The Neighbourhood Planning Process in Lavenham

Transcription

1 The Neighbourhood Planning Process in Lavenham 21 March 2016 Rachel Hogger MRTPI Tel: / MODICUM PLANNING Neighbourhood planning support for communities

2 Case Study: Lavenham Stage: At examination Front cover of the submission Lavenham NDP. Painting by David Smeaden. Image modified by Mike Hodges. Photos by Mike Hodges

3 Context Local Planning Authority: Babergh District Parish: Lavenham Inception: October 2012 Neighbourhood Area Designation: Sept 2013 Pre Submission consultation: Aug Sept 2015 Submission: December 2015 Location: Babergh District, Suffolk On the A1141, between Hadleigh and Bury St Edmunds Copy of NP Area Designation, Source: Babergh District Council

4 Context Key Statistics: 1,711 population (Census 2011) 987 dwellings (Census 2011) Heritage Assets: 201 listed buildings, 13 of which are grade 1 Much of the built up environment of Lavenham is covered by conservation area. Setting: Surrounded by undulating countryside Spectacular views into historic core and out to the surrounding countryside Economy: The historic core of the village contributes greatly to the economic life and wellbeing of the village. Photo by Mike Hodges

5 Strategic Policy Context Strategic Policy Context Core Strategy 2014: Lavenham one of ten Core Villages 1050 homes allocated to all Core Villages and their 43 hinterland villages Policy CS11 allows for development beyond the existing Built Up Area Boundary (BUAB) 2006 Local Plan Saved Policies including: BUAB Special Landscape Areas Extract from the Babergh District s Proposals Map relating to saved policies showing the Built Up Area Boundary or BUAB

6 Lavenham Neighbourhood Plan: Key Drivers The need for a sustainable community: Local Housing Need Concerns that the unique character of the historic village of Lavenham would be adversely affected through inappropriate development both in the village and in the surrounding countryside Uncertainty implications with regards the implications of the NPPF and the 2014 Core Strategy What development and how much? Concerns that new development was not being successfully integrated or being accompanied by sufficient social infrastructure MODICUM PLANNING Neighbourhood planning support for communities

7 Who helped? Local Planning Authority: Ongoing outreach support via Babergh District Council s Community Planning Team Economic Development Team Strategic Housing Development Management Strategic Planning Policy Others: Critical friend role by Planning Aid England via Government s SCNP Programme Historic England County Council NPIERS healthcheck

8 Local issues identified in the plan making process Local issue Affordable homes Smaller homes The village primary school in historic core reaching capacity Strong resistance by the community to medium and large estate type development Corresponding Evidence Community consultation and housing needs surveys Ongoing work with County Council and primary school to establish pupil projections and capacity Community consultation

9 Local issues identified in the plan making process Local issue High priority attached by the community to the value of the historic core and the surrounding landscape Completed schemes not achieving level of affordable housing expected by the community Corresponding Evidence Community consultation Early identification by the community of locally valued views into and out of the village of Lavenham. Ongoing liaison with Babergh District in relation development viability.

10 Key Challenges 1 Instinct to draft Neighbourhood Plan before.. Implications of strategic policy context fully understood Implications of the basic conditions understood Managing community expectations relating to Non planning matters Parameters established by national and district policy Local Planning Authority Requesting evidence to support policy direction Evidence to demonstrate large estate type developments inappropriate Evidence to demonstrate the plan would deliver required amount of growth Desire that the plan allocate sites rather than take a criteria based approach

11 Key Challenges 2 Getting to grips with strategic policy context Core Strategy How much growth was required in Lavenham NP area? How does Policy CS11 apply to Lavenham? National Planning Policy Context How does presumption in favour of sustainable development apply to Lavenham? Evidence Gaps The following were needed in order to understand the implications of the strategic context: Landscape Character Assessment to help with the capacity of the parcels of land that abutted the village envelope Technical Assessment defining the contribution that the surrounding landscape makes to the setting of the heritage assets; Built Environment Character Assessment; and A review of the Conservation Area Character Appraisal

12 How were challenges overcome? Continual dialogue with Local Planning Authority Various iterations of the Neighbourhood Plan shared with district, County Council and with the community at key stages NPIERS independent healthcheck Proactive engagement between Parish Council and County Council with regards education infrastructure requirements and MODICUM PLANNING Neighbourhood planning support for communities

13 Lavenham Landscape Character Assessment In 2015 Lavenham Parish Council commissioned a Landscape Character Assessment which could underpin the policies in the NP as well as informing determination of planning applications before NP is made Extract from the Lavenham Landscape Character Assessment Front cover (showing photo by Karen Roe) of the Landscape Character Assessment 2015 prepared by Land and Sculpture Design Partnership. MODICUM PLANNING Neighbourhood planning support for communities

14 How has the community benefitted? Together with the Landscape Character Assessment the draft Neighbourhood Plan now provides the much needed local specific context required, adding value to the more generic policies existing at district and national level Defined view out of the historic core into open countryside identified for protection in the Lavenham Neighbourhood Plan. Photo by Bryan Panton. Lavenham & Church Tower Open Day photo by Karen Roe. Source: Licensed under CC by 2.0

15 How has the community benefitted cont..? The Parish Council has established its own Community Land Trust so that it may plan an active role in the delivery of much needed affordable housing The Education Authority and Lavenham Parish Council are now working together to re house the primary school. A raft of non planning issues or projects have been identified for the Parish Council to pursue And lastly - confidence MODICUM PLANNING Neighbourhood planning support for communities