Adopted Plan Deposit Draft

Policy:

SC9 Conversion of premises to residential homes.

(SC7)

SC10 Siting of local community health services.

(SC8)

SC11 Accommodation for voluntary organisations.

(SC9)

Proposal:

2.9.1 A principal concern of the Local Plan is the co-ordination of public and private investment to provide the services and infrastructure required for development to take place. These services fall into two broad categories:-

Physical infrastructure - which covers water supply, sewers and sewerage treatment, land drainage, electricity, gas and telecommunications.

Social infrastructure - which includes facilities and services needed by the local population such as schools and health and community buildings.

The co-ordination of public and private investment.

2.9.3 The Services and Community Facilities objectives of the Local Plan are:-

- to ensure that adequate services are available to meet the needs of new development

- to direct new development to locations where there is existing capacity in services and facilities or where they can be most economically provided

- to avoid the overburdening or disruption of existing services

- to ensure that community facilities are provided and properly co-ordinated with other forms of development

- to ensure that the water resources of the environment are properly safeguarded.

Securing Adequate Servicing and Infrastructure

2.9.4 The provision of infrastructure is important, particularly in major new developments. The capacity of existing infrastructure and the need for additional facilities will be taken into account in development control decisions. Infrastructure includes services like education and health facilities as well as roads, water supply and sewers. When it comes to an individual planning application, the adequacy of infrastructure can be a material consideration in deciding whether permission should be granted. Where development requires infrastructure improvements which are not already firmly programmed, applicants can enter into planning obligations with the District Planning Authority agreeing to advance the infrastructure investment programmes to meet the needs of their site. Alternatively, subject to an agreement or appropriate planning condition, development will be phased to keep pace with infrastructure provision.

Development cannot take place without necessary infrastructure.

PROGRAMMING OF INFRASTRUCTURE

POLICY SC1

WHERE PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT CANNOT BE ADEQUATELY SERVICED OR WILL OVERBURDEN EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE, THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL NOT GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION UNTIL THESE MATTERS ARE RESOLVED.

THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL SEEK TO ENTER INTO PLANNING OBLIGATIONS WITH A DEVELOPER TO SECURE AN AGREED PROGRAMME FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE NECESSARY AS A RESULT OF THEIR DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS.

FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO PROPOSALS WHICH, BY MEANS OF AN APPROPRIATE PLANNING AGREEMENT OR PLANNING CONDITION, ALLOW FOR THE PHASING OF DEVELOPMENT TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT PROCEED IN ADVANCE OF NECESSARY SERVICES, COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

2.9.5 There are two companies responsible for water supply in the Plan area, namely Anglian Water Services Limited and the Suffolk Water Company. The parishes they cover are shown in Diagram 7 overleaf. Anglian Water Services Limited deals with all aspects of sewerage including sewage collection and disposal in Mid Suffolk. There are 122 parishes in the Plan area and 83 parishes are served by mains drainage. The District Council intends to requisition first time sewerage schemes from Anglian Water for the villages of Bedingfield Street, Framsden, Stoke Ash and Stonham Parva. Apart from local groups of houses that are connected to small sewage treatment plants, properties in other parishes have to use septic tanks or cesspools.

Responsibility for water supply and mains drainage.

2.9.7 Under the Water Industry Act 1991Anglian Water can make a charge towards infrastructure costs for each connection to the public sewerage system. Even where mains sewerage is provided, it is often working at or near capacity and this situation can impose constraints upon new development, particularly in the rural areas.

Capacity of the existing sewerage system to take new development.

Water Quality and Quantity

2.9.8 The Environment Agency (EA) is responsible nationally for the protection, conservation and quality of both ground and surface waters. As the abstraction licensing authority, they are responsible for controlling and managing abstractions from ground and surface sources by water companies, industry and agriculture. As the discharge consenting authority the EA are responsible for controlling discharges and surface waters. Groundwater forms part of the natural supply cycle of water and is present in underground strata or aquifers providing spring flows to river and wetlands.

Protection of ground and surface waters.

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Diagram 7 - The Companies Responsible for Water Supply within the Plan Area

It is a vital resource not only for sustaining life and health but for maintaining the ecology and appearance of the countryside. Control over development likely to affect groundwater quality is carried out by:-

Environment Agency - the EA would oppose the granting of planning permission for development which would put at risk ground water quality. The EA has published a Groundwater Protection Policy to minimise the risks of contamination of underground water from the effects of development.

Suffolk County Council - which deals with applications for mineral extraction and waste disposal.

District Planning Authority - dealing with planning applications for housing, industry and other forms of development under its development control responsibilities.

2.9.9 Pollution of Groundwater - owing to the extensive use of agrochemicals and the application of liquid slurry to the land, the EA are concerned in East Anglia at the amount of nitrate which is getting into the groundwater supply. The EA will liaise with farmers to encourage the production of waste management plans whilst controlling or prohibiting practices which might lead to groundwater pollution. Although there are no designated Nitrate Sensitive Areas (NSAs) within Mid Suffolk the District does include a candidate Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ).

Controlling development likely to cause nitrate diffusion.

SEPTIC TANKS

POLICY SC2

SEPTIC TANKS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTABLE ON SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENTS WHERE:-

- MAINS DRAINAGE IS NOT AVAILABLE; OR

- THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM IS AT, OR OVER CAPACITY, AND THE SCALE OF DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT WARRANT FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS; AND

- THERE IS NO POLLUTION RISK TO A GROUNDWATER SOURCE PROTECTION ZONE, GROUND CONDITIONS ARE SATISFACTORY AND THE PLOT IS OF ADEQUATE SIZE TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE SUB-SOIL DRAINAGE SYSTEM.

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SEWERED AREAS WHERE THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM IS OVERLOADED, THE PROLIFERATION OF SEPTIC TANKS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.

SMALL SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS

POLICY SC3

SMALL SEWAGE TREATMENT, (OR PACKAGE) PLANTS (SSTP) WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTABLE ON SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENTS WHERE:-

- MAINS DRAINAGE IS NOT AVAILABLE; OR

- THE SEWAGE SYSTEM IS AT, OR OVER CAPACITY, AND THE SCALE OF DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT WARRANT FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS; AND

- THERE IS NO POLLUTION RISK TO A GROUNDWATER SOURCE PROTECTION ZONE; AND

- EFFLUENT FROM THE PLANT CAN BE SATISFACTORILY DISCHARGED TO A WATERCOURSE WITHOUT GIVING RISE TO A PUBLIC HEALTH, POLLUTION OR FLOODING RISK.

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF SEWERED AREAS WHERE THE SEWERAGE SYSTEM IS OVERLOADED, THE PROLIFERATION OF SMALL SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED.

PROTECTION OF GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES

POLICY SC4

IN CONSIDERING PROPOSALS FOR NEW DEVELOPMENT OR CHANGES OF USE THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL RESIST SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO WATER AQUIFERS AND SEEK TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF CONTAMINATION OF UNDERGROUND WATER RESOURCES.

Flood Protection

2.9.11 Protection against flooding or localising the event of flooding is a particularly important consideration in the control of new development. The District Planning Authority wishes to ensure that new development is not at risk from flooding nor would proposals lead to an increased risk of flooding elsewhere. In Mid Suffolk each river with its floodplain and washlands (an area of low-lying land maintained to provide storage of floodwater) has been surveyed by the former NRA. Information about the risk of flooding is made available to the District Council.

Measures to avoid flood risk.

2.9.12 In these areas, development may be acceptable where the District Planning Authority is satisfied that measures can be undertaken to overcome the risk of flooding. These works may include:-

- temporary storage ponds

- flow limitation measures and storage

- infiltration areas or soakaways (subject to ground conditions and effect on groundwater)

- temporary ponding or improvements to local watercourses.

Where off-site works are required the agreement of other landowners and riparian owners will be needed. Legal agreement will be required to safeguard the effectiveness of these arrangements.

2.9.13 New development, including impermeable surfaces like car parks and paving, reduce the ground area capable of absorbing rainfall. This may increase the quantity and rate at which rainwater run-off reaches watercourses. Following consultation with the Environment Agency, the District Planning Authority will take account of the capacity of watercourses, culverts, bridges and the river system downstream to cope with the additional burden. Surface water run-off may result in more localised flooding owing to a shortfall in the capacity of nearby watercourses. Favourable consideration to new development proposals will only be given where details are supplied showing an acceptable arrangement for the disposal of surface water.

Surface water run-off.

AREAS AT RISK FROM FLOODING

POLICY SC5

PLANNING PERMISSION WILL NOT BE GRANTED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND, INCLUDING THE RAISING OF LAND, WHERE SUCH DEVELOPMENT WOULD BE LIKELY TO MATERIALLY IMPEDE THE FLOW OF FLOOD WATER OR INCREASE THE RISK OF FLOODING ELSEWHERE.

THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL NOT NORMALLY PERMIT DEVELOPMENT OR THE INTENSIFICATION OF EXISTING USES IN AREAS AT RISK FROM FLOODING, INCLUDING WASHLANDS, NATURAL FLOODPLAINS AND OTHER AREAS ADJACENT TO RIVERS FOR WHICH ACCESS IS REQUIRED FOR MAINTENANCE BY THE NATIONAL RIVERS AUTHORITY.

WHERE DEVELOPMENT IS PERMITTED WHICH IS LIKELY TO INCREASE THE RISK OF FLOODING, IT MUST INCLUDE APPROPRIATE ATTENUATION OR MITIGATING MEASURES AS MAY BE AGREED BY THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NATIONAL RIVERS AUTHORITY, AND FUNDED BY THE DEVELOPER. THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL NEED TO BE SATISFIED THAT THE DEVELOPER HAS OBTAINED THE NECESSARY CONSENT (OR AGREEMENTS) FROM OTHER RIPARIAN OWNERS TO UNDERTAKE OFF SITE WORKS, WHERE NECESSARY, BEFORE GRANTING PLANNING PERMISSION.

THE IMPACT OF SUCH WORKS ON THE CONSERVATION OF WILDLIFE OR THE ADVERSE EFFECT ON THE CHARACTER OF THE LANDSCAPE OR RURAL AMENITY WILL BE TREATED AS MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DETERMINING ANY PLANNING APPLICATION.

Waste Disposal

2.9.14 The preparation of a Waste Local Plan and determining planning applications for the use of land for waste disposal is the responsibility of Suffolk County Council. The County Structure Plan contains policies for waste disposal which promote the use of former mineral works for waste disposal, provided that the use would not be harmful to the environment or residential amenity. The policies also require that, on restoration, the land will provide a beneficial after use.

Provision of waste disposal sites.

2.9.15 The District Council also operates a Recycling Plan which seeks to increase the amount of household waste being recycled to 25 per cent by the year 2000. Opportunities for recycling facilities will be considered through the development control process as appropriate.

2.9.16 The public has shown increased enthusiasm and willingness to recycle valuable resources from waste material. This has resulted in demand for further recycling facilities in the form of recycling centres. These may be located on sites where there is access for the general public such as supermarkets, health centres and village halls. The District Planning Authority will identify shortfalls in provision and seek to encourage the provision of recycling centres to include collection points for recyclable waste such as glass, newspapers, cans and textiles.

2.9.17 Recycling centres should be easily accessible to the general public and service vehicles, and have no adverse impact on road safety. Where possible they should be situated away from residential properties.

RECYCLING CENTRES

POLICY SC6

WHEN CONSIDERING APPLICATIONS FOR DEVELOPMENTS WHERE PUBLIC ACCESS IS A MAJOR FEATURE OR CONSEQUENCE OF THE PROPOSAL, THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL SEEK, WITHIN THE APPLICATION SITE, THE INCLUSION OF A HARDSTANDING OF SUFFICIENT SIZE TO ACCOMMODATE A RECYCLING CENTRE.

HIGHWAY SAFETY, RESIDENTIAL AMENITY AND THE EXISTENCE OF SIMILAR FACILITIES IN THE VICINITY WILL BE MATERIAL CONSIDERATIONS.

Electricity and Gas Supplies

2.9.18 Electricity supply is available throughout the Plan area and Eastern Electricity is able to supply all sites allocated for residential and industrial development. Works for the expansion of the existing supply system and other on-site accommodation works, including the provision of substations, will be undertaken by Eastern Group, but funded by the development. British Gas (Eastern) is responsible for the supply of natural gas services in the Plan area. Existing provisions are limited, but British Gas are constantly reviewing the possibility of extending the supply network. Considerable use is made of liquid petroleum gas and this has development control implications with the siting of storage tanks at domestic and industrial properties.

Utility supplies for domestic and industrial properties.

Telecommunications

2.9.19 Modern telecommunications are an essential and beneficial element in the life of the local community and in the national economy. New technology and the maintenance and improvement of the established network involve the physical development of land and so have implications for development control. The Government has opened up the public telecommunications market to wider competition between licensed operators, including British Telecommunications plc (BT), Mercury Communications Limited and cellular radio operators. The planning system should encourage development in this field. However the Government is also fully committed to preserving the national heritage and the growth of telecommunications does not mean that the appearance of buildings, towns and the countryside can be allowed to suffer serious damage.

Growth in modern communications technology.

SITING OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

POLICY SC7

PROPOSALS FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES, INCLUDING MASTS AND ANTENNAS, SHOULD BE SITED TO AVOID UNNECESSARY VISUAL DAMAGE TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF PROLIFERATION. SENSITIVE LOCATIONS, SUCH AS CONSERVATION AREAS AND SITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

IN CONSERVATION AREAS, LICENSED OPERATORS WILL BE EXPECTED TO PLACE TELEPHONE AND OTHER TELECOMMUNICATIONS CABLES UNDERGROUND OR IN SUITABLY CONCEALED LOCATIONS.

Education

2.9.20 Suffolk County Council is the Local Education Authority and has responsibility for the provision of schools and further education. There is a three-tier management of schools in Mid Suffolk, namely primary, middle and upper schools. The County Council continues to monitor population trends and to note where housing development is expected to take place in order to predict likely school rolls, looking up to 8 years ahead. The provision of a site for a new school at Stowmarket within the Strategic Development Area is considered in Section 2.10. Other sites are set out in Proposal 25.

2.9.21 In addition to coping with the expansion or contraction of the school population, the rationalisation of some school services may be expected during the Plan period. However, the District Planning Authority will normally resist the loss of school playing fields which are of amenity value or provide an important local recreational facility. Some schools can also act as a valuable local community resource by allowing the use of facilities outside school hours. Further guidance on achieving shared use initiatives may be found, in 'Sport for All in Villages' published by the Sports Council (Eastern Region) (now the English Sports Council - East).

PROPOSAL 25:

SITES FOR NEW PRIMARY SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THE FOLLOWING VILLAGES:-

LAND AT MARTINS MEADOW, GISLINGHAM
(0.75 HECTARES) (INSET MAP 38).

LAND AT CASTLE RISE, HAUGHLEY
(1.5 HECTARES) (INSET MAP 41A).

LAND OFF UPPER ROSE LANE, PALGRAVE
(1.5 HECTARES) (INSET MAP 62).

SITING OF NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS

POLICY SC8

PROPOSALS FOR NEW SCHOOL BUILDINGS, EXTENSIONS OR ADDITIONS SHOULD BE SITED WITHIN OR ADJACENT TO THE MAIN BUILT-UP AREA OF THE SCHOOL. THE DEVELOPMENT OF LAND CURRENTLY USED AS SCHOOL PLAYING FIELDS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED, UNLESS USED IN CONNECTION WITH A SPECIFIC EDUCATIONAL NEED.

Social Services

2.9.22 As a result of changes put in place by the Children Act 1989 and the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990, the Social Services Department of Suffolk County Council has been reorganised into three divisions. Each division includes part of the Plan area as shown in Diagram 8 overleaf. The objectives of Social Services provision are the identification of cases of social distress and early intervention to offer the best solution for individual circumstances.

Care services available from Suffolk County Council.

2.9.23 In addition to 'visitor' services for child care, home helps and care for the elderly or disabled, the Department offers specialised accommodation and facilities, including day centres, sheltered accommodation and hostels and homes for the completely dependent. The Social Services Department undertakes its work with the assistance of voluntary organisations and in close liaison with the Regional Health Authorities. Privately run residential homes for the elderly are increasingly common, particularly through the conversion of existing property.

CONVERSION OF PREMISES TO RESIDENTIAL HOMES

POLICY SC9

PROPOSALS FOR THE CONVERSION OF EXISTING PREMISES, INCLUDING LARGE HOUSES, TO RESIDENTIAL HOMES WILL BE CONSIDERED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:-

- THE FORM AND SCALE OF THE CONVERSION INCLUDING ANY ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS, SHOULD BE IN KEEPING WITH THE EXISTING SETTING OF THE PROPERTY;

- THERE SHOULD NOT BE A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF AMENITY TO NEARBY RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES;

- ON SITE CAR PARKING PROVISION SHOULD BE TO THE ADOPTED STANDARDS OF THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY;

- THERE SHOULD BE NO ADVERSE EFFECT ON HIGHWAY SAFETY OR THE FREE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.

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Diagram 8 - SCC Social Services Divisions within the Plan Area

Health Services

2.9.24 The Suffolk Health Authority and the Suffolk Family Health Services Authority are responsible for health care. National Health Services Trusts were established locally in 1992 and 1993 and will continue to offer hospital and community-based services linked to family doctors' practices. The District Planning Authority will monitor the emerging five year plans, prepared by each Trust, to anticipate future land use needs.

Provision of health care.

2.9.25 The Suffolk Family Health Services Authority also produces a strategy for its proposed future development. They are responsible for co-ordinating the services of doctors, dentists, pharmacists and opticians. To cope with additional population and to maintain the best doctor to patient ratio, they will agree to the rationalisation of existing surgeries and health centres and the opening of new ones. Within the Plan area, planning permission exists for a new health centre at Needham Market, and a new GP Surgery will be required for Stowmarket to cater for the growth of population during the Plan period. The site would be appropriately located within the Stowmarket Strategic Development Area.

SITING OF LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES

POLICY SC10

THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL GRANT PLANNING PERMISSION FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY HEALTH FACILITIES IN TOWNS OR VILLAGES PROVIDED THAT SUCH PROPOSALS ARE ACCEPTABLE IN TERMS OF THE SUITABILITY OF PREMISES, CAR PARKING PROVISION AND NO ADVERSE EFFECTS ON NEARBY RESIDENTIAL AMENITY OR HIGHWAY SAFETY. PROPOSALS FOR NEW PURPOSE BUILT HEALTH CENTRES, ABUTTING AN EXISTING BUILT-UP AREA, SHOULD BE WELL-RELATED TO THE PATTERN AND FORM OF THE TOWN OR VILLAGE IN WHICH THEY ARE LOCATED, PARTICULARLY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ACCESSIBILITY AND THE GENERAL CONVENIENCE TO PATIENTS AND OTHER USERS.

Voluntary Services

2.9.26 The District Council recognises the important work undertaken by voluntary groups throughout Mid Suffolk, and welcomes its own continuing liaison with the Mid Suffolk Voluntary Organisations Forum. Many facilities are offered by voluntary organisations ranging from 'care in the community' to the provision of leisure for children and youth groups. The District Council will continue to support the provision of services and facilities throughout the Plan area with its grant-aid schemes.

Supporting self-help and voluntary initiatives.

2.9.29 In addition there may be other groups whose current accommodation is displaced by future development proposals or has become out-dated to meet current needs. Their efforts to find appropriate accommodation will be supported by the District Planning Authority.

ACCOMMODATION FOR VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS

POLICY SC11

WHERE PUBLIC BUILDINGS SUCH AS SCHOOLS OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES BECOME REDUNDANT, THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL FAVOURABLY CONSIDER THEIR USE BY VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE PROVISION OF RECREATIONAL OR CARE FACILITIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

Provision for Travelling Showpeople

2.9.30 Department of Environment Circular 22/91 encourages District Planning Authorities to consider the needs of travelling showpeople who may require both winter quarters and a stable base for children to enjoy uninterrupted education. Their site requirements would include proximity to schools and community facilities, good access to the road network and a reasonably flat area. The District Planning Authority has consulted the Showmans' Guild of Great Britain and has agreed that there is no additional need for a site to be identified within the District. However, the position will be monitored during the Plan period.

Targets to be monitored as part of the performance of the Local Plan

Services and Community Facilities

- to ensure that within Conservation Areas, new electricity, telephone or other telecommunications cables are placed underground or within suitably concealed locations

- to identify the number of residential homes and their locations within the Plan area.