North Devon Development Boundary Criteria
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Development Boundary Review and Rural Village Allocations Introduction Development boundaries are defined in both the North Devon Local Plan (2006) and the Torridge District Local Plan (2004); for the largest settlements in North Devon and Torridge and a range of villages in North Devon. In preparing the draft North Devon and Torridge Local Plan the use of development boundaries as a tool to manage development has been considered and confirmed. Policy ST06 of the draft North Devon and Torridge Local Plan defines the settlement hierarchy for northern Devon based on functionality. In providing the framework to accommodate growth, as set out in Policy ST07, development boundaries will be used and, as appropriate, site allocations provided to bring forward specified uses in a defined manner to meet the area’s social and economic needs. Development boundaries are to be defined for all settlements: Strategic and Main Centres, Local Centres and Villages. Development boundaries will delineate on a plan a coherent and established built up area within which further development will, in principle, be acceptable and could benefit the overall sustainability of the settlement. By defining development boundaries for individual settlements, by default, the area outside of the boundary is recognised for the purposes of planning policy as Countryside, where new development will be limited and strictly controlled. There will be a number of settlements which do not have development boundaries and these will also be considered to be in the Countryside. A review of currently defined development boundaries is required to ensure they remain up to date and that there is a consistency of approach to development boundary definition, based on an agreed set of criteria relevant to both urban and rural settlements. In addition to reviewing existing development boundaries there is a need to establish new development boundaries for 40 settlements that have been identified to support development but do not currently have development boundaries. Set out below are the settlements where development boundaries will require review and those settlements which will require the establishment of new development boundaries. Boundary Review Sub Regional Centre Barnstaple Strategic Centre Bideford Main Centres Braunton and Wrafton, Great Torrington, Holsworthy, Ilfracombe, Northam (including Appledore and Westward Ho!) and South Molton Local Centres Bradworthy, Chulmleigh, Combe Martin, Fremington and Yelland, Halwill Junction, Hartland, High Bickington, Instow, North Molton, Shebbear, Winkleigh, Witheridge and Woolacombe Villages Berrynarbor, Bishops Nympton, Bishops Tawton, Burrington, Croyde, Georgeham, Knowle, Landkey Mortehoe, Swimbridge and West Down New Development Boundary Local Centres Bratton Fleming, Buckland Brewer and Dolton Villages Abbotsham, Ashwater, Atherington, Beaford, Black Torrington, Bridgerule, Buck Cross, Chilsworthy, Chittlehampton, Clawton, Clovelly/Higher Clovelly, East Worlington, Filleigh, Goodleigh, Kentisbury/Kentisbury Ford, Kings Nympton, Langtree, Lower Lovacott/Newton Tracey, Merton, Milton Damerel/Venn Green, Monkleigh, Parkham, Pyworthy, Rackenford, Sheepwash, Shirwell, St Giles on the Heath, Stibb Cross, Sutcombe, Umberleigh, Welcombe/Darracott and Woolfardisworthy Defining Development Boundaries Development Boundaries are to be defined for all settlements identified in the settlement hierarchy (Policy ST06). The varied scale and function of settlements and the range of services and facilities they provide is reflected in their position within the settlement hierarchy; the methodology used to define development boundaries is however adaptable and can be consistently applied across the range of settlements. In defining draft development boundaries, the intention is for them to be drawn in order to encompass the integral area of each defined settlement and include allocations identified by the Local Plan, which once developed will form a cohesive part of the settlement fabric. Development boundaries will exclude those areas deemed to relate physically to the countryside and those areas of greenfield land which would unnecessarily increase land‐take, increase urban sprawl or ribbon development and result in coalescence. Development boundaries do not need to be contiguous; it may be appropriate given the nature and form of some settlements to define two or more separate areas. In defining development boundaries, the following methodology will be used to define boundaries across the hierarchy: 1. Development boundaries should follow clearly defined physical features, such as, walls, fences, hedgerows, roads and streams. 2. The curtilages of dwellings are included, unless functionally separate to the dwelling or where the land has the capacity to significantly extend the built form of the settlement and as such would result in ribbon development or coalescence. 3. Areas with planning permission at 1st April 2012 that are physically connected to the built form of the settlement are included. 4. Recreational or amenity open space, which is physically surrounded by the settlement or adjoined on three sides by the settlement, is included within the development boundary. Recreational or amenity open space that extends into the countryside or primarily relates to the countryside in form or nature is excluded from the development boundary. 5. Free standing, individual or groups of dwellings, farm buildings or other structures detached or peripheral to the main built area of the settlement are excluded. 6. Existing caravan sites or leisure uses on the edge of the settlement, which are detached from or peripheral to the main built up area are excluded from the development boundary. 7. Proposed Local Plan allocations are included other than where relating to proposals for 100% affordable housing. 8. Existing employment sites and proposed Local Plan allocations for employment on the periphery of a settlement, which are significant in size in comparison with the settlement’s scale, or are clearly beyond a settlement and irrespective of scale, are excluded from the development boundary. 9. Traditional rural buildings with the potential to be converted to residential use and which physically relate to the settlement are included within the development boundary. Modern agricultural buildings and working farms are excluded from development boundaries. 10. Individual plots or small scale development sites (less than five units) that would provide rounding off opportunities in areas physically and visually related to the settlement are included within the development boundary. 11. Retail sites and proposed Local Plan allocations, existing community facilities, such as religious buildings, schools and community halls, are included within the development boundary, if they are physically related to the settlement. .