OTTERPOOL PARK Framework Masterplan Report 15/03/18 2 CONTENTS 1.0 Executive Summary 3.0 Land use Framework pages 1.1 Introduction 5 3.1 Housing 74-75 1.2 Background Status and Purpose of Document 6-7 3.2 Non-Residential Mixed Use 76-77 1.3 Planning Context 8-10 3,3 Retail and Mixed Use Local Centres 78 1.4 Masterplan Concepts and Evolution 11-15 3.4 Community and Social infrastructure 79 1,5 Masterplan Vision 16-18 3.5 Commercial and Employment 80-81 1.6 Masterplan Framework land use content 19 4.0 Delivery 2.0 Masterplan Strategies 4.1 Implementation Strategy 83 2.1 Location and Context 21-27 4.2 Phasing and Programme of Development 83 2.2 Community Engagement and Inputs 28-29 4.3 Conclusion 83 2.3 Evolution of the Masterplan 29-31 2.4 Response to Context 32-35 2.5 Masterplan Indicative Layout 36-37 2.6 Character and Placemaking 38-41 2.7 Transport Strategy 42-47 2.8 Green Infrastructure Strategy 48-57 2.9 Water Strategy 58-59 2.10 Sustainability Strategy 60-61 2.11 Place-making Strategy 62-73 3 4 1.0 Executive Summary 1,1 Introduction This document is divided into four sections, summarised in the following: The Otterpool Park Framework Masterplan represents a key milestone in The Executive summary sets of the the development of a proposed garden town background status and purpose, planning in Shepway, Kent. Proposals for a garden strategy, concepts, evolution, vision and content town at Otterpool Park received Government of the Masterplan Framework. support in November 2016 and the Framework Masterplan sets out the current position based The Masterplan Strategies for Otterpool Park on ongoing technical evaluation, design work sets out the context, community involvement to and community engagement commissioned by date, takes account of the relevant constraints landowners Shepway District Council (SDC) and and opportunities presented by the site and Cozumel Estates. The Framework Masterplan the objectives for a new garden settlement represents the conclusion of the second presented by the landscape, heritage and stage of a three-stage process to prepare a infrastructure. planning application for Otterpool Park, due for The Land Use Framework provides description submission in 2018. of the various land uses proposed in the The Framework Masterplan builds upon masterplan Framework the Stage 1 Feasibility and Capacity Study The Delivery and Implementation which set out the opportunities and constraints Strategy, includes proposals for the phasing of identified for Otterpool Park. development over a 30+ year period. 5 LYMINGE M20 TO M25 & LONDON MONKS HORTON SMEETH M20 TO DOVER PORT POSTLING ETCHING HILL SELLINDGE HS1 TO ASHFORD & PROPOSED LORRY STANFORD TO CHANNEL LONDON HOLDING AREA M20 JUNCTION 11 TUNNEL WESTENHANGER SANDLING HS1 TO DOVER BEACHBOROUGH ALDINGTON STATION NEWINGREEN FOLKESTONE WEST & CENTRAL HS1 STATION PEDLINGE LYMPNE FOLKESTONE SHEPWAY DISTRICT HYTHE COUNCIL Saxon Shore WEST HYTHE Way ASHFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL BURMARSH Otterpool Park location plan 0m 1000m 2000m OTTERPOOL PARK MASTERPLAN EXISTING COMMUNITIES M20 EXISTING WOODS AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY HS1 6 1.2 Background, Status and The purposes of the Framework Masterplan are as follows: Purpose of Document The content of this document reflects the 1. To provide SDC and Cozumel Estates proposed structure contained within the PPA. The Framework Masterplan has been with a report of the direction of travel The PPA was also signed by Kent County prepared by the consultancy team on behalf of the potential masterplan for the new Council both as strategic highway authority and of landowners Shepway District Council settlement and the likely capacity of the responsible authority for a number of areas of (SDC) and Cozumel Estates as part of the area of search to accommodate levels infrastructure provision (education) and policy preparation of a planning application for a new of residential, employment and related matters across the county as a whole. garden settlement called Otterpool Park. The development (including open space) consultancy team is led by Arcadis and includes taking into account the constraints and Farrells as masterplanner. The Arcadis team opportunities identified. was appointed in August 2016 and prepared an initial Stage 1 Feasibility and Capacity Study 2. To provide the LPA with a position dealing particularly with the site constraints and statement on the constraints and opportunities within an area of search of some opportunities existing in the area of 700 hectares. Since then more detailed work search and how they can be addressed in has been carried out in relation to the potential the preparation of the masterplan. for the site to accommodate a new garden settlement and the masterplan strategy. Two 3. To identify issues that may be relevant to rounds of public engagement (November 2016 the planning authority: and June 2017) have been carried out. • to inform its draft policies for the The consultancy team were requested potential new garden settlement by SDC and Cozumel Estates to prepare a as set out in the Regulation 18 Framework Masterplan and as part of the joint draft Core STreategy Local Plan discussions that the consultancy team has had review; and with SDC as Local Planning Authority (resulting in the signing of a Planning Performance • in pre-application discussions Agreement (PPA)), the submission of a up to the submission of the Framework Masterplan document also features application. within the PPA. 4. To provide SDC, Cozumel Estates and the LPA with the likely scale of the new settlement; the indicative timetable and content of the planning application and initial views on delivery strategy. 5. To reflect on relevant matters confirmed in various documents published by consultants acting for the LPA that will act as part of the evidence base for the Core Strategy Review. 6. To set out the vision and objectives that will establish a high quality new community with its own unique identity. 7 The PPA sets out the programme for future works in April 2017, which calculates the proposed leading up to the submission of the planning amount of new housing thought to be required 1.3 Planning Context for Proposed application in 2018. There are regular meetings in Shepway in the Core Strategy review period Garden Settlement in Shepway which take place with relevant council officers so up to 2037. These figures will be tested through that as many of the issues that are arising relating the Core Strategy review process but currently Background to the new settlement proposal can be discussed conclude that in the period 2014 to 2037 SDC will prior to the submission of the application. require 14,600 new dwellings in the district (633 The need for a new garden settlement in per annum). SDC considers it already has about Shepway arises from the acknowledged housing Planning Policy - Core Strategy Review and 8,000 of these dwellings ‘committed’ through crisis across the country due to the severe lack evidence base planning permissions and proposed allocations of house building over a 30 year period. The so this will require the Core Strategy Review to The current development plan in Shepway Government, following the publication of the allocate new land for 6,600 dwellings across the comprises its Core Strategy which was approved NPPF in 2012, has sought to significantly boost plan period. housing land provision across the country through in 2013 and plans housing delivery to 2026. a number of measures. One such measure is the The NPPF (2012) encourages LPAs to have an Growth Strategy Options and Related Reports identification of sites for the provision of new up to date policy framework that allows up to 2017 (AECOM) garden settlements. In 2016 the Government fifteen years of land for housing to be identified published a prospectus to local authorities asking (paragraph 47). As such, SDC recognises that Three reports have been produced by consultants, them to express an interest in provision of such there is a need to review the Core Strategy and AECOM, for SDC LPA that identifies options that settlements within their administrative areas. to extend it until 2037. the SDC has for the accommodation of the level After considering the potential of Shepway District of growth identified up to 2037 in the SHMA to accommodate such a settlement to meet the The Core Strategy Review process requires SDC report. These documents also covered landscape local housing need, an Expression of Interest LPA to produce an evidence base to support issues. These are strategic in their consideration was submitted by SDC to the Government in its proposals. In 2017, SDC LPA published a and conclude that Otterpool Park is the most July 2016 proposing Otterpool Park as a new Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) appropriate location to accommodate growth in garden settlement. On 11 November 2016 the and Growth Options Study to establish the scale the future because it is the least constrained of Government announced its support for Otterpool of future housing need and how this need can be six areas identified throughout Shepway. Initial Park. The priority on providing more housing in accommodated within the Shepway District up to work carried out by AECOM identifies, at high the UK was also emphasised in the February 2017 2037. SDC LPA’s evidence base documents have level, constraints and opportunities within the Housing White Paper “Fixing our Broken Housing considered at a high level the constraints and Otterpool Park area which is broadly contiguous Market”. opportunities for development at Otterpool Park with the area of search assessed by the Arcadis and are discussed in further detail below. team on behalf of SDC/Cozumel Estates. The The Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) Otterpool Park consultant team has considered Emerging Policy SS6 of the Core Strategy Review the high level AECOM views in its more detailed has identified Otterpool Park as a suitable location As well as landowner and promoter of Otterpool work for the masterplanning and constraints/ for a new garden settlement and emerging Policy Park, SDC has a separate and distinct role in opportunities studies.