Otleyour Neighbourhood Plan
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OTLEYOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN A SUSTAINABLE MARKET TOWN OF THE FUTURE POLICY INTENTIONS DOCUMENT NOVEMBER 2015 Our Plan, Our Otley Neighbourhood Plan Policy Intentions Document Dear Otley Resident, The Otley Neighbourhood Plan has arrived at a key stage. The Steering Group has identified policy intentions based on the findings of the household survey held in 2014, but in order to proceed we need residents and businesses to let us know if these policies reflect your views on the future planning of our town. The policies in the Plan provide for new homes and employment to meet local requirements. Without the Neighbourhood Plan, Otley would lose the ability to influence such decisions. Significantly, our policies must comply with those of the Leeds Core Strategy and the National Planning Policy Framework and cannot be used to prevent development. This is an important step in the development of the Otley Neighbourhood Plan, so please take time to read the document and consider the policies carefully. The closing date for responses is on Friday 15th January 2016. Please complete your questionnaire and return to Otley Town Council, Unit 11, Orchard Gate, Otley, LS21 3NX or drop your questionnaire into the ballot boxes located in the Otley Core and Otley Library, or alternatively complete online Otley Neighbourhood Plan boundary at www.surveymonkey.com/r/otleypid If you would like to know more or have any questions please contact Suzanne Kidger on 01943 466335 or email [email protected] A map of the Otley Neighbourhood Plan boundary is included on the opposite page here. Otley Town Council, Otley Core Resource Centre, Unit 11 Orchard Gate, Otley LS21 3NX T: 01943 466335 www.otleytowncouncil.gov.uk • Some of the identified development sites are already under construction or completed, at the Old Hospital site on Newall Carr Road (61 homes); the former Garnetts Paper Mill (245 homes); the Tannery on Leeds Road (10 A SUSTAINABLE homes) and Prince Henry’s Court on Newall Carr Road (3 homes); • In terms of employment space, there are 6.3 hectares of general employment MARKET TOWN space allocated mainly on sites at East of Otley and land off Ilkley Road and 604m of office space allocated at the former Garnetts Paper Mill site. OF THE FUTURE While the Leeds Local Development Framework sets the wider strategic context, the particular context for the Neighbourhood Plan is set by Otley. The 2014 household survey identified that residents consider Otley to be: • an independent market town with a strong industrial heritage • a strong sense of community • an attractive rural setting enhanced by the river Wharfe and Chevin Forest Park • a historical centre with an extensive conservation area • a town constrained by its road network, with a single river crossing and Context medieval road layout Residents expressed concerns over the lack of investment in infrastructure associated The Otley Neighbourhood Plan must comply with the wider development context with recent developments and the scale and impact of planned developments and set by the Leeds Local Development Framework for the planning period 2014 the need for adequate infrastructure and facilities in the future. to 2028. This overarching development framework plans for an additional 66,000 homes, 493 hectares of general employment space and 1 million square metres of office space and identifies development sites across Leeds. In Otley, the recent Site Allocations Plan (September, 2015) identifies: • Over the period of the development framework approximately 1,300 additional homes are proposed for Otley on 15 identified sites. If all were developed, this would represent a proposed increase of 22% in the number of homes; • The largest development sites are the former Garnetts Paper Mill (245 homes), East of Otley (550 homes), Rumplecroft (135 homes) and Ashfield Works and Westgate (mixed-use development); Otley Site Allocations Plan (September 2015) The aspiration of the Neighbourhood Plan is that by 2028, Otley will be a more attractive, self-sufficient and sustainable community, building on its status as an independent and traditional market town in an attractive rural setting. The town will be home to more people and so the emphasis will be on providing affordable homes for local people. There will be significant transport and infrastructure improvements (relief road, cycle ways, etc.) and, VISION crucially, greater employment opportunities. Jobs in the creative, cultural and tourism industries will build on Otley’s strengths and reflect the town’s character. This will help reverse the trend towards becoming a suburb of Leeds. Otley’s bigger population will command greater resources, supporting much improved local facilities and services in the town centre and outlying areas. A better deal for teenagers and young people will be a key feature of this enhanced provision. The Vision for Otley in 2028 is: The town’s retail facilities will be very much improved and build on Otley’s history ‘To develop, maintain and improve a vibrant and sustainable Otley by as a distinctive, independent shopping centre rooted in local traders and businesses stimulating a thriving economy with a range of employment opportunities and a strong market culture. and affordable housing that supports an active and inclusive community and to build on Otley’s natural assets whilst protecting and enhancing its Unique tourist selling points for Otley will be its character as an attractive town set unique environment and heritage.’ in outstanding countryside, the music and pubs underpinning the town’s cultural economy, its national status as an ever-growing cycling hub (supported by the development of a first-class cycling route network) and the provision of improved Objectives pedestrian routes. The Neighbourhood Plan will seek to fulfil this vision by The Chevin and River Wharfe will enjoy enhanced protection as a high achieving the following objectives: quality recreational, wildlife and landscape corridor with the aim of more fully realising its potential as a community, tourist and day visitor attraction and amenity. • ensure enough homes, especially affordable homes, to meet the needs of local people The town’s essential character will remain firmly intact despite all of this growth, development, change and progress. A key element of the town’s development will be • ensure employment opportunities within the town to preserve and enhance Otley’s heritage. Sustainable development over 13 years • support and regenerate the local economy will create a town which, if anything, will look even more attractive than it does today and be an even better place to live. • ensure the provision of better facilities for all • improve transport infrastructure and develop safer routes • protect Otley’s rich built heritage • encourage quality design in buildings and place • protect landscape, wildlife and nature conservation interests. 1. Housing The Otley Neighbourhood Plan must be in line with national and local planning policy and cannot prevent allocated housing development. However, it can help to shape the mix of housing built and influence planning decisions so that any new housing meets the needs of local people, fits the character of the town and is sensitively and sustainably integrated into the town environment. The proposed housing policies reflect the views of local people and the evidence POLICY & LAND USE collated by the Housing sub-group. Affordable housing INTENTIONS The lack of affordable housing was raised by residents during the household survey. The term ‘affordable housing’ can mean different things to different people. In everyday use, ‘affordable housing’ is often used to mean ‘relatively cheaper market If adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan and accompanying land proposals map housing to purchase or rent’. However, in planning it has a very specific meaning: will be a statutory planning document with the same status as the Leeds Local ‘social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to eligible Plan. As such, planning applications will be judged by reference to it. households whose needs are not met by the market’ (National Planning Policy Framework (2012), Annex 2). For the purposes of this document, the policy and land use intentions that follow are presented in six sections. These are: In the planning sense, affordable housing targets for an area are set by the Leeds Core Strategy. Policy H5 of the Core Strategy sets an affordable 1. Housing housing target of 35% affordable housing to be provided on all new 2. Employment developments with more than ten homes. 3. Town environment and derelict sites 4. Community services and facilities 5. Built and green environment 6. Transport and travel The final policy wording, together with full evidence and detail will be presented in the final draft plan. Given that Otley has an average need for affordable housing in the planning sense, Growth in smaller households Policy H5 will continue to apply to all planning applications in Otley and so the Neighbourhood Plan does not need to include any additional policy. Nevertheless, Census data (2011) shows that household space in Otley (the number of rooms evidence suggests there are two key issues affecting the amount of affordable per household) is generally larger than the average for Leeds. This perhaps helps housing actually being provided in Otley: to explain the desire expressed in the household survey for more starter and/or affordable homes. • low levels of social/affordable housing completions in recent years In addition, Otley’s population in the youngest age groups (0–16, 16–25 and • the redirection of affordable housing from Otley to other parts of Leeds. 25–44) fell by almost 20% between 2001 and 2011, while in Leeds and England as a whole these age groups showed a marked increase. This is a worrying trend The Neighbourhood Plan policies below seek to address these specific issues. and suggests that more young people and young families are leaving Otley or not moving into Otley.