LYDNEY NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2013-2034) Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan – Public Version - Page 1 DRAFT Public Document prepared by: Lydney Town Council & The NDP Community Steer Group Date: September 2013 Website: www.lydneyndp.org.uk Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan – Public Version - Page 2 Foreword Welcome to this DRAFT version of the Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan. This is possibly the most important document prepared by a Community Steer Group in conjunction with the Town Council and its partners since the Town Council‟s formation in 1974. If approved by the community it will give the local residents/traders a much greater say and more control over the shape of our own destiny. It is an “enabling plan” that will determine the way the town can develop should private enterprise or public bodies have the funds and desire to invest in our town or surrounding area. The Town Council is grateful for the huge amount of work carried by the Neighbourhood Community Development Plan Steer Group and Town Council Officers, without whose tireless efforts this plan would not be the quality document that is presented to you today. This document emphasises the benefits of collaborative working between local organisations and the value of constant consultation with the community. „I would urge you all to read through this Plan and turn out when „Polled‟ in order to support its adoption in order that, collectively, we can secure Lydney‟s future economic and social wellbeing‟ Cllr Bob Berryman Lydney Town Mayor Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan – Public Version - Page 3 Contents FOREWARD INTRODUCTION SECTION 1 – A Vision for Lydney What are NDPs and how do they fit into the Planning System? Sustainability and relevance to existing policies What area does the Lydney NDP cover? SustainabilityThe Draft Plan and process relevance to date to existing policies Who has been consulted to date? What is in the Neighbourhood Development Plan? How the Plan is Organised SECTION 2 - [Neighbourhood Plan Policies/Policies for Sustainable Growth] SUSTAINABLE GROWTH (Residential/Commercial development/redevelopment) - LYDNDP1/1 - Affordable Housing for Local People - LYDNDP1/2 - Housing on Farms - LYDNDP1/3 - Housing for Older People - LYDNDP1/4 - Housing/Retail/Employment Land Densities - - LYDNDP1/5 - Lydney Town Centre Improvements (Economic viability/sustainability) - - LYDNDP1/6 - Design and Access - - LYDNDP1/7 - Car Parking Standards - - LYDNDP1/8 - Burial Provision - LYDNDP1/9 - Monitoring and Development Rates - LYDNDP1/10 - De-designation Policy - LYDNDP1/11 - Energy Efficiency of new developments - LYDNDP1/12 - Surface Urban Drainage (SUDs) - LYDNDP1/13 - Fibre to the Residential, Retail and Commercial Premises Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan – Public Version - Page 4 HIGHWAY AND PEDESTRIAN INFRASTRUCTURE (Public Safety) - LYDNDP2/1 - Roads, Rail and Footpaths/Cycle routes - - LYDNDP2/2 - Improvements to the highway infrastructure - - LYDNDP2/3 - Public Transport Service Provision - - LYDNDP2/4 - Public Transport (Environmental considerations) USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES/PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT - LYDNDP3/1 - Protecting the natural environment and its Eco/Bio-Diversity - LYDNDP3/2 - Protecting Lydney’s Conservation Area - LYDNDP3/3 - Policy LYD – Public and Information Signage (incl. Fingerposts) - LYDNDP3/4 - Environment and Preservation of Open Space - LYDNDP3/5 - Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) - LYDNDP3/6 - Protection of local green spaces of community value FUTURE HEATHCARE PROVISION - LYDNDP4/1 - Lydney’s Future Healthcare Provision EDUCATION - LYDNDP5/1 - Adequate educational provision for future generations SECTION 3 What Happens Next Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan – Public Version - Page 5 Introduction Neighbourhood Development Plans are a new type of planning document. The Localism Act (2011) introduced Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDP) as polices that focus on local planning and give communities the opportunity to become involved in the future of their community. NDPs give people a greater say in the planned development within their community and provides a focal point for local communities working with Local Authorities, Developers and other stakeholders. Lydney’s Neighbourhood Development Plan (the Plan) provides an economic and socially sustainable vision for the future of the town, and sets out clear planning policies to realise this vision. These policies accord with higher level planning policy; Lydney’s NDP sits below the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (March 2012), the Forest of Dean District Council’s Core Strategy (CS) (adopted February 2012) and has due regard to the draft Allocations Document currently being compiled by Forest of Dean District Council despite it having not as yet been formally adopted. The Plan positively embraces the expected changes in Lydney over the next 20 years and seeks to sustainably support the local population which is expected to grow. The Plan incorporates and embraces positive growth to help local people live and work in the Parished area ensuring that Lydney expands with new housing developments and industrial units into a cohesive and prosperous town. The Draft Plan will continue to evolve through public consultation with local residents, community groups and partners, all of whom have an interest in the town. Details of the consultation will be recorded; The Consultation Statement will, in due course, provide an overview of the process followed, demonstrating that it fully accords with the requirements of the Localism Act. This consultation process will meet the requirements of Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The Plan will then be amended where appropriate in response to consultation comments. An ‘Evidence Base’ is also being collated and will lend support to the Plan when it is finally submitted. All of the aforementioned reports will be made available in hard copy upon request and will be displayed on the NDP Website (www.lydneyndp.org.uk). The cost of preparing the Plan has been subsidised by a government grant paid to the Forest of Dean District Council. The NDP Steer Group were also fortunate enough to secure additional grant funding to the total of £5,446.00 which has been used by the Town Council to draft and publish the Plan. Much of the work included in this Plan has been undertaken by unpaid volunteers who live in, and care much for the town and surrounding areas. Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan – Public Version - Page 6 What are NDPs and how do they fit into the Planning System? The Localism Act (2011) stated Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDP) are part of the Local Development Framework (which has a much broader scope than the old land use plans/Local Plans) and must be in line with the National Planning Policy Framework, the Forest of Dean District Council Core Strategy and have due regard to the Forest of Dean District Council’s draft Allocations Document (ADPD). The Core Strategy requires Lydney to provide by 1,900 new homes by 2026 and a minimum of 30 hectares of employment land and additional retail floorspace (Policy Reference CSP13 also provides for a further 200 dwellings). The Localism Act allows the Plan to provide for more than a set allocation of houses/change of employment land, but it does not allow the Plan to provide for less. During the consultation process to date it has been evident that residents want to play a significant role in improving Lydney. Lydney’s NDP therefore incorporates policies and prioritises projects (included in the Plan to retain community focus and enthusiasm). As the qualifying body under Neighbourhood Planning legislation, Lydney Town Council are legally responsible for producing the Lydney NDP. Neighbourhood Plans must be in line with European Regulations on strategic environmental assessment and habitat regulations (as and where applicable). Sustainability and relevance to existing policies It is required that the Lydney NDP complies with the strategic policies contained within Forest of Dean District Council’s Core Strategy Document (CS) this Plan also intends to have due regard to Forest of Dean District Council’s (Draft) Allocations Document (ADPD) where it embraces the vision contained within Lydney’s Draft Plan. Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan – Public Version - Page 7 What area does the Lydney NDP cover? The Plan covers the Parish of Lydney, having due regard and drawing on the views of neighbouring parishes. NOTICE OF A DESIGNATION OF A NEIGHBOURHOOD AREA relating to Lydney LOCALISM ACT 2011 TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT 1990 Sections 61F-G NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING (GENERAL) REGULATIONS 2012 FOREST OF DEAN DISTRICT COUNCIL The Forest of Dean District Council hereby gives notice that on 17 January 2013 it agreed to designate the parish of Lydney as a Neighbourhood Area within the meaning of Section 61G of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, pursuant to an application from Lydney Town Council. A map identifying the designated area is available on the Council’s website or at the Council Offices, High Street, Coleford, Gloucestershire during normal office hours. Dated this 21st day of January 2013 Peter Williams Group Manager Planning & Housing Key Designated Area Lydney Neighbourhood Development Plan – Public Version - Page 8 The Draft Plan process to date Representatives from both the community and business groups in the town have worked together to prepare the Draft Plan. A Community Steer Group, operating under