CITY OF DURHAM - LOCAL PLAN ADOPTED PLAN WRITTEN STATEMENT (As amended by the Secretary of State’s Direction under paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 8 to the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 in respect of saved policies at 27 th September 2007) Mr D Thornborrow, Head of Planning Services City of Durham Council, 17 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1RH 19 th May 2004 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 2 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 FOREWORD The Council’s vision for the People and City of Durham is of Flourishing Communities and Durham as a Capital City. Twenty-six villages and a town with its very different constituent parts, make up the District of Durham. Each one of these parts of our whole has different histories, characteristics, aspirations and needs which must be respected so that they can all flourish. The Local Plan provides the framework within which growth, change and new opportunities can develop. Durham is uniquely special, offering us a good place to live, to shop and to visit, as well as being the driver of economic development, not only for the whole of the District but also throughout the Region. Our World Heritage site and nationally renowned University give us important assets on which to build to achieve economic well being and secure our futures. This Plan must protect and enhance what is good, and improve and evolve Durham where desirable, and ensure that our best assets continue to improve all our lives. The City of Durham Local Plan, which replaces the 1988 Local Plan, sets out a land use policy framework that will guide new development over the period to 2006, its two core aims intend to express this vision. It seeks to encourage sustainable economic growth and regeneration, promote inward investment and conserve and enhance the unique character of the City and District. By doing so we seek to ensure the quality of life for future generations. This will be achieved through ensuring that development is properly and effectively planned to continue the protection and enhancement of Durham City, and the surrounding villages and the countryside. At the same time the plan provides the opportunity to integrate economic, environmental and social factors into decisions about where to locate growth, improve the quality of the environment and enable an enduring quality of life. It provides certainty for both the community and developers as to future development in the district. This document was the subject of extensive public consultation, which was followed by a Public Local Inquiry; this gave parties who had made comments and objections to the Plan the chance to put their case to an independent Inspector from the Planning Inspectorate. The Council carefully considered all comments made, through the various stages of the plan preparation process, and this plan reflects, where appropriate, those comments. The Council would like to take this opportunity to thank all the individuals, organisations and groups who contributed to the policies and proposals throughout the local plan preparation process. The document is the stronger for that participation. Cllr S Pitts Leader of the Council 3 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 4 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 CONTENTS Foreword 3 Schedule of Policies 7 1. Introduction and Policy Framework 13 2. Aims and General Objectives 18 3. Environment 24 4. Housing 58 5. Employment 83 6. Transport 106 7. Shopping 133 8. Recreation and Leisure 156 9. Tourism 177 10. Community Facilities 187 11. City Centre 203 12. Quality of Development 222 13. Utilities and Infrastructure 238 14. Implementation 252 Glossary 260 Appendix 1: Government Policy Guidance Notes 269 Appendix 2: Summary of Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 270 1987 Appendix 3: Provision of Open Space in New Residential Development of 10 272 or more dwellings 5 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 Appendix 4: Housing Sites (of 10 or more dwellings) with planning permission 273 at 1 st April 2002 (including sites with less than 10 dwellings remaining) Appendix 5: Assessment of Retail and Non-Retail Frontages – Policies S2A, 274 S2B and S3 Appendix 6: Conversion of Traditional Farm Buildings 275 Appendix 7: DfT Policy in Relation to Development near Motorways and Trunk 281 Roads 6 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 SCHEDULE OF POLICIES ENVIRONMENT E1 Durham City Green Belt 27 E2 Major Developed Sites in Green Belt – Infilling 29 E2A Major Developed Sites in the Green Belt – Redevelopment 29 E3 World Heritage Site – Protection 30 E4 World Heritage Site – Extension 32 E5 Protecting Open Spaces within Durham City 32 E5A Open Spaces within Settlement Boundaries 34 E6 Durham (City Centre) Conservation Area 34 E7 Development Outside Settlement Boundaries 36 E8 Change of Use of Buildings in the Countryside 37 E9 Protection of Agricultural Land 38 E10 Areas of Landscape Value 39 E11 Environmental Improvements – Transport Corridors 40 E12 Environmental Improvements – Derelict/Unused Land and 41 Buildings E14 Prot ection of Existing Trees and Hedgerows 42 E15 Provision of New Trees and Hedgerows 43 E16 Protection and Promotion of Nature Conservation 44 E17 Sites of Special Scientific Interest 46 E18 Sites of Nature Conservation Importance 47 E19 Wildlife Corridors 48 E20 Local Nature Reserves 49 E21 Conservation and Enhancement of the Historic Environment 49 E22 Conservation Areas 50 E23 Listed Buildings 52 E24 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Remains 53 E25 Nevilles Cross Battlefield 55 E26 Historic Parks and Gardens 56 NB: Those crossed out above were not “saved” after 27 th September 2007 7 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 HOUSING H1 New Housing Development – Allocated Sites 61 H2 New Housing Development within Durham City 62 H3 New Housing Development within the Villages 63 H4 Ribbon/Sporadic Development and Villages with no 67 Settlement Boundary H5 New Housing in the Countryside 68 H6 Replacement Dwellings outside Settlement Boundaries 70 H7 City Centre Housing 71 H8 Residential Use of Upper Floors 72 H9 Multiple Occupation 72 H10 Backland and Tandem Development 74 H11 Mobility/Access 75 H12 Affordable Housing 76 H12A Type and Size of Housing 77 H13 Residential Areas – Impact upon Character and Amenity 78 H14 Residential Areas – Improvements to Housing Stock and 78 Environment H15 Sites for Travellers 79 H16 Residential Institutions/Student Halls of Residence 80 H17 Renewal of Planning Permission for Housing 82 EMPLOYMENT EMP2 Durham Science Park 86 EMP3 Mount Oswald 87 EMP4 Business Parks 88 EMP5 Pres tige Industrial Sites – General 90 EMP6 Prestige Industrial Development at Belmont 90 EMP7 Prestige Industrial Development/Rail Freight Terminal, 91 Tursdale EMP8 General Industrial Sites 93 EMP9 Local Industrial Sites 94 EMP10 Bad Neighbour Activities 95 EMP11 Employment Outside Designated Sites 96 EMP12 Office Development – General 97 EMP13 Office Development – Sites outside City Centre 98 EMP14 Office Development – Outside Designated Areas 98 EMP15 Taxi Booking Offices 99 EMP16 Employment in t he Countryside 100 EMP17 Farm Diversification 102 EMP17A Agriculture and Forestry Development 103 EMP18 Home Based Business 103 EMP19 Notifiable Installations – New Proposals 104 EMP20 Notifable Installations – Development in Close Proximity 104 Thereto NB: Those crossed out above were not “saved” after 27 th September 2007 8 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 TRANSPORT T1 Traffic Generation – General 112 T2 Road Proposals – Justification 112 T3 Road Proposals – Corridors of Interest 113 T4 Road Proposals – Design and Route 114 T5 Public Transport 115 T6 Transport Interchange at Carrville 116 T7 Park and Ride 117 T8 Traffic Management 120 T9 Movement of Freight 121 T10 Parking – General Provision 122 T11 City Centre Parking – Overall Strategy 123 T12 City Centre Parking – Ma nagement of Off -Street Car Parks 124 T13 City Centre Parking – New Sites 125 T14 City Centre Parking – Public Use of Private Non -Residential 126 Car Parks T15 Parking in Residential Areas 126 T16 Coach Parking 127 T17 Storage of Caravans 128 T18 Taxi Ranks 128 T19 Cycling – Development of Cycle Routes 129 T20 Cycling – Provision of Cycle Parking 130 T21 Safeguarding the Needs of Walkers 131 SHOPPING S1A Retail Hierarchy 138 S1 A1 uses within the City Centre Shopping Area 138 S2A A2 and A3 u ses within the Primary Retail Area 139 S2B A2 and A3 uses within the Secondary Retail Area 140 S3 Elvet Bridge 140 S4 Sherburn Road/Dragon Lane District Centre 141 S5 Local Centres 142 S6 Village Shops 143 S7 Individual Shops 145 S8 Retail Warehouse Outlets 145 S9A Arnison/Mercia District Centre 147 S9B Major Out of Centre Proposals 148 S10 Food and Drink 149 S11 Miscellaneous Sales 150 S12 Occasional Markets 151 S13 Factory and Farm Shops 152 S14 Amusement Centres 153 S15 Garden Centres 154 S16 Petrol Filling Stations 155 NB: Those crossed out above were not “saved” after 27 th September 2007 9 City of Durham Local Plan - May 2004 RECREATION AND LEISURE R1 Provision of Open Space – Overall Standards 158 R2 Provision of Open Space – New Residential Development 159 R3 Protection of Outdoor Recreation Facilities 160 R4 Land Surplus to Education Requirements 161 R5 Protection of Allotments 162 R6 Provision of Recreation Facilities – Leisure Centres 163 R7 Provision of Recreation Facilities – New Swimming Pool 164 R8 New Rec reation Facilities 165 R9 Public Parks and Recreation Grounds 166 R10 Recreation and Leisure in the Countryside 167 R11 Public Rights of Way 169 R12 River Wear 170 R13 River Wear Walkway 170 R14 The Browney Valley 171 R15 Picnic