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JOINT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
VERSION 3
JULY 2018
1 Prepared as part of the Local Plan for Christchurch and East Dorset Produced by the Planning Policy Team Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership Civic Offices Bridge Street Christchurch Dorset BH23 1AZ 01202 795175 [email protected]
0 1 Introduction
1.1 This is the third Joint Local Development Scheme (LDS) produced as a single document for the Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership. Previously, both Christchurch and East Dorset Councils had produced separate LDS documents, the first having been submitted to the Secretary of State in March 2005. This Joint LDS revises the programme for the production of the Local Plan documents set out in Joint LDS Version 2 of July 2016 .
1.2 This document explains how planning policy documents in Christchurch and East Dorset will be prepared over the next three years. It also contains information about the status of existing local plans and Supplementary Planning Guidance which remain in force. This projected work programme is subject to Local Government Reorganisation (see Section x below).
1.3 This Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the documents that will form the Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan. The principal purposes of the LDS are: To provide a programme for the preparation of the Local Plan over a three year period. A list of the documents that form the Local Plan, contained within a timetable of their production, is shown in section 7 and Annex A. To provide the local community, and those interested in planning in Christchurch and East Dorset, with a starting point as to what policies apply and when the various stages of the Local Plan will be carried out.
1.4 This Local Development Scheme remains a joint document for Christchurch and East Dorset albeit that the Local Plan Reviews are now separate documents for each Council area.
2 What’s new in this revision of the LDS?
2.1 This Local Development Scheme introduces a number changes to previous versions. These changes result from the following:
A decision to de-couple the full Local Plan Review into separate reviews for Christchurch and for East Dorset, as a result of impending Local Government Reorganisation. . An update to the Housing and Affordable Housing SPD An updated timetable for the Gypsy & Traveller Sites DPD.
1 3 What makes up the Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan?
3.1 The Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan is a folder of documents which will, collectively, make up the statutory development plan for Christchurch and East Dorset. This section sets out the content of the Local Plan over the next three years. A timetable for document production is set out in Section 7, and more detailed document profiles are set out in Annex A.
3.2 The Core Strategy sets out the overall spatial planning strategy for the area, providing a vision and key objectives, together with policies which set the spatial context for detailed planning on specific issues. It also allocates major development sites for employment and new neighbourhoods across Christchurch and East Dorset.
3.3 The Core Strategy now sets out policies for Heathland protection, and detailed guidance on provision of SANG. This, combined with the Dorset Heathlands Planning Framework SPD, and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), now provides a comprehensive policy framework for protection of the Dorset Heathlands within Christchurch and East Dorset.
3.4 The Councils are continuing begin work in this LDS on full Local Plan Reviews for Christchurch and for East Dorset. These comprise updating the Core Strategy, and combining it with more detailed site specific allocations and Development Management policies. These documents will therefore set out the overall planning framework for the area as well as policies for specific sites for housing, employment, community facilities, open space etc, and general policies for Development Management. This work will, when completed, replace any remaining saved policies from the Christchurch Borough Local Plan 2001, and the East Dorset District Local Plan 2002, some of which remain in force at present.
3.5 Across the County of Dorset, including Bournemouth and Poole, joint working on Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs has been undertaken identifying the need for sites for both transit and resident communities across the County. The Dorset planning authorities are continuing to work together to produce a Joint Gypsy & Traveller Sites DPD. A timetable for this is also set out in the LDS.
3.6 A number of other documents have also been produced as part of the Local Plan. In addition to the Core Strategy, the Councils provide detailed guidance on matters relating to delivery of affordable housing, and to housing space standards in a Housing and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document. This was adopted in April 2014, but is to be the subject of review and updating as part of the work programme in this LDS.
2 3.7 The Councils updated and adopted their joint Statement of Community Involvement in 2016. This document sets out how the community and stakeholders will be involved in the preparation of the Local Plan and on planning applications. Policies in the Local Plan will be monitored during preparation of the Authority Monitoring Report. This report will also assess performance against key local and national indicators.
3.8 In addition, the adopted policies maps for Christchurch and East Dorset have been revised and updated., These now comprise designations and saved policies from the old Borough and District Local Plans, as well as new policy notations and allocations from the Core Strategy. These policies maps will be revised as required upon the adoption of new policy documents.
3.9 The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) charge supports the delivery of development identified in the Core Strategy and subsequent documents through a tariff levied on certain forms of development, primarily residential. The Charging Schedules have been adopted and the Councils began charging CIL from January 2017.
4 Process of preparation.
4.1 In simple terms, preparation of Development Plan Documents is a five stage process: Production Pre-Submission Submission Examination Adoption
4.2 During the pre-production stage, evidence is gathered to inform the issues which the document will address. This will include both detailed survey work, and consultation with stakeholders and the public to determine issues, and possible options for addressing those issues. At this stage an initial “Regulation 18” issues paper will be produced for consultation, and a further consultation will be held on a draft options plan.
4.3 The Pre-Submission stage is when the policy framework begins to take shape, and the Council presents the public with a draft policy document for consultation, to invite comments prior to submitting it for the Secretary of State’s approval.
4.4 Submission stage is where a final policy document is submitted to the Secretary of State for consideration and approval.
4.5 Following submission, the Secretary of State will appoint an Inspector to hold an examination into the soundness of the DPD. The Inspector will issue a report which makes changes to the document. Once the document has been amended to include the changes set out by the Inspector, the DPD will be adopted.
3 4.6 A simpler process applies to production of Supplementary Planning Documents, where evidence is gathered to support preparation of a draft document. This document is produced for public consultation, and is then amended and adopted. There is no examination process for SPDs.
5 Partnership working and Local Government Reorganisation
5.1 Christchurch Borough Council and East Dorset District Council work in partnership to produce the Local Plan, and have recently created a single planning policy team for the two Councils. This partnership work involves preparation of some joint documents, although both Councils adopt documents separately.
5.2 This has provided the following benefits:
A. Joint work allows a degree of specialism to be engendered in the overall team, enabling the best use of resources and providing greater in-house expertise.
B. The Councils have combined resources in the gathering of evidence. This will provide significant savings, including when consultants are required. Additionally, it enables a consistent approach to be adopted in the collection and analysis of data.
C. Where joint Documents are prepared this has made best use of resources because: i) Only one document needed to be written, instead of two. ii) Consultation was combined, thereby saving advertising costs and widening the public response. iii) Stakeholders have only had to respond to one document. iv) There has been potential for only one Public Examination to be held.
5.3 Joint working has already proved successful in preparing and adopting the Core Strategy, the Housing and Affordable Housing SPD, and several evidence studies.
5.4 Recent proposals to create a new structure of Local Government in Dorset have been approved by the Secretary of State. This would replace the existing 8 Councils in Dorset with 2 new Unitary Councils. Under these proposals, Christchurch would form part of a Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, while East Dorset would form part of a Dorset Council from 1st April 2019. Whilst joint partnership work continues, a decision has been taken to separate the joint Local Plan Review into 2 separate reviews for Christchurch and one for East Dorset. This is considered necessary in order to avoid creating a local plan which straddles part but not all of two Council areas, and which would therefore create difficulties in assessing delivery of housing and other development. It is proposed that the two local plan reviews will progress to identical timescales toward Pre-Submission. Beyond this, preparation of the documents will be prepared by the new Unitary Councils.
4 5.5 Aside from this overall joint approach, the Council is committed to partnership working where appropriate on all aspects of the Local Plan process. In respect of the Dorset Heathlands Planning Framework SPD, the Council has already worked in partnership with Natural England and other South East Dorset authorities.
5.6 The production of the Gypsy & Traveller Sites DPD is being undertaken jointly by all the Dorset Authorities.
6 What now makes up the Development Plan for Christchurch and East Dorset?
6.1 Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that planning applications should be determined in accordance with the development plan, unless other material considerations indicate otherwise. The development plan for Christchurch and East Dorset currently comprises four documents:
. Any remaining saved policies in the Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole Structure Plan adopted in 2001; The Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan Part 1 (Core Strategy), adopted in April 2014. Any remaining saved policies from The Christchurch Local Plan, adopted in 2001. Any remaining saved policies from the East Dorset District Local Plan, adopted in 2002.
6.2 The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 allowed for policies from the old Christchurch Borough Local Plan and the East Dorset District Local Plan to be saved for a period of three years from commencement of the Act, which took place on 27th September 2004. As DPDs are adopted, policies of the old Local Plans are being replaced. A number of further policies from the old Local Plans were replaced upon adoption of the Core Strategy.
6.3 To clarify which policies of the old local plans remain in force, a comprehensive schedule of saved, and deleted policies is set out in Appendices 3 (East Dorset) and 4 (Christchurch) of the Core Strategy.
6.4 Existing old style Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) will also continue to be taken into account when making decisions on planning applications, as long as the relevant saved policies in the Local Plan are still in place. A further review of any remaining SPGs will take place as part of production work on the Christchurch and East Dorset Local Plan Reviews.
5 7 The Local Plan programme.
7.1 The timetable for the Local Plan is set out below in the form of a chart, and detailed tables for the production of each main document are set out in Annex A.
Local Development Scheme Timetable 2018-2020 Year 2018 2019 2020 Month J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D Christchurch Local Plan Review a a a a a a c c c e d d h e b b f g g h d d e East Dorset Local Plan Review a a a a a a c c c e d d h e f g g h Dorset Gypsy & Traveller Sites DPD a a a a a a a a d d e f g h h e Housing and Affordable Housing SPD a a a a a a cc cc dd c c h
a Evidence gathering/scoping d Pre Submission public consultation (Reg 19) f Pre-Examination meeting
b Consultation on scope and call for sites (Reg 18) dd Adopt SPD g Public Examination
c Consultation on Options e Submit document to the Secretary of State h Adopt document
cc Consultation on draft SPD
6 7 Annexes
A – Document Profiles
B – Supplementary Planning Guidance
C – Strategic Environmental Assessment & Sustainability Appraisal
D – Resources & risk
8 Annex A – Document Profiles.
A1 The following profiles provide a more detailed analysis of the preparation process for each document set out in this revision of the Local Development Scheme.
9 Document 1 Christchurch Local Plan Review Details Purpose To provide a comprehensive range of planning policies for Christchurch, combining the over- arching policy framework from the Core Strategy, with site specific policies and Development Management policies. Geographic coverage Whole Borough Status DPD Joint Document Yes Conformity National Planning Policy Framework Related documents SHMA, SHLAA, Workspace Strategy, Retail Study, SFRA, Open space study. Production Timescale and key milestones Commencement of preparation (Reg 18) September 2016 Initial draft/options consultation July/August 2018 Committee Reports February 2019 Milestone Pre-Submission Consultation (Reg 19) February/March 2019 Committee Reports May 2019 Milestone Submission June 2019 Pre-examination meeting September 2019 Commencement of examination October 2019 Milestone adoption February 2020 Studies SFRA, Retail Study, Green Belt Study, updated SHLAA, Whole Plan Viability Study, Christchurch Town Centre Flood Risk study.. required Resources The DPD will be prepared mainly by the Partnership Planning Policy Team, using existing resources, supported by transport planners from required Dorset County Council, and specific consultancy work as required.
10 Document 2 East Dorset Local Plan Review Details Purpose To provide a comprehensive range of planning policies for East Dorset, combining the over- arching policy framework from the Core Strategy, with site specific policies and Development Management policies. Geographic coverage Whole District Status DPD Joint Document Yes Conformity National Planning Policy Framework Related documents SHMA, SHLAA, Workspace Strategy, Retail Study, SFRA, Open space study. Production Timescale and key milestones Commencement of preparation (Reg 18) September 2016 Initial draft/options consultation July/August 2018 Committee Reports February 2019 Milestone Pre-Submission Consultation (Reg 19) February/March 2019 Committee Reports May 2019 Milestone Submission June 2019 Pre-examination meeting September 2019 Commencement of examination October 2019 Milestone adoption February 2020 Studies SFRA, Retail Study, Green Belt Study, updated SHLAA, Whole Plan Viability Study, . required Resources The DPD will be prepared mainly by the Partnership Planning Policy Team, using existing resources, supported by transport planners from required Dorset County Council, and specific consultancy work as required.
11 Document 4 Gypsy & Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites DPD Details Purpose To allocate sites for transit and residential Gypsy & Traveller pitches. Geographic coverage All of Dorset Status DPD Joint Document Yes, and with all other Dorset authorities. Conformity National Planning Policy Framework. Core Strategy Related documents Dorset Gypsy & Traveller Accommodation Assessment Production Timescale and key milestones Commencement of preparation Summer 2010 Issues and Option consultation (Reg 25) November 2011-January 2012 Committee Reports June 2012 Milestone Alternative sites consultation September – November 2014 Committee Reports September 2018 Milestone Pre- Submission October-November 2018, Submit Pre-examination meeting December 2018 Commencement of examination January 2019 Milestone adoption May 2019 Studies Detailed site assessment studies. Updated GTAA. required Resources This document was initially prepared by Peter Brett Associates, consultants appointed jointly by the Dorset authorities, assisted by officers required from the various Councils. An updated Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment was undertaken during 2018. The remaining preparation stages of the DPD will be undertaken by officers from across the Dorset authorities.
12 Document 5 Housing and Affordable Housing SPD Details Purpose To update the Housing and Affordable Housing SPD. Geographic coverage Christchurch and East Dorset Status SPD Joint Document Yes Conformity National Planning Policy Framework. Core Strategy
Production Timescale and key milestones Commencement of preparation October 2017 Draft Consultation July 2018 Committee Reports September 2018 Milestone
Milestone
Milestone adoption October 2018 Studies Review of sites viability by District Valuer.. required Resources Housing Enabling and Planning Policy Teams.. required
13 Annex B – Supplementary Planning Guidance and other non-development plan documents.
B1 The following lists show which Supplementary Planning Guidance documents are currently retained as they are required to support saved policies of the Christchurch Borough Local Plan 2001, and the East Dorset District Local Plan 2002. Retained guidance will continue to be used as a material consideration in the determination of planning applications:
Christchurch Borough Council:
Town Centre Strategy 2003 Borough Character Assessment 2003 Design Advice Note 1: Extending or otherwise altering your home 2003 Magistrates Court Planning Brief 2003 Guidelines for advertisements and shop fronts 2005 Amusement Centres and Amusement Arcades policy 1986 Granny Annexe – Procedure for Planning Considerations 1999 Business Activities from Home 1999 Designing for Accessibility – an essential guide for public buildings 2000 You and your listed building – Advisory Note 2000 Conservation Areas – Advisory Note 2000 Development Related Travel Plans (DCC) 2005
East Dorset District Council:
Conservation Area Appraisals for Almer, Burts Hill, Brog Street/Sleight Lane, Cranborne, Edmondsham, Gussage All Saints, Hampreston, Hinton Martell, Horton, Mapperton, Pamphill, Pentridge, Rowlands Hill, Shapwick, Sturminster Marshall, West Parley, Wimborne Minster, Wimborne St Giles, and Witchampton. Cranborne Chase Landscape Appraisal Areas of Great Landscape Value Design Requirements for landscaping residential areas
14 Countryside Design Summary Trees and Development Timber Windows – Conservation and Repair Pointing with Lime Mortar Historic Buildings – A Fragile Inheritance Flood Risk, Groundwater and Sustainable Drainage Systems Special Character Areas Affordable and Special Housing Needs and the Provision of Small Dwellings
Annex C – Strategic Environmental Assessment & Sustainability Appraisal
C1 European Directive 2001/42/EC requires that a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) be prepared for any land use and spatial plan, programme and modification to them. Consequently, SEA will be required for many of the documents set out within the LDS. The planning system requires that all Development Plan Documents should be subject to Sustainability Appraisal. This has a wider scope than the SEA and both will be integrated into the production of the documents.
C2 An SA/SEA Scoping Report was prepared and feedback from stakeholders has been received on the report. The report is published on the Council’s website.
C3 This report will reviewed periodically and will inform preparation of more detailed sustainability appraisal reports on individual DPDs and SPDs. These reports will be used to inform the options preferred for each document.
C4 In addition, the Council also commissioned Land Use Consultants Ltd, to undertake a Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Core Strategy due to the proximity of designated sites to many of the proposals contained in the document.
C5 The Core Strategy has also been subject to Equalities, and to Health Impact Assessments, conducted by officers within the planning policy team. This assessments will be repeated for other parts of the Local Plan.
15 Annex D- Resources & Risk
D1 The production of the Local Plan will be undertaken primarily by the joint Planning Policy Team of the Christchurch and East Dorset Partnership. This joint team was formed in April 2014, although previously two separate teams had shared resources to work on the Core Strategy and other documents.
D2 The team has the following resources available:
1 Partnership Planning Policy Manager 1 Planning Policy Team Leader 1 Senior Planning Officer 1 Planning Officer 1 Planning Technician 1 Housing Enabling Team Leader 1 Spatial Systems Team Leader 1 GIS Support Officer
D3 Additionally, other resources will be used to deal with specialist areas of work to include: Partnership staff, including: o Development Management officers o Economic Development officers o Housing and Environmental Health officers o Operational Services including Highways, Coast Protection, Leisure and Parks and Countryside o Legal Services solicitor.
Members of staff from Dorset County Council are used to deal with transport, landscape and ecological issues.
D4 It is likely that specialist and independent work will be required at different stages of the process. In such cases the Council will seek to engage specialists such as nature conservation and professional consultants.
16 Involvement of stakeholders and community
D5 The Local Plan will be subject to extensive and continuous consultation. Stakeholders and the community will be engaged in the production of the documents from initial preparation to the final adoption. How this will happen is set out within the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), adopted in July 2016.
Risk Analysis
D6 The main areas of risk in the preparation of the Local Plan are set out in the table below.
S = Severity, L = Likelihood, R = Rate Risk Level: Low Medium High 1 – 4 Low 5 – 9 Medium 10+ - High
Risk Before Control Measures After Comments S L R S L R Council Resources 3 4 12 Ensure all 4 1 4 Budget cuts are likely but Councillors Planning legislation understand reduces threat to this statutory service requirements Make sure budgets are agreed and in place Consider ability to review work programme Staff 4 3 12 Ensure retention 4 2 8 Loss of staff can occur turnover/recruitment/illness policy can compete even if mitigation with other agencies measures in place Minimise staff illness through stress
17 Risk Before Control Measures After Comments S L R S L R Ensure replacement strategy in place if staff leave Consider review of programme if necessary Political Decision Making 3 2 3 Ensure all 3 1 3 Councillors are well briefed and involved throughout the process Reliance on Outside 3 3 9 Contingency plans 3 2 6 Reliance on DCC and Agencies in place to amend other agencies makes this programme if this difficult to achieve. occurs Working in Partnership 4 2 4 Maintain resources 4 1 4 at current levels Ensure all parties understand significance of partnership Maintain good communication to reduce risk of fracture of joint documents Legal Challenge 4 2 8 Ensure that 4 1 4 Possibility of legal
18 Risk Before Control Measures After Comments S L R S L R procedures and challenge is outside of evidence gathering Council’s control as can are robust be mounted whatever the Ensure Local Plan strength of the case. meets all legal requirements Local Government 4 6 24 Local Plan 3 4 12 Reorganisation impacting Steering groups or changing Local Plan formed to oversee timescales and steer process. Decision to de- couple plan creates easier transition
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