Regulation 18 draft Local Plan

Object

Representation ID: 7394

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Morcott Parish Council

There is insufficient means to control the overall development of a series of agricultural buildings on the same site. This issue has recently arisen at Vine Farm in Morcott. The policy should be changed to specify that the same limits on development (floor space/number of dwellings) must apply when applying for or granting consent for new development following or replacing consent granted by Class Q Permitted Development. This would allow more control on the eventual size of a development made initially under Class Q but updated by replacement "improved” applications.
The numbers of Permitted Developments under Class Q or s80 must be counted in the statistics as “windfall” or other in meeting the housing need numbers.

Policy SS10 (now SS9) only comes into effect where there is an essential need, and this need is demonstrated.
Para 89 of the NPPF supports that in some cases development will need to be located outside of existing settlements.
Developments approved under 'Class Q' are done under permitted development rights, where local and national planning policies do not come into effect.
Developments approved under Class Q of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (as amended) are included in the housing need statistics.

Object

Representation ID: 7395

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Morcott Parish Council

s80 applications for a residential unit in isolated locations with buildings of “exceptional quality and design”. A clear and definitive policy is required which will avoid applications being approved where they are an extension of the village beyond the PLD. A more robust policy will give more authority to the planning department to successfully control inappropriate applications.
the numbers of dwellings permitted under s80 must be counted in the statistics as “windfall” or other in meeting the housing need numbers.

Objection noted.
The policies proposed throughout the plan are there to control and enable appropriate development.

Object

Representation ID: 7396

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Morcott Parish Council

All the largest employment sectors in the county, with the exception of Defence operate within the more urban centres. It is logical then that Policy E1 should support employment growth in those locations and avoid development beyond those centres. This would meet the sustainability objectives of the Plan policies and targets rather than contradict them.
Identification of employment sites must surely follow the logic of the paragraph above.
Employment Land allocation should be secured in existing employment centres of Oakham and Uppingham for smaller industrial development along with the already identified allocations in Ketton.

St George's Barracks to be allocated for small local demand space, mid-size warehouse development amongst a mix-use plan and Woolfox for major warehouse development with the benefit of a smaller industrial park for local regional demand.

The identification of Employment sites in rural locations,
contradicts so many of the other policies in the Plan and will impact on the landscape and historic setting of villages.

Whilst it is recognised that employment development in urban locations represents the most logical and suitable option, however the need to identify opportunities for employment sites beyond this does need to be considered to meet the needs of the area's economy in the longer term.

Both the St George's Barracks site and Woolfox represent locations in the smaller rural settlements in Rutland beyond the urban settlements of Oakham and Uppingham, which are of significant scale.

The allocation of employment sites beyond the urban areas will consider any harm likely to be caused alongside the benefit to the area's economy, both at larger sites mentioned above and other sites at other rural settlements. It is also important to recognise that employment opportunities which are of an appropriate scale and use in the rural areas provide choice in the market.

Object

Representation ID: 7397

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Morcott Parish Council

This policy should not include sites inconsistent with other policies in the Plan. The case made above concerning Chapter 7 Economy indicates that the Employment site at Glaston Road, Morcott should not be included in Policy E1 just because it has been offered up by the owner. The evidence base referring to the Glaston Road site is inaccurate.
The roadways are narrow, in some cases too narrow for an HGV to pass safely. The roadways pass very close to buildings and pedestrian routes. Permission for development which increased the use of HGVs on this site would be unsafe and irresponsible.There are many existing locations for this type of activity in Rutland, several of which are undersubscribed. There seems no logic in allocating another site for this purpose.
e. The site is relatively isolated and not adjacent to any other industrial site. It occupies a high position on the ridge above Morcott and would be highly visible to traffic.

Noted. Site appraisals have been reviewed in the light of comments and further evidence received.

Object

Representation ID: 7400

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Morcott Parish Council

The lack of 1000+mbs fibre optic internet infrastructure in Rutland is embarrassing and will hold back the development of the Economic Strategy, particularly with desirable “high tech” industries. The proposed policy is outdated and lacks ambition. It must be much more ambitious if it is to equip us for the next 20 years.
It is ridiculous that the low orbit satellite “Star Link” broadband service now available in Rutland at 100-120mbs is able to offer over 3 times the speed of the FTTC land-based services currently available in many rural areas through traditional internet providers. This shows just how far Rutland is behind.
Need a clear strategy for a fibre upgrade to FTTP for the whole County with milestones and targets for reach and application.

Policy E7 seeks to facilitate improvements to digital infrastructure of FTTP via the development of commercial properties. Domestic properties are now covered by the amended Building Regulations 2010.

A wider strategy relating to the improvements to internet provision, including fibre upgrades and FTTP, is outside the scope of the Local Plan.

Object

Representation ID: 7402

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Morcott Parish Council

This policy is unambitious and is also at odds with the Economic Strategy. If we are to attract a younger age group into the County, we need to present Rutland as vibrant and promote the visitor economy much more vigorously than this policy defines. There are many natural and cultural opportunities for Rutland to make use of. Much more ambition needs to be defined in this policy. We should utilise examples from other similar Districts and Counties.

Noted. Policy E8 seeks to provide a flexible criteria based policy which supports the provision of new tourism facilities in suitable locations. This is considered the best way of providing support for the tourism of various types in Rutland. This can come in the form of either the enhancement and growth of existing facilities or providing adequate policy support for new tourism provision, as set in Policy E8.

Object

Representation ID: 7404

Received: 08/01/2024

Respondent: Morcott Parish Council

Detailed comments have been made about the Rutland Employment Needs and Economic Development Evidence report (Aug 2023).
It is considered that the evidence base provided by Iceni Projects Ltd contains many errors and judgements not appropriate to Rutland.
it relies on a paucity of information and data, so that in drafting the report that the analysts (Iceni) have to make broad and sweeping generalities and assumptions which are in part inaccurate or otherwise misleading. At best the data is unreliable.

The Rutland Employment Needs and Economic Development Evidence report (August 2023) forms part of the Local Plan's evidence, providing robust evidence to the support the inclusion of the policies in this Chapter. The data in the report is based on a point in time and is considered sufficient and up to date.