Regulation 18 draft Local Plan

Object

Representation ID: 6957

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Bowbridge Land Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

A 20-year period is supported. However we do not think this plan will provide this because of the time to adoption and the plan period start date. Our extensive experience of the local plan process suggests that the programme in Appendix 1 of the Local Development Scheme 2022-2025 (January 2023) is over ambiguous and allows for no unforeseen delays.
The plan on the date of adoption should make provision for a full 15 years of housing land.
This can be achieved either by extending the plan period to 23 years extending it to 2043; or by updating the start of the plan period to 2023 (for which data is available), with the same consequential effect that the plan runs to 2043 rather than 2041.

Comments noted however the LDS demonstrates that the plan should be adopted in 2026 and will have 15 years post adoption.

Object

Representation ID: 7527

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Bowbridge Land Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

In full accordance with the PPG it is recommended that the housing requirement is increased to the average rate of 185 dpa. This is at the top of the range of demographically led projections in the HMA but falls significantly short of the level of housing needed to support the economic policy of the Reg18 plan and as such is likely to be required to be adjusted upwards.

Comments noted. The matter of housing need and requirement is considered in detail under Policy H1

Object

Representation ID: 7528

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Bowbridge Land Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

There is a significant mismatch between the SS1 employment land requirement of 27ha and the 40+ ha proposed in policy E1 the mismatch between these two figures that needs to be resolved.

There is a further mismatch between either of these figures and the much lower level of employment growth that would be supported by the minimum level of housing provision proposed in Policy SS1.
Policy SS1 should be amended to reflect the level of employment land being proposed in Policy E1 and the level of housing should be increased to that which will support the level of employment growth that is being pursued. At a minimum this should be at least 185 dwellings per annum (dpa).

Comments noted. The matter of housing need and requirement is considered in detail under Policy H1

Object

Representation ID: 7529

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Bowbridge Land Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

Given the risks with regard to the delivery of some of the larger proposed allocations (see below) and the significant mismatch of housing and the economic growth strategy of the plan it is considered that the part of Policy SS1 which includes the test of “exceptional circumstances” for proposals for housing development on greenfield sites adjoining the Planned Limits of Development should be removed and replaced with
“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 where it is demonstrated that they are needed to maintain a sufficient supply of deliverable and developable land.”.

Agree. Remove the last paragraph of Policy SS1b) to remove reference to "exceptional circumstances"

Support

Representation ID: 7530

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Bowbridge Land Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

The policy states that the redevelopment proposals are not expected to deliver more than between 350 and 500 dwellings as part of a mixed-use development. It is noted that at this stage none of these dwellings are counted towards meeting the housing need in Policy H1 and this is considered to be the correct approach given the uncertainty of the timing of the release of the site and the complexity of its redevelopment.

Support noted.

Object

Representation ID: 7531

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Bowbridge Land Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

The overall level of allocations is almost an exact match to the minimum level housing provision advised by the Standard Method 2706 (123 x 20 plus 10%). Evidence provided on past rates of completions and the impact of the Council’s economic strategy the level of housing to be planned for should be substantially above the minimum requirement.
The total level of housing to be planned for should be amended as follows, taking into account the recommended extended time period above:

a) 185 dpa x 23 (to take the plan to 2043) plus 10%.
b) a total to be allocated of 4,680 dwellings (203dpa)

The Plan does not contain a trajectory to demonstrate that the allocations will deliver in a timely manner to meet the level of housing required to support the council’s economic strategy.

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

Object

Representation ID: 7532

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Bowbridge Land Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

The site at Main Road, Barleythorpe site has not been considered in the context of the Local Plan.
Taking into account the need for additional dwellings and the desirability of locating them close to the main employment centre it is proposed that a part of this site be considered for residential development - of a reduced size from that considered at the appeal.

The development of suitable parts of this site could accommodate some 50 – 75 dwellings and would protect a perceived gap between Oakham and Barleythorpe; while it would still have an impact on the intrinsic character of the countryside this impact would be little different from those other greenfield sites being promoted for development, such impact being substantially outweighed by the sustainability of the location in close proximity to the principal areas of employment, public transport and town centre facilities offered by Oakham.
The appeal Inspectors conclusions on the impact of the development of the site are insufficient to exclude the site from consideration given the need to identify additional land in this location.(APP/A2470/W/22/3312763)

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

Object

Representation ID: 7533

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Bowbridge Land Ltd

Agent: DLP Planning Ltd

Policy H2 makes it clear that the Quarry Farm is part of this larger allocation.
Ninety nine percent of the application site is within South Kesteven but as the development needs to include a connection to Little Casterton Road in Rutland, the application has also had to be submitted to Rutland County Council. All of the potential housing in the Quarry Farm allocation in Rutland’s Regulation 18 Plan falls outside of this application. As part of the outline proposals, the scheme will deliver up to 1,350 new homes and significant new infrastructure to serve both new and existing residents.
At present the fact that major part of the scheme is being progressed without the inclusion of the Quarry Farm allocation casts considerable doubt as to the timing of the delivery of that element of the larger proposal.
There is considerable doubt as to the timing and delivery of this allocation and as such it is presently considered unsound to include all of the potential dwellings as being deliverable within the plan period.

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