Local Development Framework Site Allocations and Development Management Plan - Draft for Consultation January 2013 Contents 1 Introduction and Background 8 2 Sustainable Development 16 Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development 16 Development within Development Boundaries 16 3 Housing 20 Background 20 Housing Allocations 22 Affordable Housing Rural Exception Sites 24 Specialist Housing and Care Homes 26 Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpersons Accommodation 28 Housing Mix and Density 29 Extensions, Alterations and Outbuildings 31 Replacement Dwellings 33 Rural Workers Dwellings 35 Hamlets 37 Garden Extensions 38 4 Employment 42 Background 42 Policies 47 5 Retail 56 6 Community Facilities 70 7 Transport 78 Background 78 Sustainable Access for All 79 Cycleways and Footways 81 Parking Provision 85 Transport Related Road Areas 87 New Road Schemes 87 | Draft ADMP January 2013 8 Environment 90 Countryside 91 Background 91 Landscape Character 91 Biodiversity and Geodiversity 93 Built Environment within the Countryside 94 Farm Diversification 96 Protected Lanes 98 Promoting Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency 99 Contaminated Land 102 Pollution 104 External Lighting 105 9 Design, Conservation and Listed Buildings 108 10 Sport and Recreation 118 Sport and Leisure Facilities 118 Golf Courses and Driving Ranges 119 Sports Causing Noise and Disturbance 121 River Walks/Linear Parks and Disused Railway Lines 122 Hatfield Peverel Country Park 123 Tourist Accommodation 124 11 Delivery 128 Glossary 132 Appendices Appendix 1 Housing Sites of 10 or More Dwellings Estimated Capacity 142 Appendix 2 List of Braintree Local Plan Review (RLP) Policies Superseded by Site Allocations Policies 148 Draft Proposals Map and Insets Draft ADMP January 2013 | Draft Proposals Map and Insets 154 List of Policies Policy ADM 1 Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development 16 Policy ADM 2 Development within Development Boundaries 17 Policy ADM 3 Housing Allocations 22 Policy ADM 4 Affordable Housing in the Countryside 25 Policy ADM 5 Specialist Housing 27 Policy ADM 6 Care Homes and Specialist Housing Allocations 28 Policy ADM 7 Gypsy and Traveller and Travelling Showpersons Accommodation 29 Policy ADM 8 Housing and Density 31 Policy ADM 9 Residential Alterations, Extensions and Outbuildings within Development Boundaries 32 Policy ADM 10 Residential Alterations, Extensions and Outbuildings in the Countryside 33 Policy ADM 11 Replacement Dwellings in the Countryside 34 Policy ADM 12 Rural Workers Dwellings in the Countryside 36 Policy ADM 13 Hamlets 37 Policy ADM 14 Garden Extensions 39 Policy ADM 15 Employment Policy Areas 48 Policy ADM 16 Business Uses 49 Policy ADM 17 Business and Industrial Uses 50 Policy ADM 18 Industrial Development Boundaries 50 Policy ADM 19 Design and Layout of Employment Policy Areas and Business Uses 51 Policy ADM 20 Work Place Nurseries 51 Policy ADM 21 Change of Use of Commercial Buildings in the B Use Classes 52 Policy ADM 22 Promotion of Employment Clusters 53 Policy ADM 23 Rural Enterprise 53 Policy ADM 24 Primary Shopping Areas 57 Policy ADM 25 District Centre 58 Policy ADM 26 Impact Assessments 59 Policy ADM 27 Town Centre Improvements 60 Policy ADM 28 Freeport Outlet Centre 61 Policy ADM 29 Braintree Retail Park 62 Policy ADM 30 Leisure and Entertainment 62 Policy ADM 31 Car Parking - Freeport and Braintree Retail Park 63 Policy ADM 32 Retail Warehouse Development 63 Policy ADM 33 Retail Site Allocations 64 Policy ADM 34 Comprehensive Development Area – Newland Shopping Centre, Witham 66 | Draft ADMP January 2013 Policy ADM 35 Comprehensive Development Area – Rickstones Neighbourhood Centre, Dorothy Sayers Drive, Witham 67 Policy ADM 36 Comprehensive Development Area - Land to the East of the High Street, Halstead 67 Policy ADM 37 Comprehensive Development Area - Land at Railway Garage, Kelvedon 68 Policy ADM 38 Education Provision 71 Policy ADM 39 Educational Establishments 72 Policy ADM 40 Cemetery Extensions 72 Policy ADM 41 Community Uses 73 Policy ADM 42 Provision and Enhancement of Local Community Facilities 74 Policy ADM 43 Retention of Local Community Services and Facilities 74 Policy ADM 44 Community Orchards and Community Woodlands 75 Policy ADM 45 Sustainable Access for All 80 Policy ADM 46 Cycle/Pedestrian Network 83 Policy ADM 47 Parking Provision 85 Policy ADM 48 Transport Related Policy Areas 87 Policy ADM 49 New Road Scheme 88 Policy ADM 50 Landscape Character 92 Policy ADM 51 Protection of Biodiversity and Geodiversity 94 Policy ADM 52 Built Development in the Countryside 96 Policy ADM 53 Farm Diversification 98 Policy ADM 54 Protected Lanes 99 Policy ADM 55 Energy Efficiency 100 Policy ADM 56 Renewable Energy 100 Policy ADM 57 Contaminated Land 103 Policy ADM 58 Development Likely to Give Rise to Pollution, or the Risk of Pollution 104 Policy ADM 59 External Lighting 106 Policy ADM 60 Layout and Design of Development 109 Policy ADM 61 Outdoor Advertisements 110 Policy ADM 62 Shop Fronts 110 Policy ADM 63 Preservation and Enhancement of Conservation Areas and Demolition within Conservation Areas 111 Policy ADM 64 Fascias and Signs in Conservation Areas 112 Policy ADM 65 Illuminated Signs in Conservation Areas 113 Policy ADM 66 Alterations and Extensions and Changes of Use to Listed Buildings or Structures and their Settings 114 Policy ADM 67 Demolition of Listed Buildings or Structures 115 Policy ADM 68 Enabling Development 115 Policy ADM 69 Archaeological Evaluation, Excavation and Recording 116 Policy ADM 70 Sports and Leisure Facilities 119 Policy ADM 71 Golf Courses and Driving Ranges 120 Policy ADM 72 Sports Causing Noise or Disturbance 121 Draft ADMP January 2013 | Policy ADM 73 River Walks, Linear Parks and Disused Railway Lines 123 Policy ADM 74 Hatfield Peverel Country Park 124 Policy ADM 75 Tourist Development 125 List of Tables LDF Timetable 11 Table 1 Braintree District Housing Provision 2012 to 2026 21 Table 2 Estimated Housing Supply 2012-2026 compared against Housing Requirements 23 Table 3 Non - Residential Completions 2010-2012 43 Table 4 Land Available for Non Residential Uses as at 31st March 2012 44 Additional Performance Targets and Measures 129 Glossary 132 List of Braintree Local Plan Review (RLP) Policies Superseded by Site Allocations Policies 148 List of Maps 154 | Draft ADMP January 2013 Draft ADMP January 2013 | 7 Introduction and Background | Draft ADMP January 2013 8 1 Introduction and Background Background 1.1 The Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan (ADMP) is a combined Development Plan Document (DPD), which will form part of the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF). The LDF is a suite of documents, as shown in the following diagram, which will guide future planning decisions in the District and will replace the Local Plan Review 2005. 1.2 In September 2011, the Core Strategy DPD was adopted by the Council. The Core Strategy is the principal document within the LDF, which sets out the overall spatial vision and objectives, spatial strategy, strategic policies and how the strategy will be implemented and monitored. 1.3 The Council is currently preparing the draft Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Plan, which will support and deliver the Core Strategy. Diagram - Various Components of the Local Development Framework 1.4 The role of the Site Allocations and Development Management Plan is:- To allocate sites to meet the development needs of Braintree District. To provide policies to manage change, which will be used to assess and determine planning applications, in conjunction with the Core Strategy strategic policies. 1.5 The content of this draft Site Allocations and Development Management Plan has been guided by the following factors; Delivering the spatial strategy and strategic policies of the adopted Core Strategy; Draft ADMP January 2013 | 9 Evidence on housing need, employment viability, retail study update and other supporting LDF evidence; The ‘call for sites’ during July 2007 to August 2010 which provided sites which could be assessed for their suitability for allocation; Site visits and assessments of sites submitted; Consultation with Parish/Town Council/Ward Members/Planning Committee and statutory bodies; Co-operation with adjoining authorities on cross- boundary issues; Sustainability Appraisal; Consideration of infrastructure requirements; Equality Impact Assessment. 1.6 Site Allocations and Proposals Map Inset Maps The goal of the ADMP is to identify sites to meet the Council development requirements over the plan period, and to identify areas which should be protected from unsuitable development. Areas which are allocated or protected from unsuitable development are shown on the Proposals Map Inset Maps in the document. 1.7 Housing The Core Strategy sets out strategic growth locations and what provision should be made for future housing in each of the towns, key service villages and other villages in the District. The draft site allocations plan shows the location of smaller non-strategic site allocations required to meet the Council required level of housing development over the plan period. 1.8 Employment The Core Strategy sets the overall level of job provision over the plan period as well as identifying strategic employment allocations. The ADMP identifies which existing employment sites, in current or recent use, should be protected. 1.9 Retail The Core Strategy identifies broad areas of growth for town centre retailing and regeneration. The ADMP identifies specific sites within the town centres, which can be used to meet the Council’s retail requirement as specified by its Retail Study Update. (NLP 2012). The ADMP also sets what uses will be appropriate at Freeport Outlet Village and Braintree Retail Park out-of-centre sites. 1.10 Community Facilities The Site Allocations Plan identifies sites to protect existing community facilities from inappropriate development as well as education, cemeteries, community orchards and woodlands. It also outlines the appropriate circumstances when new facilities can be provided. | Draft ADMP January 2013 10 1.11 Transport The Council outlines improvements to its cycleway and pedestrian network and identifies those routes on the inset maps.