k North Devon and Torridge Local Plan Publication Draft Consultation Statement June 2014 If you have any queries or questions relating to this document please get in touch using the details shown below: Torridge District Council North Devon Council Riverbank House Civic Centre Bideford Barnstaple EX39 2QG EX31 1EA [email protected] [email protected] 01237 428748 01271 388392 Contents 1. Introduction 1 2. The Purpose of this Report 2 3. Achieved Engagement - Draft 4 Local Plan 4. Summary of Responses 7 5. Appendix 1: Feedback Report 9 Local Plan Consultation Draft Chapter 1: Introduction 9 Chapter 2: Spatial Planning Vision 14 Policy ST01: Presumption in Favour of 24 Sustainable Development Policy ST02: Principles of Sustainable 26 Development Policy ST03: Adapting to Climate Change 28 Policy ST04: Improving the Quality of 33 Development Policy ST05: Sustainable Construction and 38 Buildings Policy ST06: Spatial Development Strategy 43 for Northern Devon Policy ST07: Scale and Distribution of New 48 Development in Northern Devon ST08: Rural Area Strategy 59 Policy ST09: Coast and Estuary Strategy 63 Policy ST10: Transport Strategy 71 Chapter 5 : A World Class Environment 79 (introduction) Policy ST11: Enhancing Environmental 82 Assets Policy ST12: Conserving Heritage Assets 89 Policy ST13: Delivering Renewable Energy 90 and Heat Chapter 6: Enabling a Vibrant Economy 96 (introduction) Policy ST14: Delivering Employment and 100 Economic Development ST15: Town, District and Village Centres 104 Policy ST16: Sustainable Tourism 107 Chapter 7: Delivering a Balanced Local 109 Housing Market (introduction) Policy ST17: A Balanced Housing Market 112 North Devon and Torridge Local Plan: Consultation Statement Contents Policy ST18: Delivering Affordable Housing 121 Policy ST19: Providing Homes for the 140 Travelling Communities Policy ST20: Managing the Delivery of 142 Housing Policy ST21: Community Services and 146 Facilities Policy ST22: Infrastructure 149 Policy ST23: Neighbourhood Planning 151 Town Strategies: Barnstaple 154 Town Strategies: Bideford 220 Town Strategies: Braunton and Wrafton 254 Town Strategies: Fremington and Yelland 268 Town Strategies: Great Torrington 279 Town Strategies: Holsworthy 299 Town Strategies: Ilfracombe 311 Town Strategies: Northam 326 Town Strategies: South Molton 357 Chapter 11: Monitoring Framework 378 Chapter 12: Development Management 379 Policies 6. Appendix 2: Feedback Report Local Plan Part 3 - Rural 438 Strategies North Devon and Torridge Local Plan: Consultation Statement Introduction 1 1 Introduction 1 North Devon and Torridge District Councils are required under current planning regulations(1) to prepare a Consultation Statement to accompany the submission of the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan to the Secretary of State. 2 This statement adds to the North Devon and Torridge Core Strategy Issue and Options Feedback Report (2009) and the North Devon and Torridge Core Strategy Pre-publication Feedback Report (2011). These studies together demonstrate North Devon and Torridge District Councils are compliant with requirements set out in the Statement of Community Involvement and local planning regulations. 1 Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) England Regulations 2012 North Devon and Torridge Local Plan: Consultation Statement 1 2 The Purpose of this Report 2 The Purpose of this Report 3 The purpose of this statement is threefold, firstly it sets out the process of community engagement; secondly it provides feedback on representations made during the draft Local Plan consultation (parts one and two of the local plan) in early 2013 and focused consultation with Parish Councils on the Rural Strategies (part three of the Local Plan) during 2013; and thirdly it sets out the consequent outcomes and alterations to be made to the Publication Local Plan. 4 The process of engagement has been undertaken to achieve the requirements of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012; and to accord with the Councils' respective Statements of Community Involvement, adopted by North Devon in August 2006 and Torridge in December 2006. In particular the statement sets out: i. how the general and specific consultation bodies who were invited to make representations were notified of the publication of the draft Local Plan consultation document; ii. the time period within which representations had to be made; iii. the procedure for making representations; and iv. a summary of main issues raised as a result of the representations received. 5 The Consultation Statement is also intended to summarise the results of the consultation, including the main points raised by those participating in and contributing towards the consultation. In doing this, the Councils will be able to demonstrate how points raised have been considered and accounted for and hence that the consultation has been a helpful and worthwhile exercise. Finally this report will play an important role in supporting the development of subsequent stages of the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan. Stages of preparing the North Devon and Torridge Local Plan 6 The production of the Local Plan typically follows a series of consultation stages punctuating the overall process. The below table outlines these stages, including the time periods when public consultation has been undertaken and that which is planned for. Additional stages of consultation were added to those prescribed by Regulation(2) to ensure the consequences of changes to national guidance and the loss of the Regional Strategy could be appropriately subject to community wide and stakeholder engagement. Stage Date What will this involve Evidence From 2005 This is an ongoing process of gathering information that will Gathering help inform preparation of the Local Plan (previously known as the Core Strategy). It involves technical work and early consultation with early consultation and key agencies and other stakeholders. Issues and November- The Councils consulted widely to understand the key issues Options December facing northern Devon and the options that could be adopted 2007 to address recognised issues and accommodate growth. The Issues and Options Report(3) was produced as part of the process of ongoing engagement and public consultation took 2 Town and Country Planning (Local Planning)(England) Regulations (2012) 3 Core Strategy Issues and Options Report: http://www.torridge.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=4226&p=0 2 North Devon and Torridge Local Plan: Consultation Statement The Purpose of this Report 2 Stage Date What will this involve place over a twelve week period of public consultation: 8 November 2007 to 21 January 2008. Pre-Publication January The outcomes from the Issues and Options Report supported -March 2010 by key stakeholder engagement and a Sustainability Appraisal informed the preparation of the Pre-Publication Core Strategy. An additional stage of consultation was introduced to respond to the variation in growth requirements in the draft revised Regional Spatial Strategy. Formal consultation took place over an eight week period: 21 January to 15 March 2010. Draft January - A further early stage consultation was undertaken early 2013 March 2013 as a consequence the Government's revocation of Regional Strategies, which required both Councils to establish locally determined housing targets based on local evidence and address policy gaps arising from the revocation It was further agreed by the two councils to prepare a full Local Plan which included Development Management Policies and rural village plans, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework, published in March 2012. Previously these were to be separate Development Plan Documents which were to complement the Core Strategy. Formal consultation took place over an eight week period: 31 January to 15 March 2012. Publication June - The Publication stage will set out the preferred approach for (Pre-Submission) August 2014 how the plan area should develop. There will be a formal six week period of public consultation on the Publication Local Plan. Submission January The Local Plan will be submitted to the Secretary of State version 2014 alongside representations received in response to pre-submission consultation. Public Spring 2015 The examination will allow a Planning Inspector to consider Examination how “sound” the Local Plan is. Those who commented on the Publication version may be invited to appear at the Examination. Adoption of the Summer The Councils will adopt the Local Plan as its development plan Core Strategy 2015 following receipt of the Inspector's Report of Public Examination. Table 2.1 North Devon and Torridge Local Plan: Consultation Statement 3 3 Achieved Engagement - Draft Local Plan 3 Achieved Engagement - Draft Local Plan 7 Following the revocation of the South West Regional Strategy, through the Localism Act 2011 and changes to national planning guidance through the National Planning Policy Framework in March 2012, both Councils agreed to incorporate the following development plan documents (DPD): Core Strategy DPD, Development Management Policies DPD and Site Allocations (including village plans) DPD into one document called the Local Plan. 8 The purpose of the draft Local Plan was to seek views from the local community and stakeholders on how the Councils propose to deal with future growth and development across northern Devon in strategic terms, including how to meet housing and employment requirements identified