DRAFT
8
Rother District Council: Local Development Scheme
March 2009
Contents
Page
No.
1. Introduction 3
2. Overview of the Rother Local Development Framework 4
3. Programme Management 6
Appendix 1 – Glossary of Terms 9
Appendix 2 – Schedule of Saved Policies 10
Appendix 3 Local Development Document (LDD) profiles 14
North Bexhill Masterplan SPD 14
Core Strategy DPD 15
Site Allocations DPD 16
Proposals Map 17
The Down, Bexhill SPD 18
Appendix 4 – Timetable for DPD (and SPD) preparation 19
1. Introduction
1.1. This Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out a three-year programme for the preparation of ‘local development documents’ (LDDs) that will together constitute the ‘Local Development Framework’ (LDF) for Rother District. The nature of documents that comprise the LDF is defined in the Glossary at Appendix 1.
1.2. Rother District is the most easterly District in East Sussex. It has a population of some 88,200 and covers in the region of 200 square miles. The main settlements are the coastal town of Bexhill and the historic centres of Battle and Rye. Outside these areas, the District is mainly rural in character with dispersed villages, much of the area falling within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
1.3. This LDS has been prepared in accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and related Regulations, amended in 2008.
1.4. It is noted that imminent further regulations will bring effect to the 2008 Planning Act, which will cease to require inclusion of ‘Supplementary Planning Documents’ (SPDs) or the ‘Statement of community Involvement’ (SCI) with the LDS. However, this LDS does identify where such documents exist and the future programme for their production/review where currently known, for completeness.
1.5. This LDS covers the period April 2009 – April 2012. It replaces the 2007 LDS, and has been necessitated by a combination of the need to consider the combined effects of changes to the plan-making process (introduced by the amendments to the 2004 Regulations) and revisions to LDF guidance published last year, as well as by a review of progress to date, priorities and resources.
1.6. Regard has been had to the recent ‘Annual Monitoring Report’ (AMR), published in December 2008, in preparing this LDS. Future AMRs will review both progress in preparing DPDs and the effectiveness of policies, and may lead to the review of this LDS.
Regional/Strategic Context
1.7. Regional Planning Guidance Note 9 (March 2001)1 currently provides the regional framework for the preparation of development plans in the South East.
1.8. However, this will be superseded by the emerging new ‘Regional Spatial Strategy’ (RSS) for the South East (known as ‘The South East Plan’). At this point, ‘Proposed Modifications’ have been published following Examination, and consulted upon. Final approval is expected shortly.
1.9. When approved, The South East Plan will form part of the statutory ‘development plan’ and set the regional policy context for all local development documents. It is also expected to supersede the currently ‘saved‘ policies of the East Sussex and Brighton and Hove Structure Plan, as identified on East Sussex County Council’s website.
1.10. Other key regional policy documents include the South East Regional Housing Strategy, the Regional Economic Strategy and the Regional Transport Strategy.
1.11. A new Integrated Sustainable Community Strategy for East Sussex, which incorporates the earlier Rother Community Plan, was approved in 2008. Its priorities set the context for future DPDs, which should give spatial expression to the Community Strategy.
1 Parts of RPG9 have been amended by partial reviews in relation to strategies for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Tourism, Transport and Waste and Minerals.
2. Overview of the Local Development Framework (LDF)
2.1. At present, the local statutory plan is the Rother District Local Plan (adopted July 2006). This sits alongside saved policies of the Minerals Local Plan (November 1999) and the Waste Local Plan (February 2006), and together with RPG9, forms the ‘development plan’ for Rother. This means that planning applications should be determined in accordance with these documents unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
2.2. All Local Plan policies are saved at least until July 2009. The Council has requested that the Secretary of State issue a Direction to ‘save’ them until such time as they are replaced by new Development Plan Documents (DPDs). The LDS has been prepared on the basis of their continuing saved status being agreed. A schedule outlining the timetable for reviewing/replacing saved policies is included at Appendix 2.
2.3. Diagram 1 below illustrates the range of documents that will duly supersede the Local Plan and collectively will make up the ‘Local Development Framework’ for Rother.
Diagram 1 – The ‘Local Development Framework’ for Rother
2.4. The role of each type of document is explained in Appendix 1. Substantive local planning policy documents are those in yellow, while “process” documents are shown in purple.
2.5. Table 1 overleaf shows the status of each document at March 2009 and, where appropriate, the timetable for subsequent stages to adoption. This is elaborated upon by the ‘profiles’ for individual local development documents in Appendix 3, and illustrated in the Gantt Chart at Appendix 4.
2.6. The Council’s first priorities are:
a) adoption of the North East Bexhill Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), that will elaborate upon the strategic mixed-use development allocations, as contained in the Local Plan; and
b) completion of the remaining stages of the over-arching Core Strategy DPD, to provide a clear vision, objectives and key policies for development and change for the period up to 2026 (as far as possible in concert with that for Hastings Borough).
2.7. The next priority is preparation of a Site Allocations DPD, which will identify the full range of development sites needed to help fulfil the Core Strategy and maintain a supply of available housing and employment land. This may also contain detailed development management policies if any such policies are deemed too detailed for the Core Strategy. The Council is also looking to prepare an SPD for a key site in central Bexhill, elaborating on a mixed-use Local Plan policy.
Table 1: Schedule of Local Development Documents to April 2012 (ü denotes completed stage)
Document / Role and Subject / Area Coverage / Chain of Conformity / Public Participationopportunities / Sub-mission / Adoption /
Statement of Community Involvement / Sets out the policy and approaches for involving interested parties in the preparation of LDDs. / District-wide / n/a / April – May 2005 (pre-production)
ü
June – Sept 2005 (pre-submission)
ü / Nov 2005
ü / August 2006
ü
Affordable Housing SPD / Provides guidance on securing the delivery of affordable housing in the District. / District-wide / RDLP adopted/
saved Policy HG1 / March 2006
Early engagement
ü
June – July 2006
ü / n/a / October 2006
ü
North Bexhill SPD / Guides co-ordinated development of major mixed-use allocations. / North East Bexhill / RDLP, particularly Policies BX2/BX3 / June - July 2007
ü / n/a / May 2009
Core Strategy DPD / Gives spatial vision, strategy and policies for change and development. / District-wide / South East Plan / Oct – Nov 2006
Issues & Options
ü
Nov 08 – Jan 09
Strategy Direction
ü
Jan – Feb 2010
Submission Draft / May 2010 / March 2011
Site Allocations DPD / Allocates land for development in accordance with the Core Strategy. / District-wide / Core Strategy, South East Plan / July – Sept 2010
Options
April- May 2011
Submission Draft / August 2011 / Feb 2012
The Down, Bexhill SPD / Guides the co-ordinated development of a mixed-use allocation / Central Bexhill / RDLP, Policy BX9 / Nov - Dec 2009 / n/a / March 2010
Proposals Map DPD / The graphical presentation of policies/proposals on an OS base map. / District-wide / Adopted RDLP and DPDs / n/a / n/a / Adoption of site specific policies
2.8. The draft Rock Channel Area Development Brief SPD (July 2007) which proposed guidance on the mix, layout and form of development and associated requirements for Land at Rock Channel, Rye in accordance with RDLP Policy RY3 is not being progressed at present but will be reviewed in the light of the new strategy for Rye. The Statement of Community Involvement will be reviewed to respond to recent legislative changes, in the light of forthcoming regulations and guidance. It is noted that, under new legislation, this to be done, and for further SPDs to be prepared without the need to review the LDS.
2.9. The adopted Local Plan, Statement of Community Involvement and Affordable Housing SPD, as well as emerging Core Strategy, other SPDs and evidence studies are all published and available to view on the Council’s website at www.rother.gov.uk
3. Programme management
Member and Officer roles in production of the LDF
3.1. Table 2 below outlines the key Council participants involved in the LDD preparation.
Group / Roles and Expertise /· Strategy & Environment team (Planning) / · Prime responsibility for preparing and progressing all elements of the LDF
· Development Control/Appeals & Enforcement (Planning) / · Information exchange re application and success (or otherwise) of policies
· Identification of policy gaps
· Assistance with SCI production (in respect of major applications)
· Inter-departmental Working Group (representation from Planning, Policy & Performance, Housing, Regeneration, Legal, Amenities, Environmental Health, IT) / · To help ensure compliance with Corporate and Service objectives and with the Community Plan at early and key stages in LDD preparation
· To provide a ‘non-planning’ audit
· To promote awareness of the role and scope of planning policy documents
· To share best practice
· Strategic Management Team / · Watching Brief and ensure alignment with Corporate direction
· LDF Lead Member / · Lead Member for all aspects of LDD preparation
· Planning Committee / · To inform Cabinet’s consideration of draft LDDs based on the Committee’s experience of determining planning proposals
· LSP Board / · To ensure consistency with the Community Plan
· To help secure community and public agency involvement
· To help the dissemination of information about the LDDs
· To inform future content of the Community Plan
· Cabinet / · To steer the preparation and content of LDDs at key stages
· Scrutiny Committee / · To monitor, as necessary, the decisions taken in respect of LDDs by the Cabinet.
· Full Council / · To consider and agree the content of LDDs at key stages
Management Responsibilities and Arrangements
3.2. The day to day management of the production of the LDDs is undertaken by the Principal Planning Officer (Strategy & Environment). The management is overseen by the Head of the Planning Division and informed through the regular Divisional management meetings and by a corporate Working Group. In addition, the Strategic Management Team (SMT) maintain a watching brief over all aspects of the production of the LDDs.
3.3. The Lead Member for the LDF will oversee the preparation of the elements of the LDF and will be involved at early and key stages of the process.
Reporting Arrangements
3.4. The Council’s Cabinet, which meets monthly, oversees the preparation of the LDDs, guiding and informing the production process at key stages. The Council’s Constitution requires matters of policy also to be reported to Full Council.
3.5. Accordingly, documents at the ‘submission’ stage of preparation will be considered by Full Council prior to their being sent to the Government Office. DPDs at the earlier stages of preparation, and SPDs, will be considered by Cabinet. Planning Committee’s views will be sought at an early stage for both DPD and SPDs.
3.6. In addition, the LSP Board may receive reports and/or presentations on the key stages in the DPD production process. The views of the LSP Board, as representatives of key stakeholder groups, will be sought to inform the content of the DPDs. Close liaison will also be maintained with Parish Councils, as well as other representative bodies such as the High Weald Forum and regeneration partnerships.
Evidence Base
3.7. A number of evidence studies have been completed. However, others will be needed to inform the preparation of LDDs. These are specified in the individual profiles for each of the LDDs in Appendix 3 of this LDS. The programme takes account of the time needed to compile the evidence base prior to the issues and options stage for each DPD.
Strategic Environmental Assessment/Sustainability Appraisal
3.8. LDDs will be subject to Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and, where required, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Independent advice may be needed to help provide the necessary baseline data for both processes. Assessment of the sustainability, and specifically the environmental, implications of the policies will be prepared and published at the key stages in LDD preparation in line with the SEA Regulations (see Council website).
Resources
3.9. The Strategy and Environment Section comprises 4.5 full time equivalent planning officers, with administrative and technical support. The Section, headed by the Principal Planning Officer, has further responsibilities beyond the preparation of the LDF and the team also includes a Conservation and Design Officer and a Trees Officer.
3.10. Beyond the expertise in the team, the support of other members of Council staff will be requested at key stages in the preparation process. Assistance will be provided by Development Control officers where capacity exists due to reduced planning application workload. The inter-departmental working group will provide the mechanism for involving expertise in the Council in respect of key aspects on the LDDs’ preparation.
3.11. External expertise will be required to assist with the preparation of specialist studies and assessments. Specifically, specialists are likely to be required to verify the Strategic Environmental Assessment of LDDs, landscape appraisals and viability assessments.
3.12. The resource requirements will be regularly monitored in line with the Council’s existing budgetary processes. The LDS programme is partly funded by base budget and partly by Government grant. Future grant will be required to continue to support the base budget.