Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Selection Report
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Cheshire East Local Plan Site Allocations and Development Policies Document Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Site Selection Report [ED 14] August 2020 OFFICIAL Contents 1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1 National Planning Policy ................................................................................ 1 Local Planning Policy .................................................................................... 2 2. Overall Requirements .......................................................................................... 3 3. Proposed Site Selection Methodology for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites ...................................................................................................... 6 Stages in the Site Selection Methodology for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites .......................................................................... 6 Stage 1: Establishing a pool of sites........................................................ 8 Stage 2: First site sift ............................................................................... 8 Stage 3: Decision point ........................................................................... 9 Stage 4: Site assessment, Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment ......................................................................... 9 Stage 5: Evaluation and initial recommendations .................................. 11 Stage 6: Input from infrastructure providers/statutory consultees ......... 13 Stage 7: Final site selection .................................................................. 13 Public consultation ................................................................................ 13 4. Implementation of Site Selection Methodology .................................................. 14 Overall Requirements .................................................................................. 14 5. Site Selection ..................................................................................................... 16 Introduction .................................................................................................. 16 Stage 1: Establishing a Pool of sites ........................................................... 16 Stage 2: First Site Sift .................................................................................. 16 Stage 3 Decision Point ................................................................................ 17 Stage 4: Site assessment, Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment ................................................................................................. 17 Stages 5 to 7: Evaluation and initial recommendations; input from infrastructure providers/statutory consultees; and final site selection .......... 19 6. Conclusions ....................................................................................................... 83 7. Appendices ........................................................................................................ 85 Appendix 1: Information sources ................................................................. 85 Appendix 2: Detailed traffic light criteria for Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites / Broad Locations for Growth ......................... 86 Appendix 3: Stage 1 & 2 of the SSM site list ............................................. 100 Appendix 4: Traffic Light Forms ................................................................. 108 Appendix 5: Infrastructure Providers / Statutory Consultees Responses .. 155 Appendix 6: Heritage Impact Assessments ............................................... 177 Appendix 7: Site Maps ............................................................................... 182 OFFICIAL 1. Introduction 1.1 This Site Selection Report (“SSR”) explains how Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites have been selected as proposed allocations within the Revised Publication Draft Site Allocations and Development Policies Document (“SADPD”) [ED 01] in line with national and local planning policy. 1.2 The report has been informed by the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (2018) [ED 13]. It has also taken account of the outcomes of the Sustainability Appraisal (“SA”) [ED 03] and Habitats Regulations Assessment (“HRA”) [ED 04] work on an iterative and ongoing basis. 1.3 Documents referenced with the ‘ED’ prefix are available to view in the Revised Publication Draft SADPD consultation library. National Planning Policy 1.4 The NPPF (2019) asks that Local Planning Authorities address the need for housing for different groups in the community, including for Travellers (¶61). 1.5 The Government has published specific national policy regarding Traveller sites to be read alongside the provisions of the NPPF. ’Planning Policy for Traveller Sites‘(“PPTS”), revised in August 2015, sets out how councils should assess and address the housing needs of Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. It also sets out a definition for Gypsies and Travellers for the purposes of that planning policy. 1.6 The PPTS notes how fair and effective strategies should be developed to meet identified need through the identification of land for sites (para 4). Policy B (para 10) says that local planning authorities should, in their local plan, identify and update a supply of specific deliverable sites sufficient to provide five years’ worth of sites against locally set targets, identify a supply of specific, developable sites or broad locations for growth for years 6 to 10 and, where possible, years 11 to 151. 1.7 Policy A of the PPTS sets out the principles that should be adopted when assembling the evidence base necessary to support the authority’s planning approach to traveller sites. The policy emphasises the need for early and effective community engagement to prepare and maintain an up-to-date 1 Footnotes 4 and 5 of the PPTS describe what deliverable and developable mean. To be considered deliverable, sites should be available now, offer a suitable location for development, and be achievable with a realistic prospect that development will be delivered on the site within five years. Sites with planning permission should be considered deliverable until permission expires, unless there is clear evidence that schemes will not be implemented within 5 years, for example they will not be viable, there is no longer a demand for the type of units or sites have long term phasing plans. To be considered developable, sites should be in a suitable location for traveller site development and there should be a reasonable prospect that the site is available and could be viably developed at the point envisaged. OFFICIAL 1 understanding of the likely permanent and transit accommodation needs of their areas over the lifespan of their development plan. 1.8 Policy E of the PPTS relates to sites in the Green Belt. It confirms that Traveller’s sites are inappropriate development in the Green Belt and that Green Belt boundaries should be altered only in exceptional circumstances. The PPTS guidance is to be read in conjunction with the NPPF, which states that exceptional circumstances will only exist where the strategic policy- making authority has been able to demonstrate that it has examined fully all other reasonable options for meeting its identified need for development and whether the strategy: a) makes as much use as possible of suitable brownfield sites and underutilised land; b) optimises the density of development and c) has been informed by discussions with neighbouring authorities about whether they could accommodate some of the identified need for development, as demonstrated through a duty to co-operate statement of common ground. Local Planning Policy 1.9 In Cheshire East, the Local Plan will be made up of four documents: The Local Plan Strategy (“LPS”). This sets out the vision and overall planning strategy for the Borough. It includes strategic policies and allocates 'strategic sites' for development for the period up to 2030. The LPS was adopted in July 2017. The Site Allocations and Development Policies Document (“SADPD”). The SADPD will allocate additional sites for development, where necessary, and also set out more detailed policies and boundaries to guide planning application decisions in the Borough. The Minerals and Waste Development Plan Document. This will set out planning policies for minerals and waste, including the identification of specific sites for these uses. The Crewe Hub Area Action Plan will set out a planning framework to manage change around Crewe Railway Station and immediate surrounding area. 1.10 LPS Policy SC 7 “Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople” sets out the Council’s approach to Gypsies and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. Point 1 of LPS Policy SC 7 notes that sites will be allocated or approved to meet the needs set out in the most recent Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (“GTAA”). Point 2 sets out various considerations that should be taken into account in determining the acceptability of new sites. Point 3 of the policy puts in place a presumption against the loss of existing permanent consented Gypsy and Traveller or Travelling Showperson Sites where this would result in, or exacerbate, a shortfall unless equivalent provision is made. 1.11 Paragraph 12.67 of the LPS notes that sites for Gypsies