Strategic Policy S8, Protection of Countryside Gaps
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 June 2018 interpretation of heritage assets • Eastleigh and Bishopstoke; (policies DM12); • the two new communities at the iv. outdoor recreation and open space Strategic Growth Option*; (policies DM34 and DM35); • the Strategic Growth Option and v. allotments and community farms Colden Common*; (policy DM34); • the Strategic Growth Option and vi. cemeteries (policy DM39); and Lower Upham/Upham*; vii. essential public utilities (policy DM9). • Fair Oak (including the Strategic Growth Option) and Horton In permitting new development in the Heath*; countryside the Borough Council will seek to: • Botley and Boorley Green; a. avoid adverse impacts on the rural, • Hedge End and Botley; woodland, riparian or coastal character, the intrinsic character • Hedge End and Southampton; of the landscape including the • Hedge End and Horton Heath; avoidance of adverse landscape impacts on areas adjoining national • Hedge End and Bursledon; parks and their settings, and on the biodiversity of the area; • Bursledon/Netley and Southampton; b. secure long-term beneficial management practices that • Bursledon and Hamble/Netley; will enhance the landscape and • Boyatt Wood and Otterbourne Hill; biodiversity of the countryside and coast; and • Boyatt Wood and Allbrook; c. avoid sterilisation of mineral as set out in the key diagram and on the resources, in accordance with policies maps. *The precise boundaries the Hampshire Minerals and of countryside gaps connected to Waste Plan. the Strategic Growth Option will be determined following masterplanning. [Note: DM (development management) policies are in Chapter 5.] In countryside gaps, development which physically or visually diminishes Strategic policy S8, Protection the gap, or has an urbanising efect of countryside gaps detrimental to the openness of the gap, the character of the countryside or In order to maintain the separate the separate identity of the adjoining identity of settlements and separation settlements will not be permitted. from Southampton, countryside gaps Proposals for development within gaps are defined between: will also be assessed against other relevant policies but will be resisted • Eastleigh and Southampton; where this approach is not met. 54 Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 4.52 Policies S7 and S8 restrict development 4.56 The character of the coastline ranges in the countryside principally in order to from low, crumbling clifs at Netley to maintain its rural character and to limit the open mudflats and marshes of the urbanisation. In accordance with the estuary and the more enclosed upper Hampshire Minerals and Waste Plan it also tidal reaches of the river Hamble, which seeks to limit the sterilisation of mineral is tidal as far north as Botley. There is resources by new development. some slow erosion of the clifs at Netley which provides opportunities for the 4.53 Residential development includes sandstone clifs to be colonised by rare houseboats, of which a number exist on mining bee and wasp colonies. There the River Hamble estuary - any proposals is some risk of coastal inundation at to moor additional houseboats along the Hamble, but the risks are relatively low coast will be treated in the same way as and the areas afected are not of sufcient proposals for new residential development scale to warrant the identification of in the countryside. a Coastal Change Management Area21. There is a slow but progressive erosion of 4.54 Please note that a number of sites in saltmarsh habitat along the tidal reaches the countryside are covered by special of the Hamble and the Hamble Harbour policies in the Local Plan including policies Authority have undertaken initial studies for recreation facilities at the Ageas to assess the feasibility of saltmarsh Bowl (policy WE4), the employment and recharge. The Council would be keen to travelling showpeople site at Netley Firs work in partnership with the Harbour (policy HE5) and boatyards (policy DM20). Authority on a project if the project if The coast the opportunity arises. The North Solent Shoreline Management Plan22 proposes 4.55 The Borough’s coastline includes a no active intervention for the coastline or frontage to Southampton Water between the Hamble estuary within this Borough, Netley and Hamble Point, and the western apart from in two areas; a small part of bank of the Hamble estuary up to Botley. the frontage in Hamble village and some Much of the Southampton Water frontage stabilisation of the clifs at Netley with is accessible, with the Royal Victoria proposals to ‘hold the line’ along these Country Park and Hamble Common frontages. extending to the shoreline. At Hamble and in the estuary of the Hamble river more of 4.57 The Marine Management Organisation the coast is in private ownership, including (MMO) operates within the terms of the the oil storage facility and other industries Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) at Hamble, the commercial boatyards and and the Marine Policy Statement. It marinas at Hamble and Bursledon, and is responsible for the preparation of private dwellings. Marine Plans and Marine Licensing. The MMO is finalising a new marine plan for the Southern Inshore area of the coast 21 NPPF paragraphs 106-108 22 www.northsolentsmp.co.uk 55 Eastleigh Borough Local Plan 2016-2036 June 2018 which includes the coastline of Eastleigh in principle to retain the existing boatyard Borough. Marine plan area boundaries sites in marine-related business uses. extend up to the level of mean high water. The Marine Management Organisation 4.60 Other forms of water-related recreation require marine licences for activities include coastal and riverside walks, fishing involving a deposit or removal of a and other water sports. The coast and substance or object below the mean high River Hamble are attractive in landscape water springs mark or in any tidal river terms and highly valued locally. Eforts to the extent of the tidal influence. As a are in progress to extend the proposed result of the spatial overlap between the national coastal path along the River plans, regard will need to be given to this Hamble up to Bursledon Bridge. Local Plan as the marine plan is finalised. 4.61 On the River Hamble there is potential 4.58 The whole of the Borough’s coast is of for conflict between protection of national and international importance the international designation and the for nature conservation, and is included commercial and recreational activities on in the Solent Maritime Special Area the river. Careful management is needed of Conservation and the Solent and to achieve a balance between them. Southampton Water Special Protection The River Hamble Harbour Authority Area and Ramsar site nature conservation (Hampshire County Council) manages the designations. In response to concerns of river, and has produced a Strategic Plan, 23 increased recreational pressure on birds Strategic Vision and a Business Plan . within protected areas of the Solent as 4.62 The harbour authority for Southampton a result of the proposed development in Water is Associated British Ports, which south Hampshire, the Solent Recreation has responsibility for the provision and Mitigation Partnership (SRMP) was maintenance of harbour facilities (quays, established. A mitigation strategy for wharves, piers etc.); navigational safety PUSH local authorities is in place. in the harbour, including maintenance 4.59 The River Hamble also has a long heritage dredging; the movement and berthing of of boatbuilding and other marine activity ships; licensing construction of works in and is of considerable local and national the harbour; and nature conservation and significance for recreational sailing. the prevention of pollution. Related to this are supporting commercial activities including boatyards and other Strategic policy S9, The coast marine-related enterprises. These make an The coast is defined as including: important contribution to the economy of the Borough and of south Hampshire. • the Hamble river estuary between Recreational sailing contributes Hamble Point Marina and Botley, significantly to the local economy as extending to the Borough well as providing an important local boundary in the centre of the river amenity. The boatyards are also part and around the Marina; and of the Borough’s marine heritage. The Council therefore considers it important • the coast of Southampton Water extending to mean low water. 23 https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/riverhamble/harbourauthority 56.