Scope of the Consultation Topic of this Isle of Wight Local Development Framework: consultation Island Plan Core Strategy. The Proposed Submission version of the strategy providing strategic planning guidance for the Island through until 2027. Scope of this The purpose of this consultation is to ascertain the views and consultation comments of the general public and statutory/ non-statutory stakeholders on the Proposed Submission Core Strategy. Geographical Isle of Wight scope Basic Information To General public and statutory/ non-statutory stakeholders Body responsible Isle of Wight Council for the consultation Duration 6 weeks. Consultation ends on Friday 10th December 2010 Enquiries Planning Policy Isle of Wight Council Planning Services Seaclose Offices Fairlee Road Newport Isle of Wight PO30 2QS Telephone: 01983 823552 Email: [email protected] How to respond Preferably by email, using the email address provided above After the We shall take into account the responses provided to this consultation consultation in revising the document to produce the Submission Core Strategy. This will be published in early 2011. Background Getting to this stage Previous Regulation 25 has been complied with through the previous rounds of engagement consultation undertaken whilst developing this strategy. This has included wide involvement from key stakeholders and the general public. 1 2 2 Contents 1. Introduction 5 2. The Isle of Wight and the issues it faces 9 3. Spatial Vision and Objectives 21 4. Key Diagram 26 5. Spatial Strategy and Strategic Policies 27 6. Area Action Plan Policies 77 7. Development Management Policies 100 8. Implementation and Infrastructure Delivery 159 9. Monitoring 169 10. Glossary of Terms 207 Appendix I: Housing Trajectory 216 Appendix II: National Development Management policies 219 Appendix III: SINCs 221 Appendix IV: Parking Zones and Standards 230 Appendix V: Saved UDP Policies to be replaced 236 3 3 List of Core Strategy Policies SP1 Spatial Strategy 27 SP2 Housing 31 SP2a Worsley Road 34 SP3 Economy 37 SP4 Tourism 43 SP5 Environment 47 SP6 Renewables 50 SP7 Travel 55 SP8 Waste 60 SP9 Minerals 67 AAP1 Medina Valley 81 AAP2 Ryde 88 AAP3 The Bay 95 DM1 Sustainable Build Criteria for New Development 101 DM2 Design Quality for New Development 107 DM3 Balance Mix of Housing 109 DM4 Locally Affordable Housing 112 DM5 Housing for Older People 115 DM6 Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople 118 DM7 Social and Community Infrastructure 121 DM8 Economic Development 124 DM9 Town Centres 128 DM10 Village and Rural Centres 131 DM11 High Quality Tourism 134 DM12 Historic and Built Environment 136 DM13 Landscape, Seascape, Biodiversity & Geodiversity 139 DM14 Green Infrastructure 143 DM15 Flood Risk 150 DM16 Coastal Management 154 DM17 Renewables 156 DM18 Sustainable Travel 158 DM19 Cross-Solent Travel 160 DM20 Waste 162 DM21 Minerals 164 DM22 Developer Contributions 167 4 4 1. Introduction The Island Plan – the Island’s Local Development Framework The Isle of Wight is well known for the quality of its environment, with its landscapes and coastlines enjoying a high level of special designation and protection. Whilst this helps to give the Island its unique character it also presents us with the challenge of protecting, conserving and enhancing the environment, whilst at the same time facilitating regeneration and development. The Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended), has introduced a system of plan-making that will help us to do this – the Local Development Framework (LDF). It is not a single plan, but an overall term for a number of separate documents known as Local Development Documents (LDDs), which may be prepared at different times; each one passing through a number of stages before it can be adopted by the Council as part of the Isle of Wight‟s LDF, which is called the Island Plan. The policies of the Island Plan, once they are adopted, will replace the existing Unitary Development Plan (UDP) saved policies. We have developed the Island Plan Core Strategy with a range of people and groups so that wherever possible it complements other strategies and plans for the Island. 5 5 Spatial Planning Spatial planning is a process of shaping local places and is generally based on the following 6 guiding principles: Produce a vision for the future of places that respond to the local challenges and opportunities and is based on evidence, a sense of local distinctiveness and community derived objectives, within the framework of national policy. Translate this vision into a set of priorities, programmes, policies and land allocations together with the public sector resources to deliver them. Create a framework for private investment and regeneration that promotes economic, environmental and social well-being for the area. Coordinate and deliver the public sector components of this vision with other agencies and processes. Create a positive framework for action on climate change. Contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. The Island Plan Core Strategy The Island Plan Core Strategy will set out how, in spatial planning terms, the Island will develop up to 2027. In principle the Island Plan Core Strategy is about “place shaping” and delivery. The strategy and policies set out what will be delivered. When it is appropriate, they will also set out where when and how it will be delivered. In developing the Island Plan Core Strategy we have drawn together all the other strategies of the Council and other organisations that have implications for the use of land. This document sets out our spatial vision and objectives for the Island and the strategic policies to help deliver them. The spatial vision, objectives and strategic policies flow from the priorities and objectives set out in the Isle of Wight‟s Sustainable Community Strategy – Eco-Island. The Island Plan Core Strategy should not be read in isolation. The Island Plan should be read as a whole along with: National Policy Statements Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) Planning Policy Guidance (PPGs) Other Island Plan Local Development Framework documents The Plan Period A core strategy is required to have a time horizon of at least 15 years from the date of adoption. It is expected that the Island Plan Core Strategy will be adopted in December 2011, so the lifetime of the plan will be 2011-2027. For monitoring purposes, the exact plan period will run from the financial year 2011/12 for 15 years until 2026/27. Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment The Island Plan Core Strategy is subject to an Sustainability Appraisal/ Strategic Environmental Assessment (SA/SEA). This is an iterative process and an effective way of ensuring that sustainable development principles are taken into account in the plan making process. By assessing plan policies against a broad range of SA/SEA objectives, the appraisal process exposes strengths and weaknesses of the plan, which can help to develop recommendations for improvement. As well as helping to improve the plan, the appraisal 6 6 process also provides the basis for discussion between stakeholders around a shared set of objectives. Habitats Regulations Assessment In the United Kingdom, all land-use plans which are considered likely to have a significant effect on European (Natura 2000) sites are required to undergo Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). The purpose of this is to assess the impact of the plan against the conservation objectives of European designations. There are designated sites of European importance on or around the coast of the Island and are shown on the Proposals Map. The process of HRA of this Island Plan Core Strategy has been carried out in parallel with the SA/SEA; and both the SA/SEA and the HRA are publicly available. As a result of the assessment, the Core Strategy includes safeguards to ensure protection of Natura 2000 sites. Any subsequent Island Plan documents will also be subject to a HRA. Delivering the Island Plan The delivery of the Island Plan will not be undertaken just by the Isle of Wight Council; it will involve partner agencies and private sector investment. As a Council we cannot deliver everything by ourselves. It is very important that the Council continues to work with its partners to ensure the successful delivery of the Island Plan. Chapter 5 sets out the Delivery Strategy and Infrastructure Plan, whilst Chapter 6 sets out the Monitoring Framework for the Core Strategy. These chapters set out how some aspects of the policies will be delivered and how we will ensure they are being delivered properly. Monitoring Reviewing and monitoring how well the Island Plan and its policies is delivering our vision and objectives will be essential. By assessing how well the plan is working, we can decide whether or not contingency plans need implementing or if policies and strategies need reviewing or replacing. An Annual Monitoring Report is published in December every year, which will report on the effectiveness of the Island Plan policies. The South East Plan The South East Plan was revoked in July 2010 by the Coalition Government. Because of this we, as a Council, are no longer required to deliver the requirements of the South East Plan, if we choose not to. This has a wide range of implications for the preparation of the Island Plan Core Strategy and a number of different options have been tested and considered. Based on the evidence available and the aspirations that the Council has for the Island, we are taking forward various aspects of the South East Plan. These include the annual housing target of 520 per annum and a slightly amended renewable energy target, based on our local evidence. We have also taken forward the waste and minerals targets, as they relate closely to the housing figure and we consider them appropriate to the Island.