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Adopted Plan

Deposit Draft

Policy:

SB1 Directing new development to existing settlements.

(SB1)

SB2 Development appropriate to its setting.

(SB2)

SB3 Retaining visually important open spaces.

(SB3)

GP1 Design and layout of development.

(GP1)

GP2 Development briefs.

(GP2)

GP3 Taking account of people with disabilities.

(GP3)

GP4 Energy and resource conservation.

(GP4)

Proposal:

2. The Period covered by the Local Plan

2.1.1 The Mid Suffolk Local Plan will guide and control development for the period up to the year 2006 using as its base date mid 1992. The Local Plan conforms with Suffolk County Structure Plan (Alterations 1, 2 and 3) and amplifies its main proposals as they apply to Mid Suffolk. The adopted Structure Plan looks forward to the year 2006 and the Mid Suffolk Local Plan has been prepared to cover a similar timescale.

A Local Plan for the period 2006.

2.1.2 It is perhaps more realistic to deal with detailed policies and site specific proposals over a ten year period, whilst giving indications as to what may happen beyond that time. However, the first review of the Mid Suffolk Local Plan will allow modifications to be made if they should prove necessary. The first review may also roll the local plan forward to 2016, in line with the ongoing structure plan review and regional strategy update.

The Main Planning Issues dealt with by the Local Plan

2.1.3 Sustainable Development - Since the early part of the 1980's, Mid Suffolk has experienced considerable growth in population and housing. This has led to other development such as new and improved roads, community and recreational facilities and investment in industrial estates. At the same time the rural economy, particularly the agricultural industry, has continued to undergo restructuring. The effect on parts of the Mid Suffolk countryside has been dramatic. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Countryside Commission have introduced schemes to retain or re-create Suffolk's traditional landscapes. Mid Suffolk faces continued growth but at a slower rate over the next ten years and the task of the Local Plan will be to strike a balance between this growth and the need to protect, and in some cases enhance, the environment of the Plan area.

A need to achieve environmentally sustainable growth and to conserve the best features of the Plan area.

2.1.4 A14 Corridor - The Local Plan area is predominantly rural, covers 122 parishes and 336 square miles (87,084 hectares). Such an extensive area has a diverse character, but there are two very distinct parts to the District. The northern part is particularly rural, as a much lower density of population and tends to be less accessible. The southern part is highly accessible because of the A14 Trunk Road and its population is centred on larger towns and villages. It is the A14 corridor which continues to attract pressure for growth and this is likely to remain an issue which the Local Plan, must address as road and rail communications with the South-East and the Midlands continue to improve.

Dealing with continued growth pressure along the A14 corridor.

2.1.5 In accordance with the Structure Plan (Alterations 1, 2 and 3), the Mid Suffolk Local Plan allows for large scale housing and employment growth at Stowmarket. It has a strategic role in preventing pressure on villages and forms a keystone to the Plan, according closely with the Government's objective of planning for jobs and housing at the same location to minimise the need for road travel. The Local Plan also looks at whether the A14 corridor can take further sustainable growth bearing in mind environmental considerations and the character of its villages and countryside.

2.1.6 Rural Economy - The northern part of the Plan area, part of which has been designated a Rural Development Area, faces the problems of trying to create a vibrant and sustainable rural economy. Policies will need to address agricultural diversification and the District Council, working with the Rural Development Commission, is looking to improve local employment opportunities by investing in the Eye Airfield Industrial Estate. The estate is situated alongside the A140 Trunk Road which is the principle north-south route through the District. The improvement of the A140 will be an important factor in responding to the needs of the Rural Development Area.

Responding to changes in the rural economy.

2.1.7 Affordable Housing - This issue became critical to areas such as Mid Suffolk with the escalating housing prices of the mid 1980's. Despite some stabilisation in house prices there remains the question of affordable housing for those unable to compete in the open housing market. The Government's guidance set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 (PPG3) and Circular 6/98: Planning and Affordable Housing is dealt with in detail in Section 2.3 of the Plan.

Meeting the need for affordable housing.

2.1.8 Guiding Principles in preparing the Written Statement

By referring to Government advice, including 'This Common Inheritance', and regional and County Structure Plan guidance, the District Planning Authority has prepared its Written Statement to reflect the following principles:-

- the need to protect the countryside for its own sake

- to conserve and protect the man-made heritage including historic buildings and archaeological sites

- the need for special control in areas designated for their environmental importance such as Conservation Areas and Special Landscape Areas

- to promote nature conservation and in particular to protect identified wildlife sites

- to provide an adequate supply of housing land with sufficient land readily available for development for at least a 5 year period

- to ensure there is an adequate supply of affordable housing

- to encourage sustainable employment growth and to respond to the needs of small businesses

- to support the rural economy and to respond to farm diversification, including opportunities for tourism

- to protect high quality agricultural land from development

- to plan for a safe and efficient transport system to serve all sectors of the community

- to plan for a physically safe environment

- to plan for communities to have available to them a range of facilities and services, including shops, schools, surgeries and playing fields

- to safeguard and to improve wherever practicable, the amenity of residential areas

- to encourage good design in new development

- to protect the character of Mid Suffolk's environment (by sustaining the appearance and diversity of its countryside and conserving the uniqueness and identity of its towns and villages).

It is this last principle that the District Planning Authority seeks to implement through identifying Settlement Boundaries for its towns and villages.

The underlying principles to guide and control future land use and development in Mid Suffolk.

Settlement Boundaries

2.1.9 Settlement Boundaries are intended to define the extent of the existing built-up areas of towns and villages. They highlight a fundamental distinction in terms of planning policy between existed developed areas and the surrounding countryside where land uses are intended to remain for the most part undisturbed. Subject to environmental considerations, development should be contained within Settlement Boundaries during the Plan period. Where new development is planned to take place outside Settlement Boundaries, any proposed extensions to the built-up area will be shown as land allocations (or Proposals) for a particular use in the Local Plan. It should be noted that in specified circumstances, as described in the subsequent sections and policies of the Plan, there may be valid reasons to allow development outside Settlement Boundaries.

Containing development for the most part within towns and villages.

2.1.10 The Settlement Boundary objectives of the Local Plan are:-

-to restrict unnecessary encroachment into the surrounding countryside

-to allow for development and changes of use within existing settlements without detriment to their character

-to prevent village cramming by excessive infilling.

-to protect sites within or abutting settlements which have wildlife or historic importance

- to prevent a pattern and scale of development which is not in keeping with its surroundings.

2.1.11 Wherever possible, Settlement Boundaries are drawn along property boundaries or physical boundaries, such as hedges or ditches, which are considered to represent the edge of the town or village and therefore separate it from adjoining countryside. At the same time, Settlement Boundaries have been drawn to exclude sites which, if developed, would detract from the form and character of the settlement. This can result in the exclusion of large rear gardens or paddocks. In some cases, Settlement Boundaries have been drawn to exclude areas of public open space, recreation areas, churchyards or private gardens which are considered too important in visual or amenity terms to be developed.

Considerations taken into account in defining Settlement Boundaries.

Visually Important Open Spaces

2.1.15 The way in which the District Planning Authority will consider the redevelopment of sites providing a local recreational amenity is set out in Section 2.8: Recreation and Tourism (paragraphs 2.8.4 to 2.8.19). Visually important open spaces are not confined to within Settlement Boundaries and may well be found abutting the present built-up area. They have been similarly designated within the Local Plan and are equally important because of their contribution to the local character and appearance of a village or town and if developed could adversely affect their surroundings.

2.1.16 The Visually Important Open Space objectives of the Plan are:-

- to conserve environmental features such as green verges, ponds, moats and hedgerows which contribute to the character and appearance of settlements

- to protect open spaces within settlements which provide facilities or amenities for the local community

- to prevent village cramming by excessive infilling.

PROPOSAL 1: SETTLEMENT BOUNDARIES AND VISUALLY IMPORTANT OPEN SPACES ARE DEFINED ON THE INSET MAPS FOR:

INSET MAP

BACTON - CHURCH/THE STREET

BACTON - STATION ROAD

MELLIS

MENDHAM - WITHERSDALE STREET

MICKFIELD

PETTAUGH

WETHERDEN

WETHERINGSETT - CHURCH

WEYBREAD - STREET

WICKHAM SKEITH - WICKHAM GREEN

WOOLPIT - BROOMHILL LANE/
- OLD STOWMARKET ROAD
- BUSINESS USES

INSET MAP 94C

WORTHAM

WYVERSTONE - CHURCH/STREET

THE REMAINDER OF THE PLAN AREA IS DEFINED AS THE COUNTRYSIDE.

DIRECTING NEW DEVELOPMENT TO EXISTING SETTLEMENTS

POLICY SB1

IN THE INTERESTS OF SAFEGUARDING THE CHARACTER AND APPEARANCE OF THE LANDSCAPE, ITS RURAL AMENITY, WILDLIFE HABITATS AND CONSERVING RESOURCES THROUGH THE ECONOMY OF SERVICES, NEW DEVELOPMENT WILL TAKE PLACE WITHIN EXISTING SETTLEMENTS UNLESS PROVIDED FOR BY OTHER POLICIES CONTAINED IN THE PLAN.

DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATE TO ITS SETTING

POLICY SB2

WITHIN SETTLEMENT BOUNDARIES, DEVELOPMENT OR CHANGES OF USE APPROPRIATE TO THEIR SURROUNDINGS WILL NORMALLY BE PERMITTED UNLESS, TO A MATERIAL EXTENT, THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO ADVERSELY AFFECT:-

- THE CHARACTER AND APPEARANCE OF THE SETTLEMENT;

- THE PRIVACY AND AMENITY OF NEIGHBOURING PROPERTIES;

- ROAD SAFETY INCLUDING IMPACT OF TRAFFIC GENERATION;

- EXISTING OPEN SPACES PROVIDING IMPORTANT FACILITIES OR AMENITIES FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY;

- EXISTING WILDLIFE AREAS, TREES OR OTHER LANDSCAPE FEATURES WITHIN OR ABUTTING SETTLEMENT BOUNDARIES;

- LISTED BUILDINGS, THEIR SETTINGS OR THE APPEARANCE OF A CONSERVATION AREA.

THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL REFUSE DEVELOPMENT WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A FORM, SCALE OR CHARACTER IN KEEPING WITH THE SURROUNDING AREA.

EXCESSIVE INFILLING OR INAPPROPRIATE FORMS OF DEVELOPMENT WILL BE REFUSED.

RETAINING VISUALLY IMPORTANT OPEN SPACES

POLICY SB3

Good Design in New Development

2.1.18 The idea of sustainable development carries with it a commitment to protect the heritage of the Plan area and to conserve its distinctiveness by making sure that new development does not harm or detract from what already exists. This can be done provided that new buildings are well-designed, properly sited, and follow fundamental architectural principles of scale and the proper arrangement of materials and spaces and show respect for their surroundings. The Government, through its planning advice, makes the point that public opinion is overwhelmingly in favour of conserving and enhancing the familiar local scene. This can largely be achieved through proper land use planning and, more particularly, through good design in all new development.

2.1.19 The Design objectives of the Local Plan are:-

- to secure a high standard of design in all development, including layout, density, landscaping and use of materials

- to ensure that new development is in keeping with its setting, either within towns or villages or in the open countryside

- to safeguard and to improve wherever practicable the amenity of residential areas

- to plan for a physically safe environment, including measures to help crime prevention

- to ensure new development recognises the needs of all users including people with disabilities

- to conserve the identity of the Plan area through its range of architectural styles and periods of building, and to encourage new and innovative design in appropriate locations which will add to local distinctiveness and character.

2.1.20 The District Planning Authority will reject new development that is poorly designed or out of scale and character with its surroundings. Similarly, it will resist alterations and extensions that would have a detrimental impact on the character, appearance and form of existing buildings. The Government states in PPG1: General Policy and Principles that the appearance of proposed development and its relationship to its surroundings are material considerationsand those who determine planning applications and appeals should have regard to them in reaching their decisions.

New development should be designed torespect its surroundings.

2.1.21 Design can also impact on important social and environmental considerations such as crime prevention, making life easier for people with disabilities and helping to conserve energy resources. Throughout the Written Statement emphasis will be given to the importance of good design in successfully implementing the policies and proposals of the Local Plan. Where new development or redevelopment is planned on visually prominent or other important sites, the design of any new building should set a high standard which will act as a mark of reference for any future development in its vicinity.

Development Briefs giving further Guidance

2.1.22 In addition to the design policies contained in the Local Plan, development briefs will be provided for identified sites amongst those allocated for development. These sites will be clearly mentioned in the Plan. Development briefs will set out guidelines for the form of development such as density, access, height of buildings and landscaping.

Advise on design and layout available from the District Planning Authority.

2.1.23 Further practical guidance on the design and layout of housing development is contained in the Suffolk Design Guide for Residential Areas which has been prepared by the Suffolk local authorities and adopted by Mid Suffolk District Council as supplementary planning guidance. The guide is currently being updated and is likely to be republished by the end of 1998. Specific aspects of housing layout, density and design are considered.

DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF DEVELOPMENT

POLICY GP1

POOR DESIGN AND LAYOUT WILL NORMALLY BE REFUSED IN NEW DEVELOPMENT. THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL NORMALLY GRANT PERMISSION FOR PROPOSALS WHICH MEET THE FOLLOWING DESIGN CRITERIA:-

- PROPOSALS SHOULD MAINTAIN OR ENHANCE THE CHARACTER AND APPEARANCE OF THEIR SURROUNDINGS, AND RESPECT THE SCALE AND DENSITY OF SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT;

- MATERIALS AND FINISHES SHOULD BE TRADITIONAL, OR COMPATIBLE WITH TRADITIONAL MATERIALS AND FINISHES AND SHOULD RESPECT LOCAL ARCHITECTURAL STYLES WHERE APPROPRIATE;

- THE SITING OF BUILDINGS AND THE CREATION OF OPEN SPACES BETWEEN EXISTING AND PROPOSED BUILDINGS SHOULD MAINTAIN OR ENHANCE THE CHARACTER OF THE SITE, WITH ATTENTION TO THE TREATMENT OF BOUNDARIES PARTICULARLY ON THE EDGE OF SETTLEMENTS;

- LAYOUTS SHOULD INCORPORATE AND PROTECT IMPORTANT NATURAL LANDSCAPE FEATURES, INCLUDING EXISTING TREES, SHRUBS AND HEDGEROWS;

- PROPOSALS SHOULD MAKE PROPER PROVISION FOR THE GARAGING, PARKING AND TURNING OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND FOR FOOTWAYS AND ACCESS IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT DOMINATE THE APPEARANCE AND DESIGN OF THE LAYOUT;

- LANDSCAPING SHOULD BE REGARDED AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF DESIGN PROPOSALS;

- THE INTERRELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUILDINGS AND OPEN SPACES IN ANY LAYOUT SHOULD ACT TO MINIMISE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, CONSISTENT WITH GOOD LAYOUT AND ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN.

DEVELOPMENT BRIEFS

POLICY GP2

THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL PREPARE DEVELOPMENT BRIEFS FOR A NUMBER OF SITES ALLOCATED FOR DEVELOPMENT IN THE PLAN. PRINCIPAL LAND USES AT THESE SITES HAVE BEEN SET OUT IN THE LOCAL PLAN. DEVELOPMENT BRIEFS WILL GIVE ATTENTION TO THE SCALE AND DENSITY OF DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS AND CAR PARKING AND THE PROTECTION OF IMPORTANT NATURAL LANDSCAPE FEATURES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE POLICIES OF THE PLAN.

Planning for People with Disabilities

2.1.24 The development of land and buildings provides the opportunity for a more accessible environment for everyone, including wheelchair users and other people with disabilities, elderly people, and people with young children in pushchairs. Developers should consider the issue of access at an early stage in the design process. When a new building is proposed, or an existing building is being extended or altered, the needs of people with disabilities who might use the building as a place of work, or as visitors or customers, must be taken into account.

Considering design from the point of view of people with disabilities.

2.1.25 This will include the provision of suitable access for wheelchairs and reserving parking spaces close to pedestrian routes for disabled people. Facilities provided for wheelchair users and other people with disabilities such as dropped kerbs, ramps, handrails and non-slip surfaces can also benefit less mobile elderly people and the users of prams and pushchairs.

Making life easier for people with disabilities.

TAKING ACCOUNT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

POLICY GP3

THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL ENCOURAGE PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. IN THE CASE OF LAND OR BUILDINGS TO WHICH THE PUBLIC HAVE ACCESS, ADEQUATE PROVISION SHOULD BE MADE FOR ACCESS TO, AND WITHIN, THE LAND OR BUILDINGS, INCLUDING APPROPRIATE PARKING ARRANGEMENTS.

Energy and Resource Conservation

2.1.26 The conservation of energy and cutting back on the consumption of non-renewable resources, like coal, natural gas and oil, are key issues in the Government's efforts to protect the environment.

Conserving energy resources through design and layout.

2.1.27 District Planning Authorities have been asked to look at measures that might be taken to meet the newer environmental concerns such as global warming. Design and layout can play a significant part in reducing energy consumption. The 1990 White Paper 'This Common Inheritance' points out that heating, lighting and electrical appliances in houses and other buildings account for nearly half of Britain's total energy use.

2.1.28 The orientation of buildings to capture as much natural light as possible and their design, construction and standard of insulation can all contribute to energy conservation.

ENERGY AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION

POLICY GP4

THE DISTRICT PLANNING AUTHORITY WILL ENCOURAGE PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT WHICH, THROUGH THE DESIGN, ORIENTATION AND LAYOUT OF BUILDINGS, WILL ASSIST IN ENERGY AND RESOURCE CONSERVATION.

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

Settlement Boundaries

- to restrict development encroaching on land abutting Settlement Boundaries unless related to the needs of the local community

- to protect Visually Important Open Spaces from development.

Design

- to prepare at least one Development Brief each year for sites allocated for development in the Plan and to make the Development Brief available for public consultation

- to ensure that proper physical arrangements have been made for people with disabilities in buildings to which the public have access.