Regulation 18 draft Local Plan

The national policy guidance on conserving and enhancing the natural environment and the criteria that apply to sites of national and international importance for biodiversity and geological conservation is set out in the NPPF. Paragraph 179 of the NPPF sets out to protect and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity, plans should:

1. identify, map and safeguard components of local wildlife-rich habitats and wider ecological networks, including the hierarchy of international, national, and locally designated sites of importance for biodiversity; wildlife corridors and steppingstones that connect them; and areas identified by national and local partnerships for habitat management, enhancement, restoration, or creation; and
2. promote the conservation, restoration and enhancement of priority habitats, ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority species; and identify and pursue opportunities for securing measurable net gains for biodiversity.

The Council has a legal duty to conserve biodiversity. The Local Plan has a key role in ensuring that future growth, especially in terms of housing and the economy, can take place without damaging the high-quality environment. If impacts are unavoidable then the Council must make sure mitigation is put in place to reduce any harm. This is particularly important in relation to the internationally protected habitats and species designations.

Protection of Sites, Habitats and Species

Green (vegetation) and blue (water) assets together form a network which brings a wide range ofbenefits in addition to the habitats they provide. Rutland has 19 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) including Rutland Water which, as an internationally important wetland for wintering and passage wildfowl, is also designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site. There are 284 local wildlife sites and important areas of calcareous grassland and ancient and broadleaved woodland in the County.

Irreplaceable habitats include heathland, ancient parkland, veteran trees, ancient semi-natural woodland and mature broadleaved plantation woodland, species rich and ancient hedgerows, species-rich grasslands, significant wetland systems and floodplains and natural watercourses.

Minerals extraction in particular has the potential to cause adverse impacts on the environment due to the nature of operations. It is essential therefore that due regard is given to the potential adverse impacts on the natural environment and appropriate avoidance and/or mitigation measures identified, or as a last resort, compensatory mitigation measures identified. Nevertheless, mineral extraction has the potential to also bring significant environmental benefits through site restoration. In all cases restoration should be sought in line with Policy MIN9 - Restoration and aftercare.

Th issues and Options consultation showed that there was overall support (65% of respondents) for undertaking a mapping exercise to record a biodiversity baseline for Rutland and to identify locations for providing opportunities to improve biodiversity.

A biodiversity assessment for the whole of Rutland was completed in May 2023.

To retain existing policies from the adopted Local Plan (updated where needed) and rely on national policy.

Rutland County Biodiversity Assessment (May 2023)

CS21 – The Natural Environment

SP19 – Biodiversity and Geodiversity Conservation

The Environment Act 2021 establishes a new mandatory system of spatial strategies for nature. Biodiversity Net Gain is likely to play a large part in ensuring strategies are delivered within local authority areas.

This issue was not specifically raised in the Issues and Options consultation.

No alternatives were considered; preparing a Local Nature Recovery Strategy is a requirement of the Environment Act 2021.

Rutland County Biodiversity Assessment (May 2023)

Which existing policies will this policy replace?

This is a new policy. No current adopted planning policies in place with respect to local nature recovery.

The Council has a legal duty to conserve biodiversity. A key role for the Local Plan is to ensure that future growth, especially in terms of housing and the economy, can take place without damaging the high-quality environment. If impacts are unavoidable then the Council must make sure mitigation is put in place to reduce any harm. This is particularly important in relation to the internationally protected habitats and species designations.

Government policy requires biodiversity net gain to be sought through planning policies and decisions. Biodiversity net gain should deliver measurable improvements for biodiversity by creating or enhancing habitats in association with development and can be achieved on or off site. One of provisions of the Environment Act (2021) is the mandatory requirement for new developments to provide 10% biodiversity net gain.

New evidence on biodiversity and wildlife for the County has been prepared. This evidence will provide the baseline against which Biodiversity Gain Plans for development proposals and the metric will be assessed. The biodiversity evidence covers the whole County and provides detailed information on existing habitat and species. The biodiversity study indicates that there is a paucity of biodiverse rich habitat in the County and opportunities to increase it should be identified. It recommends that the council seeks at achieve more than 10% net-gain wherever possible, however it does recognise that this might be difficult to achieve on-site in some cases where the sites is biodiverse rich. The Whole Plan Viability evidence considers the impact of requiring 20% biodiversity net-gain (as well as the national 10% requirement) and this demonstrates that the impact this higher requirement will have on viability is limited and should therefore be deliverable on all site typologies. The preferred policy approach is to require 15% net gain on site for all qualifying development proposals.

The Council will, consider providing further detailed guidance on this policy in the form of a Supplementary Planning Document which will set out the requirements for on-site and off-site net gain for:

• conservation objectives;
• long term management and monitoring;
• funding arrangements and costs for any local or strategic offsetting schemes. Requirements and processes for planning applications

The Issues and Options consultation highlighted a need to ensure existing opportunities for biodiversity net gain and ecological enhancements are optimised. The consultation showed considerable support with 65% of respondents supporting a mapping exercise to record a biodiversity baseline for Rutland and to identify locations where there are opportunities to improve or restore existing wildlife habitat and create new habitat to strengthen the ecological network across the plan area.

To review and update existing Local Plan policies to take full account of national planning policy and guidance, and the Environment Act.

Rutland County Biodiversity Assessment (May 2023)

This provides a robust evidence base for the preparation of biodiversity and natural environment policies and proposals in the new Local Plan as well as informing a diverse range of other policy requirements such as Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS), Green and Blue Infrastructure and climate change.

This is a new policy. No current adopted planning policies in place with respect to local nature recovery.

Rutland County Council has a statutory duty (s197 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990) to consider the protection and planting of trees when granting planning permission for proposed development.

There are various ways that trees may be protected, the most well-known being Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs). Protection is also afforded to trees in conservation areas, and trees may be protected in the short term by planning conditions. TPOs are made to ensure retention of individual trees, groups of trees, or woodland considered to be of amenity value, and any person who cuts down or damages a tree protected by a TPO is guilty of an offence for which they may be prosecuted and fined. In more rural areas, the felling of trees in woodlands is controlled by Forestry Commission Felling Licences, while the removal of certain agricultural hedges is controlled by the Hedgerows Act.

The NPPF (2023) promotes the need to contribute to and enhance the natural environment and recognise the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services of trees and woodland^[1]. Paragraph 131 states that trees make an important contribution to the character and quality of urban environments. Planning policies and decisions should ensure that new streets are tree-lined and that opportunities are taken to incorporate trees elsewhere in development.

Whilst green and blue infrastructure accounts for 95% of our land cover in Rutland, our tree cover is low. Semi-natural broadleaved woodland accounts for only 2.09% of the land within the County, (822.23 ha), although plantation woodland covers a larger area (4.26% or 1,673.82 ha). The diagram below shows the woodland cover in Rutland (diagram from GBI report).

Figure 4

Trees have many benefits to landscape, wildlife, and the economy, so planting more trees is an important aspect of creating resilient and climate positive places and is a priority for Rutland.

Modest increases in tree canopy can make a significant contribution to climate change adaptation by reducing the urban heat island effect and improving air quality which often declines with higher temperatures. They also contribute to good water management and an increasingly important effect of trees is their ability to slow the flow of rainwater and reduce the risk of flooding. They contribute to other less tangible benefits; they absorb CO2 and help create a significant carbon sink by sequestering carbon through photosynthesis.

Trees absorb nitrates and phosphates^[2] which are present in the soils of agricultural land and can have significant consequences to water quality. This overlaps with another priority for Rutland highlighted in the GBI study which is to enhance Rutland's water and soil quality^[3].

The figure below summarises the wide-ranging benefits trees provide.

Figure 5

Planting more trees in Rutland is essential to provide these lasting benefits however it is also very important to consider how to protect existing trees. Consultation conducted in the production of the Green and Blue Infrastructure study concluded that the importance of tree retention over tree replacement was of significant importance.

Ancient Woodland

Ancient woods are areas of woodland that have persisted since 1600 in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. They are relatively undisturbed by human development and as a result, they are unique and complex communities of plants, fungi, insects and other microorganisms^[4]

The NPG^[5] states that ancient woodland takes hundreds of years to establish and is defined as an irreplaceable habitat. It is a valuable natural asset important for:

Aged and veteran trees are those which, because of their great age, size or condition are of exceptional wildlife, landscape, or cultural value. Mature trees, woodlands and hedgerows are sensitive to the impacts of development, either directly through their removal or indirectly through the impacts of construction or the future use of the site. Due to the length of time and the cost taken to replace mature features, and the contribution they can make to the quality of development, they should be retained and protected wherever possible.

Responses to the Issues and Options consultation highlighted the importance of tree planting as part of nature-based solutions to carbon saving measures through carbon capture and sequestration, as well as contributing to planted buffers, flood management, water efficiency, soil and water quality and health and well-being benefits.

65% of the responses to the consultation question on the options for the protection of green and blue infrastructure (GBI) showed support for development of a GBI strategy for the protection, enhancement, and management of the green and blue infrastructure network. This has been developed and identifies and maps the GBI assets of Rutland which includes tree cover. This evidence has strengthened the existing policy approach by developing a strategy to establish potential opportunities to protect and improve the management of green and blue infrastructure assets such as trees. This strategy has provided evidence for the development of this policy.

The Green and Blue Infrastructure study (2023) highlights the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges of green and blue Infrastructure in Rutland especially in relation to the low tree cover in Rutland. It makes several suggestions for how to improve the tree cover and the multi-functional benefits of doing this. The biodiversity report also evidences the low tree cover in Rutland and makes a policy suggestion from the evidence to combat this.

Green and Blue Infrastructure Study. The Environment Partnership, 2023

Rutland County Biodiversity Assessment (May 2023)

CS21 – The natural environment

CS23 - Green Infrastructure, open space, sport, and recreation

SP19 - Biodiversity and geodiversity conservation

The NPPF requires Local plans to consider the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land (BMV). Where significant development of agricultural land is considered, the Council should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to higher quality, subject to other sustainability considerations. 'A Green Future: Our 25-year plan to improve the Environment' sets out the government's 25-year plan to improve the health of the environment by using natural resources more sustainably and efficiently. It plans to protect the best agricultural land and put value on soils as part of our natural capital. They have set a target to manage soils in a sustainable way by 2030.

BMV Agricultural land is graded from 1 to 3a. The highest grade of land is that which:

Development of the best and most versatile agricultural land will only be supported where it can be demonstrated that the need for the development, its benefits and/or sustainability considerations outweigh the need to protect such land taking into account the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land.

The need to identify and maintain an appropriate supply of land for development creates some pressure for development of agricultural land despite a focus on bringing forward brownfield sites where possible.

Only a small part of the County is graded as Best and Most Versatile, however some of that land is located around the County town of Oakham and some Larger Villages, this makes identifying land for development challenging in this location and it may be that some BMV land is necessary to ensure that the need for homes and jobs can be met in a sustainable manner.

No alternatives have been considered

Rutland Renewable Energy Study 2023

Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy 2023

This is a new policy.

The NPPF requires local authorities to make every effort to promote healthy communities, meet the challenges of climate change and flooding and conserve and enhance the natural and historic environment through the planning process^[6].

Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) sets out the value and benefits of open space, sports and recreation and the need to protect and enhance Public Rights of Way (PRoW)^[7]. Green infrastructure helps absorb pollutants, including emissions from farmland, enabling better air quality. The PPG considers climate change and how a comprehensive approach to green infrastructure can promote better water efficiency and water quality. Green infrastructure can also reduce overall flood risk on development through sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), which can also deliver benefits for amenity, recreation, and wildlife.

The 25 Year Environment Plan sets out government action to help the natural world regain and retain good health. It aims to deliver cleaner air and water in the UK, protect threatened species and provide richer wildlife habitats. It calls for an approach to agriculture, forestry, land use and fishing that puts the environment first.

The National Planning Policy Framework^[8] (NPPF, 2023) defines GBI as "A network of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic, health and wellbeing benefits for nature, climate, local and wider communities and prosperity."

The types of GBI assets that make up the GBI network in Rutland, comprising both public and private green and blue spaces are:

• agricultural land
• allotments
• amenity open space
• grounds to public buildings
• grounds to religious buildings as well as stand-alone cemeteries
• parks and gardens
• private gardens
• sport facilities
• vegetation along transport corridors
• semi-natural habitats
• water: watercourses, canals, and reservoirs
• trees and woodland

People and nature benefit from a multitude of natural resources and processes that are dependent on ecosystem health. Benefits to people provided by nature have been termed 'ecosystem services' which are grouped into four broad categories:

• provisioning services, such as the production of food and clean water
• regulating services, such as managing the climate
• supporting services, such as nutrient cycles and crop pollination
• cultural services, such as recreational benefits

Figure 7

Figure 7 is taken from Natural England's Green Infrastructure Framework which provides a structure to analyse where greenspace in urban environments is needed most. The Green Infrastructure principles wheel outlines what good GBI looks like and the principles that should be followed to achieve this.

The Rutland Green and Blue Infrastructure Study sets out the green and blue infrastructure network and strategy for Rutland. It sets out the Rutland green and blue infrastructure vision which is "…host a well-connected, accessible and resilient network of green and blue infrastructure which brings multiple benefits to the environment whilst providing people with the opportunity to come into contact with diverse and nature-rich open spaces." Rutland County Council will work in partnership with landowners, businesses, and communities to deliver the GBI vision.

Rutland's top five GBI priorities in achieving this vision and the first step in making green and blue infrastructure at the core of our decision making are:

1. restoring biodiversity and ecosystem integrity;
2. protecting and enhancing tree cover;
3. enhancing water and soil quality;
4. incorporating GBI into new developments; and
5. enabling active lifestyles and accessibility to GBI.

The Green and Blue Infrastructure Study maps the distribution of broad habitat types: agricultural, greenspace (or grassland), semi natural, water, woodland and non-GBI, Designated sites and opportunities for ecological connections. The green and blue infrastructure network can be viewed on the Rutland interactive map and within the Rutland GBI Study.

An Open Space Assessment was undertaken as part of the GBI study. It comprises of an assessment of the quantity, accessibility, quality, and value of open spaces within Rutland County and for each of the 15 sub-areas. The typologies of open spaces in Rutland are mapped. Local needs are identified, and the current and future provision of each sub area was reviewed. Local standards for open space provision and recommendations and based on the findings of this assessment were developed as part of this study. Policy SP7- Creation of New Open Space sets out how the requirements of new residential development of 10 dwellings or more to create new open space.

New Development

Green infrastructure is integral to developing new places, significantly contributing towards places where people want to live, work, and invest. The population of Rutland is projected to grow over the plan period, so creating thriving and prosperous places for Rutland's current and future residents is a key aspect of sustainable development. Development brings opportunities to enhance the network and deliver new green infrastructure of all types and sizes.

The NPPF recognises the opportunities that appropriately located and well-designed open spaces can provide. Paragraph 98 states "Access to a network of high-quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities and can deliver wider benefits for nature and supports efforts to address climate change."

New development should contribute to the extension of the green and blue infrastructure network, helping to address deficiencies in provision and providing good quality connections to the network and throughout the development. Open space should be provided on-site where possible. If the provision cannot be made on the application site an off-site location should be considered. In cases where the provision of open space cannot be met on-site the developer cannot provide an offsite location either, the council will seek developer contributions towards the costs of providing necessary facilities though developer contributions or the community infrastructure levy.

The Issues and Options consultation asked the public's opinion on options for the protection of green and blue infrastructure. 65% of respondents supported the option to develop a GBI strategy for the protection, enhancement, and management of the GBI network in Rutland. This work was commissioned and is the evidence for the development of this policy.

Other comments highlighted the importance of the encouraging multifunctional GBI and the consideration of other benefits of GBI such as landscape value, health, heritage, climate mitigation and play. It is important to consider the various ecosystem services to ensure that new development supports the opportunities nature can provide. Many respondents stressed the importance of biodiversity conservation and expansion when discussing the GBI network of Rutland.

The theme of health and wellbeing came up many times in comments received in the consultation discussing ensuring that the community has access to leisure and recreational uses that are also sensitive to habitats and their management.

Comments recognised that when planned and delivered well GBI can provide benefits to everyone for the long term and play a vital role in placemaking.

The Issues and Options consultation considered the alternative of continuing with the current policy approach however there was significant support for strengthening this approach with the development of a GBI strategy and discussed the many multifunctional benefits that well designed and managed GBI can provide.

Green and Blue Infrastructure Study 2023

Rutland County Biodiversity Assessment 2023

CS21 – The natural environment

CS23 - Green infrastructure, open space, sport, and recreation

CS24 – Rutland Water

SP15 – Design and amenity

SP19 - Biodiversity and geodiversity conservation

Open spaces and frontages are an integral part of the built environment of settlements and add to the rural character of the market towns and villages by affording views into the countryside, providing the setting and relationship between buildings, and providing openness to the settlement. These open spaces also add to the distinct character of a settlement and their removal could dramatically alter the character and setting of buildings of a village or town. It is therefore important that the value of these open spaces is safeguarded. This Local Plan protects existing Important Open Spaces and Frontages (IOSF) which have been identified by Rutland County Council as important to the settlement in which they are located.

The NPPF advises that access to high quality open spaces can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities and should not be built on unless they are surplus to requirements, the loss would be replaced by better provision, or the development is for alternative sports and recreation provision.

Important frontages can include stone walls, high hedges, and a belt of trees or other features of significance to the character of an area or settlement. Their disruption would often adversely affect this character and their retention is therefore important. Sites were identified in the Review of Important Frontages and Open Spaces (2012 and 2017) and are mapped on the policies maps.

A number of settlements in Rutland have prepared Neighbourhood Plans, some of these contain designations for Important Open Space or an equivalent. These open spaces have not been duplicated as part of this policy, as they have their own protection through the Neighbourhood Plan in which they are designated.

No alternatives have been considered for this policy.

Review of Important Frontages and Open Spaces (2012 and 2017)

SP21- Important open space and frontages

Local Green Space (LGS) is a national designation, as referenced in the NPPF^[9], which aims to protect green areas or spaces which are demonstrably special to a local community and hold a particular local significance. Parish and Town Councils, through Neighbourhood Plans, can identify green areas of particular importance to them for special protection as Local Green Spaces. LGS designation can be used where there is evidence which demonstrates the green space meets the following criteria:

• it is in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves
• it is demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including playing fields), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife
• it is local in character and scale and not an extensive tract of land

Additionally, the green space should-

Planning permission will only be granted for development proposals on LGS in very special circumstances. These exceptions are set out in the NPPF and align with Green Belt status.

When Neighbourhood Plans are being prepared or reviewed, consideration may be given to the designation of green space which are of particular importance to the community for special protection as Local Green Spaces. Proposals for the designation of a site as an LGS must meet the criteria set out above.

No alternatives have been considered for this policy.

National Planning Policy Framework 2023

This is a new policy.

Rutland Water is an important reservoir providing water supplies to the East Midlands and areas to the south and east. It is an internationally important site for nature conservation with a major role as a recreational facility with importance for tourism and the local economy.

The reservoir and its immediate surrounds have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a RAMSAR site and Special Protection Area with national and international importance for passage and breeding waterfowl. As such, it receives statutory protection, and any development will be subject to strict controls to ensure that it does not adversely affect the integrity of the site.

It also plays a major role in providing recreational activities, of both a passive and active nature, such as sailing and water sports, walking, cycling, bird watching, fishing, and picnicking and it is recognised that some limited development may be needed to support this role.

The NPPF requires that planning policies should recognise the hierarchy of international, national, and locally designated sites of importance for nature conservation. It also seeks to promote a strong rural economy by supporting the sustainable growth and expansion of rural business. This includes supporting rural tourism and leisure developments that benefit businesses in rural areas, communities, and visitors and which respect the character of the countryside.

The policy approach to the area around Rutland Water has been largely successful since the 1970's in protecting nature conservation interests of the reservoir and retaining the unspoilt and tranquil nature of the area, while accommodating recreation and tourism needs.

A Landscape Review of the Rutland Water Area (2019) was undertaken to provide robust up-to-date evidence to underpin the identification of the Rutland Water Area and its boundaries, and the Recreation Areas inset within it, as required by the NPPF. The study provides the evidence and reasoned justification to support the identification of the Rutland Water Area in the Local Plan as a 'valued landscape'.

The Rutland Water Area designation provides special protection for Rutland Water. Within the defined Rutland Water Area (RWA) around the reservoir and its immediate environs, strategic policy allows for carefully managed limited development of certain specified uses carefully designed and located to ensure that it respects the nature conservation features of this internationally important site and does not have an adverse impact on the landscape and wildlife interests and the general tranquil and undisturbed environment of Rutland Water. Small scale recreation, sport and tourist uses are permitted within five defined Recreation Areas (RAs) around the shores of the reservoir within the RWA where this is directly related to the use and enjoyment of Rutland Water or for operational uses (by Anglian Water) and appropriate in scale, form, and design to its location.

The whole of the Rutland Water Area including the defined Recreation Areas is also within the countryside as defined in the Local Plan and will be subject to policies relating to development in the countryside.

This issue was not specifically raised in the previous consultation.

No alternatives were considered

Landscape Review of the Rutland Water Area (2019)

Rutland County Biodiversity Assessment (May 2023)

CS24 – Rutland Water

SP26 – Rutland Water Recreation Area

Eyebrook Reservoir lies on Rutland's southern border and straddles the boundary with Leicestershire County and Harborough District Councils. It is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest and therefore has statutory protection.

This issue was not specifically raised in the previous consultation.

No alternatives were considered.

Rutland County Biodiversity Assessment (May 2023)

SP27 – Eyebrook Reservoir Area

One of the core land use principles established in the NPPF is that planning should conserve heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance so that they can be enjoyed for their contribution to the quality of life of this and future generations. The guidance is set out in the NPPF (paragraphs 188-208).

Heritage assets include designated assets that are protected under relevant legislation and other non-designated features that have been identified locally, as set out below:

Designated features:

• listed buildings;
• scheduled monuments;
• registered parks and gardens;
• conservation areas.

Non-designated features:

• areas of archaeological interest;
• buildings of local importance;
• open spaces;
• parkland;
• other features of importance to the historic environment identified in the Historic Environment Record

These heritage assets play an important part in the local character and identity of the County.

Rutland has a rich built and historic environment with many attractive stone-built villages and two historic town centres that provide a distinctive local character to the area. There are 34 designated Conservation Areas, 16 Article 4 Directions and approximately 1,650 listed buildings that are afforded statutory protection and two Registered Parks and Gardens at Burley Park and Exton Park.

It is important that both designated and non-designated heritage assets are recognised and protected and wherever practical enhanced by development. A list of designated heritage assets in Rutland is shown in Appendix 4. There is an online register of all listed buildings on the Historic England website: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/

Scheduled monuments, Registered Parks and Gardens and Conservation Areas are shown on the Policies Map, they are also available online on our Environmental Constraints interactive map.

The Historic Environment Record is a comprehensive database of historic buildings and areas of archaeological interest in Rutland that is maintained on behalf of the Council by Leicestershire County Council, and this should be consulted in order to establish whether development proposals are likely to affect heritage assets.

There is also a range of other information including the Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Historic Landscape Characterisation Project that should be consulted as appropriate in order to establish any potential impacts on the historic environment.

Strategic Objective 9 in the Issues and Options consultation established the objective of protecting and enhancing Rutland's environment, inclusive of the rich historic built environment. 46% of respondents said they agreed with refreshing and updating local policy to be in line with the NPPF. The Issues and Options consultation also highlighted a need to ensure that the support for sympathetic upgrading of Listed Buildings and historic assets to become more energy efficient and sustainable.

One alternative was to resource the updating of the historic environment evidence base including conservation area management plans and appraisals and identified assets of local historic importance.

National Planning Policy Framework 2023

Conservation Areas Appraisals

Historic England Guide – The Historic Environment in Local Plans

CS22 – The historic and cultural environment

The Council has carried out conservation area appraisals for a number of villages in Rutland. These identify and explain how the special interest of such areas will be preserved and enhanced and identify buildings of local importance in these villages. Appraisals will be undertaken and reviewed over time, and management plans prepared for the remainder of the conservation areas to monitor change and identify opportunities for enhancement.

Sixteen Article 4 Directions have been made within Rutland these introduce tighter controls within conservation areas and other sites or areas of heritage importance to control certain types of permitted development which, if unchecked, would cause harm to the special character and appearance of such areas. Neighbourhood Plans offer a further opportunity for local communities to identify the unique historic character of their settlements; identify key local building styles and characteristics which can inform and guide new development proposals and include the identification of locally important non designated heritage assets.

Other measures for preserving or enhancing heritage assets may include:

• actions to ensure the proper conservation of all heritage features that are at risk
• the maintenance and repair of heritage assets

In 2019 the following features were identified by Historic England as being at risk in Rutland and the Council will consider measures to ensure that these are protected and enhanced as appropriate:

1. Old Hall Ruins (Exton)
2. Oakham Castle Walls (n.b. works to restore the walls have now been completed)
3. Church of St Mary, Greetham
4. Church of St Mary, Cottesmore Road, Ashwell

Historic England's Register only covers Grade I and Grade II* Listed Buildings, Grade II listed places of worship across England. Authorities are expected to maintain their own register for Grade II listed buildings.

The Council will support the supply of locally sourced building materials where necessary for conservation purposes such as the repair and maintenance of historic buildings and structures in Rutland.

The NPPF provides national policy for considering proposals which affect a heritage asset. This includes the need to assess the effect of a proposal on the significance of an asset and the need for a balanced judgment about the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset.

Strategic Objective 9 in the Issues and Options consultation established the objective of protecting and enhancing Rutland's environment, inclusive of the rich historic built environment. 46% of respondents agreed with refreshing and updating local policy to be further in line with the NPPF. The Issues and Options consultation also highlighted a need to ensure that the support for; sympathetic upgrading of Listed Buildings and historic assets to become more energy efficient and sustainable.

One alternative option to this strategic policy was to consider the wider use of Article 4 Directions (which can be used to remove some development rights) to help control the erosion of an area's heritage and character, however this was a less favoured option through Issues and Options.

National Planning Policy Framework 2023

Conservation Areas Appraisals

Historic England Guide – The Historic Environment in Local Plans

SP20 – The historic environment