Wychavon District Local Plan ADOPTED JUNE 2006 Wychavon District Local Plan Adopted June 2006 A large print copy, electronic copy or more copies of this publication are available on request from Planning Services © Copyright Wychavon District Council £50.00 The Ordnance Survey mapping 2006 included within this publication is provided by the Wychavon District Council under licence from the Ordnance Survey in order to fulfil its public function to publicise the Local Plan as the PlanningAuthority. Persons viewing this mapping should contact Ordnance Survey Copyright for advice where they wish to licence Ordnance Survey mapping/map data for their own use. Planning Services, Civic Centre, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Pershore, Worcestershire. WR10 1PT Tel: 01386 565565 Fax: 01386 561092 Email: [email protected] Foreword The Local Plan sets out policies and proposals that aim to meet the employment, housing and other needs of Wychavon until 2011. It updates the previous Plan adopted in 1998. This has not been an easy task. It has involved balancing economic and social needs with a requirement to protect our natural and historic environment and resources. This Plan has been carefully prepared with the aim of improving the quality of life for all communities in the District and has the full support of the Council. The Plan is for you and your District and thank you to everyone who has been involved in bringing the Plan to adoption. Councillor Mrs A Steel Councillor Mrs A Mackison Executive Board Member for Planning Chairman of Development Control (Policy) and Rural Affairs Committee ii Wychavon District Local Plan - Adopted June 2006 Contents List of Policies ...................................................................................................................v Section 1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 1.1. Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Purpose of the Plan ......................................................................................... 2 1.3. How to Use the Plan ....................................................................................... 2 1.4. A Guide to Reading the Policies ...................................................................... 2 Section 2 General Strategy ........................................................................................... 3 2.1. Aims and Objectives ....................................................................................... 3 2.2 Accommodating Development in Wychavon ................................................... 5 2.3. General Development Policies ........................................................................ 9 2.4. Strategic Requirements ................................................................................. 12 Section 3 Prudent Use Of Resources ......................................................................... 27 3.1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 27 3.2. Conserving Natural Resources ..................................................................... 27 3.3. Making the Best Use of Land and Buildings ................................................. 30 Section 4 Protecting The Environment ...................................................................... 37 4.1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 37 4.2. Protecting Existing Assets ............................................................................. 37 4.3. Avoiding Hazards .......................................................................................... 56 4.4. Environmental Statements ............................................................................ 62 Section 5 Social Progress ........................................................................................... 63 5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................... 63 5.2. Building Sustainable Communities ................................................................ 63 5.3. Enhancing People’s Surroundings ................................................................ 83 Section 6 Economic Opportunity ............................................................................... 95 6.1. Introduction .................................................................................................. 95 6.2. Employment Land ......................................................................................... 95 6.3. Lorries in the Vale .......................................................................................... 97 6.4. Employment Locations and Activities .......................................................... 100 6.5. Retail ........................................................................................................... 106 6.6. Tourism ........................................................................................................ 110 Section 7 Implementation, Monitoring and Review ................................................ 113 7.1. Implementation ............................................................................................ 113 7.2. Monitoring ................................................................................................... 113 7.3. Review ........................................................................................................ 116 Wychavon District Local Plan - Adopted June 2006 iii PROPOSALS MAP .......................................................................................................... 117 ANNEXE 1 Assessment Methodology for Proposed Housing in or adjoining Villages ............ 119 2 Village Accessibility ................................................................................................ 121 APPENDICES 1 Ancient Monuments .............................................................................................. 123 2 Conservation Areas ............................................................................................. 127 3 Supplementary Planning Guidance & Supplementary Planning Documents ........ 131 4 Description of Strategic Gaps – Appendix to Policy SR10. ................................... 133 5 Occupation of ‘Tolerated’ Gypsy Sites ................................................................... 137 6 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – Policy ENV2 ............................................ 139 Sites of International Importance for Nature Conservation – Policy ENV3 ............ 139 Sites of Special Scientific Interest – Policy ENV4.................................................. 139 GLOSSARY .....................................................................................................................143 iv Wychavon District Local Plan - Adopted June 2006 List of Policies GENERAL StrategY General Development Policies GD1 LOCATION STRATEGY FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT ................................... 9 GD2 GENERAL DEVELOPMENT CONTROL ...................................................... 10 GD3 PLANNING OBLIGATIONS .......................................................................... 11 Strategic Requirements SR1 HOUSING LAND SUPPLY ........................................................................... 14 SR2 EMPLOYMENT LAND SUPPLY ................................................................... 17 SR3 RETAIL ALLOCATIONS IN TOWN CENTRES ............................................ 18 SR4 MIXED USES ................................................................................................ 18 SR5 MINIMISING CAR DEPENDENCY ............................................................... 20 Strategic Land Protection SR6 SAFEGUARDED LAND FOR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE ............. 21 SR7 DEVELOPMENT IN THE GREEN BELT ...................................................... 23 SR8 MAJOR DEVELOPED SITE IN THE GREEN BELT – HARTLEBURY TRADING ESTATE .............................................................. 24 SR9 AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT RESTRAINT .................................................. 25 SR10 STRATEGIC GAPS ....................................................................................... 26 PRUDENT USE OF RESOURCES Conserving Natural Resources RES1 AGRICULTURAL LAND PROTECTION ...................................................... 27 RES2 RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES ........................................................... 28 RES3 MINIMISING WASTE .................................................................................... 29 RES4 CONSERVING WATER RESOURCES ......................................................... 30 Making the Best Use of Land and Buildings RES5 HOUSING DENSITY ..................................................................................... 30 RES6 CONVERSION OF UPPER FLOORS ........................................................... 31 RES7 CONVERSION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS OUTSIDE DEFINED DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARIES TO NON-RESIDENTIAL USES ............... 31 RES8 CONVERSION OF EXISTING BUILDINGS OUTSIDE DEFINED DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARIES TO RESIDENTIAL USE .......................... 33 RES9 REPLACEMENT BUILDINGS IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OUTSIDE DEFINED DEVELOPMENT BOUNDARIES ................................................. 34 Wychavon District Local Plan - Adopted June