Regulation 16 Consultation Responses Abbots Leigh, Ham Green, Pill and Easton-In-Gordano Neighbourhood Plan
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Regulation 16 Consultation responses Abbots Leigh, Ham Green, Pill and Easton-in-Gordano Neighbourhood Plan Page 1 of 267 23 Mar 2021 13:58:59 Plan section 1.1 What is the Neighbourhood Plan? Respondent Comment Additional info Peter Coleman I am delighted this dedicated group have put together this excellent Neighbourhood Plan Peter Coleman I agree with all the recommendations in the Neighbourhood plan National Grid (Avison National Grid has appointed Avison Young to review and respond to Neighbourhood Plan Young) consultations on its behalf. We are instructed by our client to submit the following representation with regard to the current consultation on the above document. About National Grid National Grid Electricity Transmission plc (NGET) owns and maintains the electricity transmission system in England and Wales. The energy is then distributed to the electricity distribution network operators across England, Wales and Scotland. National Grid Gas plc (NGG) owns and operates the high-pressure gas transmission system across the UK. In the UK, gas leaves the transmission system and enters the UK’s four gas distribution networks where pressure is reduced for public use. National Grid Ventures (NGV) is separate from National Grid’s core regulated businesses. NGV develop, operate and invest in energy projects, technologies, and partnerships to help accelerate the development of a clean energy future for consumers across the UK, Europe and the United States. Proposed development sites crossed or in close proximity to National Grid assets: An assessment has been carried out with respect to National Grid’s electricity and gas transmission assets which include high voltage electricity assets and high-pressure gas pipelines. National Grid has identified that it has no record of such assets within the Neighbourhood Plan area. National Grid provides information in relation to its assets at the website below. Page 2 of 267 23 Mar 2021 13:58:59 Respondent Comment Additional info www2.nationalgrid.com/uk/services/land-and-development/planning-authority/shape-files/ Please also see attached information outlining guidance on development close to National Grid infrastructure. Distribution Networks Information regarding the electricity distribution network is available at the website below: www.energynetworks.org.uk Information regarding the gas distribution network is available by contacting: [email protected] ST The plan needs to consider green spaces and the environmental impact of any development with the view that, in the design of the development there will be an improvement for wildlife. Green and wildlife spaces are precious and should be the number one priority when considering more concrete. Land must be used optimally small terraces, low level flats around green space not seas of low density building which wastes space and only benefits a few. Brown field sites next to existing towns are best where transport and environmental damage are kept to a minimum. Clever design and positioning can minimise rural land use, transport pollution and add to wildlife corridors and human well being. Bob L I am delighted by the Plan and fully support its aspirations, especially in the areas of housing (including the proposals for Chapel Pill Lane and the Somerset Lodge site) and the environment. L&Q Estates INTRODUCTION Page 3 of 267 23 Mar 2021 13:58:59 Respondent Comment Additional info These representations are submitted by Barton Willmore LLP on behalf of L&Q Estates in response to the "Abbots Leigh, Ham Green, Pill and Easton-in-Gordano Neighbourhood Plan" consultation. We would like to thank you for this consultation opportunity, and we would be more than happy to meet to discuss any comments made within these representations. As you will likely be aware, we are promoting a strategic development site at Pill Green in the context of the emerging Local Plan for North Somerset. The potential in this location to positively contribute to meeting the needs of North Somerset has long been identified. This opportunity was recognised by the Inspector appointed to consider the last Local Plan (ie the currently adopted Local Plan). The Inspector commented in respect of the North Somerset Council Core Strategy in his March 2012 report that: "45. In the event of additional development capacity becoming necessary in a future review of the CS, it would be for NSC to consider providing for it by way of one or more urban extensions in the Green Belt south west of Bristol as proposed by the dRSS, whether at Long Ashton or at Pill as suggested by different Representors, or at other locations either within or outside existing settlements". It is clear that this issue of Green Belt review at Pill is a significant issue that the emerging North Somerset Local Plan will need to address and this should not be frustrated by the neighbourhood plan. Having reviewed the recent consultation report from the ‘Choices for the Future’ consultations and monitored the Council’s scrutiny committee that considers the emerging Local Plan, there appears to be general recognition that Green Belt development will be needed to achieve a sustainable spatial strategy. L&Q Estates have previously promoted this location and the opportunity to provide sustainable development to the now withdrawn West of England Joint Spatial Plan (JSP). More recently, further representations were made to the "Challenges for the Future" and "Choices for the Future" consultations on the emerging North Somerset Local Plan 2038, which if considered sound and Page 4 of 267 23 Mar 2021 13:58:59 Respondent Comment Additional info following adoption will replace the current Local Plan. We are grateful for the opportunity to respond and provide comments on the proposed neighbourhood plan prepared by the two Parish Councils of Abbots Leigh and Pill & Easton-in-Gordano submitted to North Somerset Council on 2 November 2020. The neighbourhood plan allows for the communities of Abbots Leigh, Ham Green, Pill and Easton-in-Gordano to express their visions and translate these into policies for the area. We find it encouraging to see the new neighbourhood plan come forward for examination to form part of the adopted development plan of North Somerset. We would wish to express our broad support for the aspirational approach intended to help the communities to shape the future of their areas. We see much hard work has gone into the preparation of the draft Neighbourhood Plan 2020-2026, which includes considerations for the environment, heritage, transport, climate change, housing and employment. We consider it noteworthy that the draft Neighbourhood Plan sets out to identify the history of issues in the whole neighbourhood area and attempts to address these. We make these comments to the final plan consultation before the plan goes to examination on the neighbourhood plan in the important strategic context of the emerging new Local Plan (which we address in more detail below), which will supersede polices in the neighbourhood plan. Comments have been made to detail the specific relationship of neighbourhood plans with adopted and emerging local plans as enshrined in legislation and set out within national policy and policy practice guidance. We have also made previous comments on the Pre-Submission document raising our concerns over the requirements for the draft plan to meet the Basic Conditions and whether the policies are supported by evidence that is robust and appropriate. We should stress that whilst we have important an unresolved concern that would need to be addressed by the examiner, we can see much positive work within the draft plan and express broad support for the aspirational proposals in this area. Whilst our concern relates to the appearance that this neighbourhood plan seeks to consider the district-wide policy framework beyond 2026 we must explicitly welcome the fact that in a number of paragraphs, such as in the Strategic Planning Framework section it is stated that "the policies Page 5 of 267 23 Mar 2021 13:58:59 Respondent Comment Additional info suggested in the Plan relate only to the period up to 2026". The issues we point to arise from the fact that after clearly stating that the neighbourhood plan only goes up to 2026, there are repeated instances where the text addresses issues and purports to draw on an evidence base that extends beyond that date. By way of background, we have submitted separately to the North Somerset Council a vision document for our Client’s proposals of a new community including of up to 1000 new dwellings. These will continue to evolve in the context of the emerging Local Plan and consultation but indicate the strategic nature of those proposals. Prior to the examination of the neighbourhood plan we would ask North Somerset Council to provide to the examiner copies of representations made in respect of the emerging Local Plan and the potential development locations falling within the neighbourhood plan area that have been promoted so far, including within the ‘Call for Sites’. BACKGROUND The Localism Act 2011 inserted Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, which directs the required procedures at independent examinations of neighbourhood plans. According to Schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 a draft neighbourhood plan that has been brought forward to the independent examination stage must have regard to a set of basic conditions and the examiner must consider the draft plan in context of these basic conditions. Paragraph