Fernhurst Neighbourhood Plan Draft for informal consultation May 2013 This is the draft of the Fernhurst Neighbourhood Plan which has been approved by the Steering Group for publication in the parish. Everyone in the village is invited to submit their comments by 5.00pm on 21 st July 2013 . Only comments which are made in writing and include the name and address of the person making the comment will be considered by the Steering Group. All comments received and considered by the Steering Group will be published, together with the comments of the Steering Group and details of any changes made to the draft Neighbourhood Plan. Comments can be made by email to:- [email protected] or by post to:- Parish Clerk Fernhurst Parish Council Village Hall Glebe Road Fernhurst GU27 3EH Fernhurst Neighbourhood Plan Fernhurst Neighbourhood Plan CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................. 1 Relationship with South Downs National Park Authority ............................................ 2 Process of Neighbourhood Plan production ............................................................. 3 2 PARISH CONTEXT ............................................................................... 5 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5 History of Fernhurst .............................................................................................. 6 Current local context ............................................................................................. 6 Socio-economic profile .......................................................................................... 7 3 CHALLENGES AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................ 16 Challenges and issues ..........................................................................................16 Objectives of the Neighbourhood Plan ...................................................................17 4 AFFORDABLE HOUSING .................................................................... 18 Background to Policy............................................................................................18 Policy Justification ...............................................................................................18 5 MARKET HOUSING ............................................................................ 23 Background to Policy............................................................................................23 Policy Justification ...............................................................................................23 6 SITE ALLOCATIONS ........................................................................... 28 Background to Policy............................................................................................28 Policy Justification ...............................................................................................28 7 PROVISION FOR SPECIALIST CARE NEEDS ....................................... 39 Background to Policy............................................................................................39 Policy Justification ...............................................................................................39 8 FERNHURST VILLAGE SETTLEMENT BOUNDARY ............................... 40 9 ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT ............................................................ 41 Renewable energy ...............................................................................................41 Light pollution .....................................................................................................41 Fernhurst Neighbourhood Plan Protection of public spaces of value .......................................................................42 Protection of views ..............................................................................................44 10 TOURISM .......................................................................................... 46 Tourist accommodation ........................................................................................46 Signage ..............................................................................................................47 Crossfield Car Park...............................................................................................47 Crossfield Public Toilets ........................................................................................47 Street furniture ....................................................................................................48 11 COMMUNITY FACILITIES .................................................................. 49 Youth facilities .....................................................................................................49 Allotments ..........................................................................................................49 12 TRANSPORT ...................................................................................... 50 Bus services ........................................................................................................50 Pedestrian safety .................................................................................................50 13 DESIGN ............................................................................................. 52 Building style and materials ..................................................................................52 Amenity spaces ...................................................................................................54 14 EMPLOYMENT ................................................................................... 56 Micro-businesses .................................................................................................56 Live-work opportunities ........................................................................................57 Tourism employment ...........................................................................................57 Business infrastructure .........................................................................................58 Training provision ................................................................................................58 GLOSSARY 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This is the Neighbourhood Plan for Fernhurst parish. It seeks to represent one part of the development plan for the parish over the period 2013 to 2028. 1.2 The map below shows the boundary of the Neighbourhood Plan area, which is contiguous with the parish boundary of Fernhurst parish. 1.3 The purpose of the Neighbourhood Plan is to guide development within the parish and provide guidance to any interesting parties wishing to submit planning applications for development within the parish. The process of producing a plan has sought to involve the community as widely as possible and the different topic areas are reflective of matters that are of considerable importance to Fernhurst, its residents, businesses and community groups. Fernhurst Parish 1 Fernhurst Neighbourhood Plan Council has been clear in its view that without a plan then the parish could be subject to a considerable amount of unwanted and potentially inappropriate development. 1.4 Each section of the plan covers a different topic. Under each heading there is the justification for the policies presented which provides the necessary understanding of the policy and what it is seeking to achieve. The policies themselves are presented in the blue boxes. It is these policies against which planning applications will be assessed. It is advisable, in order to understand the full context for any individual policy, that it is read in conjunction with the supporting text. Relationship with South Downs National Park Authority 1.5 South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) is the local planning authority covering Fernhurst parish. It formally came into existence on 1 st April 2011 and is in the early stages on the production of its Local Plan. This Neighbourhood Plan is one part of an ongoing working relationship between SDNPA and the community of Fernhurst seeking to produce complementary forward plans that appropriately reflect both the strategic and local needs of one of Britain’s national parks and one of its communities. National policy 1.6 Planning policy for national parks is different to the rest of the country. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) provides the starting point by stating at paragraph 115 that, “Great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. The conservation of wildlife and cultural heritage are important considerations in all these areas, and should be given great weight in National Parks and the Broads.” 1.7 This cross-refers to the National Parks Vision and Circular which is addressed later. 1.8 Paragraph 116 goes on to say that, “Planning permission should be refused for major developments in these designated areas except in exceptional circumstances and where it can be demonstrated they are in the public interest.” 1.9 This is relevant as the plan considers the future role of the Syngenta site, a major developed site within the parish. 1.10 For national parks there is also separate specific Government guidance on planning matters in the form of a