to have regional significance. It will be the centre of North Wiltshire’s retailing, entertainment, leisure activities, job provision, housing, community facilities and services. The town will attract shoppers and retailers, people will choose to live and work here. There will be a suitable range of accommodation types for all sections of the community. Within the town there will be a retention of real employment and employers. The town will benefit from its protected open spaces, indoor and outdoor sports facilities and the utilisation of the river and riverside. The community will support the level of facilities and services that are easily accessible to all. The character of the town will remain unchanged although the environment will be improved, with key sites regenerated and other areas and buildings smartened up. People of all ages will have access to learning, in a town that has low levels of crime and has a feeling of safety. The transport links will continue to benefit the people of Chippenham and those who visit. Future development will be managed and focused on those areas that address the relevant economic, social and environmental issues. Development will need to be adequately served by an efficient transport network, which encourages public transport use, walking and cycling. Community facilities and services will need to be adequate; doctors, dentists, nursery and school places should be available in conjunction with any new development, so that unacceptable strain on existing provision does not occur. Chippenham should be a place that people are proud to live and work in, enjoying a sense of safety and happiness.
QUESTION 2: Do you have any views on the Vision for Chippenham?
7.14 The housing completion rate for Chippenham will be an average 225 dwellings per annum from 2006-2026. Within the period 2006-2026 provision must be made in the LDF for about 6,300 jobs within the Chippenham travel to work area (TTWA).
7.15 The annual housing completion rate for an urban expansion on the western side of Swindon, either within the North Wiltshire administrative area and/or within Swindon Borough, will be 50 dwellings per annum from 2006-2026. The North Wiltshire LDF will ensure that strategic gaps are in place to ensure that settlements to the west of Swindon do not coalesce with Swindon. The area will be redefined following the adoption of the West of Swindon Development Plan Document.
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7.16 Tier 2 - Market Towns:
These towns will fulfil the defined role set out in Development Policy B of the Draft RSS, accommodating smaller scale development than Tier 1 settlements, which achieves local objectives and makes services available to the wider rural areas. Tier 2 settlements will maintain:
- an existing concentration of businesses and employment;
- a range of services and facilities including, retailing, cultural, religious and faith, education and health, accessible to the town and the surrounding area; and
- accessibility from public transport, which has potential to be improved, reducing car dependence.
7.17 The tier 2 settlements have the greatest ability, through the appropriate development mix and scale to increase their self containment. The development of their function as service centres is important to the future of these towns, especially in terms of employment and service accessibility. They currently offer the ability for people to live and work in the same location, it is important that this is retained and developed as it allows for services and facilities to be provided and sustained.
7.18 The following Visions have been presented to provide additional clarification to the future development of settlements in relation with their possible position within the settlement hierarchy. The Visions presented here have been developed from the Community Area Plans. The Core Strategy will look to deliver these Visions.
Vision for Calne:
In twenty years Calne should be an active and attractive centre, offering a range of retailing and events, accessible by public transport. The town will be a place that has a range of services that are well used, offering entertainment and recreational facilities. People will feel safe and proud of Calne benefiting from its range of accommodation and good links with businesses.
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Vision for Corsham:
In 2026 Corsham should be a vibrant, successful and pleasant town to live, work and visit and continue to be so in the future. People should enjoy better accessibility by public transport, cycling and walking. The good range of shops, jobs, adequate infrastructure and accommodation provision will enable people to satisfy their needs, rarely having to leave Corsham to find them. There will be appropriate facilities for all age groups to enjoy. The town will have the recycling and composting facilities to enable the community to be as sustainable as possible. It is important that the future use of Ministry Of Defence sites and formerly owned MOD land is closely integrated into the life of the community.
Vision for Malmesbury:
Everyone living in Malmesbury and the surrounding villages will enjoy a high quality of life. Residents will enjoy living and working in a thriving market town, which supports sustainable developments and has adequate infrastructure provision. People will benefit from good public transport links, low levels of crime, and have a feeling of safety. The town will support small businesses, provide a range of accommodation, sustain a range of community facilities, but also protect the area’s natural and historical assets.
Vision for Wootton Bassett:
In twenty years time Wootton Bassett will be fully regenerated with an active shopping street offering a range of outlets. The town will be accessible to all, with good transport links that are friendly to cyclists and pedestrians. The town should have the right level of facilities for the size of the town, with a hub for sports provision at Ballards Ash. People should feel safe and the vulnerable appropriately cared for. Facilities will be provided so people can live sustainable lives, with more recycling facilities. People will have access to a range of jobs within the town.
QUESTION 3: Do you have any views on the Visions set out above?
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7.29 Tier 3 - Development in Small Towns and Villages:
Within these settlements development will be appropriate where it:
- supports small scale economic activity and where the settlement can accommodate the future growth of businesses
- extends the range of services available including outreach delivery of services, making use of existing premises where possible
- does not significantly increase traffic on local roads and where traffic implications can be demonstrated to be acceptable
- promotes self containment, strengthening local communities, and help’s support key services.
7.30 The scale of the development at the Tier 3 settlements should be limited. The necessary assessments will needs to accompany any development proposal. These settlements will be defined by a Framework Boundary. Housing developments will be limited to provide for local needs only (to accommodate the natural population increase of that settlement) or where it is necessary to support employment provision locally. Any targeted small scale housing development will need to be accompanied by the appropriate local needs survey.
7.31 The development potential at a number of Tier 3 settlements will be restricted as a result of being located within the Green Belt or by Draft RSS policy of restricting the exacerbation of any dormitory relationship that settlement’s have with Swindon.
QUESTION 4: Should there be a single vision for all the Tier 3 settlements, or should we define individual Visions for each settlement?
7.32 Development in the Rest of the District:
In addition to increasing the employment opportunities within the main towns and to a lesser extent other smaller settlements, the LDF will also encourage diversification of the rural economy. The provision of employment opportunities proportionate to their location and associated with the dispersed rural communities will reduce the need for car borne journeys to the towns within the District and neighbouring urban areas.
7.33 It is important to ensure that the District's rural communities do not stagnate. This can be done by providing for a scale of future development that will maintain and where appropriate expand local services. We would seek to encourage the diversification and
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promotion of the rural economy, whilst preserving and enhancing the built and natural environment. Development in the countryside will only be permitted if it supports farming, the rural economy, rural communities, and countryside based activities including recreation and diversification. However development that is appropriate in rural areas must primarily be focused at existing villages.
7.34 The Cotswold Water Park forms a large concentration of man-made lakes, created through mineral workings. It forms the most extensive marl lake system in the Country. All the lakes of the Water Park within North Wiltshire are Wildlife sites. Lake 52 is part of the Cotswold Park SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and the area contains several other grassland SSSIs and one SAC (Special Area of Conservation). Lake 40 has a very important reedbed habitat. The Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) sets out the nature conservation framework for the area and relevant targets that should be taken into consideration in any proposed development.
7.35 The Cotswold Water Park area is recognised as a nationally and regionally important nature conservation area. The overall scale and importance of the area should be maintained. Development will normally only be permitted where:
• it is compatible with sustaining the biodiversity resource of the site in particular, and the area in general, and
• where the proposed development is able to demonstrate that it can avoid irreversible change or damage to important nature conservation sites.
7.36 Future development proposals in the Water Park should be considered in the context of the Cotswold Water Park Strategy, a measured approach is needed between mineral working, recreation/tourism, development and nature conservation.
7.37 The Local Planning Authority’s Local Development Scheme will be annually assessed to consider if a review is necessary. Any requirement for further Local Development Documents to deal with arising issues will be considered.
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8. Core Policies
8.1 The Core Policies will set out the overarching principles to deliver the Spatial Strategy and Strategic Objectives for North Wiltshire.
Delivering Sustainable Development
8.2 Central to the Government and North Wiltshire’s aims for planning is the principle of sustainable development. At the heart of sustainable development is the simple idea of ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for future generations. The most common definition of sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
8.3 Consideration must be given to the impact a development makes upon the social, economic and environmental condition of the District, planning plays a critical role in this. North Wiltshire strives to maintain and create sustainable communities, creating places where people want to live and work. The delivery of sustainable development is the overarching objective of the Core Policies.
8.4 North Wiltshire supports the Government Policy8 description of what sustainable communities are. It states that sustainable communities are:
• Active, inclusive and safe – fair, tolerant and cohesive with a strong local culture and other shared community activities
• Well run – with effective and inclusive participation, representation and leadership
• Environmentally sensitive – providing places for people to live that are considerate of the environment
• Well designed and built – featuring a quality built and natural environment
• Well connected – with good transport services and communication linking people to jobs, schools, health and other services
• Thriving – with a flourishing and diverse local economy
• Well served – with public, private, community and voluntary services that are appropriate to people’s needs and accessible to all
8 The UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, March 2005, HM Government.
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• Fair for everyone – including those in other communities, now and in the future
8.5 Issue – Is it necessary or indeed possible to have a North Wiltshire specific Core Policy regarding sustainable development? Recent advice and the evidence from the testing of other Core Strategies during Examinations held elsewhere in the Country has indicated that policies should be specific to an area and should not merely repeat National and Regional policy. The issue therefore is this: can a policy be created that is specific for North Wiltshire that doesn’t repeat the statements made in other policy documents? 9
8.6 The Options are:
Option 1: To provide a context to the other Core Policies by cross-referencing them with National and Regional policy regarding sustainable development, but not to introduce a specific policy. Instead, structure policies in order to deliver sustainable development.
Advantages: Avoids unnecessary duplication of National and Regional policies. Allows the context of all the other Core Policies to be set out in the introduction and avoid the necessity of complicated cross- referencing of issues that fall under the wide umbrella of sustainable development.
Disadvantages: There is no single policy that discusses sustainable development. Cross-referencing with National and Regional policies may lead to confusion.
Option 2: Introduce a North Wiltshire specific core policy dealing with sustainable development.
Advantages: Will allow the specific issue of sustainability in North Wiltshire to be addressed.
Disadvantages: The issues of sustainability that affect North Wiltshire may be the same as in other areas of the country therefore the policy would be duplicating general statements made in Planning Policy Statements and the Draft RSS.
Option 3: Not to introduce a policy or any cross-referencing.
9 For example Planning Policy Statement 1 and the draft Regional Spatial Strategy.
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Advantages: Avoids unnecessary detail and replication of National and Regional policies.
Disadvantage: Does not clearly provide North Wiltshire’s approach to sustainable development.
Option 4: We welcome your ideas for an approach to incorporating sustainable development principles within the Local Development Framework.
QUESTION 5: Considering the question set out in the issue above, which of the options do you believe best addresses it?
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Location of Development
8.7 Directing development to specific settlements is a key tool used in addressing overall sustainability. This should seek to increase the potential for the self-containment of settlements, increasing opportunities to live, work and pursue leisure activities within a settlement. A hierarchy of settlements across the District creates the conditions for effective delivery of infrastructure, services and facilities. Designating a settlement to a Tier in the hierarchy allows their role and purpose to be defined, which in turn influences the future planned development of the settlement in order to create more sustainable places.
8.8 The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) directs development to the main urban areas of the District; especially housing that is supported by employment opportunities. The Strategically Significant Towns (Tier 1 settlements) of Swindon and Chippenham offer the advantage of having substantial existing services and facilities, supported by a concentration of housing and employment. They offer a range of transport options and have significant public transport hubs. Services and facilities are easily accessible; the Draft RSS considers that building upon this existing capacity would provide the most sustainable form of growth. Chippenham is the main settlement of the District in terms of population, jobs, services and facilities. Its planned growth will seek to establish a more self-contained, sustainable settlement. In all options presented below Chippenham’s defined role in the Draft RSS is supported.
8.9 The other main settlements (Tier 2 settlements) of the District operate at a lower level to the strategic settlements, however the role and function of these settlements will be supported. The main settlements provide easy links with smaller surrounding settlements and their rural hinterland, providing access to services and facilities. Concentrating service provision within the main settlements will ensure that accessibility is maximised and the support for the provision is sustained long term.
8.10 Smaller settlements (Tier 3 settlements), with limited potential to increase their self- containment, should only see limited additional growth in the future. This will reduce the potential for unsustainable development. Limited development should only occur in those settlements that have an existing range of services. Identified settlements should have most of the following services:
- Primary School
- Place of Worship
- Hall (where community activities can take place)
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- Food Shop
- Post Office
- Pub
- Recreational Field
8.11 It is appropriate to define settlements that have the capacity to accommodate development, which maintains small-scale economic activity, extends the settlement’s range of services, and does not significantly increase traffic on the roads. There may be some opportunities for small-scale housing development within these settlements where it relates to an identified local need or where the housing development would support employment provision locally.
8.12 The Issues are:
Issue 1: That there is a need to specifically identify the settlements that correspond with the appropriate Tiers as detailed within the Draft RSS.
Issue 2: There is a need to provide additional housing growth to accommodate the requirements of the Draft RSS, taking account of increased migration into the District and to accommodate the change in household demographics.
Issue 3: There is a need to provide the necessary infrastructure and other complementary/essential land uses in association with the proposed increased housing numbers. For example the Draft RSS requires the provision of an additional 6,300 jobs in the period 2006-2026 within the Travel to Work Area (TTWA) of Chippenham. Providing for this in a sustainable approach will be critical to the future self-containment of settlements.
Issue 4: Sustainable communities – there is a desire to only permit future developments that will contribute to the creation, or continuation, of sustainable communities. There is a need to establish clear roles for the existing settlements across the District. Future development should be focused in such a way that it maximises opportunities to reduce private car use.
Issue 5: The need to utilise opportunities to use brownfield sites, increasing efficiency on existing sites and building upon existing services and facilities including education facilities, health and social services, leisure, and utilities.
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What would a Location of Development Core Policy look like?
8.13 Below is an example of how the Location of Development Core Policy would be constructed. Each of the Tiers will include specific reference to the settlements that are designated within it.
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Core Policy 1: Location of Development
All development proposals will be guided by the following principles:
- That for new built development the locational preference will generally be for previously developed land and buildings within an existing settlement’s physical limits, then other land within the physical limits of a settlement, before previously developed land and buildings and greenfield sites outside the physical limits of a settlement can be considered.
- That the nature and scale of the development supports and enhances the role of the settlement as set out in the Spatial Strategy.
The Spatial Strategy will identify settlements and their position within a tiered hierarchy. The purpose of the hierarchy is to set out the expected role and thus the future scale and type of developments that will take place in those locations.
Tier 1 - Strategically Significant Towns
These settlements should be the primary focus of future development as they offer the greatest potential level of self-containment (people have the opportunity to live, work and undertake their normal range of activities within the settlement). They currently offer the greatest level of accessibility by means other than car to cultural activities, transport, health, education and other services. Provision will be made to maintain and enhance the strategic function of these towns through the development of a wide range of commercial and public services, community and cultural facilities and non-car links to the communities they serve. They offer the ability to make best use of land for housing and economic development, creating opportunities for sustainable settlements. The Draft RSS identifies Chippenham as the only North Wiltshire Town of strategic significance and also lists Swindon, which adjoins North Wiltshire.
Tier 2 - Main settlements
These settlements should accommodate a smaller scale of development, which achieves local objectives and makes services available to the wider rural areas. These towns should offer:
- an existing concentration of businesses and employment;
- a range of services and facilities including, retailing, cultural, religious and faith, education and health, accessible to the town and the surrounding area; and
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- accessibility from public transport, which has potential to be improved, reducing car dependence.
These towns have the ability, through the appropriate mix and scale of development to increase their self containment. Important to the future of these towns is the development of their function as service centres, especially in terms of employment and service accessibility. They do currently offer the ability for people to live and work in the same location, it is important that this is retained and developed, as it allows for services and facilities to be provided and sustained.
Tier 3 - Small Towns and Villages
Development will be appropriate where it:
- supports small scale economic activity and where the settlement can accommodate the future growth of businesses
- extends the range of services available including outreach delivery of services, making use of existing premises where possible
- does not significantly increase traffic on local roads and where traffic implications can be demonstrated to be acceptable
- promotes self containment, strengthening local communities, and helps support key services.
- Based on an analysis of roles and functions these settlements will be defined to allow appropriate development that maintains small-scale economic activity, extends their range of services, and does not significantly increase traffic. Development in these locations should promote self containment, strengthen local communities and help to support key services. There may be some opportunities for small-scale housing development within these settlements where it relates to an identified local need or where the housing development would support employment provision locally.
Outside of these locations, development will be regarded as being in open countryside, where the objective as set out by Government is to preserve the countryside for its own sake. Exceptions to this overall approach will allow for developments that contribute to the viability of the agricultural industry and diversity of the local rural economy.
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Justification for a Core Policy on the Location of Development:
8.14 The requirement to have a Location of Development core policy based on the Spatial Strategy is set out the Draft RSS. It provides clarity to the purpose of towns and villages and targets efforts to maintain or create sustainable settlements.
8.15 What are the Options?
Option 1: Tier 1 – Chippenham
Tier 2 – Calne, Corsham, Malmesbury, and Wootton Bassett∗.
Tier 3 – Ashton Keynes, Box, Bradenstoke, Christian Malford, Colerne, Cricklade*, Crudwell, Derry Hill, Great Somerford, Hullavington, Kington St Michael, Luckington, Lyneham*, Oaksey, Purton*, Sherston, Sutton Benger and Yatton Keynell.
Option 2: Tier 1 – Chippenham
Tier 2 – Calne
Tier 3 – Corsham, Malmesbury, Wootton Bassett*, Ashton Keynes, Box, Bradenstoke, Christian Malford, Colerne, Cricklade*, Crudwell, Derry Hill, Great Somerford, Hullavington, Kington St Michael, Luckington, Lyneham*, Oaksey, Purton*, Sherston, Sutton Benger and Yatton Keynell.
Option 3: Tier 1 – Chippenham
Tier 2 – Calne, Corsham, Malmesbury, and Wootton Bassett*.
Tier 3 – Ashton Keynes, Box, Colerne, Cricklade*, Derry Hill, Hullavington, Lyneham*, Purton*, and Sherston.
Option 4: Within the limitations that we set out below we welcome any alterntive you wish to suggest. Please provide evidence to support your proposal.
Limitations:
That we should plan for the limit of housing numbers in the Draft RSS, Chippenham to receive 225 dwellings per annum, elsewhere to receive 225
∗ The relationship between these villages and Swindon should be recognised. The emerging RSS identifies that Wootton Bassett, Cricklade, Lyneham and Purton perform a largely dormitory function to Swindon. To ensure that this relationship is not exacerbated they should not receive housing growth above the level, which is appropriate to meet local needs.
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dwellings per annum and the western side of Swindon to receive 50 dwellings per annum. 6,300 new jobs should be provided within the Travel to Work Area (TTWA) of Chippenham.
The Draft RSS specifically identifies Chippenham’s role as a Strategically Significant Town.
The Draft RSS seeks to locate the bulk of the District’s housing provision to the Market Towns.
The Draft RSS states that the following settlements largely perform a dormitory function to Swindon. To ensure that this is not exacerbated, they should not receive housing growth above levels appropriate to meet local needs this applies to: Wootton Bassett, Cricklade, Purton and Lyneham.
The Draft RSS states that the Local Development Documents (LDD) should ensure that settlements surrounding Swindon should not coalesce with Swindon with the identification of strategic gaps through the appropriate LDD, working in conjunction with neighbouring authorities, where appropriate.
How do the Options perform against the Issues?
8.16 Each of the options address the five issues highlighted in paragraph 8.12. However the resultant spatial implications of the options are different.
8.17 The hierarchy of settlements allows for a clear purpose to be established; it gives an idea of what development will happen where, and how future development will be directed to specific places in the District.
8.18 The hierarchy should be capable of directing development to the most sustainable locations. For example if the Draft RSS housing figures were to be increased in the future, the Core Strategy should not need immediate review, as the focus of growth will have been established. In the case where a proposal is put forward that is clearly contrary to the selected hierarchy, which would undermine the spatial strategy then that proposal should be resisted.
Explanation of Options:
8.19 All three options recognise the role that the Draft RSS designates for Chippenham.
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8.20 Option 1 – Concentrates locally significant development at Corsham, Calne, Malmesbury, and Wootton Bassett. This option recognises the existing range of services and facilities that the towns offer. They currently support opportunities for surrounding areas to access services and facilities whilst minimising car dependence. In the future this would be supported by planned development.
8.21 Outside of Chippenham the housing growth would be concentrated at these towns. This does not mean that each town would receive similar growth rates. It is important to recognise the status and the possibilities for these towns would be different from Tier 3 settlements.
8.22 Developments in the other identified settlements would be supported where it can be proven that it would support small scale economic activity where the settlement can accommodate growth of businesses, or the development extends the range of services and promotes self containment whilst not significantly increasing traffic on local roads. The selected settlements in this third tier have an existing range of services and facilities, or have good access to them.
8.23 Option 2 – Differing slightly from Option 1, Calne, would be the only town identified in the second tier. This would mean that housing and employment growth, along with any necessary additional services and facilities would be focused at Calne. This recognises the opportunities that exist in Calne to increase its self containment.
8.24 The towns of Corsham, Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett could be viewed as having more limited potential to grow, therefore under this option their development potential similar to the other small towns and villages of the District. Substantial growth would be resisted and instead directed to Chippenham and Calne. The type of developments expected to take place in tier 3 settlements, along with the other identified settlements would remain as in option 1.
8.25 Option 3 – The settlements in Tiers 1 and 2 would be the same as in option 1. However, in this option there would be fewer settlements identified within Tier 3. These settlements benefit from a large population of over 1200. The next settlement below this is 1000. Also the spatial distribution of the larger settlements offers good access to the rest of the rural area. This would allow limited resources to be focused with services and facilities delivered in locations that have a larger existing population base.
For more detailed information about the Settlement Hierarchy, please refer to the Background Paper 1.
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8.26 These three diagrams show the boundary of the District and the various options identified in paragraph 8.15. The larger circle represents the Tier 1 settlement (Chippenham), the medium circle represents Tier 2 settlement(s) and the small circle represents Tier 3 settlements.
Option 1 Option 2 Option 3
QUESTION 6: Which Option do you favour?
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What Scale of Housing Development is anticipated?
8.27 The Draft RSS details the strategic housing requirement for the District; it also states the specific requirements for Chippenham and Swindon.
8.28 Following formal submission of the Draft RSS, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government requested that the South West Regional Assembly (SWRA) undertake further work before the start of the Examination in Public of the RSS on the implications of revised Government household projections for England. The revised projections indicate that a higher level of housing will be needed across the region to meet the needs of the population than that originally anticipated when the consultations on the First Core Strategy Issues and Options document were held in January 2006. The new figures give rise to a potential increase in housing numbers in North Wiltshire, with the highest potential increase of 28%. Whilst it is important to highlight this, it is not possible to take a position that would pre-judge the conclusion of the Examination in Public of the RSS. Therefore whilst figures have been presented they are intended to indicate the known position of the Draft RSS and are likely to represent the lowest level of housing growth. Any increase in housing figures would not however undermine the approach to the location of the development set out the paragraphs above.
8.29 The Draft RSS housing figures have been developed from the Structure Plan 2016. The requirement for additional sites to accommodate the housing growth will therefore need to take account of the progress towards meeting the Structure Plan target.
8.30 The Issues are:
Issue 1: There is a need to provide additional housing growth to accommodate the requirements of the Draft RSS, taking account of increased migration into the District and accommodating the change in household demographics.
Issue 2: It is necessary to reassess the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 allocations and the unimplemented planning permission to establish the likelihood of delivery. It is also necessary to assess the capacity of brownfield sites within settlements (the Housing Land Availability Assessment has been commissioned and is already underway to undertake this work). To conclude what amount of greenfield land will be required to accommodate the Draft RSS housing numbers.
Issue 3: The Council's approach to the housing land supply and the consideration of windfall sites will be as follows:
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• The Core Strategy document will set out the broad locations for new housing for the 20 year period from 2006 to 2026 following the requirements of the South West Regional Spatial Strategy.
• The Core Strategy document will also indicate where, within these broad locations, deliverable housing will be located for the period 2006 to 2014. This allows for a five year land supply to be available from the likely 2009 date of adoption of the Core Strategy.
• The Allocations document will set out the detailed site by site allocations for this first tranche of land supply including any necessary phasing arrangements and site specific requirements.
• The Core Strategy will also identify further new housing land for the period 2014 to 2026.
• The Annual Monitoring Report will record the actual delivery of housing compared to the sites identified in Housing Land Availability Assessment and any "windfall sites” that have emerged. This will establish any need to adjust the release of sites and any need to update the Allocations document accordingly.
8.31 It should be noted that the delivery of housing can seem, when it is thought of only in terms of delivering numbers, to be a simplistic approach. However other important matters have to be considered. It is also necessary to also ensure that the housing is deliverable on identified sites, within a reasonable time-scale and that it is appropriately brought forward using phasing policies.
Example of the Scale of Housing Developments Expected:
Provision is made for the development of at least 9,000 homes and associated infrastructure in the District within the period 2006-2026. A further 1,000 homes will be planned for the Western side of Swindon.
Of the 10,000 homes:
The following new homes will be built Total Average per annum Chippenham 4500 225 Western Swindon 1000 50 Elsewhere 4500 225 Total 10000 500
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It is not appropriate at this stage to set out more detailed figures, for example taking account of the number of completed sites and outstanding allocations, where these would already be contributing to the delivery of the overall housing requirement. Also the housing figures will be subject of much debate at the Examination in Public of the RSS. The figures therefore show the overall housing numbers required and should not be used to derive at a figure for the area of land for sites. Further detail will be presented at the Preferred Options stage.
8.32 What are the Options?
Option 1: Based upon Options 1 and 3 presented in the Location of Development Core Policy: On average 225 dwellings per annum would be built at Chippenham. The majority of the remaining housing (an average of 225 dwellings per annum) would be built at the Tier 2 settlements of Calne, Corsham, Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett.
Option 2: Based upon Option 2 presented in the Location of Development Core Policy: On average 225 dwellings per annum would be built at Chippenham. The majority of the remaining housing (an average of 225 dwellings per annum) would be built at the Tier 2 settlement of Calne.
Option 3: We welcome your suggestions, within the limitations set out in Option 4, paragraph 8.15.
QUESTION 7: Which option do you favour? We would also welcome your comments on the following questions:
A. Do you have any comments on our approach to housing land supply and windfall sites?
B. What approach should be taken to housing sites in Calne, Corsham, Malmesbury and Wootton Bassett? How many houses should be planned for at each settlement?
C. Our approach to housing at the Tier 3 settlements will be to seek to allocate affordable housing sites and thus reduce the overall housing requirement. All further developments will be viewed as windfalls and will be taken into account when reviewing
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the future housing land supply. Do you have any comments on this approach?
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Phasing Policy
8.33 It is important to set out the arrangement for the phased release of the land for housing and other uses in order to minimise impact on existing infrastructure.
8.34 The Issues are:
Issue 1: There is a need to consider when new housing land should be released over the life of the Core Strategy. The Housing Market Assessment recommended that it is likely to take time for Swindon to increase its overall output of new dwellings. Therefore in order to achieve the sub regional target in the early years of the Draft RSS, Kennet and North Wiltshire may need to account for a higher proportion of the sub-regional target in the early years and reduce the building rate in the later years.
Issue 2: The delivery of appropriate infrastructure improvements must also be considered. The implications of future growth and the impact that will have on the road network and also the need for additional education and health facilities will need to be considered.
8.35 What are the Options?
Option 1: Not to introduce a phasing policy – That it is unnecessary to introduce a phasing policy instead relying on the market to supply housing and supporting infrastructure.
Advantages: It would be possible to meet the housing target easily and timely due to market conditions that exist in North Wiltshire as detailed in the Housing Market Assessment (HMA).
Disadvantages: Increases risk of non-delivery of both housing in preferred locations and infrastructure. Increases uncertainty.
Option 2: Introduce a phasing policy, taking account of transport, education and health requirements in order to ensure funding is available for such work and that impact is minimised on existing services and facilities.
Advantages: Provide clarity and certainty for all parties. Should minimise the impact of any future development on existing infrastructure.
Disadvantages: Could be viewed as interfering with the market unnecessarily. May be difficult to reflect changing circumstances.
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Option 3: Introduce a phasing policy that would phase a larger proportion of housing supply in the early years of the Core Strategy and a small proportion in the later years.
Advantages: Would assist in meeting the Sub-Regional housing target. This would allow a greater development value to be extracted through Planning Agreements to fund community infrastructure provision in the early years.
Disadvantages: May not be supported by all Authorities within the Sub- Region. May result in a slowdown in the house building rates in the later years resulting in a lack of choice. Would result in a more intensive construction impact on the town during a shorter period of time.
QUESTION 8: Which option do you favour? If you favour option 2 are there other (in addition to transport, education and health) influences, which the phasing policy should consider?
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Affordable Housing Provision
8.36 The Core Strategy must take account of the need for affordable housing in North Wiltshire. North Wiltshire District Council is committed to providing high quality housing for people who are unable to access or afford market housing.
8.37 The Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) identified a shortfall in the provision of Affordable Housing in North Wiltshire. The assessments main finding was that an, additional 780 affordable dwellings are required per annum over the next 5 years to meet need. As need is so high there is a desire to maximise the delivery of affordable housing, but not at the expense of stifling the housing market.
8.38 The Swindon Housing Market Assessment acknowledged that there is a severe shortage of affordable housing in villages, where house prices are considerably beyond the reach of those on average incomes.
8.39 The Issues are:
Issue 1: There is a need to establish an approach to affordable housing in the main settlements (in the settlements of Tiers 1 and 2 of the settlement hierarchy that can receive growth above that which is for local needs only). Setting out the threshold when developments are of a size that they should contain affordable housing and the percentage of the development that should be affordable.
Issue 2: There is a need to establish an approach to provide affordable housing in areas outside the main settlements.
Issue 3: There is a need to establish an approach to the identification and designation of the exception sites.
Issue 4: Size and type of affordable housing.
8.40 Issue 1: There is a need to establish an approach to affordable housing in the main settlements (in the settlements of Tiers 1 and 2 of the settlement hierarchy that can receive growth above that which is for local needs only). Setting out the threshold when developments are of a size that they should contain affordable housing and the percentage of the development that should be affordable.
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8.41 What are the Options?
Option 1: To continue the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 policy, where the threshold is 15 or more dwellings then there is a requirement that 30% of the homes must be affordable.
Advantages: The policy has a proven record of delivering affordable housing. It is know by planners and developers alike. It is in accordance with PPS3 and the Draft RSS.
Disadvantages: Will only delivery the minimum affordable housing permitted by PPS3 and the Draft RSS. Would only deliver affordable housing from larger sites and would be unlikely, in the short term, to deliver enough affordable houses to address need.
Option 2: To consider the site size threshold for affordable housing and the percentage requirement for affordable housing from such sites. There are many alternative approaches.
A Threshold - A development of 6 or more dwellings, and/or a development of 15 or more (you may choose a single threshold to which to apply a percentage requirement, alternatively you may wish to have different thresholds requiring different percentages of affordable housing).
B Percentage - Developments are required to comprise of 33%, 50%, or 66% affordable housing.
Example: A and B can be used to create different requirements for different sized developments. A development of 6 dwellings with a percentage requirement of 33% would result in 2 affordable houses being delivered - for a larger development (15 or more) for example 20 dwellings and with a requirement of 50% then 10 affordable houses would be delivered.
Advantages: There are a range of options presented here for your consideration, the advantage is that they would result in the delivery of more affordable houses in a more sophisticated approach to the current Local Plan. It would result in affordable housing across of range of sites, in various locations. Reflects the Draft RSS, which states that policies should routinely require more than 30% of housing to be affordable.
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Disadvantage: Creates a more complex policy and if over-ambitious has the potential to stifle overall housing growth.
Option 3: Your suggestions are welcome.
QUESTION 9: Which option do you favour?
8.42 Issue 2: There is a need to establish an approach to affordable housing in areas where residential development would be for local needs only.
8.42 What are the Options?
Option 1: To allow all sites in Tier 3 settlements to come forward for market housing. Financial contributions will then be sought from any developments, and used to fund affordable housing in the main settlements (Tiers 1 and 2 of the hierarchy).
Advantages: Clear uniform policy. It would promote the delivery of affordable housing in the most sustainable locations within the District.
Disadvantage: Difficult to administer and would fail to deliver affordable housing in areas where local needs exist.
Option 2: To continue to apply the current North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 requirement of seeking an element of affordable housing on all developments on the basis that about 50% of the dwellings permitted will be affordable. It should be noted that in the future this option would apply to a smaller number of settlements.
Advantages: Provides affordable housing in a range of locations. Familiarity of the policy by existing users.
Disadvantages: It would not necessarily deliver affordable housing in the areas of greatest need.
Option 3: To allocate affordable housing exception sites on the edge of the Framework Boundary and would entirely comprise of affordable housing. All other development within the Framework Boundary would be developed on the basis that 50% of dwellings would be affordable. The split in the tenure mix between intermediate and social rented housing will be
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established through the required local needs assessment that would be produced to support any development proposal.
Advantages: Ensure that affordable houses match the local needs. Seeks a range of approaches to deliver affordable homes.
Disadvantages: It would not necessarily deliver affordable housing in the areas of greatest need.
Option 4: Your suggestions are welcome
8.43 Issue 3: There is a need to establish an approach to identification and designation of the exception sites.
Affordable Housing Site Search Criteria
8.44 The Swindon housing Market Assessment recommended that “full use should be made of planning powers regarding exception sites, and allocation of land for 100% affordable housing in villages and market towns should be considered.”
8.45 The intention of the Core Strategy is to allocate affordable housing exception sites within defined settlements to help fill the growing affordability gap between the high house price to income ratio being experienced throughout the authority.
8.46 Appendix 4A presents the ‘Site Search Criteria’ that the Council intends to use to identify these suitable exception sites. These criteria will also be used to meet unexpected demand.
QUESTION 10: Do you agree with or have any comment about the Affordable Housing “Site Search Criteria” set out in Appendix 4A of this document?
8.47 Issue 4: Size and type of Affordable Housing.
The Housing Market Assessment (HMA) states that the size and type of affordable housing provided in connection with new development should take account of the characterises of those households that the local authority has a duty to house and the existing pattern of available re-lets.
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QUESTION 11: We would welcome you views on what the Core Strategy should say about the types and sizes of affordable housing. The current approach contained within the adopted North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and supported by a Draft Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) SPD is:
To seek to negotiate an element of affordable housing subject to local need and site characteristics. The draft Affordable Housing SPD clarifies this position by providing indicative percentages for the size and tenure of affordable housing. Tenure is split between Social Rented and Intermediate Affordable Housing for each area of the District. This is based on the results of the Fordham Housing Needs Assessment.
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Gypsy and Traveller Site Search Criteria
8.48 North Wiltshire District Council is committed to ensuring that members of the gypsy and traveller communities have the same access to decent and appropriate accommodation as every other citizen and that there are sufficient sites available to meet their need.
8.49 To meet this objective, North Wiltshire District Council in co-operation with the other Wiltshire authorities have commissioned David Couttie Associates to carry out a sub- regional study of the accommodation needs and aspirations of the Gypsy and Traveller community.
8.50 The Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) has surveyed the local Gypsy and Traveller community in this sub-region. The survey aims to identify any shortfall in the provision of authorised sites over the next 5 years, present a potential distribution of where new sites should be located and determine what facilities the Gypsy and Traveller community consider an ideal site should contain.
8.51 Appendix 4B presents ‘Site Search Criteria’ that can be used to identify suitable permanent and transit sites for the gypsy and traveller community. This will help to promote good community relations at the local level and avoid the conflict and controversy associated with unauthorised developments and encampments.
8.52 For the purpose of this assessment the term “Gypsies and Travellers” encompasses both ethnic Gypsies and Travellers (including Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers) and New Travellers. A new definition of Gypsy also recognises that they may “stop travelling, either permanently or temporarily, for health or educational reasons or because of caring responsibilities (as detailed in the ODPM Circular 1/06).
8.53 Appendix 4B presents the ‘Site Search Criteria’ that the Council intends to use to identify potential gypsy and traveller sites. These criteria will also be used to consider planning applications, unauthorised sites and to assess potential enforcement action.
QUESTION 12: Do you agree with the Gypsy and Traveller “Site Search Criteria” set out in Appendix 4B of this document?
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Natural Environment
8.54 It is vital that the quality, character, diversity and local distinctiveness of the North Wiltshire’s natural environment is protected and enhanced. Developments that support positive management will be encouraged. The District has a range of international, national, regional and county level sites identified for their biodiversity and geodiversity importance. Where environmental assets will be affected the Council will in first instance seek to avoid loss or damage, then mitigate an unavoidable damage, and compensate for loss or damage through offsetting actions.
8.55 Priority will be given to the preservation and enhancement of sites of international or national landscape, nature conservation and geological importance. In order to assist in the assessment of landscape resource the Council has produced a landscape character assessment, which sets out management guidelines, which will contribute to the environmental enhancement of the District. It may be necessary to undertake more detailed analysis on a site specific basis.
8.56 These are the specific natural environment designations across North Wiltshire:
Designation Number
Special Areas of Conservation 2
SSSIs 31
Wiltshire County Wildlife sites (inc. RIGS) over 450
AONB (Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty)
- Cotswold and North Wessex Downs 2
Local Nature Reserves 2
Ancient and Semi-natural Woodlands Numerous
Plans
Wiltshire Biodiveristy Action Plan (BAP)
Cotswold Water Park BAP
Great Western Community Forest
North Wessex Downs AONB Management Plan
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Cotswolds AONB Management Plan
QUESTION 13: Are there relevant issues in North Wiltshire that would require a specific Core Policy on the Natural Environment? Please note that any policy should do more than merely repeat other legislation, national and regional policies.
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Historic Environment
8.57 The character of North Wiltshire is in part defined by its history. The District has a variety of historic assets, which are protected by a range of legislation, such as conservation areas, historic parks and gardens, listed buildings and archaeological features.
8.58 These are the specific historic assets in North Wiltshire:
Asset Number
Conservation Areas 65
Listed Building (entries) 5500
Registered Historic Gardens 5
Archaeological Zones 10
QUESTION 14: Are there relevant issues in North Wiltshire that would require a specific Core Policy on the Historic Environment? Please note that any policy should do more than merely repeat other legislation, national and regional policies.
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Climate Change - Reduction in Carbon Dioxide Emissions
8.59 Effective spatial planning is one of the many elements required in a successful response to climate change. The Core Strategy should set out how spatial planning will lower carbon emissions and provide resilience to the climate change now accepted as inevitable. It should reflect the government’s position on tackling climate change and contributing to global sustainability. The sustainability appraisal process will play an important part in assessing the various options for all policies and will shape the preferred option in delivering the Key Planning Objectives10.
8.60 The Draft RSS sets out a requirement for Local Authorities to have a specific policy to address on-site generation of energy from renewable sources. This policy applies to larger-scale development and requires as a minimum, sufficient on-site renewable
energy to reduce CO2 emissions. It is useful to note that the greater the energy
efficiency of the development, the lower the CO2 emissions are, leading to a smaller overall requirement for renewable energy generation.
8.61 The Issues are:
Issue 1: All policies and statements in the Core Strategy will seek to minimise North Wiltshire’s impact on Climate Change. A specific policy will be introduced to address the expected on-site generation of energy from renewable sources, as is required by the Draft RSS. Larger-scale developments will be expected to provide, as a minimum, sufficient on-site renewable energy
to reduce CO2 emissions from energy use by users of the buildings constructed on site by a percentage. There are two variables that can be set by the Local Authority, these are:
- What constitutes larger-scale development (in terms of the number residential units and size of commercial building); and
- What percentage of reduction in CO2 emissions should be required from on-site renewable energy?
Issue 2: The need for the LDF to keep up to date with emerging new national policy on climate change.
10 These are set out in the supplement to PPS1 (Planning and Climate Change – currently in draft form).
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Below is an indication of a possible Core Policy on reduction in CO2 Emissions:
Core Policy 6: Reduction in CO2 Emissions – Renewable energy production
Developments will be excepted to provide, as a minimum, sufficient on-site renewable energy to reduce CO2 emissions from energy use by users of buildings constructed on site by a reduction of X%.
8.62 What are the Options?
What constitutes a large scale development 10 Dwellings / 5 Dwellings / 1 Dwellings / Percentage 1,000m² 750m² 500m² 20 Option 3 Option 6 Option 9
15 Option 2 Option 5 Option 8
10 Option 1 Option 4 Option 7
8.63 Options: Option 1 corresponds with the minimal requirements as detailed within the Draft RSS. The Option that represents the most carbon saving is 9. Other authorities have introduce or are in the process of adopting the following targets:
London, 20%
Guildford, 10% (on all residential developments and commercial development over 1000m²).
Calderdale, 10%-2010, 15%-2015, 20%-2020 (for 15+ residential units and all other development of 1000m²)
Merton, 10% for all non-residential developments over 1000m²
QUESTION 15: Which option is appropriate for North Wiltshire? How should North Wiltshire ensure that its policies and approach remain up to date with National, Regional Policies and Guidance?
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Employment and Economic Development
8.64 The maintenance of Sustainable Communities within North Wiltshire depends upon a healthy and growing economy. This underpins other elements of the Core Strategy as it creates the wealth that allows social and cultural activity and the conservation of our environment to take place. It is also one of the keystones to holding together in one place jobs, living places, commerce and recreation in such a way that it may be possible to minimise travel and reduce carbon emissions.
8.65 This section draws from various sources of research and information gathering to determine the Issues that should be tackled and the Options available for doing so.
8.66 In particular, the North Wiltshire Employment Land Review October 2006 is an important research resource and follows the nationally prescribed methodology for this work. It can be readily compared with similar work that will have been or will be undertaken across the Country. It contains a considerable amount of background material about the District and source information. It contains the results of a survey of 200 businesses in North Wiltshire about their growth prospects and needs. It also analyses the supply of employment premises and land in the District and offers some conclusions as to what may be required in any future Local Development Framework (LDF) documents.
8.67 This document was publicised during February and March 2007 for comment and it is not intended to repeat the outcomes of the research here. However this document, informed by the other source material, suggests that the following issues are important to the Core Strategy.
8.68 The Issues are:
Issue 1: That there is a need to provide for the infrastructure, premises and land necessary to promote the process of moving North Wiltshire from its low skilled manufacturing employment base to one based on high value service industries, modern research activities and high growth manufacturing.
Issue 2: That there is a need to protect the employment areas that are the nurseries for those new businesses that require economical premises.
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Issue 3: That there is a need to protect the employment areas and to identify new land that allows already established small to medium sized firms to grow into larger premises without the need to move outside the District.
Issue 4: That North Wiltshire can attract substantial inward investment if it provides sufficient amounts of high quality and highly accessible employment sites but that there is a risk that this will lead to increased sustainability problems unless we ensure that:
• There are sufficient quantities of skilled people available in the area as well as attracting new skilled people.
• There are the facilities for training local people in the relevant new skills.
• There are improved modes of transport and not just increasing car- borne traffic.
• There is a sufficient amount of local and affordable housing.
• There are supporting cultural and recreational facilities available.
• That this occurs without removing the qualities of North Wiltshire, both natural and environmental, that attracted the new investors in the first instance.
Issue 5: That North Wiltshire District Council and other public authorities are willing to be flexible and to act rapidly to take advantage of new opportunities for appropriate employment growth and new industries.
Issue 6: That there are particular sectors of employment generation that should have specific assistance due to their reliance upon local unique features. This includes those sectors that support the tourist industry; canal restoration and what might be described as the “environmental” industries connected with energy conservation and generation.
QUESTION 16: Do you agree that these 6 employment and economic development issues are the ones that this Core Strategy should tackle? Are there other issues that you consider should be tackled? If so, please describe them and list any sources you have used.
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8.69 What are the Options?
Each of the issues identified in the previous section is examined here in the light of four possible options for dealing with them. In general, the options are
Option 1: The “no policy” Option where it is suggested that the issue be dealt with by leaving it to its own natural processes.
Option 2: The “carry on with the existing policy” Option where the policies of the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016 and the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 are applied to the issue.
Option 3: The “proactively plan” policy approach where a new policy is proposed to deal with the issue.
Option 4: This is where you have the option of proposing an alternative means of dealing with the issue. Some ideas are presented to prompt for your own suggestions.
8.70 Issue 1: That there is a need to provide for the infrastructure, premises and land necessary to promote the process of moving North Wiltshire from its low skilled manufacturing employment base to one based on high value service industries, modern research activities and high growth manufacturing.
8.71 What are the Options?
Option 1: The growth or decline of employment sectors is allowed to take its course without intervention by the Core Strategy. This is not in accordance with the Draft RSS and therefore is not a realistic option.
Option 2: Continue to allocate land for employment purposes without regard to the employment sectors that occupy it.
Advantage: Allows flexibility in the use of land according to the demands of the moment.
Disadvantage: Would not necessarily assist the process of structural change to new industries deemed necessary. It is not a subtle tool for this kind of change.
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Option 3: Identify prime sites to protect existing or encourage new strategic business development.
Advantage. The location of inward investment sites can be exactly promoted for the Chippenham area.
Disadvantage: It would require a sophisticated approach to ensure that the right sites were promoted that are attractive to the market.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views.
(a) There is evidence that there is no shortage of land for local employment needs but that it may be in the wrong place or too inflexible to accommodate the expansion needs or aspirations of firms that wish to take advantage of the growth in high value employment sectors. Would a more relaxed planning policy position that “fast-tracked” proposals for extensions, re-development or alterations to business premises in established employment areas be effective?
(b) A variation of Option 2 would be to continue present policies that seek to allocate employment land generally but to employ other policy tools to encourage the development of high value employment. This could involve creating policies that encourage new training and re-skilling opportunities in the education sector or in supporting employers and public agencies in their own training strategies.
(c) The research points to the fact that the older type of manufacturing sector is “over-represented” in North Wiltshire and that it is in decline. All the previous Options take this as a given and accommodate it by seeking to grow the other sectors. However, manufacturing remains a significant employer and it would be an Option to develop strategies that seek to retain and enhance this sector.
QUESTION 17: Which of the options do you favour? If you have chosen Option 4, describe your option and list any sources you have used to justify why you think this would be a better approach.
8.72 Issue 2: That there is a need to protect the employment areas that are the nurseries for those new businesses that require economical premises.
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8.73 What are the Options?
Option 1: The growth or decline of existing employment areas are allowed to take their course without intervention by the Core Strategy.
Advantages: Allows flexibility in the use of land according to the demands of the moment.
Disadvantage: Loss of existing employment land to other uses
Option 2: Keep the existing North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 Policy that protects employment areas from conversion to other uses unless:
• there are current traffic, environmental or amenity problems,
• where the benefits of conversion are considered to be greater,
• there is no obvious economic need.
Advantages: It is possible to consider each request to move a site out of the employment sector on a case by case basis allowing for individual circumstances to be taken into account.
Disadvantage: It allows for this decision to be made on the basis of site specific criteria and are thus not necessarily related to the employment needs of the District as a whole.
Option 3: Develop new policies to tackle this issue drawing from the Employment Land Review research. This has identified the criteria that would be used to create “employment protection areas”11.
This research concludes that there is a strong case for protecting the best sites as identified in the research. Specific sites can be offered specific policy protection from changes of use from employment uses12 to other uses requiring planning permission. Such a policy would read something like this:
Land and Buildings in existing business use (Use Classes B1, B2 and B8) or, if vacant, last used for business purposes, or committed for such uses within the Employment Protection Areas as identified on the Proposals Map will be
11 Details can be found in the North Wiltshire Employment Land Review Final Report page 6-10 and Technical Appendices Table H.6 12 Class B1, B2 and B8 Uses as described within the current Planning legislation.
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safeguarded for these uses.
Advantages: It allows for this decision to be related to the employment needs of the District as a whole and reduces the need to allocate new greenfield sites over time to replace that that would otherwise be lost to non-employment generating development.
Disadvantage: This would limit the options available to landowners and may result in long-term vacant sites due to landowner resistance or if imperfect information about the market for employment land is used.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views.
(a) It may be that a preferred approach would be to invest in environmental and infrastructure improvements to existing employment areas that are in poor quality condition. This would rely on the co-ordination and co- operation of various private and public agencies rather than specific land- use type policies within the Core Strategy. Are there grants or other sources of investment available for this purpose?
(b) A more detailed research study could be commissioned to examine in far greater depth the causes of movement from existing premises and the reasons that lie behind long-term vacancy in the employment land/buildings sector. This may suggest alternative and more subtle methods for ensuring that appropriate premises are kept available to the market at an appropriate cost.
QUESTION 18: Which of the options do you favour? If you have chosen Option 4, describe your option and list any sources you have used to justify why you think this would be a better approach.
8.74 Issue 3: That there is a need to protect the employment areas and to identify new land that allows already established small to medium sized firms to grow into larger premises without the need to move outside the District.
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8.75 Despite their similarities, there is a significant difference between Issues 2 and 3. This issue involves the recognition that some businesses will not necessarily find that their expansion needs can be accommodated within their existing premises. Therefore the following represent additional options to those set out under issue 2.
8.76 What are the Options?
Option 1: This is a “free market” option to the extent that there are no current planning policies that seek specifically to allocate land for expansion to small and medium firms. Reducing the need to obtain planning permission for minor alterations and extensions to existing premises could enhance the free operation of the market and there are various techniques that the North Wiltshire District Council, as local planning authority, could take to do so.
Advantages: The normal operation of the land market would determine which firms expand and where. In this option therefore, by ensuring that there is a sufficiently large quantity of varied employment land made available, then the issue will take care of itself.
Disadvantage: There could be unintended consequences that can arise where such expanded premises are close to sensitive areas such as adjacent housing or incompatible industrial processes on the same estate. Also, it could be argued from the research that the market has “failed” such firms in that there is presently a clear demand for premises that small or medium sized firms can expand on-site or move into that is presently unsatisfied.
Option 2: This position may be described as one where the existing employment land allocation policy is not addressing this issue. The conclusion may be that keeping silent on this issue is not a realistic option.
Option 3: Allocate sufficient quantities of land suitable for small to medium firms to use, in places where they wish to go, at a price they can afford and with the co-operation of a landowner willing to bring them forward.
Advantages: Allows for a place by place analysis of the local needs for employment land and premises and to allocate land accordingly.
Disadvantage: The implementation of such a strategy will not be straightforward and further local research will be needed to inform a later
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allocations development plan document to ensure that it does not lead once again to the allocation of land that is not developed for the purpose.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views. We welcome ideas from the commercial sector in particular to tackle this issue.
QUESTION 19: Which of the options do you favour? If you have chosen Option 4, describe your option and list any sources you have used to justify why you think this would be a better approach.
8.77 Issue 4: That North Wiltshire can attract substantial inward investment if it provides sufficient amounts of high quality and highly accessible employment sites but that there is a risk that this will lead to increased sustainability problems unless we ensure that:
• There are sufficient quantities of skilled people available in the area as well as attracting new skilled people.
• There are the facilities for training local people in the relevant new skills.
• There are improved modes of transport and not just increasing car-borne traffic.
• There is a sufficient amount of local and affordable housing.
• There are supporting cultural and recreational facilities available.
• That this occurs without removing the qualities of North Wiltshire, both natural and environmental, that attracted the new investors in the first instance.
(Please note that any issues arising from the bulleted list are dealt with elsewhere in this Issues and Options document and are therefore not repeated here.)
8.78 What are the Options?
Option 1: It is considered that this “no policy” option is not realistic. Substantial inward investment is required to ensure that the District, and especially the Chippenham Area can accommodate the proposed and expected growth as set out the current Draft Regional Spatial Strategy. Only through the promotion of high quality employment land in sufficient quantities will allow this to happen.
Option 2: Keeping to the present allocation of employment land is also not a realistic option to deal with this issue as there is insufficient scope in terms of the
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quantity or location of land to apply an enhanced inward investment strategy.
Option 3: In the light of the emerging Draft Regional Spatial Strategy, it can be expected that about 6300 new jobs will need to be created in the Chippenham Travel to Work Area (TTWA) over the 2006 – 2026 period and many of these created in the inward investment key sectors. We would seek to accommodate the strategic needs for inward investment by:
• Protecting the existing strategically important sites that offer potential for growth.13
• Encouraging intensification within existing high quality employment areas where there is scope to do so.
• Allocating new strategic employment sites.
For the purposes of this discussion paper and using previous research conducted for the South West Regional Spatial Strategy’s Examination in Public14, we have assumed the need for at least 12 additional hectares of Employment Land for the period 2006 to 2026.
Therefore, this option would seek to allocate the strategic employment needs of the District to Chippenham in a phased manner such that there is an allocation of 12 hectares of strategic land for the first five years. It would also give an indication of where a supply of further such employment land is to be made available as and when required following a five year review of the Core Strategy.
Advantages: This would create a pool of potential inward investment land at the earliest opportunity. Given the long lead in times for the development of such land, this would allow for the creation of new jobs at an appropriate time following the appearance of the new housing developments. Further reviews could adjust the supply according to the needs identified at that time.
Disadvantage: This would load the forecasted employment land into the early period of the Core Strategy.
13 For example, Basil Hill Barracks and Spring Quarry areas in Corsham, Methuen Park/Hunters Moon are at Chippenham. 14 SWRDA “The Demand and Supply of Employment Land, Sites and Premises in South West England January 2007
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Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views. We welcome ideas from the commercial sector in particular to tackle this issue.
(a) It may be considered that there is no need to “micro-manage” the supply of strategic land, particularly in the light of the obvious fact that the scale of provision in comparison to the larger urban areas of the South West Region is relatively small. Proposed developments by a few large firms might make a considerable contribution to the need. Therefore it may be considered that there is no need to phase the supply of land and that it would be appropriate to allocate the strategic employment land to the required level now.
(b) A view might be taken that the growth in housing in the District should be made dependent upon the incremental growth of existing firms in the locality such that there is no encouragement for growth that is not driven by local economic needs. This would imply a rejection of the strategic land concept. This would require the development of a sophisticated strategy and highly managed approach, opposite to the approach identified in the previous paragraph.
(c) It may be considered that the methodology for calculating the amount of employment land used for this discussion is not appropriate and that an alternative methodology would reveal a need for more or less employment land. If so, you may wish to propose a closely argued justification for an alternative as the basis of your Option 4.
QUESTION 20: Which of the options do you favour? If you have chosen Option 4, describe your option and list any sources you have used to justify why you think this would be a better approach.
8.79 Issue 5: That North Wiltshire District Council and other public authorities are willing to be flexible and to act rapidly to take advantage of new opportunities for appropriate employment growth and new industries. (Note: This issue is not one that was traditionally dealt with in North Wiltshire’s planning documents.).
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8.80 What are the Options?
Option 1: This would involve continued non-intervention by the Council and given the extent of change that can be forecast over the 2006 – 2026 period, it is not considered to be a viable option.
Option 2: To continue under the present development plan position would effectively be the same as Option 1.
Option 3: To support the implementation of the North Wiltshire Economic Regeneration Strategy 2005 – 2008 in dealing with this issue, namely;
• Set up a cross-function team within North Wiltshire to deal with major employment generating planning proposals, including pre- application discussions.
• Set up a major employers/landowners and other forums to gather intelligence about major economic /employment issues and their potential solutions.
• Set up a “standing task force” of relevant public organisations to respond rapidly to new opportunities that arise from large company re-structures and relocations within the North Wiltshire area.
Advantages: Such actions would help to provide a mechanism to implement the other key economic and employment generation policies of the Core Strategy.
Disadvantage: The effectiveness of this Option relies upon the creation of appropriate monitoring and response processes that will require the agreement of both public and private organisations to “sign up” to implementing the Core Strategy in a formal way.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views. We welcome ideas from the commercial sector in particular to tackle this issue.
QUESTION 21: Which of the options do you favour? If you have chosen Option 4, describe your option and list any sources you have used to justify why you think this would be a better approach.
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8.81 Issue 6: That there are particular sectors of employment generation that should have specific assistance due to their reliance upon local unique features. This includes those sectors that support the tourist industry; canal restoration and what might be described as the “environmental” industries connected with energy conservation and generation.
8.82 There are employment sectors that exist only due to their unique geographical circumstances. They are often already established locally important sources of employment; particularly if located in a rural area. It would be reasonable to ensure that some provision be made for additional or replacement facilities in accordance with their need to grow. There may also be new proposals in the future that wish to take advantage of as yet undeveloped unique features.
8.83 What are the Options?
Option 1: There are no specific policies that deal directly with this area of economic activity. Existing premises are left to develop (or not) on a case by case basis.
Advantages: This option allows for a great deal of flexibility in considering each proposed development on its merits.
Disadvantage: Whilst this is well suited to dealing with proposals for change on existing sites, there is a danger than new proposals are dealt with on an arbitrary basis.
Option 2: The creation, expansion or re-development of such employment areas could remain subject to the general employment policies that are contained within the current Development Plan.15
Advantages: This is a straightforward position as all employment sites are treated equally in the planning system.
Disadvantage: Where employment sites are dependant upon their unique geographical situation, there is no ability to “go elsewhere” if there is a demand for its growth. This tends to introduce a bias against employment growth in rural areas.
Option 3: This option would be to recognise the opportunities that may exist for the expansion and development of existing facilities taking into account the unique attributes or constraints of that particular site. In addition, there
15 North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 – Policies BD2, BD4 and BD5
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would be a general policy that would seek to establish the criteria by which new employment generating uses and facilities would be considered appropriate.
Advantages: It would be possible to identify those important employment areas that have the capacity to expand or intensify on a site-specific basis and to develop specific allocation policies for new development land. This would allow employment growth to proceed with a greater degree of certainty that exists through present planning policy.
Disadvantage: Given the number of such sites in the District, this would be a complex set of policies and would place each site in a different planning policy position. There would be a greater potential impact on sustainability as such sites are often in remote position within sensitive landscapes.
Option 4: There is considerable scope for variation to the above to construct an option that you may consider to be worth promoting. Here are some discussion points:
(a) It may be considered that it is not appropriate to name particular existing or proposed sites and that a more strategic approach would be better. In this approach, the criteria for considering such sites are made clear instead of naming or allocating them. The advantage is that it would be more flexible and simpler to construct policy, the disadvantage may be that this will result in less clear guidance where each site is unique in its geographical attributes.
(b) It may be considered that the scope for such a policy should be restricted to employment that is only related to a business use at a particular geographical location and that it derives its existence solely from the attributes of the location. This would include the extraction industries but not include general tourism developments or that that exists only through historical accident.
(c) It may be argued that there is a need to promote and develop a particular unique attribute of the District to positively encourage new employment development that can take advantage of the attributes of a particular location. This would suggest the need for a cross-sector approach that might include topics that go beyond simply the provision of employment land. In the past, this argument has been suggested for such
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areas as the Cotswold Water Park, areas suitable for Wind Turbines or other renewable energy opportunities, energy parks and themed tourist attractions.
QUESTION 22: Which of the options do you favour? If you have chosen Option 4, describe your option and list any sources you have used to justify why you think this would be a better approach.
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Retail and Town Centre Uses
8.84 Successful town centres have a number of key attributes; they act as a social hub and create a sense of identity and place. They include a wide range of activities that complement the retail offer; these include leisure and entertainment facilities, sport and recreation, places of work, arts, culture and tourism, and housing. They should be easily accessed by walking, cycling and public transport as well as by car.
8.85 Town centres are expected to perform functions greater than just being a place to shop. Local planning authorities must plan for a greater diversity of uses whilst ensuring that town centres continue to represent the principal destination for shoppers. Planning for town centres is based on the assumption that they are the focus of development and that through a positive plan led approach, they are able to accommodate change.
8.86 The need for local shops and services is equally important in rural areas; the provision of rural facilities requires local planning authorities to be proactive in the protection, where appropriate, of existing facilities that cater for the day-to-day needs of rural communities.
8.87 The Issues are:
Issue 1: The need to strengthen the retail offer of North Wiltshire and the attraction of our town centres. This can be achieved by accommodating future floorspace requirements and addressing the significant level of expenditure “leakage”, particularly on comparison goods, to retail centres outside of the District.
Issue 2: Planning the future role of our town centres will be determined by the extent to which uses, other than retail, are allowed to develop within existing centres. The balance that is achieved between retail and other uses will have a profound affect on our town centres. What direction should our town centres take?
Issue 3: There are 90 rural villages in North Wiltshire and the level of services and facilities varies considerably. Facilities that are viable and supported by the community are important for sustainable communities. North Wiltshire District Council does not have a rural facilities strategy to protect and enhance viable rural facilities.
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Issue 4: The impact that continued growth of the Internet and E-commerce has is evolving. The authority needs to be in the best position to tackle any issues or consequences of continued expansion of the Internet.
8.88 Issue 1: The need to strengthen the retail offer of North Wiltshire and the attraction of our town centres. This can be achieved by accommodating future floorspace requirements and addressing the significant level of expenditure “leakage”, particularly on comparison goods, to retail centres outside of the District.
8.89 The Strategic Objective of the Core Strategy is to continue to maintain and enhance the retail outlets of North Wiltshire’s settlements. The District is characterised by a number of towns and villages, which are in themselves of sufficient size to provide a range of facilities and services.16
8.90 Chippenham is identified as the principal centre within the District and is the focus of future development.17 A key Strategic Objective for the District is to enhance Chippenham’s role as a Strategic Centre for retail, leisure, cultural and entertainment activities.
8.91 The retail centres of North Wiltshire are under increasing pressure from sub-regional centres. Many of the most successful centres in the South West region are in close proximity to North Wiltshire.
8.92 Significant new developments in Bath, Swindon and Bristol are likely to further increase the pressure facing our centres. The need for strong, vibrant town centres is evident, and the potential is there to create an attractive mix of uses, based on a good “retail offer”.
8.93 The current retail study has provided significant data on the shopping habits of the residents of North Wiltshire. Retailing is usually divided into two categories, convenience goods, and comparison goods.
Convenience
8.94 The District has a strong retention of convenience goods expenditure and in the majority of areas of the District the convenience need is satisfied at the local level. The total spending on convenience goods by North Wiltshire’s residents amounted to some
16 The main towns are Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Basset, Malmesbury, Corsham and Cricklade. 17 The Donaldsons 2004 Retail Needs Assessment Study concluded that “large scale development is directed towards Chippenham”.
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£238 million in the year ending 2007, with 77.9 % of all convenience expenditure spent within the District. A little over 20% lost to retail centres outside of the District, primarily Swindon.
8.95 There are settlements within the District that have considerable convenience expenditure leakage, namely Cricklade and Wootton Bassett. Cricklade, the settlement with the poorest level of self-containment, has a substantial leakage in convenience expenditure amounting to some 67%, with the figure for Wootton Bassett around 55%.
8.96 The Broad Destination of Convenience Goods Expenditure Outlined in the current study area.18
£m %
Retained Expenditure 251.6 77.9
Buffer Zones Just Outside Study Area 67.1 20.8
Special Forms of Trading. The Internet and Mail Order. 2.6 0.8
Other More Distant Locations 1.9 0.6
TOTAL 323.2 100.0
Comparison
8.97 Comparison shopping is the area of greatest concern; the 77% retention rate of expenditure for convenience goods is not repeated in the comparison goods sector. The retention figure of comparison expenditure is just 36.5%; a significant proportion of the total comparison expenditure (41.4%) is lost to retail centres and stand alone units outside of the District, with a further 12.9% lost to centres further a field.
18 The study area includes 6 geographical zones, 1(a) Malmesbury, 1(b) Cricklade, 2(a) North Chippenham, 2(b) Chippenham Urban Area, 3 Corsham, 4(a) Calne, 4(b)Wootton Bassett, along with areas outside of the District, 5 Devizes, 6 Melksham
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8.97 Broad Destination for Comparison Goods Expenditure Outlined in the current study area.
£m %
Retained Expenditure 253.0 36.5
Buffer Zones Just Outside Study Area 286.5 41.4
Special Forms of Trading. The Internet and Mail Order. 63.4 9.2
Other More Distant Locations 89.8 12.9
TOTAL 692.8 100.0
8.99 The main destinations of leakage are Swindon Town Centre, amounting to some £125m, and Bath City Centre (£63.9m). Trowbridge, Bristol and Cirencester all enjoy significant levels of expenditure from residents of the District. This leakage becomes more pertinent with the total comparison good turnover in Chippenham amounting to £117.7m; this shows that North Wiltshire residents spend more on comparison goods in Swindon than in Chippenham.
Specialist Comparison Items.
8.100 The ongoing retail study has also found that just 29.7% of expenditure on specialist comparison goods is spent within the District, representing another area of poor expenditure retention. Swindon enjoys the most significant level of expenditure from residents of the study area, closely followed by Bath and purchases made via mail order or the Internet.
8.101 Recent surveys have provided considerable data on the need for further retail floorspace. There is recognised need for some convenience floorspace but the overwhelming need is focused on comparison goods. This is not surprising given the level of expenditure on comparison goods that is lost to centres outside of the District.
8.102 The full implications of the study are still to be considered, but it particularly demonstrates the high levels of “leakage” of comparison goods spending across the District. Scenarios to claw back some of this leakage could include the need for more development in Chippenham and possibly other larger centres. The focus of future
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development and delivery of floorspace requirements is a significant issue for the District.
8.103 The tables below outline the predicted increases in expenditure and the future floorspace requirements based on the data obtained through the survey process of the current Retail Needs Assessment Study.
8.104 The projected increases in convenience floorspace requirements up to 2026 are based on increase in convenience expenditure of 0.9% per capita per annum.19
Net Convenience Floorspace Requirements
2007 – 2011 298 Sq. m.
2007 - 2016 803 Sq. m
2007 - 2021 1,898 Sq. m
2007 - 2026 3,035, Sq. m
8.105 The projected increases in comparison floorspace requirements up to 2026, based on increase comparison expenditure of 4.4% per capita per annum is shown in the table below.
Net Comparison Floorspace Requirements
2007 – 2011 5,446 Sq. m.
2007 - 2016 13,980 Sq. m
2007 - 2021 23,882 Sq. m
2007 - 2026 35,024 Sq. m
8.106 The Government Guidance, Planning Policy Statement 6: Planning for Town Centres, (PPS6), requires local planning authorities to “ensure that the scale of opportunities identified are directly related to the role and function of the centre.”20 This is heavily
19 The survey deducts a percentage of expenditure for Internet Shopping; it is expected that this percentage will increase year on year. The figures allow for the increase in expenditure via the Internet 20 PPS6. Para. 2.41
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linked to Issue 2 and the need to determine what format our town centres will take over the next twenty years.
8.107 Chippenham is regarded the principal centre in the District and is classified as a Strategically Significant Town (SSCT) in the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). The strategic role of Chippenham should be enhanced as SSCTs offer the greatest opportunities and accessibility for a variety of facilities and services making them the most suitable location for the focus of development.
8.108 Chippenham’s retail position within the hierarchy of UK shopping centres reviewed in the Management Horizon Europe Shopping Index (MHE), has dropped some 69 places from rank 282 to rank 351 between 2000/01 to 2003/04. Chippenham suffers from a lack of development opportunities, reflected in low vacancy rates by national averages. This is reflected in the increasing costs of rents, which has seen the largest increase in the South West region during 2001-2006. The higher rates indicate that a centre is performing well, with retailers drawing good trade to the town. The higher rates also point to a lack of supply of retail units to meet current levels of demand. This represents one possible cause of the significant levels of expenditure leakage out of the District.
8.109 Chippenham is recognised as the principal retail centre within the District. In terms of comparison goods, 88% of the turnover in Chippenham originates from just four zones, Calne and Corsham with the remaining two being the Chippenham Urban Area and the Chippenham Rural area. Despite being the principal centre Chippenham fails to attract shoppers from across the whole of the District.
8.110 The Council is required to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to accommodate any identified growth. If this growth cannot be accommodated then the Council should identify sites for development or redevelopment.
8.111 Growth in Chippenham’s town centre would help to minimise the effect of Chippenham’s dormitory relationship with Swindon and other centres. So helping Chippenham to create a stronger identity and sub-regional role, and ensuring that it can be more self-contained and less dependent on car travel to other areas.
8.112 What are the Options?
Option 1: The ‘do nothing’ approach and allow market forces to dictate the direction of retail growth.
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Advantages: Retail developments will occur where the market determines there is a need. This does not require any additional resources with each proposals being subject to the planning system.
Disadvantages: Market forces do not always reflect the specific needs of specific places, revenue returns can supersede any desire to best serve the residents of North Wiltshire. The lack of a clear retail strategy can have serious negative implications for the economic strength of the District and could lead to pressure for more out-of-town and out-of-centre developments, undermining the sustainability and self-containment of settlements.
Option 2: Plan for expansion in available floorspace to stabilise the level of leakage of comparison expenditure out of the District.
Advantage: Consolidating the retail offer, with particular attention to comparison goods can stabilise the level of expenditure out of the District.
Disadvantages: This option does not address the significant levels of expenditure that is lost to non-District centres, it merely strives to stabilise the “leakage”. It does not necessarily mean the retail offer of Chippenham or the District will be improved. Rather maintained at levels similar to the current position. Significant retail developments outside the District could exacerbate the levels of leakage, especially if the Districts retail offer does not improve.
Option 3: Actively plan to retain a higher proportion of expenditure within Chippenham and District, particularly in respect to comparison goods by giving more emphasis to edge-of-centre or out-of-centres developments.
Advantage: This is an aggressive approach and is designed to claw back and retain more of the expenditure within Chippenham and the District. This should provide the floorspace to satisfy demand and enhance the retail offer of the District.
Disadvantages: The limited development opportunities in our towns means that this approach could result in the loss of shopping facilities in the heart of the towns and could have serious implications for the vitality and viability of their centres. Reliance on shops that are out of town will increase the need to travel.
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Option 4: What do you think?
This is your opportunity to express how you think our town centres could be improved in order to stabilise or even reduce the level of expenditure lost to retail centres outside of the District.
QUESTION 23: Which option do you think is the best approach to improve the retail offer and address the high levels of expenditure that is lost to centres outside of the District?
8.113 Issue 2: Planning the future role of our town centres will be determined by the extent to which uses, other than retail, are allowed to develop within existing centres. The balance that is achieved between retail and other uses will have a profound affect on our town centres. What direction should our town centres take?
8.114 PPS6 is clear in its desire for local planning authorities to assess the need for further town centres uses.21 Wider commercial uses are an increasingly common feature of town centres; they are popular with shoppers and visitors and can enhance the town centre experience.
8.115 The main uses identified within PPS6 are retail, leisure and entertainment facilities, commercial and Government offices, arts, culture and tourism as well as housing, especially when considering any mixed-use developments.
8.116 North Wiltshire needs to maintain a balance between retail and other uses within town centres in order to preserve and enhance their vitality and viability. Local planning authorities are required to clearly define the primary and secondary frontage areas of their centres. In doing they so should recognise the need to encourage diversification of uses, whilst retaining a high proportion of retail uses. Therefore the secondary frontage areas provide the greatest opportunity to allow more diversification.
8.117 In terms of spending on leisure activities, this is rapidly increasing. Spending in restaurants, cafes, bars etc accounts for 61% of all leisure spending.22 The significant growth in spending has spurred rapid growth in non-retail uses in town centres. A good example of this growth is the UK branded Café market, which has grown from just
21 PPS6: Planning for Town Centres. Para. 1.6 22 COICOPS, Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose.
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under 800 branded outlets in the UK in 1997 to 2,500 in 2006, an increase of more than 200%.23 Chippenham is no different, with some 20 cafes in and around the town.
8.118 Different and complementary uses can reinforce each other, making town centres more attractive to local residents, shoppers and visitors.
8.119 What are the Options?
Option 1: Continue to rely on the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 policies, which caters for a high proportion of retail uses within the core of town centres.
Advantages: Given the limits of development opportunities within centres, maintaining the current approach will continue to ensure that retail provision dominates our centres. Ensuring that town centres remain the principal destination for shoppers.
Disadvantages: Town centres are more than just a place to shop, increasing diversity is changing the nature of our town centres. Maintaining current policy will not allow our town centres to adapt to changing expectations. This could ultimately affect their vitality and viability.
Option 2: Disregarding the approach set down in the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 will put the future of our town centres at an important crossroads. What we expect from our town centres is a vital question for the future characteristics of our centres. Improving the retail offer of our towns demands that we have to look again at the mixture of uses which are required to make them viable. There is a pressing need to strike a balance between the uses of premises within our town centres, and this presents many questions rather than options. In respect of this options we present the following question that you may wish to consider.
QUESTIONS 24:
A. Should we plan for large out-of-centre developments to provide the floorspace requirements set out in Issue 1? This could then allow town centres to cater for other uses.
B. What role/purpose should the town centres of the future have?
C. Should town centres be centres for leisure?
23 IGD Consumer Research 2006
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D. Should certain towns specialise in specific sectors?
E. What will be the implications of changing our town centres to accommodate the demand for greater diversification of uses?
Option 3: What do you think?
This is your opportunity to suggest ideas for the future characteristics of town centres. It is important to consider what you think the town centres of the future will be for and how we should plan for this.
QUESTION 25: Which option do you believe best addresses the issue?
8.120 Issue 3: There are 90 rural villages in North Wiltshire and the level of services and facilities varies considerably. Facilities that are viable and supported by the community are important for sustainable communities. North Wiltshire District Council does not have a rural facilities strategy to protect and enhance viable rural facilities.
8.121 Evidence has highlighted that there has been a strong centralisation of retail developments within the larger centres resulting in the loss of a third of the village food shops and Post Offices since 1976.
8.122 Independent village retailers are under increasing pressure from larger stores in large centres. The decline can also be attributed to changing demographics, transport and lifestyles in our rural communities. In the rural areas within North Wiltshire, just 23% of settlements have a daily general food store and just 29% have a Post Office or Post Office facility. This shows a drop of some 6% in the last five years in the respect of general foodstores, amounting to five local general stores. Post Office and Post Office facilities have remained relatively static, this has been assisted by some rural areas incorporating Post Office facilities within local shops and even local pubs.
8.123 Across rural England, village shops are closing at a rate of 300 a year and across the UK one in five households has no access to a vehicle. In such cases the local rural facilities provide a vital and accessible resource.
8.124 During the course of the latest retail study NWDC has undertaken an assessment of the rural facilities. The main conclusion drawn from different rural areas is that there are considerable disparities in the level of facilities and services available to local residents. There is no correlation between the size of a rural settlement and the facilities provided,
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with some settlements clearly not enjoying the range of facilities and services appropriate to the needs and size of their catchment areas.
8.125 Local farm shops do go some way to filling the void that exists in some areas of the District. However, many are in locations that are not easily accessible on foot or by public transport and the range of goods on offer is often limited to a few items. The growth in the number of farm shops, whilst a positive development in catering for local needs in rural areas, does not negate the impact of the closure of traditional village shops.
8.126 It is important that rural facilities are sufficient enough to make them viable and a vital aspect of rural existence. Meeting identified local need and maintaining the viability of local services is a Strategic Objective of the Core Strategy. It is therefore important that rural facilities are viable and supported by the community.
8.127 Planning policy is focused on the need to retain existing facilities rather than have proactive policies for providing rural facilities. This is partly due to the fact that local planning authorities do not have direct control over many rural services, e.g. the provision of public transport, or changes within the NHS affecting GP services.
8.128 Innovative methods are required through a process of multi-agency working to provide solutions to rural problems. For example, greater linkages between planning and public transport providers. The Core Strategy provides the opportunities to link service providers in the public, private and voluntary sectors more coherently in order to address and work towards enhancing rural service provision.
8.129 What are the Options?
Option 1: Develop specific policies within the Local Development Framework to protect and increase the provision of services available in rural areas where appropriate?
The current on-going Retail Needs Assessment Study is conducting an audit of rural facilities and the Spatial Planning Team is working closely with them with a view to developing a strategy for rural facilities.
Advantage: Specific policies can enable NWDC to produce a rural facilities strategy that could result in rural areas prioritising better and/or more facilities that meet their day-to-day needs.
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Disadvantage: Prioritising more rural facilities would be at the expense of our town centres and would require some constraint on growth in the “retail offer” of North Wiltshire as a whole.
Option 2: Maintain the Status quo.
The North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 and PPS6 stress the importance of rural facilities and the need to protect this vital service. However, there is no formal strategy in place to achieve this.
Advantage: The North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 recognises the importance of local facilities and is committed to appropriately protecting viable facilities.
Disadvantage: The current Local Plan does not include any strategy for the protection and enhancing of rural facilities. Lack of a strategy could result in the loss of more rural facilities.
Option 3: Do nothing and let market forces prevail.
Advantage: Developments will occur where the market believes they are required. Most likely to be in the larger towns and it would probably result in more shopping facilities in the District as a whole.
Disadvantage: The specific need of rural areas may not be addressed, more rural areas may lose vital services, and there may be increasing dependence on cars.
QUESTIONS 26:
A. Which option do you believe will provide the best opportunity to maintain enhance viability of rural facilities?
B. Are there any other approaches that you believe could achieve this?
8.130 Issue 4: The impact that continued growth of the Internet and E-commerce has is evolving. The authority needs to be in the best position to tackle any issues or consequences of continued expansion of the Internet.
8.131 The Internet has had a significant impact on the way we live, work and shop, with some 29 million adult users in the United Kingdom. However, assessing the future impact of
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the Internet is a very difficult process. Internet shopping now accounts for almost 10% of all UK retail spending in 2005/06. Recent national polls and research have concluded that retail Internet spending will be around £30 billion, an increase of 56% on 2005.24 Although these statistics are based on national findings it would be erroneous to ignore this issues in any local retail and town centre strategy.
8.132 Unfortunately there are more questions than answers available to deal with the growth of the Internet. It creates uncertainty; will the Internet and the advances in E-commerce lead to the closure of banks, travel agents, book shops, Music Stores etc? Will this result in a reduction of the need for future floorspace? Can existing shops embrace the Internet in order to enhance the retail offer within town centres and thus enhance the vitality and viability of our centres?
8.133 The Core Strategy will represent planning policy for the next twenty years, and during this time the impact of the Internet could be very profound.
8.134 North Wiltshire District Council regularly assesses the retail need within this District. Traditionally, such assessments focus on the patterns of growth in population and expenditure. This is then turned into estimated future requirement for retail floor space. The unfolding role of the Internet and E-commerce adds greater uncertainty to such predictions.
8.135 What are the Options?
Option 1: The ‘do nothing’ approach and let market forces prevail.
Advantage: The impact of the Internet will take its natural course and the retail environment will adjust accordingly.
Disadvantage: The lack of any system of monitoring could leave our town centres in a more vulnerable position and thus reduce their vitality and viability against the backdrop of increasing transactions conducted over the Internet.
Option 2: Introduce a process to actively monitor and assess the impact of the Internet in order to plan and develop policies to embrace or even counter, when necessary, the growth of the Internet.
24 Source Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG)
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Advantage: Actively monitoring the growth of the Internet and E-commerce can provide Council with the evidence of how shopping patterns are changing, on which to implement new approaches and strategies.
Disadvantage: This is a reactive approach and cannot predict the future and could result in policies / strategies being developed too late. The impact of the Internet is very difficult to measure.
Option 3: This is where you can have the opportunity to outline any approaches you may have in order to develop an approach to deal with the unpredictable impact of the continued expansion of the Internet.
QUESTIONS 27:
A. Which of the options do you believe provides the best direction for dealing with the issue of the impact of the Internet on traditional town centres and shopping?
B. Are there any other approaches that you believe could assist in planning for the expansion of the Internet?
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Health and Education
8.136 Issues relating to health and education facilities and services are particularly important to communities across the District. Accessibility, choice and cost are key points that have been highlighted through past consultation. The 2005 North Wiltshire Community Strategy states:
‘Making Wiltshire the healthiest County in which to live is one of the priorities aimed at meeting the needs of growing numbers of elderly people and reducing the level of preventable illness’.
8.137 It has long been recognised that the health of the population is influenced by other factors, outside of the provision of healthcare facilities, such as environmental quality, a healthy economy and access to social infrastructure such as high quality housing and community facilities. This is addressed throughout the Issues and Options Paper and will continue to be addressed throughout the process of producing the LDF, including the Sustainability Appraisal.
8.138 Responses to the consultation on the Issues and Options (A) highlighted a public perception of unacceptable access and provision of education, dentists, GPs and other healthcare facilities.
8.139 Public debate has further been stimulated by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust’s consultation on health facilities across the County, entitled ‘Pathways for Change’ and the resultant proposals published on 30th January 2007.
8.140 Health – The Issues are:
This section draws from the following sources of research and information gathering to determine the Issues that should be tackled and the Options available for doing so:
• Pathways for Change January 2007, Wiltshire Primary Care Trust
• Discussions with the Wiltshire Primary Care Trust
• Discussions with GPs
• Responses to the Issues and Options ‘A’ , December 2005– NWDC
• Discussions held with the Spatial Planning Advisory Group made up of Councillors from NWDC with representation from the County Council and external voluntary and business organisations.
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Issue 1: The effect of “Pathways for Change” in North Wiltshire. Will the proposals lead to better local access to healthcare facilities? Is there a role for the Core Strategy to help the establishment of these new health facilities?
Issue 2: Is there a need to ensure health facilities are provided in a timely manner to provide for the increase in population in the District to 2026.
Issue 3: Should the location of health facilities be planning led or do we locate housing near to existing facilities – should the District Planning Authority be reactive or proactive?
QUESTION 28: Do you agree that these issues are the ones that this Core Strategy should tackle? Are there other issues that you consider should be tackled? If so, please outline them below.
8.141 What are the Options?
Each of the issues identified in the previous section are examined here in the light of four possible options (as set out in paragraph 8.69) for dealing with them.
8.142 Issue 1: The effect of “Pathways for Change” in North Wiltshire. Will the proposals lead to better local access to healthcare facilities? Is there a role for the Core Strategy to help the establishment of these new health facilities?
8.143 The proposals in ‘Pathways for Change’, published by Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, centre on ensuring that more patients are treated in their own homes by neighbourhood teams of nurses and therapy professionals, developing Primary Care Centres, staffed by GPs, nurses and other specialist health professionals, and the upgrading of community hospitals. Specifically for North Wiltshire:
- there are three neighbourhood teams proposed
- the community hospital in Chippenham will be upgraded to provide modern appropriate facilities including general medical beds and a minor injury unit
- community maternity services will be centred on the 14 bed Greenways unit at Chippenham hospital leading to the permanent loss of the maternity unit in Malmesbury.
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- It was previously agreed in 2005 to build a Primary Care Centre in Malmesbury and this will be supplemented by the commissioning of 6 beds (including palliative care) at Malmesbury Care Home.
8.144 The PCT has planned for health facilities across Wiltshire, so District proposals must be viewed in that context, in so far as North Wiltshire residents will be expected to travel for some facilities on the one hand, but have more local access to more types of treatment than at present.
8.145 Chippenham Hospital will be the focus for many services, including maternity services. The building of Primary Care Centres in Chippenham and Malmesbury will enable the community to access ‘primary’ medical care locally and the establishment of neighbourhood teams of nurses and clinicians will enable many to be treated in their own homes, thus reducing their need to travel.
8.146 What are the Options?
Option 1: Do nothing – No pro-active approach by the Core Strategy to deal with the changes in health provision. The PCT would approach the Local Planning Authority (NWDC) with its development proposals for individual sites and its own timetable. Decisions would be made through development control committees for each site, using general policies.
Not in accordance with the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (Draft RSS) particularly Development Policy F on master planning and HE1 Planning for Healthcare.
Option 2: The building of planned new facilities and redevelopment of existing facilities to be dealt with by the current development control policies. Again, the PCT would approach the District Council with its development proposals for individual sites and its own timetable.
Advantages: No need to develop new policies. Familiarity with the policy by existing users e.g. developers, agents and development control officers.
Disadvantages: Any faults/omissions in the existing policies will not be corrected. A lack of consultation on development proposals as a whole, when planning applications are made for individual sites. There is the risk of delays in the provision of new health facilities, with potential opposition to every planning application. The old policies were written before the major shake-up of health provision in the County was proposed. By not co-
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ordinating an approach to the location of facilities and housing development it could lead to a lack of health facilities where they are needed. Residents may have to travel further to access health facilities. Would not in accordance with the Draft RSS.
Option 3: This option would allow NWDC to work closely with the PCT to identify opportunities for the redevelopment of sites and the provision/location of new sites. This would be a two way process, firstly to inform the PCT where new development is likely to occur in the District, so they can plan their provision and location of health facilities and secondly, by taking into account their plans so that new development can be located near these facilities. It may allow the PCT to develop a better timetable for the provision of new sites and have advice on the likely redevelopment value of its redundant sites or part of existing sites and budget accordingly.
Advantages: Would be in accordance with Draft RSS. Could include policies to tightly control the location of new health facilities to ensure that the need to travel is reduced. Could include a policy to ensure developer contributions are made for the additional provision of health facilities needed from that development through s106 agreements. Could help reduce delays in the provision of new health facilities, so that they are provided in a timely manner in the right locations to help reduce the need to travel.
Disadvantages: May lead to health provision being looked at as a separate entity rather than as one part of social infrastructure. Could influence the PCT to close sites with a high redevelopment value. Transparency will be needed to show the separation of the policy and development control roles of NWDC when liaising with the PCT.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based on your views:
Some ideas are presented here to help you to consider and develop a fourth option:
(a) Combining health issues with other social infrastructure provision
(b) Require the PCT to provide new facilities in new developments – see Issue 3
QUESTION 29: Which Option do you prefer?
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8.147 Issue 2: There is a need to ensure health facilities are provided in a timely manner to provide for the increase in population in the District to 2026.
8.148 The Draft RSS and resultant increase in is certain to place additional requirements for healthcare. The PCT states that it has taken into account in preparing ‘Pathways for Change’ county population increases for the next 10 years. However, the location of new development in the District has yet to be decided in detail, for the example this Issues Paper is continuing the discussion as to where the development should be located in Chippenham and where the rest of the housing requirement should be located. This will have an impact on the location and need for local health facilities, especially the Primary Care Centres, and the funding needed for the proposed neighbourhood teams.
8.149 What are the Options:
Option 1: The do-nothing approach would be similar to that discussed in Issue 1 with similar risks identified. In addition, the provision of healthcare from other providers, such as private practitioners would be dealt with in an ad hoc manner.
This would not be in accordance with the Draft RSS.
Option 2: This is similar to Option 2 of Issue 1. The building of planned new facilities and redevelopment of existing facilities to be dealt with by the current development control policies. Health providers, such as the PCT and private companies would approach the District Council with development proposals for individual sites and their own timetable. This has been the approach in the past but the danger of this is that the development of new health facilities and the redevelopment of old sites may not be planned in a cohesive, District-wide approach.
This would not be in accordance with Draft RSS.
Option 3: The Core Strategy could address the issue of planning for the timely provision of health services where and when they are needed by liaising with the PCT to undertake a health needs assessment, but also with private health providers.
Advantages: A dialogue can be opened up where the location of and size of new development can be discussed. The PCT has based its current proposals for on population projections for the next 10 years. By liaising
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with the PCT the District Council can ensure that longer term planning for population growth and location can occur and the PCT can plan for capacity and capability of its services. Could help reduce delays in the provision of new health facilities, both public and private, so that they are provided in a timely manner in the right locations to help reduce the need to travel. Could access alternative funding for health provision, where consultation is necessary to access grants, for example. Would be in accordance with the Draft RSS
Disadvantages: Transparency will be needed to show the separation of the policy and development control roles of NWDC when liaising with the PCT. May lead to health provision being looked at as a separate entity rather than as one part of social infrastructure.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based on your views:
Some ideas are presented here to help you to consider and develop a fourth option:
(a) the LDF could present its own timetable for health facilities to be provided by location and date
(b) Combining health issues with other social infrastructure provision in line with Draft RSS
QUESTION 30: Which Option do you prefer?
8.150 Issue 3: Should the location of health facilities be planning led or do we locate housing near to existing facilities. Should the District Planning Authority require the provision of health facilities in new development and state the type of facility e.g. GP, dentist, optician? Should the District Planning Authority be reactive or proactive?
8.150 This issue discusses whether the provision and location of healthcare facilities can be delivered by the planning system and to what degree. The ideal situation would be where all residents of the District have equal access to health facilities. The PCT is proposing access to a hierarchy of services. It is fair to say that the PCT’s review of its services was initiated to contend with financial realities, both in dealing with past debt and with dealing with future budgets. The question exists as to whether the planning system can influence this or access additional funding or even intervene at all. By
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undertaking health impact assessments for all major development proposals the planning system could provide the evidence base for the need to locate certain health facilities in new development. However, they cannot guarantee that the health providers will actually co-operate in providing the baseline information for the assessment or agree to provide the required facility. This could be due to a lack of funding, or the location not fitting in with their strategy. In existing settlements, new development control policies could be used to prevent the closure of existing health facilities by, for example, limiting the redevelopment potential of a site and making closure financially unviable, or by including policies to actively encourage new facilities to open.
8.151 What are the Options?
Option 1: Do nothing.
Advantages: No expenditure of resources, such as officer time and consultation time, to develop policies in the Core Strategy.
Disadvantages: A lack of a co-ordinated planning approach to the provision of health facilities. There is the risk of delays in the provision of new health facilities, with potential opposition to every planning application. New housing development may be proposed in the in locations without access to local health facilities, or may increase the population in an area where it overstretches the available health services. Residents may have to travel further to access health facilities. An opportunity to try a new policy approach to tackling this issue would be lost.
Option 2: The building of planned new facilities and redevelopment of existing facilities to be dealt with by the current development control policies.
This would not be in accordance with the Draft RSS.
Option 3: That the LDF require health facilities be planned into every new development of a certain size or contributions on a pro rata basis are sought to expand existing ones, based on a health impact assessment.
Advantages: Provision of new facilities is in accordance with the Draft RSS. Could ensure the proper provision of facilities in existing as well as new developments. Could ensure that new development does not place a strain on existing facilities.
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Disadvantages: Would require information from the PCT and other healthcare providers to justify thresholds, which may not be available or forthcoming if a working relationship with them has not been established. Would not provide new or expanded facilities in those towns without significant new development proposals. In new developments, land may be provided for new health facilities, but the health providers may not use it.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based on your views:
Some ideas are presented here to help you to consider and develop a fourth option:
(a) The LDF could include a development control policy to prevent the loss of existing health facilities or a policy proactive in allowing planning permission for new health facilities eg dentists, especially in existing settlements, using thresholds for number of services required per 1000 population, for example.
QUESTION 31: Which Option do you prefer?
8.152 Education and Training – The Issues are:
This section draws from the following sources of research and information gathering to determine the Issues that should be tackled and the options available for doing so:
• Responses to the Issues and Options A, December 2005– NWDC
• Discussions with Education Providers - Wiltshire College and Wiltshire County Council (WCC) -the Local Education Authority
• Discussions with Job Centre Plus
• Discussions held with the Spatial Planning Advisory Group made up of Councillors from NWDC with representation from the County Council and external voluntary and business organisations.
8.153 The Education Authority (WCC) is responsible for schools planning and uses population projections and information on new developments to plan provision on a rolling 5-year basis for primary schools and on a ten-year basis for secondary schools. This identifies capacity for primary and secondary education to age 16 years. Current
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projections show that there is sufficient current capacity for the next five years, but new development beyond that would require new provision, depending on its location.
8.154 The issues here are also split between primary and secondary school provision, especially given the large catchment areas for the latter, which go across district boundaries. As for the facilities required, a development of 700 units (depending on unit size) would require a new primary school. For secondary schools, WCC would look at the District as a whole and planned development to 2026 would require one new secondary school, which is likely to be required at Chippenham.
8.155 Response to the Issues and Options A paper highlighted access to schools as being a concern, especially in rural areas.
8.156 Further Education and Lifelong Learning Opportunities.
Wiltshire College has five sites in North Wiltshire, where it provides courses for the 16 to 19 year group and adults, both full time and part time. The largest sites are at their Cocklebury Road site in Chippenham and at Lackham College. The College is currently reviewing the provision of its educational facilities to reflect the changes in national policy and population forecasts, which includes the need to provide courses for the 14- 16 year age group. It also includes the re-focussing of grants for adult education from recreational courses to those that provide employment retraining and qualifications. The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy states that Local Development Documents should take a positive and supportive approach.
Issue 1: How far should primary and secondary education needs influence the location of development? Should NWDC liase with education providers (WCC, Wiltshire College and the Learning and Skills Council) to provide educational facilities in a timely manner in the right locations? Do we locate development near to where there is capacity or do we have large tranches of development to achieve economies of scale to access developer-funded facilities.
Issue 2: Should more development be located in rural areas to support village schools and would this be effective? At present there are no schools ‘at risk’ of closure, but if rural house prices continue to rise, it may be that local people and those with small children may not be able to afford to live in these rural areas. This could reduce the number of children going to village schools. Another risk factor is the ability of rural schools to recruit and retain head teachers and staff, if a school has problems with this it can lead
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to a spiral of decline. Is there a need for planning policy to address this issue?
Issue 3: Changes in National Education Policy allowing the 14-16 year age group to attend college courses – what will be the effects of this on Wiltshire College and on secondary schools? Wiltshire College is planning a major rebuild of its Cocklebury Road site, partly to meet the needs of a change in the age structure of its students. New courses will be provided, and younger students will require other support facilities. Wiltshire College is working in partnership with local schools to provide the courses and facilities needed, which is a sensible approach to dealing with the implications for secondary schools ‘losing’ students in this age group. Is there a need for planning policies to address this issue? The Draft RSS states that local development documents should take a positive and supportive approach to the expansion of higher and further education institutions. Should the North Wiltshire Core Strategy expand on this?
Issue 4: Provision of adult education facilities / e-learning. National Policy is to focus funding subsidy from recreational type courses to those that are qualification and training based, which help with employment opportunities. Training can take place at colleges or in the workplace. The Learning and Skills Council funds the training of employees to NVQ level 2 to improve the skills of the current workforce and this free training can provide an incentive to employ someone who may not currently be up to the required educational standard. Is there a need for planning policy to address this issue?
QUESTION 32: Do you agree that these issues are the ones that this Core Strategy should tackle? Are there other issues that you consider should be tackled? If so, please outline them below.
8.157 Issue 1: How far should primary and secondary education needs influence the location of development? Should NWDC liase with education providers (WCC, Wiltshire College and the Learning and Skills Council) to provide educational facilities in a timely manner in the right locations? Or do we locate development near to where there is capacity or do we have large tranches of development to achieve economies of scale to access developer-funded facilities?
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8.158 What are the Options?
Option 1: Do nothing, no proactive approach by the Core Strategy to deal with education provision. Would not be in accordance with Draft Regional Spatial Strategy Development Policy.
Option 2: Continue to use the North Wiltshire Local Plan to deal with planning applications for new schools and colleges.
Advantages: No need to develop new policies in the LDF. Familiarity with the policy by existing users e.g. the education providers, developers, agents and development control officers.
Disadvantages: Has not worked in some locations in the past – new development has been planned, but sufficient funding or land has not been acquired. There may be a delay in the expansion of existing schools.
Option 3: Work closely with the education providers to plan for new schools or colleges where the need arises or to locate development where best opportunities for the funding of facilities exists.
Advantages: Could ensure the proper and timely provision of education facilities in new developments, planned as part of that development i.e. well related in terms of footpaths, bus routes, cycle routes. Where a new school is not required, developer contributions can be accessed to expand existing facilities. Proper forward planning would allow this to be scheduled, so that provision is made when it is needed and is not delayed to place a strain on existing facilities. Would be in accordance with Draft RSS Policy.
Option 4: These could include:
(a) Central Government should build schools
(b) Building of new schools should only be done by Private Finance Initiatives.
QUESTION 33: Which Option do you prefer?
8.159 Issue 2: Should more development be located in rural areas to support village schools and would this be effective? At present there are no schools ‘at risk’ of closure,
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but if rural house prices continue to rise, it may be that local people and those with small children may not be able to afford to live in these rural areas. This could reduce the number of children going to village schools. Another risk factor is the ability of rural schools to recruit and retain head teachers and staff, if a school has problems with this it can lead to a spiral of decline.
QUESTION 34: Is there a need for planning policy to address or expand on this issue?
8.160 Issue 3: Changes in National Education Policy allowing the 14-16 year age group to attend college courses – what will be the effects of this on Wiltshire College and on secondary schools? Wiltshire College is planning a major rebuild of its Cocklebury Road site, partly to meet the needs of a change in the age structure of its students. New courses will be provided, and younger students will require other support facilities. Wiltshire College is working in partnership with local schools to provide the courses and facilities needed, which is a sensible approach to dealing with the implications for secondary schools ‘losing’ students in this age group. Is there a need for planning policies to address this issue? The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy states that local development documents should take a positive and supportive approach to the expansion of higher and further education institutions. Should the North Wiltshire Core Strategy expand on this?
QUESTION 35: Is there a need for planning policy to address or expand on this issue?
8.161 Issue 4: Provision of adult education facilities / e-learning. National Policy is to focus funding subsidy from recreational type courses to those that are qualification and training based, which help with employment opportunities. Training can take place at colleges or in the workplace. The Learning and Skills Council funds the training of employees to NVQ level 2 to improve the skills of the current workforce and this free training can provide an incentive to employ someone who may not currently be up to the required educational standard.
QUESTION 36: Is there a need for planning policy to address this issue?
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Leisure
8.162 Recreation and open spaces contribute to enhancing quality of life, healthy lifestyles and creating attractive features within and surrounding our settlements. Accessibility and the quality of these areas is vital for their viability and use by the community, the 2005 North Wiltshire Community Strategy states:
‘A thriving leisure and cultural environment can bring neighbourhoods together and help create a strong sense of community spirit’.
8.163 Evidence: North Wiltshire Leisure Plan (2001-2007)
A Playing Pitch Strategy for North Wiltshire (2001-2007)
Appraisal of Future Leisure Management Options (September 2006)
Spatial Planning for Sport and Active Recreation, Guidance on Sport England’s Aspirations and Experience, Sport England
Planning for Sport & Active Recreation: Objectives & Opportunities, Interim Statement 2005, Sport England
A Leisure Facilities Strategy for North Wiltshire (2001 – 2007)
8.164 The Leisure Plan and companion Leisure Facilities Strategy and Playing Pitch Strategy all expire in 2007. It should be recognised that any review of these leisure issues may reveal additional issues not already identified.
8.165 The Issues are:
Issue 1: Forecast population growth is increasing demand on leisure provision. This growing population will increase demand on the District’s established leisure facilities.
Issue 2: Limited funding for leisure facilities. It is recognised that there are population thresholds below which facilities become unviable, the level of support means that running costs associated with the facilities is greater than any income achieved. In some circumstances these facilities require some form of subsidy.
Issue 3: Need to consider the implications of exceptional leisure facilities.
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Issue 4: Is there a need to raise sports standards in North Wiltshire Schools to meet government standards?
Issue 5: The District is lacking a range of high quality leisure facilities. Access to leisure facilities should not just be a matter of distance but about ensuring that a range of facilities are available, to provide residents with a choice of venues and activities.
QUESTION 37: Do you agree that the issues presented above are the ones that the Core Strategy should tackle? Are there other issues that you consider should be tackled? If, So, please outline below.
8.166 Each issue Identified in the previous section is examined here in the light of four possible options (as set out in paragraph 8.69) for dealing with it.
8.167 Issue 1: Forecast population growth is increasing demand on leisure provision. This growing population will increase demand on the District’s established leisure facilities.
8.168 What are the Options?
Option 1&2: Continue to use the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 Policy which lets market supply leisure provision to meet increasing demand. This would allow for new or replacement leisure facilities within or adjoining the framework boundary of settlements. This approach would still be subject to policies within the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS).
Advantage: A market approach would require no expenditure of resources.
Disadvantage: Would only supply facilities where they are financially viable.
Option 3a: Introduce a policy that concentrates new Leisure Facilities within Tier 1 settlements, to only meet demand.
Advantage: This option will increase the range and quality of leisure facilities within Chippenham.
Disadvantage: This approach does not support the needs of other areas.
Option 3b: Introduce a policy that encourages new Leisure Facilities within Tier 1 and 2 settlements to meet demand.
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Advantage: This option will increase the range of leisure facilities for the main towns defined in Tier 1 and 2 of the Spatial Hierarchy. Will reduce the need to travel.
Disadvantage: Approach will not attract the highest quality leisure facilities and will still not support the needs of all the rural areas.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views.
Consultation in the Issues and Options (A) undertaken in January 2006 concluded that although there was a general need for new leisure facilities within the District, respondents recognised the financial constraints that the Council is under and the limiting factor this represents.
QUESTION 38: Which Option do you consider would be the best approach to tackle the District’s increased leisure demand?
8.169 Issue 2: Limited funding for leisure facilities.
8.170 What are the Options?
Option 1: Let market supply leisure provision to meet increasing demand. This approach would be subject to the policies of the Draft RSS.
Advantage: A market approach would require no expenditure of resources.
Disadvantage: Would only supply facilities that were financially viable.
Option 2: Continue to use North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 policies to secure funding for the provision for public open space, leisure, sport and recreation.
Advantage: Allows for the negotiation of leisure provision.
Disadvantage: The approach means that leisure infrastructure is competing against a number of other Council priorities including Affordable Housing, Transport and Infrastructure.
Option 3: Introduce a new planning policy that makes leisure provision a higher priority for funding and more explicitly sets out how the Council can work more closely with others to bid for funding.
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Advantage: More Council resources will be put into the provision of leisure facilities and infrastructure.
Disadvantage: This will option will reduce the funding available for other Council priorities such as Affordable Housing, Transport and Infrastructure.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views.
QUESTION 39: Which Option do you consider to be the most appropriate to resolve the District’s limited funding for leisure?
8.171 Issue 3: Need to consider the implications of exceptional leisure facilities.
Exceptional leisure facilities are those facilities that support activities that due to their very nature can not be treated in a standardised way. PPG17 explains that some activities rely on particular natural features and that where these features exist, local authorities should recognise their actual and potential recreational value.
North Wiltshire contains several natural assets that are capable of supporting exceptional leisure facilities including the Cotswold Water Park, the largest inland Water Park in the UK and the Kennet and Avon Canal.
8.172 What are the Options?
Option 1&2: Let market supply exceptional leisure facilities. Rely on guidance set out within PPG17: Planning for open space, sport and recreation to make decisions on the provision of exceptional leisure facilities. This approach would still be subject to the policies in the Draft RSS.
Advantage: A market approach would require no expenditure of resources.
Disadvantage: This approach would not respond to the specific local circumstances of North Wiltshire. Would only supply facilities that were financially viable.
Option 3: Introduce a policy that promotes and safeguards exceptional leisure facilities.
Advantage: This option would ensure those existing exceptional leisure facilities such as the Castle Combe Circuit will be safeguarded for the
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future. This approach would also promote specific exceptional leisure facilities that meet set criterion.
Disadvantage: Would allow development in unsustainable locations.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views.
QUESTION 40: Which Option do you favour?
8.173 Issue 4: Is there a need to raise sports standards in North Wiltshire Schools to meet government standards?
Option 1: Let schools develop as they wish. This approach would still be subject to the policies of the Draft RSS.
Advantage: A market approach would require no expenditure of resources.
Disadvantage: Would only supply facilities that were financially viable.
Option 2: Not an option as there is no adopted Local Plan policy on this subject.
Option 3: Introduce a new policy that promotes and safeguards schools designated as sports colleges.
Advantage: This would provide schools with greater power to plan and develop sports and leisure facilities.
Disadvantage: This approach would limit North Wiltshire’s stakeholders opportunity to resist development within schools.
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views.
QUESTION 41: Is there a need to raise sports standards in North Wiltshire Schools to meet government standards? If yes, which Option do you consider best supports this approach?
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8.174 Issue 5: The District is lacking a range of high quality leisure facilities.
Access to leisure facilities should not just be a matter of distance but about ensuring that a range of facilities are available, to provide residents with a choice of venues and activities.
Option 1: Let the market supply a range of high quality leisure facilities. This approach would still be subject to policies in the Draft RSS policy.
Advantage: A market approach would require no expenditure of resources.
Disadvantage: Would only supply facilities that were financially viable.
Option 2: Not an option as there is no adopted Local Plan policy on this subject.
Option 3: Introduce a new policy that promotes a range of high quality leisure facilities. This policy would actively encourage the refurbishment of new and replacement leisure facilities.
Advantage: This policy would identify and promote leisure facilities that the district is currently lacking. Examples of leisure facilities that could be promoted include a Cinema, a new Sports Centre, Bingo Hall, Public Open Space, Playing Pitches, Synthetic Pitch, Tennis Courts, Golf Course, Bowling Complex. Leisure facilities are traditionally located near to open space and recreation grounds, which will be less well protected from ancillary developments.
Disadvantage: None
Option 4: Ideas for an alternative option based upon your views.
QUESTION 42: Which Option do you consider, would be best suited to provide the District with the best range and quality of leisure facilities?
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Tourism
8.175 Tourism can bring many benefits to the community including boosting the local economy, generating employment, creating a positive image, sustaining local facilities and supporting a better environment. These benefits are of particular value in rural areas as they can provide amenities that people would not otherwise have access to. The “Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism” states that “it is important that strategies and plans for tourism are based upon the best information available”.
8.176 Evidence Base
Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism
Towards 2015: Shaping Tomorrows Tourism (South West Tourism Strategy)
A Strategy for the Historic Environment in the South West - Executive Summary
NWDC Economic Regeneration Strategy
The Value of Tourism 2003 - http://www.swtourism.co.uk/additional/docsys/weblink.pdf
North Wiltshire Visitor Guide 2007
Cotswold Water Park Vision & Master Plan
Cricklade Country Way Plan
Strategies
8.177 North Wiltshire District Council is a member of the Wiltshire & Swindon Destination Management Partnership. This group is tasked with delivering a sub-regional Destination Management Plan (DMP) for Wiltshire.
8.178 The group will also be responsible for the production of a Wiltshire & Swindon Tourism Strategy. It is anticipated that these emerging documents can be used as evidence to support any requirement for a tourism core policy. These same documents will also influence the scope of the tourism development control policies in the Core Strategy.
Core Strategy Issues and Options (A)
8.179 The consultation comments received in the Core Strategy Issues and Options (A) identified a number of tourism issues within the district. Issues included the need for tourism development of the Cotswold Water Park and not just residential development, the requirement for additional car parking and public toilets in tourism locations. A call for more hotels in Chippenham, a new tourism information centre for Corsham (Which
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has now been provided for), the establishment of a park and ride service to the busiest tourist attractions in the district and the completion of the Cricklade Country Way.
8.180 The most significant issue raised in the consultation stage was the lack of a consistent strategic position on the Cotswold Water Park. The Water Park has seen significant development on the Cotswold District Council side of the border however in North Wiltshire the park is not a corporate priority and its development has not been identified in any strategic plan for the district.
8.181 The Cotswold Water Park Joint Committee has commissioned Scott Wilson to produce a Cotswold Water Park Vision and Master Plan. The aim of the project is to generate key issues and options within the Water Park. On completion of the work any appropriate conclusions raised will be incorporated into the preferred options consultation.
8.182 The development of the Cricklade Country Way Project means that this is no longer a strategic issue to be considered in the Districts Core Strategy. The Cricklade Country Way Project will provide a significant regional leisure and recreation attraction, which will help to increase the number of visitors to the North Wiltshire area, length of stay and tourism spend in the local economy.
8.183 The remaining issues identified during the consultation period are related to the infrastructure that supports tourism, including the number of bed spaces within the district, public transport, car parking and tourism information centres.
Conclusion
8.184 In conclusion the issues raised in the first issues and options (A) consultation, are adequately addressed by National and Regional Policy.
8.185 Government guidance suggests that local planning policy should not repeat National or Regional policy. The Council therefore proposes that there is no need for a specific tourism Core Policy within the North Wiltshire Core Strategy.
QUESTION 43: Do you agree that North Wiltshire does not require a specific policy on tourism and that the authority can rely on National and Regional guidance? If no, what specific tourism issues in North Wiltshire are not reflected in this guidance?
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Community Infrastructure – Developers Contributions
8.186 The District Council will require that developers make suitable arrangements for the improvement or provision of infrastructure necessary to make the scheme acceptable in planning terms. The nature and scale of any planning obligations sought will be related to the form of the development and its potential impact upon the surrounding area.
8.187 This process of seeking developer contributions to fund community infrastructure is currently under review by the Government. The Planning Gain Supplement (PGS) will have a significant effect on the way negotiations are undertaken, confining developer contributions to the limitations of the site boundary. A levy would be payable from a modest portion of the value uplift arising on land for which full planning permission has been granted. This levy would then be used to fund wider infrastructure improvements.
QUESTIONS 44:
A. Do you have views on the need for a Core Policy on developer contributions or the PGS?
B. What kind of policy could North Wiltshire adopt in relation to the Planning Gain Supplement?
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Special Policy Areas
8.188 In recognition of the responses to the Issues and Options (A) consultation regarding the necessity to identify and appropriately protect various designations across the District, this single Core Policy approach has been developed. The policy is designed to set out the range of designations that exist within North Wiltshire that would likely affect the land uses appropriate for this area. Below is an example of the policy:
Core Policy 9: Special Policy Areas
The District Council will only consider those developments that are consistent with the designations of special policy areas, or the recognition of the special quality that an area of site has. The Council, when assessing any proposal, will have due regard to the status of any designation, the purpose of that designation including its policy objectives and the needs to protect important features and any relevant supplementary planning documents. The following special policy areas are designated within North Wiltshire:
• Special Areas of Conservation
• SSSIs (Sites of Special Scientific Interest)
• Western Wiltshire Green Belt
• Cotswold and North Wessex Downs AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty)
• Conservation Areas
• Ancient Monuments
• Ancient and Semi-natural Woodlands
• County Wildlife Sites
• Local Nature Reserves
• Regionally Important Geological/Geomorpholoical Sites.
• Cotswold Water Park
• Protected Species
• Great Western Community Forest
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• Historic Parks and Gardens
• Listed Buildings
• Locally Important Archaeological Sites
* Swindon’s Rural Buffer has been omitted, as there is no reference made to it in the Draft RSS.
QUESTIONS 45:
A. Do you feel that it is necessary to include such a Core Policy?
B. Does the policy (combined with the appropriate indication on the Proposals Map) provide clarity, is the policy appropriate in relation to the desire not to merely repeat National and Regional Policies and to ensure the policies presented in the LDF are specific to North Wiltshire?
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Chippenham – Strategically Significant Town
Example Core Policy for Chippenham:
This example of a Core Policy for Chippenham will be reviewed following the Issues and Options consultation, with the preferred policy set out in the next stage of consultation.
Chippenham will be the principal employment and strategic centre for North Wiltshire and the prime focus for inward investment. In the period 2006 – 2026, the town will;
• Enhance the range and number of retail and other appropriate town centre uses through the redevelopment or refurbishment of its prime and secondary retail areas,
• Contain sufficient car parking, maximum accessibility by means of attractive public transport provision, pedestrian friendly environments, cycling facilities and informal recreational space to support an active town centre,
• Protect its historic environments and encourage their positive contribution to the attractiveness of Chippenham as a strategic centre.
• Protect its existing and valued employment areas and seek their redevelopment or refurbishment to provide a business environment attractive to the expansion of existing firms and the attraction of new inward investment.
• Enhance the quality of the existing housing stock through appropriate refurbishment, redevelopment, extension and maintenance.
• Enhance the quality of public areas and parks in accordance with high quality design principles.
• Accommodate about 6300 jobs within the Chippenham Travel to Work Area of which the greater majority will be focussed in the town and on new employment areas adjacent.
• Build about 4500 new houses in the town and on new expansion areas adjacent to include the necessary additional facilities that support residential use such that they are easily accessible according to the demands of those facilities.
• Ensure that a mix of housing types are provided commensurate with demographic forecasts with the priority towards providing affordable housing and housing suitable for young people and the elderly in areas of the town with the highest accessibility to town centre services and transport nodes.
• Build the necessary social and physical infrastructure improvements to support the growth of
108 North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
the town.
• Attract significant new leisure provision within the town.
The Options for the Growth of Chippenham
8.189 As can be noted from previous sections, the expected growth of the town cannot be accommodated from within its existing urban area. There will be a need for new town expansions. The town has experienced several “bursts” of growth on its edges in the last 25 years; first at Pewsham and Bumpers Farm Industrial Estate, then at Englands both on the south eastern side of the town and more recently at Cepen Park North and South on the western edge. The expansions over the next 20 years will be equivalent or greater than that.
8.190 On the edge of the town the areas for potential growth arise on all sides to a greater or lesser degree. All of the areas of potential are displayed in this Second Issues and Options document in order to stimulate the discussion. The Core Strategy is intended to define only the essential directions of growth to accommodate a range of uses and the criteria that will be used to judge their acceptability for development. The actual allocation of land for development purposes will be a matter for a later Allocations Development Plan Document.
8.191 Although it is not essential to the process of identifying suitable directions of growth, it is nevertheless important that potential growth areas have the support of local landowners and the interest of potential developers. Therefore we issued a public “call for interest” from such parties and asked them to provide not only suggestions for sites, but also to provide information that would be useful in any criteria based analysis of their suitability. The detailed information obtained is available separately on the website www.northwilts.gov.uk/ldf. The potential areas thus identified are shown below.
8.192 The dark line around Chippenham represents the current framework boundary of the town as defined in the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011. The lightly shaded areas indicate the land submitted by interested landowners and potential developers. Not all of the land will, after formal analysis, be deemed suitable for development. In particular, the areas to the south and east include flood plain areas. Also, sites that had been promoted in the past to the north at Hill Corner Road were not submitted at this time. A small area of potential to the south of Pewsham Way has not been put forward.
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Nevertheless, it would be reasonable at this early stage to consider a potential expansion in those areas until the matter is clarified with those landowners.
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Map of Chippenham and Sites Promoted by Landowners/Potential Developers:
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007.
(Source: ”Call For Sites” consultation January 2007, NWDC.)
8.193 In total, some 518 hectares of land have been promoted which far exceeds the maximum likely requirement for housing, employment and other land as promoted by the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy at Chippenham. However, there are constraint factors such as the flood risk areas at the eastern and southern sides of the town that will reduce the area of land that can be practically utilised. In addition, there will be local landscape and topographical factors that will further constrain development potential.
8.194 For the purpose of the Core Strategy, we need only consider at this stage the general direction of growth and given the amount of potential available around the town, there are a number of Options that could be considered.
What are the Options?
8.195 Option 1: Rely upon the existing allocations of land at Chippenham as promoted in the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011, supplemented by further windfalls and Previously
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Developed Land (PDL) allocations within the urban area as identified from a new Housing Land Availability Assessment.
Advantage: This would minimise the amount of greenfield land that would be required for the purpose.
Disadvantages: The HLAA work has only recently commenced and there is no guarantee that sufficient land would be found to accommodate the 4500 dwellings expected by the Draft RSS between 2006 and 2026. Planning Policy Statement 3 states that a reliance upon windfalls is not appropriate. It is considered that Option 1 is not a realistic option.
8.196 Option 2: Bring forward all of the large promoted sites, appropriately phased without bias in the direction of growth, and restricted only by reason of specified natural constraints such as flood risk and topography. This would include all necessary new roads such as an eastern distributor road and a southern distributor road or link road
across the River Avon. © Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007.
Advantages: This would provide certainty in the likely growth of the town over the long term and would provide a substantial increase in development value that could be tapped for substantial infrastructure improvements: including the prospect of a continuous ring road around the town. It would allow for unexpected increases in the need for housing if the Draft RSS requires a larger housing allocation to Chippenham.
Disadvantages: It may provide far more potential greenfield land for development than is required and does not allow for potential changes in the housing market or government policy. It may result in an uncoordinated and inefficient bringing forward of sites such that the infrastructure is made financially unviable or not provided in a planned manner. There would be a substantial impact upon the landscape and historic setting of the town and upon the biodiversity of the surrounding countryside.
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8.197 Option 3: Concentrate the promotion of growth in the southern direction. Restricted only by reason of specified natural constraints such as flood risk and topography. This would include the prospect of either a southern distributor road or link road across the River Avon.
Advantages: The development would be contained within a natural topographical © Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007. “bowl” and there is a strong prospect that the undevelopable flood risk areas could form a substantial green “wedge” bringing a Country Park into the heart of the expanded town.
Disadvantages: A southern distributor road, crossing the main river, and located on the outer edges would substantial and expensive. A lesser, inner link road would be topographically more difficult to achieve and the alternative short link further into the town linking Avenue La Fleche and Rowden Lane would cross the Rowden Conservation Area. The development would be at some distance from the town centre and there are few road links to the centre.
8.198 Option 4: Concentrate the promotion of growth in the eastern direction. Restricted only by reason of specified natural constraints such as flood risk and topography. This would include the prospect of a northern and eastern distributor road linking the Malmesbury Road to the Langley Burrell Road and then to the London Road.
Advantages: The development would be less likely to have an landscape impact as it would form several “pockets” of development along the edge of the town. There are several good access roads/cycleways into the town and therefore scope to integrate the urban expansions into the fabric of the town.
Disadvantages: There are a number of © Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007. significant barriers to development including two railway lines (one used as a strategic cycleway), and the River Avon that
113 North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
will require expensive infrastructure to cross. The existence of substantial high voltage power lines will restrict the land area able to be developed. There are sensitive woodlands and historic settings that would require protection.
8.199 Option 5: Incremental growth of a small scale in numerous locations. This would result in pockets of development linked into existing infrastructure with no major road schemes proposed.
Advantages: The developments would have the least likelihood of major landscape impact.
Disadvantages: This would be unlikely to generate sufficient development value in the early years © Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007. to deliver large scale infrastructure projects. There would be a need to analyse the impact of the housing and employment growth areas impacting on the existing infrastructure.
8.200 Option 6: This is your opportunity to propose an alternative option. You may wish to consider the following points in your thoughts.
(a) It may be noticed that none of the above options refer to a western expansion of the town. It was thought that the Chippenham Western By-pass, with its opportunity in the future for becoming a dual-carriageway, is a serious constraint to linking any new expansion into the town. You may disagree.
(b) You may consider that a more radical approach to housing layouts and increased densities approaching the highest densities to be found in the town (say 100 dwellings per hectare) would dramatically reduce the requirement for greenfield land. At 30 dwellings per hectare there is a notional need for about 150 hectares of land (not including open space and ancillary land use) whilst at 100 dwellings per hectare, the land take would only be 45 hectares.
QUESTION 46: Which of the options do you believe to be the correct approach for the future development of Chippenham?
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The Options for the Growth of the Other Towns
8.201 If we consider Options 1 and 3 of the Location of Development Core Policy (page 36) no other town in the District will be promoted for growth on anything like the scale proposed for Chippenham. In respect of Option 2 of the Location of Development Core Policy, Calne would be the only settlement with substantial growth outside of Chippenham. The Core Policy for any Tier 2 settlements will possibly be more limited in scope. The following wording is an example of generic wording that could be applied to the other towns.
Example Core Policy for Tier 2 Settlements
This example of a Core Policy for settlements with Tier 2 of the settlement hierarchy will be reviewed following the Issues and Options consultation, with the preferred policy set out in the next stage of consultation.
[The Tier 2 Settlement] will be a focus for new employment and housing growth of a limited scale. In the period 2006 – 2026 the priorities will be to
• Maintain the range and number of retail and other appropriate town centre uses through the refurbishment of its prime and secondary retail areas,
• Contain sufficient car parking, attractive public transport provision, pedestrian friendly environments, cycling facilities and informal recreational space to support an active town centre,
• Protect its historic environments and encourage their positive contribution to the attractiveness of the town.
• Protect its existing and valued employment areas and seek their redevelopment or refurbishment to provide a business environment attractive to existing firms.
• Enhance the quality of the existing housing stock through appropriate refurbishment, redevelopment, extension and maintenance.
• Enhance the quality of public areas and parks in accordance with high quality design principles.
• Build about 140 (for the period 2011 – 2026) new houses in the town in locations easily accessible to existing or enhanced facilities.
• Ensure that a mix of housing types are provided commensurate with demographic forecasts with the priority towards providing affordable housing and housing suitable for young people
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and the elderly in areas of the town with the highest accessibility to town centre services and transport nodes.
8.202 There remains a significant amount of land currently with planning permission for housing or allocated for such in the North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011 within the other towns of the District. This has the result that there is a limited amount of new land required to fulfil the requirements of the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy in the period 2011 – 2026. Of the 4500 houses anticipated, only around 2100 need be accommodated in the District outside of Chippenham.25
8.203 The “Call for Sites” exercise that took place in January 2007 identified a number of sites around the other towns of the District that were promoted by landowners or potential developers. The results are shown below.
25 It should be noted that this excludes the 1000 dwellings that are to be found in the West of Swindon area.
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Corsham
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007.
8.204 Corsham is limited in its potential for further growth due to the high quality of its historic and landscape setting to the north and east and by the practical limitations of crossing the railway line to the south. Development to the west would erode the strategic gaps between Corsham and the villages. None of the sites promoted for development as a result of the “call for sites” exercise would be suitable; with some minor exceptions within the framework boundary at Leafield to the south or the small area to the south- east.
QUESTION 47: Are there particular directions of growth for Corsham that you consider would be preferable, bearing in mind that such growth over the period to 2026 is likely to be limited?
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Malmesbury
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007.
8.205 Malmesbury is also limited in its potential for further growth due to the high quality of its historic and landscape setting. However, sites promoted by landowners to the north and northwest are possibilities that will require further investigation.
QUESTION 48: Are there particular directions of growth for Malmesbury that you consider would be preferable, bearing in mind that such growth over the period to 2026 is likely to be limited?
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Wootton Bassett
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007.
8.206 Wootton Bassett has been the focus of attention for the promotion of new development in previous Local Plans largely due to its location close to the M4 and Swindon. Many of the sites displayed above have been considered before. There is considerable potential for new growth areas, though there are substantial constraints to the south due to the attractive landscape setting and the position of the main railway line. The Draft RSS seeks to limit development at Wootton Bassett, stating that Wootton Bassett performs a largely dormitory function to Swindon and, to ensure that this is not exacerbated, it should not receive housing growth above levels appropriate to meet local needs.
QUESTION 49: Are there particular directions of growth for Wootton Bassett that you consider would be preferable, bearing in mind that such growth over the period to 2026 is likely to be limited?
119 North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
Calne
© Crown copyright. All rights reserved 100017933 2007.
8.207 Calne has also been the focus of attention for the promotion of new development in previous Local Plans largely due to aspirations for an eastern distributor road for the town and a consideration that the town centre can be regenerated through its growth. Many of the sites displayed above have been considered before. There is considerable potential for new growth areas, though developing the east of the town is considerably constrained by narrow roads and congestion in the centre.
QUESTION 50: Are there particular directions of growth for Calne that you consider would be preferable, bearing in mind that such growth over the period to 2026 could be second only to Chippenham?
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9. Generic Development Control Policies
9.1 The Generic Development Control Policies (GDCP) have been developed in accordance with the Spatial Vision, Strategic Objectives, Spatial Strategy and the Core Policies; they are generic in their application but specifically related to the issues of North Wiltshire. The Generic Development Control Policies will be used alongside the Regional Spatial Strategy and National Planning Policy Statements, to make local decisions on planning applications.
9.2 The GDCP have been drafted in a way that takes account of a possible scenario resulting from the selection of specific options set out in Core Strategy – Spatial Vision, Strategic Objectives, Spatial Strategy and the Core Policies. They do not represent the preferred approach, as the policies presented below will be subject to alteration following the review of consultation responses. The setting out of the preferred Core Policies will be of particular importance to the Generic Development Control Policies.
QUESTIONS 51:
A. We welcome you views and comments about the policies presented?
B. Do you consider it necessary to introduce other policies? Please consider that policies should be sufficiently locally distinctive as to do more than simply reflect national and regional guidance.
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GDCP Contents
Policy
DC1 Community Infrastructure
DC2 Development Control Policy
DC3 Western Wiltshire Green Belt
DC4 The Swindon Strategic Gap
DC5 Conserving Biodiversity
DC6 Woodland
DC7 The Great Western Community Forest
DC8 Trees, Site Features and the Control of New Development
DC9 The Landscape Character of the Countryside
DC10 Re-Use of Military Establishments in the Countryside
DC11 Development in Conservation Areas, Historic Parks and Gardens
DC12 Locally Important Archaeological Sites
DC13 Enabling Development – Historic Environment
DC14 Transport Assessment and Travel Plans
DC15 Parking
DC16 Freight
DC17 Residential Development Within Framework Boundaries
DC18 Residential Development in the Open Countryside
DC19 Affordable Housing
DC20 Affordable Housing on Rural Exceptions Sites
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DC21 Gypsy & Traveller Sites
DC22 Business Development within, or on the Edge of Tier 3 Settlements
DC23 Rural Business Development
DC24 Re-Use of Rural Buildings
DC25 Town Centre Primary Frontage Areas
DC26 Town Centre Secondary Frontage Areas
DC27 Proposals Outside Town Centre Primary and Town Centre Secondary Areas
DC28 Local Shops and Services
DC29 Existing Local Shops and Services
DC30 Upper Floors in Town Centres
DC31 Local Community, Health and Education Facilities
DC32 Leisure Facilities and Open Space
DC33 Provision of Open Space
DC34 General Policy For Tourism
DC35 Wilts and Berks/ Thames and Severn Canals
DC36 Swindon and Cricklade Railway Line
DC37 The Thames Path National Trail
APPENDICES
A: Nature Conservation Sites of International and National Importance in North Wiltshire
B: The Ten Areas of Special Archaeological Significance in North Wiltshire
C: County Wide Parking Standards
D: Transport Assessment and Travel Plans Thresholds
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DC1 COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE CORE POLICY
Provision for the directly related community infrastructure costs of all major development proposals, appropriate to the scale of that development, will be sought. The local planning authority will examine each major development proposal for its need to contribute to the following community infrastructure requirements and negotiate to secure planning obligations or by means of other appropriate methods to secure the requirements identified. The community infrastructure requirements are:
• Affordable housing
• Education, skill training provision, and libraries
• Travel and transport infrastructure
• Community buildings and facilities
• Health care provision and social services
• New or improved public open spaces
• Leisure, sport and recreation provision
• Waste management and recycling
• Environmental protection and enhancement
• Information Communication Technology infrastructure
• Art in the community
The community infrastructure list has been prepared with regard to the physical, social, cultural, economic and environmental consequences of major development. The purpose of the policy is to ensure that the full consequences are taken into account and, where appropriate, addressed either through integration into the development proposal or by means of a financial contribution.
The process of negotiating such provision will be guided by national government circulars; particularly circulars 5/2005, “Planning Obligations” and 11/95, “The Use of Conditions in Planning Permissions”. The policy will also in the future be relevant in compliance with the regulations and guidance arising from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Central Government is
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
currently consulting on a new system for providing community infrastructure called the Planning Gain Supplement.
For the purposes of the policy, “major development” is generally defined as that involving 10 or more dwellings, other development 1000 m2 in gross floor area or greater, involving land of 0.5 hectares or greater in area or where cumulative developments exceed those limits. Nothing in this policy shall prevent negotiations on smaller developments where the site specific circumstances or other policies within the plan require a contribution to community infrastructure.
In cases where the viability of a proposed development is claimed to be harmed by the identified requirements for community infrastructure, applicants will be expected to provide detailed financial viability information on that specific proposal as evidence of that harm. The local planning authority will in such cases prioritise the requirements in the order that they appear in the policy after taking into account the relevance of each requirement to the proposal.
DC2 DEVELOPMENT CONTROL CORE POLICY
New development will be permitted subject to the full consideration of the following criteria. This policy should be read in conjunction with the other policies in the Local Development Framework. i) The new development respects the local character and distinctiveness of the area with regard to the design, size, scale, density, massing, materials, siting and layout of the proposal; ii) The new development respects the quality of the natural and built environment, including the historic environment, archaeology and ecology of the locality and where necessary includes measures for the preservation or enhancement of such features; iii) The proposed development avoids creating unacceptable levels of privacy and amenities and avoids any unacceptable loss of privacy and amenities to adjacent development; iv) The proposal ensures that access into and within the development is safe, minimises the risk from crime, and is convenient and attractive to pedestrians, cyclists, and people with disabilities; v) The new development incorporates energy conservation features and design principles to promote the use of renewable energy sources and prioritise the use of
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
local, natural and recycled materials, provides satisfactory arrangements for efficient water supply, use and disposal and proposals for the storage, collection and recycling of refuse; vi) The development proposal promotes sustainable patterns of development that will reduce the overall need to travel and support increased use of public transport, cycling and walking; vii) The new development has a satisfactory means of access, turning, car parking and secure cycle storage and does not result in a detrimental impact upon highway or pedestrian safety; viii) The new development avoids overloading of existing or proposed services and facilities, the local road network or other infrastructure; and ix) The development is not in a location that would generate, or be subject to, a detrimental effect upon public health or pollution to the environment by the emission or production of excessive noise, light intrusion, smoke, fumes, effluent, vibration, waste or litter.
A high standard of design will be expected in new development, whatever its scale. It is the policy of the Local Planning Authority to encourage excellence, innovation and creativity in all development to ensure that schemes are compatible with the scale, character and distinctiveness of the local vernacular and landscape.
Good design and development is not easy to define, because it is subjective and depends on the value systems being applied. What is of particular importance is that good design is not just a matter of attention to the elevational treatments of individual buildings. Local character, quality and distinctiveness derive from the complex relationships between many elements that make up the built environment.
All applications for planning permission, listed building and advertisement consent will be expected to be accompanied by a statement setting out the design principles that have been employed. The amount of detail included within the design statement should reflect the nature and scale of the proposal, but, as a minimum should comprise a short written statement and supporting illustrative plans.
In considering the design principles in criteria (v), there may be opportunities to source building materials locally, from natural sources or through recycling in the interests of minimising unnecessary energy costs of manufacture or transportation.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
DC3 WESTERN WILTSHIRE GREEN BELT
In the Green Belt, outside the village of Box, approval will not be given, for the construction of new buildings, other than: i) For agriculture and forestry; ii) Essential facilities for outdoor sport and recreation, for cemeteries and for other uses of land which preserve the openness of the Green Belt and do not conflict with the purpose of including land within that designation; iii) The limited extension, alteration or replacement of existing dwellings or existing employment buildings.
The re-use of buildings will be approved providing:
(a) It will not have a materially greater impact than the present use upon the openness of the Green Belt and the purposes of including land within that designation;
(b) Strict control is exercised over the extension of re-used buildings, and over any associated uses of land surrounding the building which might conflict with the openness of the Green Belt and the purpose of including land within that designation; and
(c) The buildings are of permanent and substantial construction, and are capable of conversion without major or complete reconstruction.
Approval will not be given for development, which would not preserve the openness of the Green Belt, nor would conflict with the purpose of including land within that designation.
The Western Wiltshire Green Belt was originally approved in 1966 and is part of the larger Green Belt around Bath and Bristol, which was introduced to check the sprawl of development on the edge of the built-up areas and to safeguard the surrounding countryside from development pressures. This policy will have regard to, and be read in the context of, national Planning Policy guidance.
The particular objectives of the Western Wiltshire Green Belt, relevant to North Wiltshire, are:
• To maintain the open character of undeveloped land adjacent to Bath, Trowbridge and Bradford on Avon
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
• To limit the spread of development along the A4 between Batheaston and Corsham
Existing Villages in the Green Belt: It is proposed to allow no new building beyond the categories normally appropriate in the Green Belt. This includes the scattered settlements of Ashley, Box Hill, Ditteridge, Kingsdown, and Middlehill. In the case of the village of Box, infilling only is proposed within the tightly drawn framework boundary as shown on the Proposals Map defining the infill boundary.
DC4 THE SWINDON STRATEGIC GAP
In the Strategic Gap, new development will be strictly controlled. Approval will not be given for the construction of new buildings which, individually or cumulatively, would lead to the coalescence of settlements. Subject to the proviso, new buildings for the purposes of agriculture, forestry, or other uses appropriate to a rural area will be permitted.
The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy requires Local Planning Authorities to identify any necessary strategic gaps, to protect the separate identities of towns and villages and prevent their coalescence with Swindon. These settlements included Wootton Bassett, Lydiard Millicent, Purton and Cricklade. The extent of the area is limited to only identifying land that is essential to protect the named settlements from the continued growth of Swindon. The policy is intended not only to prevent coalescence of settlements, but also new building development which might cumulatively lead to such coalescence. Tree planting and the conservation of the ancient woodlands and unimproved meadows in the area will be encouraged with the help and assistance of the Braydon Forest Countryside Management Project. The general countryside and landscape policies apply to the Strategic Gaps.
DC5 CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY
Development proposals should ensure that species and habitats set out in the UK and local biodiversity action plans, badgers and species protected by Schedules 1, 5, or 8 of the Wildlife an Countryside Act as amended or Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats) Regulations (1994) will be protected, and where possible, enhanced to help deliver BAP targets and EU conservation aims.
The Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) (2002) was produced by the Wiltshire BAP Forum. It identifies key habitats which should be taken into consideration in any development. Briefly these include:
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
1. Deciduous Woodland such as at Bowood and Braydon Forest.
2. Wood/pasture and parkland features in some areas including Bowood.
3. Grassland habitats such as the seasonally inundated neutral grasslands/hay meadows at North Meadow Cricklade, the calcareous limestone grassland of the Cotswold and the Chalk downland of the North Wessex Downs.
4. Old hedgerows which form valuable reservoirs and corridors for wildlife.
5. Key wetland habitats including river systems, canals, and the extensive standing water of the Cotswold Water Park.
6. The Box Mine, which accommodates rare bats and is a cSAC.
7. Arable land which supports species such as brown hare and stone curlew and is important for rare arable weeds.
The value of urban areas for wildlife should also be taken into consideration.
The Cotswold Water Park Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) sets out the nature conservation framework for the Water Park area and has set out relevant targets which should be taken into consideration in any proposed development. The aim of the policy is to maintain the overall scale and importance of the area of the Water Park as a nationally and regionally important nature conservation area.
Development will normally only be permitted where it is compatible with sustaining the biodiversity resource of the site in particular, and the area in general, and where the proposed development is able to demonstrate that it can avoid irreversible change or damage to important nature conservation sites. The policy should be taken in the context of the Cotswold Water Park Strategy so that a balanced approach is taken between mineral working, recreation/tourism, development and nature conservation.
The Cotswold Water Park supports a substantial interest including nationally significant numbers of wintering birds and regionally significant numbers of breeding birds. An opportunity exists for permitting appropriate development and land uses in and around the lakes of the Water Park, where such development is able to either:
(a) Demonstrate that the proposal will not reduce the wintering and breeding bird numbers, or adversely affect any other important wildlife or natural feature; or
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
(b) Compensate for any potential reduction in the number of important wintering or breeding birds, or other adverse affects on any important wildlife or natural feature, by ensuring that adequate and suitable new or enhanced areas of replacement habitat are provided on a permanent or long-term basis as part of the proposals, such that the applicant can demonstrate that the nature conservation value of the area as a whole will not be diminished by the proposed development.
This policy should be considered in association with the Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals Local Plan strategy for mineral working, restoration and after use for the area. The Airfield Safeguarding Areas around RAF Fairford and South Cerney and RAF Lyneham shall also be taken into consideration in terms of the potential encroachment of birds which could interfere with air traffic.
The UK BAP priority habitats that are found in North Wiltshire include:
1. Ancient and/or species rich hedgerows
2. Caves and natural rock exposures
3. Cereal field margins
4. Eutrophic standing waters
5. Lowland calcareous grassland
6. Lowland meadows
7. Lowland wood-pasture and parkland
8. Reedbeds
9. Wet woodland
Developers will be expected to submit an assessment of the ecological effects of their development proposal. If required, there should be a programme of avoidance, mitigation and management, that results in at least no net loss for biodiversity and a net gain where possible. Developers should seek opportunities for biodiversity gain; for example by the provision of land for creation of suitable habitats such as wetlands.
The presence of a protected species is a material consideration when a local planning authority is considering a development proposal which, if carried out, would be likely to result in harm to the species or its habitat. If the proposals are likely to have an effect on protected species or protected
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
species habitat, protected species surveys must be undertaken and contact made with the other relevant bodies such as English Nature prior to the determination of the application. Detailed and adequate mitigation proposals must be submitted with the planning application where impacts on protected species are predicted.
European protected species under Annex IV to the European Union Habitats Directive receive extra protection under the Habitat Regulations (1994). English Nature should be referred to for further information. The local Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) for Wiltshire and the Cotswold Water Park will also give information on species likely to be found in the area such as water voles.
DC6 WOODLAND
The creation, conservation, enhancement and positive management of woodlands across the District will be supported. In particular, areas of ancient and semi-natural woodland should be protected. The retention of the visual amenity and nature conservation value will be sought in particular at the following: i) Bird's Marsh Wood, Chippenham ii) Vincient's Wood, Chippenham iii) Pockeredge Drive Wood, Corsham iv) Woodland within Braydon Forest.
Woodlands are a very important element within the landscape of the District. They enhance urban areas and edges and the wider countryside. They have landscape, visual and nature conservation value, are often historic features and can be used for recreation. Ancient and semi-natural woodlands are particularly important and are protected. Circular 9/95 (General Development Order Consolidation) should be referred to in this regard. The multi-purpose use of forestry and woodland is supported and should be carried out in accordance with the English Forestry Strategy and UK Forestry Standard.
Bird’s Marsh Wood, Vincient’s Wood and Pockeredge Drive Wood have been specifically identified in view of their importance to the landscape setting of their respective towns, where they are not covered by other landscape designations. Bird's Marsh Wood is a large wood of approximately 24 hectares, which is valuable for its flora and its refuge for wildlife.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
Vincient's Wood, under the control of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, forms a significant landscape feature, the protection of which is further needed due to its being surrounded by housing and the Western Bypass.
The woodland at Pockeredge Drive forms part of a wider wooded landscape in the historic Box Tunnel Valley area.
Braydon Forest is a larger area covering a number of SSSI’s. The Braydon Forest Project is run by the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust with the aim of conserving and enhancing the distinctive landscape of the old Braydon Forest comprising pasture and coppice woodland.
DC7 THE GREAT WESTERN COMMUNITY FOREST
Development shall only be permitted where it does not prejudice the implementation of the Great Western Community Forest Plan.
The Great Western Community Forest is one of twelve forests for the community in the UK. Its aim is to develop a multi-purpose forest around Swindon, creating a high quality environment for everybody. The Forest covers a large area of the North East of the District. Development proposals should accord with the aims and objectives of the Great Western Community Forest contained in the “Great Western Community Forest Plan 1994”. This is a non-statutory document with proposals extending over a period of 30 years.
The Forest Plan does not necessarily preclude appropriate development that would be acceptable in terms of other policies but matters that should be taken into account include:
1. The improvement of the landscape.
2. Increasing opportunities for access, recreation and cultural events.
3. Protecting areas of conservation and landscape value.
4. Creating new opportunities for conservation.
5. Creating new opportunities for environmental education.
6. Establishing supplies of local timber.
7. Improving the environment of housing and commerce.
8. Encouraging community involvement in the creation and management of the Forest.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
9. Protecting and enhancing strategic green corridors that are identified in the Forest Plan and which provide a range of integrated functions and activities.
DC8 TREES, SITE FEATURES AND THE CONTROL OF NEW DEVELOPMENT
Permission will not be granted for proposals that would result, or be likely to result, in the loss of trees, hedges, lakes/ponds or other important landscape or ecological features that could be successfully and appropriately incorporated into the design of a development.
Planning conditions will be imposed and Tree Preservation Orders made, for safeguarding single and small groups of trees in the interests of public amenity.
It is the duty of the local planning authority to ensure, whenever it is appropriate, that in granting planning permission for any development adequate provision is made, by the imposition of conditions, for the preservation or planting of trees. The latter should be substantially native tree species of local provenance.
It will be expected that assessments to determine the nature conservation and landscape value features both within and adjacent to sites will be undertaken. Details of any assessment should be submitted with a planning application.
For example, a tree survey should be carried out of the site and directly adjacent land by a competent expert to establish the quality and condition of trees potentially affected by development as appropriate.
Development shall be designed to ensure the longevity of retained vegetation and features through appropriate management and mitigation measures. British Standard 5837: 1991 - Guide for Trees in Relation to Construction, offers relevant guidance for trees.
DC9 THE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER OF THE COUNTRYSIDE
The landscape of North Wiltshire and its locally distinctive characteristics shall be conserved and enhanced, development will be permitted if it does not adversely affect the character of an area and features that contribute to local distinctiveness.
Development shall take into account:
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
i) The setting of, and relationship between, settlement and buildings and the landscape. ii) The pattern of woodland, trees, field boundaries, other vegetation and features. iii) The special qualities of watercourses and waterbodies and their surroundings such as river valleys. iv) The topography of the area avoiding sensitive skylines, hills and not detracting from important views.
The landscape shall be safeguarded for its own sake and in order to protect its intrinsic character and beauty. The authority shall find ways of enriching the quality of the whole countryside while accommodating appropriate development.
A landscape character assessment has been prepared for the District which defines 17 character areas. Each area is described in terms of its character, key characteristics, management guidelines and actions, and landscape sensitivity. It is intended that the assessment will become a supplementary planning document and development shall take it into account. The built up areas of Chippenham, Calne, Corsham, Wootton Bassett, Cricklade and Malmesbury have not been described in detail as they are not in open countryside.
Some sensitive landscapes close to and within settlements, such as river valleys and corridors, are included in Conservation Areas. These are covered in DC11 Development in Conservation Areas, Historic Parks and Gardens.
Building in the open countryside, away from existing settlements or from areas allocated for development, shall be strictly controlled. All development in rural areas shall contribute to sustainability, be well designed, in keeping and in scale with its location, and sensitive to the area’s landscape character and local distinctiveness. In particular, isolated new houses in the countryside require special justification.
DC10 RE-USE OF MILITARY ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE
The redevelopment, conversion and/or change of use of existing or former ministry of defence establishments to business, industrial or storage use (B1, B2 and B8), hotel (C1), non-residential institution (D1), or assembly and leisure uses (D2) will be permitted, where:
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
i) The proposal will result in the removal of unsightly or inappropriate buildings or bring other environmental benefits; ii) The proposal is of a form, bulk and general design in keeping with the local area; iii) Redevelopment will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that the existing building(s) are not suitable for re-use or conversion and the redevelopment does not exceed the general footprint of the existing building(s).
Proposals for the development of open areas will not be permitted.
The Local Planning Authority will expect the developer to demonstrate the unsuitability of the existing buildings for conversion or re-use in their planning applications. Given the nature and location of MOD sites in North Wiltshire, proposals for the development of open areas will not be permitted, as these sites constitute substantial land holdings in severely unsustainable locations.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
North Wiltshire District is fortunate to have a wealth of historic features, such as conservation areas, historic parks and gardens, listed buildings and archaeological features. The aim of the following policies is to ensure that the District’s heritage is preserved, protected and where possible enhanced for the enjoyment of future generations.
Conservation Areas, Historic Parks and Gardens
A Conservation Area is defined as an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
Statements and planning briefs for individual areas and sites will be prepared by the District Council, as appropriate, which will describe the special character and appearance of Conservation Areas and provide advice and guidance on the enhancement of areas and the design of new development. These are available as Supplementary Planning Documents.
DC11 DEVELOPMENT IN CONSERVATION AREAS, HISTORIC PARKS & GARDENDS
In Conservation Areas, Historic Parks and Gardens, proposals for development, advertisements and other works will only be permitted where the proposal will preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area. Open spaces, village greens, gaps between buildings, fields, gardens and trees that provide attractive views and vistas to, from and within public areas will be protected from development that would fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of a Conservation Area, Historic Parks and Gardens.
When permitting development in Conservation Areas, the established historic streets, building lines and frontages, burgage plots and boundaries, the plan form of buildings, and other historic physical and landscape features will be conserved and incorporated into the proposal where appropriate.
In order to protect the special character and appearance of Conservation Areas. Historic Parks and Gardens, there is a need for strict control over development, this does not preclude the possibility of new development, but any development should be designed to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the area.
Existing open spaces, village greens, fields, gaps between buildings, private gardens, and other parcels of land can make a positive contribution to the character or appearance of Conservation Areas in particular, and such features often need to be preserved. The loss of just one site to
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
development in environmentally sensitive areas can make it extremely difficult to resist further development in an area, resulting in the loss of an attractive setting or feature, and can erode the rural and open character of an area. Care will also be taken to ensure that views and vistas, including familiar and cherished scenes such as open views of a church tower, the local village green, any surrounding hillsides and river valleys, remain unspoilt.
In preserving and enhancing the townscape of areas, regard will be had to the historic layout and building lines which provide the opportunity to maintain a record of the evolution of such areas and which endow such areas with a special character of their own, in relation to the spaces between buildings, as well as the buildings themselves. Retention of burgage plots, historic street patterns, plot boundaries, building frontages, and the plan form of buildings, is considered particularly important. New development in streets with a continuous frontage of buildings, situated with their front walls on the back edge of the pavement, needs to respect established building lines and avoid incongruous gaps and set-backs. Where such considerations are not satisfactorily dealt with, in connection with a particular proposal, the development will not normally be permitted, whether or not the proposal complies with any other policies as set out in the Plan.
In preserving and enhancing Historic Parks and Gardens the impact of development and advertisements within and also adjacent to them will need to be considered. The register of gardens and other land of special historic interest, produced for North Wiltshire in 1987 by English Heritage, is as follows:
Table DC11: Register of gardens and other land of special historic interest.
Bowood Grade I of Exceptional Interest
Corsham Court Grade II* of Great Quality
Lacock Abbey Grade II of Special Interest
Sheldon Manor Grade II of Special Interest
Hazelbury Manor Grade II of Special Interest
Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest
North Wiltshire is fortunate in having an unusual diversity and number of buildings of special architectural or historic interest, including a great wealth of fine stone, brick and thatched buildings. This mixture of historic buildings gives a special character to the towns, villages and countryside. However, there is only a limited number of historic buildings and those surviving need to be
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
carefully and responsibly preserved. For this reason, buildings placed on the Statutory List enjoy legal protection and cannot be altered, extended or demolished without prior Listed Building Consent.
ARCHAEOLOGY
North Wiltshire has a wealth of archaeological features, which vary from isolated visible remains, such as earthworks, to broad tracts of countryside where the range of ancient features creates an archaeological landscape. Important features include barrow groups, ancient trackways, Iron Age Hill-forts, and the archaeological features of the North Wessex Downs and Upper Thames Valley. Although much of the area is famous for its ancient landscape, it also has many features representing later periods. Saxon and mediaeval settlements and their field systems and post- mediaeval features such as water meadows, parliamentary enclosures and chalk carvings, including the famous white horses. In the field of industrial archaeology there are a number of important features, such as the Canals. The District also has a large number of settlements and buildings of historic or architectural interest.
DC12 LOCALLY IMPORTANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
Development in defined areas of special archaeological significance, or in other locally important archaeological sites, will only be permitted where: i) Any archaeological remains would be unaffected by the proposals; or ii) Satisfactory measures are taken to ensure the physical preservation of any archaeological remains in situ; or iii) In cases where the significance of any archaeological remains is outweighed by the need for and benefits of the development, satisfactory measures are taken to excavate and record the site and its remains.
Archaeological remains are a finite and non-renewable resource, highly fragile and vulnerable to damage and destruction. They form part of the national heritage and are valuable both for their own sake and for their role in education, leisure and tourism. The satisfactory measures that will need to be taken to excavate and record any site and its remains will need to be defined on a case by case basis, and in certain instances may be the subject of planning conditions.
Areas of Special Archaeological Significance: This indicates the areas of greatest interest containing, for example, whole barrow groups, field systems, settlements, complex crop mark sites and other sub-surface features. A number of towns and villages also have known or suspected
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
areas of archaeological significance, which broadly coincide with designated Conservation Areas. Only Cricklade and Malmesbury have so far been identified in the list of towns as Areas of Special Archaeological Significance, since this reflects the extent and depth of present day archaeological knowledge acquired from site investigations, as well as pressures for development or redevelopment. As the extent of information increases, it may be possible to identify more settlements as Areas of Special Archaeological Significance.
The policy will also be applicable to other locally important archaeological sites, which includes those defined by the County Sites and Monuments Records, or other sites as identified from time to time through site evaluation or excavation such as to justify their inclusion in the Records.
Ten areas in North Wiltshire have been defined by the County Council's Library and Museum Service and are listed in Development Control Appendix B. The defining of broad zones recognises that protection is possible in only a proportion of cases. Each individual case will need to be assessed on its own merit, with an archaeological evaluation being required to be undertaken to assess this.
DC13 ENABLING DEVELOPMENT – HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
Proposals involving enabling development will be permitted only in exceptional circumstances where: a) The scale of the proposed enabling development does not exceed what is necessary to support the principal development; and b) The proposal (the principal development) to be subsidised by the proposed enabling development is in the national interest.
In order to maintain nationally important listed buildings, or other ‘heritage’ resources such as historic parklands, the local planning authority may consider granting planning permission for financially beneficial development, the profit of which will be used to fund major repair work to the resource which it is important to preserve or restore. The development would generally not be permitted, for example, because the site is in the open countryside, where new build is contrary to Government guidance and adopted policy. The local planning authority will consider such proposals only in exceptional circumstances. Where listed buildings are involved, it must be demonstrated that the proposed enabling development does not detract from their fabric or setting. A legal agreement will be sought to ensure the proposal, to be subsidised by the enabling development, is carried out within an agreed period of time following the implementation of the whole or part of the enabling development itself.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
TRANSPORT
The movement of people and goods is key to the vitality of North Wiltshire. Transport needs, however, must be balanced against their impact on the environment of the District’s towns, villages and countryside. Careful planning, by shaping the pattern, scale and location of development, can influence transport choices in sustainable ways.
To this end and in line with Government Guidance the transport objectives of the Local Plan are to:
• Promote more sustainable transport choices for both people and moving freight.
• Promote accessibility to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, walking and cycling.
• Reduce the need to travel especially by the car.
DC14 TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT & TRAVEL PLANS
Transport Assessments are required to identify the impact of a development on the transport network and Travel Plans are required to set out sustainable forms of travel to and from a development. Proposals that demonstrate no adverse impact will be granted planning permission. All planning applications above the thresholds detailed in Development Control Appendix D will be required to submit a transport assessment and travel plan.
For planning applications below the thresholds North Wiltshire District Council reserve the right to require a transport assessment and/or travel plan if there are access and/or parking issues.
The impact of new development on transport networks can be considerable. Not just on highway and junction capacity but also for cycle, pedestrian and public transport movements. Planning applications will be accompanied by a transport assessment clearly setting out how traffic is generated by the development and what measures are required to mitigate their impact. It will not be acceptable for developers to solely propose measures to improve highway and junction capacity.
Transport Assessments will follow Government Guidance.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
Travel Plans will be given varied weight in a planning decision, depending on the degree to which it can be secured through a planning condition or planning obligation and the extent to which it materially affects the acceptability of the development proposed. Travel plans should promote cycling, walking, public transport and car sharing. Travel plans should reduce traffic speeds, improve road safety and personal security, and include more environmentally friendly delivery and transport movements.
Plans will include targets, monitoring programmes and where appropriate enforcement measures should targets be missed. Proposals to minimise freight movements should also be included. Planning applications for new development must ensure a minimal reliance on car borne trips.
Unacceptable development will not be permitted because of the existence of a transport assessment or a travel plan.
DC15 PARKING
Planning applications are required to provide levels of car, cycle and disabled parking in accordance with the Countywide standards set by the Highway Authority.
The provision of parking spaces in new developments influences people’s choice of mode of transport. Over provision of spaces encourages the use of the car adding to congestion and environmental problems. By limiting the number of spaces and including proposals for cycle, walking and public transport access (Policy DC14) car use can be reduced.
Reducing the number of spaces required enables the more efficient use of land, allows for the development of sites where providing parking would be difficult and focuses development on sites providing access for those without use of a car.
Development Control Appendix C, Countywide standards, therefore, sets out maximum levels of parking spaces for a range of developments. The standards recognise that some locations, for example town centres, will have a higher level of accessibility by cycle, walking and public transport than others and thus require fewer parking spaces. The number of spaces then required will be calculated in accordance with the Highway Authority’s methodology.
Developers may propose a level of parking provision below the maximum standards identified in Development Control Appendix C. This may lead to an increase in on street parking and associated problems. Under such circumstances developers will be expected to fund the
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
implementation and enforcement of on street parking controls and other traffic management measures.
DC16 FREIGHT
Planning applications involving the significant movement of freight by road must be in locations easily accessible to the network of strategic and local lorry routes as identified in Wiltshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan. Sites which use or have the potential to use the rail network for the movement of freight will be encouraged.
The efficient transport of goods is essential for the economy of North Wiltshire. Nonetheless there are increasing concerns, particularly over heavy goods vehicles, about the impact on the local environment. To balance the needs of freight movement and the environment a network of strategic lorry routes based on a box comprised of the M4, A303, A34, A36/A46/A350 has been drawn up as part of Wiltshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan. As 85% of all freight traffic on Wiltshire roads has some business in the County there are considerable lorry movements off the Strategic Network so a supporting network of local lorry routes which minimise environmental damage has been devised.
The movement of freight by rail can substantially reduce lorry movements. Whilst rail can not serve all movements, developments generating substantial freight movements will be required to consider locations that can be served by rail.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
DC17 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN FRAMEWORK BOUNDARIES
Proposals for residential development, including residential institutions and applications to renew permissions for residential development, within the Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements will be permitted, provided that: i) Priority is given to the re-use of previously developed land and buildings. ii) Development in the Tier 3 settlements is for local housing needs only. and iii) The most efficient use of the land is achieved compatible with the site’s location, its accessibility and its surroundings. A minimum density of 30 dwellings per hectare will be sought. In the Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements, higher densities will be appropriate.
The Council is committed to the view that previously developed urban land should be developed before greenfield land, unless it performs so poorly as to preclude its use, in accordance with the sequential test in Planning Policy Statement 3. The sources of land, which make up this category, are as contained in the best practice guide ‘Tapping the potential – Assessing Urban Housing Capacity’ (DETR, 2000). The council will annually monitor housing land to ensure sites are contributing towards the housing requirement figure as anticipated and, if necessary, will make amendments.
Within the District, all new residential development should be well designed and make a contribution to improving the quality of life. The Council is committed to the efficient use of land maximising densities whilst acknowledging the need to create mixed and inclusive communities. New housing developments or housing as part of mixed use developments should help to secure a better social mix by avoiding the creation of large areas of housing of similar characteristics.
DC18 RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE
New Dwellings outside the areas allocated for development OR outside the Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements will not be permitted unless: i) It is in connection with the essential needs of agriculture or forestry or other rural based enterprise; ii) It is a replacement for an existing dwelling where:
a. The residential use has not been abandoned; and
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
b. The existing dwelling is incapable of retention in its current state, is unsightly or is out of character with its surroundings and
c. The replacement dwelling is of a similar size and scale to the existing dwelling within the same curtilage.
Justification for an agricultural, forestry workers, or other rural based occupational dwelling will be based on the functional and financial tests set-out within Government guidance. Permission will only be granted if it can be demonstrated that the need for a dwelling cannot be fulfilled by another existing dwelling on the unit or within the locality. If planning permission is granted for an agricultural workers dwelling it can be expected to tie the dwelling to the farm buildings and/or the agricultural land of the unit by way of a legal agreement or other means. This will prevent it being sold separately without further application to the local planning authority.
Proposals to remove the occupancy condition on an agricultural, forestry or other occupational workers dwelling will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that:
i. There has been a genuine and unsuccessful attempt to market the property at an appropriate market rate based on the occupancy condition for a minimum period of 1 year; and
ii. There is no agricultural or forestry need for the dwelling on the holding, nor is a need likely to arise in the foreseeable future; and
iii. There is no agricultural or forestry need within the locality.
This policy reflects the strict controls placed on new residential development within the countryside at all levels of Planning guidance.
DC19 AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Council will seek to negotiate an element of affordable housing to meet local needs on all housing developments above the specified threshold, subject to the following criteria:
i. Negotiations by the Council will be on the basis of a specified percentage of the dwellings permitted being subsidised with an additional proportion being low cost housing, subject to the local need and site characteristics;
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
ii. Affordable housing should be provided on site, dispersed throughout the development, or in any event in clusters of no more than 15 dwellings, so as to contribute toward mixed and inclusive communities;
and iii. Applications which are deliberately sub-divided or reduced unrealistically to avoid the threshold will not be accepted.
The North Wiltshire Housing Needs Survey 2005 indicates a requirement for approximately 780 affordable homes across the District over a 5 year period to 2010.
The Council will seek to negotiate on-site affordable housing provision in the interests of creating balanced communities, to be dispersed throughout the development or in any event in clusters of no more than 15 dwellings. The alternative provision off-site will only be considered, where there is the clear prospect of this being translated into the provision of affordable housing and on a scale not less than that which would have been expected on the original site. Such an arrangement might assist in meeting other plan objectives including the conversion/re-use of vacant buildings.
To ensure that these dwellings remain affordable, they should normally be in the control of a registered social landlord or other appropriate body. The Council will consider alternative or innovative combinations of providers, provided what is proposed contributes to meeting the target for affordable housing provision. Where it is proposed to develop and manage the affordable housing without the involvement of a Registered Social Landlord, applicants will be required to enter into an appropriate legal agreement with the Council to ensure that the affordable housing provided is occupied in perpetuity and can be used only for the purposes of providing dwellings to be occupied by people who have a local housing need and who cannot afford housing in the private rental or housing for sale sector.
The Council acknowledges that planning policies on affordable housing should be reasonably flexible, leaving room for other material considerations to be taken into account. The Council accepts that there may be particular site costs associated with the development of a site that may justify negotiating a reduction in provision of affordable housing, or the level of financial contribution transferred for off-site affordable housing provision. Developers will be expected to submit details of such costs as part of the initial planning application documentation or as soon as these cost become apparent, if they are identified after the initial submission. Further details are given in the adopted Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document.
DC20 AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON RURAL EXCEPTIONS SITES
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
As an exception to normal housing planning policies and commiserate with the identified local need affordable housing developments will be permitted within and adjoining the Tier 3 settlements provided that: i) They have been allocated for this purpose OR are in accordance with the Affordable Housing Site Search Criteria. ii) There is a demonstrable local need for affordable housing which cannot otherwise be met within the confines of the settlement; and iii) The scheme must be capable of implementation and proper management to ensure that the benefits of the provision of affordable housing to meet local needs will be held in perpetuity.
This policy provides an opportunity for registered social landlords, other social bodies or private developers working with local communities or landowners to develop small sites with dwellings which can be made available to meet the identified local affordable housing needs in perpetuity. Government Policy Guidance acknowledges that the development proposed under this policy must be strictly contained to meet this specific purpose. It should be limited in scale and in normal circumstances proposals should not exceed 10 dwellings. Any proposals for more than 10 dwellings will need to be substantiated by the local housing needs survey.
Under no circumstances can provision be made by "cross funding" from market housing developed on the same site.
The affordable housing provision permitted by this policy must comply with the definition of affordable housing. Any planning permission granted will need to be controlled by an appropriate legal agreement or other appropriate means to ensure the dwelling(s) remain affordable in perpetuity.
DC21 GYPSY AND TRAVELLER SITES
Proposals for the use of land for the stationing of residential caravans and associated structures for occupation by gypsies, will be permitted on allocated sites OR in accordance with the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment.
Proposals for the stationing of residential caravans for occupation by bona fide gypsies and travellers, will be permitted where the local planning authority is satisfied that such provision is in accordance with, an up to date Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment and that the proposal is an appropriate and acceptable way of meeting that need.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
RURAL EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT
DC22 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT WITHIN, OR ON THE EDGE OF TIER 3 SETTLEMENTS
Development proposals to provide new small scale or expanded business uses (Use classes B1, B2 and B8) will be permitted within, or adjoining Tier 3 settlements, provided that they are not in conflict with policy DC2.
The District Council seeks to encourage economic vitality within rural areas, where compatible with the scale, character and appearance of the settlement. It is considered that there are opportunities for small-scale business and industrial developments in locations that are well related to villages, where these settlements are accessible to a range of local services and by a range of transport modes. This may be in the form of either new buildings or the conversion and reuse of existing buildings.
DC23 RURAL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Development proposals for business uses (Use Classes B1, B2 and B8) outside the Tier 1 and 2 settlements will be permitted only where development: i) Involves the re-use of existing rural buildings that are suitable for conversion, without significant re-build and where relevant the architectural and historical interest of the original building is not compromised; or ii) Involves limited new building located within or well related to an existing group of buildings in those uses which respect local building styles and materials, and is in keeping with it’s surroundings; or iii) Involves the limited expansion or replacement of existing premises, where the development would be more acceptable and sustainable than might otherwise be achieved through conversion;
and in all cases; iv) The proposal does not lead to the dispersal of business uses that would be detrimental to the vitality and economic viability of the Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements; and v) Provided that such proposals are not in conflict with the Development Control Policy DC2.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
Whilst proposals in the open countryside, remote from settlements, are not normally appropriate, opportunities for the re-use of existing, or new/replacement buildings may be acceptable where the development is of a appropriate scale and situated within or are well related to an existing complex of buildings. Buildings suitable for conversion comprise those that are not ruinous and where conversion would not perpetuate a rural eyesore, nor lead to over intensive development or unsightly external storage. A new/replacement building may be viewed as being more acceptable and sustainable if for instance the development would bring about an environmental improvement in terms of the impact of the development in its surroundings and landscape. A proposal which is extensive in size and scale, or which is unsympathetic to its surroundings will not be considered appropriate in this context.
The proposed development must be compatible with the rural surroundings and may provide opportunities to promote the local rural economy through change of use to business uses which can have a positive impact on local employment.
DC24 RE-USE OF RURAL BUILDINGS
Outside of the Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements, the re-use of buildings will be permitted provided that: i) The proposed use will be contained within the building and does not require extensive alterations, re-building and or extension; and ii) The proposed use respects both the character and setting of the subject building and any distinctive local building styles and materials; and iii) Consideration is given to whether a building by reason of its design and or location would be more appropriately retained in or converted to, in order of preference, employment, community, or residential use; and iv) There being no abuse of the concession given to buildings erected with the benefit of permitted development rights; and v) Provided that such proposals are not in conflict with the Development Control Policy DC2.
The District Council’s first priority will be to ensure rural buildings are re-used for purposes that make a positive contribution to the rural economy. The characteristics of different buildings will influence their suitability for preservation and other uses. In general, the order of preference for these uses are agricultural uses, countryside related uses (ie equestrian centres, sports facilities
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
etc), community uses (i.e. village halls), specialised industrial uses (i.e. small workshops) and social activities (i.e. restaurant/public house). Any residential development will require special justification. If the existing building is in poor structural condition that in part requires complete reconstruction, an application must include full details of the structural work necessary and a design statement.
The conversion of buildings to business uses may have a more positive impact on local employment opportunities. Some buildings are well related to existing settlements where their use for employment purposes will promote economic activity within a rural area creating local jobs and providing a more sustainable environment.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
DC25 TOWN CENTRE PRIMARY FRONTAGE AREAS
Proposals for shops, financial and professional services, and food and drink establishments (Use Class A) will be permitted within the defined town centre primary frontage areas at ground floor level of Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Bassett, Corsham and Malmesbury subject to the following criteria. where: i) They do not individually or together with other proposals undermine the vitality or viability of the town centre; ii) The proposal is consistent with the scale and function of the town centre; iii) No more than 5% of uses within the Primary frontage areas are non shopping uses (A1 use) or that there are no more than any two adjacent units in uses other than A1 uses, whichever is less; and iv) Consideration is given to ensuring that proposals do not eliminate separate access arrangements to the upper floors, which could be used for residential or alternative uses.
The five town centres are of a sufficient size to provide a broad range of facilities and services, including the retailing of convenience and comparison goods, financial and professional services and restaurants/ pubs to serve local residents, shoppers and visitors. The town centres can provide a range of uses which have benefits for the environment, where the need to travel is reduced by creating combined trips.
Specifically, Chippenham is a market town and is classified as the major retailing centre within the District area. In general terms it is performing well financially as a town centre, though there is room to improve the retail offer. The shopping in Malmesbury is dominated by comparison goods and the provision of services, with a similar position being presented in Calne although there are also two large central supermarkets present. Corsham attracts both local users and visitors with this being reinforced by the presence of numerous niche retailers. Wootton Bassett is anchored by two small shopping centres/ arcades and three primary supermarkets.
The District Council commissioned a Retail Survey in 2007. In future, this will be used to inform decisions for planning applications. The Retail Survey has found that there has been a general shift away from smaller town centres in North Wiltshire, with the regional centres including Swindon absorbing much of their traditional trade. There is a need to continue to maintain and develop the towns and to enable the ‘claw-back’ of the trade lost to competing centres.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
In line with Government guidance contained within PPS6 (Planning for Town Centres) a network of five town centres is proposed, with large-scale development directed towards Chippenham.
A sequential approach to the assessment of sites will be used. All options in the town centres will be thoroughly assessed before less central sites are considered for development for main town centre uses. The sequential approach requires that locations are considered in the following order:
• First, sites in existing centres which are an appropriate scale of development in relation to the role and function of the centre; and then
• Edge-of-centre locations, with preference given to sites that are or will be well-connected to the centre; and then
• Out-of-centre sites, with preference given to sites which are or will be well served by a choice of means of transport and which are close to the centre and have a high likelihood of forming links with the centre.
In line with PPS6 main town centres uses which will be assessed through the sequential approach include retail, leisure/entertainment facilities, offices and culture/tourism facilities.
This Core Strategy Document defines the primary frontage areas within which the Local Planning Authority is seeking to ensure the main use remains as shops (Use Class A1) because this will contribute to making sure the vitality and viability of the town centres in North Wiltshire are maintained and enhanced. The Local Planning Authority will seek to ensure no more than 5% of uses within the Primary frontage areas are non shopping uses (A1 use) or that there are no more than any two adjacent units in uses other than A1 uses, whichever is less, thus ensuring Use Class A remains the main function of the Town Centre Primary Frontage Areas. However, it is recognised that other uses including employment , offices of local and central government, leisure and entertainment, hospitals and higher education can ensure the health of a town centre and these will be directed towards the Town Centre Secondary Frontage Areas subject to the requirements of Development Control Policy DC26.
This policy applies to new uses, change of use and the reuse of vacant buildings.
DC26 TOWN CENTRE SECONDARY FRONTAGE AREAS
Proposals for shops, financial and professional services, food premises, leisure facilities and night clubs (Use Class A, D1 and D2) will be permitted within the defined town centre
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
secondary frontage areas of Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Bassett, Corsham and Malmesbury, subject to all the following criteria: i) They do not individually or cumulatively undermine the vitality or viability of the town centre. ii) The proposal is consistent with the scale and function of the town centre. iii) Consideration is given to ensuring that proposals do not eliminate separate access arrangements to the upper floors, which could be used for residential, community or employment uses.
Whilst the Local Planning Authority seeks to ensure that retailing remains the primary function in the town centres, it is recognised that growth in other sectors such as offices, and community and leisure uses can contribute towards sustaining activity in these centres. This is so long as the vitality and viability of the centres are not compromised. Different and complementary uses can reinforce each other, making town centres more attractive to local residents, shoppers and visitors.
The appropriateness of leisure proposals will be considered against the nature and role of the centre, site availability, quality and availability of car parking, the likely traffic generated and compatibility of adjoining uses. In considering applications for leisure proposals, the District Council will ensure that the design and any conditions attached mean that the amenities of nearby residents are fully considered.
DC27 PROPOSALS OUTSIDE TOWN CENTRE PRIMARY AND TOWN CENTRE SECONDARY FRONTAGE AREAS
Retail development proposals (Use classes A1, A2, A3,) on the edge, or outside, the defined Town Centre shopping areas of Chippenham, Calne, Wootton Bassett, Corsham and Malmesbury, will only be permitted where: i) There is a demonstrable need for the development; ii) It can be demonstrated the sequential test approach has been followed, whereby there are no suitable sites in the town centre and edge of centre sites; iii) Proposals do not individually or cumulatively undermine the vitality or viability of existing centres; and iv) The proposal is accessible by a range of means including walking, cycling and by public transport
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
Applications to vary the goods sold or to allow subdivision of units will be permitted where it can be demonstrated that the proposal would not harm the vitality and viability of the town centre.
This policy relates to retail proposals situated on the edge of or outside the defined town centre primary and town centre secondary frontage areas. For the purposes of this policy, the definition of ‘edge of centre’ is that contained within national planning guidance and are such locations within easy walking distance (i.e. up to 300 metres) of the Town Centre Primary Frontage Areas boundary. The definition of an existing town, district or local centres as noted within national planning policy guidance. In both cases retail developments should not be of such a scale, or type, or in such a location as to undermine the vitality or viability of the existing centres and should be accessible by a range of transport modes.
Developers will be expected to submit a retail assessment and supporting information for all proposals of 1500 square metres or more. Assessments may also be necessary for smaller developments, depending on the relative size and nature of the development in relation to the centre. Developers will be expected to demonstrate a need for additional facilities and that the sequential approach, as defined in national Planning guidance, has been applied when selecting sites for new development. The Council will expect developers to demonstrate flexibility in terms of the format, design and scale of their development, tailoring these to fit local circumstances.
The Local Planning Authority in determining planning applications will take into account the findings of the Retail Survey undertaken in 2007.
If planning permission is granted, appropriate conditions or other means of legal agreement may be used to limit the size of the units and the range of goods to be sold, in order to prevent harm to the existing town centres.
DC28 LOCAL SHOPS AND SERVICES
Proposals for local shops and services (Use Class A) will be permitted within Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements provided that: i) The proposed retail use is consistent with the scale and function of the local centre within the settlement; ii) The proposed development would improve the range of local social and community facilities.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
iii) The proposed development will contribute to meeting local people’s day-to-day needs, so reducing the need to travel. iv) The proposed development would not harm the vitality or viability of a town or local centre in the vicinity.
Local shopping areas can consist of individual or a small group of shops. For example, a newsagent, sub post office, pharmacy or hairdressers. These shops provide a valuable service to local residents in meeting local convenience shopping requirements. For example, a small parade of shops and services may be appropriate for new housing developments or such shops can help to maintain and enhance a village community. Where appropriate, the provision, or expansion, of small-scale retail facilities should be encouraged, particularly where they are accessible by a range of transport modes and appropriate to the character and function of the area.
DC29 EXISTING LOCAL SHOPS AND SERVICES
The change of use of existing local shops and services (Use Class A) local centres to other uses will not normally be permitted, subject to: i) The business is no longer viable and every reasonable attempt to market the premises OR to make the premises available at a reasonable cost to a suitable community group for a (Use Class A) has been made; ii) Development would result in the provision of alternative services of equivalent or greater community benefit; iii) There are alternative facilities, within walking distance, available in the locality.
The District Council seeks to retain the provision of existing shops and services, which provide a local service. The retention of local convenience shops, which residents might use on a weekly, if not daily basis, is considered particularly important. The loss of A1, A2 and A3 uses, which have a detrimental impact to the vitality or viability of the local shopping area, will not normally be permitted unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated.
However, the Council acknowledges that it would be unreasonable to resist a change of use where local patronage is such that a business (e.g. a public house) is no longer viable. In these circumstances, applicants will need to demonstrate that the existing use is not well supported and is not capable of being viably operated, either on a commercial basis or by a suitable community group. Or that there are satisfactory alternative facilities available within a convenient walking distance.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
If necessary, the Council will commission its own survey in order to establish the viability of existing premises.
DC30 UPPER FLOORS IN TOWN CENTRES
Use of upper floors of new and existing premises within town and local shopping centres for residential use, or in some cases community or employment uses, will be permitted, provided the use does not jeopardise the retail use of the ground floor.
The District Council seeks to promote residential use on the upper floors of retail premises, where such a use does not jeopardise the retail function of the ground floor use. Encouraging residential uses in shopping areas can add to the vitality and viability of the centre, increasing activity and providing a mixture of uses which reduces the need to travel in the interests of sustainability.
Where it is not possible to provide residential uses on the upper floors of premises in town centres, and where the floorspace is not required in connection with the ground floor retail use, a change of use to a community or employment use may be considered acceptable. Such uses could add to the diversity of town centre uses and be beneficial to the local community and economy.
In both cases, proposals will need to accord with policies elsewhere in this plan, and in particular the development control core policy.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies.
North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
DC31 LOCAL COMMUNITY, HEALTH AND EDUCATION FACILITIES
Within or adjoining the Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements the provision of local community, health and education facilities will be permitted.
To facilitate a sustainable pattern of land uses, local community, health and education facilities need to be sited within or adjoining the communities that use them. Proposals, no matter how desirable from a social and community point of view, will need to be sympathetically designed to take account of adjoining properties and the area in general. Proposals will be required to take account of all the policies contained within the development control policy DC2.
DC32 LEISURE FACILITIES AND OPEN SPACE
Proposals for leisure facilities and open space within or adjoining Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements will be permitted.
Proposals for the redevelopment, replacement or improvement of existing leisure facilities or open spaces, will be permitted provided that: i) The replacement or improved facilities will be at least equivalent in terms of quality, quantity and accessibility, and there will be no reduction in the overall capacity of leisure facilities and/or open spaces in the area of the development to accommodate demand; or ii) The Council accepts that the loss of the existing facility or open space would not result in a deficiency, in terms of quality, quantity and accessibility in accordance with the methodology in North Wiltshire’s Open Spaces Study, either now or in the foreseeable future and a clear environmental justification can be made for an alternative use; or iii) The proposed development is for outdoor or indoor leisure facilities that will be of sufficient benefit to the community to outweigh the loss of the existing facility or open space; or iv) Development proposals will improve facilities ancillary to its use.
For the purposes of this Plan, open space should be taken to mean all open space of public value, including not just land, but also areas of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs which offer important opportunities for sport and recreation and can also act
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
as a visual amenity. It is acknowledged that it maybe inappropriate for some forms of recreational facilities to be located next to existing settlements, due to the characteristics of the use. Examples include, motor sports where they would impact of the amenity of an adjoining settlement, and water sports where canals, lakes, reservoirs and rivers are not always available within or adjacent to settlements. Open space as a visual amenity: even without public access, people enjoy having open space near them to provide an outlook, variety in the urban scene, or as a positive element in the landscape.
By definition, open space is of public value and accordingly the loss of any open space through development needs to be justified. The local planning authority will weigh any benefits being offered to the community through a development proposal against the loss of open space that would occur. Proposals, no matter how desirable from a social and community point of view, will need to be sympathetically designed to take account of adjoining properties and the area in general. Proposals will be required to take account of all the policies contained within the plan; in particular proposals will have to accord to the Development Control Core Policy DC2.
DC33 PROVISION OF OPEN SPACE
Proposals for new housing development will be required to make provision for open space on site, to provide 15m² for Local Parks and 3m² for play areas per person. The Council will accept in the appropriate circumstances, financial payments from developers for provision of open space according to the following order of preference: i) Provision of open space elsewhere which is appropriately located in relation to the development; ii) Contributions towards the upgrading of existing nearby open spaces.
Development will be required to make contributions to remedy local deficiencies in the quantity and/or quality of open space and the future maintenance of open space provided to meet needs arising from the new development as set out in North Wiltshire’s Open Spaces Study.
All residential developments regardless of scale have the potential to contribute to the increased need generated to improve existing open spaces or provide new open spaces. The preference will be to provide new open space provision on site. However, this may not be practical for minor residential development proposals (ten dwellings or less). For these
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
minor residential proposals, the use of a financial contribution would normally be considered appropriate.
Open space provision will be required in accordance with the Council's defined approach contained within the Open Space Study 2004.
DC34 GENERAL POLICY FOR TOURISM
Proposals for new tourist accommodation will be expected to be located in, or adjacent to, existing Tier 1, 2 and 3 settlements. Proposals for tourist development within the countryside that improves or extends the range of tourist facilities, including tourist accommodation will be permitted, provided that: i) It would result in the conversion of a suitable rural building; or ii) Forms part of a farm diversification scheme; or iii) Is an extension to existing facilities, of a scale appropriate to its location.
Proposals for touring sites for caravans and/or tents will only be permitted where there is a proven need for this type of development.
The tourism industry is important to the economic success of the District, safeguarding existing and generating new jobs and contributing towards a living countryside. The development of tourism must, however, be sensitive to the environment in which it lies and not reduce the attractiveness of the countryside or negatively affect the amenity of local residents.
The definition of tourism for the purposes of this Plan is that used by the Tourism Society:
"The temporary short term movement of people to destinations outside the places where they normally live and work and the activities during their stay at these destinations."
Development proposals that do not accord with this definition of tourism will not be regarded as tourism developments.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
DC35 WILTS AND BERKS / THAMES AND SEVERN CANALS
Restoration of the Wilts and Berks, including the North Wilts Branch, and Thames and Severn Canals along the routes as defined on the proposals map, will be supported in principle by protecting the alignment by: i) Not permitting development likely to destroy the canal alignment or its associated structures; ii) Seeking an alternative alignment where development that cannot be provided elsewhere threatens the canal or its associated structures; iii) Ensuring that where the canal is affected by development, the alignment is protected or an alternative alignment is provided and the canal is restored as part of that development process.
Any proposal affecting the original route of either the Wilts and Berks or Thames and Severn canals will need to be given careful consideration to allow for the preservation of the canal as an amenity and recreational feature. The canal network within the District has the potential to achieve greater accessibility to the countryside from the District's residents and visitors. The use of disused towpaths along stretches of disused and restored canal will be encouraged.
DC36 SWINDON AND CRICKLADE RAILWAY LINE
It is proposed to restore, for leisure purposes, the route of the former railway line from Tadpole Lane, Swindon to Cricklade, subject to not causing demonstrable harm to any areas of nature conservation interest along its route.
The route of the former Swindon and Cricklade railway line from the south of Cricklade extends into Swindon Borough to link with Mouldon Hill Country Park. In the long-term, there is the possibility of considering extending any restored railway line route around the north side of Mouldon Hill, within Swindon Borough, and across the River Ray to Moredon Bridge, within North Wiltshire.
DC37 THE THAMES PATH NATIONAL TRAIL
In connection with the establishment and enhancement of the proposed Thames long distance path, development will not be permitted where proposals are likely to
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
result in a significant adverse effect on the amenities and open landscape along the river and footpath route.
The Secretary of State for the Environment approved, in September 1989, the proposals of the Countryside Commission for a Thames long distance footpath, submitted under Section 51 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The route mainly follows existing rights of way, but in certain areas, new rights of way will need to be created to complete the route. The riverbanks and adjoining open areas are important in creating a green living corridor of nature conservation and landscape value. Such measures as tree planting and water habitats, involving the creation of bays and backwaters in certain suitable locations to create still water areas for plants and nesting will be encouraged.
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
DEVELOPMENT CONTROL APPENDICES
Appendix A: Nature Conservation Sites of International and National Importance in North Wiltshire
Appendix B: The Ten Areas of Special Archaeological Significance in North Wiltshire
Appendix C: County Wide Parking Standards
Appendix D: Transport Assessment & Travel Plans Threshold
The Local Development Framework must be read as a whole. Proposals will be considered against all relevant policies. North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007
APPENDIX A
NATURE CONSERVATION SITES OF IINTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL IMPORTANCE IN NORTH WILTSHIRE
List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North Wiltshire
1. Emmett Hill Meadows (at Upper Minety)
2. Calstone and Cherhill Downs
3. *Clattinger Farm (at Oaksey) (North Meadow and Clattinger Farm cSAC)
4. Colerne Park and Monk’s Wood
5. Ravensroost Wood (at Braydon)
6. Corsham Railway Cutting
7. King’s Play Hill (at Heddington)
8. Sutton Lane Meadows (at Sutton Benger)
9. Little Grubbins Meadow (at North Wraxall)
10. Distillery Farm Meadows (at Minety)
11. Stanton St. Quintin Quarry and Motorway Cutting
12. *North Meadow, Cricklade (North Meadow and Clattinger Farm cSAC)
13. Out Woods (at North Wraxall)
14. Pike Corner (at Ashton Keynes)
15. Bincknoll Dip Woods (at Lydiard Tregoz)
16. Acres Farm Meadow (at Oaksey)
17. Upper Waterhay Meadow (at Ashton Keynes)
18. Rack Hill (at Yatton Keynell)
19. West Yatton Down (at Yatton Keynell)
20. Danks Down and Truckle Hill (at Yatton Keynell and North Wraxall) 163
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21. *Box Mine (Bath and Bradford-on-Avon Bats cSAC)
22. Honeybrook Farm (at Slaughterford)
23. Restrop Farm and Brockhurst Wood (at Purton)
24. Goldborough Farm Meadows (at Broad Town)
25. Bencroft Hill Meadow (at Stanley)
26. Lake 52, Cotswold Water Park
27. Stoke Common Meadows
28. Cloatley Manor Farm Meadows
29. Wootton Bassett Mud Spring
30. Kellaways-West Tytherton, River Avon
31. Harries Ground, Rodbourne
* Starred are the three Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the two candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC). *North Meadow is a national nature reserve.
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APPENDIX B
THE TEN AREAS OF SPECIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN NORTH WILTSHIRE
Upper Thames
A series of continuous cropmark complexes between Ashton Keynes and Inglesham, defining settlements and field boundaries of the later prehistoric and Romano-British period. The Saxon town of Cricklade is included. (28 sq.km; Thames Valley gravels; mostly arable, some pasture).
River Avon (Sherston-Malmesbury)
A large cluster of cropmark sites around the Roman town southeast of Easton Grey. The Saxon town of Malmesbury is included, and the medieval village earthworks at Brokenborough. (15 sq.km; limestone; largely arable, some pasture).
Cricklade-Purton
Extant remains of medieval ridge and furrow field systems which were enclosed as small fields in the eighteenth or nineteenth centuries. The hedgerows are well developed and generally well preserved. The ridge and furrow is also well preserved since the fields are pasture and not normally ploughed. (10.75 sq.km; clay, alluvium, glacial drift, and pasture).
Box
Well preserved lynchets and related features on valley side, probably medieval. (0.4 sq.km; limestone and Midford sands; pasture and old grassland).
Allington
Cropmarks illustrate a possible Iron Age / Romano-British settlement area. The medieval settlement attached to Sheldon Manor is included. (2 sq.km; limestone and clay; mostly arable).
Kington Langley
An area in which early mediaeval enclosure of land is well illustrated by aerial photography. Most of the features are extant. (0.5 sq.km; Kellaways sands; mostly pasture).
River Avon (Chippenham)
Cropmarks prove existence of probable Romano-British settlement concentrated upstream of Chippenham. (6 sq.km; Avon gravels; arable and meadowland).
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Clyffe Pypard
Large expanse of medieval settlement earthworks with associated agricultural features. (6 sq.km; greensand, gault and Kimmeridge clay; pasture, arable and old grassland).
Sandy Lane
Roman town of Verlucio. (3.75 sq.km; greensand; arable, pasture and woodland).
Northern Chalkland
Territory extending from the Ridgeway to the Vale of Pewsey, including the Kennet Valley. The archaeology includes an exceptional palaeolithic deposit on the edge of Savernake Forest, potential mesolithic sites in the Kennet alluvium and the full range of later prehistoric, Romano- British, Saxon and medieval antiquities on the chalk. (400 sq.km; principally middle and upper chalk, clay-with-flints and valley bottom deposits; arable, old grassland, woodland, pasture).
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AREAS OF SPECIAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE IN NORTH WILTSHIRE
Location Prehistoric Celtic Romano Saxon Medieval Post Fields British Medieval
Upper Thames 9 9 9
River Avon (Sherston / 9 9 Malmesbury)
Cricklade/Purton 9 9
Box 9
Allington 9 9 9
Kington Langley 9
River Avon 9 (Chippenham)
Clyffe Pypard 9
Sandy Lane 9
Northern 9 9 9 9 9 Chalkland
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APPENDIX C
COUNTYWIDE PARKING STANDARDS
Maximum Car Parking Standards
Land Use/Use Class Maximum Parking Standard A1 Retail Retail and food retail < 1000m2 GFA 1 per 35m2 (Gross Floor Area)
1 per 20m2 Retail > 1000m2 GFA 1 per 14m2 Food Retail > 1000m2
A2 Financial and Professional Services 1 per 30m2
A3 Food and Drink Restaurants, Cafes, Public Houses, Bars 1 per 25m2
Takeaways 1 per 10m2
B1 Business < 2500m2 GFA 1 per 30m2
> 2500m2 GFA 1 per 35m2
B2 General Industry GFA < 235m2 1 per 30m2
GFA > 235m2 1 per 50m2
B8 Storage and Warehousing GFA < 235m2 1 per 30m2
GFA > 235m2 1 per 200m2
C1 Hotels and Hostels 1 per bedroom
C2 Residential Institutions Hospitals 1 per 4 members of staff + 1 per 3 visitors
Nursing Homes 1 per 4 beds + 1 per 2 members of staff
C3 Dwelling Houses 5+ beds 3 per unit + 1 space per 5 units up to 4 beds (incl. flats) 2 per unit + 1 space per 5 units
Sheltered Accommodation 1 per 2 units + 1 space per 5 units
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Other 'Retirement' Homes 1 per unit +1 space per 5 units
D1 Non Residential Institutions Places of Worship, Church Halls, Public 1 per 5m2 Halls
Clinics, Health Centres, Surgeries 5 per consulting room
Libraries 1 per 25m2
Art Galleries and Museums 1 per 40m2
Education Centres Staff 2 per 3 staff Visitors 1 per 7 staff Pupils 1 per 10 2nd yr 6th formers College Students 1 per 4 students
Parents: Infants 1 per 12 pupils Primary 1 per 20 pupils Secondary 1 per 30 pupils.
D2 Assembly and Leisure Cinemas, Music and Concert Halls 1 per 5 seats
Dance Halls, Bingo Halls, Casinos 1 per 5m2
Sports Facilities 1 per 2 players + 1 per 5m2 of spectators area.
Field Sports Max. no. participants
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Minimum Cycle Parking Standards
Land Use/Use Class Minimum Cycle Parking Standard
Retail and Leisure Development 4 cycle spaces + 2 space per each 500m2 above 1000m2 GFA
Employment Development 4 cycle spaces + 2 space per each 500m2 above 1000m2 GFA
Housing Development New flats Preferred: 1 secure covered space per flat (e.g. a cycle parking locker). Alternative: 1 Sheffield type stand per 2 flats.
Low cost housing and housing without a 1 secure covered space per dwelling garage (e.g. a cycle parking locker).
Special needs housing None
Housing with garage None
Secondary Schools Staff 2 spaces per 3 staff Visitors 1 space per 45 pupils Pupils 1 space per 10 pupils (5-11 years) 1 space per 3 pupils (over 12 years)
Staff 2 spaces per 3 staff Visitors/Pupils 1 space per 5 pupils
Hospitals Staff 1 space per 4 staff Visitors 1 space per 5 beds
Health Centres, Surgeries, Clinics Staff 1 space per 4 staff Visitors/Patients 2 spaces per consulting room
Libraries/Museums Staff 1 space per 3 staff Visitors/Pupils 1 space per 50m2 or part thereof
Sports Centre and Grounds Staff 1 space per 4 staff Players 1 space per three players/visitors
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APPENDIX D
TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT & TRAVEL PLANS THRESHOLDS
USE Threshold above which Transport Assessments/Travel Plans are required. (m2 refers to Gross Floor Area) Food retail 1,000m2
Non-food retail 1,000m2
Cinemas and conference facilities 1,000m2
Leisure facilities 1,000m2
Business 2,500m2
Industry 5,000m2
Distribution and warehousing 10,000m2
Hospitals 2,500m2
Higher and further education 2,500m2
Stadia 1,500 seats
Housing 100 dwellings
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Appendix 1 – Glossary of Terms
Affordable Housing
Housing, whether for rent, shared ownership or outright purchase, provided at a cost considered affordable in relation to incomes that are average or below average, or in relation to the price of general market housing.
Ancient and Semi-Woodland
Ancient woods are those where there is believed to have been continuous woodland cover since at least 1600 AD. Before this planting was uncommon, so a wood present in 1600 AD was likely to have developed naturally.
AMR Annual Monitoring Report
Authorities are required to produce an AMR to assess the implementation of the LDS and the extent to which policies in LDDs are being achieved.
Archaeological Zones
Archaeological Zones are all grounds that are of scientific and culture- presence of archaeological monuments, including a buffer zone.
AAP Area Action Plan
This Plan will focus on implementation, providing an important mechanism for ensuring development of an appropriate scale, mix and quality for key area of opportunity, change and conservation
AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An area with statutory national landscape designation, the primary purpose of which is to conserve and enhance natural beauty. Together with National Parks, AONB represent the nation's finest landscapes. AONB are designated by the Countryside Agency.
Buffer Zones The geographical area defined in the current on-going retail study that incorporates retail centres and settlements outside of the North Wiltshire District boundary.
Claw back
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Community Infrastructure
Basic services necessary for development to take place, for example, Roads, Affordable Housing, Leisure, Waste Management, Education and Health Facilities.
CoS Community Strategy
The Community Strategy is a statement of the needs and aspirations of local communities. The Local Strategic Partnership, of which North Wiltshire District Council is a partner, formally launched the Community Strategy in November 2005.
Comparison goods
Comparison goods include non-food items such as books, clothing and footwear, furniture, audio-visual equipment, hardware, jewellery, recreational and other miscellaneous goods.
Conservation Area
Areas of special architectural or historic interest, the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance.
Convenience goods
Convenience goods include food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, non-durable household goods, newspapers and magazines.
CS Core Strategy DPD
Sets out the long term vision for the District and provides the strategic policies and proposals that will deliver that vision.
DPD Development Plan Document
Any part of the LDF that forms part of the statutory development plan. This includes the Core Strategy, area wide policies, topic policies, area action plans, proposals map and site allocations.
Dormitory Town
A Dormitory Town is a community that is primarily residential in character, with most of its workers commuting to a nearby town or city to earn their livelihood.
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Evidence Base
The information and data gathered by local authorities to justify the "soundness" of the policy approach set out in Local Development Documents, including physical, economic, and social characteristics of an area.
EIP Examination in Public
This is designed to test the soundness of the documents produced as part of the local development framework (LDF). A development plan document is considered sound if it has been produced based on good evidence and prepared in accordance with procedures including those outlined in the statement of community involvement as well as PPS12. Whether or not there are comments in support of or opposed to policies produced, this examination will consider all policies and the inspectors report is binding.
Exception Site
A development plan or Development Plan Document may allocate small sites within rural areas solely for affordable housing, which would not otherwise be released for general market housing.
Framework Boundary
The Framework Boundary is a Planning tool used to define the extent of Local Planning Policy. The Framework Boundary is drawn around the main urban area of a settlement and defines where it may be appropriate to include or exclude new development. The defining of a Framework Boundary is not intended to be a geographic definition of a village or town and thus many buildings may fall outside the boundary. The Framework Boundary will apply to all settlements defined as Tier 1, 2 and 3 within the Spatial Hierarchy. For each Tier, the Framework Boundary will imply that a distinctive set of Plan Policies will apply.
Historic Parks and Gardens
A park or garden of special historic interest. Graded I (highest quality), II* or II. Designated by English Heritage.
Issues
See Issues and Options (Document)
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Issues & Options (Document)
The North Wiltshire Core Strategy ‘Issues and Options’ Document has been based on a robust evidence base and presents the Planning ‘Issues’ that are considered to be significant for the District and the policy ‘Options’ that the Authority can use to manage these Issues.
Issues, Options and Preferred Options
The "pre-submission" consultation stages on Development Plan Documents with the objective of gaining public consensus over proposals ahead of submission to government for independent examination.
Leakage
The loss of expenditure by North Wiltshire residents to centres that are outside of the District.
LDD Local Development Document
The individual documents that set out planning policies for specific topics or for geographical areas.
LDF Local Development Framework
The collective name given to all those policies and documents forming the framework for future development in North Wiltshire. The LDF will contain a portfolio of LDDs.
LDS Local Development Scheme
The LDS sets out the programme for preparing the LDDs, what they will contain and proposals for monitoring and review.
Local Nature Reserve
Non-statutory habitats of local significance designated by local authorities where protection and public understanding of nature conservation is encouraged.
LP Local Plan
The existing statutory plan setting out policies for controlling development and proposals for particular areas/sites.
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LSP Local Strategic Partnership
An overall partnership of people that brings together organisations from the public, private, community and voluntary sector within a local authority area, with the objective of improving people's quality of life.
Main Issues
The Main Issues are the Planning Issues that the Planning Authority believes to be the most significant for the District.
North Wiltshire Community Strategy
‘A Community Strategy for North Wiltshire’ is a document that presents the overarching themes and issues that are important to the people of North Wiltshire. The Community Strategy is the parent document to the 5 Community Area Local Plans and has been designed by the ‘North Wiltshire Partnership’ (NWP) which is the Local Strategic Partnership for our District.
Objectives
Objectives are the targets that we are trying to achieve.
Options
See Issues and Options (Document)
Per Annum
Per year
Per Capita
Per person
PPS Planning Policy Statements
Government statements of national planning policy, being phased in to supersede Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPG’s).
People’s Voice
This Council created a database of 1000 members of the public who have agreed to respond to regular questionnaires on Council issues.
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Previously Developed Land (PDL) or 'Brownfield' land
Previously developed land is that which is or was occupied by a permanent structure (excluding agricultural or forestry buildings), and associated fixed-surface infrastructure. The definition covers the curtilage of the development.
Primary Frontage Areas
Areas within which the Local Planning Authority is seeking to ensure the main use remains as shops.
Retail Needs Assessment Study
A regularly updated assessment of the retail need of the residents of North Wiltshire.
Secondary frontage Areas
Areas where proposals for other uses, such as offices, food premises and leisure facilities, will be considered providing they do not individually or cumulatively undermined the vitality and viability of the town centre.
Section 106 Agreement
A legal agreement under section 106 of the 1990 Town & Country Planning Act. Section 106 agreements are legal agreements between a planning authority and a developer, or undertakings offered unilaterally by a developer, that ensure that certain extra works related to a development are undertaken.
SSSI Sites of Special Scientific Interest
A site identified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) as an area of special interest by reason of any of its flora, fauna, geological or physiographical features (basically, plants, animals, and natural features relating to the Earth's structure).
Spatial Planning
Spatial planning goes beyond traditional land use planning to bring together and integrate policies for the development and use of land with other policies and programmes which influence the nature of places and how they function.
This will include policies which can impact on land use by influencing the demands on, or needs for, development, but which are not capable of being delivered solely or mainly
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through the granting or refusal of planning permission and which may be implemented by other means.
Spatial Vision
The Spatial Vision describes what North Wiltshire will be like in the future and is closely related to the Community Strategy. The Spatial Vision provides a picture of how the area will spatially develop and what it will be like as a place to live.
SCI Statement of Community Involvement
Document explaining to stakeholders and the community, how and when they will be involved in the preparation of the LDF, and the steps that will be taken to facilitate this involvement.
Strategically Significant Towns
The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy classifies Chippenham as a Strategically Significant Town. The Draft RSS states that Chippenham has a significant role as an established retail centre. The type and scale of development at Chippenham should be commensurate with the objectives of reducing growth in commuting flow from the town.
SEA Strategic Environmental Assessment
Assessment of the environmental impacts of the polices and proposals contained within the LDF (in line with SEA Directive 2002)
Strategic Gap
The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy states that the use of Strategic Gaps should be identified to ensure that settlements surrounding Swindon should not coalesce with Swindon.
Strategic Objective
The Strategic Objectives are put in place to provide indicators that will allow us to measure the success of the Core Strategy in delivering the Spatial Vision for the District.
Study Area
See Zones
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SA Sustainability Appraisal
Assessment of the social, economic, and environmental impacts of the policies and proposals contained within the LDF.
SPD Supplementary Planning Document
SPDs are intended to elaborate upon the policy and proposals in DPDs but do not have their status.
Travel to Work Area
Zones in which the bulk of the residential population also work.
Vision
See Spatial Vision
Wiltshire County Wildlife Sites
County Wildlife Sites are areas of land of recognised importance for wildlife, which fall outside the legal protection of the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) system.
Wiltshire Sustainable Community Strategy
Government legislation placed upon Councils the duty to promote the ‘social, economic and environmental well being’ of the areas they serve. A Sustainable Strategy for Wiltshire – “Creating a County Fit for our Children” is the Counties Community Strategy. The Wiltshire Strategic Board is the County’s Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), and this plan is our community strategy.
Windfall
A site not specifically allocated for development in a development plan, but which unexpectedly becomes available for development during the lifetime of a plan. Most "windfalls" are referred to in a housing context. They tend to be very small sites for one or a small number of homes.
Zones
The current retail needs study has divided the District and some adjoining centres in to zones for the process of conducting assessment of need. These “zones” are 1(a) Malmesbury, 1(b) Cricklade, 2(a) North Chippenham, 2(b) Chippenham Urban Area, 3
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Corsham, 4(a) Calne, 4(b) Wootton Bassett, along with areas outside of the District, 5 Devizes, and 6, Melksham.
A full assessment of the zones will be available upon publication of the Retail Needs Assessment Study 2007.
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Appendix 2 – Profile of the District
Key facts and information about North Wiltshire.
A2.1 The District
• Area 76,700 hectares
• Six main settlements: Malmesbury, Cricklade, Wootton Bassett, Calne, Corsham and Chippenham
• Ministry of Defence/Previously MOD owned sites across the District including RAF Lyneham
A2.2 Population
• Estimated population April 2005: 129,410 (Wiltshire County Council, Population Estimates for Wiltshire 2005)
• Census population April 2001: 125,372
• Estimated population percentage change from 2001-2004: 2.1% Increase
• Population percentage change from 1991-2001: 10.9% Increase
• Number of people per hectare: 1.6
A2.3 Age and Gender
• Census 2001 49.4% Male
• Census 2001 50.5% Female
• Census 2001 Mean Age 38.3
A2.4 Household Characteristics
• People living in households 122,700
• People living in communal establishments 2,672
A2.5 Ethnicity
• In 2001 95.93% of the population were White (British)
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• In 2001 98.21% of the population were White (British, Irish, Other)
• The largest ethnic minorities in the District are Mixed Caribbean 0.26%, Indian 0.25%, Asian 0.24% and Chinese 0.24%.
A2.6 Place of Birth
• Born in UK 94.3%
• Born elsewhere in the EU 2.4%
• Born outside EU 3.3%
A2.7 Religion
• Christian 75.9%
• The largest minority religion in the District is Muslim 0.3%
A2.8 Transport
• Travel to work by Car 68.3%
• Travel to work by Public Transport 4.6%
• Household with no Car 14.4%
• Household with one Car 42.1%
• Household with two Cars or More 43.5%
A2.9 Health
• Life Expectancy Male 78 Years, Female 81.6 Years
A2.10 Deprivation & Crime
• North Wiltshire is one of the least deprived local authority areas, ranked 322nd out of 354
• Based on “The English Indices of Deprivation 2004” North Wiltshire was divided into 84 neighbourhoods, none were in the 30% most deprived areas, 52 (62%) were in the least deprived areas
• Crime figures indicate that 70 (83%) of North Wiltshire’s 84 neighbourhoods were among the lowest 20% in the Country and only 3 (4%) were in the highest 50%. 182
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• The North Wiltshire Ward with the highest crime rate was Chippenham Avon 295 rate per 1000 population. (02/03 Wiltshire & Swindon Crime & Drugs Audit)
• Houses without central heating 4.6%
• Houses without bath/shower, toilet 0.3%
A2.11 Employment
• Employed 69.6% (England & Wales 60.6%)
• Unemployed 1.8% (England & Wales 3.4%)
• Household Earned Income £46,133 (2004) (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)
• Economically active 16-74 Full Time 46.44 (England & Wales 40.55)
A2.12 Housing
• Overall Average House Price £227,177 (Oct-Dec 2006) (Land Registry)
• Total Household Spaces 52,082
• With residents 50,275
• With no residents: Vacant 1475
• With no residents: Second / holiday home 391
• Owner occupied 75.7%
• Average household size: 2.4 people
A2.13 Education
• North Wiltshire has 11,213 primary school pupils, 10,109 secondary school pupils and 133 pupils in special schools maintained by the Local Education Authority (LEA). Source: School Building and Places Section, School population 2005
• People aged 16-74 with no qualifications 22.2%
A2.14 Historic & Natural Environment
• The District contains part of 2 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)
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• The District has 31 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
• The District has 65 Conservation Areas (accounting for 9% of the entire District)
• The District has around 5500 Listed Buildings
A2.15 Tourism
• In 2003, over £66 million was spent in North Wiltshire by day visitors.
• 3,189 jobs related to tourism spending.
All figures are from the 2001 Census unless indicated otherwise.
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Appendix 3 – National, Regional and Local Policy Context
A3.1 The North Wiltshire Local Development Framework (LDF) is taking place within the context provided by Government planning policy statements and guidance, the Regional Spatial Strategy (which is currently RPG10), the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), the adopted Structure Plan 2016 and the North Wiltshire Community Strategy. The LDF needs to take account of National planning policy, must be in general conformity with the RSS and has to demonstrate clear links with the Community Strategy. In turn, the LDF will be an important means by which these higher level strategies and policies are implemented. The LDF should also reflect the relevant locally produced plans and strategies for the area.
A3.2 National Guidance is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPG), Planning Policy Statements (PPS), Circulars and good practice guides. PPSs are being are gradually replacing the PPGs. Both Regional and Local Policies have to take account of these documents:
PPS 1: Delivering Sustainable Development, 2005
A3.3 DPDs should aim to incorporate ways to deliver sustainable development throughout their policies and objectives, taking account of social, environmental and economic issues affecting the community.
PPS 3: Housing, 2006
A3.4 DPDs must plan for enough housing to meet local needs whilst maximising the use of previously developed land. Seeking to promote mixed-use developments that include affordable housing and aim to aid development of sustainable communities.
PPG 4: Industrial, Commercial Development and Small Firms, 1992
A3.5 DPDs should seek to retain existing employment land and provide a framework for balancing economic growth with that of maintaining the social and natural environment. Plans should seek to encourage further commercial development in the town centres and in areas of high accessibility, where developments are located to minimise increased traffic congestion.
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PPS 6: Planning for Town Centres, 2005
A3.6 DPDs should maintain and enhance the vitality and viability of town centres through a positive plan-led, town centre first approach.
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PPS 7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas, 2004
A3.7 DPDs should seek ways to meet the economic and social needs of people in rural areas, in line with sustainable development objectives, particularly concerning protection of the countryside and enhancement of biodiversity. Conservation of the landscape and countryside should be given weight in LDF. These requirements are key objectives for consideration in the LDF.
PPG 8: Telecommunications, 2001
A3.8 Plans should recognise that different telecommunications systems have different siting needs, technical constraints and other characteristics. Policies should be flexible enough to choose the best solution regarding individual sites, taking account of issues such as visual intrusion and effects on protected landscape areas.
PPS 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, 2005
A3.9 Plans should be concerned not only with designated areas but also with other land of conservation value and the possible provision of new habitats. Plans should take account of locally prepared nature conservation strategies. Plans should take a strategic approach to the form and location of development, recognising the contribution sites can make in conserving biodiversity and geological resources. Development plan policies and planning decisions should be based upon up- to-date information about the environmental characteristics of their areas. Plan policies should promote opportunities for the incorporation of beneficial biodiversity and geological features within the design of development.
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PPS 11: Regional Spatial Strategies, 2004
A3.10 The LDF must conform to the policies within the RSS. RSS policy will be used in conjunction with LDF policy in the determination of planning applications. RSS policy may take precedence over LDF policy when not in conformity.
PPS 12: Local Development Frameworks, 2004
A3.11 Local Planning Authorities should adopt a spatial planning approach to local development frameworks. This will help to ensure the most efficient use of land by balancing competing demands within the context of sustainable development. They should work collaboratively to take account of the benefits of linking the preparation of community strategies and local development frameworks from both a policy content and process perspective.
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PPG 13: Transport, 2001
A3.12 Plans need to promote more sustainable transport choices, focusing on reducing the need to travel and encouraging new developments to include Travel Plans. Development plans should promote opportunities for safe pedestrian travel via walking routes to main services such as schools, and promote walking for journeys of less than 2 km.
PPG 15: Planning and the Historic Environment, 1994
A3.13 The planning system must conserve and enhance the authority’s historical heritage. The historic environment can play a key part in promoting economic prosperity – by fostering improved tourism, and providing attractive conditions that encourage inward investment into the area.
PPG 16: Archaeology and Planning, 1990
A3.14 Authorities need to consider the archaeological priority areas in the course of the developments of DPDs and include policies for the protection, enhancement and preservation of sites of archaeological interest and their settings.
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PPG 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation, 2002
A3.15 The LDF should include measures to promote open space in development proposals and to ensure that open space is accessible to the whole community. Open space and sports and recreational facilities that are of high quality, or of particular value to a local community, should be recognised and given protection by local authorities through appropriate policies in plans.
PPG 19: Outdoor Advertisement Control, 1992
A3.16 Ensure that policy protects the character of the urban and natural environment from inappropriate signage and advertisements.
PPS 22: Renewable Energy, 2004
A3.17 LPAs will need to set out their approach to promoting and encouraging renewable energy developments in locations where the technology is viable and environmental, economic and social impacts can be addressed satisfactorily. Authorities may include policies in local development documents that require a percentage of the energy to be used in new residential, commercial or industrial developments to come from on site renewable energy developments.
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PPS 23: Planning and Pollution Control, 2004
A3.18 The LDF will need to provide a level of pollution control that reflects the concentrations of land in the borough affected by contamination. This statement suggests that the LDF should contain a set of criteria against which applications for potentially polluting development can be considered including the cumulative effect of polluting development.
PPG 24: Planning and Noise, 1994
A3.19 Plans should seek to take account of the impact noise can have on amenity values especially in residential areas, and to managing potential conflicts.
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PPG 25: Development and Flood Risk, 2001
A3.20 Plans should take a precautionary approach to land allocations or development within potential flood zones. Plan policies should employ the sequential test to decisions on planning applications. Areas subject to flooding hazard should be identified and specific policies applied to minimise and manage the potential risk.
A3.21 The RSS, as adopted currently consists of the RPG10 and the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016, this is being revised (see below for details). The Core Strategy has to be in general conformity with the adopted RSS (RPG10 and the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016). The Draft RSS was published in March 2006 and is due to replace both the Structure Plan and RPG10 in 2008. The adoption date and evolution of the RSS will potentially impact on the proposed adoption date of this Core Strategy, in the situation where time scales are adjusted the Council will make all those involved aware at the earliest possible point. This Core Strategy however, whilst being in general conformity with the adopted RSS does need to take account of the emerging Regional policy position. The design of the Core Strategy provides flexibility and will therefore also allow for conformity the emerging RSS; it however sets out to provide the housing and employment growth levels detailed in the Draft RSS.
Regional Planning Guidance for the South West (RPG 10)
A3.22 Within the regional guidance the key principles governing development are to:
• Promote the sustainable pattern of development and a sequential approach to the location of development.
• Minimise the need to develop greenfield sites and to travel by car.
• Ensure efficient use of land appropriate to both rural and urban locations.
• Meet the economic and social needs of rural communities.
• Make adequate provision for all required land uses.
• Promote the provision and enhancement of routes for walking, cycling and public transport and ensure that large developments are well served by sustainable transport networks.
• Conserve and enhance environmental assets.
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• Promote good quality design, including building design, landscaping, urban spaces and the mixture of complementary uses.
• Reduce and minimise flood risk and take full account of issues of water supply and treatment.
A3.23 Of particular relevance to North Wiltshire is the Northern sub-regional strategy that is part of the RPG for the South West. The objectives that have been particularly identified for this area are:
• Build upon the economic strengths of the north of the region and foster economic growth.
• Make adequate provision to meet future development requirements at the Principal Urban Areas (PUAs).
• Seek a more sustainable pattern of development than in the past by strengthening the roles of the PUAs, fostering urban renaissance, curbing unsustainable outward expansion and aiming for greater self-containment in towns within commuting distance of the PUAs.
• Encourage appropriate housing, employment, retail and social facilities in sustainable locations to reduce social exclusion and rural need.
• Develop and improve sustainable urban and inter-urban transport network.
• Conserve and enhance important environmental assets.
A3.24 The emerging South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) will replace RPG10 and the Wiltshire and Swindon Structure Plan 2016 when adopted in 2008. The RSS is being prepared by the South West Regional Assembly (SWRA). The South West RSS sets the regional planning framework for the period up to 2026. The consultation on the Draft RSS took place over the summer of 2006, the Examination in Public is running from April – June 2007, with the Panel reporting in October 2007. The expected adoption date is April 2008.
A3.25 At the time of writing, the Draft RSS details specific information relating to housing and job provision for the plan period 2006 - 2026. The current housing provision figure for North Wiltshire is 500 net dwellings per annum. The phasing of which equates to, for the period 2006 – 2016, 550 dwellings per annum and for the period 2016 – 2026, 450 dwellings per annum. Of the total provision it is expected that an average of 225 dwellings per annum will be built at Chippenham for the plan period. An average of about 50 dwellings per annum is to be built on the Western side of Swindon. Provision must be made for 6,300 jobs within the travel to work area of Chippenham.
A3.26 The Draft RSS proposes a hierarchical approach to the development of settlements. Chippenham has been identified as a strategically significant town (SSCT). Below the level of Chippenham, the RSS recognises the role that certain towns play within their local setting, they 190
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A3.27 At the lowest tier (Tier 3) the RSS recognises small towns and villages, highlighting their role in supporting small scale economic activity and extending the range of services available. Developments should not significantly increase traffic but promote self-containment, strengthen local communities, and help support key services. Development of housing at these settlements should be restricted to meeting local needs or where housing development is necessary to support employment provision locally.
Strategic Policy Guidance
Wiltshire an Swindon Structure Plan 2016
A3.28 This document provides the planning framework for the North Wiltshire for the period to 2016, although it will be replaced in 2008 by the RSS (see above). The objectives of the Structure Plan are: to support a sustainable pattern of development, meeting the needs of the current and future population for, a prosperous and robust economy, an attractive and suitably protected environment, and good housing and community facilities.
A3.29 Sustainable development is at the heart of the Structure Plan, it seeks to secure a sustainable pattern of development by concentrating development at the main urban areas, but also provides some scope for limited development in smaller towns and villages.
A3.30 For the Structure Plan period, 1996 – 2016, the following housing and employment provision should be planned for in the Local Development Frameworks:
Dwellings (Remaining April ‘06) Employment Land (ha.)
North Wiltshire District:
• Chippenham 3,000 (1170) 45
• Rest of the District 6,000 (1990) 115
A3.31 The document sets out the hierarchy of settlements across the County.
A3.32 Chippenham is listed as a Strategic Service Centre, identified as having the greatest potential for self-contained growth outside the PUA and to offer an important centre for serving the needs of their surrounding area. Continued economic growth would enable the town to become
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A3.33 Appropriate opportunities are also needed for the growth of local employment and services in other towns and villages to help reduce the need to travel to more distant locations and further assist in diversifying the rural economy. Local Services Centres have a reasonable level of employment opportunities, services and facilities and are well located to provide for the wider needs of the rural area. Local Development Documents are required to identify such local service centres.
A3.34 Access to jobs and services in most rural areas is limited and therefore the Structure Plan 2016 requests that effort is made for the provision of services and employment uses that may wish to locate is these areas. Therefore the development of small new employment areas or new community facilities should be considered at villages and small towns. The scale of the development should be limited to meet local economic and social needs only.
A3.35 There are three settlement tiers within the hierarchy of the Structure Plan 2016, directly affecting North Wiltshire. The emerging approach of the RSS is similar to that of the adopted Structure Plan 2016.
A3.36 The Structure Plan 2016 also has policies on the protection of valued areas, both natural and historic, recreation, leisure and tourism, renewable energy, and telecommunications. Policies for transport, minerals, and waste are also listed; additional plans have been adopted for these topic areas (see below for further detail).
Wiltshire and Swindon Minerals Local Plan 2001
A3.37 The Minerals plan sets out a detailed framework of policies and proposals for minerals development up to 2006. There are a number of mineral sites in North Wiltshire, including sites for: sand and gravel, sand, clay, and limestone/sandstone extraction.
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Wiltshire and Swindon Waste Local Plan 2005
A3.38 The Waste plan sets out the waste framework for the period up to 2011. North Wiltshire has five preferred areas for strategic waste management (nearly 63% of the County sites) and three preferred areas for local waste management (nearly 18% of the County sites).
Local Transport Plan (LTP)
A3.39 The LTP sets out the County Council's objectives, implementation plans and targets for transport over a five-year period. The first Local Transport Plan (LTP1) was produced in 2000, covering the period to 2006. Local transport authorities (Wiltshire County Council) have revised their proposals and produced a final LTP2 at the end of March 2006, this second LTP will be reported against in 2007.
Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan
A3.40 The Wiltshire Biodiversity Action Plan was produced in 2002. The plan fits into the wider UK Biodiversity Action Plan. It however, identifies ten important habitats and species to Wiltshire.
A Sustainable Strategy for Wiltshire
A3.41 The Wiltshire Sustainable Strategy – “Creating a County Fit for our Children” was produced in draft in February 2006. It covers the period 2006 –2014. The strategy is concerned with making Wiltshire a better place for all residents, and visitors, both now and in the future.
North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust – Pathways for Change
A3.42 In April 2006, the Kennet and North Wiltshire PCT and West Wiltshire PCT jointly published a consultation document entitled Pathways for Change. The document outlines the management of the local NHS services. The proposal centres on ensuring more patients are treated in their own homes and in state-of-the-art GP practices (called Primary Care Centres), supported by one or more New Generation Community Hospitals. Three options are presented, underlying each of the options is the requirement for them to lead to an improvement of services, making them fit for the future, and also contributing to the financial recovery of the PCTs so that they are able to develop a sustainable future. The implications for North Wiltshire are complex, whilst there are currently no 193
North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007 proposed closures; future capacity requirements remain uncertain as closures of facilities in neighbouring Authorities may impact on demand of facilities within the North Wiltshire. People may have to travel increased distances to reach a facility, if previously their nearest facility was in a neighbouring Authority.
Wiltshire and Swindon Workspace Strategy
A3.43 The Workspace Strategy has been formulated to fulfil the objectives of the regional and sub-regional economic strategies by being responsive to the changing economic and market conditions within Wiltshire and Swindon and the wider sub-region. This is to ensure that in future years there is a range of quality sites and premises for expanding and incoming businesses. The strategy document has been designed to provide strategic direction to other economic and planning policy documents being formulated at the sub-regional and local level. It also provides a steer to the public and private sector in delivering sustainable workspace schemes across the County.
Local Policy Guidance
North Wiltshire Local Plan 2011
A3.44 The Plan was adopted in July 2006. In due course the various documents of the LDF will gradually replace the Local Plan. For the present, the detailed planning policies for the District are contained within this document. Provision has been made for housing and employment allocations and it has been accepted that these meet the requirements of the 2016 Structure Plan. A Sustainability Appraisal has been undertaken to test the position if the Local Plan 2011 continues as the development plan document for the District. This is detailed in the accompanying Sustainability Appraisal to this document under the heading of “the business as usual” scenario.
North Wiltshire Crime and Disorder Strategy
A3.45 The Crime and Disorder Strategy is produced every three years. The Strategy focuses on three key areas the safety of people, the safety of property and the safety of places.
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North Wiltshire Community Safety Strategy
A3.46 The Community Safety Strategy lists six key areas the Council wishes to tackle to increase community safety. These areas include youth issues, drugs and alcohol, domestic violence, town centre crime, developing a partnership in North Wiltshire and fear of crime and crime reduction.
North Wiltshire Countryside and Open Space Strategy
A3.47 The Countryside and Open Space Strategy sets out how the Council will work, with partner organisations where necessary, in managing the landscape, recreation, open space and biodiversity of the District. It is set against a background of rural regeneration – one of the Council’s key priorities.
North Wiltshire Community Strategy
A3.48 North Wiltshire has developed its Community Strategy through the North Wiltshire Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), a forum consisting of partners from local government, other public services such as Health and the Police, voluntary & community groups, housing associations, young people and the business sector. The LSP identified through consultation a vision for North Wiltshire featuring 8 overarching themes and issues that are important to the people of North Wiltshire.
These key areas are:
• Social Care & Health
• Countryside
• Housing & the Built Environment
• Economy
• Transport
• Crime & Community Protection
• Education, Skills & Learning
• Culture
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During 2007 the Community Strategy is going to be updated to become a Sustainable Community Strategy. This means that the strategy will aim to set out how partners can work to ensure that North Wiltshire is a place where people want to live and work now and in the future. To achieve this the strategy will bring together a more integrated approach to addressing the social, economic and environmental well being of the District.
North Wiltshire Economic and Regeneration Strategy
A3.49 The North Wiltshire Economic and Regeneration Strategy prioritises working in partnerships with organisations in the public, voluntary and private sectors at regional, county and local levels in order to develop sustainable programmes that will have a long term beneficial impact on the economic regeneration of the District.
North Wiltshire Housing Strategy
A3.50 The Council’s Housing Strategy 2005-2008 outlines three main housing priorities for the Council, these include Affordable Housing, Reducing Homelessness and Improving Private Sector Housing. The strategy also shows the Council’s performance against its priorities set out in the Housing Strategy 2002-2005. These priorities are:
• Provision of new affordable housing
• Improving access to home ownership
• Empty homes strategy
• Improving existing housing
• Supported housing
• Supporting people programme
• Decent homes
• Homelessness
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North Wiltshire Homelessness Strategy 2003 – 2006
A3.51 The Homelessness Strategy provides an analysis of both current and future levels of homelessness in the District, the intentions towards preventing homelessness and an examination of the provision of accommodation and support available for homeless people. This first such strategy has highlighted the key areas for improving the services available for homeless people in North Wiltshire and is part of a longer term corporate and multi-agency approach to reducing homelessness in the District.
N.B. Many of the above documents are available from the North Wiltshire District Council’s website: www.northwilts.gov.uk
A3.52 The Core Strategy has to develop with regard to the Community Strategy and other local strategies (see above). The Core Strategy should provide the ‘spatial expression’ of the Community Strategy. Therefore the Strategic Objective and Spatial Strategy are closely linked with the ethos detailed within the Community Strategy and the identified main issues list in Section 4.
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Appendix 4 – Affordable Housing and Gypsy and Traveller Site Search
This appendix presents the “Site Search Criteria” the Council will use to assess a potential Affordable Housing Exception Site (Appendix 4A) or a Gypsy and Traveller site (Appendix 4B).
Evidence
The Affordable Housing ‘Site Search Criteria’, are based on evidence supplied in National Guidance, PPS 3: Housing and PPS 1: Delivering Sustainable Development. The ‘Site Search Criteria’ are divided into four sections: Site Characteristics, Protected Areas, Transport and Basic Services with each section covering a specific search theme.
The Gypsy and Traveller ‘Site Search Criteria’ are based on evidence supplied in National Guidance, Circular 01/2006 “Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites”, general sustainable development principles set out in “PPS 1: Delivering Sustainable Development” and drafts of the “Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment” 2006. The ‘Site Search Criteria’ are divided into five sections: Site Characteristics, Basic Services, Transport, Protected Areas, and Site Services.
The first section ‘Site Characteristics’ identifies the features of a place that make it a suitable location for an Affordable Housing Exception site / Gypsy and Traveller site. These features include the site size, land quality, local biodiversity and neighbouring uses.
The second section ‘Protected Areas’ lists local, national and international designations that protect and enhance the quality of the natural environment. This list also includes Green Belt land as defined in PPG2: Green Belts and Flood Plains as identified in PPS25: Flood Risk.
The third section ‘Transport’ considers road safety for both cars and pedestrians. The focus of new development in locations with good public transport accessibility is also a key objective of PPS3: Housing.
The fourth section ‘Basic Services’ acknowledges the Governments intention to develop in the most sustainable locations. These locations are settlements that offer a range of community facilities, with access to good jobs, key services and infrastructure.
The final section “Site Services” is unique to the Gypsy and Traveller community and lists the site services that a good Gypsy and Traveller site should have access too. These site services are those listed by Circular 01/2006 and identified by the Gypsy and Traveller community themselves.
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Guidance on how to use the Site Search Criteria
The ‘Site Search Criteria’ will be used by the Council to calculate a sustainable development score for potential Affordable Housing Exception site / Gypsy and Traveller site. To score a potential Affordable Housing / Gypsy and Traveller site against the ‘Site Search Criteria’, simply assess the sites location against each test in column three. For each test, the result has been allocated a status: red, yellow or green. A status of red indicates that the site contains a significant constraint and should not be considered for development. A status of yellow indicates that the site contains a minor constraint but that mitigation measures are possible. A status of green means that the site is a preferred location for development.
To further define a potential Affordable Housing Exception site / Gypsy and Traveller site, each ‘Site Search Criteria’ will be given a weight to reflect the importance of the criteria. A status of green will receive a higher score than a status of yellow. Thus each ‘Site Search Criteria’ will influence the scoring of the site.
In conclusion the Council will look favourable on potential sites that score highly on the checklist and will defend against sites on the grounds of the ‘Site Search Criteria’ that receive a low score.
Appendix 4A - Affordable Housing Site Search Criteria
Site Characteristics Site Description Test Status Criteria Area of Seek to have a site size of no more > 16 Dwellings Red Site than 15 dwellings. 1 - 15 Dwellings Green Noise Avoid sites that share a boundary > 45 dbA @ boundary Red with sites that produce high noise < 45 dbA @ boundary Green levels. Land Preference in order of sites located Greenfield site Yellow Quality on previously developed land (pdl) pdl on outskirts Green and within towns, pdl on the edge of built pdl in towns/villages Green Location up areas and on Greenfield sites. Contamin Avoid sites located on contaminated Site is contaminated Red ated Land land. No site contamination Green Near The Council will not look favourably 0 – 199 metres to centre line Red Pylons on sites located close to high voltage > 200 metres Green electricity pylons. Land- Sites should not conflict with the Not in accordance with policy Yellow scape Landscape Character Assessment In accordance with policy Green Character Biodiver- Sites will not be located where they Site contains protected Red sity would have an impact on a protected species, no mitigation measure species that can’t be resolved by a Contains protected species, Yellow mitigation measure. with mitigation measure No protected species present Green
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Protected Areas Site Description Test Status Criteria Protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest Within protected designation Red Areas (SSSI) Outside protected designation Green National Nature Reserves Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Within protected designation Yellow Outside protected designation Green Scheduled ancient monuments Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green Conservation Areas Within protected designation Yellow Outside protected designation Green Registered Historic Battlefields Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green Registered Parks and Gardens Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green It will not be appropriate to develop Within Green Belt Yellow sites on Green Belt land. Outside Green Belt Green It will not be appropriate to develop Within floodplain Red sites on a flood plain. Outside floodplain Green
Transport Site Check list Test Status Criteria Road The Council will not look favourably Unclassified (Without passing Red Infrastruct on sites that are not accessed via a places) ure properly surfaced road. A, B, C Road or Unclassified Green (With passing places) Road The Council will give consideration Blind exit/entrance Red Access to road safety both on the site and in (Car the surrounding area. Exit/entrance with good Green Safety) visibility
Road The Council will give consideration Pavement to nearest Green Access to road safety both on the site and in settlement (Pedestria the surrounding area. No pavement to nearest Yellow n Safety) settlement
Bus Stop The Council will not look favourably < 500 meters (walking) Green on sites located beyond 500 meters > 500 meters (walking) Yellow of a bus stop on a major bus route (An hourly or more bus service).
Basic Services Site Description Test Status Criteria Primary The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking) Green School sites within walking distance of a >500 meters (walking) Yellow primary school. Church The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking) Green Hall sites within walking distance of a >500 meters (walking) Yellow church hall. 200
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Food The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking) Green Shop sites within walking distance of a >500 meters (walking) Yellow food shop. Post The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking) Green Office sites within a short walking distance >500 meters (walking) Yellow of a post office. Pub The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking) Green sites within a short walking distance >500 meters (walking) Yellow of a pub. Recreatio The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking) Green n Field sites within a short walking distance >500 meters (walking) Yellow of a recreation field. Hospital The Council will look favourably on <10 miles (car journey) Green sites within 10 miles of a hospital, as >10 miles (car journey) Yellow this is a reasonable distance for families to travel by car. Employme The Council will look favourably on <10 miles (car journey) Green nt sites within a short bus and car >10 miles (car journey) Yellow journey of an employment centre. (i.e. town centre or business park, trading estate, retail centre)
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Appendix 4B - Gypsy and Traveller Site Search Criteria
Gypsy and Traveller Study Update
On completion of the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment by David Couttie Associates the draft study will be presented to the Gypsy and Traveller community and specific stakeholders for comment. The final report will then be presented to local members where it will be launched to the wider community.
Planning Background
It is generally agreed that Government advice set out in Circular 01/94 “Gypsy Sites and Planning” has failed to deliver adequate sites for Gypsies and Travellers in many areas of England over the last 10 years. Since the issue of Circular 01/94, and the repeal of local authorities duty to provide Gypsy and Traveller sites there have been more applications for private Gypsy and Traveller Sites, but this has not resulted in the necessary increase in provision.
The new Circular 01/06 “Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites” states that “the assessment of gypsy and traveller accommodation needs is integral to assessment of general accommodation needs”. The Circular supports the use of Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessments (GTAA) as an appropriate supplement to the Local Housing Needs Assessment.
The results of the GTAA should be reviewed by the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) which specifies the number of pitches for each local planning authority. Under the transitional arrangements where the Regional Planning Body (RPB) consider that there is insufficient robust information to establish district level pitch numbers a clear statement setting out the regional context should be recorded.
The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) states that “At the time of publication, the RPB was of the view that there was not sufficiently robust information on which to establish district level pitch numbers”. The regional context has been summarised as follows:
• The extent of existing provision in the region is approximately 550 pitches • The following parts of the region have relatively high numbers of unauthorised sites South Gloucestershire, City of Bristol and North Somerset Unitary Authorities and parts of Devon, Gloucestershire and Dorset Counties. • An interim estimate of the additional pitch requirements at regional level is about 1,100 pitches, which will be used to monitor delivery in LDDs.
The new planning system emphasises early community involvement between local authorities and the communities they serve. It is anticipated that in the case of gypsy and travellers, early 202
North Wiltshire LDF Core Strategy Second Issues and Options Consultation May 2007 community involvement will help in the identification of suitable sites and a reduction in the number of unauthorised encampments.
Site Characteristics Site Criteria Description Test Status Area of Site Seek to have a permanent site size > 19 pitches Red of no more than 18 pitches. < 18 pitches Green Neighbours The Council will look favourably on < 401metres Red sites that are located beyond 400 > 401 metres Green metres from an existing settlement or permanent Gypsy & Traveller Site. Noise Avoid sites that share a boundary > 45 dbA @ boundary Red with sites that produce high noise levels. (e.g. traffic noise, industrial < 45 dbA @ boundary Green noise) Land Quality Preference in order of sites located Greenfield site Yellow and Location on previously developed land (pdl) pdl on outskirts Green within towns, pdl on the edge of pdl in towns/villages Yellow built up areas and on Greenfield sites. Contaminate Avoid sites located on Site is contaminated Red d Land contaminated land. No site contamination Green Near Pylons The Council will not look favourably 0 – 199 metres to centre line Red on sites located close to high voltage electricity pylons. > 200 metres Green
Landscape Sites should not conflict with the Not in accordance with policy Yellow Character landscape character of the area as In accordance with policy Green set out in the Landscape Character Assessment Potential for Avoid sites with low landscaping Low landscaping potential Yellow appropriate potential in accordance with the High landscaping potential Green landscaping Landscape Character Assessment Biodiversity Sites will not be located where they Site contains protected species, Red would have an impact on a no mitigation measure protected species that can’t be Contains protected species, with Yellow resolved by a mitigation measure. mitigation measure No protected species present Green Potential for Consideration will be given to High need for mixed Green mixed development of sites that can development residential & demonstrate a need for mixed Low need for mixed Yellow Business use residential and business uses. development Quality of the The Council will look favourably on High Quality of Local Green Local sites located in a high quality local Environment Environment environment. Low Quality of Local Yellow Environment Quality / The Council will look favourably on High Quality of Site Green Attractivenes sites that are attractive. Low Quality of Site Yellow s of the Site
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Basic Services Site Criteria Description Test Status Shops The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking) Green sites within walking distance of a >501 meters (walking) Yellow local shop, supermarket or town centre. Doctors The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking/bus stop) Green Surgery sites within a short bus journey of a >501 meters (walking/bus stop) Yellow Doctors Surgery. Hospital The Council will look favourably on <10 miles (car journey) Green sites within 10 miles of a hospital, >10 miles (car journey) Yellow as this is a reasonable distance for families to travel by car. Nursery The Council will look favourably on <10 miles (car journey) Green School sites within a short car or bus >10 miles (car journey) Yellow journey of a Nursery. Primary The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking/bus stop) Green School sites within a short walking >501 meters (walking/bus stop) Yellow distance of a primary school or within a short bus journey. Secondary The Council will look favourably on <500 meters (walking/bus stop) Green School sites within a short bus journey to a >501 meters (walking/bus stop) Yellow secondary school. Access to The Council will look favourably on < 500 meters (Bus Stop) or <10 Green Place of sites within a short bus and car miles (car journey) Work journey of an employment centre. > 501 meters (Bus Stop) or >10 Yellow (i.e. town centre or business park, miles (car journey) trading estate, retail centre) Bottled Gas The Council will look favourably on <5 miles (car journey) Green sites located within 5 miles of a >5 miles (car journey) Yellow bottled gas supplier. Activities & The sites will look favourably on <500 meters (walking/bus stop) Green Facilities sites located within walking >501 meters (walking/bus stop) Yellow distance of either a club, pub or village hall. Bus Stop The Council will not look favourably < 500 meters (walking) Green on sites located beyond 500 > 501 meters (walking) Yellow meters of a bus stop on a major bus route (An hourly or more bus service).
Transport Site Criteria Description Test Status Road The Council will not look favourably Unclassified (Without passing Red Infrastructure on sites that are not accessed via a places) properly surfaced road. A, B, C Road or Unclassified Green (With passing places) Road Access The Council will give consideration Blind exit/entrance Red (Car Safety) to road safety both on the site and Exit/entrance with good visibility Green in the surrounding area. Road Access The Council will give consideration Pavement to nearest settlement Green (Pedestrian to road safety both on the site and No pavement to nearest Yellow Safety) in the surrounding area. settlement
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Protected Areas Site Criteria Description Test Status Protected Sites of Special Scientific Interest Within protected designation Red Areas (SSSI) Outside protected designation Green National Nature Reserves Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green Areas of Outstanding Natural Within protected designation Yellow Beauty Outside protected designation Green Scheduled ancient monuments Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green Conservation Areas Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green Registered Historic Battlefields Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green Registered Parks and Gardens Within protected designation Red Outside protected designation Green It will not be appropriate to develop Within Greenbelt Red sites on Green Belt land. Outside Greenbelt Green It will not be appropriate to develop Within floodplain Red sites on a flood plain. Outside floodplain Green
Site Services Site Criteria Description Test Status Electricity The Council will not look favourably Access to mains electricity Green on a site without access to main’s No access to mains electricity Red Electricity. Play Space The Council will not look favourably Play space Green on sites without access to a play No play space Yellow area. Rubbish The Council will not look favourably On rubbish collection route Green Collection on sites without access to a Not on rubbish collection route Red Council supplied rubbish collection. Space for The Council will not look favourably Sufficient space Green servicing own on sites without space for servicing Insufficient space Yellow vehicles own vehicles. Site Shop The Council will not look favourably Site Shop Green on sites without their own site No Site Shop Yellow shop. Work space The Council will not look favourably Sufficient space Green on sites without space for working. Insufficient space Yellow Space for The development site should be Sufficient space Green parking and well provisioned with parking, Insufficient space Red turning turning and servicing vehicles. Space for The Council will not look favourably Sufficient space Green Storage and on sites without space for storage Insufficient space Yellow Equipment of vehicles and equipment. Drainage The Council will not look favourably Access to mains drainage Green on sites without access to mains drainage but will not rule out No access to mains drainage Yellow locations with onsite facilities. Water supply The Council will not look favourably Access to a water supply Green on sites without access to a water No access to a water supply Red supply.
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Sewage The Council will not look favourably Access to a piped sewage Green on sites without access to a piped system sewage system but will not rule out No access to a piped sewage Red onsite facilities. system
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