Regulation 18 Draft Local Plan
Chapter 11 – The Built Environment
(4)Promoting Good Quality Design
11.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has been updated and improved to strengthen design policies and take in to account the findings of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission. The NPPF makes it clear that the creation of high quality, beautiful and sustainable buildings and places is fundamental to what the planning and development process should achieve. The Framework also clearly states that Plans should set out a clear design vision and expectations and it is the intention of this updated policy DE1 to do this, supplemented by the Design SPD and any future guides or codes to provide maximum clarity.
11.2 The NPPF goes further to clearly state that poor or mediocre development that is not well designed should be refused, in particular, where it fails to reflect local design policy (SKDC Design guides and codes) and government guidance on design (National Design Guide and National Model Design Code).
11.3 Achieving well-designed places is high up on the national agenda and recent changes and improvements to design policy and guidance represent a considerable shift forwards in the desire and intent to do this. This policy uses the National Design Guide's 10 characteristics of well-designed places to create 6 local design principles.
11.4 The design process works much more effectively when applicants engage in pre-application discussions, allowing sufficient time to discuss, negotiate, understand, explore, amend and improve development proposals with the Local Planning Authority and other statutory consultees. The NPPF also encourages applicants to undertake early, proactive and effective engagement with the community and rewards this process by advising that such proposals should be looked on more favourably. This process helps to speed up decision making once a planning application is submitted and is also more likely to result in the creation of well-designed places that are more accepted by local communities.
11.5 South Kesteven District Council have design advice and review services in place through a local design review panel that meets monthly and the additional use of a regional design review panel where necessary. The Council use Building for a Healthy Life (and any subsequent versions) as a tool for assessing the design quality of new development and expects all residential development proposals of 10 dwellings or more to perform positively when assessed against this.
Policy Type: Significant Changes to Policy
(12)DE1: Promoting Good Quality Design
To ensure high quality design is achieved throughout the District, all development proposals will be expected to adhere to the Council's Design Guides, Codes and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).
Applicants are strongly encouraged to use the Council's pre-application advice and design review services and to proactively and effectively engage with local communities in order receive early feedback on proposals and to evolve design proposals.
Applications for Planning Permission that are not well designed will be refused. Development proposals must be in accordance with this policy and the design principles set out below:
- Local context, identity and character:
- Development proposals must demonstrate through submitted plans and documents, that a site and its context have been fully assessed and understood and have been comprehensively and positively responded to;
- Development proposals should be visually attractive and make a positive contribution to the local distinctiveness, vernacular, townscape, streetscape and landscape character of the area. Proposals should use typical characteristic and positive local examples as design cues to create places with a clear a coherent identity;
- Proposals should be integrated into the wider surroundings, being sensitive to edges of settlements, views, landscape character, history, built form and street character and should be of an appropriate scale, density, massing, height and material, given the context of the area.
- Built form, streets, spaces and movement:
- Development proposals should be designed to prioritise and encourage sustainable and active travel modes such as walking, wheeling, cycling and the use of public transport, through compact, walkable layouts that are easy to understand and move through and connected networks of routes that are attractive, green, safe and accessible to all;
- A coherent built form should be created with a strong landscape structure and a clear hierarchy of streets and spaces along with recognisable and memorable destinations, landmarks, groupings of buildings, streets, spaces and for larger sites, character areas;
- Streets and spaces should be designed to be high quality and attractive, have a clear function, encourage healthy lifestyles and social interaction, include trees and other natural elements such as water, be well defined, with their edges being enclosed by strong buildings and front boundary treatments, and feel safe, being overlooked by active frontages.
- Green and blue Infrastructure and nature:
- Ensure that green and blue infrastructure is designed in to and integrated within schemes from the start, in order to create strong landscape structures throughout layouts, enhance biodiversity and encourage healthy lifestyles;
- Connected networks of green spaces should be both attractive and functional, providing activities for all and integrating water management and drainage and supporting rich and varied biodiversity, meeting national Biodiversity Net Gain regulations
- Layouts should be designed to ensure that sufficient space is given for the creation of tree lined streets and trees within other public spaces in addition to features such as roadside swales.
- Mixed and integrated uses:
- To achieve successful and inclusive new communities, a range of conveniently located and accessible local services and community facilities are required and these should be enhanced further by high quality public spaces to create vibrant community focussed places;
- A mix of home tenures, types and sizes (as needed locally) should be delivered and should be socially inclusive by being sensitively located, spread out and not easily identifiable by design quality (including materials), style (including house types and architectural details) or location in terms of not placing affordable units in inferior locations.
- Amenity and easy to use homes and buildings:
- Ensure that homes and buildings are designed, to ensure a good quality of life for occupants and be easy to use for all;
- sufficient space, suitable to the type and amount of development proposed;
- Development proposals should ensure that there are no adverse impacts on the amenity of existing neighbours and future occupants or users of the development in terms of noise, light pollution, loss of privacy and loss of light and that buildings are carefully integrated with their surrounding external space;
- Development proposals must incorporate, in an integral part of the design waste storage and collection arrangements, cycle storage and utilities that are convenient and easy to use for all and with minimal visual impact and clutter;
- Car parking provision should be sufficient for the location and type of development, spaces should be easy to use, fit for purpose and large enough to cater for a wide range of users;
- Parking should be well ordered and integrated in to the street and not have a negative impact on character.
- Development proposals must follow Building Regulations, national guidance and local policy on street design for fire engines, fire hydrant locations and water supply and pressure requirements. Where local fire & rescue policy identifies a requirement different to what it stated in Building Regulations due to local circumstances, local policy must be taken into account. Early engagement with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is encouraged. A Technical Advice Note providing further guidance will be prepared by the Local Authority.
- Sustainable, healthy, resource efficient and built to last:
- Development proposals should reduce the need for energy, be energy efficient and reduce embodied carbon and maximise renewable energy generation;
- Buildings and places should be designed to last and stand the test of time, use quality materials and architectural details, be durable, adaptable, resilient to climate change, evolving technologies and lifestyle changes, easy to look after and well-managed and maintained with a clear sense of ownership;
- High-speed digital connectivity will be essential to ensure resilience against evolving technologies, lifestyle changes and ways of working and must be included within development proposals.
All major development (as defined in the Glossary) must demonstrate compliance with (and any subsequent versions):
- Neighbourhood Plan policies;
- Manual for Streets guidance and relevant Lincolnshire County Council guidance;
- Village design statements, where approved by the Council; and
- For new residential proposals, development should perform positively against Building for a Healthy Life.
In addition to the Council's pre- application and design review services, it may be recommended that major and/or sensitive development proposals are also taken to the regional Design Review Panel provided by Design: Midlands for further assessment.
Summary of Proposed Changes
Policy DE1 has been amended to bring it in line with and better reflect National Government ambitions to achieve well designed places.
Policy Type: New Policy
(3)NEW POLICY 5 – Householder Development
Planning permission will be granted for the alteration and extension of dwellings, erection and conversion of curtilage buildings, including the formation of annexes and means of enclosure providing that:
- The proposal respects the design, materials and detailing of the host dwelling;
- The proposal respects the character of the surrounding area including its local distinctiveness, the significance and setting of any heritage assets, landscape character and the open character of the surrounding countryside;
- There is no adverse impact on the amenities of neighbouring users including loss of privacy, light and overbearing impact;
- The layout of development within the site and separation distances from neighbouring development are sufficient to ensure that the proposal does not result in an unacceptable reduction in amenity by virtue of overlooking and loss of privacy or overbearing impacts;
- The host dwelling retains an appropriate amount of amenity space relative to its size;
- Existing access and parking provision must not be adversely impacted as a result of the proposal such that it would lead to a detrimental impact on highway safety; and
- Annexes should not be capable of being occupied as a separate independent dwelling and must be ancillary to the host dwelling.
The policy should be read in conjunction with the Design SPD (2021), or any subsequent design guides or codes.
Summary of Proposed Changes
New policy providing guidance on alterations and extensions of dwellings, erections and conversion of curtilage buildings, including the formation of annexes.
(2)Sustainable Building and Construction
11.6 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) sets out that planning plays a key role in delivering reductions to greenhouse gas emissions, minimising vulnerability and providing resilience to climate change. The NPPF also notes that planning supports the delivery of renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure.
11.7 The conservation of fuel, and power and water efficiency are matters that are covered by building regulations; however, planning can deliver higher rates of efficiency over and above the levels set out in the Building Regulations.
11.8 The energy hierarchy classifies energy options and sets out that organisations and individuals should pursue energy options in the following order (it should be noted that it is not possible to implement all of these through planning regimes):
- Reduce the need for energy
- Use energy more efficiently
- Use renewable energy
- Use low carbon sources
- Use conventional energy
11.9 The South Kesteven District Water Cycle Study was updated in October 2016. This recommended that, in order to move towards a more 'water neutral position' and to enhance sustainability of development coming forward, a policy should be developed that ensures all housing is as water efficient as possible, and that new housing development should go beyond mandatory Building Regulations requirements. It recommended a policy of setting the Building Regulations optional requirement target of 110 l/h/d. It also recommended non-domestic buildings should as a minimum reach 'Good' BREEAM status.
Policy Type: To be reviewed once evidence is finalised
(8)SB1: Sustainable Building
All development proposals will be expected to mitigate against and adapt to climate change, to comply with national and contribute to local targets on reducing carbon emissions and energy use unless it can be demonstrated in exceptional circumstances that compliance with the policy is not viable or feasible.
- Energy consumption
New development should strive to be zero carbon ready through minimising energy use and choice of low carbon energy sources.New development should demonstrate how carbon dioxide emissions have been minimised in accordance with the following energy hierarchy:
- Using less energy through energy efficient building design and construction, including thermal insulation, passive ventilation and cooling;
- Utilising energy efficient supplies – including connecting to available heat and power networks; and
- Maximising use of renewable and low carbon energy generation system
- Water Resources
New development should seek to achieve a 'water neutral position' and promote enhanced sustainability. To achieve this, the following standards will be expected from new development:
- New housing: is expected to be as water efficient as possible. Proposals which do not meet the Building Regulations optional requirement target of 110 l/h/d must demonstrate how and why this standard cannot be attained as part of the specific development scheme proposed.
- Non-domestic buildings: will be expected to reach 'Good' BREEAM status as a minimum.
- Major development schemes: will be expected to provide a programme of water efficiency promotion and consumer education, as part of the new development with the aim of behavioural change with regards to water use.
- Contributing to Low-Carbon Travel
All new development should demonstrate how they can support low-carbon travel, to achieve this:
- The need to travel will be reduced through site location and design
- Active travel will be encouraged through site location and design.
- new residential development will be expected to provide electric car charging points
- new commercial developments shall make provision for electric car charging points. The number of charging points required will be determined on a case by case basis.
Summary of Proposed Changes
Policy SB1 has been amended to reflect the Councils ambition to reach net carbon zero by 2050 and Paragraph 158 of the NPPF which reads 'Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change, taking into account the long-term implications for flood risk, coastal change, water supply, biodiversity and landscapes, and the risk of overheating from rising temperatures.''
The policy will be reviewed against the emerging Climate Change Study.
The final policy, will be informed by a Whole Plan Viability Assessment which will accompany the plan. The Whole Plan Viability Assessment assesses a range of developer contributions for different site typologies and locations across the district.
(2)Open Space, Sport and Recreation
11.10 This section of the Local Plan Review outlines the current open space provision and future open space requirements across South Kesteven. A Play Pitch Strategy is also being prepared to assess indoor play space provision across South Kesteven, this study will not form part of the open space section for the draft local plan review as the report is not yet finalised. The complete Play Pitch Strategy will inform the pre-submission version of the local plan review.
11.11 The district of South Kesteven has circa 2,670ha of identified open spaces, which includes Allotments, Community Gardens, Amenity Greenspace, Churchyards and Cemeteries, Natural and Semi-Natural Greenspace, Outdoor Sports Facilities, Parks and Gardens and Provision for Children / Young People. Due to its rural nature, nearly half of the identified open spaces across South Kesteven consist of Natural and Semi Natural Greenspaces.
11.12 Accessible, good quality open spaces can make a significant quality of life contribution to the residents of South Kesteven, along with providing wider benefits such as; broadening the districts tourism offer, managing flood risk, supporting biodiversity and providing valuable green infrastructure links to better adapt to changing climate. Therefore, the Local Plan review will ensure that open spaces across the district are protected in order to enhance and secure these benefits for the future.
11.13 As the population of South Kesteven continues to grow, new residential development will create additional demand and pressure on existing open spaces. Therefore, the Local Plan review will require new developments to include a level of new open space provision. In order to ensure that the future needs associated with population and development growths can be met.
(1)National Open Space Policy Context
11.14 On a national scale the provision of open spaces and facilities within cities, towns and villages is of high importance to a sustainable future and is embedded in national planning policy. The National Planning Policy Framework (2023) recognises the opportunities that appropriately located and well-designed open spaces can provide and outlines that access to a network of high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities. In terms of open space polices, The National Planning Policy Framework (2023) states that policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and identify the opportunities for new provision.
11.15 The benefits of open space provision also cross over into many other parts of the NPPF including;
- Promoting Healthy and Safe Communities;
- Delivering Sustainable Development;
- Supporting a Prosperous Rural Economy;
- Promoting Sustainable Transport;
- Achieving Well Designed Places;
- Conserving and Enhancing the Natural and Historic Environment; and
- Meeting the challenges of climate change
11.16 In addition to National planning policy there is planning practice guidance in the form of 'Open Space, Sports and Recreation Facilities; Public Rights of Way; and Local Green Space (2014)' which provides advice on open space, sports and recreation facilities, public rights of way (PRoW) and the Local Green Space designations. The guidance states that it is for local planning authorities to assess the need for open space and opportunities for new provision in their areas.
(2)Local Open Space Policy Context
11.17 The Council's Corporate Plan for the period of 2020-2023 sets out a vision to be "the best district in which to live, work and visit". The Council aims to continue developing a clean and green future, working with others to ensure that how we live and work represents, healthy and strong communities and clean and sustainable environments.
11.18 South Kesteven have also published a Sport and Physical Activity Strategy (2021). The Strategy states that the district has a wealth of community assets, leisure facilities, parks, countryside paths and open spaces to provide opportunities to be active. It also outlines opportunities to be focused in areas that will make the most difference to local people, especially areas identified with health inequalities. Furthermore, an action plan has been established by the study which sets out to achieve various 'active' goals such as encouraging participation and accessibility for whole community's and investment in leisure facilities to meet needs of the district.
11.19 In terms of climate change, the Climate Action Strategy (2023) seeks to set out how the Council can respond to the global issue of climate change at a local level, and it aims to provide a clear place-based vision for District's approach to climate adaptation to living in a warmer world. The Climate Action Strategy provides a framework for the District to reduce carbon emissions and safety adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change. The following key co-benefits relate directly to open space:
- Improving health and wellbeing;
- Improving air quality;
- Boosting biodiversity; and
- Ensuring a fairer society.
11.20 South Kesteven also contains a number of areas which have prepared Neighbourhood Plans, some of these contain designations for Important Open Space or an equivalent. These open spaces have not been duplicated as part of this policy, as they have their own protection through the Neighbourhood Plan in which they are designated.
(2)The Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study
11.21 The Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study (2023) was commissioned to provide robust and up to date information concerning the demand and use of open space throughout the district. It supports the Council's corporate vision to be "the best district in which to live, work and visit." The study means that South Kesteven can prioritise development of open space, ensures that poor quality open spaces receive investment and improvement, and that open spaces receive sufficient developer contributions to provide for new communities.
11.22 The main aim of the study was to assess at the overall provision of open space across the district. The study broke the district of South Kesteven down into three 'sub-areas' based on amalgamated Middle Super Output Area (MSOA). Within each of these 'sub-areas' the quantity, quality, value and accessibility of open space was assessed. Detailed area analysis on each 'sub-area' be found within the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study (2023).
Figure 15: Open Space Study 'sub areas'
11.23 An audit of the existing provision of open space was carried out by the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study (2023) to). which identified that the following open space typologies were present across the district;
Table 10: Open Space Typology
Open Space Typology
Description
Allotments and Community Gardens
Opportunities for those people who wish to do so to grow their own produce as part of the long-term promotion of sustainability, health and social inclusion.
Amenity Greenspace
Most commonly but not exclusively found in housing areas. Includes informal recreation green spaces and village greens (can also include local green spaces)
Churchyards and Cemeteries
Cemeteries and churchyards including disused churchyards and other burial grounds.
Natural and Semi-Natural Greenspace
Includes country parks, nature reserves, publicly accessible woodlands, urban forestry, scrub, grasslands, wetlands and wastelands.
Outdoor Sports Facilities
Includes both natural and artificial surfaces for sports and recreation that are owned and managed by local authorities, town and parish councils, sports associations, companies and individual sports clubs. This typology includes golf courses.
Parks and Gardens
Includes urban parks and formal gardens. Parks usually contain a variety of facilities, and may have one of more of the other types of open space within them.
Provision for Children and Young People
Areas designed primarily for play and social interaction specifically designed as equipped play facilities for children and young people.
11.24 The quantity of open spaces within each 'sub area' was carried out through a desk based GIS exercise, using existing open space data based on a snapshot in time. The study has mapped the open spaces which provided the total area in hectares of each site figures. The quantity was then compared to population statistics data and is expressed in terms of a hectare per 1,000 population figure.
11.25 The quality assessment of open spaces within each 'sub area' was conducted using the Green Flag Award style quality audit. The award is widely recognised as a quality benchmark for parks and green spaces and takes into account the following considerations.
- Is the area a Welcoming Place.
- Is the area Healthy, Safe and Secure.
- Is the area well maintained and clean.
11.26 The quality assessment did not attempt to 'judge' all sites as to whether they would pass or fail the Green Flag Award and It was primarily based on applying the relevant criteria to all the typologies of identified open space within South Kesteven. This allowed for an impartial quality benchmark to be applied across the District's open spaces.
11.27 The value of each open space was assessed based on 'Assessing needs and opportunities: a companion guide to PPG17 (2002) which took into account information such as the contextual value historical value and recreational value of each site.
11.28 The accessibility assessment of open spaces was applied though a straight line Walking Threshold ('as the crow flies') buffers to open spaces, as per the 'Assessing needs and opportunities: a companion guide to PPG17 (2002) and the benchmark accessibility standards are set out in the FiT Guidance for Outdoor Sports and Play.
11.29 The outcomes of the open space assessments in terms of quantity, quality, value and accessibility can be found summarised within The Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study (2023).
(1)Policy OS1: Open Space and Recreation
11.30 The recommendations from the Open Space, Sport, and Recreation Study (2023) have been used to inform policy OS1 which seeks to ensure adequate levels of provision for each type of open space, based population figures and the identified future needs of each 'sub area'. The policy also strongly protects existing open space provision and encourages opportunities to deliver additional open space where it is required.
Policy Type: Significant Changes to Policy
Summary of Proposed Changes
Name of the policy has been changed to include 'recreation'.
Parts of the opening text have been moved into the supporting text section.
A new updated open space provision table have been provided due to the assessment outcomes of the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study (2023)
Reference to the Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study (2023) 'sub area' analysis has been made within the policy to ensure that the correct types of provision are being made within specific areas.