Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan · G T Basic Conditions Statement 5 Promoting healthy communities (NPPF Paragraphs 69 to 78) 3.9 A range of Neighbourhood Plan policies seek to

1Growing Together Basic Conditions Statement

Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan

Basic Conditions Statement

JULY 2016


CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION 3

2. LEGAL REQUIREMENTS 3

3. REGARD TO NATIONAL POLICIES AND ADVICE 4

4. CONTRIBUTION TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 5

5. CONFORMITY WITH THE STRATEGIC POLICIES 6

6. COMPATIBILITY WITH EU OBLIGATIONS 12


1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 ThepurposeofthisBasicConditionsStatement is to demonstrate how the proposed Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan meets thebasicconditionsandsatisfiesotherlegalrequirements.

1.2 Therearefivebasicconditionsthatarerelevanttoaneighbourhoodplan.Insummary,thebasicconditionsare:

•HavingregardtonationalpoliciesandadvicecontainedinguidanceissuedbytheSecretaryofState;

•Themakingoftheneighbourhoodplancontributestotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment;

•Themakingoftheneighbourhoodplanisingeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciescontainedinthedevelopmentplanforthearea;

•ThemakingoftheneighbourhoodplanisnotlikelytohaveasignificanteffectonaEuropeansiteoraEuropeanoffshoremarinesite(eitheraloneorincombinationwithotherplansorprojects);and

•Prescribedconditionsaremetinrelationtotheneighbourhoodplanandprescribedmattershavebeencompliedwithinconnectionwiththeproposalfor the neighbourhood plan.

1.3 Insummary,thelegalrequirementsare:

•Theplanissubmittedbyaqualifyingbody;

•Theneighbourhoodplansetsoutpoliciesinrelationtothedevelopmentanduseofland;

•Theneighbourhoodplanstatestheperiodinwhichitistohaveeffect;

•Thepoliciesdonotrelatetoexcludeddevelopment;and

•Theneighbourhoodplandoesnotrelatetomorethan one neighbourhood area.

2 LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

Qualifying Body

2.1 The proposed Neighbourhood Plan is submittedbyGrowingTogether,thedesignatedNeighbourhood Forum for the Growing Together Boroughs Neighbourhood Area. On 11 September2013,NorthamptonBoroughCouncilformallydesignated the Growing Together Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Area.

Policies for the development and use of land

2.2 All planning policies in the proposed NeighbourhoodPlanrelatetothedevelopmentor use of land and are intended to be used in the determinationofplanningapplications.

2.3 Thefollowingpoliciesareplan-widepolicies,applicable to the whole of the Growing Together NeighbourhoodArea:

•DES1:Highqualitydesign•H1:Housingmix•H2:Small-scalehousingdevelopment•DES1:Highqualitydesign•CO1:Provisionofcommunityfacilities•COS2:Lossofcommunityfacilities•OS2:Outdooramenityspace•T1:Movementandconnections

2.4 The following policies are area-based policiesandapplytospecificlocationswithintheGrowingTogetherNeighbourhoodArea:

•DEV1:Prioritydevelopmentareas•RE1:Neighbourhoodcentres•OS1:LocalGreenSpaces

Plan Period

2.5 TheNeighbourhoodPlancoverstheperiod2016to2029,asindicatedbothwithinsection‘1Introduction’ofthePlanandalsoonitsfrontcover.This period has been chosen to align with that of therecentlyadoptedWestNorthamptonshireJointCoreStrategy(WNJCS).

Excluded development

2.6 The policies of the proposed Neighbourhood Plandonotrelatetoexcludeddevelopment


includingcountymatters(suchasmineralextractionandwastedevelopment)orNationallySignificantInfrastructureProjects.Keystakeholdershavebeenconsultedduringplanpreparationprocess.Norespondentsobjectedtotheplaninrelationtoexcludeddevelopment.

Neighbourhood Area

2.7 The proposed Neighbourhood Plan relates to the designated Growing Together Neighbourhood Area.TheplandoesnotrelatetoanyotherNeighbourhood Area.

3 REGARD TO NATIONAL POLICIES AND ADVICE

3.1 ThebasicconditionsrequireNeighbourhoodPlanstohaveregardtonationalpoliciesandadvicecontainedinguidanceissuedbytheSecretaryofState.

3.2 AreviewofNorthampton’sDevelopmentPlanhasbeenundertakenandispresentedasatechnicalevidencebasereportalongsidetheNeighbourhoodPlan.Thereportdiscussedkeyissuesarisingfromnationalpolicyincludingthepresumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopmentandcoreplanningprinciples.ThisreviewofthepolicycontextdirectlyinformedthepreparationoftheNeighbourhoodPlan.Inaddition,GrowingTogetherNeighbourhoodForumsoughtadviceanddirect support from planning professionals including PlanningAidEngland,NorthamptonBoroughCouncil and a professional planning consultant.

3.3 TheNeighbourhoodPlanispositivelyprepared,reflectingthepresumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopment,butitalsoseekstomanagedevelopmentpressurestoensurethat,inadditiontoeconomicconsiderations,reasonableenvironmentalandsocialconsiderationsaretakeninto account.

Building a strong, competitive economy (NPPF Paragraphs 18 to 22)

3.4 TheNeighbourhoodPlanpro-activelyencourages sustainable economic growth through policyDEV1,whichsupportsdevelopmentwhichwouldprovidelocalemployment.

Ensuring the vitality of town centres (NPPF Paragraphs 23 to 27)

3.3 PolicyRE1oftheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsthevitalityandviabilityoftheneighbourhoodcentres.Itencouragestheprogression of proposals which would further contributetothevitalityandviabilityofthelocalcentres,andresiststhelossofexistingretailfloorspace.Italsoseekstoensurethatanyretaildevelopmentoutsideoftheselocalcentresisnotdetrimentaltotheirvitalityandviability.

Promoting sustainable transport (NPPF Paragraphs 29 to 41)

3.4 The Neighbourhood Plan promotes the use ofsustainabletransport.Specifically,policiesDES1andT1supportimprovementstoandtheexpansionoftheexistingpedestrianandcyclenetwork.

Delivering a wide choice of high quality homes (NPPF Paragraphs 47 to 55)

3.5 The Neighbourhood Plan includes a number ofhousing-focusedpolicies,whichtogetherencouragethedevelopmentofawidechoiceofhighqualityhomesandasustainable,inclusiveandmixedcommunity.PolicyH1encouragestheprovisionofamixofhomes,identifyingaffordablehousingandsmaller(1and2bed)dwellingsaslocalpriorities.

3.6 PolicyH2positivelysupportstheintroductionofsmall-scalehousingdevelopmentonpreviouslydevelopedsitesandonlowvalue,underutilisedopenspace.

3.7 Elsewhere,policyDEV1identifiesthepotentialfornewhousingdevelopmenttobeaccommodated on some of the Neighbourhood Area’smostprominentpreviouslydevelopedsites.

Requiring good design (NPPF Paragraphs 56 to 68)

3.8 The Neighbourhood Plan recognises the importanceofgooddesign.PolicyDES1providesapositiveframeworkfortheachievementofhighqualityandinclusivedesignforalldevelopment,which will help to establish a strong sense of place andcontributetothecreationofawell-functioning,visuallyattractive,safeandaccessibleenvironment.


Promoting healthy communities (NPPF Paragraphs 69 to 78)

3.9 A range of Neighbourhood Plan policies seektoensurethatGrowingTogetherisahealthy,inclusivecommunity.PoliciesDES1andT1promoteimprovedfacilitiesforpedestriansandcyclists,which will help to encourage people to use these activeformsoftransportation.

3.10 PoliciesDEV1andCO1supporttheprovisionofnewcommunityfacilities,includingthosewhichofferopportunitiesforsports,recreationandleisure,whilstPolicyCO2seekstoensurethatsuchexistingusesareretained.

3.11 ThevalueofoutdooramenityspacetopromotinghealthycommunitiesisrecognisedbyPoliciesOS1andOS2.PolicyOS1protectsthemostvaluedandwell-usedoutdoorrecreationspaceswithintheNeighbourhoodArea,andPolicyOS2requiresnewhousingdevelopmenttoprovideoutdooramenityspacetomeettheneedsofnewresidents,andtoretainexistingamenityspacewhichprovidesopportunitiesforleisureandrecreation.

Meeting the challenge of climate change (NPPF Paragraphs 93 to 108)

3.12 PolicyDES1,specificallycriterion‘j’,supportsdevelopmentwhichachieveshighlevelsofenvironmentalperformanceandenergyefficiency,and encourages the progression of small scale home energygeneration.

Conserving and enhancing the natural environment (NPPF Paragraphs 109 to 125)

3.13 PolicyOS1seekstoconserveandenhancethelocalnaturalenvironmentbyprotectingvaluedgreen space and supports proposals which would enhancebiodiversitywithinthesespaces.

Plan making - Neighbourhood Plans (NPPF Paragraphs 183 to 185)

3.14 ThepreparationoftheNeighbourhoodPlan,theevidencebaseandthepoliciesreflecttheguidanceandadvicecontainedinrelevantsectionof the NPPF.

4 CONTRIBUTION TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

4.1 There is no legal requirement for a neighbourhoodplantohaveasustainabilityappraisal.However,theGrowingTogetherNeighbourhoodPlanhasbeendraftedtoconformwiththeadoptedWNJCS,forwhichasustainabilityappraisalhasbeencarriedouttohelpdeliversustainabledevelopmenttoNorthampton(andWestNorthamptonshire).ThissectionoftheStatementdemonstrateshowthePlanfulfilsthebasicconditionthattheplancontributestoachievingsustainabledevelopment.

4.2 TheNPPFidentifiesthreedimensionstosustainabledevelopment:economic,socialandenvironmental.Eachofthesedimensionsgiverisetotheneedfortheplanningsystemtoperformanumberofroles:

•an economic role–contributingtobuildingastrong,responsiveandcompetitiveeconomy,byensuringthatsufficientlandoftherighttypeisavailableintherightplacesandattherighttimetosupportgrowthandinnovation;andbyidentifyingandcoordinatingdevelopmentrequirements,includingtheprovisionofinfrastructure;

•a social role–supportingstrong,vibrantandhealthycommunities,byprovidingthesupplyofhousing required to meet the needs of present and futuregenerations;andbycreatingahighqualitybuiltenvironment,withaccessiblelocalservicesthatreflectthecommunity’sneedsandsupportitshealth,socialandculturalwell-being;and

•an environmental role–contributingtoprotectingandenhancingournatural,builtandhistoricenvironment;and,aspartofthis,helpingtoimprovebiodiversity,usenaturalresourcesprudently,minimisewasteandpollution,andmitigateandadapttoclimatechangeincludingmovingtoalowcarboneconomy.

4.3 The Growing Together Neighbourhood Plancontributestotheachievementoftheaboveeconomic,socialandenvironmentalaspectsofsustainabledevelopmentasfollows:

•Contributestoastrongandcompetitiveeconomy


byidentifyingsuitablepreviouslydevelopedsitesforbusinessdevelopment(PolicyDEV1)andthroughsupportingtheviabilityandvitalityofthelocalcentres(PolicyRE1).

•Planspositivelyforfurtherhousingdevelopmentto meet the needs of present and future generations(PoliciesH1andH2).

•Supportstheprovisionofservicesandfacilitieswhichmeetsthecommunity’sneedsandwhichcanenhanceitshealth,socialandculturalwell-being(PoliciesCO1andCO2).

•Promotestheimprovementandexpansionoftheexistingpedestrianandcyclenetwork(PoliciesDES1andT1)toencouragetheuseofsustainableformsoftransportandtoenhanceconnectivityacrosstheNeighbourhoodAreaandaccessibilitytolocalfacilities.

•Supportsthecreationofahighquality,well-connectedbuiltenvironmentthroughgooddesign(PolicyDES1).

•Encourageshighenvironmentalperformanceandenergyefficiencyfromnewdevelopmentinresponsetoclimatechange(PolicyDES1),andseekstoprotectandenhancethelocalnaturalenvironmentthroughthedesignationofanumberofLocalGreenSpacesofbiodiversityvalue(PolicyOS1).

4.4 Furthermore,thepoliciescontainedwithintheNeighbourhoodPlanareexpressedinapositivemannerwhichiscompatiblewiththepresumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopmentthatisattheheart of the NPPF.

5 CONFORMITY WITH THE STRATEGIC POLICIES

West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy

5.1 ThroughoutthedevelopmentoftheGrowing Together Neighbourhood Plan constant carehasbeentakentoensurethatitisingeneralconformitywiththeWestNorthamptonshireJointCoreStrategy(WNJCS)andtherelevantSavedPolicies from the 1997 Local Plan. The following sectionsummarisestheextenttowhichthepolicies of the Growing Together Neighbourhood PlanachievegeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesoftheDevelopmentPlan.

5.2 PriortoworkcommencingondraftingtheNeighbourhoodPlanpolicies,thePlanningPolicyteamatNorthamptonBoroughCouncilprovidedGrowingTogetherNeighbourhoodForumwithareviewofthePlanningPolicycontextinautumn2014(titled“ReviewofNorthampton’sDevelopmentPlan”).TheReviewofNorthampton’sDevelopmentPlanreportidentifiedthosestrategicpolicies with which the Neighbourhood Plan must achieve“generalconformity”,andalsoexploredtherelationshipbetweentheNeighbourhoodPlanandotherdocumentswhichcompriseNorthampton’sDevelopmentPlan.TheassessmentfoundthatmostWNJCSpoliciesare‘strategicpolicies’.

5.3 TheReviewofNorthampton’sDevelopmentPlanreportanticipatedtheadoptionoftheWNJCSandrecommendedtheGrowingTogetherNeighbourhoodPlanachievegeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesoftheWNJCS.Therefore,forthemostpart,thoughthereportwaspreparedbeforeadoptionoftheWNJCS,thefindingsofthereviewremainrelevant.AsummaryoftherelationshipbetweentheWNJCSandGrowingTogetherNeighbourhoodPlan,isprovidedinthetable below.

Policy Ref Policy Title Strategic Policy?(Y/N)

Directly affects Growing Together

SA Presumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopment Y ✓S1 TheDistributionofDevelopment Y ✓S2 Hierarchyofcentres Y ✓S3 ScaleandDistributionOfHousingDevelopment Y ✓S4 NorthamptonRelatedDevelopmentArea Y ✓S5 SustainableUrbanExtensions Y ✓S6 MonitoringandReview Y


S7 ProvisionofJobs Y ✓S8 DistributionofJobs Y ✓S9 DistributionofRetailDevelopment Y ✓S10 SustainableDevelopmentPrinciples Y ✓S11 LowCarbonandRenewableEnergy Y ✓C1 ChangingBehaviourandAchievingModalShift Y ✓C2 NewDevelopments Y ✓C3 StrategicConnections Y ✓C4 ConnectingUrbanAreas Y ✓C5 Enhancinglocalandneighbourhoodconnections Y ✓C6 HighSpeedRail2 N

RC1 DeliveringCommunityRegeneration Y ✓RC2 CommunityNeeds Y ✓E1 ExistingEmploymentAreas Y ✓E2 NewOfficeFloorspace Y ✓E3 TechnologyRealm,SEMLEPNorthamptonWatersideEnterprise

ZoneY

E4 DaventryInternationalRailFreightTerminal(DIRFT) Y

E5 SilverstoneCircuit Y

E6 Education,SkillsandTraining Y ✓E7 Tourism,VisitorandCulturalIndustries Y ✓E8 NorthamptonJunction16StrategicEmploymentSite Y

H1 HousingDensityandMixandTypeofDwellings Y ✓H2 AffordableHousing Y ✓H3 RuralExceptionSites Y

H4 SustainableHousing Y ✓H5 ManagingtheExistingHousingStock Y ✓H6 Gypsies,TravellersAndTravellingShowpeople Y ✓BN1 GreenInfrastructureConnections Y ✓BN2 Biodiversity Y ✓BN3 WoodlandEnhancementAndCreation Y ✓BN4 UpperNeneValleyGravelPitsSpecialProtectionArea Y

BN5 TheHistoricEnvironment Y ✓BN6 WeedonDepot Y

BN7a WaterSupply,QualityandWastewaterInfrastructure Y ✓BN7 FloodRisk Y ✓BN8 TheRiverNeneStrategicRiverCorridor Y ✓BN9 PlanningforPollutionControl Y ✓BN10 GroundInstability Y ✓INF1 ApproachToInfrastructureDelivery Y ✓INF2 ContributionsToInfrastructureRequirements Y ✓N1 TheRegenerationofNorthampton Y ✓N2 Northampton Central Area Y

N3 NorthamptonNorthSUE Y ✓N4 NorthamptonWestSUE Y

N5 NorthamptonSouthSUE Y

N6 NorthamptonSouthOfBrackmillsSUE Y


N7 NorthamptonKingsHeathSUE Y

N8 NorthamptonNorthOfWhitehillsSUE Y

N9 NorthamptonUptonParkSUE Y

N9A NorthamptonNorwoodFarm/UptonLodgeSUE Y

N10 ConvenienceShoppingneedsOutsideNorthamptonTownCen-tre

Y

N11 SupportingAreasOfCommunityRegeneration Y ✓N12 Northampton'sTransportNetworkImprovements Y ✓D1 TheRegenerationOfDaventryTown Y

D2 DaventryTownCentre Y

D3 DaventryNorthEastSustainableUrbanExtension Y

D4 SupportingAreasOfCommunityRegeneration:Southbrook Y

D5 Daventry'sTransportNetworkImprovements Y

T1 SpatialStrategyForTowcester Y

T2 TheTownCentreAndMoatLaneRegenerationArea Y

T3 TowcesterSouthSustainableUrbanExtension Y

T4 TransportImprovementsForTowcester Y

T5 TowcesterRacecourse Y

B1 SpatialStrategyForBrackley Y

B2 BrackleyEastSustainableUrbanExtension Y

B3 BrackleyNorthSustainableUrbanExtension Y

B4 TransportImprovementsForBrackley Y

R1 SpatialStrategyForTheRuralAreas Y

R2 RuralEconomy Y

R3 ATransportStrategyforTheRuralAreas Y

Does the NP policy achieve general conformity with the strategic policies of the Development Plan?

NP Policy Relevant strategic policies from WNJCS How the policy achieves general conformity with the strategic policies of the development plan

DES1:HighQualityDesign

PolicySA:Presumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopment

PolicyS10:SustainableDevelopmentPrinciples

PolicyS11:LowCarbonandRenewableEnergy

PolicyN11:SupportingAreasofCommunityRegeneration

WNJCSPolicySAreflectstheNPPF’spresumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopment.TheNeighbourhoodPlanrecognisestheimportanceofachievingsustainabledevelopmentthroughPolicyDES1,whichsetsoutanumberofsustainabledevelopmentanddesignprinciples(theNPPFrecognisesgooddesignasakeyaspectofsustainabledevelopment),whichallnewdevelopmentshouldachieve.

TheprinciplescontainedinPolicyDES1complementthoseSustainableDevelopmentPrinciplescontainedinWNJCSPolicyS10.

WNJCSPolicyS11promotestheprovisionoflowcarbonandrenewableenergy.Criterion‘j’ofPolicyDES1complementsWNJCSPolicyS11,providingalocalinterpretationtoaddressspecificissuesaffectingtheGrowingTogetherneighbourhood.

WNJCSPolicyN11includesanumberofkeyprinciplesforthecommunityregenerationofNorthamptonEast.NeighbourhoodPlanPolicyDES1providesdetailonhowsomeof those principles should be applied to the Growing Together neighbourhood.

5.4 ThebelowassessmentexplorestheextenttowhichthepoliciesoftheproposedNeighbourhoodPlanachievegeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesoftheDevelopmentPlan.




H1:HousingMix PolicyS1:Thedistributionofdevelopment

PolicyS3:Scaleanddistributionofhousingdevelopment

H1:Housingdensityandmixandtypeofdwellings

H2:Affordablehousing

WNJCSPolicyS1concentratesnewdevelopment,andspecificallyhousingdevelopment(throughPolicyS3)tolocationsinandadjoiningNorthampton’surbanarea.PolicyH1identifiesGrowingTogetherasalocationfornewresidentialdevelopmentandsetsoutspecificlocalhousingneeds.

WNJCSPolicyH1requiresnewdevelopmentstoprovideforamixofhousetypes,sizesandtenures,whichcaterforavarietyofaccommodationneeds.NeighbourhoodPlanPolicyH1prioritisesproposalswhichcontributetorebalancingthehousingstocktoensureGrowingTogetheroffersarangeofdwellingtypes,sizesandtenures,specificallyencouragingsmallaffordableunits.

WNJCSPolicyH2requiresdevelopmentproposalswhichexceedathresholdof15ormoreunitstoprovideaffordablehousingofatleasta35%proportionofthetotalnumberofdwellingstobedeliveredonthesite.NeighbourhoodPlanPolicyH1encouragesproposalswhichprovideaffordablehousing,butdoesnotalterthepolicyrequirementsetoutbyWNJCSPolicyH2.

H2:Small-scale housing development

PolicyS1:Thedistributionofdevelopment

PolicyS3:Scaleanddistributionofhousingdevelopment

N1:TheregenerationofNorthampton

WNJCSPolicyS1identifiesthatnewdevelopmentwillbeconcentratedprimarilyinandadjoiningtheprincipalurbanareaofNorthampton,whilstPolicyS3identifiesNorthamptonBoroughfor18,870netadditionalnewdwellings.PolicyH2identifiesopportunitiesfornewsmall-scalehousingdevelopmentwithintheGrowingTogetherareaandwillenablenewhousingdevelopment.

WNJCSPolicyN1recognisestheopportunityfornewhousingdevelopmentwithintheexistingurbanareathroughurbancapacityinfill,anapproachwhichisendorsedandexpandeduponwithinPolicyH2throughtheidentificationofspecifictypesofsiteswhichcouldaccommodatesmall-scalehousingdevelopment.




DEV1:Prioritydevelopmentareas

PolicyS1:Thedistributionofdevelopment

PolicyS4:NorthamptonRelatedDevelopmentArea

RC1:DeliveringCommunityRegeneration

E6:Education,SkillsandTraining

N11:Supportingareasofcommunityregeneration

WNJCSPolicyS1identifiesthatnewdevelopmentwillbeconcentratedprimarilyinandadjoiningtheprincipalurbanareaofNorthampton.PolicyDEV1identifiesthreepreviouslydevelopedsiteswithintheGrowingTogetherareathatcouldaccommodatenewdevelopment.

WNJCSPolicyS4statesthatNorthampton’shousingandemploymentneedswillbemetprimarilywithinNorthampton’sexistingurbanareaandatthesustainableurbanextensionswithintheNorthamptonRelatedDevelopmentArea.PolicyDEV1acknowledgesGrowingTogether’spositionwithintheNorthamptonRelatedDevelopmentAreaandsupportstheintentionsofPolicyS4byenablingopportunitiesfornewhousingandemploymentdevelopmentwithintheneighbourhoodplanarea.

PolicyDEV1Seekstobringthreederelictsitesbackintouse,forpurposeswhichwouldmeettheneedsofthelocalpopulationandpromotetheregenerationoftheGrowingTogetherarea,inlinewiththeoverarchingaimsofWNJCSPolicyRC1.

WNJCSPolicyE6encouragesthedevelopmentofneweducationalfacilitiesatsiteswhichareaccessiblebysustainabletransportmodes.PolicyDEV1presentsopportunitiesforthedevelopmentofsucheducationalfacilitiesthroughtheidentificationofthreepreviouslydevelopedsitesthatareaccessibleviasustainabletransportmodesandwhicharesuitedtoeducational(D1)uses.

WNJCSPolicyN11supportstheregenerationofNorthamptonEast,andidentifiestheprovisionofqualitylocalrecreationalfacilitiesandthecreationoflocalopportunitiesforemploymentandbusinessdevelopmentaskeyprinciplesofdeliveringinclusive,sustainablecommunities.PolicyDEV1identifiesspecificsiteswhichwouldbesuitablefortheprovisionofnewlocalrecreationalfacilitiesandlocalemployment/businessdevelopment.

CO1:Provisionofcommunityfacilities

RC2:CommunityNeeds WNJCSPolicyRC2relatestotheprovisionofcommunityfacilities.PolicyCO1supportstheprovisionofneworimprovedcommunityfacilities,andprovidesdetailsofthetypesofcommunityfacilitieswhichwouldparticularlyaddresslocal needs.

CO2:Lossofcommunityfacilities

RC2:CommunityNeeds PolicyCO2resiststhelossofexistingcommunityfacilities,anapproachwhichisconsistentwiththesteerofWNJCSPolicyRC2.

RE1:Neighbourhood centres

S2:Hierarchyofcentres TheWestonFavellCentre,whichislocatedadjacenttotheNeighbourhoodAreaboundary,isidentifiedasa“DistrictCentre”byWNJCSPolicyS2.PolicyRE1seekstomaintainandenhancetheroleoftheWestonFavellCentrebyresistingdevelopmentoutsideofexistingretailareas.




OS1:LocalGreenSpaces

RC2:CommunityNeeds

BN2:Biodiversity

BN3:Woodlandenhancementandcreation

WNJCSPolicyRC2resiststhelossofexistingareasofopenspace,unlessitcanbedemonstratedthatthespaceissurplusorlittleused.PolicyOS1reflectsthissteertowardsretainingopenspace,focusingonthoselocalopenspaceswhicharedemonstrablyspecialtothelocalcommunityandhaveaparticularlocalsignificance,andseekstoprotectthemfrominappropriatedevelopmentthroughdesignationasLocalGreen Spaces.

PolicyOS1identifiesanumberofspacesofbiodiversityvalueandareaswhichareformedofexistingwoodland,andseeksto protect and enhance these spaces in accordance with WNJCSPoliciesBN2andBN3.

OS2:Outdooramenityspace

H4:SustainableHousing WNJCSPolicyH1supportstheprovisionofhousingwhichmeetstheneedsofolderpeopleandvulnerablegroups.Throughrequiringtheprovisionofgoodqualityamenityspacewithinnewresidentialdevelopments,PolicyOS2helpstoensurethatfutureresidents,regardlessoftheirageormobilitycanaccessoutdooramenityspace.

T1:Pedestrianandcyclenetwork

C2:NewDevelopments

C5:EnhancingLocalandNeighbourhoodConnections

PolicyN12:Northampton’sTransportNetworkImprovement’s

PolicyT1seekstoprotectandaddtotheexistingpedestrianandcyclenetworkfoundwithintheGrowingTogetherareaandidentifiespossibleupgradesandnewlinks,reflectingthesteerofWNJCSPoliciesC5andN12whichpromoteimprovementstocyclingandwalkingnetworks.

WNJCSPolicyC2requiresnewdevelopmenttomaximisetravelchoicesfromnon-carmodes,anapproachwhichissupportedbyPolicyT1,whichsupportsproposalswhichwouldaddtoorimprovetheexistingnetworkofcycleroutesand footpaths.

Northampton Local Plan 1997 (Saved Policies)

5.5 The Northampton Local Plan was adopted in 1997.Anumberofthepolicieswere‘saved’in2007toensuretheyremainedpartofthedevelopmentplanandcouldcontinuetobeusedindeterminingplanningapplications.Otherpolicieswerenotsavedandceasedtohaveeffectafter2007.

5.6 Manyofthosepoliciesoriginallysavedin2007havesubsequentlybeenreplacedfollowingtheadoptionoftheWestNorthamptonshireJointCoreStrategyandtheNorthamptonCentralAreaActionPlan.

5.7 NorthamptonBoroughCouncil’sPlanningPolicyteamhaverecentlycommencedworkonthe

NorthamptonLocalPlan(Part2).ThisdocumentwillmakesiteallocationsandincludeDevelopmentManagementpolicies.Onceadopted,thedocumentwillreplacetheremainingSavedPoliciesof the Local Plan 1997.

5.8 Since the Northampton Local Plan 1997 wasadopted,nationalandlocalplanningobjectiveshavechangedsignificantly.AnassessmentoftheSavedPoliciesforcompatibilitywiththeNPPFwaspresentedtoNorthamptonBoroughCouncil’sPlanningCommitteeon10June2014.Thisassessment demonstrated that some policies are nowconsideredtobenon-compliant,ornolongerrelevant,aspolicieshadbeendirectlysupersededbymoreuptodatepolicyorevidence,orwerenolongerrequired.Otherpoliciesmayplayaminor


roleindecision-taking,andthereforemoderateorlimitedweightmaybeappliedindecision-taking.Nosavedpolicieswereidentifiedascarryingsignificantweight.

5.9 DuetothediminishedstatustheNorthamptonLocalPlan(1997)SavedPoliciesholdindecision-taking,NBCconfirmedthattheremainingsavedpoliciesare“non-strategic”i.e.thepolicies of the Growing Together Neighbourhood Planarenotrequiredtoachievegeneralconformitywiththosepoliciestomeetthebasicconditions.

Supplementary Planning Documents

5.10 SupplementaryPlanningDocumentsprovideguidancetoassistintheimplementationofplanningpolicies.SPDsareamaterialconsiderationinthedeterminationofplanningapplicationsandthefollowingprovideacontextfortheNeighbourhoodPlan,buttheyarenotconsideredtobepartoftheformalStrategicPolicycontext:

• ResidentialExtensionsandAlterationsDesignGuide(2011)

• NorthamptonShopfrontDesignGuideSPD(2011)

• PlanningObligationsSPD(2013)

Conclusions on the policy context for the Growing Together Neighbourhood Plan

5.11 TheadoptedWestNorthamptonshireJointCoreStrategyprovidesthestrategicplanningpolicyframeworkforthearea.TheGrowingTogetherNeighbourhood Plan is aligned with the strategic policiesforthearea,providingmoredetailedpoliciestoaddressplanningmattersaffectingtheneighbourhood.Inconclusion,thepoliciesoftheNeighbourhoodPlanachievegeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesoftheDevelopmentPlanfor the area.

6 Compatibility with EU obligations

Strategic Environmental Assessment

6.1 Insomelimitedcircumstances,whereaNeighbourhoodPlancouldhavesignificantenvironmentaleffectsitmayrequireaStrategicEnvironmentalAssessment(SEA).Similarly,aHabitatRegulationsAssessment(HRA)mayberequired

wheretheplanislikelytohaveasignificanteffectonaEuropeanSiteoraEuropeanoffshoremarinesite.

6.2 NBCundertookascreeningassessmentofthedraftNeighbourhoodPlanandpreparedaSEA&HRAScreeningReport.TheScreeningReportwaspublishedforconsultationwiththeconsultationbodiesandothertechnicalstakeholders.

6.3 InaccordancewithRegulation9oftheEnvironmentalAssessmentofPlansandProgrammesRegulations2004,NBChaspreparedaSEADeterminationStatement(combinedwiththeHRADeterminationStatement),takingintoaccountthefindingsoftheScreeningReportandrepresentationsmadeduringconsultation.TheDeterminationStatementsetsouttheCouncil’sdecisioninrespectofSEAandacopywasprovidedtostatutoryconsulteesinaccordancewithRegulation11oftheSEARegulations.

6.4 TheDeterminationStatementconcludedthatthemakingoftheproposedNeighbourhoodPlanisnotexpectedtoresultinlikelysignificanteffectsontheenvironmentanddoesnotrequireafullStrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentorHabitatRegulationsAssessment.

Habitats Directive

6.5 NBCundertookascreeningassessmenttoidentifywhetherthe‘making’oftheproposedGrowing Together Neighbourhood Plan would resultinlikelysignificanteffectsonEuropeanSites.ASEA&HRAScreeningReportwaspreparedandpublishedforconsultationwiththeconsultationbodiesandothertechnicalstakeholders.

6.6 FollowingpublicationofthecombinedSEA&HRAScreeningReport,theCouncilissuedaSEA&HRADeterminationStatementwhichconcludedthatthemakingoftheNeighbourhoodPlanisnotexpectedtoresultinlikelysignificanteffectsonEuropeanSitesandthatafullHabitatsRegulationAssessmentisnotrequired.

Human Rights

6.7 The Neighbourhood Plan has regard to andiscompatiblewiththefundamentalrightsandfreedomsguaranteedundertheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights.Themainissuesfor


planninginthecontextofhumanrightsare:

• Righttorespectforprivateandfamilylifeandhomes;

• Prohibitionofdiscriminationintheexerciseofrights; and

• Protectionofproperty.

6.8 TheNeighbourhoodPlanidentifiedashortageofsmallersized,affordablehomestosuittheneedsofsmallfamilies.Inresponse,theplansupportsnewdevelopmentwhichprovidesamixofhomes,andisespeciallywelcomingofproposalswhichdeliversmall(1and2bedroom)affordableunits.

6.9 The Neighbourhood Plan supports the regenerationoftheGrowingTogethercommunityinamannerwhichbenefitsthecommunityasawhole,encouragingdevelopmentwhichoffersbenefitstopeople of all ages.

6.10 TheinclusivenatureofthepreparationofthePlanisafurtherpositive.ThroughoutthepreparationoftheNeighbourhoodPlaneffortshavebeenmadetoengagewithabroadmixofindividualsofdifferentagegroups,gendersandbelongingtodifferentethnicgroups.FulldetailsoftheextensivecommunityconsultationundertakenaspartofthepreparationoftheNeighbourhoodPlancanbefoundintheaccompanyingConsultationStatement.
