SD01 MALDON DISTRICT Pre-Submission Local Development Plan 2014-2029 N IO AT LT CONSU MALDON DISTRICT Local Development Plan Preferred Options 2013 CONTENTS Chapter Page 1 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT 2 Introduction 6 Local Context and Spatial Profiles 2 SPATIAL VISION AND DEVELOPMENT 12 Spatial Vision 13 Objectives 13 Policy S1 Sustainable Development 16 Policy S2 Strategic Growth 24 Policy S3 Place Shaping 26 Policy S4 Maldon and Heybridge Strategic Growth 33 Policy S5 Maldon and Heybridge Central Area 38 Policy S6 Burnham-on-Crouch Strategic Growth 40 Policy S7 Prosperous Rural Communities 42 Policy S8 Settlement Boundaries and the Countryside 3 DESIGN AND CLIMATE CHANGE 46 Policy D1 Design Quality and Built Environment 48 Policy D2 Climate Change & Environmental Impact of New Development 51 Policy D3 Conservation and Heritage Assets 54 Policy D4 Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Generation 57 Policy D5 Flood Risk and Coastal Management 59 Policy D6 Advertisement 4 ECONOMIC PROSPERITY 62 Policy E1 Employment 67 Policy E2 Retail Provision 70 Policy E3 Community Services and Facilities 72 Policy E4 Agricultural and Rural Diversification 73 Policy E5 Tourism 74 Policy E6 Skills, Training and Education 5 HOUSING 78 Policy H1 Affordable Housing 81 Policy H2 Housing Mix 82 Policy H3 Accommodation for 'Specialist' Needs 84 Policy H4 Effective Use of Land 87 Policy H5 Rural Exception Schemes 88 Policy H6 Provision for Travellers 91 Policy H7 Agricultural and Essential Workers' Accommodation 93 Policy H8 Provision for Houseboats CONTENTS Chapter Page 6 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE 96 Policy N1 Green Infrastructure Network 98 Policy N2 Natural Environment and Biodiversity 100 Policy N3 Open Space, Sport and Leisure 7 TRANSPORT AND ACCESS 104 Policy T1 Sustainable Transport 105 Policy T2 Accessibility 8 IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING 108 Policy I 1 Infrastructure and Services 112 Policy I 2 Health and Wellbeing 115 Policy I 3 Primrose Meadow Planning Brief 117 Monitoring Framework APPENDICES APP 1 124 Acronyms and Glossary APP 2 131 References APP 3 135 Sustainability Objectives APP 4 136 Previous Consultation APP 5 140 Site Designations and Proposals Map XT TE ON C ND N A TIO DUC TRO IN INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT Introduction 1.1 The Local Development Plan (LDP) sets out the planning strategy for future growth over the next 15 years. It is the means by which Maldon District Council will deliver sustainable development across the Maldon District and provides a spatial strategy for the delivery of the required future employment, homes, retail, community facilities and infrastructure provision. It has a number of component parts which sit alongside the spatial strategy. These include development management policies and strategic site allocations. 1.2 The core responsibility of the LDP is to respond to local ambitions, aspirations and priorities for the District over the plan period from 2014 to 2029. The LDP has been developed following extensive consultation and dialogue with a wide range of individuals, organisations and interest groups. Consultation began in 2006 as part of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy process. Whilst the Council has decided not to pursue a Local Development Framework Core Strategy, the outcomes of these consultation stages have been important in developing the spatial vision and strategy and development management policies within the LDP. In addition, specialist studies and on-going strategies have together built a comprehensive evidence base with a strong local focus. 1.3 The LDP sets out the scale and distribution of future development and the infrastructure needed to provide it. The Plan sets out the following: • The Council’s spatial vision and objectives for the District’s development over the plan period; • Policies to ensure that development delivers high quality, sustainable homes, drives the quality of design and maintains our high quality built and natural environment; • The future distribution for housing growth and requirements for affordable housing; • Policies to build a strong, competitive economy and the future distribution for new employment land space and thus new jobs; • Policies to maintain and enhance the vibrancy and vitality of our towns and villages; and • Policies to support a sustainable transport and road infrastructure network. 1.4 The LDP covers the whole of the Maldon District Council authority area. This equates to an area of 36,000 hectares which includes 70 miles of coastline. 1.5 The Local Development Scheme (LDS) provides details of the Local Development Documents which the Council intends to produce, including the scope of the documentation and timetable for production. 1.6 The Plan has been structured in eight key sections: 1) Introduction and Context – including the legal status and scope of the Plan and the process of plan preparation; 2) Spatial Vision and Development Strategy – sets out the vision and objectives of the document, the spatial development strategy, the distribution of growth as well as the place shaping and sustainable development policies. This section also includes policies to shape future strategic development in Maldon, Heybridge, Burnham-on-Crouch and the rural areas of the District; 3) Design and Climate Change – sets out the design standards as well as the climate change and heritage policies; 2 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT 4) Economic Prosperity – includes policies which will help to create a more competitive and stronger economy; 5) Housing – sets out the housing policies and aims to help create a wide choice of high quality affordable and market homes; 6) Natural, Environment and Green Infrastructure – includes measures which will protect and enhance the natural environment and green spaces; 7) Transport and Access – sets out sustainable transport policies and accessibility requirements; and 8) Implementation and Monitoring – sets out the infrastructure policies and how the plan will be implemented and monitored. Legal Status and Scope of the Local Development Plan 1.7 The LDP has been prepared under the legislative provision of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (HM Government, 2004) and the Localism Act 2011 (HM Government, 2011b). It has also been prepared using the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (HM Government, 2012). 1.8 Once the LDP is adopted it will replace the Maldon District Replacement Local Plan (MDC, 2005b) saved policies. The LDP, together with the forthcoming Rural Allocations DPD, the Essex Replacement Minerals Local Plan (RMLP) and the Replacement Waste Local Plan (RWLP), will form the statutory adopted ‘Development Plan’ for the District. In compliance with national planning policy and legislation, planning decisions must be taken in accordance with the Development Plan. Proposed development that conflicts with the Development Plan will be refused unless other material considerations indicate otherwise. 1.9 The LDP is in compliance with national planning policy, currently set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (DCLG, 2012a), Planning Policy for Traveller Sites (DCLG, 2012b) and National Policy Statements. The NPPF sets out a presumption in favour of sustainable development, which is the core aspect of national planning policy and the Local Development Plan. 1.10 In accordance with the ‘Duty to Co-operate’ (Localism Act, 2011) the Local Development Plan has been produced through close partnership working with neighbouring authorities and other relevant organisations to ensure that sub-regional and cross boundary planning issues have been fully considered and taken into account. 1.11 Previously, an adopted Development Plan Document (DPD) was required to conform to the policies set out in the East of England Plan which formed the adopted Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England Region. However, the East of England Plan was formally revoked by the Secretary of State in January 2013, and therefore no longer forms part of the Development Plan for the District. 3 INTRODUCTION AND CONTEXT FIGURE 1 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN SCOPE Preparation Process 1.12 Between 2010 and 2013 the Government made a number of reforms to the planning system to make it less complex and more accessible. In 2006, the Council began work to develop and produce a Local Development Framework Core Strategy that would have set out the spatial strategy for the District. 1.13 However, in response to changes to the planning system, the Council took the decision in 2011 to develop a LDP that would not only set the spatial strategy but would also include strategic allocations and development management policies. The LDP has been informed by the consultation undertaken as part of the Local Development Framework Core Strategy and builds upon the local ambitions and priorities that have been expressed as part of this process. 1.14 Community engagement is vitally important to the plan preparation process and the Council has conducted extensive consultation and encouraged participation on issues relating to the future of the District, in accordance with the Council’s adopted Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) (MDC, 2007b). Two ‘Issues and Options’ consultation rounds were undertaken for the Local Development Framework Core Strategy in March 2007 (MDC, 2007c) and September 2007 (MDC, 2007d). In total, these two consultations received around 1,200 responses from members of the public, key stakeholders and other organisations. Stakeholder events were undertaken and a mailing list