Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan (2011 to 2029) Adopted May 2016 Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2011 - 2029 The Local Plan should be read as a whole. Proposals will be judged against all relevant policies. Page 1 of 185 Planning the future of our borough FOREWORD by Cabinet Member for Planning – Cllr Mark Ruffell The council has worked hard in drawing up its Local Plan – it contains a set of policies and plans that will guide future planning and development decisions. This plan forms part of the council’s development plan and will be used in the determination of planning applications. This Local Plan is the overarching planning document that identifies where development will take place, how new jobs will be supported and how the precious environment of the borough will be protected and enhanced. It also allocates major sites and locations for development to meet the needs of our growing population. The Local Plan has been prepared through a long and detailed process, with input from local residents, councillors, interested bodies, and statutory consultees taking into account a range of issues and considerations, including: comments and views expressed during public consultation on various stages of the process going back to 2007 the outcomes of a number of studies and other evidence about the borough and its needs in the future existing national planning guidance set out in the National Planning Policy Framework; and other strategies for the borough’s future, including the Vision for Basingstoke and Deane which was drawn up with the Basingstoke Area Strategic Partnership, the Council Plan and the Sustainable Community Strategy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the residents, community groups, and other contributors to the plan who all share a desire to plan for a successful future for the borough. This strategy will meet our needs for new homes, a strong economy and a protected natural environment over the next 15 years. The Local Plan should be read as a whole. Proposals will be judged against all relevant policies. Page 2 of 185 Contents 1. Introduction 6 2. 2029 Vision and Objectives 14 3. The Spatial Strategy - Between Now and 2029 20 4. Delivery of the Strategy 24 Policy SD1 - Presumption on Favour of Sustainable Development 24 Policy SS1 - Scale and Distribution of New Housing 33 Policy SS2 – Regeneration 34 Policy SS3 – Greenfield Site Allocations 36 Policy SS3.1 – Swing Swang Lane, Basingstoke 37 Policy SS3.2 – Kennel Farm 38 Policy SS3.3 – Razor’s Farm 40 Policy SS3.4 – North of Popley Fields, Basingstoke 42 Policy SS3.5 – Overton Hill 43 Policy SS3.6 – South of Bloswood Lane 45 Policy SS3.7 – Redlands 46 Policy SS3.8 – Upper Cufaude Farm 47 Policy SS3.9 – East of Basingstoke 50 Policy SS3.10 – Manydown, Basingstoke 53 Policy SS3.11 – Basingstoke Golf Course 55 Policy SS4 - Ensuring a supply of deliverable sites 59 Policy SS5 – Neighbourhood Planning 61 Policy SS6 – New Housing in the Countryside 64 Policy SS7 - Nuclear Installations – Aldermaston and Burghfield 67 Policy SS8 – Basing View 68 The Local Plan should be read as a whole. Proposals will be judged against all relevant policies. Page 3 of 185 Policy SS9 - Basingstoke Leisure Park 72 Policy SS10 – Chineham Railway Station 73 Policy SS11 – Whitchurch Railway Station Car Park 74 5. Community Needs 75 Policy CN1 – Affordable Housing 76 Policy CN2 – Rural Exceptions for Affordable Housing 78 Policy CN3 – Housing Mix for Market Housing 80 Policy CN4 - Housing for older people / Specialist housing 82 Policy CN5 – Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Show People 84 Policy CN6 – Infrastructure 86 Policy CN7 – Essential Facilities and Services 90 Policy CN8– Community, Leisure and Cultural Facilities 92 Policy CN9 – Transport 95 6. Environmental Management and Climate Change 100 Policy EM1 – Landscape 102 Policy EM2 – Strategic Gaps 104 Policy EM3 – Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area 105 Policy EM4 – Biodiversity, Geodiversity and Nature Conservation 106 Policy EM5 – Green Infrastructure 109 Policy EM6 - Water Quality 113 Policy EM7 – Managing Flood Risk 116 Policy EM8 – Commercial Renewable/Low Carbon Energy Generation 119 Policy EM9 – Sustainable Water Use 121 Policy EM10 - Delivering High Quality Development 123 Policy EM11 – The Historic Environment 126 Policy EM12 - Pollution 129 The Local Plan should be read as a whole. Proposals will be judged against all relevant policies. Page 4 of 185 7. Economic Development 132 Policy EP1 – Economic Growth and Investment 134 Policy EP2 – Employment Land and Premises (B-Use Classes) 137 Policy EP3 – Town, District and Local Centres 140 Policy EP4 – Rural Economy 144 Policy EP5 – Rural Tourism 146 Appendix 1– Summary of Evidence Base 148 Appendix 2 – Documents to Support the Local Plan 153 Appendix 3 - Glossary 154 Appendix 4 – Adopted Standards 177 Appendix 5 – Masterplan And Development Brief Protocol 180 Appendix 6 – Policy Relationship with Saved Local Plan Policies 183 The Local Plan should be read as a whole. Proposals will be judged against all relevant policies. Page 5 of 185 Introduction What is this about? 1.1 This is the Local Plan for Basingstoke and Deane borough covering the period up to 2029. 1.2 Throughout the process of preparing the Local Plan, a significant level of public consultation has been undertaken. This included seeking views on early policy documents, such as the Issues and Options and Key Themes documents, and also on specific pieces of evidence base including the council’s Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA). 1.3 This process ensured that the community, partners and stakeholders had the opportunity to influence key aspects of the draft Local Plan. This was guided by the adopted Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) and a summary of the steps undertaken are set out in the Statement of Consultation which was published alongside the Submission Local Plan. 1.4 The Inspector, who examined the Local Plan, has confirmed that it meets the following requirements:: a) has been prepared in accordance with the duty to cooperate, legal and procedural requirements, and b) is ‘sound’. Soundness means: “Positively prepared – the plan should be prepared based on a strategy which seeks to meet objectively assessed development and infrastructure requirements, including unmet requirements from neighbouring authorities where it is practical to do so consistently with the presumption in favour of sustainable development; Justified – the plan should be the most appropriate strategy, when considered against the reasonable alternatives, based on proportionate evidence; Effective – the plan should be deliverable over its period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic priorities; and Consistent with national policy – the plan should enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework." (Source: paragraph 182 National Planning Policy Framework, DCLG 2012). 1.5 In preparing the Local Plan, the council has complied with all the necessary legal requirements. In terms of the duty to cooperate, the council has worked with neighbouring authorities and other relevant bodies, as necessary, on all relevant matters. The Local Plan should be read as a whole. Proposals will be judged against all relevant policies. Page 6 of 185 1.6 The council’s corporate priorities at the time the Plan was prepared were of particular importance and provided a basis for the Local Plan. The eight corporate priorities were: improve economic viability increase skills and employment get connected safeguard local distinctiveness create neighbourhoods where people feel safe and want to live protect our environment maintain a reputation for quality arts and leisure support active, healthy and involved communities. (Source: Basingstoke and Deane Council Plan: 2013 to 2017). 1.7 These have been used as the basis for the vision, objectives and policies included in the Local Plan. 1.8 The Local Plan has also been prepared to sit within a framework of other local documents. This includes the Sustainable Community Strategy and the Economic Strategy, in addition to other strategies which cover specific issues such as the Local Transport Plan and River Basin Management Plans. This ensures that the Local Plan reflects and helps to deliver key priorities for the area. 1.9 The plan replaces the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan (1996-2011). The Local Plan makes provision for future needs in the borough up to 2029. There will be additional documents to the Local Plan which together will form part of the development plan for Basingstoke and Deane. Planning decisions must be taken in accordance with the development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. How is this linked to Neighbourhood Planning? 1.10 This Local Plan has been prepared to provide a strategic evidence base for Neighbourhood Development Plans and Neighbourhood Development Orders, including Community Right to Build Orders. 1.11 All of the policies set out in the Local Plan are considered to be strategic in nature and therefore Neighbourhood Plans and Orders will need to conform with these policies unless there are specific local circumstances, accepted by the Local Planning Authority, which warrant a specific local approach to be taken. Neighbourhood Development Plans and Orders will have the opportunity to take forward some of the issues highlighted within the Local Plan in more detail. 1.12 This document includes: Information about the borough and the main issues this plan is to address. A vision, objectives and an overall strategy for the borough. The Local Plan should be read as a whole. Proposals will be judged against all relevant policies. Page 7 of 185 Detailed site allocations and policies to guide and manage development, deliver infrastructure and create sustainable communities. These also set out how the plan will be implemented and monitored. A separate Policies Map sets out which areas are covered by the policies, on an Ordnance Survey map base, so you can see exactly where development is proposed, and what areas are protected from development.