ED.1.4 Stratford-on-Avon District Local Development Framework Draft Core Strategy 2012 FEBRUARY 2012 Stratford-on-Avon District Local Development Framework Draft Core Strategy 2012 February 2012 A large print copy, electronic copy or further paper copies of this publication are available on request © Copyright Stratford-on-Avon District Council Corporate Support Stratford-on-Avon District Council Elizabeth House, Church Street Stratford-upon-Avon Warwickshire CV37 6HX Telephone 01789 267575 e-mail [email protected] Content Page No: Section 1 – Introduction 3-4 Section 2 – Cross Boundary Relationships 5-7 Section 3 – The Vision 8 Section 4 – Strategic Objectives 9 Section 5 – Sustainability Framework 10 - 12 Section 6 – Resources 6.1 Climate Change and Sustainable Energy 13-19 6.2 Safeguarding the Water Environment 20-27 6.3 Waste 28-32 6.4 Minerals 33-36 Section 7 – District Designations 7.1 Green Belt 37-40 7.2 Areas of Restraint 41-43 7.3 Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 44-47 7.4 Vale of Evesham Control Zone 48-50 Section 8 – District Assets 8.1 Landscape 51-55 8.2 Natural Features 56-61 8.3 Heritage Assets 62-65 8.4 Green Infrastructure 66-72 8.5 Design and Distinctiveness 73-78 Section 9 – Spatial Strategy 9.0 The Preferred Option for Development 79-82 9.1 Distribution of Development 83-88 9.2 Affordable Housing 89-92 9.3 Protection of Housing Stock 93-95 9.4 Specialised Accommodation 96-98 9.5 Housing Mix Type 99-101 9.6 Gypsies & Travellers 102-105 9.7 Economic Development 106-112 9.8 Retail Development & Town and Local Centres 113-119 9.9 Tourism Development 120-124 Section 10 – Area Policy Profiles 10.1 Stratford-upon-Avon 125-133 10.2 Alcester 134-139 10.3 Bidford-on-Avon 140-145 10.4 Henley-in-Arden 146-150 10.5 Kineton 151-157 10.6 Shipston-on-Stour 158-164 10.7 Southam 165-170 10.8 Studley 171-176 10.9 Wellesbourne 177-183 10.10 Countryside 184-190 10.11 Large Rural Brownfield Sites 191-196 Section 11: Infrastructure 11.1 Delivery of Infrastructure 197-202 11.2 Transport and Access 203-209 11.3 Developer Contributions 210-214 Infrastructure Delivery Plan 215-216 Schedule of Infrastructure Projects 217-229 Stratford-on-Avon District Draft Core Strategy – February 2012 - 1 - Content FIGURES PAGE Map 1 - Gypsies & Travellers 105 Map 2 - Stratford-upon-Avon Town Centre 119 Area Policy Profiles Plan 1 - Stratford-upon-Avon 133 Plan 2 - Alcester 139 Plan 3 - Bidford-on-Avon 145 Plan 4 - Henley-in-Arden 150 Plan 5 - Kineton 157 Plan 6 - Shipston-on-Stour 164 Plan 7 - Southam 170 Plan 8 - Studley and Mappleborough Green 176 Plan 9 - Wellesbourne 183 Stratford-on-Avon District Draft Core Strategy – February 2012 - 2 - Section 1 – Introduction 1. Introduction 1.1 Policy Context 1.1.1 Stratford-on-Avon District Council is producing a new spatial plan to replace the saved District Local Plan Review 1996 - 2011. The plan will set the strategic context for new development in the District until 2028. The plan is known as the Local Development Framework and the first document to be prepared is the Core Strategy. 1.1.2 This draft version of the Core Strategy seeks to accommodate new development in the District whilst reflecting issues of local concern that have been raised in the previous consultation periods in 2008, 2010 and more informally in 2011. 1.1.3 The Core Strategy is a strategic policy document and will provide a broad framework for determining planning applications and for making development control decisions. It will set the levels of development to be accommodated in the District, determine its distribution and provide the strategic direction for the location of future development. The draft Core Strategy seeks to ensure that master planning is integral to the planning process. However, it will not allocate specific sites for development at this stage. It is expected that this will be dealt with by the District Council’s Site Allocations Development Plan Document, scheduled for January 2013, or by the neighbourhood planning process, whichever comes the sooner. 1.1.4 There are a number of key differences to this draft Core Strategy when compared to previous versions. The change of national government has resulted in a number of important changes to the planning process and there have been significant implications for the preparation of development plans. 1.1.5 Previously the draft Core Strategy was required to align with the policies set out in the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy and the regional planning process set the level of development to be accommodated in the District and where it should be located. However, with the enactment of the Localism Act in December 2011, the process for preparing Regional Spatial Strategies has been abolished and it will not be long before the West Midlands RSS will be revoked. As a result, it will be for Local Planning Authorities to determine their own local targets for housing, employment and other forms of development. 1.1.6 This version of the draft Core Strategy seeks to reflect this significant change and is the first opportunity for the District Council to consult upon a new housing figure for the District and a new spatial approach for the distribution of development, alongside other new targets relating to the provision of future employment, retail and community facilities. The District Council has collated a suite of new evidence to support this process and this consultation provides an opportunity to test the results and gain feedback on the work undertaken so far. Stratford-on-Avon District Draft Core Strategy – February 2012 - 3 - Section 1 – Introduction 1.1.7 The document aligns with existing national planning policy, which still sets the context for drawing up local policies and for making development control decisions. However, the recent publication of the draft National Planning Policy Framework also needs to be taken into account. A final version of the National Planning Policy Framework is likely to be issued by the Government during the draft Core Strategy consultation period. It is acknowledged that some draft policies may need to be altered before the final draft of the Core Strategy is submitted to the Secretary of State to reflect these ongoing changes at a national level. 1.1.8 Equally, previous public consultation has indicated that the Core Strategy should take a more ‘local approach’ to policy making. The document seeks to meet this request by including Area Profiles which include a number of local policy principles. This draft is therefore an opportunity for the community and partners of the District Council to give their views on the draft policies and the Council’s preferred approach before the submission draft is produced in November 2012. 1.2 How do I make my comments? 1.2.1 The consultation document is divided into eleven sections and it can be seen that there are consultation questions located at the end of each sub-section. As there are a large number of topics that the draft Core Strategy needs to address there is no obligation to respond to everything in the document. It has been drafted so that those responding can ‘dip in and out’, and can respond to those issues of most interest or importance to them. 1.2.2 Also, it is a good opportunity to raise any additional issues that have been missed or that you feel should be considered before we prepare our final draft of the document. 1.2.3 Copies of the draft Core Strategy are available online at www.stratford.gov.uk and there is an online response form that we would encourage as many consultees as possible to use. Alternatively, CD versions and hard copies of the document can be obtained from the Policy Team, Elizabeth House, Church Street, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 6HX. 1.2.4 Written consultation responses can also be sent to this address or emailed to the Policy Team using [email protected]. 1.2.5 Alternatively you can visit us at one of our scheduled public consultation events which will be advertised in the local press, in public libraries, on Parish Council noticeboards and online at www.stratford.gov.uk. Stratford-on-Avon District Draft Core Strategy – February 2012 - 4 - Section 2 – Cross Boundary Relationships 2. Cross Boundary Relationships 2.1 The Duty to Co-operate 2.1.1 When producing the draft Core Strategy it is not possible to produce it in isolation as there are a number of cross boundary planning issues that need to be taken into account. Areas that neighbour the District and even those further afield can be affected by the proposals that Stratford-on-Avon District plans for the next 15-20 years. 2.1.2 The District Council has a ‘Duty to Co-operate’, which is a legal requirement set out in the Localism Act. As a result the Council has been working with neighbouring authorities to determine the key cross boundary issues that need to be addressed by the draft Core Strategy and subsequent LDF documents and to ensure that a coherent approach is prepared. The Inspector who will examine the draft Core Strategy will check whether it has been prepared in accordance with the duty to co-operate. 2.2 How does the District interact with neighbouring areas? 2.2.1 Stratford-on-Avon District is something of a crossroads between different counties. Although, it is part of Warwickshire, it borders Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire as well as the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull and two other Warwickshire districts/boroughs, namely Warwick District and Rugby Borough.