Spratton Neighbourhood Development Plan 2015-2029
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Spratton Neighbourhood Development Plan 2015-2029 Made Version July 2016 Spratton Neighbourhood Development Plan CONTENTS PROPOSALS MAP ........................................................................................ 1 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 2 2 LOCAL CONTEXT ................................................................................. 4 History of Spratton ............................................................................................... 4 Socio-economic profile .......................................................................................... 6 3 VISION AND OBJECTIVES ................................................................. 10 Challenges for Spratton ........................................................................................10 Vision for Spratton ...............................................................................................10 Objectives of the Neighbourhood Development Plan ...............................................10 4 VILLAGE SETTLEMENT BOUNDARY ................................................... 12 5 HOUSING .......................................................................................... 14 Introduction ........................................................................................................14 Infill development ................................................................................................16 6 COMMERCIAL USES........................................................................... 20 Incubator space ..................................................................................................20 Protecting and enhancing existing employment areas .............................................21 7 GREEN OPEN SPACES ........................................................................ 24 Local Green Spaces..............................................................................................24 Allotments ..........................................................................................................28 Other green spaces..............................................................................................29 8 LANDSCAPE....................................................................................... 36 Landscape and views ...........................................................................................36 Special Landscape Area ........................................................................................39 Light pollution .....................................................................................................40 Enhancing woodland areas ...................................................................................41 9 HERITAGE AND DESIGN .................................................................... 43 Design ................................................................................................................43 Spratton Neighbourhood Development Plan 10 HIGHWAYS AND PARKING ................................................................ 45 Parking standards and on-verge parking ................................................................45 Pedestrian movement ..........................................................................................46 12 COMMUNITY FACILITIES .................................................................. 49 13 NON LAND USE ACTIONS .................................................................. 51 Appendix 1 Examples of local design and heritage (to inform Policy HD1) PROPOSALS MAP 1 Spratton Neighbourhood Development Plan 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This is the Neighbourhood Development Plan for Spratton Parish (‘the Plan’). It seeks to represent one part of the development plan for the parish over the period 2015 to 2029. For clarity, the development plan consists of any planning policies currently adopted by the local planning authority, Daventry District Council, and this Neighbourhood Development Plan. 1.2 The map in Figure 1.1 below shows the boundary of the Neighbourhood Development Plan area, which is the same as the administrative boundary of Spratton Parish. Figure 1.1: Spratton Neighbourhood Development Plan boundary 2 Spratton Neighbourhood Development Plan 1.3 The principal purpose of the Neighbourhood Development Plan is to guide development within the parish and provide advice to anyone wishing to submit a planning application for development within the parish. The process of producing a plan has sought to involve the community as widely as possible and the different topic areas are reflective of matters that are of considerable importance to Spratton, its residents, businesses and community groups. Spratton Parish Council has been clear in its view that a Neighbourhood Development Plan gives the community the power to shape growth in a manner that is appropriate to a rural and historic place such as Spratton. 1.4 Some of the policies in the Plan duplicate those in the Spratton Village Design Statement (VDS) which was adopted as supplementary planning guidance (SPG) by Daventry District Council in May 2013. These policies have been duplicated in order that they can be given full weight as policy within the development plan, as opposed to just guidance through an SPG. The VDS does however provide additional material not included in the Neighbourhood Development Plan which is still considered to be of relevance to applicants and decision-makers alike. As such, the guidance it provides should still be taken into account and it forms an important supporting document to this Neighbourhood Development Plan. How to read this document Each section of the Plan covers a different topic. Under each heading there is the justification for the policies presented which provides the necessary understanding of the policy and what it is seeking to achieve. There is also a summary of how each policy contributes towards the objectives of the Plan. The policies themselves are presented in the blue boxes. It is these policies against which planning applications will be assessed. It is advisable that, in order to understand the full context for any individual policy, it is read in conjunction with the supporting text. Relationship with the Daventry District Development Plan 1.5 In conjunction with Northampton Borough Council and South Northamptonshire District Council, Daventry District Council, through the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit, prepared the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy (JCS). This JCS was adopted in 2014 and replaced some of Daventry District Council’s saved policies. 1.6 Given that the JCS is up-to-date, it is part of the development plan and the Neighbourhood Development Plan must be considered against its policies and the relevant saved policies from the Daventry District Local Plan as well as national policy in the shape of the National Planning Policy Framework. 3 Spratton Neighbourhood Development Plan 2 LOCAL CONTEXT History of Spratton 2.1 The parish boundary has remained unchanged since Domesday or earlier, having probably developed as a ‘cluster’ settlement in the 8th or 9th century. The countryside surrounding the settlement has been farmed to a greater or lesser degree over the centuries that followed. Until Enclosure in 1766, all dwellings were within the cluster settlement, with the possible exception of a single farm in the south-west quadrant, perhaps based on one of the three ancient manors. Soon after enclosure, one farmhouse was developed to the east, and since then two further farmhouses have been built in the same sector. Starting in the 1930s, extensive development of the village has occurred between the original cluster up to the road that is now called the A5199. 2.2 Spratton Church is by far the oldest building in Spratton. It was most likely present in Saxon times but enlarged and strengthened in 1120 in the reign of Henry I. At this time the Norman church consisted only of a nave but in approximately 1195 a bell tower and a north aisle were built. In the 14th Century the south aisle was added and a new chancel built together with the erection of the churchyard cross. The spire was constructed in the 15th century. 2.3 The orientation of the main thoroughfares through Spratton has changed within the last 300 years. Prior to this the village was established below the ridge on which now runs the A5199. This was so as to get the benefit of natural well water draining down from it, and it had developed along a south-north axis. Coming in at the southern end of Yew Tree Lane, still known as Entry Hill, the itinerant would have then crossed what is now the Brixworth Road (but was then not a thoroughfare) into School Road, and Manor Road, then up the ‘Roly Banks’ which is still a clearly defined ‘holloway’ and thence on to Little Creaton which later became a deserted hamlet. 2.4 The settlement was probably one with more than one focus, with suggestions of two, later, Manor houses, one opposite the Church in Church Road, the other on the east side of the junction of School Road and Manor Road. 2.5 In 1721 the road out of Northampton to Leicester passing Spratton (the modern A5199) was developed as a turnpike. Despite this, the orientation of main movements through the village remained on a north-south axis, until the development of the motor car, and this is found in the earlier censuses where road names show a clear indication that the current Brixworth Road