CENTRAL LINCOLNSHIRE LOCAL PLAN Proposed Submission April 2016 Central Lincolnshire | Proposed Submission Local Plan - April 2016 Foreword Ensuring a flourishing future for Central Lincolnshire Central Lincolnshire is characterised by its diverse and enticing landscape. The magnificent city of Lincoln is embedded within our beautiful landscape and is surrounded by a network of picturesque towns and villages: these places, along with the social and economic opportunities in the area, make Central Lincolnshire a fantastic place to live, work and visit. But there is so much potential to make Central Lincolnshire an even better place. An even better place to live, with quality homes people can afford, easier access to shops, services and facilities, and new thriving communities, which are welcoming and safe. An even better place to work, where new facilities and infrastructure mean that businesses choose to expand or relocate here, bringing jobs and stimulating investment. An even better place to visit, a place where people choose to come to enjoy our nature, our history, our shops, our eateries and attractions, while at the same time significantly contributing to our rural and urban economies. A new Local Plan for Central Lincolnshire can do this. Building on your very helpful comments we received at both the preliminary and further draft stages, inside this Proposed Submission Local Plan for Central Lincolnshire are a set of revised planning policy proposals for the growth and regeneration of Central Lincolnshire over the next 20 years and beyond, together with a firmed up set of proposed sites for development and other areas designated for protection. The policies within the Local Plan will make sure that our settlements grow in the right way, ensure we have homes and employment where we need them, and ensure our new communities are sustainable, accessible and inclusive. The plan will enable us, working with our partners and local communities, to realise Central Lincolnshire’s true potential. This is the third and final opportunity for you to comment on the emerging plan. Any comments you make will be carefully considered, including by an independent Inspector, before the Local Plan is adopted. Councillor Jeff Summers, Leader Councillor Mrs of West Lindsey Marion Brighton Councillor Ric Councillor Colin District Council OBE, Leader of Metcalfe, Leader John Davie, North Kesteven of City of Lincoln Lincolnshire District Council Council County Council Executive Councillor for Economic Development, Planning and Tourism i Central Lincolnshire | Proposed Submission Local Plan - April 2016 Preface Note: this page will be slightly updated on submission of the Local Plan for examination (due June 2016) Status of this April 2016 Document for Decision Makers This Proposed Submission Local Plan was approved by the Central Lincolnshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee on 14 March 2016 for the purposes of public consultation. It is therefore classified as an ‘emerging’ plan. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) clarifies the position on the status of emerging plans. It states: Para 216: From the day of publication, decision makers may also give weight to relevant policies in emerging plans according to: the stage of preparation of the emerging plan (the more advanced the preparation, the greater the weight that can be given) the extent to which there are unresolved objections to relevant policies (the less significant the unresolved objections, the greater the weight that may be given); and the degree of consistency of the relevant policies in the emerging plan to the policies in this Framework (the closer the policies in the emerging plan to policies in this framework the greater the weight that may be given). This Proposed Submission Local Plan (April 2016) is the third and final consultation version of a new Local Plan to replace the current Local Plans of Lincoln, North Kesteven and West Lindsey. In accordance with NPPF paragraph 216, the policies contained within this emerging plan will be used (alongside the current development plans and other material considerations) in determining planning applications, especially where it contains ‘new’ policy not currently found in either the current Local Plans or the NPPF. In helping determine proposals, the amount of ‘weight’ to be given to the content of this emerging plan in comparison with the amount of weight given to other plans, strategies and material considerations, will be a matter for the decision maker to decide and will vary depending on the specific elements of the proposal. At this final draft ('Proposed Submission' or sometimes referred to as 'Publication Draft') stage of plan preparation, the weight to be given to this emerging Local Plan is more substantial than for previous stages, though the 'starting point' for decision makers remains with the existing adopted Local Plans for the area. ii Central Lincolnshire | Proposed Submission Local Plan - April 2016 Contents Main Contents 1 The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan 1 1.1 Introduction 1 2 Our Vision: A prosperous, stronger and sustainable Central Lincolnshire 4 2.1 Central Lincolnshire – a shared approach 4 2.2 Central Lincolnshire in Context 4 2.3 Key Challenges 5 2.4 Our Vision 6 2.5 Our Objectives 7 3 A Growing Central Lincolnshire 9 3.1 A Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development 9 3.2 Settlement Hierarchy, Spatial Strategy and Settlement Growth Targets 9 3.3 Level and Distribution of Growth 12 3.4 Growth in Villages 16 3.5 Economic Growth, Prosperity and Jobs 20 3.6 Retail and Town Centres 26 3.7 The Visitor Economy 29 3.8 Lincolnshire Showground 30 4 A Caring Central Lincolnshire: meeting needs and the provision of infrastructure 31 4.1 Introduction 31 4.2 Health and Wellbeing 31 4.3 Housing Standards Review 32 4.4 Meeting Accommodation Needs 33 4.5 Affordable Housing 34 4.6 Providing Infrastructure 36 4.7 Accessibility and Transport 38 4.8 Managing Water Resources and Flooding 42 4.9 Community Facilities 45 4.10 Development on Land Affected by Contamination 47 5 A Quality Central Lincolnshire 48 5.1 Introduction 48 5.2 Our Landscape 48 Central Lincolnshire | Proposed Submission Local Plan - April 2016 Contents 5.3 Climate Change and Low Carbon Living 49 5.4 Renewable Energy Proposals 50 5.5 Green Infrastructure Network 51 5.6 Biodiversity and Geodiversity 53 5.7 Green Wedges 55 5.8 Local Green Space and other Important Open Space 56 5.9 Creation of New Open Spaces, Sports and Recreation Facilities 57 5.10 The Historic Environment 58 5.11 Design Principles and Amenity 62 5.12 Main Town Centre Uses - Frontages and Advertisements 64 6 Delivering Locally 66 6.1 Introduction 66 6.2 Sustainable Urban Extensions (SUEs) 66 7 Lincoln 68 7.1 Lincoln Introduction 68 7.2 A Growing Lincoln 68 7.3 Protecting Lincoln's Setting and Character 70 7.4 Lincoln Sustainable Urban Extensions 71 7.5 Lincoln's Economy 77 7.6 Lincoln's Universities and Colleges 78 7.7 Lincoln City Centre 78 7.8 Lincoln's District and Local Shopping Centres 81 7.9 Lincoln's Regeneration and Opportunity Areas 82 7.10 Access and Movement within the Lincoln Area 84 7.11 Sub-division and multi-occupation of dwellings within Lincoln 86 8 Gainsborough 88 8.1 Gainsborough Introduction 88 8.2 A Growing Gainsborough 88 8.3 Protecting Gainsborough's Setting and Character 89 8.4 Gainsborough Sustainable Urban Extensions 90 8.5 Gainsborough Riverside 94 8.6 Regenerating Gainsborough 94 8.7 Gainsborough Town Centre Boundary and Primary Shopping Area 95 Central Lincolnshire | Proposed Submission Local Plan - April 2016 Contents 9 Sleaford 97 9.1 Sleaford Introduction 97 9.2 Protecting Sleaford's Setting and Character 97 9.3 Sleaford Sustainable Urban Extensions 99 9.4 Sleaford's Regeneration and Opportunity Areas 102 9.5 Sleaford Town Centre 104 9.6 Access and Movement within Sleaford 105 10 Development Sites 107 10.1 Introduction 107 10.2 Residential Allocations 108 10.3 Development in Hamlets and the Countryside 123 11 Previous ‘Saved Policies’, Implementation and Monitoring 129 11.1 Saved Policies and other planning policy documents 129 Appendices A Neighbourhood Planning 131 B Growth Levels in Villages (Levels 5-6 of the settlement hierarchy) 133 C Open Space Provision Standards 144 D Glossary 146 List of Policies Policy LP1: A Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development 9 Policy LP2: The Spatial Strategy and Settlement Hierarchy 10 Policy LP3: Level and Distribution of Growth 14 Policy LP4: Growth in Villages 17 Policy LP5: Delivering Prosperity and Jobs 22 Policy LP6: Retail and Town Centres in Central Lincolnshire 27 Policy LP7: A Sustainable Visitor Economy 29 Policy LP8: Lincolnshire Showground 30 Policy LP9: Health and Wellbeing 31 Policy LP10: Meeting Accommodation Needs 33 Policy LP11: Affordable Housing 35 Policy LP12: Infrastructure to Support Growth 37 Policy LP13: Accessibility and Transport 40 Policy LP14: Managing Water Resources and Flood Risk 44 Policy LP15: Community Facilities 45 Policy LP16: Development on Land Affected by Contamination 47 Central Lincolnshire | Proposed Submission Local Plan - April 2016 Contents Policy LP17: Landscape, Townscape and Views 48 Policy LP18: Climate Change and Low Carbon Living 49 Policy LP19: Renewable Energy Proposals 51 Policy LP20: Green Infrastructure Network 53 Policy LP21: Biodiversity and Geodiversity 54 Policy LP22: Green Wedges 56 Policy LP23: Local Green Space and other Important Open Space 57 Policy LP24: Creation of New Open Space, Sports and Recreation Facilities 58 Policy LP25: