South Downs Local Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33) 4. CORE POLICIES 33 4.1 The core policies set out in this chapter provide the overarching framework for evaluating all development proposals in the National Park. Core Policy SD1: Sustainable Development These core policies will be used in the assessment of all planning applications 1. When considering development proposals that accord with relevant policies and thereby avoids the need for duplicating criteria in other policies. The core in this Local Plan and with National Park purposes, the Authority will take policies apply equally across the National Park. The three core policies relate a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable to sustainable development, ecosystem services and major development. development. It will work with applicants to find solutions to ensure that those development proposals can be approved without delay, unless material 4.2 These core policies are relevant to all the Local Plan objectives. planning considerations indicate otherwise. 2. The National Park purposes are i) to conserve and enhance the natural MANAGING DEVELOPMENT IN THE NATIONAL beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area; and ii) to promote PARK opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the National Park by the public. Where it appears that there is a conflict INTRODUCTION between the National Park purposes, greater weight will be attached to the 4.3 The NPPF sets out how the presumption in favour of sustainable first of those purposes. In pursuit of the purposes, the National Park Authority development is a golden thread running through both plan-making and will pay due regard to its duty to seek to foster the economic and social well- decision-making. This means that local planning authorities should positively being of the local communities within the National Park. seek opportunities to meet the development needs of their area. They should 3. When determining any planning application, the Authority will consider the also take a positive approach when deciding planning applications. Core cumulative impacts of development. Policy SD1 and its supporting text reflects these principles, within the context 4. Planning permission will be refused where development proposals fail to of the National Park’s statutory purposes and duty. The supporting text also conserve the landscape, natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the provides general guidance to clarify on the development management process. National Park unless, exceptionally: a) The benefits of the proposals demonstrably outweigh the great weight to be attached to those interests; and b) There is substantial compliance with other relevant policies in the development plan. 34 SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN: ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33) 4.4 The purpose of this policy is to reflect the three guiding principles of DETERMINATION OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS this Local Plan. The three principles are reflected in the policies that appear 4.8 On adoption, the South Downs Local Plan will form part of the statutory throughout the Local Plan. These are: development plan for the whole of the National Park, along with the minerals Firstly, the presumption in favour of sustainable development set out in the and waste plans and ‘made’ (adopted) NDPs. It is important that the Local Plan NPPF; should be read as a whole because all relevant policies apply to all planning Secondly, the statutory duty of the Authority to have regard to National applications. Decisions on planning applications must be taken in accordance Park purposes when determining planning applications; and with the development plan unless material planning considerations indicate otherwise. It is implicit within Criterion 1 of Policy SD1 that if a development Thirdly, the great weight to be attached, in the determination of planning proposal does not comply with key policies in the development plan, then it applications, to conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and will be contrary to the development plan, and may therefore be refused. The cultural heritage of the National Park. Authority is committed to working with applicants to find solutions where they NATIONAL PARK PURPOSES AND DUTY are seeking to conserve and enhance the landscapes of the National Park in 4.5 The Authority will seek to achieve the right balance between accordance with the development plan. conservation and recreation in the National Park when delivering the purposes 4.9 The application of planning policies will be proportionate to the nature of the National Park. However, at times this can cause conflict. To help national and scale of development proposals, and the combination of policies will park authorities make decisions relating to conservation and recreation, the depend on the details of the development proposal. National Parks Policy Review Committee made a recommendation in 1974, which is now known as ‘The Sandford Principle’. This principle was included 4.10 A material planning consideration is one which is relevant to making in the Environment Act 1995 (as amended) which states that: “If it appears that the planning decision in question, and will generally be concerned with there is a conflict between those purposes, [the National Park Authority] shall ensuring that the land use is in the public interest. The weight attached to attach greater weight to the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural material considerations in reaching a decision is a matter of judgement for the beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area”. decision-maker. 4.6 The Environment Act 1995 (as amended) states that a national park 4.11 The National Park Authority will work positively and in partnership with authority, in pursuing the purposes, shall seek to foster the economic and social other local authorities to ensure that development outside of the National Park well-being of local communities within the national park and shall for that does not have a detrimental impact on its setting or otherwise prejudice the purpose co-operate with local authorities and public bodies whose functions achievement of the National Park purposes. Section 62 of the Environment Act include the promotion of economic or social development within the area of the 1995 requires all relevant authorities, including statutory undertakers and other national park. public bodies, to have regard to these purposes. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS OF DEVELOPMENT ECOSYSTEM SERVICES 4.7 It is important to consider the impact of cumulative development in INTRODUCTION the National Park. Cumulative impacts can be defined as the additional changes caused by a proposed development in conjunction with other similar 4.12 Ecosystem services are the benefits that people and society get from developments or as the combined effect of a set of developments. the natural environment. An ecosystems approach helps us to identify the 34 SOUTH DOWNS LOCAL PLAN: ADOPTED 2 JULY 2019 (2014–33) 4.4 The purpose of this policy is to reflect the three guiding principles of DETERMINATION OF PLANNING APPLICATIONS this Local Plan. The three principles are reflected in the policies that appear 4.8 On adoption, the South Downs Local Plan will form part of the statutory throughout the Local Plan. These are: development plan for the whole of the National Park, along with the minerals Firstly, the presumption in favour of sustainable development set out in the and waste plans and ‘made’ (adopted) NDPs. It is important that the Local Plan NPPF; should be read as a whole because all relevant policies apply to all planning Secondly, the statutory duty of the Authority to have regard to National applications. Decisions on planning applications must be taken in accordance Park purposes when determining planning applications; and with the development plan unless material planning considerations indicate otherwise. It is implicit within Criterion 1 of Policy SD1 that if a development Thirdly, the great weight to be attached, in the determination of planning proposal does not comply with key policies in the development plan, then it applications, to conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and will be contrary to the development plan, and may therefore be refused. The cultural heritage of the National Park. Authority is committed to working with applicants to find solutions where they NATIONAL PARK PURPOSES AND DUTY are seeking to conserve and enhance the landscapes of the National Park in 4.5 The Authority will seek to achieve the right balance between accordance with the development plan. conservation and recreation in the National Park when delivering the purposes 4.9 The application of planning policies will be proportionate to the nature of the National Park. However, at times this can cause conflict. To help national and scale of development proposals, and the combination of policies will park authorities make decisions relating to conservation and recreation, the depend on the details of the development proposal. National Parks Policy Review Committee made a recommendation in 1974, which is now known as ‘The Sandford Principle’. This principle was included 4.10 A material planning consideration is one which is relevant to making in the Environment Act 1995 (as amended) which states that: “If it appears that the planning decision in question, and will generally be concerned with there is a conflict between those purposes, [the National Park Authority] shall ensuring that