Regulation 18 draft Local Plan

Object

Representation ID: 7976

Received: 07/01/2024

Respondent: CPRE Rutland

The applicable national policies need to be specified and referenced. The policy provides a presumption in favour of development in conservation areas. What does “significant weight” mean? How is “development within, affecting the setting of, or affecting views into or out of a Conservation Area” expected to “conserve, or enhance features that contribute positively to the areas special character, appearance and setting ---“? This needs an explanation.

Regarding buildings of local importance/non-designated heritage asset, the policy contains no benchmarks or
guidelines for determination by Development Control. The terms used in this policy are subjective and are open to
widely differing interpretations.

Policy EN12 provides no improvements on adopted policy SP20 for the protection of heritage assets, even though development pressures have much increased over time since policy SP20 was drafted. We would expect to see a clear presumption against development around heritage assets in this Regulation 18 Local Plan whilst explaining clearly the considerations which will be weighed in exceptional circumstances where development applications may receive sympathetic consideration. These cases should be limited to where a clear and demonstrable public benefit results from any development which might impact heritage assets.

Objection noted.
Policy EN12 is not replacing SP20 but is replacing CS22. Policy EN13 (the protection of heritage assets) is replacing SP20. This is stated within the policy.

Designated and non-designated heritage assets and what is required for determination are covered by policy EN13. This includes development within a conservation area and provides criteria that need to be met for the development to be acceptable.

Object

Representation ID: 7977

Received: 07/01/2024

Respondent: CPRE Rutland

With the increased quarrying in the County, it is imperative that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect the environment and minimise the risks to public health. The policies proposed in the draft plan do not, however, go far enough to achieve this objective.

Much stronger controls than are provided by the proposed polices will be needed on health and safety grounds with respect to pollution from quarry workings and associated transport operations, that measures to maintain relevant levels of biodiversity are included, and that appropriate restoration of land once such workings are complete is both planned and enforced.

Enforceable policies are required to ensure that:
• Nuisance dust and PMD particulate generation are subject to specified and declared limits which are accurately
measured, monitored correctly and can be effectively enforced by Development Control.
• Maximum quarry output limits (tonnage) are planned for the County in accordance with national targets and
limits and are also limited by local environmental improvement targets.
• Environmental impacts of quarry transport are weighed in relation to Rutland’s climate change objectives which
must be prioritised above quarry operator output targets
• Conditions applicable to each quarry application are designed and documented for public consultation before
any quarry application is approved. Conditions for site restoration to nature at the end of quarry life are made
enforceable under all circumstances.

Policy MIN4 - Development criteria for mineral extraction, sets out a range of requirements that proposals for minerals extraction should meet, including that the development is environmentally acceptable and avoids and/or minimises potentially adverse impacts (which includes dust, noise and vibration, safe site access, highway safety and cumulative impacts) to acceptable levels.
Policy MIN9 - Restoration and aftercare, requires that restoration of minerals development provides Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), which is a mandatory requirement under the Environment Act (2021). A developer is required to submit proposals for restoration as part of the planning application and regular site inspections will be carried out to ensure any related planning obligations or legal agreements that are associated with the operation are carried out. There is opportunity to make representations on a planning application during the period of consultation however once a planning application and associated planning conditions have been determined, no further consultation is undertaken.
The need for dust assessments and monitoring and traffic impact assessments are more appropriate to be developed through the scoping and planning application stage for individual sites rather than being included in the plan. With regards to quarry output limits, any proposal for extraction will be required to take into account the current reserve and supply position, provision rate (where relevant) and landbanks, which are monitored and reported annually in the Local Aggregates Assessment. Included in the supporting policy text of Policy MIN2 is reference to limits on annual sales to ensure quarries are not overworked, with more mineral extracted annually than originally planned.
To provide further information on managing the implementation of minerals and waste development include an additional section in the minerals and waste chapter of the Local Plan. Include information on planning conditions and obligations, monitoring, local liaison groups and a policy on implementation.

Object

Representation ID: 7978

Received: 07/01/2024

Respondent: CPRE Rutland

It should be made clear that, while new developments should address infrastructure needed to support them, there may be a need also to consider the impact on existing infrastructure and the possible requirements for more widespread changes.

Is the IDP formally part of the local plan? If so, it is essential that it be made available for consultation at this stage.

Comment Noted. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP) will form part of the updated evidence base supporting the Regulation 19 Local Plan. The requirements set out in the IDP will also be taken into consideration in the updated Whole Plan Viability Assessment. Both the IDP and Whole Plan Viability Assessments will form part of the R19 local plan consultation.

Object

Representation ID: 7979

Received: 07/01/2024

Respondent: CPRE Rutland

Healthcare provision should also include liaison/co-operation with Cambridgeshire/Peterborough and
Northamptonshire ICBs.

Presumably, places of worship are also elements of community infrastructure

Lincolnshire and Leicesetershire & Rutland ICBs have been consulted as part of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan's preparation. Places of worship are also recognised elements of community infrastructure but are not covered specifically by the IDP.

Object

Representation ID: 7980

Received: 07/01/2024

Respondent: CPRE Rutland

Will there be a need for additional public/town centre car parking (with EV charging points) and should
this be included in the policy? Requirement for the layout of roads in new developments to facilitate access for delivery
vehicles, possibly including drones, needs to be stated.

Comment Noted . RCC is one of 13 Midlands Councils to have been awarded a share of Governments £39.3m funding from the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) scheme, alongside with sub-national transport body Midlands Connect. This funding will be used to increase the number of charging points in Rutland between 2024 and 2029. An increase of up to 30 charge point sockets is planned for Rutland in the first year, which would more than double the number of charging points in the county. The Council has also launched a survey to help identify locations for new charge points and is in the process of developing its first tranche of provision.

EV charging points are addressed in Policy CC13. Road Layouts in new developments are addressed within Policy SC3.

Object

Representation ID: 7981

Received: 07/01/2024

Respondent: CPRE Rutland

While new developments might well minimise the need for car use, overall need will increase, as existing
homes and businesses can be expected to continue at their current levels of usage. It is not clear that this is effectively
factored in to overall transport infrastructure requirements.

This falls outside the scope of the Local Plan. The challenges of the future in rural mobility alongside a framework for a bespoke ‘Smart Countryside’ approach across Rutland are recognised, placing need for place-based approaches to mobility. A rural mobility strategy for the County, supported by emerging digital and transport technologies is advocated within the Local Transport Plan (4) to support the well being and inclusivity of residents is at the forefront of decision making. Provision for the private vehicle will remain a key component of this strategy given the dispersed nature of existing residents, planned growth and the limitations in frequency and coverage of a viable public transport service.