Folkestone and Hythe District Council Core Strategy Review 2018 Foreword Foreword 4 Contents 1 Introduction 6 1.1 About the Core Strategy 7 1.2 About Folkestone and Hythe 11 2 Strategic Issues 22 2.1 District Development Challenges and Potential 22 2.2 Strategic Needs for Sustainable Development 34 3 Aims and Vision for Folkestone and Hythe District 40 3.1 District Planning Aims 40 3.2 Vision for Folkestone and Hythe District 42 4 The Spatial Strategy for Folkestone and Hythe 48 4.1 District Spatial Strategy 48 4.2 Housing and the Economy Growth Strategy 56 4.3 Place Shaping and Sustainable Settlements Strategy 59 4.4 Priority Centres of Activity Strategy 67 4.5 District Infrastructure Planning Strategy 72 4.6 Strategic Allocations 77 5 Core Strategy Delivery 108 5.1 Core Policies for Planning 108 5.2 Areas of Strategic Change 129 5.3 Implementation 150 6 Appendices 154 6.1 Appendix 1: Monitoring and Risk 154 6.2 Appendix 2: Glossary of Terms and Technical Studies 161 Consultation Draft (Regulation 18) Folkestone and Hythe District Council Core Strategy Review 2018 Consultation Draft (Regulation 18) Folkestone and Hythe District Council Core Strategy Review 2018 Foreword Consultation Draft (Regulation 18) 3 Folkestone and Hythe District Council Core Strategy Review 2018 Foreword Core Strategy Local Plan Review I’m delighted to present the first consultation draft of the review of our Core Strategy Local Plan. Our Core Strategy sets out our long term vision for the district’s communities, economy and environment. The current strategy was adopted in 2013 – this review updates key parts of that document. Over the last 5 years, more than 1,500 new homes have been built across the district, and we’ve identified sites for future housing development in our current planning policies, but there’s still a pressing need for more housing for local people. This review takes into consideration the government’s target to build 300,000 new homes each year, and our updated assessment of local housing need, to arrive at a revised district-wide requirement for new homes. It introduces our aspiration for a new garden settlement at Otterpool Park. This will help provide the new homes we need, but is about so much more: This document explains the opportunity we have to create an attractive and vibrant place, build well designed environmentally friendly homes, and provide new services and amenities, like schools, medical centres and parks. It also explains our plans to see homes built around a new village centre for Sellindge to take advantage of what’s already there and improve the existing school, medical facilities, local open spaces, and parish and village facilities. This is a very exciting time for our district’s future: I hope you will take some time to help us plan for that future by telling us what you think over the coming weeks. Cllr John Collier Cabinet Member for the District Economy 4 Consultation Draft (Regulation 18) Folkestone and Hythe District Council Core Strategy Review 2018 Introduction Consultation Draft (Regulation 18) 5 Folkestone and Hythe District Council Core Strategy Review 2018 1 Introduction Policy Index Spatial Strategy Policy DSD 'Delivering Sustainable Development' Policy SS1 'District Spatial Strategy' Policy SS2 'Housing and the Economy Growth Strategy' Policy SS3 'Place-Shaping and Sustainable Settlements Strategy' Policy SS4 'Priority Centres of Activity Strategy' Policy SS5 'District Infrastructure Planning' Policy SS6 'New Garden Settlement - Development Requirements' Policy SS7 'New Garden Settlement - Place Shaping Principles' Policy SS8 'New Garden Settlement - Sustainability and Healthy New Town Principles' Policy SS9 'New Garden Settlement - Infrastructure, Delivery and Management' Policy SS10 'Spatial Strategy for Folkestone Seafront' Policy SS11 'Spatial Strategy for Shorncliffe Garrison, Folkestone' Core Strategy Delivery Policy CSD1 'Balanced Neighbourhoods' Policy CSD2 'District Residential Needs' Policy CSD3 'Rural and Tourism Development' Policy CSD4 'Green Infrastructure of Natural Networks, Open Spaces and Recreation' Policy CSD5 'Water and Coastal Environmental Management' Policy CSD6 'Central Folkestone Strategy' Policy CSD7 'Hythe Strategy' Policy CSD8 'New Romney Strategy' Policy CSD9 'Sellindge Strategy' 1.1 The following section introduces the Core Strategy Review in the context of its evolution, role and approach. It then looks at some of the general and district-specific factors influencing the Core Strategy Review. 6 Consultation Draft (Regulation 18) Folkestone and Hythe District Council Core Strategy Review 2018 1.1 About the Core Strategy About This Document Core Strategy Review This document is the first draft of the Core Strategy Review. It is published for consultation under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations. All comments received during the consultation will be considered by the council in drafting the next version of the Core Strategy Review (known as the 'Regulation 19' plan). This will also be subject to public consultation towards the end of 2018 and all comments made during this stage will be passed to an independent planning Inspector, appointed by the Planning Inspectorate (or 'PINS'). A public examination will then be held into the Core Strategy Review and, if the Inspector considers that the plan meets the 'tests of soundness' set out in national planning policy, it will then be adopted by the council. On adoption it will replace the current 2013 Core Strategy and will be used to make decisions on planning applications within the district. Changes to national planning policy This Core Strategy Review is being prepared at a time of great change within the planning system. The government is proposing changes to the way that local planning authorities plan for housing and a revised draft of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has recently been published for consultation. These changes will be assessed by the council, alongside the consultation comments on this draft, when producing the Regulation 19 version of the plan. Where relevant, these government proposals are explained further in the later sections of this plan. Other planning documents The principal focus of the Core Strategy Review is on strategic-scale growth within the district. In parallel with this Core Strategy Review, the council is also finalising the Places and Policies Local Plan, which identifies small- and medium-sized sites for development throughout the district for the period to 2031. The Places and Policies Local Plan is being prepared through a separate process and sites within that document are not considered in this consultation. Approach to the Core Strategy Review This Core Strategy Review is being undertaken to assess housing and employment requirements over a longer period than the Places and Policies Local Plan period - to 2036/37 - based on the most up-to-date evidence. However, it should be noted that: 1. Where policies in the 2013 Core Strategy are still relevant and meet national planning policy they are not proposed to be amended and are included unchanged from the 2013 Core Strategy; 2. Many of the strategic sites identified in the 2013 Core Strategy now have planning permission and development is progressing on some sites. Policies for these sites are included in this draft, unchanged from the 2013 Core Strategy - this is to ensure that a planning framework remains in place to guide future phases of the developments, or in case planning permissions on the sites lapse. Should development advance significantly on these sites in 2018 then the Council will delete these policies from the plan; and 3. Where major strategic growth is being proposed for the first time, new policies have been drafted that did not feature in the 2013 Core Strategy (subsequent policies have been renumbered). Also where additional growth is proposed 2013 Core Strategy policies have been significantly amended. Changed policies include: A New Garden Settlement within the North Downs Character Area (Policies SS6-SS9); and Sellindge Strategy (Policy CSD9). Consultation Draft (Regulation 18) 7 Folkestone and Hythe District Council Core Strategy Review 2018 Role of the Core Strategy 1.2 Development in England is guided by national and local policy. At the local level the district's statutory Local Plan documents direct change by forming the basis for deciding planning applications for development, and also through guiding public and private sector investment decisions. 1.3 The Core Strategy is a long-term plan bringing together the aims and actions of the government, local councils, residents, businesses and voluntary groups, by managing land-use and developments. The current 2013 Core Strategy was adopted as part of the statutory development plan for the district on 18 September 2013. Role of the Places and Policies Local Plan 1.4 Future plans for specific purposes, topics or areas will all flow from, and help deliver, Core Strategy principles. For example the Places and Policies Local Plan (PPLP), proposes to allocate approximately 1,600 dwellings across many small- and medium-sized sites following the framework set by the 2013 Core Strategy (some of these sites now have planning permission). The PPLP will also provide a new suite of development management polices to replace the saved policies from the Local Plan Review 2006. Once that plan is found 'sound' by the Planning Inspectorate and adopted it will ensure that the council has sufficient allocations to meet the objective of a minimum of 350 dwellings and a target of 400 dwellings per annum between 2006/07 and 2031 as set out in policy SS2 of the 2013 Core Strategy. However, in keeping with government guidance, a partial review of the Core Strategy is now being undertaken to assess housing and employment requirements over a longer period based on the most up-to-date evidence. Community Infrastructure Levy 1.5 A Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule was adopted by the council on 20 July 2016 and CIL has been in operation from 1 August 2016.