INTRODUCTION
3.1 As this is a Review of an existing award-winning Local Plan, policies have only been changed where there are strong reasons to do so. These reasons include:
Changes to national policy and legislation which might impact the previous findings of the Planning Inspector that these policies were ‘sound’ (i.e passed all the legal and policy tests at the last Local Plan examination in 2018);
Changes to the National Park Authority’s own priorities and objectives;
New issues that have arisen since the last Local Plan was adopted (such as nutrient and water neutrality and the growth of viticulture); and
Difficulties encountered in implementing the adopted policies which could be resolved by clarifying wording.
3.2 Where possible policy numbers have been kept the same as in the existing Local Plan to make it easier for people to see what we are proposing to change, however we have regrouped some of these policies so that those most closely related are easier to find. This means that the policy numbers are not always in order. We are not including supporting text at this time but will be adding some back in at the next stage where necessary to explain how to apply policies or to signpost other relevant policies. Proposed policy wording is preceded by a table as below.
Policy Reference and Title
Change Category: No change/minor changes/substantial changes/full review/new policy
Key issues:
Supporting text:
Only included if there is any that needs to be flagged at this stage.
Future considerations:
Consultation questions:
POLICY TEXT:
Tracked changes compared to the adopted Local Plan (deleted text crossed through, new text underlined).
Policy SD19: Transport & Accessibility
Change Category: Minor Changes
Key issues:
The role of sustainable and active travel in health and wellbeing, and climate action.
Future considerations:
Active Travel England is a new statutory consultee
Further outputs from Transport Assessment work as the Local Plan progresses.
Any updates to the National Planning Policy Framework on transport and planning.
Any future National Development Management Policy (NDMP) on transport and accessibility.
Consultation questions:
What are your views on Policy SD19? Strongly agree/agree/neutral/disagree/ strongly disagree
Please expand on your answer to the above
STRATEGIC POLICY SD19: TRANSPORT AND ACCESSIBILITY
1. Development proposals will be permitted provided that they are located and designed to minimise the need and/or distance to travel and promote facilitate the use of sustainable modes of transport, including active travel.
2. Development proposals that are likely to generate a significant number of journeys must be located near existing town and village centres, public transport routes, main roads and, where relevant, the cycle network. Such developments will be required to provide a transport assessment or transport statement.
3. Development proposals must demonstrate the continued safe and efficient operation of the strategic and local road networks.
4. The following improvements to transport infrastructure will be supported:
a) Public transport waiting facilities, particularly those with reliable and accessible information;
b) Infrastructure supporting the transfer of freight from road to cycle, rail and water;
c) Improvements to walking/wheeling, cycling and bus connectivity at all transport interchanges; and
d) Improvements to the quality and provision of cycle parking (including electric bicycle charging facilities) at railway stations and key bus stops.
5. In town and village centres, development will be permitted which appropriately provides for improved footways and cycle routes, cycle parking, and measures to restrict the impact of heavy goods vehicles and other traffic on historic streets.
Policy SD21: Public Realm, Highway Design and Public
Art
Change Category: Minor changes
Key issues:
Update language in criterion 3. to reflect latest national policy and use words “active travel”.
Supporting text:
Expand to reference the issue of historic sunken lanes altering character through repairs with permanent surfacing as result of impact of increased “traffic.”
Future considerations:
None currently.
Consultation questions:
What are your views on Policy SD21? Strongly agree/agree/neutral/disagree/ strongly disagree
Please expand on your answer to the above
DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD21: PUBLIC REALM, HIGHWAY DESIGN AND PUBLIC ART
1. Development proposals will be permitted provided that they protect and enhance highway safety and follow the principles set out in the document, Roads in the South Downs, or any future replacement.
2. Development will not be permitted where it would reduce the biodiversity, landscape and amenity value and character of historic rural roads. Particular attention will be given to new access points and other physical alterations to roads, and to the impacts of additional traffic.
3. Site layout must be designed to protect the safety and amenity of all road users. The design and layout of new development must give priority to active travel, to the needs of pedestrians, users of mobility aids, cyclists and equestrians. Movement through the site must be a safe, legible and attractive experience for all users, with roads and surfaces that contribute to the experience rather than dominate it.
4. Street design and management proposals must be context-sensitive, responding to the specific character, activities, heritage, built form and layout, materials and street furniture of the location. Highway design must pay particular attention to the role and location of buildings, doors and entry points.
5. Appropriately designed and located new public art will be supported, in particular within settlements. New public art should be site specific, reflecting and respecting the site and its context.
Policy SD22: Parking Provision
Change Category: Minor changes
Key issues:
Clarify that the parking standards referred to in criterion 2 is the “Guidance on Parking for Residential and Non-Residential Development Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)” also known as the Parking SPD, as adopted by SDNPA
Update wording in criterion 3 to reflect national policy and the language used in Transport Assessments to use a “decide and provide approach” to parking provision
For public parking include electric bike charging to align the requirement with private provision.
Supporting text:
Update to reflect change to criterion 4 and the requirement for public parking to provide electric bicycle charging facilities where feasible. This aligns with the requirement for private developments in the Parking SPD.
Future considerations:
None currently
Consultation questions:
What are your views on Policy SD22? Strongly agree/agree/neutral/disagree/ strongly disagree
Please expand on your answer to the above
DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD22: PARKING PROVISION
1. Development proposals for new, extended or re-located public parking will be permitted provided that they are located in or adjacent to the settlements listed in Policy SD25: Development Strategy, or have a strong functional link to an established cultural heritage, wildlife or landscape visitor attraction, provided that:
a) There is evidence that overriding traffic management or recreation management benefits can be achieved;
b) It is a component of a strategic traffic management scheme which gives precedence to sustainable transport; and
c) The site is close to and easily accessible from main roads by appropriate routes, and well connected to the PRoW network.
2. Development proposals will be permitted if they provide an appropriate level of private cycle and vehicle parking to serve the needs of that development in accordance with the relevant adopted parking standards in the Parking Supplementary Planning Document or subsequent updated versions for the locality. Wherever feasible, electric vehicle charging facilities must also be provided.
3. All new private and public parking provision will be designed using the decide and provide approach and will:
a) Be of a location, scale and design that reflects its context; and
b) Incorporate appropriate sustainable drainage systems.
4. All new public parking provision will comply with the following:
a) Wherever feasible, electric vehicle and electric bicycle charging facilities must be provided. Where located with potential for onward travel by mobility scooter, this should include charging facilities for such scooters; and
5. Where located with good accessibility to the bridleway network, include provision for horse box parking.
Policy SD42: Infrastructure
Change Category: Minor changes
Key issues:
To make the policy more relevant for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects by bringing it more in line with National Policy Statements wording on impacts.
Future considerations:
National Development Management Policies
Consultation questions:
What are your views on Policy SD42? Strongly agree/agree/neutral/disagree/ strongly disagree
Please expand on your answer to the above
STRATEGIC POLICY SD42: INFRASTRUCTURE
1. Development proposals for new, improved or supporting infrastructure will only be permitted where:
a) It represents the least environmentally harmful option reasonably available, also having regard to the operational requirements and technical limitations of the proposed infrastructure; and
b) The design minimises the impact on the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park and the general amenity of local communities. Opportunities have been taken to design infrastructure with a holistic approach to:
i. Avoid; or
ii. where adverse impacts are unavoidable, mitigate; and
iii. as a last resort compensate for impacts on the natural, historic or built environment, on landscapes and on people by using nature-based solutions.
2. Development proposals will only be permitted where appropriate, necessary and reasonable infrastructure investment has been secured either in the form of suitable onsite or off-site works, and/or financial contributions to mitigate its impact.
3. Infrastructure delivery should be integrated with development phasing to ensure timely provision. Financial contributions towards future infrastructure maintenance will, where necessary, be secured by means of a legal agreement.
Policy SD44: Telecommunications
Change
Category:
Key issues:
Substantial changes
Scope of policy reduced to telecommunications as other utilities infrastructure covered by SD42.
Telecom masts – issue has arisen through applications for masts in the East Hampshire area. The policy and supporting text reference alternative technologies, and alternatives by locating on existing structures, but doesn’t require consideration of locations in a wider sense – this has presented a challenge when there are other potential options which appear to be technically achievable and clearly less harmful in landscape terms (but still have some harm i.e. least worse options)
Policy wording should include a criterion requiring landscape sensitivity to be taken into account when selecting new sites i.e. that the chosen site is both technically deliverable and demonstrably least harmful in landscape terms.
Future considerations:
National Development Management Policies
Consultation questions:
What are your views on Policy SD44? Strongly agree/agree/neutral/disagree/ strongly disagree
Please expand on your answer to the above.
DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT POLICY SD44: TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND UTILITIES INFRASTRUCTURE
1. Development proposals for new telecommunications and/or utilities infrastructure will be permitted where:
a) The identified need cannot be met using existing infrastructure or other appropriate structures;
b) They are of an appropriate design that would not have an adverse impact on the special qualities; The site selected for the development is the least harmful of the realistic alternative options in terms of its impact on the landscape, cultural heritage and wildlife of the National Park; and
c) They make use of all available technologies and suitable mitigation designed to minimise the impact on the landscape and general amenity; Suitable mitigation and enhancement measures are proposed that are appropriate to the landscape and ecology of the site and its immediate surroundings.
d) They minimise other relevant environmental impacts; and
e) They remove, reduce in prominence, or move underground related existing infrastructure, where feasible.
2. All new residential dwellings should be served by a superfast broadband connection, or an equivalent alternative technology, installed on an open access basis. All other non-residential buildings proposed to be regularly occupied must also be provided with this standard of connection when available, unless it can be demonstrated through consultation with relevant service providers that this would not be deliverable.