| | CPRE GLOUCESTERSHIRE BRANCH
| Policy Statement Planning for Housing and Employment |
This statement sets out a set of principles which CPRE will use to inform its advice on Local Development Documents (LDDs).
Containment
Provision for housing and employment should be considered together, ensuring that housing provision is in step with employment growth, so reducing the need for longer distance commuting as far as possible. In rural areas, where there is imbalance, development of small scale employment opportunities should be encouraged and free market residential development strictly limited.
Priority to development of brownfield sites
The priority should be to develop brownfield sites in preference to green field sites, so aiding urban regeneration and limiting loss of countryside unnecessarily.
District Councils should set ambitious targets for brownfield develpoment in their areas and carefully pace the release of green field development land to ensure that brownfield development opportunities are realised first.
Government advice in PPS 3 has confirmed that the definition of brownfield land includes the curtilage of developed land but that there is no presumption that the whole of the curtilage should be developed. We will use this advice to oppose inappropriate development of gardens and excessive infilling in villages. Special care is also needed in redevelopment of suburban areas at higher densities to avoid loss of character.
Affordable housing
There should be increased provision of affordable housing in rural communities. However, the need for affordable housing should not justify provision of “excess” market housing in order to achieve sufficient affordable house through planning obligations. In this context, lower thresholds should be sought in villages and small towns where there is a requirement to provide an affordable housing component in residential development.
District Councils should make use of the new provision in PPS 3 to allocate and release sites solely for affordable housing in rural communities
We accept the continued use of the “exceptions policy” for affordable housing in rural areas. But any proposal must demonstrate need and the housing must remain affordable in perpetuity.
Housing mix
Recognising the increasing number of single person households, the needs of families and the need for increased provision of affordable housing, all significant housing developments should offer a mix of dwelling sizes and an element of affordable housing.
Housing density and design
Land should be used efficiently. Higher housing densities should be aimed for consistent with good design. With careful attention to design and layout, attractive developments can be created at higher density.
Local character and distinctiveness
New development in villages and small towns should respect local character and distinctiveness and settlement pattern. In terms of design, this does not mean simply aping the past: there is a place for innovative designs which can still be “in keeping”
Sustainable construction
Development should be constructed to the highest standards of energy efficiency. Renewable energy installations should be encouraged so long as these are visually acceptable. In all significant developments, local authorities should require a proportion of energy supply to be provided from on-site renewable energy sources.
Focussing growth around Gloucester and Cheltenham
CPRE agrees with the Regional Assembly that most new employment opportunities are likely to arise in and around the major centres of Gloucester and Cheltenham. Accordingly, it endorses the proposals in the draft Regional Spatial Strategy that growth should be focussed on these areas (defined in the RSS as Strategically Significant Cities and Towns) with growth in the smaller market and other towns such as Stroud and Tewekesbury limited to that necessary to serve their hinterlands, and growth in villages and hamlets limited to local needs only, ie the needs of the current residents. In all cases, the principle of containment should apply.
AONBs
Development plans and planning decisions should recognise the purposes of designation and the priority attached to conserving and enhancing natural beauty, wildlife and the cultural heritage.
Development outside AONBs should be resisted if it would adversely affect the AONB.
Re-use of redundant buildings in the countryside
Conversion to residential use is not generally supported where development would be outside settlement boundaries in unsustainable locations. A small scale business use would be preferable, particularly if associated with land management. However, where a building is of architectural or historical significance and conversion to employment or social use proves not feasible, sympathetic residential conversion would be preferable to abandonment.