Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan 2018 - 2036
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Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan 2018 - 2036 Submission Stage (Regulation 16) Consultation Version 0 Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan 2018-36 Submission Stage (Regulation 16) Consultation Version – 31/12/19 All photographs are from the stock library held by Kesgrave Town Council (KTC) and are free from copyright or, in regard to the Landscape Identity Assessment, are provided by The Landscape Partnership. All maps are provided under OS licence number 0100026731 (KTC) or OS licence number 100019980 (The Landscape Partnership) or OS licence number 10016410 (Suffolk Wildlife Trust). How to read this document Section 1 explains the legal framework for the establishment of the Neighbourhood Plan and its context relative to national and district planning policies with which the Neighbourhood Plan must be in general conformity. Section 2 provides a brief history of Kesgrave’s development as well as relevant information about the town based on the latest data available. Section 3 provides a summary of the key challenges and issues that emerged from consultation and engagement with residents, businesses and community groups during 2017 and 2018 that the Neighbourhood Plan sets out to address. Section 4 provides a vision for the town and the objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan that were identified during consultation and have been tested with residents during the process. Sections 5-8 are the policy sections, each covering a different topic. Under each heading justification for the policies allied to the objectives is presented. This is intended to provide an understanding of the policy, an explanation of what it is seeking to achieve and how it relates to the stated objectives. The policies themselves are presented in the blue boxes. It is these policies against which planning applications will be assessed. It is advisable that, in order to understand the full context for any individual policy, it is read in conjunction with the supporting text. A challenge or issue identified that led to an objective could not in every case result in a policy within the Neighbourhood Plan. In the case of a planning related matter this is usually because the subject is covered by a policy in the emerging Suffolk Coastal Local Plan (SCLP) and this was considered to provide sufficient basis for addressing the issues raised. Section 9 shows the Policies Map which confirms the location and, where appropriate, boundaries in regard to relevant items and the policies applicable either within the Neighbourhood Plan or SCLP. Section 10 covers areas which are not planning related matters within the scope of the Neighbourhood Plan where non-policy actions have been identified to address the issues raised. These are for the attention of KTC and the community as a whole to take forward. 1 | P a g e Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan 2018-36 Submission Stage (Regulation 16) Consultation Version – 31/12/19 CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION and POLICY CONTEXT ............................................. 3 2 LOCAL CONTEXT.................................................................................. 8 3 KEY CHALLENGES and ISSUES……………………………………………...…16 4 VISION and OBJECTIVES .................................................................... 19 5 MAINTAINING KESGRAVE’S CHARACTER and IDENTITY .................. 20 6 ENVIRONMENT and HERITAGE ........................................................... 29 7 FACILITIES and WELL-BEING ............................................................. 39 8 ROADS, TRANSPORT and SAFETY ....................................................... 44 9 POLICIES MAP………..……………………………………………………………49 10 NON-POLICY ACTIONS…………………………………………………………..50 Appendix A Impact of rear garden infill development on character of Kesgrave Appendix B Local Green Space designation maps Appendix C Map of Ecological Networks Appendix D Kesgrave’s non-designated heritage assets Appendix E Flood Incident maps Appendix F Recorded Public Rights of Way map for Kesgrave Appendix G Local Plan policies to be superseded 2 | P a g e Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan 2018-36 Submission Stage (Regulation 16) Consultation Version – 31/12/19 `1 INTRODUCTION and POLICY CONTEXT 1.1 This document represents the Neighbourhood Plan for Kesgrave Town (hereafter known as “Kesgrave”) and was compiled by the community through the Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan Sub-committee (KNPS). Once adopted, it is intended that it will form the development plan for Kesgrave alongside SCLP. Prior to SCLP being adopted the development plan is the Suffolk Coastal Core Strategy (SCCS), Site Allocations and Area Specific Policies DPD and the saved policies of the 2001 Local Plan. 1.2 SCCS was adopted in 2013 (including the saved policies of the 2001 Local Plan) and one of the basic conditions is that the Neighbourhood Plan needs to be in general conformity with the strategic policies it contains as well as the Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document 2017. However, SCLP being well advanced, with an expectation for it to be adopted in early 2020, the Neighbourhood Plan has also been produced in general conformity therewith. The timeline for the Neighbourhood Plan of 2018-36 aligns with SCLP. Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre 1.3 In accordance with The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (Article 7) Suffolk Coastal District Council, as the local planning authority at the time, on 27 September 2016 approved the neighbourhood area named Kesgrave noting KTC as the “relevant body”. 1.4 This Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared in accordance with the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Localism Act 2011 and the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012 (as amended). KNPS has prepared the plan to establish a vision for the future of the town and to set out how that vision will be realised through planning and controlling land use and development change over the plan period 2018 to 2036. 1.5 It should be noted that on 1st April 2019, Suffolk Coastal District Council merged with Waveney District Council to form East Suffolk Council (ESC). Reference to Suffolk Coastal District Council is intended to relate to past decisions and, for instance, the designation in Paragraph 1.3. 1.6 The map in Figure 1.1 below shows the boundary of the Neighbourhood Plan area, which is the same as the Kesgrave boundary. 3 | P a g e Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan 2018-36 Submission Stage (Regulation 16) Consultation Version – 31/12/19 Figure 1.1: Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan area boundary 4 | P a g e Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan 2018-36 Submission Stage (Regulation 16) Consultation Version – 31/12/19 1.7 The production of the Neighbourhood Plan has sought to involve the community as widely as possible through a process of consultation and engagement. The key elements were an extensive resident survey in October 2017; community engagement days in June (focusing on young people) and October 2018; and engagement in various ways with businesses and community groups throughout the second half of 2018. The various topic areas in the Neighbourhood Plan are reflective of matters identified through that process to be of interest and importance. All sections of the community have been given the opportunity to guide development within their neighbourhood. 1.8 A period of pre-submission public consultation under Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 took place from 8 July to 2 September 2019 including the notification of appropriate statutory bodies. The representations that were submitted, responses to them and the changes to the Neighbourhood Plan made as a result, where considered appropriate, are documented in Appendix O of the Consultation Statement accompanying the Neighbourhood Plan. Policy context - National 1.9 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) of February 2019 issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government states: “The planning system should be genuinely plan-led. Succinct and up-to-date plans should provide a positive vision for the future of each area; a framework for addressing housing needs and other economic, social and environmental priorities; and a platform for local people to shape their surroundings (para.15). Policies to address non-strategic matters should be included in local plans that contain both strategic and non-strategic policies, and/or in local or neighbourhood plans that contain just non-strategic policies (para.18). Non-strategic policies should be used by local planning authorities and communities to set out more detailed policies for specific areas, neighbourhoods or types of development. This can include allocating sites, the provision of infrastructure and community facilities at a local level, establishing design principles, conserving and 5 | P a g e Kesgrave Neighbourhood Plan 2018-36 Submission Stage (Regulation 16) Consultation Version – 31/12/19 enhancing the natural and historic environment and setting out other development management policies (para.28). Neighbourhood planning gives communities the power to develop a shared vision for their area. Neighbourhood plans can shape, direct and help to deliver sustainable development by influencing local planning decisions as part of the statutory development plan. Neighbourhood plans should not promote less development than set out in the strategic policies for the area, or undermine those strategic policies (para.29). Policy context – Suffolk Coastal 1.10 SCCS Policy SP19 (Settlement Policy) identifies Kesgrave, despite being designated a town