Allerdale Borough Council Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1) Strategic and Development Management Policies July 2014 www.allerdale.gov.uk/localplan Foreword To meet the needs of Allerdale’s communities we need a plan that provides for new jobs to diversify and grow our economy and new homes for our existing and future population whilst balancing the need to protect the natural and built environment. This document, which covers the area outside the National Park, forms the first part of the Allerdale Local Plan and contains the Core Strategy and Development Management policies. It sets a clear vision, for the next 15 years, for how new development can address the challenges we face. The Core Strategy will guide other documents in the Allerdale Local Plan, in particular the site allocations which will form the second part of the plan. This document is the culmination of a great deal of public consultation over recent years, and extensive evidence gathering by the Council. The policies in the Plan will shape Allerdale in the future, helping to deliver sustainable economic development, jobs and much needed affordable housing for our communities. Councillor Mark Fryer Economic Growth Portfolio holder Contents What is the Allerdale Local Plan? ......................................................................... 1 What else is it delivering? ..................................................................................... 6 Allerdale: A Spatial Portrait ................................................................................... 7 Vision ................................................................................................................. 12 Strategic Objectives ............................................................................................ 14 Strategic Policies - Spatial Strategy and Principles of Development S1 Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development ................................ 18 S2 Sustainable Development Principles ........................................................ 19 S3 Spatial Strategy and Growth..................................................................... 22 S4 Design Principles ...................................................................................... 29 S5 Development Principles ........................................................................... 31 S6 Area Based............................................................................................... 33 Strategic Policies - Housing S7 A Mixed and Balanced Housing Market ................................................... 60 S8 Affordable Housing ................................................................................... 62 S9 Rural Exceptions Sites ............................................................................. 66 S10 Elderly Needs Housing ............................................................................. 68 S11 Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople Sites .................................. 70 Strategic Policies - Economy S12 Land and Premises .................................................................................. 73 S13 Energy Coast Innovation Zone ................................................................. 76 S14 Rural Economy ......................................................................................... 80 S15 Education and Skills ................................................................................. 83 S16 Town Centres and Retail .......................................................................... 85 S17 Tourism, Coastal and Countryside Recreation ......................................... 88 S18 Derwent Forest ......................................................................................... 93 S19 Renewable Energy and Low Carbon Technologies .................................. 97 S20 Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects .......................................... 101 Strategic Policies - Sustainable Communities and Infrastructure S21 Developer Contributions ......................................................................... 103 S22 Transport Principles ............................................................................... 106 S23 Supporting and Safeguarding Strategic Infrastructure ............................ 109 S24 Green Infrastructure ............................................................................... 111 S25 Sports, Leisure and Open Space ........................................................... 114 S26 Community and Rural Services .............................................................. 117 Strategic Policies - Built and Historic Environment S27 Heritage Assets ...................................................................................... 119 S29 Flood Risk and Surface Water Drainage ................................................ 124 S30 Reuse of Land ........................................................................................ 127 S31 Reuse of Rural Buildings and Replacement of Dwellings in the Countryside ............................................................................................ 129 S32 Safeguarding Amenity ............................................................................ 132 Strategic Policies - Natural Environment S33 Landscape .............................................................................................. 135 S34 Development in the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 137 S35 Protecting and Enhancing Biodiversity and Geodiversity ....................... 139 S36 Air, Water and Soil Quality ..................................................................... 142 S37 Shoreline Management and Coastal Development ................................ 144 Development Management Policies - Housing DM1 Housing Renewal and Empty Properties ................................................ 147 DM2 Rural Workers Dwellings ........................................................................ 149 Development Management Policies - Economy DM3 Protection of Employment Sites ............................................................. 151 DM4 Expansion and Intensification of Employment Sites ............................... 153 DM5 Farm Diversification ................................................................................ 155 DM6 Equestrian and Agricultural Buildings ..................................................... 157 DM7 Town Centre Development ..................................................................... 159 DM8 Protecting Town Centre Vitality and Viability .......................................... 161 DM9 Town Centre Frontages .......................................................................... 165 Development Management Policies - Built and Historic Environment DM10 Improvements to the Public Realm ......................................................... 167 DM11 Advertisements ....................................................................................... 169 DM12 Sustainable Construction ....................................................................... 170 DM13 Telecommunications Development ........................................................ 172 DM14 Standards of Good Design ..................................................................... 174 DM15 Extensions and Alterations to Existing Buildings and Properties ............ 177 DM16 Sequential Test for Previously Developed Land ..................................... 179 Development Management Policies - Natural Environment DM17 Trees, Hedgerows and Woodland .......................................................... 181 Appendix 1 - Glossary and Acronyms ............................................................... 183 Appendix 2 - Key Diagram ................................................................................ 191 Appendix 3 - Housing Trajectory ....................................................................... 192 Appendix 4 - Committed Housing Development 2011 - 2029 .......................... 194 Appendix 5 - S16 & DM9 Changes to the Proposals Map ................................ 195 Appendix 6 - S37 Changes to the Proposals Map ............................................ 198 Appendix 7 - Monitoring and Implementation .................................................... 199 Appendix 8 - Identification and delivery of infrastructure ................................... 210 Appendix 9 - Saved policies and policies replaced ........................................... 217 Tables and Figures Figure 1 - Local Plan Structure ........................................................................ 1 Figure 2 - Local Plan Content .......................................................................... 4 Figure 3 - Population – Main Settlements ....................................................... 7 Figure 4 - Resident Population by Broad Age Group 2001 & 2011 .................. 8 Figure 5 - Settlement Hierarchy ..................................................................... 23 Figure 6 - Workington Locality ....................................................................... 33 Figure 7 - Maryport Locality ........................................................................... 38 Figure 8 - Cockermouth Locality .................................................................... 42 Figure 9 - Wigton Locality .............................................................................. 46 Figure 10 - Silloth Locality .............................................................................