0
Page 1
Item 4
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
1
"Our vision is of a socially cohesive and
mutually supporting rural parish. A low
carbon parish with adequate infrastructure,
that respects the value of the surrounding
farmland and natural landscape and offers
essential services, recreation, employment and
housing opportunities for people of all ages
and income levels.”
Page 2
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
2
Acknowledgements
This document has been developed and produced on behalf of the Parish
Council by the Harbury Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group:
Pat Summers (Chair) Parish Councillor
Samantha Allen (Vice Chair) Parish Councillor
Janet Thornley Parish Councillor
Chris Gibb Parish Councillor
Keith Thompson Parish Councillor
Bob Sherman Chairman, Harbury Energy Initiative
Jenny Patrick Former Parish Councillor
Linda Ridgley Secretary, Harbury Society
Andrew Patrick Former District Councillor
Hazel Turner Deppers Bridge representative
John Hancock Retired Harbury General Practitioner
Marian Millington Focus Group representative
Roger Gardner Self-employed
John Stringer Educational Writer/Church
representative
Paul Quinney Group Scout Leader
Page 3
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
3
Chapel Street, Harbury
Page 4
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
4
Table of Contents
Chapter Page Number
1 What is a Neighbourhood Development Plan and
why do we need one for the parish of Harbury?
7
2 Preparing the Harbury Neighbourhood
Development Plan 11
3 Harbury Profile 15
4 Vision and Objectives 26
5 Policies and Proposals 30
6 Monitoring and Review 67
Appendix 1 – Listed Buildings 68
Appendix 2 – Local Green and Open Spaces
Analysis
78
Appendix 3 – Sites of Special Scientific Interest 84
Appendix 4 – Public Rights of Way 86
Page 5
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
5
Table of Policies
Policy Page Number
Policy H.01 – New Housing Development in Harbury Village 30
Policy H.02 - New Housing Development in Deppers Bridge and
the Open Countryside
34
Policy H.03 - Securing a Suitable Mix of House Types and Sizes
in New Development
35
Policy H.04 – Local Needs Schemes 37
Policy H.05 - Housing Development and Design Principles 38
Policy H.06 – Green Infrastructure 40
Policy H.07 - Protecting and Enhancing Local Green Spaces 41
Policy H.08 - Protecting Small, Incidental Open Spaces 45
Policy H.09 - Protecting Significant Views 46
Policy H.10 – Landscape Design Principles 47
Policy H.11 - Ensuring New Development Provides Appropriate
Infrastructure
49
Policy H.12 - Protecting Existing Community Facilities 51
Policy H.13 - Development of New Community Facilities 55
Policy H.14 - Sustainable Design and Energy Efficiency 57
Policy H.15 - Highways and Transport 58
Policy H.16 - Business and Employment Development in the
Centre of Harbury Village
59
Policy H.17 - Protecting Existing Employment Premises 60
Policy H.18 - Protecting and Enhancing Local Shops and
Businesses
63
Policy H.19 - Protecting Local Heritage 63
Page 6
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
6
Figure 1 – Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan Area
© Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number
0100053686
Page 7
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
7
1 What is a
Neighbourhood
Development Plan and
why do we need one for
the parish of Harbury? 1.1 The Localism Act 2011 introduced significant reforms to the planning
system in England to give local communities more say in shaping
future development in their area. The most significant reform gave
local parish councils the power to prepare a neighbourhood
development plan for their area.
1.2 Harbury Parish Council decided it was essential to use this new
power because neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of
tools for local people to ensure that they get the right type of
development, in the right place, and at the right time for our
community. Keeping people informed about what is going on,
during the preparation of the neighbourhood plan, has helped us to
maintain and enhance the strong sense of community that already
exists in the parish.
1.3 The parish council, therefore, applied to be designated a
neighbourhood planning body for the whole parish. Harbury was
approved as a neighbourhood planning area by Stratford-on-Avon
Page 8
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
8
Council in September 2014. This designation has allowed the local
community to come together, through the preparation of this
neighbourhood development plan, to set out how the future
development of the area should be shaped up to 2031.
1.4 The neighbourhood plan area covers the whole of the parish, see
Figure 1.
1.5 When complete the Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood
Development Plan (HNDP) will become part of the statutory
development plan and will be used to help determine future
planning applications in Harbury Parish.
1.6 To take effect, a neighbourhood development plan requires the
support of a simple majority in a referendum of the neighbourhood.
The full plan preparation process is shown in Figure 2.
1.7 Following a series of informal and formal consultations held in
accordance with the Neighbourhood Plan Regulations, this
Referendum version of the HNDP has been prepared. If approved at
referendum by a simple yes vote of those eligible to vote in the
neighbourhood area (parish) the HNDP will be made part of the
development plan for the area.
Page 9
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
9
Figure 2 – The Neighbourhood Development Plan
Preparation Process
What is in The Harbury Neighbourhood Development
Plan (HNDP)?
1.8 The Plan is for the Parish as a whole and looks at a wide range of
issues, including:
❑ Housing
❑ Leisure and well-being
❑ Business
❑ Traffic and transport
❑ Natural and built heritage
❑ Community assets
What Period Does the Harbury Neighbourhood
Development Plan Cover?
1.9 The Stratford-on-Avon Council Plan period is from 2011 – 2031 and
in order to align with this plan, the HNDP covers the same period.
DesignationPreparing the Plan, including informal
consultation
Formal Consultation
(6 weeks)
Revise PlanSubmit Plan to Stratford
Stratford Consult for 6 weeks
ExaminationReferendum
(current stage)Plan made
Page 10
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
10
What other things do we have to take account of?
1.10 The HNDP sets out a series of policies that once made will be used to
guide development and to help to determine future planning
applications. This important legal position means that not only does
the HNDP have to follow the process set out in Figure 2 it also has to
have regard to national planning policy and to be in “general
conformity” with the strategic planning policies set in the Stratford-
on-Avon Local Plan (Core Strategy). Altogether the Harbury
Neighbourhood Development Plan and the Local Plan will form the
development plan for the area, see Figure 3.
Figure 3 – The Harbury and Deppers Bridge
Neighbourhood Development Plan in Relation to Other
Plans
National planning policy (NPPF)
Stratford on Avon Strategic Planning Policy
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development
Plan
Page 11
11
2 Preparing the Harbury
Neighbourhood Development
Plan
2.1 The Draft Harbury Neighbourhood Development Plan has been prepared by a
Steering Group of volunteers and parish councillors. This chapter sets out in more
detail the work to date: the evidence; consultations and decision-making so that
anyone with an interest in the future of the area can see how the plan has been
developed.
Community consultation
Page 12
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
12
2.2 The timeline below sets out the progress so far in preparing the Harbury NDP.
Date Action
October 2013 Preliminary NDP survey. 1000 questionnaires
delivered: 250 returned.
31st October 2013 Questionnaire results analysed and collated.
16th November 2013 Open Afternoon in the Village Hall - with display
of survey results, photographs and community
group stands.
20th February 2014 1st NDP meeting: 11 out of 32 volunteers
attended.
18th March 2014 2nd NDP meeting. Harbury Society attended and
stressed the value and importance of the existing
Harbury Village Design Statement.
22nd April 2014 3rd NDP meeting. Application to Stratford-on-
Avon District Council for neighbourhood area
designation.
14th May 2014 4th NDP meeting: discussed ways to make NDP
high profile.
8th June 2014 Community consultation - CARNIVAL
26th June 2014 5th NDP meeting: feedback from carnival &
questionnaires.
12th September 2014 Parish Council meet with Gladmans about their
proposed development.
16th September 2014 6th NDP meeting: Stratford-on-Avon District
Council approved Harbury's designated area.
Feedback on Gladman meeting, Village with a
Vision & Prince's Trust. Joined 'Harbury News' on
Facebook.
13th January 2015 7th NDP meeting: moving forward in 2015.
Steering Group now has a regular 15 members.
Harbury NDP website planned.
17th February 2015 8th NDP meeting: Considered other NDPs &
possible use of consultants. The chairman of the
Harbury Energy Initiative produced the first draft
of a “Vision Statement".
24th of March 2015 Vision Statement agreed.
18th-28th April 2015 Young people of the parish consulted with help
from Southam College and Harbury School.
Letters and emails sent to farms and businesses in
the parish.
29th April 2015 10th NDP meeting: Looking at objectives and
policies. Preparation for the Open Afternoon.
Page 13
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
13
23rd May 2015 Community Consultation - Open Afternoon at
Village Hall for 'resident suggestions'. Groups,
farms, businesses all invited.
22nd of July 2015 11th NDP meeting with Kirkwells to discuss first
discussion draft NDP.
4th of November 2015 Steering Group meet to discuss draft NDP with
Kirkwells.
7th December 2015 to
15th January 2016
Informal consultation on draft plan.
February-May 2016 Consideration of informal consultation responses.
August- September
2016
First Regulation 14 consultation
December 2016 Parish Council considers Regulation 14
consultation responses and decides to revise the
plan and repeat the Regulation 14 consultation
6th February 2017 to
20th March 2017
Second Regulation 14 consultation.
11th January to 22nd
February 2018
Submission consultation.
Summer 2018 Independent examination.
30 July 2018 Examination report published.
2.3 The Parish Council initiated the Harbury NDP and a Steering Group was formed
in January 2014. This Group comprises a mix of Parish Councillors and volunteers
with representatives drawn from a range of local parishioners. The Steering Group
has produced this NDP in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning
Regulations and in consultation with the Harbury community, businesses,
landowners, various agencies and the local planning authority.
2.4 The evidence base for the Neighbourhood Development Plan includes a wide
variety of technical documents. The Planning Policy Assessment and Evidence Base
Review that accompanies this plan summarises these in more detail.
2.5 In order to build up an evidence base for the HNDP the Steering Group also
undertook the following steps:
❑ A review of existing evidence;
❑ Identification of gaps in the evidence base;
❑ Compilation of new evidence; and
❑ Analysis of evidence.
Page 14
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
14
From the above process and the feedback received, a Vision Statement was
formulated and a neighbourhood development plan was felt to be the best means
of delivering this vision.
Page 15
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
15
3
Harbury Profile
Introduction
3.1 The parish of Harbury and Deppers Bridge has a population of
2,4201 residents and is situated about five miles south east of
Leamington Spa, three miles south west of Southam and thirteen
miles east of Stratford-upon-Avon. Harbury village is a thriving
and busy community which boasts an active Church congregation,
a primary school, doctor’s surgery, a volunteer-run village library, a
well-used village hall, a Post Office, chemist, two general stores
and five public houses. Many other businesses operate in the
village or within the parish boundary – including a small
industrial estate at Churchlands.
Heritage
3.2 Harbury is one of the Lias Village Farmlands of the Warwickshire
Feldon as identified in Warwickshire County Council’s ground-
breaking Landscape Guidelines piloted by the Countryside
Commission in 1993.
3.3 As such it has a varied, small-scale hedged landscape of scattered
farms and nucleated settlements of brick and White Lias limestone
buildings and its disused quarries and railway cutting have semi-
natural grassland and scrub.
1 2011 Census
Page 16
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
16
3.4 It has the typical steep wooded scarp slope and more gentle dip
slope; a well-defined geometric pattern of small to medium sized
fields with many hedgerow and roadside trees (despite the ravages
of Dutch Elm Disease in 1975).
3.5 There are two SSSIs within the parish one along the railway cutting
and another at Harbury Quarries (Appendix 3). These protected
areas and the village’s internal wildlife corridors, connect Harbury
and Deppers Bridge to the wider countryside and are of great
ecological significance.
3.6 Harbury is proud of its history and heritage which it seeks to protect
and enhance. The Plan Area comprises the whole Parish including
the original village of Harbury and the later industrial workers’
settlement of Deppers Bridge to the east, Figure 1.
Mill Lane, Harbury
3.7 Harbury has two Conservation Areas designated in 1980 (Figure 4).
One covers the historic core of the village, Top End, the other is
based on the Manor House and the once detached farming
community to the west, Bottom End.
3.8 There are 35 buildings and structures in the parish that have Listed
Building status and protection. These include the Church, Manor
House, Wagstaffe School and Windmill (Appendix 1).
Page 17
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
17
Figure 4. Harbury Conservation Areas
3.9 The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments record lists over fifty
important finds within the parish from Neolithic, Bronze Age and
Saxon times with considerable Roman finds and remains from the
Fosseway and the extensive “suburbs” of Roman Chesterton.
Important Mediaeval finds relate to the Manor House, Harbury
House - the original Bury site, and the Mediaeval house platforms in
the Church Paddock. There are also remains relating to the Harbury
Quarries, Great Western Railway and its cutting.
3.10 In 1998 the community consulted and produced one of the first
Village Design Statements and in 2005 a Parish Plan was produced,
Page 18
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
18
and subsequently updated in 2012. These were previously adopted
by Stratford-on-Avon District Council and still have status as
informal supplementary planning guidance.
3.11 The Parish Plan and Village Design Statement illustrate the
importance the parish places on its history, its vernacular
architecture, its wildlife, countryside views, nature conservation,
energy efficiency and sustainability. The documents identify what
the community values and give advice on enhancement, design and
environmental protection, but this Neighbourhood Plan goes further
and sets out how the Parish will develop in future years.
3.12 The community recognises the part it has to play in mitigating
climate change by supporting and encouraging efficient use of
energy, reducing demand and lowering carbon emissions. The
village group, Harbury Energy Initiative, has worked on an energy
conservation programme in the village since 2010. Since then they
have facilitated internal insulation of the library, cavity wall
insulation for the rugby club, solar energy monitoring at the village
hall and energy options reports for the church, school and two other
community buildings. More still needs to be done.
3.13 In the last three years, over 50 people in the village have installed
photovoltaic panels on their roofs. Some recent new housing
developments have included air source heat pumps and two eco-
houses have been built in the parish. In line with government’s
support for community energy and de-centralised heat and power
generation schemes the village aims to explore options for a
community energy project that will also provide the benefit of a
community fund for further local energy efficiency measures.
3.14 The new homes at Hereburgh Way and Ridgley Way, Bush Heath
Lane, have air source heat pumps and good insulation at the current
level required by government. A majority of NDP respondents have
heard about the Harbury Energy Initiative and about a fifth have
attended meetings to hear more about how they could benefit from
further energy reduction in their own homes.
3.15 Nearly every respondent already had double glazing, most have loft
and wall insulation and there was reasonable interest in more
information to be made available with regard to photovoltaic cells
and solar panels.
Page 19
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
19
3.16 An Electric Car Club has been initiated for 2015, providing an
additional non-polluting green transport option. One aim of this is
to reduce car ownership in the village and this will also relieve some
of the on-street congestion.
3.17 The Parish lost the majority of its forest trees to Dutch Elm Disease
(Elm was the dominant species in the Feldon). Considerable
replanting was done from the 1980s onwards but there is still a
deficit. The remaining trees are thus even more precious and should
be retained.
3.18 Infill housing development has seen the village continue to grow but
this needs to be managed in such a way that other land uses such as
businesses, facilities and green space are not lost.
3.19 Some recent new building has failed to respect the local vernacular
this needs to be avoided in future especially in the Conservation
Areas.
3.20 Speculative housing development has achieved Sustainable Homes
Code Level 3 for insulation, energy efficiency and water saving.
Through the neighbourhood plan we would like to encourage
developers to go further, although we acknowledge that government
policy is to have one sustainable building standard through the
Building Regulations. We also need to ensure there is suitable
provision of social housing, appropriate landscaping and good
quality space for children to play.
3.21 A feature of Harbury frequently remarked on by visitors and
residents is the depth and variety of its community life. There are: -
• over 30 active sports clubs, of which half regularly compete in
events outside the village;
• a similar number of recreational associations, embracing a
very wide range of interests;
• and a similar number of formal and informal community
groups working to support charities in and outside the village,
and overseas.
• Of the annual events that mark the Harbury year, the most
noteworthy is the Carnival held in June, preceded by a week
of unique warm-up events.
• Harbury & Ladbroke News is the award-wining monthly
magazine that keeps residents informed about all these events.
Page 20
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
20
3.22 Certain places in Harbury and Deppers Bridge play a key role in this
concentration of community activity:
• All Saints’ Church has a large, active congregation, and
together with its well-equipped Parish Room frequently hosts
both Church and non-Church events.
• The Village Hall has, since the 1960s, been the largest
alternative meeting place, and its premises are always in great
demand. In 2015, the Village Hall underwent an ambitious
extension programme. The recreation ground behind the
Village Hall includes football pitches, floodlit tennis and
netball courts, an all-weather play area, a BMX track, a
skateboard park, a well-equipped children’s play area and a
well-used zip wire. Next to this are allotments, administered
by the Parish Council on behalf of the County. Further
working allotments are in Hall Lane and beside the BT
exchange building.
• Harbury Primary School is large and successful, with premises
which are in demand for after-school events. Since 2012 its
well-resourced Heritage Room has acted as a living history of
the community.
• The Surgery includes an in-house Pharmacy in addition to the
independent Pharmacy in the village centre.
• The Library, part of the County Library service, is run by
volunteers, and includes an award-winning café.
• The Rugby Club has pitches for rugby and cricket with a well-
equipped clubhouse.
• The pubs, dating back to before the railway cutting was
constructed, are central to Harbury’s story. In 2015, there were
4 of them in Harbury Village as well as a Village Club, and the
Great Western situated between Harbury and Deppers Bridge.
• Deppers Bridge Playing Field offers recreation space to local
families
3.23 Harbury is a village surrounded by open countryside:
• There are within the village more than a dozen green spaces,
much valued by residents. Some of these “green lungs” are
protected as village greens or roadside verges but some are
not and deserve to be preserved for their function of bringing
wildlife into the heart of Harbury.
Page 21
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
21
• From the edges of the village it is possible to look out onto
open countryside. Harbury’s Village Design Statement of 1998
strongly makes the case for protecting these rural views.
• Outside of the village itself, but within the parish boundary on
the B4522 (Station Road) between Harbury and Deppers
Bridge is Harbury Spoilbank Nature Reserve. This site is also
part of the Harbury Railway Cutting SSSI. It is well known for
its butterflies and other wildlife;
• Bishops Bowl Lakes, a nationally recognized fishing resource,
are also within the Harbury Quarries SSSI; and
• Harbury is also a crossing-point for well-trodden footpaths,
including 2 miles of Warwickshire’s own long-distance path
the Centenary Way; and Harbury is crossed by the
Warwickshire Feldon Cycleway.
3.24 This was borne out by the responses to the 2014 Village Survey.
To the open-ended question “What do you like about living in
Harbury?” the following responses were made:
26.4% replied ‘The activities, clubs and associations’;
5.2% ‘The Church and Tom Hauley Room’;
10.0% ‘The quality of the school and pre-schools’;
7.2% ‘The quality of care (Doctor and Chemist);
6.4% ‘The number of pubs to visit’;
30% ‘The rural aspects / open countryside / walking.
And to the question “What parts of Harbury should be preserved?”
19.6% said ‘The Village Hall / playing fields’;
8.0% ‘The Library and café’;
22.8% ‘the centre / pubs and shops’;
53.6% ‘The green spaces’;
32.4% ‘The Church and the church paddock’;
3.2% ‘The Allotments’;
2.0% ‘The rural outlook’.
3.25 The medium size employers within the parish are: International
Fasteners (based between Harbury and Deppers Bridge), Harbury
School, Harbury Surgery, the Co-op Late Shop and Banana Moon
Nursery. International Fasteners employs five office staff and 12-15
people working in production. Harbury C of E Primary School
employs a Headteacher, 7 full time teachers, 4 part-time teachers, 8
teaching assistants, 1 office manager and 2 playground/dinner staff.
The website www.harburyschool.com lists up-to-date activities and
calls for parent involvement. Harbury Surgery has 5 doctors, 3
Page 22
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
22
nurses, a Practice Manager, a Premises Manager, 5 reception staff
and 3 dispensary staff. It also has a Healthcare Team consisting of a
Community Midwife, a District Nurse and Health Visitors. The
website www.harburysurgery.org.uk gives out information and has
an online ‘virtual patient representation group’. The Co-op Late
Shop employs a Manager, a Trainee Manager and because it is open 7
days a week from 7am until 10pm there are 11 part-time assistants
employed for different shifts. Banana Moon Nursery employs a
nursery manager and deputy manager and 10 members of staff.
3.26 Other shops in the village centre include the Supermarket/Post
Office, chemist, Muggleston’s fruit & vegetable shop and a
hairdressing salon. The Bull Ring Business Centre houses the Parish
Office, Serenity toning tables, and Kleinmann Property Services.
There are no large size employers within the parish. However, there
are twelve industrial units operating from ‘Churchlands’ on the edge
of the village of Harbury and more industrial units are included in
the plans for development of the old Cement Works site, part of
which lies within the parish, between Harbury and Bishops
Itchington.
3.27 Other sources of local employment include Harbury Pre-School,
Bishops Bowl Lakes, the Autism Centre on the Fosse, and work in
local agriculture. Mechanics work at the Bull Ring Garage in Church
Terrace and there are office staff in The Business Centre, which is
also in Church Terrace. There are four Bed & Breakfast houses in
Harbury and the Great Western public House in Deppers Bridge also
offers this service. The Great Western is one of five public houses in
the parish – the others are The Old New Inn, The Shakespeare, The
Gamecock and The Crown.
3.28 Homeworking in the parish is very high. In the 2011 Census, 225
residents, 19.5% of all those in work, said that they worked from, or
mainly worked from home: compared with only 10.3% in England
and 9.7% for the West Midlands. High speed broadband and better
mobile phone coverage are, therefore, a priority so as to ensure that
village businesses and homeworkers are able to keep pace with
technology and there has been a campaign to facilitate this.
3.29 The majority of residents commute to work in nearby towns such as
Southam, Leamington Spa and Warwick. Many travel much further
as 11.6% of commuters liked the good road access to towns and cities
via major road links and the M40. Travelling to work by car is the
Page 23
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
23
preferred option, although there is also a popular hourly bus service
from Southam to Leamington Spa on weekdays. The largest local
employer in the area outside of the parish is Jaguar Land Rover
based six miles away in Gaydon.
3.30 Local jobs for local people mean less commuting, saving individuals
the cost of travel and increasing the leisure time that they have
available. Young people can find it difficult to gain their first job
where they can develop workplace skills especially when they have
no transport of their own or cannot drive. This neighbourhood plan
supports economic growth in Harbury so that jobs are created, and
prosperity improved for all. Local enterprise should be encouraged.
8.8% of residents wanted to see shops and services in the centre of
the village expanded although 3.6% wanted no additional businesses
in the centre. 36.4% thought that the Churchlands site ought to be
expanded to accommodate more businesses with 12.8% believing
that industrial type business units should be outside of the village
altogether.
3.31 The main traffic management problems of the parish are due to:
▪ congestion in the centre of Harbury village
▪ lack of adequate parking provision and
▪ speeding vehicles entering Harbury and driving through
Deppers Bridge.
There is a separate report on Deppers Bridge.
Harbury is rural in character and has narrow roads, particularly in its
centre. The existing volume of traffic already poses threats to the
safety of both road users and pedestrians. With a prospective
increase in the village population through the 75 houses of the David
Wilson Homes development, 5 at Henry’s, 7 at Hillside and 4 in
Dovehouse Lane, further pressure will be put on the road system by
the increased number and movement of cars and people.
3.32 21% of residents surveyed stated that traffic congestion in the centre
of the village, roads around the primary school and near to the
surgery were a major problem and one of the things they disliked
about living in Harbury. A cause for concern is the speeding traffic
coming into Harbury on Butt Lane, into Temple End, Binswood End
and on the B4451 and B4452 from Southam and Ufton respectively.
There are 30mph signs and crocodile teeth painted on the roads but
Page 24
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
24
that doesn’t slow the cars down. The two longest roads in the village,
Park Lane and South Parade, also suffer from speeding cars with
many residents feeling that “this is an accident waiting to happen”.
HOUSING IN DEPPERS BRIDGE
3.33 Deppers Bridge is a small ribbon development comprising some 44
houses immediately adjacent to the B4451 and a further 6 set off from
the road down private drives. The hamlet owes its existence to the
success of the former Harbury Cement Works Ltd., which owners
Greaves, Bull and Lakin set up alongside the Great Western Railway
in 1855. Development of the 'Works' went from strength to strength
and by 1924 had the capacity to produce 343 tons of 'Portland'
cement per day and nearer 400 tons per day by 1926.
Deppers Bridge
3.34 It was during this heyday period that the majority of Deppers Bridge
homes were built to house company workers. Predominantly on the
northern side of the road facing south towards the 'Works’, and
varying in size and scale from the most capacious down to the more
modest cottages, they catered for all ranks of employees. Some of the
cottages have plaques set into their frontages giving the date of
construction as 1924
3.35 In 1927 Harbury Works was purchased by the 'Red Triangle Group'
of cement manufacturers but, due to the economic climate at that
time and overcapacity in the industry, the company's fortunes
declined rapidly and resulted in its bankruptcy in 1931. The few
houses scheduled to complete the group were never constructed with
two remaining 'gaps' subsequently filled by more modem homes.
Page 25
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
25
3.36 In 1932 the Blue Circle Group bought the company from the receiver
and continued work there until 1970 when the site became a depot,
but no further houses were added and by then most had been sold
off to tenants or private buyers.
3.37 Of the roadside premises only two pre-date that period of
development in the hamlet with four more added in later years.
Formerly a quiet backwater, but now a busy commuter route,
Deppers Bridge is unsuitable for further development as access onto
an already overstretched road is a perpetual problem. While there is
a notional opportunity for ' infill' on the southern side of the B4451,
unless and until there is a by-pass, such development would be
unfeasible. With no amenities other than a children's recreation
ground any additional development would be unsustainable causing
more problems than benefit.
Deppers Bridge Park
3.38 Set in an attractive area of typical Feldon natural landscape character
and more specifically within the Lias Village Farmlands type,
government planning inspectors in 2014 and 2015 concluded that any
proposed dwellings or other developments on productive farmland
in Deppers Bridge would have significant and harmful impacts upon
both the character and appearance of such a sensitive point in the
landscape.
Page 26
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
26
4
Vision and Objectives
Vision
Our vision is of a socially cohesive and mutually
supporting rural parish. A low carbon parish with
adequate infrastructure, that respects the value of
the surrounding farmland and natural landscape
and offers essential services, recreation,
employment and housing opportunities for people
of all ages and income levels.
Objectives
4.1 The following objectives have been identified for the HNDP:
OBJECTIVE 1 – To provide, where necessary, small housing
developments with a 'lifetime housing' design, in keeping with the
parish style and nature, allowing opportunities for people of all
incomes and ages to live in the parish of Harbury. To ensure that a
significant proportion of the new housing development is
affordable and retained in perpetuity for those with a 'local'
qualification.
OBJECTIVE 2 - To preserve the rural nature of Harbury village,
with wildlife corridors and farming coming right into the heart of
it as it does at present.
Page 27
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
27
OBJECTIVE 3 - To preserve and protect important green spaces
within the village and retain countryside views out across a natural
landscape.
View from Butt Lane
OBJECTIVE 4 - To ensure adequate infrastructure in the parish is
included and funded when any new developments are planned.
OBJECTIVE 5 – To invest in our community buildings, recreation
space and associated equipment to ensure these are adequate for an
increased population.
OBJECTIVE 6 - To lower the carbon footprint of the parish by
supporting energy conservation measures, ensuring all new
housing is built to a high standard of energy efficiency and water
conservation, making them truly affordable to run and maintain,
ensuring also that all extension and renovations of existing
buildings to be carbon neutral, where possible.
OBJECTIVE 7 - To ensure all new developments provide safe
routes for pedestrians and cyclists to access Harbury village centre,
thus discouraging use of cars for short, local journeys.
Consideration should be given to providing a diverse range of
transport options with links to local centres, aiming at reducing car
ownership, congestion in Harbury village centre and competition
for parking spaces.
OBJECTIVE 8 - To maintain a thriving Harbury village centre by
retaining commercial space for business, shops and pubs as well as
Page 28
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
28
supporting important volunteer run facilities. Encourage home
working and local employment opportunities, thus reducing the
need for vehicle travel to work.
OBJECTIVE 9 – To protect and enhance all historic and heritage
sites in the parish.
Mill Street
Page 29
29
Map 1. Settlement Boundary for Harbury Village © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686
KEY - Settlement Boundary Significant views out of the village
Page 30
30
5
Policies and Proposals
5.1 This chapter of the HNDP sets out the planning policies and proposals that
will be used to help us achieve our vision and objectives. Each policy is set
out under the appropriate objective. So, for example, under the objective –
“To preserve and enhance the distinctive heritage of the area.” we have
different policies to control the rate of housing development in the
settlements of the parish.
OBJECTIVE 1 – To provide, where necessary, small
housing developments with a 'lifetime housing'
design, in keeping with the parish style and nature,
allowing opportunities for people of all incomes and
ages to live in the parish of Harbury. To ensure that a
significant proportion of new housing development is
affordable and retained in perpetuity for those with a
'local' qualification.
Policy H.01 – New Housing Development in Harbury Village
New housing development will be concentrated within the
Harbury village settlement boundary (Map 1).
Within this boundary, proposals for new housing will be
supported when they:
Page 31
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
31
a) do not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the parish’s
rural landscape;
b) conserve or enhance the significance of designated and
non-designated heritage assets;
c) do not have an unacceptable adverse impact on existing and
future residential amenity;
d) do not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the natural
environment and protect and enhance biodiversity and
habitats;
e) do not lead to the inappropriate development of
residential gardens that would cause harm to the village
by reason of over-development, significant loss of
useable garden spaces for both existing and proposed
new properties, and loss of off-street car parking;
f) are appropriately located for the users and residents of
the proposed use to access local facilities and services;
and they
g) are appropriate in terms of size, scale, design and
respect the character of the surrounding area.
Shared Ownership Homes, Percival Drive
Page 32
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
32
Background/Justification
5.2 Harbury is identified in adopted strategic planning policy for Stratford-on-
Avon as a Local Service Village 5.3 In preparing the Harbury Neighbourhood Development Plan we must be in
general conformity with adopted strategic planning policy for the area – the
Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy – the “Core Strategy”.
5.4 The Core Strategy (Policy CS15) identifies Harbury as a Local Service
Village. In such villages approximately 2,000 new homes will be built
between 2011 and 2031. Harbury is identified as a Category 1 Local Service
Village. In the Category 1 Local Service Villages approximately 450 of the
2,000 new homes will be built, with no more than around 25% of the 450 in
any individual settlement.
5.5 The settlement boundary for Harbury, the continuous black line on Map 1,
historically known as the village envelope, has been drawn around the
existing built up area of the village and also includes known housing
commitments (built sites, sites under construction or sites with planning
permission) these are shown on Map 1 and area at:
❑ Bush Heath Lane
❑ Ridgley Way
❑ Hillside
❑ Spinney Field
These are also areas that residents indicated, during our consultations, that
they considered development to be appropriate. Completed consultation
returns from the Carnival 2014 indicated in order of preference 40%
preferred to see development at Bull Ring Farm Road; 39% at Bush Heath
Lane; and 32% at Pineham Farm. A further important factor in drawing up
the new settlement boundary has been the aim of maintaining the eastern
and western boundaries of Harbury village. This was supported by 68.4% of
residents. Policy H.01 will mean there is a presumption in favour of new
housing development within the settlement boundary, where it can meet
the criteria in Policy H.01. Stricter planning controls for new housing will
exist in Deppers Bridge and the open countryside.
5.6 There are also a small number of other commitments within the settlement
boundary:
Page 33
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
33
❑ 1 at Walnut Tree Cottage
❑ 1 at Ivy Lane
❑ 2 at Frances Road
❑ 4 at Dove House Lane
❑ 5 at Henrys
5.7 With the planning approvals on the edge of the village listed in para. 5.6
and other commitments, as at March 2017, 63 homes had been built and 71
dwellings committed making of a total of 134 houses.
New housing Hereburgh Way
5.8 This anticipated growth in Harbury will contribute at least 28.4% of the
identified growth of 450 new dwellings in the Core Strategy for the
Category 1 Local Service Villages. The Core Strategy also sets out that “no
more than around 25%” of this growth for the Category 1 Local Service
Villages should be in an individual settlement. Harbury is considered to
have met this requirement and, therefore, the settlement boundary as drawn
in Map 1 will be used to manage any further housing growth in the village
up to 2031.
Page 34
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
34
5.9 In drawing the settlement boundary for Harbury we have also maintained
the long standing approach contained in the Village Design Statement and
the Parish Plan of protecting the eastern and western boundaries of the
village (see graphic above). To the west is the defined edge of the scarp and
the east the strong urban/rural edge provided by Butt Lane and Bush Heath
Road.
5.10 Harbury Cement Works is a brownfield site, part of which is within
Harbury Parish and part is within Bishops Itchington Parish. Under the
Stratford District Council Core Strategy this site has been designated a key
development site with over 200 new dwellings to be built as part of the
commitment to reuse brownfields sites. The Cement Works figures are not
taken into consideration when assessing the number of dwellings planned
for Harbury in the period up to 2031.
Policy H.02 - New Housing Development in Deppers Bridge
and the Open Countryside
Proposals for new development in Deppers Bridge and the
open countryside, that is those areas within the neighbourhood
plan area, but outside the Harbury village settlement boundary
(Map 1), will only be supported in the following circumstances:
a) Replacement dwellings;
Page 35
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
35
b) Re-use of redundant or disused buildings, not in need
of substantial repair or rebuilding;
c) Development that would bring back in to use and
secure a suitable and sympathetic re-use of a heritage
asset;
d) Agricultural and forestry dwellings for essential
workers; and
e) In accordance with Policy H.04..
Background/Justification
5.11 In the Core Strategy Deppers Bridge is not identified as a Local Service
Village but included with “all other settlements” as an area where new
housing development will be restricted to small-scale community-led
schemes. However, to ensure that new housing development is sustainable
and is concentrated in Harbury village proposals for new housing
development in Deppers Bridge and the open countryside will be strictly
controlled.
View into Deppers Bridge
Policy H.03 - Securing a Suitable Mix of Housing Types,
Tenures and Sizes in New Development
To ensure that future housing development meets the housing
requirement identified in the Core Strategy and also helps to
Page 36
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
36
meet the different needs that will arise over the plan period
from the existing and future population, in housing
developments of 6 or more dwellings, a range of types, tenure
and sizes of dwellings will be required, including a proportion
of suitable homes to meet the needs of older and younger
residents as well as the potential to provide for those seeking
to build their own home on appropriate sites. Before finalising
the housing mix on such sites developers must take account of
up-to-date demographic, housing need, self and custom build
demand and strategic housing market information and are
particularly encouraged to consult and take into account the
views of the Parish Council.
Figure 4. Preferred Future Housing Provision (Source: Harbury Neighbourhood
Plan Questionnaire).
Background/Justification
5.12 Much of the new housing in Harbury village already has planning
permission. This will help to meet the housing requirement set for the
Category 1 Service Villages in the Core Strategy. Committed new housing
and possible future new development will also help to meet the various
housing needs that have been identified in the neighbourhood plan area: the
78.0%
65.2%
37.6%
26.8%23.2% 22.4%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
90.0%
Page 37
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
37
need for housing for older people and housing for young families. We
recognize that such needs change over time, and may change between now
and 2031. Therefore, when planning permission is sought the parish council,
working with landowners, developers, and the local planning authority will
seek to ensure that a range and type of houses is provided to meet the needs
of existing and future residents.
5.13 Local people expressed strong views about the type of housing needed in
the future, Figure 4. Some of this need will be addressed by the new
development listed above in para. 5.5.
5.14 Policy H.03 will seek to secure a range of housing on market housing sites,
in the case of future affordable housing provision on market housing
proposals in the neighbourhood plan area will be determined using Core
Strategy Policy CS.18. Data from the most recent Harbury Housing Needs
Survey 2011 revealed the following:
Rented from a Housing Association (21)
14 x 2 bedroom houses
4 x 2 bedroom bungalows
3 x 3 bedroom houses
Shared Ownership (2)
2 x 2 bedroom houses
Local Market Ownership (38)
8 x 2 bedroom houses
1 x 2 or 3 bed house
1 x 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house
7 x 2 bedroom bungalows
3 x 2 or 3 bedroom bungalows
4 x 3 bedroom houses
3 x 3 or 4 bedroom houses
8 x 4 bedroom houses
3 x 4 or 5 bedroom houses
However, it is appreciated that the most up to date evidence on housing
need should be used.
Policy H.04 – Local Needs Schemes
When it can be demonstrated through robust and up to date
local housing needs information and that need cannot be met
by affordable housing provision through a market-led scheme,
Page 38
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
38
housing development for local needs will be supported when
all of the following criteria are met:
a) In Harbury village the site should adjoin the settlement
boundary, and in Deppers Bridge it should be
immediately adjoining existing built up development in
the hamlet;
b) Development should be located in Flood Zone 1 and the
floodplain of the River Itchen should be maintained and
where opportunities arise, restored to maximise the
natural storage of floodwater, reduce flooding and
increase landscape, conservation and ecology value;
c) In Harbury village the site is in reasonable walking
distance of public transport and local community
facilities;
d) The future use of such housing is secured in perpetuity to
meet a local need..
Developers are also particularly encouraged to consult with the
Parish Council to gain their support for the proposal at an early
stage.
Background/Justification
5.15 Not all local housing need will necessarily be addressed by affordable
housing provision on market-led housing development. Where this is the
case, in exceptional circumstances, rural exception housing will be allowed
when it meets the criteria in Policy H.04. Where the criteria in Policy H.04
and other development plan policy is fulfilled self-build may be appropriate
as such rural exception housing.
Policy H.05 - Housing Development and Design Principles
Within the neighbourhood plan area all new housing
development proposals should promote good design and be in
keeping with the character of the area. In assessing proposals
regard will be given to the following:
Page 39
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
39
a) Incorporation and reinterpretation of local building
styles in development proposals so that these make a
positive contribution to the village character of Harbury;
b) Retention of open spaces in the village and protection of
the rural nature of the wider parish;
c) Retention of trees and hedgerows;
d) Maintenance and enhancement of the existing settlement
pattern, particularly the need to conserve the character
and appearance of the eastern and western boundaries of
Harbury village;
e) Good design and suitable layout that takes into account
topography of the site and its surroundings and views in
to and out of the site;
f) Appropriate use of local materials and details;
g) When adjacent to the Conservation Areas or other
heritage assets development should, where appropriate,
be set back from road and street boundaries and should
use appropriate boundary treatments and materials;
h) Retention and preservation of significant and historical
landscape features within the site, including older
buildings which if proposed to be altered or extended
make use of appropriate materials and styles; and
i) The use of suitable boundary treatments both to
individual properties and full housing schemes. In
particular, development on the edge of the villages
should seek to retain existing hedges and trees and use
native species for new planting.
Background/Justification
5.16 National planning policy seeks to replace poor design with better design.
Since 1998 Harbury has had a Village Design Statement. This has been used as
the basis for developing a number of the policies in the neighbourhood
plan, including Policy H.05 that will be used to assess housing development
proposals and to promote better design in such proposals.
Page 40
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
40
OBJECTIVE 2 - To preserve the rural nature of Harbury
village, with wildlife corridors and farming coming
right into the heart of it as it does at present.
Policy H.06 – Green Infrastructure
The mosaic of paths, paddocks, fields, watercourses and water
features, woodland, grassland and other green infrastructure
features within the parish should be maintained and enhanced
for their recreational, tourist and ecological value.
Development proposals should seek to maintain this green
infrastructure and, where possible, should enhance it by
creating new connections and links or by restoring existing
green infrastructure.
Development that would disrupt or sever this mosaic will not
be supported unless suitable compensatory provision can be
provided to establish a new connection within the immediate
vicinity of the connection to be lost or severed.
Background/Justification
5.17 It is acknowledged that Harbury will grow substantially in the short term,
given existing housing commitments. This growth, and any further growth,
should not be at the expense of the rural nature of the parish. The
neighbourhood plan, therefore, includes a number of policies to protect key
natural and open space assets.
5.18 There is a green infrastructure of paths, fields, watercourses, other water
features, woodland, grassland and other similar features within the parish.
This is important for leisure, recreation, tourism and ecological reasons.
Page 41
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
41
OBJECTIVE 3 - To preserve and protect important
green spaces within the village and retain countryside
views out across a natural landscape.
Policy H.07 - Protecting and Enhancing Local Green Spaces
The following areas listed below and shown on Maps 2a and
2b are designated as Local Green Spaces.
H.07a - Church Paddock
H.07b - Church Paddock Allotments
H.07c - The Pound
H.07d - Old New Inn Green
H.07e - Binswood End Green
H.07f - Pump Green
H.07g - Bullring Green
H.07h – Deppers Bridge Playing Field
H.07i - Harbury Playing Fields
H.07j - Pineham allotments
H.07k – Manor Orchard Green
H.07l – Frances Road Green
Development will only be supported in very special
circumstances, that is when harm to the local green space and
any other harm is outweighed by other considerations.
Page 42
42
Map 2a – Harbury Local Green Spaces © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686
Page 43
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
43
Map 2b – Deppers Bridge Local Green Spaces © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number
0100053686
Page 44
44
Background/Justification
5.19 Local green spaces are defined in paragraphs 76 and 77 of the NPPF:
76 Local communities through local and neighbourhood plans should be able to
identify for special protection green areas of particular importance to them.
By designating land as Local Green Space local communities will be able to
rule out new development other than in very special circumstances.
Identifying land as Local Green Space should therefore be consistent with
the local planning of sustainable development and complement investment
in sufficient homes, jobs and other essential services. Local Green Spaces
should only be designated when a plan is prepared or reviewed, and be
capable of enduring beyond the end of the plan period.
77 The Local Green Space designation will not be appropriate for most green
areas or open space. The designation should only be used:
a. where the green space is in reasonably close proximity to the community it
serves;
b. where the green area is demonstrably special to a local community and holds
a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic
significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or
richness of its wildlife; and
c. where the green area concerned is local in character and is not an extensive
tract of land.
Once identified such spaces can only be developed in “very special
circumstances”.
Appendix 2 analyses open and green spaces in the parish against the
criteria in national planning policy. Those highlighted in Appendix 2 and
listed above in Policy H.07 are considered to meet the NPPF definition of
local green spaces.
Page 45
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
45
Old New Inn Green
Policy H.08 - Protecting Small, Incidental Open Spaces
Development that would result in the loss of the other
small, open spaces as identified in Appendix 2 of the Plan
such as grass verges will only be supported when:
a) Equivalent or better provision is provided elsewhere
within a suitable location in Harbury village; or
b) It can be clearly demonstrated that the open space
performs no useful function.
Page 46
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
46
The Pound
Background/Justification
5.20 As well as protecting the most important local green spaces using Policy
H.07 the neighbourhood plan will also seek to protect other smaller,
open spaces. Such areas serve many functions and their loss will only be
supported when a suitable alternative space is provided, or the
applicant can clearly demonstrate that the space no longer performs a
useful function.
Policy H.09 - Protecting Significant Views
In Harbury village the significant views out of the village
shown on Map 1 will be given special consideration when
assessing planning applications. Development proposals
should ensure that in these areas special attention is paid to
preserving such views.
Significant views within the village of the windmill and
parish church should also be retained. Development
Page 47
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
47
proposals that would have a significant adverse impact on
these views will not be supported.
Background/Justification
5.21 Views out of Harbury are very important. This is because farmland
sweeps up to the edge of the village and this offers extensive views.
Therefore, from many points within the village, from between houses,
from roads, public footpaths and green corridors there are views of
open countryside. In some of the more recent parts of the village, north
of Farm Street and at Hillside, more modern estate type developments
have failed to take in to account the need to create, retain and enhance
such views. The neighbourhood plan will ensure this does not happen
in the future by setting out planning policy for significant views. The
significant views out of the village identified on Map 1 were originally
identified in the Harbury Village Design Statement (1998).
View east from Butt Lane
5.22 There are also some locally significant views within the village – views
of the old windmill and parish church. New development should also
seek to ensure these views are retained and not significantly adversely
affected by such development.
Policy H.10 – Landscape Design Principles
All new development proposals should be informed by and
will be assessed against the following landscape design
principles:
Page 48
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
48
a) Preservation of the strong east and west boundaries of
Harbury village;
b) Retention of mature trees, hedgerows and stone walls;
c) Measures to retain and enhance the environment and
enjoyment of public rights of way and other routes
through, around, into and out of a site;
d) Impact on heritage assets and other historic and
archaeological features in the landscape;
e) Use of suitable materials and building styles;
f) Minimal use of external lighting to retain dark skies;
and
g) Conservation and enhancement of natural landscape
features.
Background/Justification
5.23 Harbury is part of the “Lias Villages” of the Feldon. A varied and small
scale hedged landscape of scattered farms and nucleated brick and
stone villages. Harbury is a ridge top village that does not follow the
general rules for such villages. Harbury rather than spreading along the
scarp edge spreads at right angles to the scarp and edge and down the
dip slope. The village stretches away from the White Lias scarp in a
farmed landscape of large hedge fields with few roadside trees and
isolated wooded plantations. Policy H.10 identifies the fundamental
features that go to making the landscape in the neighbourhood plan
area distinctive and valued. Policy H.10 in identifying these features
provides those putting forward development proposals and decision-
makers a set of criteria against which to assess how individual
development proposals will help to retain and enhance the local
landscape.
Page 49
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
49
OBJECTIVE 4 - To ensure adequate infrastructure in
the parish is included and funded when any new
development is planned. Policy H.11 - Ensuring New Development Provides
Appropriate Infrastructure
All new development will be expected to provide an
appropriate level of infrastructure to meet the needs and
demands arising from the development. Where an
infrastructure need is identified for a particular
development the necessary infrastructure must be put in
place to support that development as the need arises.
Background/Justification 5.24 Neighbourhood planning gives local people an opportunity to shape
the future of where they live. One of the primary concerns of local
residents is that existing infrastructure – services, roads, drainage,
sewers – struggle to cope with things as they are now, and that more
development, certainly at the levels proposed will only make this
worse, see Figure 5. The neighbourhood plan will, therefore, seek to
address these concerns. National Planning Practice Guidance (para. 045)
sets out that neighbourhood planning bodies can consider what
infrastructure needs to be provided in their neighbourhood area. By
doing this we are seeking to ensure that Harbury parish can grow in a
sustainable way. In particular, future development management
decisions in the area should be mindful of the need to take account of:
access to places at the village primary school; sufficient medical
coverage at a larger surgery; appropriate energy supply for responsible
demand; and adequate waste disposal/sewerage provision.
5.25 In particular, the following future improvements to local infrastructure
have been identified as being needed to support the existing and new
communities in the village: facilities for young people e.g. maintenance
and improvements of health and care facilities; and certain road
improvements.
Page 50
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
50
Figure 5. Household Dislikes About the Village (Source: Harbury
Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire).
5.26 Infrastructure will be secured through planning agreements such as
section.106 and section 278 agreements for site specific items of
infrastructure such as a junction improvement/specific cycle/pedestrian
links to a new housing estate/traffic calming measure such as a speed
table that directly relate to a specific development. Most small-scale
development will be liable to contribute toward towards generic –
‘district-wide’ infrastructure through a Community Infrastructure Levy
(CIL) adopted on 11th December 2017 and effective from 1st February
2018. These contributions will be spent on more strategic items of
infrastructure such as secondary school provision, a major road scheme,
a country park or sports facilities.
5.27 The Warwickshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan 2011-26
acknowledges the that sustainable development needs to be
underpinned through various measures and as such provides policies
for the following:
❑ Travel Plans
❑ Walking and Cycling
❑ Accessibility to frequent bus services
A key ingredient regarding accessibility to frequent bus services is
through the Warwickshire County Council Quality Bus Partnership
21.0% 20.0%
8.0%6.4% 5.6%
3.6% 2.8% 2.4% 2.4% 2.0%0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
Page 51
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
51
which the parish will continue to liaise with to ensure the availability
and improvement of bus stops and services. Currently bus services from
Harbury connect the village with Leamington Spa, Banbury, Rugby and
Daventry. A key objective of the Quality Bus Partnership is to ensure
services are affordable, accessible and available.
OBJECTIVE 5 - To invest in our community
buildings, recreation space and associated
equipment to ensure these are adequate for an
increased population.
Policy H.12 - Protecting Existing Community Facilities
The community facilities listed below and shown on Maps
3 and 4 will be protected:
1. Harbury Village Hall
2. Harbury Village Club
3. Village Library and car park
4. Church of All Saints
5. Tom Hauley Room
6. Harbury Primary School
7. Harbury Pre-school
8. Banana Moon Nursery
9. Harbury Surgery
10. Harbury Chemist
11. The Scout Hut
12. Rugby Club
13. The Shakespeare Inn
14. The Gamecock Inn
15. The Crown Inn
16. Harbury Supermarket and Harbury Post Office
17. Co-op Late Shop
18. Muggleston’s Country Fayre
Page 52
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
52
Development requiring planning permission that would
lead to the loss of these facilities to residential uses will not
be supported unless equivalent, or better, provision is made
elsewhere within the village; or, after an extended period of
active marketing (a minimum of twelve months, including
marketing in the neighbourhood plan area); or as otherwise
may be justified by the circumstances of the premises in
question and agreed that the applicant can then clearly
demonstrate that there is no longer a viable community,
retail, food and drink or commercial use for the asset.
Background/Justification 5.28 As well as seeking to secure adequate new infrastructure to ensure
development is sustainable, our neighbourhood plan consultations have
demonstrated that local people also value the wide range of existing
services and activities, Figure 6. Therefore, our neighbourhood plan will
seek to protect and enhance these facilities.
Crown Public House
Page 53
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
53
Figure 6 – Households Likes About the Village (Source: Harbury
Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire).
74.8%
53.6%
30.0%26.4%
13.6%12.8%11.6%11.2%10.0% 7.2% 6.4%5.2% 3.2% 1.2%
0.0%
10.0%
20.0%
30.0%
40.0%
50.0%
60.0%
70.0%
80.0%
Page 54
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
54
Map 3 – Harbury village protected community facilities (for
numbering see Policy H.12) © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey
100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686
Page 55
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
55
Map 4 – Harbury village protected community facilities – Harbury
Rugby Club (for numbering see Policy H.12) © Crown copyright and database rights
[2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686
Policy H.13 - Development of New Community Facilities
Development proposals for new or improvements to
existing community facilities will be supported when they
preserve local character and distinctiveness, and do not
cause unacceptable harm to the landscape or residential
amenity of existing and future occupiers. In particular, new
and improved facilities for young people and older
residents will be supported.
Page 56
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
56
Harbury Village Hall Background/Justification
5.29 As well as seeking to protect existing village facilities the
neighbourhood plan will also support the development of new
community facilities. There is a particular need to improve facilities for
young people and older residents.
OBJECTIVE 6 - To lower the carbon footprint of the
parish by supporting energy conservation measures,
ensuring all new housing is built to a high standard
of energy efficiency and water conservation, making
them truly affordable to run and maintain, ensuring
also that all extension and renovation of existing
buildings is carbon neutral.
Page 57
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
57
New eco-home, Harbury
Policy H.14 - Sustainable Design and Energy Efficiency
All new development proposals will be encouraged to:
a. Adopt sustainability measures promoted through the
Harbury Energy Initiative and the Parish Council;
b. Adopt a Fabric First approach through a higher than
basic Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard target;
c. Use sustainable drainage to reduce risk of flooding on
site, downstream and upstream, wherever it is
appropriate to do so; and
d. Recycle water effectively.
Background/Justification
5.30 Harbury has taken the lead with a number of community initiatives to
promote sustainability: the Harbury Energy Initiative and the Electric
Car Club. Whilst we recognise that the government has one set of
technical standards for new housing development based on additional
optional Building Regulations on water and access, and a new national
space standard complementing the existing set of Building Regulations,
which are mandatory, we think it important that new development tries
to go even further. The neighbourhood plan will encourage developers
Page 58
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
58
of all types of new development to achieve the highest possible
standard achievable at the time in terms of sustainable design.
OBJECTIVE 7 - To ensure all new developments
provide safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists to
access Harbury village centre, thus encouraging less
car use for local journeys. Consideration should be
given to providing a diverse range of transport
options with links to local centres, aiming at
reducing car ownership, congestion in Harbury
village centre and competition for parking spaces.
Policy H.15 - Highways and Transport
Development proposals should include measures to
minimise and make acceptable any impact on the local road
network by providing:
a. Safe and suitable access; and
b. Encouraging the use of public transport including
new and enhanced pedestrian routes to the existing
network and where necessary new bus infrastructure.
Background/Justification 5.31 A primary concern for residents, as for many villages, is the day-to-day
impact of traffic. Where appropriate, new development should seek to
minimise any impact it will have on the local highway network. In
addition, the Parish Council will seek to include information that will
allow existing and new residents to consider different modes of travel
by including a range of travel information in a village “Welcome Pack”.
5.32 The Parish Council will continue to work with Warwickshire County
Council to implement transport improvements through the Rural
Strategy by improving access to services via public transport, walking
and cycling. Traffic management measures will be implemented, where
Page 59
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
59
required, to improve road safety, for example, by reducing the impact of
vehicular traffic through speed management.
OBJECTIVE 8 - To maintain a thriving Harbury
village centre by retaining commercial space for
business, shops and pubs as well as supporting
important volunteer run facilities. Encourage home
working and local employment opportunities, thus
reducing the need for vehicle travel to work. Policy H.16 - Business and Employment Development in
the Centre of Harbury Village
Development for shops (A1), business (B1), offices and
community uses that support the continued vibrancy and
vitality of the centre of Harbury village will be supported
provided they have suitable regard to the following:
a. the Conservation Area and its setting;
b. the distinctive rural character of the parish;
c. they do not have a detrimental impact on the parish’s
highway network; and
d. they create or maintain good access to the village
centre and small business sites by public transport,
cycling and walking, together with adequate signage.
5.33 Harbury as a local service village has a reasonable range of local
businesses. To ensure that the village remains a vibrant place to live
existing businesses will be supported and new businesses will be
encouraged in the centre of Harbury village.
Page 60
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
60
Banana Moon Nursery, Harbury
Policy H.17 - Protecting Existing Employment Premises
To maintain a full range of employment opportunities in
the local area the following sites (also shown on Map 5) will
be protected for employment use (Use Classes B1, B2 and
B8):
▪ International Fasteners
▪ Churchlands Industrial Estate
▪ Bull Ring Business Centre
▪ Bull Ring Garage
Development for employment uses in these specified areas
and premises will be supported provided that the proposal
would have an acceptable impact on the local road network
and residential amenity.
Planning approval for change of use or development
outside of the above Use Classes will only be supported
when:
Page 61
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
61
a. The existing use is no longer considered suitable or
viable for continued employment use after an
appropriate period of active marketing to be agreed
with the local planning authority; and
b. The proposed use would not have a detrimental
impact on adjacent uses and occupiers.
Background/Justification 5.34 Within the neighbourhood plan area there are also a number of
important sources of local employment, these range from the larger
Churchlands Industrial Estate through to smaller, individual
businesses. The neighbourhood plan will seek to protect these sources
of employment. In doing this, the mix of land uses in the
neighbourhood plan area will be retained. This will ensure that the
parish does not just become a dormitory area of housing, but remains an
area with a reasonable balance of land uses and its own sources of local
employment.
5.35 It has been suggested that a “Harbury Business Network” be set up so
that local business people can get together at breakfast or lunch
meetings to exchange ideas and not feel that they are working in
isolation. The one thing that home-workers say they miss is socialising
with work colleagues. This is a non-land use planning action that the
Parish Council will support.
Page 62
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
62
Map 5 – Protected Employment Sites
Page 63
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
63
Policy H.18 - Protecting and Enhancing Local Shops and
Businesses
Proposals to enhance and improve local shops (Use Class
A1), financial and professional services (Use Class A2) and
business premises (Use Class B1) will be supported.
Change of use of retail premises to non–retail uses will only
be supported where planning permission is required if the
applicant can demonstrate there is no longer a need for such
provision or the use is no longer viable, or suitable, or
better provision, is provided, in a suitable location
elsewhere in or convenient to the neighbourhood plan area.
Background/Justification 5.36 As well as our important remaining local employment premises
Harbury village is also fortunate to have a number of local retail
premises. These provide valuable local facilities for all residents of the
village, but are especially useful for those who are less mobile e.g. the
young without access to a car or the elderly residents. The
neighbourhood plan will seek to protect and support future
enhancements of these premises so that they continue to provide these
much needed local retail facilities.
OBJECTIVE 9 – To protect and enhance all historic
and heritage sites in the parish.
Policy H.19 - Protecting Local Heritage
Development should conserve the following heritage
assets listed below and identified on Map 6 taking into
account the scale of any harm or loss to them and the
significance of the heritage asset:
1. Pillar Box on Old New Inn Green
2. Pump and well at Hill Cottage, Farm Street
3. Pump at Montgomery House, Mill Lane
Page 64
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
64
4. Pump at Denys Close, Temple End
Fire Plate and Plaques:
5. Newend House
6. 35 Farm Street
Stone Walls
7. Stone wall on site of Old New Inn
8. Stone wall to Pan’s Garden, Farm Street
9. Stone wall to Temple House, Temple End
10. Stone wall corner Vicarage Lane/Dovehouse Lane
11. Stone wall round Cemetery corner
12. Stone wall to rear of Chapel Street Green
13. Stone wall adjacent to Co-op on Mill Lane
14. Stone wall to Village Club, Crown Street
Ironwork
15. Iron railings to front of Village Hall and Play Area,
South Parade
16. Iron gates to the Cemetery
Development proposals should take full account of
known surface and sub-surface archaeology and ensure
unknown and potentially significant deposits are
identified and appropriately considered during
development after consultation with the Warwickshire
Historic Environment Record (HER). Lack of current
evidence of sub-surface archaeology must not be taken as
proof of absence.
Page 65
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
65
Listed War Memorial, Crown Street
5.37 As well as the statutorily protected Conservation Areas and Listed
Buildings (Appendix 1) the parish also has a number of non-designated
heritage and archaeological assets. The non-designated heritage assets
have been identified using guidance produced by Historic England,
and subject to a separate local consultation with the owners of the
assets.
Page 66
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
66
Map 6 – Protecting Local Heritage © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey
100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686
Page 67
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
67
6
Monitoring and Review 6.1 Plans are only valuable when kept up to date. The Parish Council
will monitor the policies and proposals in the plan on an annual
basis. A monitoring report will be prepared on the plan and
presented to the Annual General Meeting in May each year.
6.2 Where the need for change is identified we will work with Stratford
on Avon District Council to produce updates and amendments
where necessary.
7.3 Should significant sections of the plan become out of date we will
look to review the whole document by producing a new plan
following the Neighbourhood Development Planning procedure.
Page 68
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
68
Appendix 1 Listed Buildings
Listed Buildings (source: Historic England, 10/05/16)
There are 35 statutory Listed Buildings in Harbury Parish2. These can be
seen on a map online at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/map-
search and are listed below. The web link for each individual entry links to
the National Heritage List for England. The most up to date information on
listed buildings should be sought from Historic England or the local
planning authority.
STONEWALLS
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• STONEWALLS, FARM STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
1-4, HALL LANE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• 1-4, HALL LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
BUTCHERS
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• BUTCHERS, 7, HIGH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
2 http://list.historicengland.org.uk/results.aspx
Page 69
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
69
LOWER WESTFIELDS FARMHOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• LOWER WESTFIELDS FARMHOUSE, MIDDLE ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
BARN AND STABLE APPROXIMATELY 30 METRES NORTH OF LOWER WESTFIELDS
FARMHOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• BARN AND STABLE APPROXIMATELY 30 METRES NORTH OF LOWER WESTFIELDS
FARMHOUSE, MIDDLE ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
HARBURY FIELDS FARMHOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• HARBURY FIELDS FARMHOUSE, MIDDLE ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
THE MANOR HOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• THE MANOR HOUSE, PARK LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
WESTERN HOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Page 70
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
70
Location:
• WESTERN HOUSE, UFTON ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
14, VICARAGE LANE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• 14, VICARAGE LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
K6 TELEPHONE KIOSK
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• K6 TELEPHONE KIOSK, MILL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
PUMP APPROXIMATELY 2 METRES NORTH OF NUMBER 7
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• PUMP APPROXIMATELY 2 METRES NORTH OF NUMBER 7, BINSWOOD END,
Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
HARBURY HOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• HARBURY HOUSE, BUTT LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
BRIDLES AND SADDLERS
Page 71
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
71
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• BRIDLES AND SADDLERS, CHAPEL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
CHEST TOMB APPROXIMATELY 0.5 METRES EAST OF SOUTH AISLE OF CHURCH OF ALL
SAINTS
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• CHEST TOMB APPROXIMATELY 0.5 METRES EAST OF SOUTH AISLE OF CHURCH OF
ALL SAINTS, CHURCH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
WISSETT LODGE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• WISSETT LODGE, 10, CHURCH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
THE CROWN INN
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• THE CROWN INN, CROWN STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
HILLCREST COTTAGE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
Page 72
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
72
• HILLCREST COTTAGE, 7, BINSWOOD END, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
BAKER THORNICROFT'S HOUSE
COUNTRY FAYRE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• BAKER THORNICROFT'S HOUSE, CHAPEL STREET,
• COUNTRY FAYRE, CHAPEL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, CHURCH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
FORMER FONT APPROXIMATELY 0.5 METRES WEST OF TOWER OF CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• FORMER FONT APPROXIMATELY 0.5 METRES WEST OF TOWER OF CHURCH OF ALL
SAINTS, CHURCH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
THE HOMESTEAD
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• THE HOMESTEAD, CROWN STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
WAGSTAFFE SCHOOL HOUSE
Page 73
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
73
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• WAGSTAFFE SCHOOL HOUSE, CROWN STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
HARBURY WINDMILL
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• HARBURY WINDMILL, MILL LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
THE SHAKESPEARE PUBLIC HOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• THE SHAKESPEARE PUBLIC HOUSE, MILL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
BULL RING COTTAGE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• BULL RING COTTAGE, THE BULL RING,
• 1, HIGH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
THE HOMELAND
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
Page 74
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
74
• THE HOMELAND, 18, VICARAGE LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
FORMER COTTAGE AND ATTACHED BARN AT STAPENHALL FARM
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• FORMER COTTAGE AND ATTACHED BARN AT STAPENHALL FARM, SOUTHAM
ROAD, DEPPERS BRIDGE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
CHURCH HOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• CHURCH HOUSE, CROWN STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
27, FARM STREET
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• 27, FARM STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
THE COTTAGE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• THE COTTAGE, 5, HIGH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
PHOENIX HOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Page 75
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
75
Location:
• PHOENIX HOUSE, HIGH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
FORMER DAIRY AND CHEESEROOM APPROXIMATELY 1.25 METRES NORTH OF LOWER
WESTFIELDS FARMHOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• FORMER DAIRY AND CHEESEROOM APPROXIMATELY 1.25 METRES NORTH OF
LOWER WESTFIELDS FARMHOUSE, MIDDLE ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
STONE HOUSE
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• STONE HOUSE, 2, MILL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
MILESTONE AT NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE SP 3928 5935
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• MILESTONE AT NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE SP 3928 5935, SOUTHAM ROAD,
DEPPERS BRIDGE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire
Harbury War Memorial
Heritage Category: Listing
Grade: II
Location:
• Crown Street, Harbury, Warwickshire, CV33 9HE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,
Warwickshire
Page 76
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
76
Appendix 2 Local Green and Open
Spaces Analysis This analysis has been undertaken to assess all green and open spaces in the
neighbourhood plan area and has been used to help determine which spaces
Page 77
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
77
should be protected using the NPPF designation of Local Green Spaces and which
should be protected in other ways through the neighbourhood plan.
Page 78
78
LOCAL GREEN AND OPEN SPACES ANALYSIS Grade Space and reason identified.
Identified for B – beauty; H-historic value; R- recreational value; T - trees; W – wildlife value.
Proximity to community (inside settlement boundary?)
Demonstrably Special? Sites to be designated highlighted in green Local and not extensive
1 Church Paddock. Private H*** ,B*,W***.T***
Inside Green lung, mature trees, surrounded by high density housing; important to the setting of the Church; part of the historic core of the Medieval village. Also, an important wildlife route.
Small paddock with mature trees in village centre
1 Church Paddock Allotments Private. W.R.
Inside Cultivated area of Paddock (see Church Paddock above) that provides allotment gardens in central area of the village close by historic and terraced housing areas.
Small area of cultivated rural land.
1 The Spinney Private but open access. H**.W***.B*.R**.T*
Inside Wooded area adjacent to Cutting and Pound Green, is both a recreational and wildlife asset, acting as a corridor into the village for plants and animals from the Cutting SSS!
Small area of regenerated woodland housing remains of machinery used for excavation of Harbury Cutting.
1 Harbury Cutting (SSSI) Bullring lane to the Tunnel H***.W****.B*.R*.T*
Inside Historic – built by Brunel, early examples Three Arch Bridge and Tunnel; designated SSSI and wildlife reserve of Geological significance. Brings wildlife into heart of village.
Small section adjacent to village heavily wooded with important butterflies and orchid species.
1 The Pound Parish H*.W**.B***.R*.T****
Inside Most extensive Designated Village Green (DVG) with mature Limes, Horse Chestnuts, magnificent Copper Beech and backed by extensive Harbury Stone Wall. Part of wildlife route into village.
Green lung NE of village. With Spinney Cutting, & Dovehouse Lane provides access into village centre for wildlife.
1 Old New Inn Green Parish W.B.R.T**
Inside In historic Bottom End Conservation Area. Second largest DVG provides green setting for stone farm buildings and site of Silver Jubilee Plane tree.
In SW corner of village surrounded by listed and other historic buildings with long run of Harbury stone wall.
1 Binswood End Green Parish W.B.R. T*
Inside Small green area (DVG) with trees in NW section of Bottom End Conservation Area of small cottages & modern houses
Was site of the Smithy and only open and green area in this part of Harbury
1 Pump Green Parish H***. W*.B.R
Inside Setting for War Memorial views of Church and Dovehouse in this medieval core of Harbury. DVG
Small green area in Conservation Area at the village core
1 Bullring Green Parish H**.
Inside Designated Village Green in centre of Harbury village providing setting for listed Bullring Cottage and High St.
Tiny patch of green space –remnant of Bullring - Commercial heart of the village.
1 Chapel Street Green Parish R.
Inside Tiny plot planted with Shrubs provides seat and greenery in historic street of mainly terraced stone houses.
Very small but welcome public space in crowded central part of old village.
1 Manor Road Green Parish (HA) W.R.T.
Inside Triangular Green Space enhancing views along Park Lane Provides recreational space for adjacent private and rented homes.
Small green space with trees adds to the sweep of verge along Park Lane
Page 79
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
79
LOCAL GREEN AND OPEN SPACES ANALYSIS Grade Space and reason identified.
Identified for B – beauty; H-historic value; R- recreational value; T - trees; W – wildlife value.
Proximity to community (inside settlement boundary?)
Demonstrably Special? Sites to be designated highlighted in green Local and not extensive
1 Crown Close Green Parish (HA) W*.R*.T*.
Inside Pensioners’ homes set back behind green space with trees in Conservation Area. A breathing space in a crowded road.
Small green space in historic core of village.
1 Manor Orchard Green Parish R.
Inside Provides a small play area safe from traffic on this crowded modern estate.
Small area in centre of housing estate
2 Queens Close Green Parish W*.B.R.T.
Inside Small Green with trees managed by PC and locals Small area on eastern edge of village.
2 Percival Drive Green Parish W*.R.B.T.
Inside Small Green with conifers on entrance to modern estate gives some green space on relatively dense development.
Small with planting of conifers to reinforce the character of this area on village heathland.
2 Ridgley Way Green Private W.R.
Inside Medium open space on new estate on southern edge of village for recreation and to enhance this site with trees and wildflowers.
Planted for wildflowers, provides links to the countryside.
2 Neales Close Green. R. Inside Only green space on this modern housing estate. Used for children’s play.
1 Frances Rd Green R. Inside Only green space on this modern housing estate. Used for children’s play.
1 Deppers Bridge Playing Fields Parish R**. W*.T.
Inside Small recreation ground to south of majority of housing. It is the only public area in the hamlet and provides play space for the children.
Small field surrounded by hedge. Provides important recreational space where none other exists.
1 Harbury Playing Fields Parish:- R**.W*.H.T**
Inside Extensive area for multiple Recreational Activities. A King George V Field and Playing Field in Trust. Comprising:
With adjacent Right of Way to Allotments provides wildlife corridor into village.
1 Small Child’s Play Area R**. S Edge Safe fenced area with multiple play equipment and seating Area taken from fields. Well used
1 Children’s Play Area R**. S Edge More adventurous play with Zipwire and Basketball. Area taken from fields. Well used
2 Netball/Tennis Courts R. S Edge Very well used facility. Area taken from fields. Well used
1 BMX Track R*. S Edge Very well used facility Area taken from fields. Well used
1 Skatepark R*. S Edge Very well used facility Area taken from fields. Well used
2 Football pitches R*. S Edge Very well used facility Area taken from fields. Well used
1 Pineham Allotments County Council R**.W**T.
S Edge Parish Council rents and manages allotments from County to provide this important facility and valued for the village.
Allotment gardens in rural setting. Links wildlife & farmland to village.
1 Spinney Field/Paddock Private W***.B*.
N Edge A small Paddock adjacent to the Spinney and stretching down to the Cutting SSSI provides a wildlife corridor into the village.
Typical small grazing paddock now with permission to two dwelling on south side.
Page 80
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
80
LOCAL GREEN AND OPEN SPACES ANALYSIS Grade Space and reason identified.
Identified for B – beauty; H-historic value; R- recreational value; T - trees; W – wildlife value.
Proximity to community (inside settlement boundary?)
Demonstrably Special? Sites to be designated highlighted in green Local and not extensive
2 School Grounds County/PCC R*.W**.T**
Inside Part of the Grounds are cultivated by the school Children. There is a woodland classroom and play space. The area is bounded by trees.
An important green space on what were the Manor grounds.
1 All Saints Churchyard PCC W****. B**. H***.T****.
✓ Inside ✓A very special and revered space for quiet contemplation. The lime trees surrounding, the ancient stone grave markers and the Church are at the core of the Medieval village; they enhance village centre and provide greenery to view out to other streets and buildings
In the Medieval core and managed conservatively for wildlife, this is a much valued haven for wildflowers, birds and bats.
1 Harbury Cemetery Parish W*** B** H* R. T****.
Inside A solemn, quiet place full of important trees, Irish Yew, Copper Beech, Cypress on a pivotal corner in Town End Conservation Area
At the junction of the two historic sections of the village. Beautiful trees.
1 Cemetery Corner Verges WCC. W.B.
Inside The Cemetery trees form a stunning backdrop to view from Chapel Street the Park Lane/South Parade corner all enhanced by the verge.
Harbury Stone retaining wall, grass verge and mature trees.
1 Farm Street Verge WCC W.B.
Inside One of only three village streets retaining an historic sweep of grass verge, with modern housing set back to read as it was when created
Grass softens the setting of stone farms and cottages. Several protected trees.
1 Vicarage Lane Verge WCC W.B.H**.T**.
Inside The grass verge here delimits the boundary of the Dovehouse Manor lands and so is an historic relic and important green space
A relic of the time before streets were paved or footways created
1 Dovehouse Verge & setting WCC H****.W*.B*.T**.
Inside Vicarage Lane Verge sweeps round into Dovehouse Lane and remnants continue to the left and onto the Pound providing another wildlife corridor through the village and a setting for the Dovehouse.
The Dovehouse remains and medieval core here are important to Harbury and a warning to protect our remaining history.
1 Frances Road Hedge Covenant W******.B**.
Inside Remaining field boundary hedge important for birds and wildlife is protected by covenant and maintained by private individual.
A small remnant of a typical agricultural division saved for the future & wildlife.
1 Pineham Avenue verges WCC H.
Inside Early Council estate for a semi-agricultural village, laid out with extensive gardens and grass verges
Special for the lack of footways, grass verges and allotment gardens beyond
1 Bush Heath Lane Verge W**.R**.T***.B.
S Edge Wildlife corridor from countryside into heart of Conservation Area. Elms replanted along length and site of Millennium Oaks
Important for dog walking and cycling.
1 Mill St (mid-section) Verge WCC B**.W**.R.T***.
Inside A remnant of historic grass verge enhanced with trees provides a softening effect on the views E and W to the two Conservation Areas and mitigates impact of the austere modern estate to the north.
Mill Street verge, hedgerows mature trees, footpath network & remaining fields
Page 81
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
81
LOCAL GREEN AND OPEN SPACES ANALYSIS Grade Space and reason identified.
Identified for B – beauty; H-historic value; R- recreational value; T - trees; W – wildlife value.
Proximity to community (inside settlement boundary?)
Demonstrably Special? Sites to be designated highlighted in green Local and not extensive
& paddocks connect the village to its surrounding countryside & wildlife.
1 Park Lane Verges WCC W* B*.T***
Inside Form a green corridor from the Old New Inn to the village centre and especially beside the School where replanting after Dutch Elm Disease re-creates the once rural scene.
A typical example of the sweep of grass that exemplifies our village which has been lost on some modern estates.
1 Ufton Road/Butt Lane verges WCC W**. B. T.
E edge Special as along the edge of the village boundary hedges retained or recreated forming a clear dividing line. Excellent for wildlife.
Harbury sits in a rural landscape with hedgerows surrounding the village.
1 Station Road Corner Private B**. W*.T***
E edge Stand of Scots Pine marking the eastern edge of the village. Typical of the heathland that forms the “waste of the Parish”.
2 Station Rd Spoil Bank (SSSI) W***. B*. H**. R.
Deppers Bridge
Site of Special Scientific Interest for emergent limestone flora and fauna west of hamlet. Managed by volunteers. Imp. Wildlife corridor.
Typical of plants and butterflies found locally and valued by local residents
1 Path to Allotments RoW W**.R.T*H**Sa
S edge Hedge bounded right of way to Parish Allotments. Important wildlife corridor connecting S of village to N. Ancient Saltway route.
Typical of the area with mixed species hedgerow.
1 Darkie (Back) Lane RoW W*.H*. B. R.
Inside Ancient much loved and valued hollow way linking Chapel Street to the School on Back Lane with a safe route to the School,
Short internal footpath retaining trees and hedgerow. Important EW wildlife route.
1 Lovers Lane RoW H**.W**.R.T**
Inside Original route out of village to the east, alongside the site of one of the Medieval Manors of Harbury. A wildlife route from and to the E.
Follows the edge of the Bury – Saxon Queen Hereburgh’s village foundation.
1 Dovehouse Lane to Pound RoW H**.W*.B. R.
Inside Part of the early and medieval route out of the village to the east. A well walked path to the Pound Green. Imp Wildlife route.
Typical hedged internal footpath joining the centre to the countryside.
1 Mill Lane RoW B**.H*.W***. R*.T***
Inside & to N
Most loved footpath. Linking network of paths into the surrounding countryside creating wildlife corridor. Full of wildflowers and birds it runs to and along the Cutting giving views of the Three Arch Bridge.
Starts within the village as a paved road and becomes a footpath between hedges and trees out into the countryside.
1 Bullring Farm Road WCC part RoW W***.B**. H*. R***T***
Inside & to N
The prettiest Lane and part of the Centenary Way. It crosses the Cutting and continues to the Ufton Fields SSSI acting as a very important wildlife corridor.
Starts within the village as a paved road and becomes a footpath between hedges and trees out into the countryside
Page 82
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
82
LOCAL GREEN AND OPEN SPACES ANALYSIS Grade Space and reason identified.
Identified for B – beauty; H-historic value; R- recreational value; T - trees; W – wildlife value.
Proximity to community (inside settlement boundary?)
Demonstrably Special? Sites to be designated highlighted in green Local and not extensive
1 Co-op Field RoW R*. W**. H*. R*.T*.
Inside & to N
One of several paths linking to Mill Lane and the Cutting. Is widely used by dog walkers and appreciated for the extensive views.
Short stretch of footpath crossing small fields. A wildlife route into village from N.
2 Village Club grounds Private W*.H. T*.
Inside In the Conservation Area began as a Reading Room donated by local Landowners. An important facility with a large car park, it forms an extension to the Church Paddock and retains its trees and hedges.
This open site is bounded by historic hedges and trees.
2 Hall Grounds Private. H*. B*. W*.T**.
Inside & to N
Special for Parkland with parkland trees (many with TPOs) running along Bullring Lane down to the Cutting acting as a wildlife corridor.
Landscaped field with mature trees, typical of larger properties in Harbury;
2 Harbury House Grounds G11 Private H**.W*.B.T***
Inside & to E
Listed building of Historic importance sited within the Bury with many important mature trees and landscaped grounds.
Typical landscaping and use of Harbury Stone walls.
2 Shakespeare Inn Garden Private Grade 11 H*. W.
Inside Oldest remaining Inn in the parish on a large plot. Adjacent to and with access to Darkie Lane.
Part timbered Pub originally Farm with Car Park, hedged garden and trees.
1 Wissett Lodge Paddocks G Private Grade 11 Listed H**.W*.T***
Inside Grounds of Listed Building with important trees forming the central space in one of the villages open spaces surrounded by other historic houses, terraces etc. A Green Lung in the centre of the village.
This space provides “borrowed” greenery to properties in the village centre and a home for wildlife.
2 Harbury Manor Gardens Private Grade 11 Listed H**. W*.T***
Inside The stone walls, hedges and mature trees of the Manor Gardens are visible in surrounding streets and enhance the Conservation Area. There are views from Park Lane to this 11th Century Hall House.
A private space of great significance to village history. Its stone walls and Trees softens impact of modern housing
Page 83
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
83
Appendix 3 Sites of Special Scientific Interest
Page 84
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
84
Page 85
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
85
Appendix 4 Public Rights of Way
Page 86
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
86
Page 87
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018
87
Page 88
88
Page 89
This page has been left intentionally blank
Stratford on Avon District Council
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan 2017 - 2031 Independent Examiner’s Report By Ann Skippers BSc (Hons) MRTPI FRSA AoU
30 July 2018
Page 91
Item 4
Appendix 2
2
Contents
Summary
3
1.0 Introduction
4
2.0 Theroleoftheindependentexaminer
4
3.04.0
NeighbourhoodplanpreparationTheexaminationprocess
6
7
5.0 Compliancewithmattersotherthanthebasicconditions 8
6.0 ThebasicconditionsNationalpolicyandadviceSustainabledevelopmentThedevelopmentplanEuropeanUnionobligations
99
101111
7.0
DetailedcommentsonthePlananditspolicies1. WhatisaNeighbourhoodPlan…2. PreparingtheHarburyNeighbourhoodPlan3. HarburyProfile4. VisionandObjectives5. PoliciesandProposals
- H01- HO2- HO3- HO4- H05- HO6- HO7- HO8,HO9- H10,H11- H12,H13- H14,H15- H16,H17- H18,H19
6. Howtocomment…7. MonitoringandreviewAppendices
13131313141414161617181920222324252627282828
8.0 Conclusionsandrecommendations 29
Appendix1ListofkeydocumentsAppendix2QuestionsofclarificationAppendix3LettertoSDC
303133
Page 92
3
SummaryIhavebeenappointedastheindependentexamineroftheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan.TheParishcontainsthevillageofHarburyandthehamletofDeppersBridgesome5milessoutheastofLeamingtonSpa.HarburyisidentifiedintheCoreStrategyasaLocalServiceVillage.ThePlancontains19policiesthatrangefromdefiningasettlementboundaryforHarburyvillagetogetherwithLocalGreenSpacestosupportingthepromotionofemploymentuses.ThewellwrittenandpresentedPlanbuildsonearlierworkinaVillageDesignStatementandParishPlanandmakesuseofotherimportantinitiativesintheParish.ItaddsalayeroflocalcontextanddetailtoDistrict-levelpoliciesthatwouldbeimpossibleforDistrict-widepoliciestodo.WhilstthePlandoesnotallocateanysitesforhousing,itprovidesabalancebetweensupportinglimitedgrowthandseekingtoprotectandenhanceitsnaturalandbuiltenvironmentalattributes.Ihaverecommendedmodificationswhich,byandlarge,aretohelpensurethatthePlanisaworkabledocumentthatprovidesapracticalframeworkfordecisionmaking.Subjecttothosemodifications,IhaveconcludedthatthePlandoesmeetthebasicconditionsandalltheotherrequirementsIamobligedtoexamine.IamthereforepleasedtorecommendtoStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncilthattheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlancangoforwardtoareferendum.InconsideringwhetherthereferendumareashouldbeextendedbeyondtheNeighbourhoodPlanareaIseenoreasontoalterorextendthisareaforthepurposeofholdingareferendum.AnnSkippersMRTPIAnnSkippersPlanning30July2018
Page 93
4
1.0 IntroductionThisisthereportoftheindependentexaminerintotheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan(thePlan).TheLocalismAct2011providesawelcomeopportunityforcommunitiestoshapethefutureoftheplaceswheretheyliveandworkandtodeliverthesustainabledevelopmenttheyneed.Onewayofachievingthisisthroughtheproductionofaneighbourhoodplan.IhavebeenappointedbyStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncil(SDC)withtheagreementoftheParishCouncil,toundertakethisindependentexamination.IhavebeenappointedthroughtheNeighbourhoodPlanningIndependentExaminerReferralService(NPIERS).Iamindependentofthequalifyingbodyandthelocalauthority.IhavenointerestinanylandthatmaybeaffectedbythePlan.Iamacharteredtownplannerwithovertwenty-fiveyearsexperienceinplanningandhaveworkedinthepublic,privateandacademicsectorsandamanexperiencedexaminerofneighbourhoodplans.Ithereforehavetheappropriatequalificationsandexperiencetocarryoutthisindependentexamination.2.0 TheroleoftheindependentexaminerTheexaminermustassesswhetheraneighbourhoodplanmeetsthebasicconditionsandothermatterssetoutinparagraph8ofSchedule4BoftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended).Thebasicconditions1are:
§ HavingregardtonationalpoliciesandadvicecontainedinguidanceissuedbytheSecretaryofState,itisappropriatetomaketheneighbourhoodplan
§ Themakingoftheneighbourhoodplancontributestotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment
§ Themakingoftheneighbourhoodplanisingeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciescontainedinthedevelopmentplanforthearea
§ Themakingoftheneighbourhoodplandoesnotbreach,andisotherwisecompatiblewith,EuropeanUnion(EU)obligations
§ Prescribedconditionsaremetinrelationtotheneighbourhoodplanandprescribedmattershavebeencompliedwithinconnectionwiththeproposalfortheneighbourhoodplan.
1Setoutinparagraph8(2)ofSchedule4BoftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended)
Page 94
5
Regulations32and33oftheNeighbourhoodPlanning(General)Regulations2012(asamended)setouttwoadditionalbasicconditionstothosesetoutinprimarylegislationandreferredtointheparagraphabove.Onlyoneisapplicabletoneighbourhoodplansandis:
§ ThemakingoftheneighbourhoodplanisnotlikelytohaveasignificanteffectonaEuropeansite2oraEuropeanoffshoremarinesite3eitheraloneorincombinationwithotherplansorprojects.
Theexaminerisalsorequiredtocheck4whethertheneighbourhoodplan:
§ Hasbeenpreparedandsubmittedforexaminationbyaqualifyingbody§ Hasbeenpreparedforanareathathasbeenproperlydesignatedforsuchplan
preparation§ Meetstherequirementstoi)specifytheperiodtowhichithaseffect;ii)not
includeprovisionaboutexcludeddevelopment;andiii)notrelatetomorethanoneneighbourhoodareaandthat
§ Itspoliciesrelatetothedevelopmentanduseoflandforadesignatedneighbourhoodarea.
ImustalsoconsiderwhetherthedraftneighbourhoodplaniscompatiblewithConventionrights.5Theexaminermustthenmakeoneofthefollowingrecommendations:
§ Theneighbourhoodplancanproceedtoareferendumonthebasisitmeetsallthenecessarylegalrequirements
§ Theneighbourhoodplancanproceedtoareferendumsubjecttomodificationsor
§ Theneighbourhoodplanshouldnotproceedtoareferendumonthebasisitdoesnotmeetthenecessarylegalrequirements.
Iftheplancanproceedtoareferendumwithorwithoutmodifications,theexaminermustalsoconsiderwhetherthereferendumareashouldbeextendedbeyondtheneighbourhoodplanareatowhichitrelates.Iftheplangoesforwardtoreferendumandmorethan50%ofthosevotingvoteinfavouroftheplanthenitismadebytherelevantlocalauthority,inthiscaseStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncil.Theplanthenbecomespartofthe‘developmentplan’fortheareaandastatutoryconsiderationinguidingfuturedevelopmentandinthedeterminationofplanningapplicationswithintheplanarea.
2AsdefinedintheConservationofHabitatsandSpeciesRegulations20123AsdefinedintheOffshoreMarineConservation(NaturalHabitats,&c.)Regulations20074Setoutinsections38Aand38BofthePlanningandCompulsoryPurchaseAct2004asamendedbytheLocalismAct5ThecombinedeffectoftheTownandCountryPlanningActSchedule4Bpara8(6)andpara10(3)(b)andtheHumanRightsAct1998
Page 95
6
3.0 NeighbourhoodplanpreparationAConsultationStatementhasbeensubmitted.AusefultimelineisincludedthatsummarisesthemainstagesofworkonthePlan.FromthisitisveryclearthatextensiveworkhasbeencarriedoutonthePlansinceOctober2013.Aswellasquestionnaires,anumberofopenafternoonsandmeetingswithkeystakeholdersincludingsocieties,schoolsanddevelopershavebeenheld.ThequestionnaireinOctober2013toallhouseholdsinthePlanareageneratedaresponseofsome25%.ThesubsequentOpenAfternoonwaswellpublicisedandover100peopleattended.AYouthQuestionnairewasalsogeneratedforstudentsatSouthamCollegeandoneforPrimarySchoolchildren.Adedicatedwebsitewasestablished.Meetingswithprovidersofservicesandfacilitiesinthevillagetookplace.AsecondOpenAfternoonwasheldinMay2015andwidelypublicisedusingavarietyofmethodsincludingletterstobusinessesandgroups,telephonecallstostakeholders,theHarburyandLadbrokeMagazine,posters,postcards,aFacebookpageandthewebsite.TheStFrancisGroupandGladmanDevelopmentsandThePriceFamilyTrustandotherindividualsandorganisationshadstallsandprovidedinformation.Afterthisevent,adraftPlanwasproducedandviewscanvassedonitsgeneraldirectionoftravel.MeetingswereheldwithavarietyofstakeholdersincludingSDC,landowners,thedevelopmentindustryandotherorganisationsandpeopleaswellasbusinessesintheParish.Pre-submission(Regulation14)consultationwasheldbetween1August–23September2016.Followingthis,theParishCouncildecidedtorevisethePlanandtorunasecondperiodofRegulation14consultation.Thissecondperiodranbetween6February–20March2017.TheConsultationStatementdetailstheresponsesfromthetwoRegulation14periodsofconsultation.Iconsidertherehasbeensatisfactoryengagementwiththecommunityandotherbodiesthroughouttheprocess.Submission(Regulation16)consultationwascarriedoutbetween11January–22February2018.TheRegulation16stageattracted15representationsfromdifferentpeopleororganisations.Ihavetakenalltherepresentationsreceivedintoaccount.
Page 96
7
4.0 TheexaminationprocessIhavesetoutmyremitearlierinthisreport.Itisusefultobearinmindthattheexaminer’sroleislimitedtotestingwhetherornotthesubmittedneighbourhoodplanmeetsthebasicconditionsandothermatterssetoutinparagraph8ofSchedule4BtotheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended).6PPGconfirmsthattheexaminerisnottestingthesoundnessofaneighbourhoodplanorexaminingothermaterialconsiderations.7WhereIfindthatpoliciesdomeetthebasicconditions,itisnotnecessaryformetoconsideriffurtheramendmentsoradditionsarerequired.SomerepresentationsofferusefulsuggestionswhichtheParishCouncilmaywishtoconsiderwhenthePlanisreviewed.Wheremodificationsarerecommendedtheyappearinboldtext.WhereIhavesuggestedspecificchangestothewordingofthepoliciesornewwordingtheseappearinbolditalics.PPG8explainsthatitisexpectedthattheexaminationwillnotincludeapublichearing.Rathertheexaminershouldreachaviewbyconsideringwrittenrepresentations.Whereanexaminerconsidersitnecessarytoensureadequateexaminationofanissueortoensureapersonhasafairchancetoputacase,thenahearingmustbeheld.9AfterconsiderationofallthedocumentationandrepresentationsIdecidedthatitwasnotnecessarytoholdahearing.IsoughtclarificationonanumberofmattersfromtheParishCouncilandSDCinwritingandmylistofquestionsisattachedtothisreportasAppendix2.IamverygratefultobothCouncilswhohaveprovidedmewithcomprehensiveanswerstomyquestions.Theresponsesreceived(allpubliclyavailable)haveenabledmetoexaminethePlanwithouttheneedforahearing.Additionally,NPIERS,theNeighbourhoodPlanningIndependentExaminerReferralService,haspublishedguidancetoserviceusersandexaminers.Amongstothermatters,theguidanceindicatesthatthequalifyingbody,inthiscase,HarburyParishCouncil,willnormallybegivenanopportunitytocommentuponanyrepresentationsmadebyotherpartiesattheRegulation16consultationstageshouldtheywishtodoso.ThereisnoobligationfortheParishCounciltomakeanycomments;itisonlyiftheywishtodoso.Ifaqualifyingbodywishestomakecomments,theguidanceindicatesthatanysuchcommentsshouldbemadewithintwoweeksaftercloseoftheRegulation16stage.
6PPGpara055refid41-055-201802227Ibid8Ibidpara056refid41-056-201802229Ibid
Page 97
8
IthereforewrotetoaskwhethertheParishCouncilwishedtomakeanycommentsonanyoralloftherepresentationsreceivedatRegulation16stageandaskedforanycommentsby27April2018.TheParishCouncilhaveconfirmedtheydonotwishtocommentonanyoftherepresentations.IamverygratefultoSDCforensuringthattheexaminationhasrunsmoothly.Imadeanunaccompaniedsitevisittotheneighbourhoodplanareaon16May2018.5.0 CompliancewithmattersotherthanthebasicconditionsInowcheckthevariousmatterssetoutinsection2.0ofthisreport.QualifyingbodyHarburyParishCouncilisthequalifyingbodyabletoleadpreparationofaneighbourhoodplan.Thisrequirementissatisfactorilymet.PlanareaThePlanareawasapprovedbySDCon8September2014.ThePlanareaiscoterminouswiththeParishadministrativeboundary.ThePlanrelatestothisareaanddoesnotrelatetomorethanoneneighbourhoodareaandthereforecomplieswiththenecessaryrequirements.ThePlanareaisshownonpage6ofthePlan.PlanperiodThePlancoverstheperiod2017–2031.ThisisclearlystatedonthePlan’sfrontcover.However,page9ofthePlanindicatesthePlanperiodis2011–2031toalignwithSDClevelplans.TheBasicConditionsStatementindicatesthePlanperiodisfromthePlanbeingmade,indicatedas2016,to2031,buttheperiodisconfirmedas2017–2031aswell.Inresponsetoaqueryonthis,ithasbeenconfirmedthatthePlanperiodis2017–2031.ExcludeddevelopmentThePlandoesnotincludepoliciesthatrelatetoanyofthecategoriesofexcludeddevelopmentandthereforemeetsthisrequirement.DevelopmentanduseoflandPoliciesinneighbourhoodplansmustrelatetothedevelopmentanduseofland.Sometimesneighbourhoodplanscontainaspirationalpoliciesorprojectsthatsignalthecommunity’sprioritiesforthefutureoftheirlocalarea,butarenotrelatedtothedevelopmentanduseofland.IfIconsiderapolicyorproposaltofallwithinthis
Page 98
9
category,Iwillrecommenditbeclearlydifferentiated.Thisisbecausewidercommunityaspirationsthanthoserelatingtodevelopmentanduseoflandcanbeincludedinaneighbourhoodplan,butactionsdealingwithnon-landusemattersshouldbeclearlyidentifiable.10Subjecttoanysuchrecommendations,thisrequirementcanbesatisfactorilymet.6.0ThebasicconditionsRegardtonationalpolicyandadviceTheGovernmentpublishedaNationalPlanningPolicyFramework(NPPF)in2012.On24July2018,arevisedNPPFwaspublished.Paragraph214inAnnex1ofthatdocumentexplainsthat:
“ThepoliciesinthepreviousFrameworkwillapplyforthepurposeofexaminingplans,wherethoseplansaresubmittedonorbefore24January2019.Wheresuchplansarewithdrawnorotherwisedonotproceedtobecomepartofthedevelopmentplan,thepoliciescontainedinthisFrameworkwillapplytoanysubsequentplanproducedfortheareaconcerned.”
Footnote69explainsthatforneighbourhoodplans“submission”meanswhereaqualifyingbodysubmitsaplanproposaltothelocalplanningauthorityinaccordancewithregulation15oftheNeighbourhoodPlanning(General)Regulations2012.ItisthereforeclearthatitisthepreviousNPPFpublishedin2012thatisrelevanttothisparticularexamination.AnyreferencestotheNPPFinthisreportrefertotheNPPFpublishedin2012.TheNPPFisthemaindocumentthatsetsoutnationalplanningpolicy.InparticularitexplainsthattheapplicationofthepresumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopmentwillmeanthatneighbourhoodplansshouldsupportthestrategicdevelopmentneedssetoutinLocalPlans,planpositivelytosupportlocaldevelopment,shapinganddirectingdevelopmentthatisoutsidethestrategicelementsoftheLocalPlanandidentifyopportunitiestouseNeighbourhoodDevelopmentOrderstoenabledevelopmentsthatareconsistentwiththeneighbourhoodplantoproceed.11TheNPPFalsomakesitclearthatneighbourhoodplansshouldbealignedwiththestrategicneedsandprioritiesofthewiderlocalarea.InotherwordsneighbourhoodplansmustbeingeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesoftheLocalPlan.TheycannotpromotelessdevelopmentthanthatsetoutintheLocalPlanorundermineitsstrategicpolicies.1210PPGpara004refid41-004-2017072811NPPFparas14,1612Ibidpara184
Page 99
10
TheNPPFindicatesthatplansshouldprovideapracticalframeworkwithinwhichdecisionsonplanningapplicationscanbemadewithahighdegreeofpredictabilityandefficiency.13On6March2014,theGovernmentpublishedasuiteofplanningguidancereferredtoasPlanningPracticeGuidance(PPG).Thisisanonlineresourceavailableatplanningguidance.communities.gov.ukwhichisregularlyupdated.Theplanningguidancecontainsawealthofinformationrelatingtoneighbourhoodplanning.IhavealsohadregardtoPPGinpreparingthisreport.PPGindicatesthatapolicyshouldbeclearandunambiguous14toenableadecisionmakertoapplyitconsistentlyandwithconfidencewhendeterminingplanningapplications.Theguidanceadvisesthatpoliciesshouldbeconcise,preciseandsupportedbyappropriateevidence,reflectingandrespondingtoboththecontextandthecharacteristicsofthearea.15PPGstatesthereisno‘tickbox’listofevidencerequired,butproportionate,robustevidenceshouldsupportthechoicesmadeandtheapproachtaken.16Itcontinuesthattheevidenceshouldbedrawnupontoexplainsuccinctlytheintentionandrationaleofthepolicies.17Whilstthishasformedpartofmyownassessment,theBasicConditionsStatementsetsouthowthePlanhasrespondedtonationalpolicyandguidancethroughasimpletableandcommentaryonhowthePlan’spoliciesalignwiththeNPPF’scoreplanningprinciples.ContributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopmentAqualifyingbodymustdemonstratehowthemakingofaneighbourhoodplanwouldcontributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment.TheNPPFasawhole18constitutestheGovernment’sviewofwhatsustainabledevelopmentmeansinpracticeforplanning.TheFrameworkexplainsthattherearethreedimensionstosustainabledevelopment:economic,socialandenvironmental.19Whilstthishasformedpartofmyownassessment,theBasicConditionsStatementcontainsasectionthatexplainshowthePlanalignswitheachofthethreecomponentsofsustainabledevelopmentoutlinedintheNPPFinTable2.
13NPPFpara1714PPGpara041refid41-041-2014030615Ibid16Ibidpara040refid41-040-2016021117Ibid18NPPFpara6whichindicatesparas18–219oftheFrameworkconstitutetheGovernment’sviewofwhatsustainabledevelopmentmeansinpractice19Ibidpara7
Page 100
11
GeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesinthedevelopmentplanThedevelopmentplanrelevanttothisexaminationistheStratford-on-AvonDistrictCoreStrategy2011to2031(CS)adoptedon11July2016.TheBasicConditionsStatementhasatablethatsetsoutallofthePlanpoliciesanddiscussesthemwithregardtothemostrelevantCSpolicies.Thishasprovidedaveryusefulcontextformyownconsiderationofthisbasicconditionandiscomprehensiveinitscoverageandcommentary.EmergingplansatSDClevelofrelevancetothisexaminationInadditionInotethatSDCiscurrentlypreparingaSiteAllocationsPlan(SAP)whichfocusesontheidentificationofreservesitesinaccordancewithPolicyCS.16oftheCSandcoversanumberofotherissuesincludingthedefinitionofbuilt-upareaboundaries.ConsultationontheSAPRevisingScopingandInitialOptionsendedon9March2018.EuropeanUnionObligationsAneighbourhoodplanmustbecompatiblewithEuropeanUnion(EU)obligations,asincorporatedintoUnitedKingdomlaw,inordertobelegallycompliant.AnumberofEUobligationsmaybeofrelevanceincludingDirectives2001/42/EC(StrategicEnvironmentalAssessment),2011/92/EU(EnvironmentalImpactAssessment),92/43/EEC(Habitats),2009/147/EC(WildBirds),2008/98/EC(Waste),2008/50/EC(AirQuality)and2000/60/EC(Water).StrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentDirective2001/42/EContheassessmentoftheeffectsofcertainplansandprogrammesontheenvironmentisrelevant.Itspurposeistoprovideahighlevelofprotectionoftheenvironmentbyincorporatingenvironmentalconsiderationsintotheprocessofpreparingplansandprogrammes.ThisDirectiveiscommonlyreferredtoastheStrategicEnvironmentAssessment(SEA)Directive.TheDirectiveistransposedintoUKlawthroughtheEnvironmentalAssessmentofPlansandProgrammesRegulations2004.AScreeningDocumentdatedFebruary2017hasbeensubmitted.ThisupdatesanearlierscreeningopinionofOctober2016thatthePlanisunlikelytohavesignificanteffects.TheSEAscreeningwasreviewedbecausearevisedsettlementboundarywasincludedinthePlan.TherevisedScreeningDocumentconcludedthataSEAisnotrequired.Therequisiteconsultationwiththestatutoryconsulteeswasundertaken.Allthreestatutoryconsultees,theEnvironmentAgency(EA),NaturalEngland(NE)andHistoricEngland(HE)respondedwithallthreeconcurringthataSEAwouldnotberequired.IhavetreatedtheScreeningDocumenttobethestatementofreasonsthatPPGadvisesmustbepreparedandsubmittedwiththeneighbourhoodplanproposalandmade
Page 101
12
availabletotheindependentexaminerwhereitisdeterminedthattheplanisunlikelytohavesignificantenvironmentaleffects.20IamoftheviewthatEUobligationsinrespectofSEAhavebeensatisfied.HabitatsRegulationsAssessmentDirective92/43/EEContheconservationofnaturalhabitats,commonlyreferredtoastheHabitatsDirective,isalsoofrelevancetothisexamination.AHabitatsRegulationsAssessment(HRA)identifieswhetheraplanislikelytohaveasignificanteffectonaEuropeansite,eitheraloneorincombinationwithotherplansorprojects.21TheassessmentdetermineswhethersignificanteffectsonaEuropeansitecanberuledoutonthebasisofobjectiveinformation.AScreeningDocumentdatedOctober2017confirmedthatthenearestEuropeansitetothePlanareaisEnsor’sPoolSpecialAreaofConservation(SAC)locatedsome30kmtothenorth.TheScreeningDocumentconcludedthatthePlanwouldnothavelikelysignificanteffectsonanyEuropeansitesaloneorincombinationwithotherplansandconcludedthatafullHRAwouldnotbeneeded.NaturalEnglandwereconsultedandagreedwiththeconclusionoftheScreeningDocument.22Giventhenature,characteristicsanddistanceoftheEuropeansiteandthenatureandcontentsofthePlan,IconsiderthatafullHRAisnotrequiredandthatthefurtherbasicconditionsetoutinRegulation32oftheNeighbourhoodPlanning(General)Regulations2012(asamended)iscompliedwith.IhavealsoconsideredanyimplicationsarisingfromthejudgmentinthecaseofPeopleOverWind,PeterSweetmanvCoillteTeoranta23andaskedthelocalplanningauthoritytodothesame.MylettertoSDCisattachedatAppendix3.SDChaveconfirmedtheydonotconsideranyfurtherHRAworkisneeded.IhavealsoindependentlyconsideredthismatterandconsiderthattheScreeningDocumentislegallycompliantinthelightofthejudgmentandthatnofurtheractionisrequiredasaresultofthisjudgmentinrelationtothisparticularPlan.EuropeanConventiononHumanRights(ECHR)TheBasicConditionsStatementincludesasectiononthis.ThereisnothinginthePlanthatleadsmetoconcludethereisanybreachoftheConventionorthatthePlanisotherwiseincompatiblewithit.PPG24confirmsthatitistheresponsibilityofthelocalplanningauthority,inthiscaseSDC,toensurethatalltheregulationsappropriatetothenatureandscopeofthedraftneighbourhoodplanhavebeenmet.ItisSDCwhomustdecidewhetherthedraftplaniscompatiblewithEUobligationswhenittakesthedecisiononwhethertheplanshould
20PPGpara028refid11-028-2015020921Ibidpara047refid11-047-2015020922LetterfromNaturalEnglandof31October201723CaseC-323/1724PPGpara031refid11-031-20150209
Page 102
13
proceedtoreferendumandwhenittakesthedecisiononwhetherornottomaketheplan.7.0DetailedcommentsonthePlananditspoliciesInthissectionIconsiderthePlananditspoliciesagainstthebasicconditions.Wheremodificationsarerecommendedtheyappearinboldtext.Asareminder,whereIhavesuggestedspecificchangestothewordingofthepoliciesornewwordingtheseappearinbolditalics.ThePlanispresentedtoahighstandardandhastwotablesofcontentsandofpolicieswhicharehelpful.Ifoundthedocumenteasytoreadanduse.Photographsareinterspersedthroughoutthedocumentgivingitadistinctiveflavour.1WhatisaNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlanandwhydoweneedonefortheparishofHarbury?Thiswellwrittensectioncontainsessentialbackgroundinformationandsetsoutasimplediagramtoshowhowtheprocessofplanmaking.ItisausefulleadintothePlan.SomeelementsofitwillofcourseneedsomenaturalupdatingasthePlanprogressestowardsbeingmade.ThereisatypoinFigure3onpage10ofthePlanwhichshouldbecorrected.
§ Adda“s”to“DepperBridge”inFigure3onpage10ofthePlan2PreparingtheHarburyNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlanThiswellwrittensectionsetsouttheprocessofPlanmakingandincludesaveryusefultimelinesummarisingthekeyeventsandmilestonesintheprocess.Thissectionandthetimelineinparagraph2.2willrequiresomenaturalupdatingasthePlanisfinalised.3HarburyProfileThiswellwrittensectioncontainsausefulintroductiontomanyofthekeyissuesfacingtheParishanditsresidents.
Page 103
14
4VisionandObjectivesThevisionis:
“Ourvisionisofasociallycohesiveandmutuallysupportingruralparish.Alowcarbonparishwithadequateinfrastructure,thatrespectsthevalueofthesurroundingfarmlandandnaturallandscapeandoffersessentialservices,recreation,employmentandhousingopportunitiesforpeopleofallagesandincomelevels.”.
Thevisionissupportedbynineobjectives.ThevisionobjectivesareallclearlyarticulatedandareappropriateforthisPlan.However,IagreewithSDCthatitwouldbeappropriatetoensurethatobjective3alignswithPolicyH.07andforthisreason,amodificationisrecommended.Aconsequentialamendmenttothisobjectiveonpage39ofthePlanwillalsobeneeded.TheParishCouncilconfirmsthatthemaponpage28ofthePlanis“Map1”referredtoinPolicyH.01.Inordertohelpwithclarity,amodificationisrecommendedtoincludeatitle,mapnumberandkey.
§ Changetheword“all”inobjective3to“important”
§ Consequentialamendmentstoobjective3willbeneededthroughoutthePlan
§ Addatitle“Map1”andakeytothemaponpage28ofthePlanwhichidentifiesallthefeaturesindicatedonthemapi.e.thesettlementboundaryandthebluetriangles
5PoliciesandProposalsEachofthenineobjectivesheadsasetofpoliciesdesignedtoachievetheobjective.StructuringthePlaninthiswayhasbeensuccessful.PolicyH.01NewHousingDevelopmentinHarburyVillagePolicyCS.16oftheCSrequiresthedeliveryofatleast14,600newhomesbetween2011and2031.DevelopmentisdistributedinaccordancewithCSPolicyCS.15whichsetsoutthesettlementhierarchyfortheDistrict.HarburyisidentifiedasaLocalServiceVillage(LSV)inthishierarchy.WithinLSVs,CSPolicyCS.15explainsthatdevelopmentwilltakeplaceonsitesidentifiedinneighbourhoodplansandthroughsmall-scaleschemeswithinsettlementboundariesorotherwisewithintheirphysicalconfines.
Page 104
15
CSPolicyCS.16providesforapproximately2,000dwellingsinthe45LSVs.Harburyisa‘Category1’LSV.Category1LSVsaretoprovidesome450dwellingsofthe2,000totalwithnomorethanaround25%beingprovidedinanyonesettlement.ThePlanexplainsthatasofMarch201538homeshadbeenbuiltwithafurther90withplanningpermissionequatingto128newdwellingsorsome28%ofthe450dwellingfigureintheCS.Inadditionthebrownfieldsite,HarburyCementWorks,fallspartlywithinthePlanarea,butthe200orsonewdwellingsforthissitehavenotbeenincludedinthecalculationfortheperiodupto2031.SDChascommentedthatthefiguresinparagraph5.7nowrequireupdating.Thelatesthousingfiguresare63dwellingsbuilt,71committedmakingatotalof134houses.Intheinterestsofaccuracythesefiguresshouldbeupdated.IrecognisethatSDCispreparngaSAPwhichwillallocatereservesites.TheSAPdoesnotidentifyasettlementboundaryforHarburybecausethisPlandoesthisalthoughareservesiteisproposedatlandwestofBushHeathLane.TheSAPishoweveratarelativelyearlystageandatthepresenttime,Harburyhasmetandexceeded,itshousingfiguretargetintheCS.SDChasconfirmedthatthePlanmakesappropriateprovisionforhousinginlinewithcurrentrequirements.WhilstarepresentationseekstheinclusionofareservesiteinHarbury,thereisnorequirementforneighbourhoodplanstoallocatesitesregardlessofthemeritsorotherwiseofthosesitesputforward.PolicyH.01directsnewhousingdevelopmenttoHarburyanddefinesanewsettlementboundarywhichisclearlyindicatedonMap1(whichasaresultofanearliermodificationnowclearlytitledwithakey).Thesettlementboundaryincludescommitmentsandtakesaccountofthecommunity’ssupportforprotectingtheeasternandwesternboundariesofthebuilt-uparea.Thepolicythencontainssevencriteriaforanysuchproposalstomeet.Allareclearlywordedandseektoensurethatanydevelopmentisappropriatehelpingtoensurethatitissustainable.Criterionb)referstotheconservationandenhancementofheritageassetsandthisisahighbarthatdoesnotalignwithnationalpolicyandadviceorthestatutorytestfordevelopmentinconservationareasorfordevelopmentthatmightaffectconservationsareaswhichisthepreservationorenhancementofthecharacterorappearanceoftheconservationarea.AccordinglyIrecommendthatcriterionb)ismodifiedtoreflectthisstatutorydutyandtoreflectnationalpolicymoreclosely.Subjecttothismodification,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.Thesupportingtexttothepolicycontainstworeferencesto“PolicyHNDP1”whicharenowsupercededandtheseshouldbebroughtuptodate.
§ Amendcriterionb)toread:“conserveorenhancethesignificanceofdesignatedandnon-designatedheritageassets;”
Page 105
16
§ Changetworeferencesto“PolicyHNDP1”onpage31ofthePlanto“PolicyH.01”
§ Updateparagraph5.7onpage32ofthePlantoread:“…asatMarch2017,63
homeshadbeenbuilt,71dwellingscommittedmakingatotalof134houses.”PolicyH.02NewHousingDevelopmentinDeppersBridgeandtheOpenCountrysideThispolicysetsoutthetypesofdevelopmentthatwillbesupportedinDeppersBridgeandoutsidethesettlementboundaryforHarbury.Itsupportsreplacementdwellings,thereuseofredundantbuildings,developmentthatwouldbringheritageassetsbackintouseandhomesforagriculturalandforestryworkersaddingalocallayerofdetailtoCSPolicyAS.10.Itincludesanumberofappropriatecaveats.DeppersBridgeisidentifiedintheCSasan“othersettlement”whereCSPoliciesCS.15andAS.10indicatethatnewhousingwillbelimitedtosmall-scalecommunity-ledschemeswhichmeetaneedidentifiedbythelocalcommunity.InthisinstancethecommunitydoesnotconsiderdevelopmentinDeppersBridgewouldbesustainableandthereforethispolicyseekstolimitdevelopment.Thereishowever,apotentialinconsistencywithPolicyH.04whichpermitslocalneedsschemesexceptionallyadjoiningthebuilt-upareaofDeppersBridgesubjecttovariousothercriteria.Torecognisethis,modificationismadetothisotherwiseclearlywordedpolicyandsupportingtext.Withthismodification,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.
§ Addanewcriterione)thatreads:“inaccordancewithPolicyH.04.”
§ Removethe“and”attheendofcriterionc)andinsertitattheendofcriteriond)
§ Add“IntheCoreStrategy”atthestartofparagraph5.11onpage34ofthe
Plan
§ Addtheword“However,”tothestartofthesecondsentenceofparagraph5.11
PolicyH.03SecuringaSuitableMixofHousingTypes,TenuresandSizesinNewDevelopmentForschemesofsixormoredwellings,thispolicyrequiresarangeofhousetypes,sizesandtenurestobeprovided.Itspecificallyseekstoprovidefortheneedsofolderandyoungerpeople.ThehousingmixtobeprovidedissubjecttouptodateinformationandconsultationwiththeParishCouncil.
Page 106
17
Thepolicytakesaccountofnationalpolicybyhelpingtoprovideawidechoiceofhomesandplanforamixofhousingbasedontheneedsofthecommunityandwillhelptoachievesustainabledevelopment.ItreflectsCSPoliciesCS.18andCS.19.Amodificationisrecommendedtoaddalittlemoreflexibilityandtoensurethepolicyhastheprecisionsoughtbynationalpolicyandguidance.Inadditionthepolicyrequiresdevelopersto“consultandtakeintoaccounttheviewsoftheParishCouncil…”.WhilstIacceptthisisgoodpractice,IammindfulthattheNPPF,25whilstencouragingearlyengagementandconsultationstatesthatlocalplanningauthoritiescannotrequiredeveloperengagementbeforeaplanningapplicationissubmitted.ThereforeamodificationismadetothiselementofthepolicytotakeaccountoftheNPPF.ThesupportingtextreferstoaHousingNeedsSurveydated2011.ThePlanshouldbe‘futureproofed’andtheinsertionofaphrasetodealwiththisisrecommendedandthiswillalignbetterwithPolicyH.03andH.04.
§ Amendthephrase“…includingaproportionofhomestomeettheneedsofolderandyoungerresidentsaswellasthoseseekingtobuildtheirownhome.”inthepolicyto“includingaproportionofhomessuitabletomeettheneedsofolderandyoungerresidentsaswellasthepotentialtoprovideforthoseseekingtobuildtheirownhomeonappropriatesites.”
§ Changethesentencethatreads“BeforefinalisingthehousingmixonsuchsitesdevelopersshouldconsultandtakeintoaccounttheviewsoftheParishCouncilalongwithup-to-datedemographic,housingneed,selfandcustombuilddemandandstrategichousingmarketinformation.”to“Beforefinalisingthehousingmixonsuchsitesdevelopersmusttakeaccountofup-to-datedemographic,housingneed,selfandcustombuilddemandandstrategichousingmarketinformationandareparticularlyencouragedtoconsultandtakeintoaccounttheviewsoftheParishCouncil.”
§ Addanewsentencetoparagraph5.14onpage36ofthePlanthatreads:
“However,itisappreciatedthatthemostuptodateevidenceonhousingneedshouldbeused.”
PolicyH.04LocalNeedsSchemesPolicyH.04supportshousingthatmeetsevidencedlocalneedsinareaswherehousingwouldnotnormallybeconsideredappropriatesubjecttofourcriteria.ThefirstallowssuchdevelopmentadjoiningthesettlementboundaryforHarburyandthebuilt-upareaofDeppersBridge.Thesecondisthatanysuchdevelopmentissuitablylocatedin
25NPPFpara189
Page 107
18
Harburyandconvenientforservicesandfacilities.Thirdly,thedevelopmentmustbesecuredforlocalneedsinperpertuityandfinallytheParishCouncilshouldbeconsulted.Theintentionofthepolicyisunderstood.However,Ifeelthewordingusedcouldbeimprovedforclarityandprecisionandaccordinglymakemodificationstoreflectthis.FurthermoretherequirementtoconsulttheParishCouncilhasbeendiscussedinrelationtoPolicyH.03andamodificationismadetoalterthistotakeaccountoftheNPPF.Inadditionthispolicypermitshousingtomeetlocalneedsonsitesthatwouldnototherwisebeconsideredsuitableforhousingdevelopment.ArepresentationfromtheEnvironmentAgencyconfirmsthatHarburyandDeppersBridgearelocatedwithinFloodZone1(lowrisk),butthatexistingdevelopmentinDeppersBridgeislocatedwithin100moftheRiverItchenanditsfloodplain.Asaresultthewordingusedinthepolicycouldbeinterpretedthatdevelopmentmightbepermittedinthefloodplain.IconsiderthatinordertoprovidethepracticalframeworkfordecisiontakingsoughtbynationalpolicyandguidancethatanewcriterionshouldbeaddedwhichwilladdresstheEnvironmentAgency’sconcern,takeaccountoftheCSandparticularlyPolicyCS.4andensurethatthePlancontributestotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment.This,togetherwiththeothermodificationstothewordingofthepolicy,willensureitmeetsthebasicconditions.Thereisasmalltypoinparagraph5.15thatshouldbecorrected.
§ AmendPolicyH.04toread:“Whenitcanbedemonstratedthroughrobustanduptodatelocalhousingneedsinformationandthatneedcannotbemetbyaffordablehousingprovisionthroughamarket-ledscheme,housingdevelopmentforlocalneedswillbesupportedwhenallofthefollowingcriteriaaremet:a) InHarburyvillagethesiteshouldadjointhesettlementboundaryandin
DeppersBridgeitshouldimmediatelyadjoinexistingbuiltupdevelopmentinthehamlet;
b) DevelopmentshouldbelocatedinFloodZone1andthefloodplainoftheRiverItchenshouldbemaintainedandwhereopportunitiesarise,restoredtomaximisethenaturalstorageoffloodwater,reducefloodingandincreaselandscape,conservationandecologyvalue;
c) InHarburyvillagethesiteiswithinreasonablewalkingdistanceofpublictransportandlocalcommunityfacilities;
d) Thefutureuseofsuchhousingissecuredinperpetuitytomeetalocalneed.
DevelopersarealsoparticularlyencouragedtoconsultwiththeParishCounciltogaintheirsupportfortheproposalatanearlystage.”
Page 108
19
§ Correct“eception”to“exception”inparagraph5.15onpage37ofthePlanPolicyH.05HousingDevelopmentandDesignPrinciplesHighqualitydesignissoughtbythiscriteriabasedpolicy.ThepolicytakesitsleadfromtheHarburyVillageDesignStatementfirstproducedin1998.Itseekstoensurethatnewdevelopmentisappropriateandreinforceslocaldistinctiveness.Itwillthereforehelptoachievesustainabledevelopment.Ittakesaccountofnationalpolicyandguidancewhichparticularlyseeksgooddesignindicatingitisindivisiblefromgoodplanning.26ItaccordswiththeNPPF’semphasisongooddesignanditsaimstocreateorreinforceasenseofplaceandtorespondtolocalcharacterandhistory.27ItisingeneralconformitywiththeCSandinparticularPolicyCS.9.Thepolicyiswordedclearlyandmeetsthebasicconditions.Nomodifcationsarethereforerecommended.InotethepointmadebySDCthatthispolicyshouldapplytoalldevelopment.Iagreewiththiscomment,butthisisnotamodificationIneedtorecommendinorderforthePlantomeetthebasicconditions.ShouldthischangebesomethingthattheParishCouncilandSDCwishtopursue,theapplicabilityofthepolicytoalldevelopmentratherthanonlyhousingdevelopment,couldbeachievedbyinsertingthepolicyinadifferentsectionofthePlanandchangingthetitleofthepolicybyremovingthewordhousingandremovingthewordhousingfromthefirstparagraphofthepolicy.Inmyviewsuchchangeswouldalsomeetthebasicconditions.PolicyH.06GreenInfrastructureTheNPPFdefinesgreeninfrastructureasanetworkofmulti-functionalgreenspacethatcandeliveravarietyofenvironmentalandqualityoflifebenefits.Inadditiongreeninfrastructurecanhelptomanageimpactsfromclimatechange.Thispolicyplanspositivelyfortheprotection,enhancementandcreationofgreeninfrastructure.ItreflectsCSPolicyCS.7.Itisclearlyworded.Itmeetsthebasicconditionsandnomodificationsaresuggested.26NPPFpara56andSection727Ibidsection7generallyandspecificallypara58
Page 109
20
PolicyH.07ProtectingandEnhancingLocalGreenSpacesAnumberofLocalGreenSpaces(LGS)areproposedbythispolicy.TheNPPFexplainsthatLGSsaregreenareasofparticularimportancetolocalcommunities.28Theeffectofsuchadesignationisthatnewdevelopmentwillberuledoutotherthaninveryspecialcircumstances.Identifyingsuchareasshouldbeconsistentwithlocalplanningofsustainabledevelopmentandcomplementinvestment.TheNPPFmakesitclearthatthisdesignationwillnotbeappropriateformostgreenareasoropenspace.FurtherguidanceaboutLGSsisgiveninPPG.TheproposedareasareallshownclearlyonMaps2aand2b.Appendix2ofthePlancontainsananalysisoftheproposedLGSs.Ivisitedalltheareasonmysitevisit.ChurchPaddockformsanimportantpartofthesettingoftheChurchandiscentraltothehistoriccoreofthevillage.Itisparticularlyvaluedforitswildlife,treesandhistoricvalue.ChurchPaddockAllotmentsisapaddockandallotmentsthatformpartofthesettingoftheChurch,butprovidesallotmentsinacentrallocationandisvaluedforitsrecreationandwildlife.ThePoundisanareaoflandwithmaturetreesandseataswellasastonewallthataddstothecharacterofthevillage.Itisavillagegreenthatisparticularlyvaluedforitsbeautyandtrees.OldNewInnGreenisatriangleofvillagegreenwithintheConservationAreathatischaracteristicofthevillage.BinswoodEndGreenislandonacornerwithahorsechestnuttreeandseatthataddstothesettingofthevillageanditscharacter.ItfallswithintheConservationArea.PumpGreenhasawaterpump,seatingandthewarmemorialandcontributestothesettingoftheChurch.Itisparticularlyvaluedforitshistory.BullringGreenisasmallareaintheheartofthevillagevaluedforitshistoricsignificance.DeppersBridgePlayingFieldisawelldefinedarealargelylaidtograsswithahedgeboundary,largetreesandplayequipmentvaluedastheonlyrecreationareainthissettlement.
28NPPFparas76,77and78
Page 110
21
HarburyPlayingFieldsconsistsofarecreationareawithtenniscourtsandplayequipmentincludingazipwireusedextensivelyforrecreationandwalkingatthetimeofmyvisit.PinehamAllotmentsisadjacenttotheHarburyPlayingFieldsandisanareaofwellusedandbusyallotmentsatthetimeofmyvisit.Itisvaluedforrecreationandwildlife.ManorOrchardGreenformsasmallgrassedareathatformspartoftheintegralcharacterofthisresidentialarea.Itisvaluedforitsrecreationaluse.IqueriedwhetherthisareahadbeenshowncorrectlyonMap2a(AreaH.07k)asaresultofmysitevisit.TheParishCouncilhasconfirmedthatitwasshowninaccuratelyandhaveprovidedacorrectedlocationmap.AsthismapshowstheareaconcernedmorelogicallygiventhefeaturesonthegroundandtheareaissmallerthanthatshowninthesubmissionversionofthePlan,Iconsidernopartywouldbeprejudicedbyamodificationtocorrectlyidentifythissite.FrancesRoadGreenisanareaneararecentlyconstructedterraceofhouseswhichaddstotheopennessoftheestateandcharacterofthearea.SomeoftheproposedLGSsfallwithinaConservationArea.IhaveconsideredwhetherthereisanyadditionallocalbenefittobegainedfromdesignationasaLGSasadvisedbyPPG.29IconsiderthattheLGSdesignationexpressestheareasofparticularsignificanceandimportancetothelocalcommunityandthereforethereisaddedvalue.Inmyview,theproposedLGSsaresensiblyandclearlydefined.Allareincloseproximitytothecommunitytheyserve,arelocalincharacterandholdaparticularlocalsignificancebecauseoftheirbeautyandcontributiontothecharacterandappearanceoftheParish,historicsignificance,theirrecreationvalueorfortheirtreesandwildlife.AllmeetthecriteriaintheNPPFsatisfactorily.Turningnowtothepolicyitself,thepolicyrefersbacktotheMaps2aand2b.Itisclearlywrittenonlyallowingdevelopmentinexceptionalcircumstanceswhilstretainingflexibility.TheonlymodificationssuggestedaretoensurethatthepolicydesignatestheseareasasLGSsandtomakethepolicywordingclearerandmorereflectiveoftheNPPF’sstanceonLGSs.Inresponsetoaquery,aslitheroflandisshownonMap2athatdoesnotappeartobeaproposedLGS.Intheinterestsofaccuracy,thisarea,asewageprocessingstationoffBushHeathLaneshouldbedeletedfromMap2a.Inaddition,aphotographofQueensCloseGreenisincludedinthissectionofthePlan,butisnotaproposedLGS.Toavoidanyconfusion,thisshouldberemovedfromthissectionofthePlan.
29PPGpara011refid37-011-20140306
Page 111
22
§ Substitutethewords“willbeprotected”inthefirstsentenceofthepolicywitharedesignated”
§ Deletethewords“fornon-openlanduses”inthelastparagraphofthepolicy
§ CorrecttheareaforproposedLocalGreenSpaceH.07kshownonMap2abyamendingMap2atoaccordwiththemapsenttomeinresponsetomyquestionsofclarificationbyemailof18June2018
§ RemovetheslitheroflandoffBushHeathLanefromMap2a
§ RemovethephotoofQueensCloseGreenfromthissectionofthePlan
PolicyH.08ProtectingSmall,IncidentialOpenSpacesThispolicyseekstoprotectothersmallerareasofopenspacesuchasgrassverges.Thepolicyonlypermitsthelossofsuchareasifasuitablealternativeisprovidedoritcanbedemonstratedthatthespaceperformsnousefulfunction.Inmyview,itwouldbeunlikelythateitherofthesescenarioswouldarisegiventhelikelynatureofthesespaces.IhavethereforeconsideredwhethertheprotectionofthesespacesisimportanttothecharacterandsettingoftheParish.Atmysitevisit,Isawthatsuchspacesdoformpartoftheintegralcharacteranddistinctivenessofthearea.Theirprotectionwouldcontributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment.Thepolicyinitselfisclearlyworded.However,intheinterestsofclarityitshouldbelinkedtotheopenspacesidentifiedinAppendix2ofthePlan.Subjecttothismodification,thepolicywouldmeetthebasicconditions.
§ Addthewords:“asidentifiedinAppendix2ofthePlan”after“…inthelossoftheothersmall,openspaces…”inthefirstsentenceofthepolicy
PolicyH.09ProtectingSignificantViewsThesupportingtextexplainsthatviewsoutofHarburyareimportantbecauseofthetopographyandlandscapeofthearea.Theseareimportanttoitscharacter,itsdistinctivenessinthelandscapeandtoits‘feel’andsenseofplaceasIexperiencedonmysitevisit.PolicyH.09seekstoensurethatanydevelopmentthatmightaffecttheseviews,identifiedclearlyonMap1,onpage28ofthePlan,willtakeaccountofthem.Inadditionviewswithinthevillageofthewindmillandparishchurcharesimilarlyprotected.
Page 112
23
IsaweachofthefourviewpointsidentifiedonMap1atmyvisittogetherwithviewsofthewindmillandchurch.AllhavebeenidentifiedappropriatelyandtheviewsonMap1providelongerdistanceviewsacrossthesurroundingfarmlandandlandscapeandareclosetopublicfootpaths.TheviewsintheheartofthevillageareimportantwithglimpsesaswellaswiderviewsofthewindmillandchurchaddingmuchtothecharacterofHarbury.TheVillageDesignStatementalsorecognisestheimportanceoftheseviews.Thepolicyprovidesanappropriatebalancebetweenprotectingimportantviewsandsupportingdevelopment.Ittakesaccountofnationalpolicyandguidanceinrecognisingtheintrinsiccharacterandbeautyofthecountrysideandpromotingandreinforcinglocaldistinctivenessandwillhelptoachievesustainabledevelopment.Amongstotherthings,CSPolicyCS.9referstotheneedforsensitivedevelopmentthatmakesthebestuseofonsiteassetssuchaslandscapingfeaturesandpublicviewsandvistasanddoesnotharmexistingones.IconsiderthispolicyaddsalocallayertoCSPolicyCS.9andbuildsonearlierworkundertakenaspartoftheVillageDesignStatement.Itthereforemeetsthebasicconditionsandnomodificationsarerecommended.PolicyH.10LandscapeDesignPrinciplesPolicyH.10isacriteriabasedpolicythatseekstoensurethatanydevelopmenttakesaccountoftheparticularlandscapefeaturesthataresoimportanttoitssettingandlocaldistinctiveness.Thecriteriaincludethepreservationofthewell-definedeastandwestboundariesofHarbury,treesandhedgerowsandlightingimpactondarkskies.ItpicksuponthedistinctivecharacteristicsandfeaturesoftheParishandtakesaccountofCSPolicyCS.5.Thepolicyiswordedwellandwillcontributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment.Itthereforemeetsthebasicconditionsandnomodificationsarerecommended.PolicyH.11EnsuringNewDevelopmentProvidesAppropriateInfrastructureThispolicyseekstoensurethattherightinfrastructureaccompaniesdevelopment.Itisnotprescriptiveaboutwhatthisinfrastructuremightbeandsothereisalevelofflexibilitywithinit.Thesupportingtextexplainsthatthecommunityisparticularlyconcernedaboutservices,roads,drainageandseweragecapacity.Inadditionissuessuchasschoolplacesandmedicalfacilitiesarereferredto.Thetextincludesatableofpotentialinfrastructureimprovementsthatthecommunitywouldliketosee;somerelatedtothedevelopmentanduseoflandandothermatterssuchasdogfoulingwhicharenot.Neverthelessthetableillustratestherangeofissueswell.Thetextexplainsthat
Page 113
24
infrastructurewillbesecuredthroughplanningobligationsaswellasCommunityInfrastructureLevy(CIL).SDChasnowadoptedCILandsosomeupdatingisneededtoparagraph5.26.Whilstthepolicyisnon-specific,itacknowledgestheneedforinfrastructureandthecommunity’sdesiretoseekimprovementstoawidevarietyofissues.Thepolicyisclearlywordedandmeetsthebasicconditions.InparticularitwillhelptoachievesustainabledevelopmentandaddsalocallayerofdetailtoCSPolicyCS.25.Asaresultnomodificationstothepolicyarerecommended.
§ Updatethesecondsentenceinparagraph5.26onpage49ofthePlanbyreplacingthewords“…whenitisadoptedlaterin2017”to“adoptedon11December2017andeffectivefrom1February2018.”
PolicyH.12ProtectingExistingCommunityFacilitiesPolicyH.12containsalistof18facilitiesrangingfromthevillagehalltopublichousesthatthePlanseekstoprotect.Thepolicyonlysupportsthelossofanyfacilitiesifequivalentorbetterprovisionismadeelsewhereorafteraminimummarketingperiodof12monthsitcanbeshownthattheuseisnolongerviable.The18facilitiesareshownonMaps3and4.Thepolicyisclearlywordedandtakesareasonableapproach.InotethatSDCcommentthatusuallyaminimummarketingperiodofsixmonthsisusedandthispolicyseeksaminimumofayear.Inordertoaddalittlemoreflexibility,amodificationismadetoaddressthispoint.TheNPPF30promotestheretentionanddevelopmentoflocalservicesandcommunityfacilitiesincludingshops,publichousesandplacesofworship.CSPolicyCS.25seekstoretainsuchfacilitiessubjecttovariouscriteria.
§ Addthewords“orasotherwisemaybejustifiedbythecircumstancesofthepremisesinquestionandagreed”after“…(aminimumoftwelvemonths…”inthepolicy
PolicyH.13DevelopmentofNewCommunityFacilitiesThispolicysupportsnewfacilitiesorimprovementstoexistingfacilitiesprovidedthatanyeffectsonlocalcharacter,landscapeandresidentialamenityareacceptable.Facilitiesforyoungerandolderresidentsareparticularlyencouraged.Itreflectsthe
30NPPFpara28
Page 114
25
stanceoftheNPPFinrelationtolocalservicesandcommunityfacilitiesinruralareasandwillhelptoachievesustainabledevelopment.Itthereforemeetsthebasicconditionsandnomodificationsaresuggested.PolicyH.14SustainableDesignandEnergyEfficiencyPolicyH.14seekstoachievesustainabledesignandenergyefficiencyandthisisclearlyofimportancetothecommunity.Thesupportingtextreferstotwocommunityinitiatives,theHarburyEnergyInitiativeandtheElectricCarClub.However,theGovernmentannouncedinaWrittenMinisterialStatement(WMS)of25March2015,thatitisnotappropriatetorefertoanyadditionallocaltechnicalstandardsorrequirementsrelatingtotheconstruction,internallayoutorperformanceofnewdwellingsinneighbourhoodplans.Someofthemeasuresreferredtointhepolicywouldberegardedassuchstandards.However,Iconsiderthatasthepolicyencourages,ratherthanrequires,suchmeasuresandthereforeisflexibleinitsapproachtoachievingsustainabledesignandenergyefficiency,thenthepolicywouldmeetthebasicconditionsinthisregard.ThepolicyalsoappliestoothertypesofdevelopmentandisingeneralconformitywiththeCS,particularlyPoliciesCS.2,CS.4andCS.9.Criterionc.ofthepolicyseekstheuseofsustainabledrainage.AWMS31advisesthatfrom6April2015,policyanddecisionsonmajordevelopmentshouldensurethatSustainableDrainageSystemsareputinplacewhereappropriate.Thereforewithsomeflexibilitythiscriterionwillbeacceptable.InadditionSDCmakethepointthatthiscriterionshouldalsoreferto“upstream”.Themodificationsuggestedwilladdressbothissues.
§ Amendcriterionc.toread:“Usesustainabledrainagetoreduceriskoffloodingonsite,downstreamandupstream,whereveritisappropriatetodoso;and”
PolicyH.15HighwaysandTransportThispolicyseekstoensurethatthetrafficimpactonthelocalroadnetworkfromnewdevelopmentisacceptableandpromotestheuseofpublictransport.ThisisinlinewiththeNPPF’spromotionofsustainabletransport.ItreflectsCSPolicyCS.26.ThewordingofthepolicydoesnotprovidethepracticalframeworkwithinwhichdecisionsonplanningapplicationscanbemadewithahighdegreeofpredictabilityandefficiencysoughtbytheNPPF.32Thisisbecausethepolicyonlyseekssafeandsuitableaccesswhereappropriate.Therearealsotwoothermodificationstoensurethepolicy31WrittenMinisterialStatement18December201432NPPFpara17
Page 115
26
providesthepracticalframeworksoughtbynationalpolicy.Subjecttothismodification,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.
§ AmendPolicyH.15toread:“Developmentproposalsshouldincludemeasurestominimiseandmakeacceptableanyimpactonthelocalroadnetworkbyproviding:
a.safeandsuitableaccess;andb.encouragingtheuseofpublictransportincludingnewandenhancedpedestrianroutestotheexistingnetworkandwherenecessarynewbusinfrastructure.”
PolicyH.16BusinessandEmploymentDevelopmentintheCentreofHarburyVillageShops,businesses,officesandcommunityusesaresupportedbythispolicyprovidedthatanyimpactsontheConservationAreaandthecharacteroftheParishareacceptableandsubjecttosatisfactorytrafficandtransportimpacts.ThepolicytakesaccountoftheNPPF’sstanceonthedevelopmentoflocalservicesandcommunityfacilitiesandCSPolicyCS.22whilstrecognisingthekeyissuesofcommunityconcern.Thepolicymeetsthebasicconditionsandinparticularwillcontributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopmentandnomodificationsarerecommended.PolicyH.17ProtectingExistingEmploymentPremisesTheNPPFsupportsprosperousruraleconomiesandeconomicgrowthtosupportjobs33andCSPolicyCS.22seekstoprovideforawiderangeofbusinessesandcommercialactivitiesinsustainablelocations.FoursitesidentifiedonMap5areprotectedforemploymentusebythispolicy.Employmentuseisalsoencouragedonthesefoursitessubjecttosatisfactoryimpactsonthelocalroadnetworkandresidents.Thepolicyisflexibleinthatchangesofusearepermittediftheexistinguseisnolongersuitableaftermarketingandtheproposednewusewouldbecompatiblewithadjacentusesandoccupiers.Thislattercriterionistobeparticularlywelcomedgiventheimpactthatdifferentorotherusescanhaveonoccupiersofbusinesspremisesandreflectstheagentofchangeprinciple.ThewordingofthepolicyrequiresmoreprecisionandclarityinlinewithnationalpolicyandguidanceandtotakeaccountofthestanceintheCS.Subjecttothesemodifications,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.
33NPPFpara28
Page 116
27
Aseparatelyidentifiedcommunityactiontoestablishabusinessnetworkisalsoincludedinthesupportingtext.Itishoweververyclearthatthisisanon-planningissue.
§ Amendthesecondparagraphofthepolicytoread:“Developmentforemploymentusesinthesespecifiedareasandpremiseswillbesupportedprovidedthattheproposalwouldhaveanacceptableimpactonthelocalroadnetworkandresidentialamenity.”
§ Amendcriteriona.toread:“Theexistinguseisnolongerconsideredsuitableorviableforcontinuedemploymentuseafteranappropriateperiodofactivemarketingtobeagreedwiththelocalplanningauthority;and”
PolicyH.18ProtectingandEnhancingLocalShopsandBusinessesSupportforUseClassesA1,A2andB1isgivenbythispolicy.Anychangesofuseofretailpremisestonon-retailusesareonlysupportedifthereisnolongeraneedforthefacilityorbetterprovisionisprovidedelsewhereintheParish.ThereisacleardesiretosupporttheexistinglevelofsuchfacilitiesthatHarburyvillageiscurrentlyfortunatetohave.ThePlanexplainsthatthesearevaluedlocalfacilities.However,thereisadangerthatthelatterhalfofthepolicymightstagnatethosepremiseswhicharenolongerviable.Subjecttoinclusionofthisinthepolicy,itwillprovideapracticalframeworkfordecisionmakingassoughtbytheNPPFandmeetthebasicconditions.
§ Amendthesecondparagraphofthepolicytoread:“Changeofuseofretailpremisestonon-retailuseswillonlybesupportedwhereplanningpermissionisrequirediftheapplicantcandemonstratethereisnolongeraneedforsuchprovisionortheuseisnolongerviable,orsuitable,orbetterprovisionisprovidedinasuitablelocationelsewhereinorconvenienttotheneighbourhooodplanarea.”
PolicyH.19ProtectingLocalHeritageThispolicyseekstoconserve16differentlocalnon-designatedheritageassetsnamedinthepolicyandshownonMap6.Theassetsrangefrompumpstostonewallstoironwork.Thepolicyalsoseekstoensurethatarchaeologicalassetsaretakenintoaccount.ItismyunderstandingthatwhilstthePlancanidentifyapotentiallistofsuchassets,theprocessforidentifyinglocalheritageassetsrestswiththelocalplanningauthority.The
Page 117
28
Plancouldhoweveridentifythesebuildingsashistoricstructuresoflocalsignificanceworthyofbeingpreservedandenhanced.Itisalsopossibleforapolicy,asPolicyH.19does,toseektoretainandprotectlocalheritageassets.TheNPPFexplainsthatthesignificanceofanon-designatedheritageassetshouldbetakenintoaccountinthedeterminationofanyplanningapplication.34Abalancedjudgmentwillbeneededhavingregardtothescaleofanyharmorlossandthesignificanceoftheasset.35ThewordingofthepolicythereforeneedssomeamendmenttoensureregardishadtotheNPPFaswellasCSPolicyCS.8.Withthemodificationsdetailedbelow,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.
§ Changethefirstparagraphofthepolicytoread:“DevelopmentshouldconservethefollowingheritageassetslistedbelowandidentifiedonMap6takingintoaccountthescaleofanyharmorlosstothemandthesignificanceoftheheritageasset:”
6HowtocommentonthisdocumentThissectionwillofcourseneedtoberemovedfromthefinalisedverisonofthePlan.
§ Removesection67MonitoringandReviewAnnualmonitoringwillbeundertakenbytheParishCouncilandawillingnesstoreviewthePlanasnecessaryissignaled.Whilstmonitoringisnotarequirementofneighbourhoodplans,Iconsideritgoodpracticetodoso.AppendicesAppendix1ListedBuildingsusefullycontainsinformationaboutlistedbuildingsasofMay2016isprovided.ItwouldbeusefultoensurethatusersofthePlanseekthemostuptodateinformationandthisshouldbeaddedsothatthePlanprovidesapracticalframeworkfordecisionmaking.
§ AddasentencetothefirstparagraphofAppendix1thatreads:“ThemostuptodateinformationonlistedbuildingsshouldbesoughtfromHistoricEnglandorthelocalplanningauthority.”
Appendix2LocalGreenandOpenSpacesAnalysisisusefulandsitsalongsidePolicyH.07ofthePlan.34NPPFpara13535Ibid
Page 118
29
Appendix3SitesofSpecialScientificInterestisreferredtoonpage15ofthePlan.Appendix4PublicRightsofWayisusefulandrelatestoPolicyH.10.8.0ConclusionsandrecommendationsIamsatisfiedthattheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan,subjecttothemodificationsIhaverecommended,meetsthebasicconditionsandtheotherstatutoryrequirementsoutlinedearlierinthisreport.IamthereforepleasedtorecommendtoStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncilthat,subjecttothemodificationsproposedinthisreport,theHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlancanproceedtoareferendum.Followingonfromthat,IamrequiredtoconsiderwhetherthereferendumareashouldbeextendedbeyondtheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodPlanarea.IseenoreasontoalterorextendthePlanareaforthepurposeofholdingareferendumandnorepresentationshavebeenmadethatwouldleadmetoreachadifferentconclusion.IthereforeconsiderthatthePlanshouldproceedtoareferendumbasedontheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodPlanareaasapprovedbyStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncilon8September2014.Ann SkippersMRTPIAnnSkippersPlanning30July2018
Page 119
30
Appendix1ListofkeydocumentsspecifictothisexaminationHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan2017–2031Regulation16SubmissionConsultationDraftBasicConditionsStatementdatedNovember2017ConsultationStatementNovember2017StrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentScreeningDocumentFebruary2017HabitatsRegulationsAssessmentoftheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodPlanOctober2017HarburyPlanningPolicyAssessmentandEvidenceBaseReviewJuly2015TrafficandTransportWithinDeppersBridgeUndatedreportVillageDesignStatement1998Stratford-on-AvonDistrictCoreStrategy2011–2031SiteAllocationsPlanRegulation18ConsultationRevisedScoping&InitialOptionsJanuary2018andAppendicesVariousinformationonwww.harbury-pc.gov.ukListends
Page 120
31
Appendix2QuestionsofclarificationfromtheexaminerExaminationsoftheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodPlanQuestionsofclarificationfromtheExaminertotheParishCouncilandStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncil(SDC)HavingcompletedmyinitialreviewoftheNeighbourhoodPlan(thePlan),IwouldbegratefulifbothCouncilscouldkindlyassistmeasappropriateinansweringthefollowingquestionswhicheitherrelatetomattersoffactorareareasinwhichIseekclarificationorfurtherinformation.Pleasedonotsendordirectmetoevidencethatisnotalreadypubliclyavailable.QuestionsrelatingtotheNeighbourhoodPlan1. WasadedicatedwebsitefortheNeighbourhoodPlanestablished?
2. Page58oftheConsultationStatementindicatesthatTables5and6setoutthe
responsesreceivedtothe‘second’Regulation14periodofconsultation.PleaseconfirmwhetherthisiscorrectandifsowhethertheConsultationStatementincludestherequisiteinformation.
3. Page13ofthePlanreferstoaPlanningPolicyAssessmentandEvidenceBase
Reviewandothertechnicaldocuments.DotheseremainrelevanttothePlanandifso,pleasedirectmetowhereImightfindthem.
4. Pleaseprovidemewithacopyof,oralinkto,amapthatshowstheapproved
neighbourhoodplanarea(thelinkontheSDCdoesnotprovidethis).5. PleaseconfirmthedatetheneighbourhoodplanareawasapprovedbySDC.6. PleaseconfirmthestartandenddatesofthePlanperiod.7. Pleaseprovidemewithacopyof,oralinkto,anyresponsereceivedfromNatural
EnglandinrelationtotheconsultationontheHabitatsRegulationsAssessment.8. Pleaseprovidemewithacopyof,orlinkto,theseparatereportonDeppersBridge
referredtoonpage22ofthePlan.9. Isthemaponpage28ofthePlan,Map1referredtoinPolicyH.01?10. PleasewouldSDC:
a) provideuptodatehousingfigurestoupdateparagraph5.7onpage32ofthePlan
b) confirmwhetherornotSDCissatisfiedthePlanmakesappropriateprovisionforhousinginlinewithCSrequirementsatthecurrenttime
Page 121
32
c) confirmthetimeperiodforthesefigurestoensureitalignswiththePlanperiod(seequestion6above).
11. InrelationtoPolicyH.07,hastheproposedLocalGreenSpaceatManorOrchard
GreenbeencorrectlyidentifiedonMap2a?12. ThereisaslitheroflandidentifiedonMap2athatdoesnotseemtobeaproposed
LocalGreenSpace.Isthisright?Pleaseletmeknowwhatthisareais.13. IsthephotographofQueensCloseGreenonpage43correctlyincludedinthePlan?14. InrelationtoPolicyH.08,are[all]theseothersmall,openspacesidentifiedin
Appendix2ofthePlan?Ifnot,whataretheotherspacesnotidentifiedasproposedLocalGreenSpacesinAppendix2?
15. Pleaseprovidemewithacopyof,orlinkto,theVillageDesignStatement.ItmaybethecasethatonreceiptofyouranticipatedassistanceonthesemattersthatImayneedtoaskforfurtherclarificationorthatfurtherquerieswilloccurastheexaminationprogresses.Pleasenotethatthislistofclarificationquestionsisapublicdocumentandthatyouranswerswillalsobeinthepublicdomain.BothmyquestionsandyourresponsesshouldbeplacedontheCouncils’websitesasappropriate.
Withmanythanks.AnnSkippersIndependentExaminer27May2018
Page 122
33
Appendix3LettertoSDCof12July2018
Page 123
This page has been left intentionally blank
© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Page 1 of 7Harbury and Deppers Bridge $he3bwuak.doc
Equality Impact Assessment
Section Planning Policy Officer(s) responsible for the screening/scoping
Rosemary Williams, Policy Planner and John Careford, Policy Manager (Planning and Housing)
Name of Policy/Strategyto be assessed
Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan
Date of Assessment
Is this a proposed new or existing policy/strategy?
New Policy document
Signature of responsible officer (to be signed after the EqIA has been completed)
Page 125
Item 4
Appendix 3
© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP EQIA Page 2 of 7
Form A1INITIAL SCREENING FOR STRATEGIES/POLICIES/FUNCTIONS FOR EQUALITIES RELEVANCE TO ELIMINATE
DISCRIMINATION, PROMOTE EQUALITY AND FOSTER GOOD RELATIONS
High relevance/priority Medium relevance/priority Low or no relevance/priority
Note: 1. Tick coloured boxes appropriately, and depending on degree of relevance to each of the equality strands2. Summaries of the legislation/guidance should be used to assist this screening process
Business Unit/Services:
Relevance/Risk to Equalities
State the Function/Policy /Service/Strategy being assessed:
Gender Race Disability Sexual Orientation
Religion/Belief Age Gender Reassignment
Pregnancy/ Maternity
Marriage/Civil Partnership (only for staff)
Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP
x x x x x x x x x
Are your proposals likely to impact on social inequalities e.g. child poverty for example or our most geographically disadvantaged communities? If yes please explain how.
The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP seeks to have a positive impact on social inequalities by:
Providing, where necessary, small housing developments with a 'lifetime housing' design, in keeping with the parish style and nature, allowing opportunities for people of all incomes and ages to live in the parish of Harbury;
Providing a range of types, tenure and sizes of dwellings will be required, including a proportion of homes to meet the needs of older and younger residents, as well as those seeking to build their own home.
Supporting local needs schemes in areas where housing will not normally be considered suitable (subject to conditions); Investing in community buildings, recreation space and associated equipment to ensure these are adequate for an
increased population; Expecting all new development to provide an appropriate level of infrastructure to meet the needs and demands arising
from the development; Preserving and protecting important green spaces within the village by designating Local Green Spaces and retaining
countryside views out across a natural landscape; Protecting Existing Employment Premises and encouraging home working and local employment opportunities, thus
reducing the need for vehicle travel to work.
YES
Page 126
© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP EQIA Page 3 of 7
Are your proposals likely to impact on a carer who looks after older people or people with disabilities? If yes please explain how.
NO
Form A2 – Details of Plan/ Strategy/ Service/ Policy
Stage 1 – Scoping and Defining
(1) What are the aims and objectives of Plan/Strategy/Service/Policy?
Neighbourhood Development Plans are one of a new set of community rights brought in by the Localism Act in 2011. Neighbourhood Plans are planning documents which, when ‘made’ (adopted) by the District Council will carry the same weight as the Local Plan. The Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) covers the Parish area of Harbury. Policies included within the Plan will affect the people who live, work and visit the Parish. The overarching ‘Vision’ for the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP is:“Our vision is of a socially cohesive and mutually supporting rural parish. A low carbon parish with adequate infrastructure, that respects the value of the surrounding farmland and natural landscape and offers essential services, recreation, employment and housing opportunities for people of all ages and income levels”. The NDP also includes the following strategic objectives:HousingTo provide, where necessary, small housing developments with a 'lifetime housing' design, in keeping with the parish style and nature, allowing opportunities for people of all incomes and ages to live in the parish of Harbury. To ensure that a significant proportion of the new housing development is affordable and retained in perpetuity for those with a 'local' qualification. Local EconomyTo maintain a thriving Harbury village centre by retaining commercial space for business, shops and pubs as well as supporting important volunteer run facilities. Encourage home working and local employment opportunities, thus reducing the need for vehicle travel to work.Local AmenitiesTo ensure that valued community facilities, local shops and services are maintained and where possible enhanced in order to promote sustainable livingBuilt EnvironmentTo invest in our community buildings, recreation space and associated equipment to ensure these are adequate for an increased population.To ensure all new developments provide safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists to access Harbury village centre, thus discouraging use of cars for short, local journeys. Consideration should be given to providing a diverse range of transport options with links to local centres, aiming at reducing car ownership, congestion in Harbury village centre and competition for parking spaces.
Page 127
© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP EQIA Page 4 of 7
To protect and enhance all historic and heritage sites in the parish.Natural EnvironmentTo preserve the rural nature of Harbury village, with wildlife corridors and farming coming right into the heart of it as it does at present To preserve and protect important green spaces within the village and retain countryside views out across a natural landscape.To lower the carbon footprint of the parish by supporting energy conservation measures, ensuring all new housing is built to a high standard of energy efficiency and water conservation, making them truly affordable to run and maintain, ensuring also that all extension and renovations of existing buildings to be carbon neutral, where possible.InfrastructureTo ensure adequate infrastructure in the parish is included and funded when any new developments are planned
(2) How does it fit with Stratford District Council’s wider objectives?
The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP is consistent with wider objectives contained in the Sustainable Community Strategy, Housing Strategy, Business and Enterprise Strategy and the adopted Core Strategy.
(3) What are the expected outcomes? The expected outcomes of the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP are set out in the Vision and Strategic Objectives of the Plan itself and more specifically within a number of the individual policies.
(4)Which of the groups with protected characteristics is this intended to benefit? (see form A1 for list of protected groups)
The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP is not intended to benefit any one particular group. It is relevant to everyone who will live, work or visits the District over the plan period to some degree.
Stage 2 - Information Gathering(1) What type and range of evidence or information have you used to help you make a judgement about the plan/ strategy/ service/ policy?
The evidence base for assessing the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP is of the same nature as the Core Strategy, which includes primary and secondary information. This includes studies commissioned to establish the level of housing provision, issues around affordability and deliverability. Additional local evidence has been gathered to inform individual policies within the Plan. The Strategic Environmental Assessment screening carried out in relation to the NDP also included consideration of baseline data and the potential for significant effects on people.
The Basic Conditions Statement submitted with the NDP contained a short statement indicating that the Plan had had regard to fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and that it was fully compliant with the Human Rights Act. The Examiner confirmed that there was nothing in the NDP that led him to conclude there was any breach of the Convention or that the Plan was otherwise incompatible with it.
Page 128
© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP EQIA Page 5 of 7
(2) Have you consulted on the plan/ strategy/ service/policy and if so with whom?
The production of the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP has been an iterative process with community consultation central to its production. However, the NDP has also been through two formal consultation processes in accordance with The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The first being a 6 week Regulation 14 ‘Pre-Submission’ consultation carried out by the Parish Council as ‘Qualifying Body’. The second 8 week (due to consultation being carried out over the Christmas period) consultation was the Regulation 16 ‘Formal Submission’ consultation carried out by the Local Planning Authority.
Groups consulted on the NDP at both consultation stages included: Local businesses Local residents Community groups ‘Statutory’ consultees listed in the Regulations, including Historic England; Environment
Agency and Natural England.(3) Which of the groups with protected characteristics have you consulted with?
The consultations set out above were open to all interested parties. The DistrictCouncil has a database of individuals and organisations that it contacts to inform them of the commencement of consultations. Any individual or group may be placed on the database. This database was shared with the Parish Council for the Regulation 14 consultation, for consistency. The only group with protected characteristics that was specifically consulted was Accessible Stratford, in relation to issues of disability.
Stage 3 – Analysis of impact(1) From your data and consultations is there any adverse or negative impact identified for any particular group which could amount to discrimination?
If yes, identify the groups and how they are affected.
RACENo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against individuals of any race.
DISABILITYNo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against this equality group.
GENDERNo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against either gender.
MARRIAGE/CIVIL PARTNERSHIPNo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against this group.
AGENo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against people of specific age groups.
GENDER REASSIGNMENTNo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against this equality group.
Page 129
© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP EQIA Page 6 of 7
RELIGION/BELIEFNo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against this equality group.
PREGNANCY MATERNITYNo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against this equality group.
SEXUAL ORIENTATIONNo
No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against this equality group.
(2) If there is an adverse impact, can this be justified?
No adverse impacts in relation to the identified groups are anticipated.
(3) What actions are going to be taken to reduce or eliminate negative or adverse impact? (This should form part of your action plan under Stage 4.)
No negative or adverse impacts are anticipated therefore no actions are needed.
(4) How does the plan/strategy/service/policy contribute to promotion of equality? If not what can be done?
The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP will contribute to the promotion of equality by seeking to ensure access to suitable and affordable housing, employment opportunities, services and facilities for all.
(5) How does the plan/strategy/service/policy promote good relations between groups? If not what can be done?
This question is not relevant to the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP.
(6) Are there any obvious barriers to accessing the service? If yes how can they be overcome?
This question is not relevant to the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP.
Stage 4 – Action Planning, Review & MonitoringIf No Further Action is required then go to – Review & Monitoring (1)Action Planning – Specify any changes or improvements which can be made to the service or policy to mitigate or eradicate negative or adverse impact on specific groups, including resource implications.
No further action is required.
EqIA Action Plan
Action Lead Officer Date for completion
Resource requirements
Comments
N/A
Page 130
© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP EQIA Page 7 of 7
(2) Review and MonitoringState how and when you will monitor policy and Action Plan
The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP does not include a section on Monitoring and Review. The Neighbourhood Planning Regulations allow for NDPs to be reviewed and amended as and when the need for change is identified. In such circumstances, the PC would work with SDC to amend the Plan as necessary. Should significant sections of the Plan become out of date, a new NDP could be produced through the NDP procedures.
Should the NDP be reviewed or superseded within the Plan Period (up to 2031), the EqIA would be monitored and updated at the same time as the review of the NDP.
Page 131
This page has been left intentionally blank
Stratford-on-Avon District Council Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan
Decision Statement published pursuant to the Localism Act 2011, Schedule 38A (9) and Regulations 19 and 20 of theNeighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012
At Stratford-on-Avon’s Council meeting on 17 December 2018, Members decided to make the Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan under Section 38A (4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). The Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan now forms part of the Development Plan for Stratford-on-Avon District.
Reasons for decision:The Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan meets the Basic Conditions and its promotion is compliant with legal and procedural requirements. Paragraph 38A(4)(a) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires the District Council to make the Neighbourhood Development Plan if more than half of those voting in the referendum have voted in favour of the Plan being used to help to decide planning applications within the Neighbourhood Area. The Plan was endorsed by more than the required threshold in the referendum held on 29 November 2018.
This decision statement can be viewed on the Stratford-on-Avon District Council website:www.stratford.gov.uk/harburynp
Copies can be viewed at the District Council main reception at:
Stratford-on-Avon District CouncilElizabeth HouseChurch StreetStratford-upon-AvonCV37 6HX
8.45am and 5.15pm Mondays to Wednesdays
8.45am and 5.00pm on Thursdays and Fridays.
Telephone: 01789 267575
Page 133
Item 4
Appendix 4
This page has been left intentionally blank