Dartford Development Policies Plan Dartford Open Space Report 2015/16 Final Submission June 2016 Dartford Open Space Report 2015/16 Final Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 2. The Development Plan & National Policy ....................................................................................... 2 3. PLGS Methodology & Consultation Summary ................................................................................ 5 4. Dartford Borough Application of PLGS Criteria............................................................................... 7 5. Proposed PLGS in the Borough ..................................................................................................... 10 6. Borough Open Space .................................................................................................................... 14 7. Investigating North Kent Habitats Mitigation Options ................................................................. 16 8. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 19 Appendix A: PLGS Confirmed Shortlist and Final Scoring ..................................................................... 20 Appendix B: Dartford Borough Open Space Technical Record 2016 .................................................... 22 Dartford Open Space Report 2015/16 Final 1. Introduction 1.1 Dartford is a small borough featuring major areas of change, and also a rural Green Belt area dominating the southern half of the Borough. The Dartford Core Strategy’s major development areas envisaged an accompanying “Green Grid” to be formulated to enhance the environment and local wellbeing. This note identifies the community’s most special green spaces, which form valued/ high quality component parts of the Green Grid. 1.2 At present there is limited identification or development management policy associated with green space in Dartford other than for the Green Belt and designated nature conservation sites. The emerging Development Policies Plan and new Policies Map looks to address this, providing for the retention of green spaces as appropriate, in parallel with the provisions in Core Strategy policy CS14 for new and improved open space. 1.3 This paper explains the principles behind, and process of, selecting open / greenspaces. It expands on the considerations outlined in evidence produced1 at the Draft Plan and Options Consultation stage of the Development Policies Plan (December 2014), and addresses further issues arising. 1.4 The paper mostly focuses on new evidence supporting specific ‘Protected Local Green Space’, as there is a pressing need in Dartford given very high growth levels, to closely consider the designation of certain locally valued spaces for protection in line with ‘Green Belt’ principles as introduced in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This is covered in chapters 3- 5. 1.5 The paper also outlines in chapter 6 the range of other open spaces across the area worthy of identification: ‘Borough Open Space’ (BOS); as there is also a need to consider which other open spaces throughout the Borough should be managed through planning policy. An outline update is also provided in relation to a key habitats issue in the wider sub-region (chapter 7). This draws from specific reports produced to consider the way forward for development issues in Dartford. A summary conclusion forms chapter 8. 1 DBC (2014) A Draft Green Grid & Open Space Update Paper. See section 1.5. 1 Dartford Open Space Report 2015/16 Final 1.6 Appendices detail proposed designations, and the outcomes of potential PLGS and BOS site assessments. The following (chapter 2) outlines the planning policy context within which the research and surveying has been conducted. 2. The Development Plan & National Policy 2.1 The DBC (2014) “A Draft Green Grid & Open Space Update Paper” reviewed national and adopted local policy. This remains relevant, however further discussion is warranted, particularly of more detailed national guidance for PLGS, and BOS decisions. 2.2 Green and open space takes a variety of forms and performs different functions. Core Strategy policy CS14 sets the local strategic context through identifying key principles for a “multi- functional, high quality, varied, and well managed Green Gird.” The policy is not further revisited here, other than to confirm that includes (CS14:1e) provision for “Protecting and enhancing exiting open spaces, including…. those identified and designated as locally important…” The Development Policies Local Plan helps achieve this by setting out specific policy and by clarifying the applicable land (to be shown on the Policies Map). 2.3 National policy is clear that generally open space, including sports and playing fields should not be built on. The proposed BOS policy (DP24) is the normal means by which many of these open spaces will be governed locally in planning terms. This addresses the exceptions in NPPF paragraph 74, which apply are where: • an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or • the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or • the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs for which clearly outweigh the loss. 2.4 The approach to identifying lands where a criteria-based approach to managing their future as open space is set out in chapter 6. 2.5 National policy further states: “By designating land as Local Green Space local communities will be able to rule out new development other than in very special circumstances”. (NPPF paragraph 76). This particular provision is therefore a powerful land use tool to apply carefully 2 Dartford Open Space Report 2015/16 Final and selectively, with full consideration of long-term issues and sustainable development needs. It will form only one potential tool, albeit a highly influential one. It can therefore provide a structure to managing open spaces, with these outstanding spaces identified and protected, leaving ‘residual’ other green/ open places to be dealt with appropriately as outlined above. 2.6 It is national policy that “Local policy for managing development within a Local Green Space should be consistent with policy for Green Belts.” (NPPF paragraph 78). 2.7 The government further advises in online guidance that particularly close consideration is required of the merits or otherwise of introducing the designation where land is already Green Belt or benefits from other conservation / national protection. Given it is expected that local Green Belt planning policy in the Development Polices Plan will be directly cross referred and applied in these circumstances, Dartford Borough Council is not aware of any logical argument to support Local Green Space designation that is necessary and adds value on top of land already identified under these significant protections. 2.8 Therefore the scope of this note and proposed policy is focussed on Dartford Borough’s non Green Belt land. This is where the predominance of the 43% household growth (2006-2026) is occurring, and where protection may be most valuable – in and immediately around communities. It has however been concluded that if not designated under local planning policy, land that is already protected through legislation as allotments, village greens/ commons etc, are not ruled out for consideration as Local Green Space. 2.9 National policy sets out relevant features that may make a space sufficiently special to qualify. These are: beauty, history, recreation, tranquillity or wildlife. The features listed are largely those commonly found in National level designations (eg. AONB/ SSSIs) or are have national oversight through Government Agencies such as Sports England. However it is noteworthy to Dartford that recently prominent matter of tranquillity has been highlighted in national policy. The NPPF (paragraph 123) confirms: “Planning policies and decisions should aim to…. Identify and protect areas of tranquillity which have remained relatively undisturbed by noise and are prized for their recreational and amenity value for this reason.” As a local or neighbourhood consideration, their performance is best judged on a comparative basis within the context of the locality. The value attached to a space may differ if it were located elsewhere in the Borough, county or country. 3 Dartford Open Space Report 2015/16 Final 2.10 Online national guidance states the designation will “rarely be appropriate where the land has planning permission for development”, thus restricting further the scope of potential qualifying spaces in the Borough. 2.11 National policy emphasises these spaces are to be local in scale and character. In terms of additional characteristics, the online guidance also confirms that the land may or may not provide public access and, “A Local Green Space does not need to be in public ownership”. 2.12 In summary, the government describes the intention in its online guidance as: “Local Green Space designation is a way to provide special protection against development for green areas of particular importance to local communities.” In Dartford Borough, land must fall outside the existing Green Belt designation. Many other areas with