Nuthurst Parish Neighbourhood Plan 2015 - 2031
State of the Parish Report - version 1
Published by Nuthurst Parish Council
April 2014 Nuthurst Parish Neighbourhood Plan
State of the Parish Report Published by Nuthurst Parish Council
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Parish Profile
3. Local Issues
4. The Planning Context
Annexes: A. Evidence Base B. Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment
Figures: A. Nuthurst Neighbourhood Development Plan Area designation B. Open days – Nuthurst Neighbourhood Plan C. Examples of likes and dislikes from the acorn tree exercise D. Teenager’s consultation event E. Business consultation event F. Adopted Horsham District Local Plan Proposals Map Inset – Mannings Heath G. Horsham District Council Preferred Strategy 2013 - Key Diagram H. Horsham District Council - The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty boundary north of Mannings Heath I. Gatwick Diamond J. Horsham District Landscape Character Areas K. Horsham District Landscape Development Capacity – Mannings Heath L. Environment Agency - Fluvial Flood Risk in Nuthurst Parish M. Environment Agency - Groundwater Flood Risk in Nuthurst Parish N. Horsham District Infrastructure Study – Potential growth distribution O. Horsham District - SHLAA sites in Nuthurst Parish
Tables: A. Dwellings Built since 1983 – Nuthurst Parish B. Dwellings Built since 1983 – Mannings Heath C. Approximate Housing Density per Settlement D. The main available Community Facilities in Nuthurst Parish E. Open day responses – summary F. Summary of Adopted Horsham Strategy Policies G. Horsham District Strategic Flood Risk Assessment - Flood Zone definitions H. Breakdown of SHLAA capacity 1. Introduction
Purpose
1.1 Nuthurst Parish Council application for a Neighbourhood Area Designation was approved on the 31st of October 2013. Horsham District Council (HDC) designated the Nuthurst ‘Neighbourhood Area’ for the purpose of enabling Nuthurst Parish Council which includes the settlements of Copsale, Manning Heath, Maplehurst, Monks Gate, Nuthurst and Sedgwick, to prepare the ‘Nuthurst Parish Neighbourhood Plan’ (NPNP). The Plan A on page 4 shows the boundary of the Nuthurst Neighbourhood Area.
1.2 The NPNP is being prepared in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations 2012, the Localism Act 2011 and the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
1.3 The purpose of this report is to summarise the evidence base and the context within which the NPNP will be prepared and by which the draft and final versions of the NPNP will be assessed and refined. A screening opinion has been requested to HDC to determine if a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is needed. Should an SEA be required, a scoping report will be produced in a separate document.
1.4 In summarising the evidence base, the report will provide the local community with a key starting point from which to embark on formulating the draft NPNP.
Figure A: Nuthurst Neighbourhood Development Plan Area designation
Neighbourhood Development Plans
1.5 The NPNP will be amongst the first Neighbourhood Development Plans prepared in England since the 2011 Localism Act. The National Planning Policy Framework states:
“Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and deliver the sustainable development they need. Parishes … can use neighbourhood planning to set planning policies through neighbourhood plans to determine decisions on planning applications; and grant planning permission through Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders for specific development which complies with the order (para.183).
Neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of tools for local people to ensure that they get the right types of development for their community. The ambition of the neighbourhood should be aligned with the strategic needs and priorities of the wider local area.
Neighbourhood plans must be in general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Plan. To facilitate this, local planning authorities should set out clearly their strategic policies for the area and ensure that an up-to-date Local Plan is in place as quickly as possible. Neighbourhood plans should reflect these policies and neighbourhoods should plan positively to support them. Neighbourhood plans and orders should not promote less development than set out in the Local Plan or undermine its strategic policies (para.184).
Outside these strategic elements, neighbourhood plans will be able to shape and direct sustainable development in their area. Once a neighbourhood plan has demonstrated its general conformity with the strategic policies of the Local Plan and is brought into force, the policies it contains take precedence over existing non-strategic policies in the Local Plan for that neighbourhood, where they are in conflict. Local planning authorities should avoid duplicating planning processes for non-strategic policies where a neighbourhood plan is in preparation (para.185)”.
The Plan Preparation Process
1.6 The process of preparing and seeking final adoption of the NPNP is in accordance with the Neighbourhood Plan Regulations 2012 and has been agreed by the Parish Council. The intention of the Parish Council is to submit the NPNP to HDC for approval and then for independent examination by the end of 2014.
1.7 The process up to submission comprises four main stages: State of the Parish Report – this report summarises all the evidence on which the NPNP will be based Draft NPNP – this report will comprise an outline of the vision, objectives, policies and proposals and a map of the plan for informal consultation