Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Development Framework Site Allocations Development Plan Document Consultation Draft 18 March to 24 May 2013 Site Allocations Development Plan Document Consultation Draft Foreword 2 Chapter 1 Introduction 1 2 Methodology and Strategy 9 3 Royal Tunbridge Wells and Southborough 18 4 Green Belt and Rural Fringe 48 5 Paddock Wood 58 6 Cranbrook 66 7 Hawkhurst (Highgate), The Moor and Gill's Green 73 8 Villages and Rural Areas 80 Proposals Map Key 84 Proposals Maps 85 Glossary Abbreviations and Terms of Use 87 Appendices 1 Site Templates 94 2 List of Policies and Sites 95 18 March to 24 May 2013 Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Development Framework Consultation Draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document Foreword Foreword by Portfolio Holder Xxx Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Development Framework 18 March to 24 May 2013 Site Allocations Development Plan Document Consultation Draft How to Get Involved This document, the Site Allocations Development Plan Document Consultation Draft, sets out draft proposals for sites to be developed for the period to 2026. The document looks across the whole of the Borough and includes chapters on Royal Tunbridge Wells and Southborough, the Green Belt and Rural Fringe, Paddock Wood, Cranbrook, Hawkhurst and the Villages and Rural Areas. Comments are welcomed on these proposals. The consultation on this document runs from 18 March to 24 May 2013. For comments to be considered they must be submitted to the Council before midnight on 24 May 2013. Comments can be made in a number of ways, as set out below. Consultation portal The consultation draft and supporting documents can be viewed, and comments made directly online, using the Council's consultation portal at http://consult.tunbridgewells.gov.uk. Response form Alternatively, a response form (for filling in electronically or printing out) can be downloaded from the Council's website at www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/allocations or you can request a paper copy by phoning 01892 554056. This form can be returned in the following ways: By email to [email protected] By post to Planning Policy, Planning Services, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells TN1 1RS By fax to 01892 554076 All responses received electronically (directly in the consultation portal or by email) will receive an electronic acknowledgement. Response forms or letters received by post will not be acknowledged due to lack of resources. Please note that if you respond electronically (directly in the consultation portal or by email) we do not require you to send in a paper copy as well. Consultation documents This consultation includes the following documents: Site Allocations Development Plan Document Consultation Draft Response form for Site Allocations Development Plan Document Sustainability Appraisal Consultation Draft Response form for Sustainability Appraisal Consultation Draft 18 March to 24 May 2013 Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Development Framework Consultation Draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document The documents can also be viewed at the following locations for those without access to a computer: Tunbridge Wells Gateway, 8 Grosvenor Road, Royal Tunbridge Wells, TN1 2AB. The Gateway is open from 9am-5pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 9am-6.30pm on Thursdays; and 9am-1.30pm on Saturdays Weald Information Centre, The Old Fire Station, Cranbrook, Kent TN17 3HF, open from 8.30am-5pm (Monday to Friday) All libraries in the Tunbridge Wells Borough area. Please check with the particular library for opening times Exhibitions A number of exhibitions are planned throughout the Borough and details of these are set out below. Borough Council staff will be available at these exhibitions to provide further details and answer questions. Please check for any updated details of these exhibitions on our webpage at www.tunbridgewells.gov.uk/allocations. Date Venue Opening Times Monday 15 April Royal Tunbridge Wells (details to be confirmed) To be confirmed Tuesday 16 April Wesley Centre, Commercial Road, Paddock Wood 4pm to 8pm Wednesday 17 April British Legion, Unity Hall, High Street, Hawkhurst 4pm to 8pm Thursday 18 April The Ark, Gallard's Almshouses, London Road, 4pm to 8pm Southborough Friday 19 April Vestry Hall, The Old Fire Station, Stone Street, 2.30pm to 8pm Cranbrook Saturday 20 April Royal Tunbridge Wells (details to be confirmed) To be confirmed If you have any queries about this consultation please contact: Planning Policy Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01892 554056 Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Development Framework 18 March to 24 May 2013 Site Allocations Development Plan Document Consultation Draft Chapter 1: Introduction About This Document 1.1 This document is Tunbridge Wells Borough Council's Consultation Draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD). This is one of the documents identified in the Council's Local Development Framework (LDF), Core Strategy (adopted 2010) and Local Development Scheme (LDS). 1.2 The Council has already prepared and adopted a long-term strategy document, called the Core Strategy (2010), which sets out how much development of each main type will take place and broadly where it will go. The main purpose of this Site Allocations document is to allocate land for housing, employment, retail and other land uses to meet the needs of the communities within Tunbridge Wells Borough to 2026 and beyond, following the strategic objectives and sustainable development objectives as set out within the Core Strategy. The document also identifies areas requiring continued protection from development. 1.3 The DPD has been written in accordance with the adopted Core Strategy and its approach to settlement growth and identifies specific sites where it is proposed that new homes, employment and retailing and, where appropriate, supporting community facilities, should be built. When adopted, this DPD will illustrate the location and extent of the allocated land on a Proposals Map and provide guidance on how the sites should be developed. The site selection process followed in the making of these preferred allocations has been guided by the methodology detailed in Chapter 2. Structure of the Document 1.4 This site allocations consultation identifies the Council's preferred locations for development within the main settlements of Royal Tunbridge Wells and Southborough, Paddock Wood, Cranbrook and Hawkhurst (1) and within the Villages and Rural Areas, together with identifying the impact on the Green Belt and Rural Fringe areas. Outside these settlements, no site allocations are proposed other than bringing forward some existing Local Plan allocations. 1.5 The structure of the document is set out below. 1 Introduction Methodology and Methodology underlying site selection and overall levels of development and strategic 2 Strategy borough-wide policies. Royal Tunbridge Wells Proposals for sites inside the Limits to Built Development (LBD) of Royal Tunbridge and Southborough Wells and Southborough. This chapter also contains proposals for sites immediately 3 adjacent to the LBD of Royal Tunbridge Wells, but does not include Green Belt or Rural Fringe sites. This chapter should be read in conjunction with Chapter 4: Green Belt and Rural Fringe. Green Belt and Rural Proposals for the Rural Fringe and sites within the Green Belt surrounding Royal 4 Fringe Tunbridge Wells and Southborough. Proposals for Royal Tunbridge Wells and Southborough should be read in conjunction with the policies set out in this chapter. 5 Paddock Wood Proposals for sites inside and adjoining the LBD of Paddock Wood. 6 Cranbrook Proposals for sites inside and adjoining the LBD of Cranbrook. Hawkhurst Proposals for sites inside and adjoining the LBD of Hawkhurst (Highgate), The Moor 7 and Gill's Green. Villages and Rural Proposals for other settlements within the Borough and for the rural areas outside 8 Areas these settlements. Proposed Policies 1.6 Within the chapters that follow, proposals are set out for particular sites or areas. These are in the form of planning policies, which are set out in boxes in the chapters, as illustrated below. 1 Hawkhurst, in this context, includes Hawkhurst (Highgate), The Moor and Gill's Green 18 March to 24 May 2013 Tunbridge Wells Borough Local Development Framework 1 Consultation Draft Site Allocations Development Plan Document Policy AL/ Policy Title Policy text 1.7 Each policy begins with the prefix AL/ (for allocation), then there may be the initials of a particular settlement (for example, RTW), then a number and, in most cases, a policy title. The text of the policy then follows. The text is intended to set out certain parameters that should guide development on the site or sites, including, for example, the quantity and layout of the development, landscaping, access and other requirements. 1.8 When finalised, these policies will be used to judge any planning applications that may come forward on the sites. General guidance, such as the National Planning Policy Framework, will also apply to all proposals, as will other relevant planning policies; for example, those set out in the adopted Core Strategy, or those that will be developed for the forthcoming Development Management Policies DPD. All development proposals will also need to have regard to the remaining 'saved' policies of the 2006 Local Plan until these are replaced by other DPDs where appropriate. 1.9 The sites that the policies will apply to are illustrated on the Proposals Maps that accompany this document, which are arranged by settlement. The sites are referenced by the policy number. The Proposals Maps also show other key policies, such as protected open spaces. 1.10 Accompanying text in each chapter is set out in numbered paragraphs, between the proposed policies. This explains the background to development within each settlement or area and, where relevant, makes reference to supporting studies and evidence. 1.11 Further details of the proposed site allocations, together with the sites that it is proposed should not be allocated for development, are provided in the site templates in Appendix 1, which is published as a separate document.