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Copford with Easthorpe Draft Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2033 Contents

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Copford with Easthorpe Draft Neighbourhood Plan 2019-2033 Contents Copford with Easthorpe draft Neighbourhood plan 2019-2033 Contents 2 1. Introduction 1.1 … 1.2 2. Context 2.1 Copford with Easthorpe is positioned with direct connections to road and rail infrastructure. It straddles ancient roads, has 44 listed buildings and an eclectic mix of housing which provides a distinct built environment. A varied natural environment includes ancient fieldscape and natural features, important to the landscape of North Essex. This makes the villages both appealing, yet vulnerable, with an absolute need for careful, sensitive planning. 3. Vision for Copford with Easthorpe 3.1 Copford with Easthorpe has a distinct character, with advantages for its residents which are central to a vision for the future of the parish. The Neighbourhood plan seeks to ensure the conservation and enhancement of the nature and style of our rural community, while having a sustainable and optimistic view of future development by ensuring. Sufficient separation between the villages adjacent to the parish, so that its distinctiveness is retained New homes are proportionate to the scale of the parish in number, are designed to enhance the villages and grouped to sympathetically strengthen the sense of space and wellbeing. Housing is planned to be inclusive, with high quality affordable homes and a range of higher budgets, provision for elderly residents, growing families and single people Opportunities are provided to actively favour ecologically sustainable building, including self builders and small developers who propose house building with a low or zero carbon profile The parish has a successful economy by supporting a proportionate number of small businesses, including agriculture to provide local employment, without dominating the village character Open spaces are an integral part of the plan, including existing and future sites which form a rich visual and physical amenity Transport connections are considered as an integrated system, which enables sustainable travel to include pedestrians, cycles, safe road and rail network access. Summary headings for the plan Suggested Amended Vision By 2033, Copford with Easthorpe Parish will be a prosperous and thriving community, which has achieved a sustainable mix of development. New sustainably constructed low or zero carbon homes, including those built by self-builders and small developers, will sympathetically strengthen the sense of space. Different house types and tenures will provide accommodation for a range of different people, including elderly residents, growing families and single people. Small businesses, including agricultural businesses, will 3 provide local employment and contribute to a successful economy. Transport connections will be improved and better integrated affording residents and others the opportunity to sustainably travel in the Parish. Open spaces will be enhanced and form a rich visual and physical amenity. The distinct character of the Parish will be retained, ensuring that there is sufficient separation between villages, including those adjacent to the Parish. The combination of the built and natural environment will provide an attractive location for residents, businesses and visitors alike. Suggested Amended Vision (succinct version) By 2033, Copford with Easthorpe Parish will be a prosperous thriving community. The distinctive rural environment will have been safeguarded. New sustainably constructed development will be in place, providing a range of different types of housing, jobs and local services that can be easily accessed through improved transport connections, including those via foot or by bike. 4 4. Copford with Easthorpe Neighbourhood Plan- Objectives 1. To ensure that the nature and style of our rural parish community is conserved and enhanced that this rural integrity is not damaged by coalescence with urban Colchester or any new ‘garden village’ and is not separated by any infrastructure-such as a main trunk road. 2. To ensure the housing developments reflects the character and meet the needs of the local community This includes ensuring There are sufficient affordable homes for residents and relatives of residents who wish to remain in the Parish Development of a village housing style/design and density, which matches to existing eclectic mix of housing within the parish area in terms of materials used and finishes to buildings, taking into account the historic nature of some existing housing. That housing style is mixed and includes bungalows for retirement, homes for the elderly-assisted living- family homes, affordable homes for first time local buyers. That the housing design is of a high quality, well designed and fit for purpose with sufficient on-site parking for residents, appropriate garden spaces and grass verges. Aiming to provide energy efficient, low carbon footprint housing built from materials which are sympathetic to the existing buildings. That design ensures that housing does not exceed two storeys high ( Identification of potential future sites for development – may be used , these will come from the Neighbourhood Plan questionnaires and Open Days) 3. To protect and enhance the existing historic tracks, footpaths, roads, environment and green spaces within the Parish by: Maintaining the general rural nature and landscape of the Parish to ensure existing biodiversity continues Protecting existing green spaces and potentially developing more areas-such as additional green play areas Not to adversely impact on existing conservation areas Establishing Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) where sensitive areas are concerned 4.To manage traffic flow/congestion and parking by: Working with developers and North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) to ensure appropriate signage/lineage is put in place. Working with developers and planners to provide sufficient parking spaces for new developments and consider the development of cycle paths. 5.To provide suggestions for improved transport links through the Parish 6. To provide, as far as is possible appropriate infrastructure for existing and future needs, to include: Considerations –and extra provision-for existing capacity of local Primary and Secondary education Appropriate health provision for the Parish-this might include a ‘Health Hub’ 5 7.To protect local community facilities to meet the needs of residents Providing registered community assets. Enhancing existing broadband services. Establishing a Parish broadband hub. 8. To explore possibilities for additional employment within the Parish 9. To provide enhanced and additional facilities within the Parish-such as improvements to: the Village Hall and play areas Suggested Amended Objectives Countryside and Environment 1. Ensure that the Parish maintains its distinct identify and that sufficient separation is provided between villages, including those adjacent to the Parish; 2. Protect and enhance the most important areas of biodiversity and landscape. Design and Character 3. Ensure that all development is of a high quality and maintains and enhances the character of the area, including respecting local heritage. Housing 4. Ensure an appropriate mix of well designed housing that meets identified local needs, including high quality affordable housing, provision for elderly residents, growing families and single people; 5. Provide opportunities particularly for self-builders and small developers to build low or zero carbon housing; 6. Identify specific sites for housing to meet local needs. Highways, Transport and Communication 7. Promote an integrated system of transport connections, enabling sustainable travel by public transport, foot and cycle; 8. Reduce the impact of heavy goods vehicles on local roads; 9. Manage parking provision. Infrastructure and Community Uses 10. To ensure that infrastructure is sufficient for existing and future needs. This includes protecting and improving existing community facilities including the village hall, open spaces and play areas, and negotiating additional facilities where new development is provided; 11. Protect and enhance accessibility, linkages and permeability through utilising existing historic tracks, footpaths, roads and green spaces. Economy 12. Support and retain local employment, including agriculture, as well as encouraging new businesses into the area in order to reduce travel to other areas. 6 5. Countryside and Environment 5.1 This section has policies on settlement coalescence and how development proposals within and outside of settlement boundaries will be considered. Policy CE1: Settlement Coalescence Development will not be supported in the areas identified on Map 1 if individually or cumulatively it would result in reducing the physical or visual separation between Copford and Mark Tey or between Copford and Stanway or contributing to their coalescence. 5.2 The community want to ensure that the nature and character of the rural Parish is not damaged by coalescence with Colchester or any new ‘garden village’. The emerging Colchester Borough Local Plan recognises that coalescence between Copford and Marks Tey should be prevented to “ensure that both villages retain their individual identities” and that “Development that would not represent a logical extension to the existing built up areas of Copford will be discouraged to prevent coalescence between settlements”1. The community also want to ensure that coalescence does not occur between Copford and Stanway. The community considers that it is vital to ensure that a gap is preserved between these areas to ensure that
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