Core Strategy Adopted December 2009
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Local Development Framework Core Strategy ADOPTED DECEMBER 2009 Maps included in this document © Crown copyright. All rights reserved Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council LA100018489 Published 2008 Aerial Photographs Copyright GeoPerspectives. Supplied by Bluesky International Ltd. Foreword As the Executive Member with responsibilities for Regeneration and Planning for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council I am proud to announce the adoption of the council’s Core Strategy Development Plan Document. The adoption of this Document is the result of more than 5 years of work, which began with a series of workshops around the borough to help the council to understand what local communities value about their local environment and what issues communities face over the next 20 years. The Document is the frst of its kind to be produced by a single council in the whole of the East Midlands. It provides this council with an up to date planning policy framework upon which to assess the merits of future planning application submissions. Further, it provides more certainty in helping the council to meet its future development requirements up to 2026. The Core Strategy is the key strategic document in the suite of documents to be produced as part of the Local Development Framework for the borough. It provides a steer on the level and direction of future housing and employment growth, it also sets out policies aimed to improve the environment and the range of facilities in the urban areas as well as the rural settlements of the borough. Importantly the Document seeks to ensure the necessary physical, social and green infrastructure is put in place to allow the strategy to be successfully delivered. Councillor Stuart Bray (Leader) Contact details: Strategy and Regeneration • Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council • Council Offices • Argents Mead • Hinckley • Leicestershire LE10 1BZ tel 01455 238141 email [email protected] web www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk Designed and published by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council 3 Adopted Core Strategy 2009 Contents page 1.0 Introduction 5 What is a Local Development Framework? 5 What is a Core Strategy? 6 2.0 Policy Context for the Core Strategy 7 National Policy - Focus on Sustainable Development 7 The East Midlands Regional Plan 7 The Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Local Plan 7 The Leicestershire Sustainable Community Strategy and Hinckley & Bosworth Community Plan 8 Other Strategies 8 3.0 Issues, Vision & Objectives 9 Portrait of Hinckley & Bosworth 9 Issues Facing the Borough 13 Our Vision- The Kind of Borough We're Working Towards 19 Spatial Objectives 20 4.0 The Spatial Strategy 22 Introduction 22 Spatial Strategy and Policies: Urban Areas 30 Spatial Strategy and Policies: Rural Areas 40 Overarching Policies 57 5.0 Infrastructure Plan 71 6.0 Monitoring Framework 81 Appendix 1: Strategies considered in the development of the Core Strategy 89 Appendix 2: Housing Trajectory 93 Appendix 3: Local Plan Policies to be replaced by Core Strategy Policies 94 Glossary 95 4 Adopted Core Strategy 2009 1.0 Introduction What is a Local Development Framework? 1.1 Under the Government's new planning system, instead of producing a single document called a Local Plan, the council is required to prepare a Local Development Framework (LDF), a 'folder' of documents that set out different land use policies for meeting the community's economic, environmental and social needs for the future. 1.2 For Hinckley & Bosworth, the Local Development Framework will consist of a number of Development Plan Documents including: • Core Strategy • Site Allocations and Generic Development Control Policies • Hinckley Town Centre Area Action Plan • Earl Shilton and Barwell Sustainable Urban Extensions Area Action Plan 1.3 The Core Strategy provides the over-arching strategy and long term vision for Hinckley & Bosworth, whilst other Development Plan Documents implement the strategy and vision contained within the Core Strategy. 1.4 In addition to Development Plan Documents, a number of Supplementary Planning Documents are also being prepared. These will provide additional details to policies contained in the Development Plan Documents. 1.5 The Local Development Framework also includes the council’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement which outlines how the council will consult on the Local Development Framework and Development Control decisions and the Local Development Scheme which sets out the timetable for producing the Local Development Framework. In addition, the Annual Monitoring Report (produced 31st December each year) provides an assessment of the progress made against targets and the performance of policies in the Local Development Framework. The components of the Local Development Framework are illustrated in Figure 1. 1.6 The Local Development Framework for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will, once adopted, replace the existing Local Plan which was adopted in 2001. Figure 1: The Local Development Framework Source: Creating Local Development Frameworks: A Companion Guide to Planning Policy Statement 12 (ODPM, 2004) 5 Adopted Core Strategy 2009 What is a Core Strategy? 1.7 The Core Strategy sets out the overarching strategy and core policies to guide the future development of the borough up to 2026. It must be in general conformity with the East Midlands Regional Plan and National Planning Guidance and be a key implementation mechanism for the Leicestershire Sustainable Communities Strategy and the Hinckley & Bosworth Community Plan. It is not appropriate for the Core Strategy to identify individual sites, unless they are strategic in nature; this will be done in the Site Allocations and Generic Development Control Policies Development Plan Document (the programme for which is set out in the Local Development Scheme). It has been developed having regard to conformity with national and regional planning policy, deliverability, local accessibility, previous consultations and evidence based research. 1.8 The Core Strategy is accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal Report which assesses the proposals in the Core Strategy to ensure they contribute to sustainable development. The Sustainability Appraisal identified the following potential benefits of the Hinckley & Bosworth Core Strategy: provision of housing to meet the needs of the local community, including significant levels of affordable housing; provision of employment development with associated job creation and economic growth; maintenance of existing services and provision of new services to support the existing population and accommodate growth; enhancement of public transport, cycling and walking routes; encouragement of sustainable design and construction of new developments; encouragement of the use of renewable energy; preservation and enhancement of green infrastructure. 1.9 The potential adverse effects of the Hinckley & Bosworth Core Strategy include: effects on landscape and biodiversity; loss of greenfield land to development; generation of construction and demolition waste; risk of pollution during construction of developments and once operational; air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from increases in traffic; increased energy and water consumption. The full Sustainability Appraisal is available at www.hinckley- bosworth.gov.uk or in hard copy upon request. 1.10 All future Development Plan Documents and Supplementary Planning Documents will have to be in conformity with the Core Strategy. 1.11 Every effort has been made to make the document as clear as possible with little reference to planning guidance and policy statements. However, it does contain some technical language, so there is a glossary of terms at the end of this document to help readers with the range of new terms that have been introduced. 6 Adopted Core Strategy 2009 2.0 Policy Context for the Core Strategy 2.1 The Core Strategy is not beginning with a blank sheet of paper, it needs to reflect and build on policy and guidance at a national, regional and sub regional level. National Policy - Focus on Sustainable Development 2.2 National planning policy is set out in Planning Policy Statements, Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Circulars. A key requirement of national policy is the focus on delivering sustainable development. Planning Policy Statement 1 provides a framework of the elements that need to be taken into consideration in delivering sustainable communities – these have been reflected in the preparation of the spatial objectives for this Core Strategy. 2.3 The Local Development Framework will not repeat advice set out in Planning Policy Statements/Planning Policy Guidance or Circulars as these must already be taken into account when determining planning applications. The East Midlands Regional Plan 2.4 The East Midlands Regional Plan contains the Regional Transport Strategy and was published in March 2009 and revises the Regional Plan adopted in March 2005. The Regional Plan provides a framework for development and Investment up to 2026 and is part of the statutory development plan for the East Midlands region. It sets out a Spatial Strategy to promote sustainable development within the region in both urban and rural areas. It defines the designation of Principal Urban Areas and Sub-Regional Centres, and outlines priorities for their development. The Strategy also contains policies in respect of the Region's 5 Sub-areas; Hinckley & Bosworth falls within the 3 cities sub-area and Hinckley is identified as a Sub- Regional Centre. It includes housing provision figures