Policy LP23 Local Green Spaces and other Important Open Space Evidence Report Proposed Submission April 2016 Contents 1. Introduction and Policy Context................................................................................................ 2 2 Central Lincolnshire Context in Relation to Policy LP23 ........................................................... 2 3 Local Plan Policy: Preliminary Draft ......................................................................................... 3 4 Local Plan Policy: Further Draft................................................................................................ 3 5 Local Plan Policy: Submission Draft ......................................................................................... 5 6 Alternative Reasonable Options ............................................................................................... 5 Appendix 1: Central Lincolnshire Local Green Space Assessment 1. Introduction and Policy Context Introduction 1.1 A joint Local Plan for the Central Lincolnshire area is being produced which will set the framework for how development will be considered across the districts of the City of Lincoln, North Kesteven and West Lindsey to 2036. 1.2 This Evidence Report (which is one of a collection) provides background information and justification for policy LP23, which relates to Local Green Space (LGS) and existing Important Open Space designation. Please note the policy numbering for this policy has changed in the Proposed Submission Local Plan from LP22 (in the Further Draft) to LP23. National policy 1.3 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published in March 2012 and the National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG) was introduced in 2014 which offers ‘live’ government guidance. The NPPF introduced a new LGS designation which is for open spaces important to local communities. 1.4 Section 8 of the NPPF concerns “promoting healthy communities” and there is a separate section on “Plan-making”. The following points are particularly relevant: Paragraph 73- “Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities”. Paragraph 76- Local communities through local and neighbourhood plans should be able to identify for special protection green areas of particular importance to them. By designating land as Local Green Space local communities will be able to rule out new development other than in very special circumstances. Paragraph 77- The Local Green Space designation will not be appropriate for most green areas or open spaces. The designation should only be used: . Where the green space is in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves; . Where the green area is demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value, tranquillity or richness of wildlife; and . Where the green area concerned is local in character and not an extensive tract of land. Paragraph 78- Local policy for managing development within a Local Green Space should be consistent with Policy for Green Belts. 1.5 The above NPPF policy has been taken into account in preparing the Local Plan as a whole, and policy LP23 in particular. 2 Central Lincolnshire Context in Relation to Policy LP23 2.1 Open spaces make a significant contribution to local communities and the environment within Central Lincolnshire. Accessible, good quality open spaces provide opportunities for 2 physical exercise and places to meet, impacting positively on health and wellbeing and social cohesion. These spaces also have environmental benefits, including supporting biodiversity, flood risk management and contributing to landscape and townscape character and the setting of the built environment. 2.2 Within the existing Local Plans which cover the Central Lincolnshire area, there are areas within villages identified as Visual Amenity Areas (North Kesteven) and Important Open Spaces (West Lindsey) which are important to the character and amenity of rural settlements. There are also open spaces designated as Critical Natural Assets, Basic Natural Stock and Functional Open Space within the existing Local Plan for the City of Lincoln that contribute to townscape character and provide important spaces for sport and recreation in the urban area. 2.3 A key issue facing the Central Lincolnshire Authorities is balancing the need to retain access to and protect high quality open spaces, whilst delivering significant growth in new homes and jobs with improved infrastructure. 3 Local Plan Policy: Preliminary Draft 3.1 The Preliminary Draft version of the Local Plan (published for consultation in October – November 2014) included a policy on LGSs and sought nomination of sites by the local community to be considered for allocation as LGS. The policy did not make reference to existing open spaces in the adopted Central Lincolnshire Local Plans. 3.2 There was general support for the aims of the policy. Key issues raised during the consultation on the Preliminary Draft Local Plan are summarised below: There was objection to how the wording of the policy implies that LGSs have the same status as Green Belt land; One respondent felt the policy was too vague and should include criteria to guide development that would be acceptable in a LGS designation; Definition should be extended to cover green space between settlements Guidance in Appendix B could be more detailed. 3.3 There were a number of sites nominated for allocation as LGS. These nominations and the assessment and justification as to whether they meet the LGS criteria as set out in the NPPF, can be found in Appendix 1 to this report. 4 Local Plan Policy: Further Draft 4.1 The policy in the Further Draft version of the Local Plan (published for consultation in October – November 2015) was amended in response to comments received during the consultation on the Preliminary Draft Local Plan. The wording of the policy was amended to address the comments regarding status of LGSs in relation to Green Belt land. The policy wasn’t amended to include criteria to guide development, but stated that development would only be acceptable in very special circumstances and with support from the local community. This was felt to be sufficient alongside national policy set out in the NPPF. 4.2 Those green spaces considered to meet the criteria for LGS designation were shown on the Further Draft Local Plan Policies Map as “Local Designated Greenspace”. At this Further Draft stage, “Potential LGS to be assessed” sites were also shown on the Policies Map, with the intention of assessing these sites against the LGS NPPF criteria, as the importance of existing open spaces to local communities was highlighted during the 3 Preliminary Draft consultation. These were areas within villages identified as Visual Amenity Areas (North Kesteven) and Important Open Spaces (West Lindsey) within the existing Central Lincolnshire Local Plans. 4.3 Various comments were received in relation to policy LP23 (then known as LP22) during the consultation on the Further Draft Local Plan. There were mixed views on the policy. In some instances the policy was generally supported, but detailed comments and suggestions were made by others as to how the policy wording could be improved. The key issues raised in relation to the policy as drafted in the Further Draft included: The policy should be supported by a detailed landscape assessment; Concern that existing open spaces designated in the currently adopted Local Plans for the area are not shown on the Policies Map or protected by policy; Concern around the requirement that only proposals that will protect and enhance LGS, and are demonstrably supported by the local community, will be permitted. The policy contains no additional guidance as to how a proposal should seek to be demonstrably supported; Policy is not justified over and above other green infrastructure policies that are in place. 4.4 In addition to comments on the policy wording, there were a number of representations in relation to the Polices Map. 4.5 Current or proposed LGS were supported in part or whole at the following: Nocton Heighington Potterhanworth Hemswell Cliff Cherry Willingham Skellingthorpe Branston Canwick Saxilby Fiskerton 4.6 Current or proposed LGSs were objected to in part or whole at the following: Cherry Willingham Skellingthorpe Nettleham South Hykeham Market Rasen Fiskerton 4.7 Objections were received to sites that did not meet the LGS criteria and had not been designated on the Policies Map at/near: Grayingham 4.8 New LGSs nominations were received at/near: Brattleby Keelby Ruskington Heighington Scotter Caistor Lincoln 4 Fiskerton Riseholme Hemswell Cliff Scothern Saxilby Metheringham 4.9 These further LGS nominations have been assessed in the same way as the nominations submitted as part of the Preliminary Draft stage. These nominations and the assessment and justification as to whether they meet the LGS criteria as set out in the NPPF, can be found in Appendix 1 to this report. 5 Local Plan Policy: Submission Draft 5.1 Comments made during the Further Draft consultation have been duly considered and the Proposed Submission version of policy LP23 and the proposed Policies Map have been revised from the Further Draft versions. 5.2 In light of the key issues raised above in 4.3, policy wording that required proposals to