Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2011-2029 Draft October 2011 Foreword Foreword This document is a first draft of the Borough Council’s ideas for a new plan for the borough, looking ahead to 2029. We need this because our existing plan (the Eastleigh Borough Local Plan Review 2001-2011) is now out of date. There have been many changes nationally and locally since it was adopted, and we must have new policies to address these. Preparing a new plan has given the Council a chance to look afresh at what sort of places and facilities we need for our communities now and in the future. To establish what our priorities should be, we have investigated a wide variety of existing and future needs in the borough. From these we have developed a draft plan to help guide development over the next 18 years. The plan is being published for public consultation, and the Borough Council would welcome your views on our draft policies and proposals, and how we should be making provision for the future. We are still at an early stage in the process, and your views can help shape the future of the borough. Full contact details are given in Chapter 1, Introduction. Foreword Chapter 1 Introduction Draft Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 1 2011-2029 Contents Page 1. Introduction 2 What is this about? What should I look at? How can I get involved? What happens next? How to use this document 2. Eastleigh Borough – key characteristics and issues 7 3. Vision and objectives 35 4. Towards a strategy 42 5. Strategy 60 Strategy for new development 60 Strategy for managing development 67 Key Diagram 99 6. Development management policies 100 7. Parish by parish - policies and proposals 143 8. Implementation 204 Appendices: Appendix A Legislation, plans and strategies 206 Appendix B Relationship between issues, vision and objectives 216 Appendix C Sustainability Appraisals of broad locations – outcomes 233 Appendix D Schedule of policies 239 Index 245 References 259 Proposals maps 1 | Draft Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2011-2029 October 2011 Chapter 1 Introduction 1. Introduction 1 What is this about? 1.1 This is a consultation about a new plan for Eastleigh Borough. It follows on from the issues consultation we undertook in 2008(1) jointly with work on the borough’s Community Plan. We need to replace the Eastleigh Borough Local Plan Review 2001-2011, which contains policies for development in the borough. Many of the new allocations it identifies have now been developed, and its policies are becoming out-of-date. We need to make provision for future needs in the borough, and also for wider needs of the south Hampshire area where the borough sits. 1.2 We have started work on a new set of policies, and this document sets out a first draft of the Borough Council’s ideas for how the borough should develop over the next 18 years, up to 2029. We would like your views on these. We need to know whether: • We have identified the right problems to address – have we missed anything? • Our vision for the borough is the right one – do you have an alternative? • Our ideas for tackling the problems and achieving our vision are the right ones – are there others we should have considered? 1.3 In shaping these policies we have taken into account a wide variety of factors including: • government legislation and advice; • planning and other strategies including: − the South East Plan (for now, although this will be revoked through the Localism Bill); − the plans of the County Council as a minerals and waste planning authority and as the highway and education authority; − the strategies of the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), which includes Eastleigh Borough(2); − existing plans and strategies in Eastleigh Borough, including the Community Plan, which establishes a comprehensive vision for the borough, and the Borough Council’s own corporate priorities and strategies; − the plans of neighbouring authorities; − the strategies of other authorities and agencies such as the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership, the Environment Agency, Southern Water, Natural England, English Heritage etc. 2 | Draft Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2011-2029 October 2011 Chapter 1 Introduction 1.4 There is an explanation of these in Appendix A of this plan, and there is a full list in the Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Appendix 1, which you can see at http://www.eastleigh.gov.uk/planning--building-control/planning-policy- 1 and-design/local-development-framework/sustainability-appraisal.aspx 1.5 The Borough Council’s corporate priorities are of particular significance in providing a basis for the plan. The Council has three strategic priorities, which are: A Clean and Green Borough: Making a difference to our environment A Prosperous Place: Where everyone is able to share in prosperity A Healthy Community: Active and lively with a spirit of togetherness These have been used as the basis for the vision, objectives and policies included in this Core Strategy. They closely parallel the three elements of the borough’s Community Plan Vision (a happy and healthy community …with a thriving and inclusive economy…in an attractive and eco-friendly environment) – see Appendix A. What should I look at? 1.6 This document includes: • Information about the borough and the main issues this plan is to address • Vision, objectives and an overall strategy for the whole borough. • the detailed site allocations and policies that are needed to make this strategy work. It also explains any alternatives that have been considered for the strategy, sites and policies, and the reasons for the choices made. 1.7 To support this document, we have prepared a number of Background Papers. These set out the information on which we have based our proposals. We have also tested our proposals using a variety of appraisals and assessments. 1.8 You can see the new plan and all related documents on our web site at: www.eastleigh.gov.uk. 3 | Draft Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2011-2029 October 2011 Chapter 1 Introduction How can I get involved? 1.9 You can contact us directly as an individual, through being part of a group 1 such as a residents’ association or other community or special interest group, or though your parish council. You can use our on-line form, or e-mail, or write to us. If you would like to talk to us, you can also ‘phone. Our contact details are below. We need to hear from you by 3 January 2012. What happens next? 1.10 We will analyse all the comments and suggestions we receive, and amend the strategy, site allocations and policies in response to these. We then publish a final version of the plan for you to comment on – this should be around mid-2012. After final amendments, we then send the plan to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for examination, along with any objections that we can’t resolve. He appoints an inspector to conduct the examination. You will have the opportunity to be involved in the examination if you wish. Contact us: Planning Policy Team, Regeneration and Planning Policy, Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh SO50 9YN. Tel: 023 8068 8264 or Email: [email protected] How to use this document 1.11 The rest of this document is organised as follows: Chapter 2 Eastleigh Borough – characteristics and issues 1.12 This sets out environmental, economic and social information about the borough, summarised from surveys and studies of the borough and its communities. More details are set out in a series of background documents and studies (our evidence base) available on our web-site at www.eastleigh. gov.uk/localplan From this information, community consultation and discussions with community representatives and other authorities and agencies, we have established a number of key issues that the Local Plan should address. You can comment on, and if necessary correct this information if you wish, and we would welcome your views on the issues we have identified. Chapter 3 Issues, Vision and Objectives 1.13 We have then considered what sort of borough we would like – our vision – and listed a number of objectives that will help us achieve this vision and deal with the issues we have found. We would welcome your views on the vision and the objectives. 4 | Draft Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2011-2029 October 2011 Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 4 Towards a strategy 1.14 This chapter explains how the Borough Council has arrived at its preferred 1 strategy for the borough. It sets out the main options for locating new development over the plan period up to 2029, how these have been assessed, and the Council’s conclusions. We would appreciate your comments on the options we have identified and the choices we are suggesting. Chapter 5 Strategy for locating new development 1.15 In order to address the issues, help to achieve the vision and meet the objectives, and having looked at the options for locating new development, we have put together some draft strategic ideas for future development in the borough. The strategy is illustrated on a ‘key diagram’. 1.16 The plan is not just about new development allocations. It also covers a range of other factors that affect how people and communities use land and buildings to help them get on with their lives. This chapter also sets out the strategy the Council would like to follow when dealing with proposals for development and other activities, in the form of draft strategic policies. Where there are choices to make, these are explained along with the outcome of assessments, and the Council’s preferences are set out.