Fenland Local Plan Core Strategy Proposed Submission February 2013 Foreword A Fantastic Future for Fenland Our local communities care passionately about Fenland - and who can blame them? The fantastic scenery, friendly atmosphere and picturesque towns and villages help to make Fenland a great place to live, work and visit. As the district continues to grow and prosper, Fenland District Council wants to work with partners and local communities to help further improve the quality of life for all Fenland residents. We also feel it is important to retain the special qualities that make our district unique. Growth will not only be in housing and population but also in economic activity, jobs and infrastructure. There are also important social and environmental aspects which need tackling, health inequalities to address, and education and skills to be improved. We need to provide services for an ageing population and also deal with migration issues. Fenland District Council has produced this Core Strategy document to explain how the district is expected to grow, in a sustainable way, over the next 20 years and beyond. We believe this document will deliver a bright and prosperous future for Fenland. However, if you think we have not got it quite right, you do have an opportunity to let an independent inspector know, and that inspector will carefully consider your views before the final plan can be adopted. Details of how you can submit your comments to the inspector are shown over the page. We really have valued your input on draft versions of this important document, which will help to shape the next 20 years of key investments by public and private sector businesses and help build a fantastic future for Fenland. Councillor Alan Melton Councillor Kit Owen Leader of the Council Portfolio Holder for Growth and Transport Status of this February 2013 Document for Decision Makers The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) clarifies the position on the status of emerging plans. It states: 216 From the day of publication, decision makers may also give weight to relevant policies in emerging plans according to: - the stage of preparation of the emerging plan (the more advanced the preparation, the greater the weight that can be given) - the extent to which there are unresolved objections to relevant policies (the less significant the unresolved objections, the greater the weight that may be given); and - the degree of consistency of the relevant policies in the emerging plan to the policies in this Framework (the closer the policies in the emerging plan to policies in this framework the greater the weight that may be given). This Core Strategy – Proposed Submission Version (February 2013) is a draft new local plan to replace the 1993 Fenland Local Plan. It was first consulted upon in July-September 2011 and again in July-September 2012. In accordance with NPPF paragraph 216, the policies contained within this draft plan will be used (alongside the 1993 Local Plan, the NPPF and other material considerations) in determining planning applications, especially where it contains ‘new’ policy not currently found in either the 1993 Local Plan or the NPPF, and especially so if there are insignificant unresolved objections to such new draft policy. In helping determine proposals, the amount of ‘weight’ to be given to the content of this draft plan in comparison with the amount of weight given to other plans, strategies and material considerations, will be a matter for the decision maker to decide and will vary depending on the specific elements of the proposal. 2 Contents 1. Introduction (and how to submit your comments) 2. Spatial Portrait, Key Issues, Our Vision and Our Objectives 3. Overarching Strategy and Targets 4. Proposals for Places 5. Delivering Infrastructure 6. Environment Quality 7. Previous ‘Saved Policies’, Implementation and Monitoring Appendix A - Parking Standards Appendix B – Open Space Standards Appendix C - Glossary 3 List of Policies CS1 A Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development CS2 Facilitating Health and Wellbeing of Fenland Residents CS3 Spatial Strategy, the Settlement Hierarchy and the Countryside CS4 Housing CS5 Meeting Housing Need CS6 Employment, Tourism, Community Facilities and Retail CS7 Urban Extensions CS8 Wisbech CS9 March CS10 Chatteris CS11 Whittlesey CS12 Rural Area Development Policy CS13 Supporting and Mitigating the Impact of a Growing District CS14 Responding to Climate Change and Managing the Risk of Flooding in Fenland CS15 Facilitating the Creation of a More Sustainable Transport Network in Fenland CS16 Delivering and Protecting High Quality Environments Across the District CS17 Community Safety CS18 The Historic Environment CS19 The Natural Environment 4 1. Introduction (and how to submit your comments) 1.1. Introduction 1.1.1. This is the ‘Core Strategy – Proposed Submission’ document for Fenland. It contains the proposed policies and broad locations for the growth and regeneration of Fenland over the next 20 years 1.1.2. Within this document you will find a vision for what Fenland could be like in 2031. There are also some objectives to explain what is trying to be achieved and a set of policies setting out what and how much development should take place. Some of this information will also be shown on maps to help you visualise where the development will happen. 1.1.3. You will see that this Core Strategy: • is underpinned by a desire to strengthen the health and wellbeing of Fenland’s residents • is aiming to build 11,000 new homes between now and 2031, with large new housing areas on the edge of Wisbech, March, Chatteris and Whittlesey • provides new land to attract new businesses and jobs • sets out policies to ensure development is of high quality, sustainable and meets the needs of everyone • sets out policies to ensure all the infrastructure, such as play areas, new schools and upgraded sewerage disposal, are provided at the same time as the new homes. 1.2. National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Fenland Core Strategy 1.2.1. The NPPF was issued by government in March 2012 and this Core Strategy has been written to complement it. Should the NPPF be revised in the future then references to the NPPF in this document should be checked against the latest version of the NPPF in force at that point in time. 1.3. How to Submit Your Comments Reading the Core Strategy: To access the online version of this document, please go to http://fenland.newgrove.com/ Alternatively, printed versions of the Core Strategy and the associated Sustainability Appraisal can be found at the following locations: • Fenland Hall Business Reception 5 • Libraries and Fenland @ your service shops for Chatteris, March, Whittlesey and Wisbech • Mobile Library • The Rosmini Centre, Wisbech • Leisure Centres at March, Whittlesey and Wisbech You can get this document in another language, in large print, in Moon, in Braille, on audio cassette and in electronic format. Please ask us if you would like this document in any of these formats. Submitting your comments: Submitting your comments is easy. Either: Submit your comments online by going to http://fenland.newgrove.com/ Email us your views by sending to: [email protected] Post your comments to Neighbourhood Strategy (Planning Policy) Team Fenland District Council Fenland Hall County Road March, PE15 8NQ Complete a Representation Form: The tailored representation form is available to download at www.fenland.gov.uk. Hard copies are also available at the addresses above. Final Date for Responses: Responses must be received no later than 5pm on xxxxxxxxxxx 2013 Any Questions: Should you have any further queries please contact our Hotline number on 01354 622448 1.4. Frequently Asked Questions Who Prepared This Document? This document has been drafted by Fenland District Council as the Local Planning Authority, in close consultation with its partners. What Happens To Comments Submitted? In simple terms, all the comments we receive at this Proposed Submission stage will be collated and sent to an independent Planning Inspector who will carefully consider each of them and make recommendations on whether changes to the plan are necessary. The Council may assist the Inspector in this regard, if the Inspector asks 6 the Council to do so. You may, if you wish, ask to orally talk through your objections with the Inspector, though there is no guarantee the Inspector will agree to your request. How will this document affect me? Not only does this document set out how your town or village will grow and develop, it also helps guide much smaller developments, such as a proposed house extension by you or your neighbours. What Stage Are We At? Here is the time line for the preparation of the Fenland Core Strategy: MAIN TASK DATE STAGES Evidence Meetings, workshops and early Ongoing gathering consultation to identify and test issues Consultation Public consultation on the Council's July 2011 – Draft draft policies September 2011 Further Further public consultation on the July – Consultation Council's draft policies September 2012 Draft Current Proposed Final opportunity for representations Feb – Mar 2013 Stage Submission on the proposed policies Document submitted to Government along with all public comments Submission received during the proposed Spring - Summer and submission consultation. 2013 examination Independent Examination by a Planning Inspector Adoption Council adopts Final Plan By end of 2013 Monitoring Each year, identified targets are Annual and Review monitored Note: the version of this plan submitted to the Secretary of State for formal Examination around April 2013 will not contain sections 1.3 or 1.4 above. 7 2. Spatial Portrait, Key Issues, Our Vision and Our Objectives 2.1 Fenland in Context 2.1.1 Fenland covers approximately 200 square miles within the county of Cambridgeshire. It is a rural and sparsely populated district with many diverse communities, each with very different needs.