Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Version 1.18 Regulation 14 Consultation Draft July 2020 Version 1.18 1 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Version 1.18 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Area Vision To conserve and enhance the strong historic character and rural setting of Stansted Mountfitchet by ensuring that development in the Neighbourhood Plan Area is sustainable, protects valued landscape features, strengthens a sense of community, improves the quality of life and well-being of existing and future generations. To ensure that the Parish of Stansted Mountfitchet remains “A Great Place to Live”. Comments on this Regulation 14 draft Neighbourhood Plan can be provided in the following ways: XXXXX The deadline for consultation comments to be received is XXXXX We welcome questions and suggestions or, if you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us: Telephone: xxxx Email: xxxx Thank you for your support. Stansted Mountfitchet Windmill 2 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Version 1.18 Contents 1. Introduction Page no. 1.1 What is Neighbourhood Planning? 6 1.2 Why does Stansted Mountfitchet need a Neighbourhood Plan? 8 1.3 The progression of the Neighbourhood Plan 9 1.4 Regulation 14 Consultation 10 1.5 How to make comments 10 1.6 Neighbourhood Plan designated area 11 2. The Parish Today 2.1 Location and context 12 2.2 Key issues for the future of the Neighbourhood Plan Area 15 2.3 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Area SWOT 20 analysis 2.4 Local planning context 21 3. The Future of the Plan Area 3.1 Vision 27 3.2 Objectives 27 4. Neighbourhood Plan Policies 4.1 Housing Development 29 Policy SMNP 1: Housing Development 32 4.2 Design 34 Policy SMNP 2: Design 39 4.3 Community Facilities, Health and Wellbeing 41 Policy SMNP 3: Community Facilities, Health and Wellbeing 43 4.4 Natural Environment, Green Infrastructure and Landscape 48 Character Policy SMNP 4: Protecting and Enhancing the Natural Environment and 51 Green Infrastructure Policy SMNP 5: Maintaining the Distinctive Landscape Character 55 Policy SMNP 6: Village Gateways 57 4.5 Transport 59 Policy SMNP 7: Transport 62 4.6 Flood Management 68 Policy SMNP 8: Flood Management 71 4.7 Historic Environment 74 Policy SMNP 9: Protecting the Historic Environment 78 Policy SMNP 10: Protected Lanes 80 4.8 Local Economy 82 Policy SMNP 11: Local Economy 85 5. Implementation 5.1 The Neighbourhood Plan Action Plan 90 Appendices Appendix 1: Abbreviations 99 Appendix 2: References 99 Appendix 3: Recreation, SuDS and Nature Conservation: Inventory 101 2019 Appendix 4: Details of Neighbourhood Plan Transport Projects 105 Appendix 5: Figures 6, 8, 10, 15, 16, 19, 24 and 27 111 3 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Version 1.18 List of Figures Figures Page no. Figure 1: Guide to producing a Neighbourhood Plan 7 Figure 2: Map of Stansted Mountfitchet Designated Neighbourhood Plan Area 11 Figure 3: Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Area SWOT Analysis 20 Figure 4: Green Belt Context 24 Figure 5: Countryside Protection Zone and Green Belt Context 25 Figure 6: Proposals Map Appendix 5 Figure 7: Stansted Mountfitchet Village Character Areas 36 Figure 8: Photographic Survey of Village Character Areas Appendix 5 Figure 9: Example of high-quality design, development at 68-70 Bentfield 37 Road, Stansted Mountfitchet Figure 10: Location of Community Facilities Appendix 5 Figure 11: Land Adjacent to Forest Hall School (C1) 45 Figure 12: Peter Kirk Building, St John’s Road (C2) 45 Figure 13: Foresthall Park Site (C3) 46 Figure 14: Walpole Meadows Site (C4) 46 Figure 15: Green Infrastructure: Statutory Designations Appendix 5 Figure 16: Green Infrastructure: Non-statutory Designations Appendix 5 Figure 17: Location of Designated Local Green Space 52 Figure 18: Map of Designated Local Green Space area at Bentfield Upper 52 Green Figure 19: Local Landscape Character and Views Appendix 5 Figure 20: Location of Air Quality Monitoring Locations 65 Figure 21: Watercourses in Stansted Mountfitchet Parish 69 Figure 22: Proposed Natural Flood Management Features 72 Figure 23: Conservation Areas in Stansted Mountfitchet Parish 75 Figure 24: Location of Proposed Additional Non-Designated Heritage Assets Appendix 5 Figure 25: UDLP proposed town centre boundaries, primary and secondary 84 shop fronts Figure 26: Location of Proposed Employment Allocations 87 Figure 27: Proposed Green Corridors Appendix 5 4 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Version 1.18 List of Tables Tables Page no. Table 1: Strategic Policies within the Uttlesford Local Plan (2005) which 21 impact Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Area Table 2: Strategic Policies within the emerging Uttlesford District Local 22 Plan (2018) which impact Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Area Table 3: Summary of Stansted Mountfitchet housing completions and 30 commitments 2011 and 2033 Table 4: Housing allocations in the SMNP 30 Table 5: Emerging UDLP Education / Community Site Allocation for 42 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Area Table 6: Stansted Mountfitchet Village Gateways 57 Table 7: Stansted Mountfitchet Transport and Parking Priorities 63 Table 8: Stansted Mountfitchet Air Quality Monitoring Data (2018) 64 Table 9: Proposed Non-designated Heritage Assets 76 Table 10: Emerging UDLP Employment Site Allocations for Stansted 82 Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Area Table 11: The Neighbourhood Plan Action Plan 90 5 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Version 1.18 1. Introduction 1.1 What is Neighbourhood Planning? 1) The 2011 Localism Act introduced new powers for local communities to produce Neighbourhood Plans, which can be used to guide and shape future development in an area. Once ’made’ (adopted), a Neighbourhood Plan forms part of the statutory Development Plan for the area, and it is used in the determination of planning applications alongside the Uttlesford District Local Plan (UDLP) and other relevant documents. 2) Neighbourhood Plans must be subject to public consultation, examination, and local referendum prior to adoption, and policies contained within a Neighbourhood Plan should be supported by evidence base documents and sustainability appraisals as necessary. Neighbourhood Plans must meet the overall aims and objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), particularly in relation to supporting and promoting sustainable development. 3) Neighbourhood Plans give communities direct power to guide and shape future development. Where a Neighbourhood Plan is aligned with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area, neighbourhood planning can provide a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of future development for their community. 4) Where a Community Infrastructure Levy1 (CIL) has been adopted by the relevant local planning authority, an area with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan will receive 25% of CIL revenues from development taking place within the Neighbourhood Plan Area. A CIL has not yet been adopted in Uttlesford District. 5) The Planning Practice Guidance2 states that a Neighbourhood Plan must meet the basic conditions set out in paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 3 . The submission of the final version of the Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan (SMNP) to Uttlesford District Council will include a statement setting out how the Plan meets the requirements of the basic conditions set out below: • the Neighbourhood Plan has regard to national policies and advice contained in guidance issued by the Secretary of State; • the making of the Neighbourhood Plan contributes to the achievement of sustainable development; • the making of the Neighbourhood Plan is in general conformity with the strategic policies contained in the Local Plan; • the making of the Neighbourhood Plan does not breach, and is otherwise compatible with, EU obligations; and • prescribed conditions are met in relation to the Neighbourhood Plan and prescribed matters have been complied with in connection with proposals within the 1 The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was introduced by the Planning Act 2008 and came into effect in April 2010. It is a levy which can be charged on new development in an area to contribute towards infrastructure. The local charging authority can determine the rate of the levy and how contributions are used. 15% of CIL revenue is provided to the relevant Parish Council where development takes place, 25% in areas with an adopted Neighbourhood Plan. 2 The Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) is an online portal which provides guidance on implementing aims and objectives of the NPPF. The PPG provides specific guidance on a range of planning related topics. 3 See paragraph 65 of the PPG. 6 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Version 1.18 Neighbourhood Plan. 6) The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) set out the statutory stages which must be completed in the production of a Neighbourhood Plan. Figure 1 presents this process and identifies which stage we are currently at in the production of the SMNP. Figure 1: Guide to producing a Neighbourhood Plan 7 Stansted Mountfitchet Neighbourhood Plan Version 1.18 1.2 Why does Stansted Mountfitchet need a Neighbourhood Plan? 7) Neighbourhood Plans give local communities direct power to guide and shape the future of their area. The production of a Neighbourhood Plan provides us with the opportunity to establish objectives and requirements to guide and manage future development