Local Plan Second Review April 2007 I CONTENTS

CONTENTS Page Contents I List of Policies VII Preface XII PART ONE - DISTRICT WIDE PLANNING 1. Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the Local Plan 1 1.2 Scope and Status of the Local Plan 1 1.3 Consultation and Public Participation 2 1.4 Structure of the Local Plan 2 1.5 National Planning Guidance 2 1.6 Regional Planning Guidance 2 1.7 Hertfordshire Structure Plan Review 1991-2011 (Adopted April 3 1998) and Alterations to 2016 1.8 Minerals and Waste Local Plans 3 1.9 Other East Herts Council Strategies 4 1.10 Changes to the Planning System 5 1.11 The District of East Hertfordshire 5 1.12 Key Planning Issues facing East Hertfordshire 6 1.13 A Vision for East Hertfordshire 6 1.14 The Aims 7 1.15 The Need for Sustainable Development 8 1.16 The Local Plan Strategy 8 1.17 Quality of Life and Reducing Social Exclusion 8 2. Sustainable Development 2.1 Introduction 9 2.2 Making Development More Sustainable 9 2.3 Sustainable Pattern of Development and Constraint 10 2.4 Energy 9 2.5 The Precautionary Principle 11 2.6 Sustainable Development and Nature Conservation 11 2.7 Transport and Traffic Reduction 11 2.8 Pollution 12 3. Housing 3.1 Introduction 13 3.2 Housing Provision Strategy 13 3.3 New Housing Development 13 3.4 Dwelling Distribution 16 3.5 Phased Release of Housing Land 16 3.6 Areas of Special Restraint (ASRs) 16 3.7 Reserve Housing Land 16 3.8 Monitoring of Housing Land Supply 17 3.9 Sustainable Homes and Communities 17 3.10 Affordable Housing 17 3.11 Affordable Housing Thresholds 18 3.12 Rural Area Affordable Housing Needs 18 3.13 Lifetime Homes 19 3.14 Replacement Dwellings and Infill Housing Development 19 3.15 Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s) 20 3.16 Special Residential Uses 20 3.17 Accommodation for Gypsies 20 East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 I CONTENTS Page 4. Green Belt and Countryside 4.1 Introduction 22 4.2 The Rural Area 22 4.3 Metropolitan Green Belt 22 4.4 Alterations to Metropolitan Green Belt Boundary and Safeguarded Land 23 4.5 Rural Area Beyond the Green Belt 23 4.6 Major Developed Sites 24 4.7 Housing in the Countryside 25 4.8 Occupancy Conditions 26 4.9 Agricultural Development 26 4.10 Rural Diversification 26 4.11 Adaptation and Re-use of Rural Buildings 27 4.12 Riding Stables and Associated Development 28 4.13 Parish Plans 29 4.14 Environmental Assets 29 4.15 Mineral Resources 31 5. Transport 5.1 Introduction 32 5.2 Transport System 32 5.3 Road Hierarchy 32 5.4 Highway Network 33 5.5 Local Transport Plan 33 5.6 Stansted Airport 34 5.7 Traffic Reduction and New Development 34 5.8 Access to new Developments 34 5.9 Transport Assessments 35 5.10 Travel Plans 35 5.11 Parking 36 5.12 Cycling 37 5.13 Equestrian Routes 38 5.14 Powered Two-Wheeled Vehicles 38 5.15 Passenger Transport 39 5.16 Pedestrian Environments 39 5.17 Traffic Calming 40 5.18 Home Zones 40 5.19 Towns and Villages 40 5.20 Rural Transport 40 5.21 Development Generating Traffic on Rural Roads 41 5.22 Freight 41 5.23 Surplus Transport Sites 42 5.24 Fuel Filling Stations 42 6. Economic Development and Employment 6.1 Introduction 43 6.2 Economic Activity in East Hertfordshire 43 6.3 Economic Development Strategy and Partnership Initiatives 43 6.4 Supply of Employment Land 44 6.5 Mixed Use Development 44 6.6 Stansted Airport 44 6.7 Employment Uses Outside Employment Areas 45 6.8 Storage and Distribution Uses 45 6.9 The Rural Economy 45 6.10 Telecottages 46 6.11 Homeworking 46 6.12 Live/Work Units 46 6.13 New Employment Development 46 II East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 CONTENTS Page 7. Shopping and Town Centres 7.1 Introduction 47 7.2 Town Centres 47 7.3 Town Centre Health Checks 48 7.4 Town Centre Strategies 48 7.5 New Shopping and Large Scale Development – Location and Capacity 48 7.6 Development Within Town Centres 48 7.7 Larger Centres – Shopping Frontages 49 7.8 Smaller Centres 50 7.9 Conversion of Dwellings to Commercial Uses 50 7.10 Access 51 7.11 Out-of-Centre and Out-of-Town Retailing 51 7.12 Local Centres and Rural Provision 52 7.13 Farm Shops and Garden Centres 52 8. Environment and Design 8.1 Introduction 54 8.2 Quality and Character 54 8.3 Layout and Design 54 8.4 Mixed Uses 55 8.5 Landscaping 55 8.6 Planning Out Crime 56 8.7 Access for Disabled People 56 8.8 Extensions to Dwellings 57 8.9 Extensions to Dwellings Within the Metropolitan Green Belt 57 and Rural Area Beyond the Green Belt 8.10 Residential Annexe 58 8.11 Restrictions on the Conversion of Domestic Garages to Living 59 Accommodation and Withdrawal of Permitted Development Rights 8.12 Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows 59 8.13 Nature Conservation 60 8.14 Water Environment 62 8.15 Developments in Areas Liable to Flood 63 8.16 Water Conservation and Protection 63 8.17 Light Pollution and Floodlighting 65 8.18 Noise 66 8.19 Hazardous Installations 66 8.20 Air Quality 67 8.21 Telecommunications 67 8.22 Advertisements Outside Conservation Areas 68 9. Built Heritage 9.1 Introduction 69 9.2 Sustainability and the Historic Environment 69 9.3 Archaeology 69 9.4 Conservation Areas 70 9.5 Listed Buildings 71 9.6 Disabled Access Facilities 73 9.7 Shopfronts and Advertisements 73 9.8 Historic Parks and Gardens 73 9.9 Enabling Development 74 East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 III CONTENTS Page 10. Leisure, Recreation and Community Facilities 10.1 Introduction 75 10.2 Sport, Recreation and Open Space 75 10.3 Joint Provision and Dual Use 76 10.4 Recreation Requirements in Residential Developments 76 10.5 Arts, Culture and Entertainment 77 10.6 Countryside Recreation 77 10.7 Golf Courses 77 10.8 Water Based Recreation 78 10.9 Lee Valley Regional Park 78 10.10 Public Rights of Way 79 10.11 Tourism 79 10.12 Community Facilities 81 PART TWO - SETTLEMENT PLANNING 11. Bishop’s Stortford 11.1 Background 82 11.2 Issues 82 11.3 Settlement Limits 83 11.4 Special Countryside Area 83 11.5 Housing 83 11.6 Airport-Related Housing 85 11.7 Herts and Essex Hospital Site 86 11.8 117-121 Hadham Road Site 86 11.9 Hillmead School Site 87 11.10 Reserve Secondary School Site, Hadham Road 87 11.11 Areas of Special Restraint 87 11.12 Economic Development and Employment 88 11.13 Town Centre 89 11.14 Town Centre Sites for Re-development 89 11.15 The Goods Yard/Former John Dyde Training College Site 89 11.16 The Mill Site 90 11.17 The Riverside/Adderley Road Site 91 11.18 95-97 London Road 91 11.19 Transport 91 11.20 Cyclists and Pedestrians 92 11.21 Environment and Design 92 11.22 Shopping 92 11.23 The Town Meads 93 11.24 Leisure and Community Facilities 93 11.25 Bishop’s Stortford Crematorium 93 IV East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 CONTENTS Page 12. Hertford 12.1 Introduction 94 12.2 Settlement Limits 94 12.3 Housing 95 12.4 Mixed Use Sites 98 12.5 Economic Development and Employment 99 12.6 Hertford’s Green Fingers 99 12.7 Town Centre 99 12.8 Transport 100 12.9 Passenger Transport 101 12.10 Cycling 101 12.11 Pedestrian Priority 101 12.12 Town Centre Environmental Improvements 101 12.13 Leisure and Community Facilities 102 12.14 Balls Park 102 13. Ware 13.1 Introduction 103 13.2 Settlement Limits 103 13.3 Housing 104 13.4 Mixed Use Sites 107 13.5 Economic Development and Employment 108 13.6 Waste Management Sites 108 13.7 Town Centre 109 13.8 Transport 109 13.9 Passenger Transport 110 13.10 Cycling 110 13.11 Pedestrian Priority 110 13.12 Leisure and Community Facilities 110 14. Sawbridgeworth 14.1 Introduction 112 14.2 Settlement Limits 112 14.3 Housing 113 14.4 Housing-Site Specific Policies 113 14.5 Cambridge Road/Crofters Site 113 14.6 Land East of Millfields and Lawrence Avenue 114 14.7 Economic Development and Employment 114 14.8 Town Centre 114 14.9 Environment 114 14.10 Transport 114 14.11 Leisure and Community Facilities 115 15. Stanstead Abbotts and St Margarets 15.1 Introduction 116 15.2 Settlement Limits 116 15.3 Housing 116 15.4 Economic Development and Employment 117 15.5 Settlement Centre/Environment 118 15.6 Leisure and Community Facilities 118 15.7 Lee Valley Regional Park 118 East Herts Local Plan Second Review April 2007 V CONTENTS Page 16. Buntingford 16.1 Background 119 16.2 Settlement Limits 119 16.3 Housing 119 16.4 Housing-Site Specific Proposals 121 16.5 Land West of St Francis Close 121 16.6 Land Between London Road and A10 Bypass 121 16.7 Economic Development and Employment 121 16.8 Settlement Centre/Environment 122 16.9 Leisure and Community Facilities 122 17. Other Settlements - The Villages 17.1 Introduction 123 17.2 The Village Development Strategy 123 17.3 Village Boundaries 125 17.4 Housing 126 17.5 Economic Development and Employment 128 17.6 Village Shops, Community and Leisure Facilities 129 18.

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