Evidence Base March 2013

The Lyn Plan Lynton & Lynmouth Neighbourhood Plan Evidence Base March 2013 www.lynplan.org.uk The Lyn Plan – Evidence Base Submitted by the Qualifying Body: Lynton & Lynmouth Town Council Lynton Town Hall Lynton ltc@northdevon.gov.uk 2 The Lyn Plan – Evidence Base 1. Contents Contents 1. Contents ................................................................................................................... 3 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 4 3. General Evidence ..................................................................................................... 6 3.1. Lynton & Lynmouth Ward Statistics ................................................................. 6 4. Housing Evidence ................................................................................................... 10 4.1. Lynton & Lynmouth Housing Statistics (North Devon Council) ...................... 10 4.2. Rural Housing Enabler – Affordable Housing Recommendation 2012 .......... 12 4.3. Principal/Primary Residence Housing Evidence ............................................. 14 5. Economy Evidence ................................................................................................. 20 5.1. Lyn & Exmoor Vision Business Survey Results 2007 ....................................... 20 5.2. Lynton & Barnstaple Railway (Exmoor Enterprise) ........................................ 27 6. Community Engagement Evidence ........................................................................ 31 6.1. Lynton & Lynmouth Neighbourhood Plan – Phase 1 Results ......................... 31 7. 2011 Census – Neighbourhood Plan Area – Lynton & Lynmouth Parish .............. 46 3 The Lyn Plan – Evidence Base Introduction 2. Introduction 2.1. The Lyn Plan Evidence Base forms part of the formal submission of the neighbourhood development plan by the qualifying body, Lynton & Lynmouth Town Council, to Exmoor National Park Authority as the local planning authority. The purpose of this document is to present the key underlying evidence used to inform the preparation of the Lynton & Lynmouth Neighbourhood Plan, entitled The Lyn Plan. 2.2. The evidence presented is not exclusive. The documents presented in this report and further detailed documentary evidence can be found on the Lyn Plan website1: Agendas including minutes of the Steering Group meetings and other supporting papers can be found here. Facts and information relating to Lynton & Lynmouth, including feedback from earlier consultations for the community plan and National Park Local Plan, can be found here. Evidence from early engagement with the community in relation to preparation of the neighbourhood plan can be found here. 2.3. The information presented in the following sections forms some of the most useful evidence used to underpin the development of the plan. The following documents are included: 2.4. General: Lynton & Lynmouth Ward Statistics - this provides statistics relating to income, population, and deprivation. 2.5. Housing: Lynton & Lynmouth Housing Statistics - a short summary of housing information provided by North Devon Council including housing need. Rural Housing Enabler – Affordable Housing Recommendation 2012 – summary of affordable housing need within the neighbourhood plan area following a survey undertaken towards the end of 2011. 1 www.lynplan.org.uk 4 The Lyn Plan – Evidence Base Introduction Principal/Primary Residence Housing Evidence – a report and legal advice pertaining to principal/primary residence housing as defined in policy H3 of the Lyn Plan. 2.6. Economy: Lyn & Exmoor Business Survey 2007 - the survey results from businesses within the Lyn & Exmoor Vision area that helped to gain an understanding of the local make up of businesses; including views on initiatives that may increase visitor numbers and developments that may improve the local economy (Lyn & Exmoor Vision). Lynton & Barnstaple Railway - An information note on future proposals of the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway Exmoor Enterprise project 2.7. Community Engagement: Lynton & Lynmouth Neighbourhood Plan – Phase 1 Results (12/03/12) – a report prepared by the Lynton & Lynmouth Neighbourhood Plan Project Team following early engagement with the community during January – February 2011. 5 The Lyn Plan – General Evidence Lynton & Lynmouth Ward Statistics 3. General Evidence 3.1. Lynton & Lynmouth Ward Statistics 6 The Lyn Plan – General Evidence Lynton & Lynmouth Ward Statistics 7 The Lyn Plan – General Evidence Lynton & Lynmouth Ward Statistics 8 The Lyn Plan – General Evidence Lynton & Lynmouth Ward Statistics 9 The Lyn Plan – Housing Evidence Lynton & Lynmouth Housing Statistics 4. Housing Evidence 4.1. Lynton & Lynmouth Housing Statistics (North Devon Council) 10 The Lyn Plan – Housing Evidence Lynton & Lynmouth Housing Statistics 11 The Lyn Plan – Housing Evidence Rural Housing Enabler – Affordable Housing Recommendation 4.2. Rural Housing Enabler – Affordable Housing Recommendation 2012 12 The Lyn Plan – Housing Evidence Rural Housing Enabler – Affordable Housing Recommendation Housing requirements in Lynton/Lynmouth There were 28 responses to the housing survey, of which 19 had a housing requirement. This could be for any kind of housing, not just those possible under current planning policy. In the following tables:- Top row in each tenure are those meeting current local connection policy. Bottom row in each tenure are those who would qualify with a five year local connection. All responses from those requiring housing Tenure 1 bed 2 bed 3 bed 4 bed Affordable rented 1 2 1 (3-4 bed) 2 1 Intermediate ownership 3 2 1 (3 beds plus work room on ground floor) 1 Owner occupation 1 2 1 1 (now moved away) Rural Housing Enabler Recommendation Tenure 1 bed 2 bed 3 bed 4 bed Affordable rented 1 2 1 1 Intermediate ownership 2 2 1 Owner occupation 1 1 1 Total 2 7 2 2 Colin Savage, Rural Housing Enabler, 23 April 2012 13 The Lyn Plan – Housing Evidence Principal/Primary Residence Housing Evidence 4.3. Principal/Primary Residence Housing Evidence The following evidence includes the Primary Residence Housing paper that was taken to the Steering Group Meeting on 7th February 2013. ITEM 3 Lynton and Lynmouth Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Meeting 7 February 2013 Principal/Primary Residence Dwellings Report of the Neighbourhood Plan Project Team Purpose of Report: To update the Steering Group on the legal advice in relation to principal/primary residence housing. Recommendation: That the Steering Group is recommended to note the legal advice and confirm that the policy on Primary Residence Housing be included in the Lyn Plan. 1.0 Background 1.1 The Draft Lyn Plan makes it clear that the greatest priority for housing is the provision of affordable housing. However, the Plan recognises that to deliver affordable housing a scheme must be viable and this may require an element of cross subsidy from other housing. A key message from the community consultations is that it is understood that schemes need to be viable but they do not wish to see more homes built that are used as second and holiday homes. Such homes make little contribution to the sustainability of the local economy, community and the maintenance of local services. Given the physical constraints on development in the area there are limited opportunities for development and therefore every house that is provided needs to make its contribution to a more sustainable local community. 1.2 As a consequence the Lyn Plan includes Policy H3 on Primary Residence Housing. It is explained that this is “new housing which has to be used as the primary residence of the household living in it, but does not have the price controls that affordable housing does, or any local connection requirement”. The Policy is set out below to clearly show the circumstances when such housing may be permitted. 14 The Lyn Plan – Housing Evidence Principal/Primary Residence Housing Evidence H3 – Primary Residence Housing Proposals for primary residence housing will be supported, subject to the following criteria: • the proposals are necessary to provide cross subsidy for affordable housing or other development directly benefiting the community, on the same site or another site within the parish, • the proposals would either meet the housing needs of local people or bring greater balance and mixture to the local housing market and creating new opportunities for people to live and work here • the proposals are justified by an open book assessment of viability as defined by this Plan Open market housing without a restriction to ensure its occupation as a primary residence is not supported by this Plan. 1.3 Neighbourhood Plans are intended to provide innovative and bespoke approaches to deal with local issues. The concept of primary residence housing is just such an approach to tackle an identified local issue. There is good evidence and sustainability case to justify the policy, however, as it will restrict what would otherwise be an open market property, there is a need to ensure that the approach is lawful. 1.4 As a consequence a legal opinion from Counsel has been sought and this is attached to this report. The advice is clear. The proposed condition, which would be attached to any planning permission for primary residence housing, would be lawful and it would also be lawful to incorporate a policy within the development plan dealing with such circumstances. It would be necessary to explain

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