Regulation 18 draft Local Plan

Object

Representation ID: 6697

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

The 650 homes allocated for North Stamford represents 47% of RCC’s housing allocation (excluding reserve sites)
The SCS recognises the need for a spatial strategy and that this will require the level of housing proposed in the draft Local Plan for Rutland. The Society believes that this size of allocation on the county boundary is placing too much reliance on the SKDC Local Plan which is not in a sufficiently advanced stage to ensure that all of the necessary infrastructure and facilities can be provided in North Stamford to meet the requirements of the NPPF in relation to sustainability and delivery. We consider that such an allocation could only be delivered after considerable delay.

SKDC's adopted Local Plan includes Stamford North as a strategic allocation for housing, this allocation provides a high degree of certainty about the site.
RCC agrees that the Quarry Farm site should only come forward together with the SKDC site to ensure that the necessary infrastructure to support the development will be provided by both developments

Object

Representation ID: 7098

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

RCC acknowledge that the proposed allocation at Quarry Farm/Monarch Park development is dependent on the SKDC local plan allocating a further 1,350 homes to North Stamford (within SKDC) being deemed sound. This cannot be assumed at this stage for a variety of reasons set out in our full submission.

Until the SKDC Local Plan is confirmed sound and the necessary studies for the development have been carried out including Traffic Impact Assessment (based on an updated Stamford Traffic Model), an Environmental Impact Assessment, an Archaeological Assessment and a Heritage Impact Assessment, (including an assessment of the impact on Stamford’s Heritage) there can be no certainty that the development can proceed.

All site appraisals have been reviewed in the light of comments and further evidence received to determine their suitability for allocation.

Object

Representation ID: 7099

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

Policy SS1 – Spatial strategy for new development states “Proposals for housing development on greenfield sites adjoining the Planned Limits of Development of Oakham and Barleythorpe, Uppingham and the Larger Villages will only be released in exceptional circumstances where it is demonstrated that they are needed to maintain a sufficient supply of deliverable and developable land.” This demonstrates that North Stamford has been singled out as being distinct in terms of the use of greenfield land when compared to the only two towns actually located in Rutland. Why is the green field land North of Stamford considered to be appropriate and needed to maintain a sufficient supply of deliverable and developable land, where greenfield areas adjacent to Oakham and Uppingham are not?

The Local Plan includes both Quarry Farm (as part of the Stamford North development) and the inclusion of St George's Barracks as a Future Opportunity Area. It is not a choice of one or the other,. The timescales for delivery are different with an expectation that Stamford North will come forward in advance of St George's Barracks and therefore forms a fundamental plank of the Spatial Strategy.

Support

Representation ID: 7100

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

Policy SS5 – St. George’s Barracks Opportunity Area At 265 Ha. This is a much larger site than the whole of North Stamford. This would seem be an opportunity to create a sustainable and largely self-contained new community on a brown-field site, whilst being able to meet most of the infrastructure requirements and thus fulfil NPPF requirements. It would also meet the needs for the location of social housing in a more sustainable location. However, the current Policy proposal suggests only 350 to 500 dwellings to be provided on this site in the plan period, and these do not appear to be included in the numbers in the current allocation. The Society suggests that this would be a far more suitable location for a substantially increased housing allocation deliverable within the local plan period.

Support noted. The Local Plan allocates Quarry Farm (as part of the Stamford North development) for housing whereas SGB is identified as a future opportunity area and no allocation is made there. The timescales for delivery of the two sites are different with an expectation that Stamford North will come forward in advance of SGB and therefore forms a fundamental part of the Spatial Strategy for the delivery of housing. The allocation of Quarry Farm will support the sustainable growth of Stamford and allow necessary road and infrastructure improvements whilst contributing towards Rutland’s housing needs. It is not a case of SGB being able to be allocated in place of Quarry Farm. SGB is not currently required to meet the council’s housing or employment land needs.

Support

Representation ID: 7101

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

Policy SS7 – Use of military bases and prisons for operational or other purposes The St Georges Barracks location would also comply with this policy in relation to the sustainable re-use of redundant military bases and prisons on brown-field land.

Comments noted. Reference is made in the overall representation to St George’s Barracks (‘the above location’ in this representation). Policy SS7 (now SS6) would not be applied to development proposals at St George’s Barracks. Instead, Local Plan Policy SS4 would apply.

Object

Representation ID: 7102

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

The NPPF Paragraph 2.8 sets out the requirements for “Achieving Sustainable Development” in relation to economic activity.
The current RCC draft local plan does not provide any strategic employment sites within easy reach of the Quarry Farm/Monarch Park housing allocation, thereby failing to provide sustainable employment opportunities for the residents.
Reliance on SKDC Local Plan to provide such employment centres would be inappropriate for the reasons given in relation to the SKDC local plan above. In any event, there seems to be a shortage of suitable employment land/buildings within Stamford, even taking into account land currently allocated for employment use (see Stamford Neighbourhood Plan).
Travel to employment sites within the existing Stamford built-up area, is likely to contribute to further traffic congestion in the town centre.

The Council will allocate sufficient employment land to meet the level of growth planned for in the Local Plan, including Stamford North.

Object

Representation ID: 7103

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

Policy E10 Town Centres and Retailing. This policy states: “Oakham Main Town Centre – serving the whole of Rutland” This is an inaccurate statement as clearly any housing allocation in North Stamford would look to Stamford Town Centre for retail activity. Whilst this is to be applauded, it means that Rutland CC have no control over the planning environment within Stamford Town centre and it is not clear to what extent any co-operation with SKDC will contribute financially to public sector finances in relation to expenditure within Stamford Town centre, particularly in relation to Stamford Town Council funding.

Noted.

Object

Representation ID: 7104

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

Policy SC2 – Place shaping principles. This policy whilst welcomed, may not be capable of full consideration in relation to Quarry Farm/Monarch Park, because of the proximity to the SKDC boundary and the relationship to Stamford. At the same time SKDC will not be able to apply their policies to this proposed development.

Applications for the two parts of Stamford North will be determined in light of the policies within each respective local authorities development plan.
Policy SC2 is written to cover all forms of development within the county and is not specific to certain types or locations for development.

Object

Representation ID: 7105

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

Any development in North Stamford is likely to impact on Stamford Historic Town Centre – the first conservation area in the country. It will also impact on the Northfields Conservation Area, as people travelling from North Stamford to the Town Centre or to retails parks on the east side of the Town, may pass through it. The Town Centre is already subject to considerable traffic congestion and a lack of sufficient car-parking spaces. This is likely to have a serious impact on the Town Centre creating the risk of further damage to the historic environment.

Noted. Stamford's Conservation Area falls outside the County boundary.

Object

Representation ID: 7106

Received: 02/01/2024

Respondent: Stamford Civic Society

Any development in North Stamford is likely to impact on Stamford Historic Town Centre – the first conservation area in the country. It will also impact on the Northfields Conservation Area, as people travelling from North Stamford to the Town Centre or to retails parks on the east side of the Town, may pass through it. The Town Centre is already subject to considerable traffic congestion and a lack of sufficient car-parking spaces. This is likely to have a serious impact on the Town Centre creating the risk of further damage to the historic environment.

Noted. Stamford's Conservation Area falls outside the County boundary.