Denstone Neighbourhood Development Plan 1 Submission Version (August 2016)
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Denstone Neighbourhood Development Plan Submission Version August 2016 Denstone Parish Council Foreword Neighbourhood Plans were introduced as part of the Localism initiative in 2011, to ensure that local communities are closely involved in planning. For those of you who want to know a little more about Neighbourhood Plans, the following summary may be helpful: - They give people more say on the location and appearance of development and to help protect local heritage, landscape and community assets. - They can establish general planning policies for the development and use of land. - They are part of the Development Plan, used to consider planning applications. However, Neighbourhood Plans must reflect national planning guidance, conform with Local Plan policies and cannot propose less development than in the Local Plan. The Denstone Neighbourhood Plan was launched at a meeting held in June 2014. A Steering Group was formed which, with the support of the Parish Council and a professional advisor, began the task of preparing a plan taking into account the opinions of residents, local organisations, businesses and landowners. The Steering Group has consulted and listened to the community and local organisations on a wide range of issues that will influence the well- being, sustainability and long-term preservation of our rural community. Every effort has been made to ensure that the policies in this document reflect the views of the majority of Denstone residents. Our plan not only sets out the vision and objectives of the community, which will ensure Denstone is protected and enhanced for the enjoyment of future generations, but it also reflects the importance of retaining our heritage and sense of place. This is the Submission Version of the Neighbourhood Plan, developed from the May 2016 Consultation Draft. It is a critical stage for the Plan. On submission, it will be advertised by the Borough Council for 6 weeks for any formal representations to be made by local residents, businesses and statutory consultees. Any comments will be considered by an independent examiner and, subject to any further recommended changes being made, a referendum will follow. We will then need your support on one more occasion to get the Plan “Made” such that it has legal weight. We will keep you in touch with progress on the Neighbourhood Plan as it moves through examination. We expect that, subject to modifications, it will be put to referendum early in 2017. I and my colleagues on the Steering Group look forward to a good turnout and a positive outcome in the referendum. This Policy Document includes a summary of evidence, the Vision & Objectives, Planning Policies and (informal) Community Proposals and implementation. It is accompanied by; - The Consultation Report: This describes how local people, businesses and other organisations have been consulted, the comments made and any changes made. - A Basic Conditions Statement: This explains how the plan meets legal requirements. I would like to thank everyone who attended the numerous Steering Group meetings during the Plan preparation, without whose help, input and support, this Plan could not have been finalised and in particular Neighbourhood & Local Planning Consultant Clive Keble who has guided the Steering Group through the intricacies of this process. The Neighbourhood Plan has also required considerable funding during the preparation process and thanks must also go to Awards for All, East Staffs BC and Locality for the grants provided. Cavell Portman, Chairperson of the Denstone Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Aug. 2016 Denstone Neighbourhood Development Plan 1 Submission Version (August 2016) Contents Page 1. Introduction 3 - 5 2. National and Local Planning Policy Context 6 - 7 3. The Neighbourhood Area/Parish Profile 8 - 12 4. Summary of Community Engagement 13 5. Issues, Selected Options, The Vision and the Objectives 14 - 15 6. Planning Policies and Community Proposals 16 - 36 7. Implementation 37 - 39 Overall Proposals Map Denstone Village Inset Map Appendices 1 Local Community Organisations 2 Key Landscape Views 3 Non-Designated Local Heritage Assets 4 Listed Buildings, Scheduled & Other Monuments Glossary Denstone Neighbourhood Development Plan 2 Submission Version (August 2016) 1. Introduction What is a neighbourhood development plan? 1.1 Communities now have powers to shape development through neighbourhood planning, which is a right introduced through the Localism Act 2011. A Neighbourhood Development Plan can set out a vision for an area and planning policies for the use and development of land. It forms part of the statutory planning framework for the area and the policies of the neighbourhood plan will be used in the determination of planning applications. Denstone Parish 1.2 Denstone Parish Council was formed in 1894. The area currently covered by the parish includes the village of Denstone plus the four hamlets of Doveleys, Prestwood, Quixhill and Stubwood. There are records of Denstone going back to Norman times but it was not until the arrival of Sir Thomas Percival Heywood in 1840 that the village was really established. Prior to this time, Denstone was an agricultural area bounded by the River Churnet and consisting of sparsely populated, scattered hamlets. Sir Thomas was also instrumental in founding Denstone College which opened in 1873. The major housing developments in Denstone have taken place in the last fifty years, although some local authority houses were built in the 1930s. Denstone has been transformed from a small village of about 50 dwellings firmly based on agriculture, to a thriving community of 425 dwellings in the village and the hamlets of Stubwood, Quixhill, Prestwood and Doveleys. Local people consider that Denstone is unique compared to other rural villages of similar size in that there are two significant organisations within walking distance of the village: Denstone College and the main plant and Global Headquarters of JCB which has operated on the site from 1950. There has been substantial building, mainly in the 1960’s and 70’s. Most expansion has taken place close to the village centre resulting in a compact development with well-defined boundaries. 1.3 Denstone forms part of the Churnet Ward with the neighbouring village of Rocester. The two villages lie within 2km of one another, but are distinctly separated by the River Churnet and the B5030, the main road that connects Uttoxeter and Ashbourne. Denstone is equally distant, about 10 km, from these two towns. 1.4 In terms of landscape, the Parish is dominated by the Weaver Hills, the highest point of over 1200ft is about 3 miles to the north. The hills form a particularly scenic landscape which is well served by over 15 miles of rural footpaths within the Parish. Background to the Neighbourhood Plan 1.5 The idea of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan (NP) for Denstone emerged early in 2013, as the Parish Council sought to have more influence on the location and form of new development. The Parish Council formally requested the Borough Council to make Denstone a Neighbourhood Plan Area in December 2013 and approval was given on February 5th 2014. A Steering Group, made up of local people and members of the Parish Council, was established in June 2014 and it has met monthly since then. The Steering Group was keen to ensure that local residents and stakeholders were involved in the plan throughout its preparation. The boundary of the Denstone Neighbourhood Area corresponds to the Parish boundary. This is also indicated on Diagram 1 overleaf. Denstone Neighbourhood Development Plan 3 Submission Version (August 2016) Diagram 1 – The Denstone Neighbourhood Area Denstone Neighbourhood Development Plan 4 Submission Version (August 2016) The Plan Period 1.6 The Neighbourhood Plan will cover the period up to 2031 which corresponds to the plan period for the adopted East Staffordshire Local Plan Next steps 1.7 This Submission version of the Plan reflects comments received during the 6-week (Regulation 14) Consultation in Spring 2016. A summary is provided in Section 4 and full details are presented in the separate Consultation Statement. 1.8 After Submission, the Borough Council will again publicise the plan for a six-week period and invite comment. An independent examiner will then be appointed to consider any representations and check that the Plan meets the Basic Conditions, including conformity with national and local planning policy. The examiner may suggest modifications but will hopefully recommend to the Borough Council that the plan can proceed to a community referendum. A majority of people voting must then support the plan if it is to be eventually ‘Made’ by the Borough Council. The plan will then become part of the development plan for the area and will become a major consideration when determining planning applications. Denstone Neighbourhood Development Plan 5 Submission Version (August 2016) 2. National and Local Planning Context The Basic Conditions 2.1 The Localism Act 2011 stipulates that neighbourhood plans must meet the basic conditions before coming into force. After submission, an independent examiner will be appointed to assess if a plan has met the Basic Conditions. If they conclude that the Basic Conditions are not met, the plan cannot go to referendum. The Basic Conditions state that the plan: - must have regard to national policies and advice, such as the NPPF - must be in general conformity with the strategic policies in the development plan - should contribute to the achievement of sustainable development - should be compatible with European obligations & human rights requirements. 2.2 National Planning Policies The Denstone Neighbourhood Plan must, therefore, be developed with regard to national policy, especially the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) 2012, which sets out the Government’s planning policies for England. It contains core planning principles which must underpin all plan-making. It provides the basis for local planning authorities to prepare their Local Plans and for communities producing Neighbourhood Plans.