Effingham Neighbourhood Plan 2016 ‐ 2030 · Lodge Farm as a Site of Key ... Traveller...
Transcript of Effingham Neighbourhood Plan 2016 ‐ 2030 · Lodge Farm as a Site of Key ... Traveller...
EffinghamNeighbourhoodPlan2016‐2030
DraftforConsultationSeptember2015
EffinghamParishCouncilTheParishRoom,3HomeBarnCourt,TheStreet,Effingham,Surrey,KT245LGTel/[email protected]
www.effinghamparishcouncil.gov.ukVillagePlanwebsite:www.effinghamvillageplan.com
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EffinghamNeighbourhoodPlan2016‐2030
Page1. Introduction 5
a. Purposeb. Sustainabilityc. Consultation
2. AProfileoftheCivilParish 7a. Overviewb. SelectedParishStatisticsc. CharacteroftheParishandtheMainSub‐Areasd. SummaryofServices
3. PlanningPolicyFramework 12a. StrategicPlanningContextb. MajorPlanningIssuesforEffinghamc. ConservationAreas/LandDesignations
4. CommunityEngagement 15
5. Vision,ScopeandObjectives 16a. VisionandOverallObjectivesb. Scope
6. SpecificObjectives 17a. HousingObjectivesb. EnvironmentObjectivesc. LocalEconomyObjectivesd. CommunityServicesObjectives
7. PoliciesandProposals 19a. GeneralPolicies 19 G1:PresumptioninFavourofSustainableDevelopment G2:ASpatialPlanforEffingham G3:DesignationofEffinghamLodgeFarmasaSiteofKey StrategicImportance G4:DesignoftheBuiltArea G5:ContributiontoGreenDevelopment G6:SchemesofDevelopment
b. HousingPolicies 22 H1:NewHomesinEffingham H2:MixofHousing H3:HousingSupplythroughSupportedSites H4:HousingSupplythroughWindfallSites H5:TravellerAccommodation H6:SpecialistHousing
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c. EnvironmentalPolicies 27 EN1:LocalGreenSpaces EN2:GreenGatewaystotheVillage EN3:GreenBeltStrategicGaps EN4:BiodiversityandWildlife EN5:WildlifeCorridors EN6:LandscapeandVillageCharacter EN7:SharedSpaces EN8:DarkSkies EN9:Effingham’sConservationAreaandHeritageAssets EN10:AirQuality
d. CommunityAssetPolicies 35 C1:AssetsofCommunityValue C2:KingGeorgeVHallandPlayingFields C3:LocalHealthServices C4:CommunityBurialFacilities C5:BroadbandandITServices C6:Schools C7:CommunityLearningandWellbeing C8:InfrastructureInvestment
e. InfrastructurePolicies 41 R1:RoadSafety R2:CarParking R3:TrafficManagement R4:PublicTransportandSustainableCarUse R5:SafeCycleRoutes R6:FootwaysandPedestrianRoutes R7:DisabledAccess
f. LocalEconomyPolicies 45 LE1:SafeguardingVillageShopsandRetailFacilities LE2:AgriculturalandEquestrianBusinessPolicy LE3:ProvisionandUsageofOnsiteParkingforEmployers LE4:ThrivingLocalBusinesses
8. DeliveryPrinciples 48
Appendices
A1: MAPS A1 G2: ProposedSettlementAreaExtension G3: EffinghamLodgeFarm–SiteofStrategicImportance H3: HousingsupplythroughSupportedSites EN1:LocalGreenSpaces EN2: GreenGatewaystotheVillage EN3: GreenBeltStrategicGaps EN5: WildlifeCorridors EN6: ImportantViewsandVistas
A2: ConsultationStatement A7
A3: HousingTargetforEffingham A13
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A4: SelectionofSupportedSitesforHousing A20
A5: Effingham’sEnvironment(partiallycompleted) A28
A6: EffinghamCommunityAssets A30
A7: Effingham’sLocalEconomy A32
A8: ScheduleofEvidence A38
SupplementaryDocuments(Suppliedseparately)
SD1: VillageDesignStatement
SD2: HousingRequirementsSurvey‐SummaryofResponses
Appendicestothisdocumentcanbefoundat:http://www.surreycommunity.info/effinghamparishcouncil/housing‐survey/
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DraftEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlan2016‐2030
1. Introductiona. PurposeEffinghamParishCouncilsubmittedaformalapplicationtobedesignatedasanofficialNeighbourhoodPlanningAreaon20thDecember2012andwasapprovedassuchon4April2013.ThedesignatedareaisinclusiveofthecivilparishofEffinghamandishighlightedinthemapbelow(Figure1).
Figure1TheDesignatedNeighbourhoodPlanningArea:TheCivilParishofEffingham
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ThecivilParishofEffinghamissituatedwithintheadministrativeareaofGuildfordBoroughCouncil,alongsidetheSurreyHillsAreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty,ontheedgeoftheNorthDowns.ThevillageliestotheeastofGuildfordandwestofLeatherhead,separatedbyGreenBeltcountrysidefromneighbouringvillagesEastHorsleytothewestandBookhamtotheeast.
TheEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlanhasbeenpreparedinaccordancewiththeNeighbourhoodPlanningRegulations2012andtheEuropeanDirectiveonStrategicEnvironmentalAssessment2004.TheNeighbourhoodPlancoversthefifteenyearperiod2016–2030.TheScheduleofEvidenceusedtopreparethePlanissetoutinAppendixA8,andincludesdocumentsfromtheevidencebaseofGuildfordBoroughCouncil’sLocalPlanaswellasEffingham‐specificdocuments.
Theplansetsoutavisionfortheparishandablueprintfordevelopmentconsistentwiththeobjectivelyassessedneedsandexpressedopinionsofresidents.
b. SustainabilityAsuccessfulplanwillonlybepossibleifitevolvesfromtheneedsofthecommunity,workswithintheparametersofsustainabledevelopment,andbalancestheneedsoftoday’scommunitywiththerightsoffuturegenerationstoenjoythehistoricanduniquecharacterofthevillageanditsbroaderenvironment.Theplanhasbeendraftedwiththeseprinciplesinmind.
GuildfordBoroughCouncilhasmadeapreliminaryassessmentoftheneedforafullStrategicEnvironmentalAssessment.TheBoroughCouncilconsultedwidelywithotherbodiesanddeemedthatafullscaleSEAisnotappropriate.NaturalEnglandresponded:
‘Thepre‐screeningdocumentidentifiesrelevantandappropriatelegislationandhasclearlysetouttheCouncil’sreasoningandthoughtsinreachingitsconclusionthattheEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlandoesnotrequireaSEA.InthisinstanceandinrespectofthisplandocumentNaturalEnglandcanagreewiththeCouncil’sconclusionthataSEAisnotrequired.’
c. Consultation
TheproductionoftheNeighbourhoodPlanwassupportedbysignificantandextensivelocalconsultation.TheConsultationStatement[AppendixA2],whichsupportstheEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlan,providesacomprehensivesummaryofwhowasconsultedandhow,alongwithevidenceofhowcommentswereconsideredandtakenintoaccountinthemakingofthePlan.
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2. AProfileoftheCivilParisha. Overview
EffinghamvillagedatesfromSaxontimes,beingmentionedinthewritingsofBedeintheseventhcentury,andisoneofastringofspring‐linevillageslaidoutalongtheedgeofthechalkonthedipslopeoftheNorthDowns.TheParishofEffinghamstraddlesanancientroute,nowLowerRoad,connectingthespring‐linevillagesalongthenarrowlineofThanetSandsbetweenthechalkoftheDownsandclaytothenorth.TheA246(GuildfordRoad)whichbisectsthemodernvillagesettlementfollowsthelate18thcenturyTurnpike,thelocalmilestonesitting22milesfromCharingCrossand8fromGuildford.
ThemoderndaycivilparishofEffinghamhasapopulationofapproximately2,711peoplelivingin1,054households.TheparishextendsfromEffinghamCommon(nearEffinghamJunctionRailwayStation)inthenorthtoRanmoreCommoninthesouth.Themainvillagesettlementareahastwoparts,separatedbytheA246,asshowninFigure2.Thenorth‐westernpartcontainsmostoftheolderhouses,ConservationArea,andlistedbuildings,aswellasmorerecentdevelopment,andthesouthernsectionhasasignificantproportionofpost1945housing.Approximately54EffinghamhomesliewithintheEastHorsleysettlementboundaryontheedgeofEffinghamCommon,andapproximately160homeslieoutsideanysettlementboundaryinsmallhamletsatDogKennelGreenandRanmoreManorinthesouth,andEffinghamCommonandLowerFarmRoadinthenorth.
Figure2Effinghamvillage:showingsettlementarea(LocalPlan2003),
ConservationArea,SPA5kmboundary,andMoleValleyDistrictboundary
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InfillingandhousingdevelopmentsinLeatherhead,FetchamandBookhamhavecoalescedintoanextendedfingerofurbansprawlalongtheA246turnpikeroute,andincreasingnumbersofLondonerstravelthiswayseekingrecreationintheSurreyHills’AreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty(AONB).NotuntilEffingham,atitsborderwithLittleBookham,aregreencultivatedfieldsopentothenorthandsouth.Atlast,Londonerscanfeelthattheyare“inthecountry”.Isitanywonderthatvisitornumbershaveincreased,betheywalkers,cyclistsormotorists?Largernumbersofurbandwellersareprogressivelyseekingarejuvenatinggreenexperiencewhosemedicalbenefitsareincreasinglyrecognised.WhilstyettobeformallymadepartoftheAONB,Effinghamvillageismostcertainlya“GatewaytotheSurreyHills”.AssuchthestrategicgapbetweenEffinghamandLittleBookhamandEffingham’sstatusasavillage‘washedoverbytheGreenBelt’arebothvitaliftheprimarypurposesoftheGreenBeltaretobemet.
b. Characterandlandscape
Thesettlementareahasaveryopenandruralfeel;thenorthandwesternpartshaveaclearvillagecharacterencapsulatingtheConservationArea,andlargeareasofopenfieldsandpaddocksthatresidentsidentifyascriticaltothecharacterofthevillage.AncientWoodlandstothenorthofEffinghamLodgeFarm(ThornetWood)andeastofEffinghamCommonRoad(GreatRidingsWood)providefurthercharacter,reinforcingtheruralaspectsofthevillage.Effingham’sConservationAreaincludesseveralGradeIIListedBuildingsandoneGradeII*(StLawrenceChurch)andthereareseveralmoreGradeIIListedBuildingsinthecountrysideoutsidethesettlementarea.
The‘KingGeorgeVHallandFields’areanotableopenspaceinthecentreofthevillage,comprisingover32acresoflandincludingplayingfields,woodlandandinformalgrassland,playgroundsandaVillageHall.TheplayingfieldsareusedbytheHowardofEffinghamSchoolduringschoolweekdays,bysportsclubsincludingrugby,footballandtennisintheeveningsandatweekends,andbythebroadercommunityforinformalrecreationofresidents.Acharitabletrust(EffinghamVillageRecreationTrust)managesthesefacilitiesforthebenefitofEffinghamresidents.
EffinghamCommoninthenorthoftheparish,byEffinghamJunctionstation,isregisteredcommonlandownedbyGuildfordBoroughCouncilanddesignatedasaSuitableAlternativeNaturalGreenspace(SANG)servingasanalternativetotheSpecialProtectionArea(SPA)ofOckhamandWisleyCommonstothenorthoftheparish.TheCommonprovidesopengrasslandvistasandisanimportanthabitatforbirds,includingskylarks,andrareinsects.
ThenorthernpartofEffinghamparishissituatedinthe‘OckhamandClandonWoodedRollingClaylands’landscapecharacterarea[GuildfordLandscapeCharacterAssessment],agentlyshelvingareafoundedonLondonClayrisingfromandaltitudeof30minthenorthtoaround90minthesouthatthebaseofthechalkdowns.Historicmansionsandparklandsareaprominentfeatureofthislandscapecharacterarea,onesuchbeingTheLodgeatEffinghamPlace,whichsitswithinthenorth‐westofEffinghamvillagesettlement.
ThemiddlepartofEffinghamParish,immediatelysouthofA246,issituatedinthe‘ClandonOpenChalkFarmland’landscapecharacterarea,aslopingundulatingopenpastoralfarmedlandscapewithoccasionalwoodlandplantations,inthelowersectionofthenorth‐facingdipslopeoftheNorthDownsunderlainbyChalkFoundations.InEffingham,thislandscapeisexemplifiedbythepasturelandofBadgersFarmonHighBarnRoad.
Thesouthern‐mostpartofEffinghamParish,borderedbyRanmoreCommonRoad,issituatedinthe‘EffinghamForestWoodedChalkDowns’landscapecharacterarea,withintheSurreyHillsAreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty.ThisisarollingelevatedlandscapebasedonChalk
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FoundationswithdriftdepositsofClaywithFlints,apeacefulruralareawithenclosedviewsdownrurallanesandacrossopenpasturestowoodlandedges,andwoodlandclothingthesteeperslopes.HistoricparklandsurvivesaroundSt.Teresa’sSchool,aformermanorhouse,withparklandtreesanddecorativegardenspresent.
Figure3showsthecontextofthecivilparish.
Figure3Thecivilparishincontext:
showingsettlementareas,ConservationArea,AONBinthesouth,EffinghamCommonSANGinthenorth,SPA5kmboundary
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c. ExistingServicesandFacilities
Retail:Effinghamhasanumberofsmallshopsincludingapostofficeinasmallgeneralstore,anewsagent,butchers,hairdressers,hardwareshopandbakery,butnosupermarket.ThereisagardencentreincludingacaféontheboundarywithLittleBookham.
HealthServices:Thevillagehasnomedicalfacilities(Doctor’ssurgery,Dentalpractices,OpticiansorPharmacy).ResidentsneedtotraveltoneighbouringvillagesofEastHorsley,Bookham,FetchamandCobhamtoaccesstheseservices.
Schools:Twostateschools,theHowardofEffinghamSchoolandStLawrencePrimarySchool,arelocatedinthecentreofthevillagesettlementandSt.Teresa’sSchool,aprivategirls’school,liestothesouth,outsidethesettlementarea.Anotherprivategirlsschool,ManorHouse,liesovertheborderinLittleBookham,immediatelyadjacenttoEffinghamvillage.
Pubsandcatering:Twopubsservingfoodoperatewithinthevillage,andthereisasmallcaféatthebakeryandalargercaféatthegardencentre,buttherearenorestaurantsorhot‐foodtake‐awayfacilities.
Churches,HallsandMeetingRooms:Therearethreechurches(Anglican,CatholicandMethodist)withtwochurchhallsandonesmallmeetingroomavailableforcommunityuse.ThemainvillagehallistheKingGeorgeVHall,whichisusedbyapre‐school,manycommunitygroups,andforpublicmeetingsoftheParishCouncil.TheParishRoomprovidesameetingroomandaccommodationfortheClerkandalsoservesasanexhibitionspaceforcollectionofmemorabiliarelatingtoSirBarnesWallis(aformerEffinghamresident)andarchiveforEffinghamLocalHistoryGroup.
SportsandRecreation:KingGeorgeVHallandFields,managedbytheEVRTcharity,isthemaincentreforrecreationinthevillage,andprovidessportspitchesforrugby,cricketandfootball,tenniscourtsandinformalrecreationalspace.Therearetwochildren’splaygroundsandanoutdoorgymfacility.CalburnCricketGround,ontheedgeofEffinghamCommon,hasbeenahomeforcricketsince1853,andisalsomanagedbyEVRT.Acommunitysportshall,partofHowardofEffinghamschool,providessomeleisurefacilitiesincludinganindoorgym.
PublicTransport:ThereisalimitedbusserviceduringthedaybetweenEpsomandGuildford(excludingeveningsandSunday).Trainservicesareavailable1.7milesawayateitherBookhamorEffinghamJunction.Residentsarelargelyreliantuponprivatecarstocommutetowork,forshoppingandotherpublicservices.
EmploymentfacilitiesinEffinghamarelimited,includingschools,shopsandsmallbusinesses.MostresidentscommutetoGuildfordorLondonbycarortrain.
d. SelectedParishStatistics
Thefollowingstatisticsarederivedmainlyfromthe2011census.
i. DemographicsPopulation2,711(male1,282;female1,429)Populationdensity(numberofpeopleperhectare)2.3
ii. HouseholdsNumberofhouseholds1,05446.6%ofhouseholdsowntheirhomeoutright37.7%ofhouseholdsowntheirhomewithamortgageorloan
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iii. HomesDwellingtype:696detached,227semi‐detached,81terraced,78flats,7mobilehomes5%ofhomesaresociallyrented
iv. Health56.2%ofpeopleareinverygoodhealth32.5%ofpeopleareingoodhealth4%ofpeoplehavetheirday‐to‐dayactivitieslimitedalotbypoorhealth
v. Skills&Employment35.3%ofeconomicallyactivepeopleaged16‐64areemployedfull‐time13.7%ofeconomicallyactivepeopleaged16‐64areemployedpart‐time17%ofeconomicallyactivepeopleaged16‐64areself‐employed2.2%ofeconomicallyactivepeopleaged16‐64areunemployed35%ofpeopleinemploymenthavehigherlevelqualifications47%ofpeopleinemploymenthavelowerlevelqualifications18%ofpeopleinemploymenthavenoqualificationsorlevelunknown
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3. PlanningPolicyFrameworka. StrategicPlanningContext
EffinghamlieswithintheGuildfordBoroughCouncil(GBC)localauthorityarea,andtheNeighbourhoodPlanisrequiredtobeconsistentwithGBC’sLocalPlan.TheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework(NPPF)statesthatNeighbourhoodPlansmustbe‘alignedwiththestrategicneedsandprioritiesofthewiderlocalarea’andmustbe‘ingeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesoftheLocalPlan’(NPPFparagraph184).EffinghamParishCouncilthereforeacknowledgesthattheEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlansitswithinthestrategiccontextofGBC’sLocalPlan,whichsetstheGreenBeltboundariesandhousingnumbersfortheBorough.
ThecurrentLocalPlanconsistsofpoliciessavedfromtheLocalPlan2003,whichtogetherwiththeNPPFsetsthecurrentstrategicplanningcontextforEffingham’sNeighbourhoodPlan.
AnupdatedLocalPlanisbeingprepared,andwentthroughaRegulation18draftLocalPlan‘StrategyandSites’consultationinsummer2014.The2014draftproposedtoinsetEffinghamvillagefromtheGreenBelt,withasignificantlyexpandedsettlementboundaryallowingforatleast310newdwellingsanddevelopmentwhichwouldclosetheGreenBeltgapbetweenEffinghamandLittleBookham.
EffinghamParishCouncilmadestrongobjectionsinresponsetotheconsultationonthe2014draftLocalPlan,includingcomments:
• EffinghamisaruralvillagewithanopencharacterandshouldremainwashedoverbytheGreenBelt.
• Onlyminorextensionstothesettlementboundaryshouldbeconsidered,forexampletoincludebuilt‐upareasthatfitnaturallyintothevillagelayout.ThisviewissupportedinGBC’sevidencebase(GuildfordBoroughSettlementProfiles)quotedin3c.below.
• ItisessentialtomaintainaGreenBeltgapbetweenEffinghamandLittleBookhamtopreventcoalescenceofthesevillagesandurbansprawlfromLondonthroughAshtead,Leatherhead,FetchamandBookham.
FurtherrepresentationsfromresidentsandEffinghamcommunitygroupsreceivedinresponsetoinitialconsultationsonthedraftNeighbourhoodPlanindicatethatthereissubstantiallocaloppositiontoanymajorextensiontothevillagesettlementareaandtoanychangetothevillage'sGreenBeltstatus.
GBCisexpectedtoconsultonareviseddraftLocalPlanduring2016,usingahousingnumberfortheBoroughbasedonanupdatedStrategicHousingMarketAssessment.
EffinghamParishCouncilisworkingwithGBCandanticipatesthatthepoliciesandevidencebaseoftheNeighbourhoodPlanwillbetakenintoaccountandwillhelptoshapetheproposalsforEffinghaminthe2016draftLocalPlan.Inparticular,theNeighbourhoodPlanprovidesaguidetoGBCwhenconsideringtheappropriatehousingnumberandvillagesettlementboundaryforEffinghamparish,bysettingoutwithintheNeighbourhoodPlanpolicies:
• ThenumberandtypeofnewhomestomeettherequirementsofEffingham’spresentcommunity.
• PotentialsitesforresidentialdevelopmenttomeetthoserequirementswhichwouldbesupportedbytheNeighbourhoodPlan.
• Anextensiontothevillagesettlementboundarytoincludethesitessupportedforresidentialdevelopment.
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• TheimportanceofconservingEffingham’senvironmentandopenruralcharacter,includingstrategicGreenBeltgapsbetweenEffinghamandneighboringvillagestopreventcoalescence,greengatewaystothevillage,protectingwildlifecorridorsandconservingimportantopenviewswithinthevillageandthewiderlandscapeofthecivilParish.
b. MajorPlanningissuesforEffingham
ThemajorplanningissuesforEffinghamcanbesummarised:
i. Residentsvaluehighlytheopenruralcharacterofthevillageandsettlementareas,theGreenBeltcountrysidewhichstretchesfromEffinghamCommoninthenorthtotheNorthDownsAreaofOutstandingNaturalBeautyinthesouth,andthehistoricheritageofthelocalareaincludingmanyListedbuildingsandasignificantConservationArea.Thechallengeistoplanforthesustainablegrowthinhousing,communityfacilitiesandthelocaleconomyneededtoensurethecontinuedhealthandvibrancyoflocalcommunitylifewhilstconservingtheseessentialcharacteristicsofthecivilparish.
ii. Trafficcongestionisamajorproblemthroughouttheparish,particularlyonthenarrowvillageroadswithinthevillage’sConservationAreawhichhaveinadequatefootways,alongthemajorthroughroutes(east‐westroutealongA246GuildfordRoad;north‐southroutealongEffinghamCommonRoad,TheStreetandBeechAvenue;eastwardroutetoBookhamalongLowerRoad)andatthemainroadjunctions(A246trafficlightcontrolledjunctionwithTheStreetandBeechAvenue;doublemini‐roundaboutsatthejunctionsofTheStreet,LowerRoad,OrestanLaneandEffinghamCommonRoad;junctionofEffinghamCommonRoad‐HowardRoadwithForestRoad.)Anynewdevelopmentmustavoidmakingtrafficcongestionworse,andwherepossibleshouldcontributetoreducingtrafficcongestionandimprovingsustainabletransportincludingpedestrianfacilities,safecyclingroutesandbetterpublictransport.
iii. Therearethreeschoolswithinthecivilparish:theHowardofEffinghamSchool(anacademysecondaryschool),StLawrenceSchool(stateprimaryschool,expectedtobecomeanacademy)andStTeresa’sSchool(aprivatesecondaryschoolforgirls,withanurseryschoolandpreparatoryschoolonthesamesite),togetheraccommodatingabout2,300pupils.ManorHouseSchool(aprivatepreparatoryandsecondaryschoolforgirls)islocatedinLittleBookhamimmediatelyadjoiningtheEffinghamparishboundary,andhasapproximately360pupils.AlltheseschoolsarestronglysupportedbytheEffinghamcommunity,buttheirlocationinasmallvillagewithpoorpublictransportbringsproblemsofsignificanttrafficcongestionatschooltimes,especiallyasthreeoftheschoolsarewithinhalfamileofeachothernearthevillagecentre.AlltheEffinghamschoolsarecurrentlysitedinGreenBeltoutsidethevillagesettlementboundary.ProposalsforexpansionattheseschoolsthereforeneedtodemonstrateveryspecialcircumstancesfornewbuildingintheGreenBelt,aswellasdemonstratingthattherewillbenoincreaseintrafficcongestionfromschooltraffic.
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c. LandDesignations
Environmentalconstraints
ThefollowingconstraintsoccurwithinEffinghamparish(GuildfordLocalPlan2003ProposalsMap):
GreenBelt
ConservationArea
AreaofHighArcheologicalPotential
SiteofNatureConservationImportance
AreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty
ThamesBasinHeathsSpecialProtectionArea(SPA)
Thenorthernpartoftheparishlieswithinthe400mto5km‘ZoneofInfluence’oftheOckhamandWisleyCommonsSPA(seeFigure2).WithintheSPAAvoidanceStrategy(2009–16)thisareaisnotcurrentlycoveredfornewresidentialdevelopmentsof10ormorehomes.(EffinghamCommonisdesignatedasaSANGbuthasnocar‐park,andonlyprovidesavoidancefordevelopmentupto400mfromtheSANGboundary.)
ThesouthernpartoftheparishliesbeyondtheZoneofInfluence.Upto7kmfromtheSPAboundaryapplicationsforlarge‐scaledevelopmentsshouldbeassessedonanindividualbasis.GuildfordBoroughCouncilhasadvisedthatthelevelofdevelopmentproposedinthisNeighbourhoodPlanisunlikelytobeconsideredas‘large‐scale’.
LandscapeCharacterAssessment
ThelandscapeclassificationofthecivilparishissetoutintheGuildfordLandscapeCharacterAssessment&Guidance,January2007:
NorthofA246(GuildfordRoad):
E2‘OckhamandClandonWoodedRollingClaylands’
ImmediatelysouthofA246(GuildfordRoad):
D1‘ClandonOpenChalkFarmland’
SouthernpartoftheparishtoRanmoreCommonRoad:
C2‘EffinghamForestWoodedChalkDowns’
SustainabilityRanking
Effinghamvillagehasasustainabilityrankingof7withinGuildfordBorough’sSettlementHierarchy(May2014),andisclassifiedasalargevillage,unsuitableforsubstantialgrowthbutcapableofaccommodatingaproportionateextension.
InGuildfordBoroughSettlementProfiles(July2013)theconclusionforEffinghamstates:
‘EffinghamisanidentifiedGreenBeltsettlementandassuchdevelopmentislimitedtoinfillingwithintheexistingsettlementboundaryprovidedthedevelopmentisinkeepingwiththecharacterofthevillage.
Effinghamisoneofthelargestvillagesintheboroughandcontainsanumberofkeyservicesandassuchifsuitablesitesarefoundwithinthisareaitcouldsupportadditionalhousingdevelopmentinthefuturethroughanextensionandaruralexceptionsitetoprovideaffordablehomesforlocalpeople.’
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4. CommunityEngagementCommunityengagementduringthepreparationoftheNeighbourhoodPlan(uptoAugust2015)hasincluded:
• Parish‐wideleafletdelivery,pressreleasesandcreationofthewebsitewww.effinghamvillageplan.com.
• Aparish‐wide‘HousingRequirementsSurvey’inOctober–November2013,witharesponserateof60.3%[SupplementaryDocumentSD2].
• Well‐attendedpublicmeetingsinApril2013;July,SeptemberandDecember2014;March2015.
• StallsatEffinghamVillageDay2013,2014and2015.
• Anon‐lineconsultationgroupwithapproximately180localresidents.
• SeveralmeetingswithEffinghamResidentsAssociation.
• RegularupdatesatthemonthlymeetingsofEffinghamParishCouncil.
• MeetingswithBookhamVanguardNeighbourhoodForumandtheEastHorsleyNeighbourhoodPlanSteeringGroup.
• Meetingswiththeland‐ownersofthefourpotentialsupportedsitestodiscussavailability,suitabilityandpotentialforresidentialdevelopmenttomeettherequirementsindicatedinthe‘HousingRequirementsSurvey’.
ApublicexhibitionandconsultationeventonthedraftNeighbourhoodPlanisplannedfor11and12September2015,tobefollowedbyaparish‐widesurveyaspartoftheRegulation14consultationpriortosubmissionoftheEmergingNeighbourhoodPlaninearly2016.
FulldetailsaregivenintheConsultationStatement[AppendixA2].
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5. Vision,ScopeandObjectives
a. VisionandoverallobjectivesThevisionforthisNeighbourhoodPlanistoestablishaclearsetofpoliciesandguidelinescapableofaddressingtheissuesandconcernsidentifiedwithresidentsthroughanextendedprocessofconsultation.Overallresidentshavetoldusthatweshouldseek:
“ToSupporttheorganicdevelopmentofEffinghamtomeettheneedsofitscommunityinaplannedandmeasuredapproach,thatimprovesthefacilitiesandservicesforresidentswhilstenhancingandpromotingtheessentialcharacterandlandscapeofthevillage.WeaimtoimprovetheenvironmentinwhichthevillagestandsinamannerwhichrespectsthestrategicroleofthevillageinpreventingurbansprawlandthelossofGreenBeltbutprovidesfordevelopmentappropriatetotheobjectivelyassessedneedsofthecommunity.”
b. ScopeTheplanaddressesfivemajorareasofinterest:
• Housingprovisionto2030.
• CreationandpromotionofagreenandsustainableEnvironment.
• Infrastructuretosupportsustainabledevelopmentandthedevelopingneedsofthecommunity.
• CreatingtherightconditionstosupportathrivingLocalEconomy.
• CommunityServicestopromotethewellbeingofresidents.
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6. SpecificObjectivesa. HousingObjectives
• Tomakeprovisionfor60newhomesinthecivilparishduringtheperiod2016‐2030,includingahighproportionofsmallerhousing,bothaffordable*andmarkethomes,ofatypethatmeetstheobjectivelyassessedrequirementsoftheEffinghamcommunity.
• Tosupportdesignatedsitesforresidentialdevelopmenttomeetthoserequirementswithinanextendedvillagesettlementboundary.
• ToensurethatallhousingisconsistentwiththedesiredstyleandcharacterofthevillagetomaintaintheruralnatureofthevillageasestablishedintheVillageDesignStatement[SupplementaryDocumentSD1].
TheseobjectivesareconsistentwithSections6and7oftheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework.
* Socialrented,affordablerentedandintermediatehousing,providedtoeligiblehouseholdswhoseneedsarenotmetbythemarket.Socialrentedhousingisnormallyownedbylocalauthoritiesandprivateregisteredproviders(asdefinedinsection80oftheHousingandRegenerationAct2008).Affordablerentedhousingisletbylocalauthoritiesorprivateregisteredprovidersofsocialhousingtohouseholdswhoareeligibleforsocialrentedhousing. Intermediatehousingishomesforsaleandrentprovidedatacostabovesocialrent,butbelowmarketlevels.Thesecanincludesharedequity(sharedownershipandequityloans)orotherlowcosthomesforsaleandintermediaterent.
b. EnvironmentObjectives• Toprotectandconservetheenvironmentofthecivilparishintermsofits:
o DesignatedGreenBeltstatusandproximitytoAONB.
o Strategicroleinpreventingurbansprawl,particularlyasaGreenBeltbufferagainstfurthersprawlalongtheA246ofthecoalescedsettlementsofLeatherhead,FetchamandBookham.
o Distinctruralidentityandlandscape–separatefromneighbouringvillages.
o Openruralcharacterwithinthevillagesettlementarea.
o Keyviewsandvistasmakingthemaccessibletoallresidents(SeeMapEN6).
o Biodiversityandwildlifespacesandcorridors(SeeMapEN5).
o Thehistoricfabricandenvironment,includingtheConservationAreaanditssetting,andensurethoseassetsmostprecioustothelocalcommunityareconservedforfuturegenerations.[VillageDesignStatement,SupplementaryDocumentSD1].
• ToimprovethepedestrianconnectivitywithinthevillageacrossdifferentpartsoftheParish.
• Toencourageagreenerapproachtoallfuturedevelopments.
TheseobjectivesareconsistentwithSections8,9,10,11and12oftheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework.
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c. LocalEconomyObjectives• Tosupportthesustainablegrowthoflocalbusinessesandemploymentopportunities,
includinghomeworking,agriculturalandequestrian.
• Tosupportsustainableruraltourismandleisuredevelopmentsthatbenefitbusinesses,communitiesandvisitorswhilstrespectingthecharacterofthecountryside.
• Toimprovetheaccessibilityoflocalshopsandservices.
• Toenhancetheenvironmentofthevillagecentretoimprovethesettingandstreetscapeoftheshops,pubs,andcafés.
TheseobjectivesareconsistentwithSection3(paragraph28)oftheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework.
d.CommunityServicesObjectives• Tosupportlocalschoolsthroughappropriateimprovement.
• Topromoteaccesstolearningforlifeforallresidents.
• Tosupportinitiativestoimprovespeedofaccesstopublichealthservicesandaccesstodoctor’ssurgeryandmedicalservicesdirectlywithinthevillage.
• Tosupportawiderangeofcommunityfacilitiesinsport,leisure,artsandrecreationinmodernfacilitiesbasedaroundsharedcommunityfacilities.
TheseobjectivesareconsistentwithSection8oftheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework.
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7. PoliciesandProposals
a.GeneralPolicies
G1: PresumptioninFavourofSustainableDevelopment
EffinghamParishCouncilrecognisesthatappropriateproportionatedevelopmentisnecessaryforthelongtermvibrancyofthevillageanditscommunity.
TheEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlanthereforeaimstoensurethatanydevelopmentcontributestoanorganicandmeasuredapproachthatbalancestheneedsofthecommunitywiththatoftheenvironmentandlandscape.
TheParishCouncilwillseektoworkwithapplicantsandotherstakeholderstoencouragetheformulationofplansandproposalsthatachievesuchabalance,withintheplanningcontextoftheNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkandtheGuildfordLocalPlan.
ThispolicyseekstoestablishthatthecoreplanningprinciplesthatwilldrivetheNeighbourhoodPlanareconsistentwiththeNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkandtheGuildfordLocalPlan.
G2: ASpatialPlanforEffingham
ThisNeighbourhoodPlanwilldirectfutureHousing,Environmental,VillageEconomy,andCommunityServicesrelateddevelopmentproposalswithinthedesignatedneighbourhoodplanningarea[Figure1].
Planningproposalsbeyondtheextendedsettlementboundarywillnotbeconsideredduringthetimescaleofthisplanperiod[AppendixA1:MapG2].
Developmentproposalsforessentialinfrastructure(includingschools,healthservices,communications)willbeconsideredonlywhereasupportingevidencebasedemonstratesthattherearenoalternativesitesorsolutionsavailabletotheschemeandthebenefittotheParishoutweighsanyharmorlosstotheGreenBeltandthebroaderenvironment.
ThispolicysetsthestrategicdirectionforthePlanbysteeringallpotentialdevelopmentintothevillagesettlementarea,inordertoprotectthebroaderenvironment,wildlifeandprotectlandthatstronglyservesthepurposesoftheGreenBeltassetoutinNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkparagraph80.
EffinghamremainswithintheGreenBelt(washedover)andthepoliciesofthisPlansupportsustainabledevelopmentwhichconservestheopencharacterofthevillage.
TheextendedsettlementboundarysetbythisPlantakesintothesettlementareaexistingbuiltareasofthevillagesuchasStLawrencePrimarySchool,andincludessiteswhich:
• AresurroundedbydevelopmentonatleastthreesidesandaresupportedinpolicyH3assuitableforlimitedresidentialdevelopmenttomeetlocalhousingneed(Site1,ChurchStreetFieldandSite2,LyonsFieldonMapG2),or
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• Consistlargelyofpreviouslydeveloped(brownfield)landsupportedinpolicyH3assuitableforlimitedresidentialdevelopmenttomeetlocalhousingneedandwheredevelopmentisonlypermittedifaccompaniedbyclearingdevelopmentfromadjoininglandgivingacompensatoryincreaseintheopennessoftheGreenBeltontheadjoiningland(Site3,EffinghamLodgeFarmWestonMapG2),or
• AresituatedbetweensitesasabovebutareprotectedfromsignificantfurtherdevelopmentbyconsiderationsofListedBuildingandConservationAreapolicies(theRedHouseandLutyensClose,‘OurLadyofSorrows’Church).
G3: DesignationofEffinghamLodgeFarmasasiteofKeyStrategicImportance
TheNeighbourhoodPlandesignatesEffinghamLodgeFarm[AppendixA1:MapG3]asasiteofKeyStrategicImportancetothedeliveryofthePlan,sinceitfulfilsthreecriticalroleswithinHousingandEnvironmentalpolicies:
1. TheeasterngreenfieldsectionofEffinghamLodgeFarmprovidesessentialgreenfieldspacetoseparateEffinghamfromLittleBookham,providingaGreenBeltStrategicGapasrequiredbyPolicyEN3.
2. Thepreviouslydevelopedlandatthesouth‐westofEffinghamLodgeFarm,withpermanentofficeandresidentialbuildingsaswellastemporarystructuresincludingglasshouses,providesanessentialopportunityforregenerationandimprovement.Partofthispreviously‐developedland(Site3inPolicyH3)isessentialtomeettheobjectivelyassessedhousingneedsofthecommunity,potentiallydelivering50%ofthehousingneedsofthevillage(PolicyH1).
3. ThedesignationofpartofthepreviouslydevelopedlandatEffinghamLodgeFarmasasupportedsiteforresidentialdevelopment(H3)isdependentontheremainderofthepreviouslydevelopedlandbeingclearedofpermanentbuildingsandderelicttemporarystructure,resultinginimprovementtotheopennessoftheGreenBeltandareturntosuitableGreenBeltuses.TogetherwiththedesignationoftheeasternsectionasaGreenBeltStrategicGap(EN3),EffinghamLodgeFarmiskeytotheprovisionofGreenGatewaystotheVillage(EN2),toconservingbiodiversityandwildlife(EN4),toprovidingawildlifecorridor(EN5),andtoconservingandenhancingimportantviewsandvistas(EN6).
TheNeighbourhoodPlanrequiresthatallproposalsonlandatEffinghamLodgeFarmareconsistentwiththecriticalrolesthelandplayswithinthePlan’spolicies.
EffinghamLodgeFarmisalargeareaofmainlyagriculturalland,situatedbetweentheancientwoodlandofThornetWoodtothenorthandEffingham’svillageandConservationAreatothesouth.Itincludesasmallsectionof‘previouslydeveloped’landonitssouth‐easternedge,partofwhichisproposedforresidentialdevelopmentunderH3,withtheremainderbeingclearedandreturnedtoopenGreenBelt.
EffinghamLodgeFarmiscriticaltothedeliveryofseveralkeypoliciesinthisNeighbourhoodPlan,includingH1,H3,EN2,EN3,EN4,EN5andEN6,andisthereforeconsideredtobeasiteofkeystrategicimportanceforthedeliveryofthePlan.
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G4: DesignoftheBuiltArea
EffinghamNeighbourhoodPlanincorporatesadetailedVillageDesignStatement[SupplementaryDocumentSD1].ThePlanrequiresthatalldevelopmentproposalsadheretotheguidelinesspecifiedinthisdocument.
ThispolicysetsthestandardofdesignforalldevelopmentintheparishtoensuregooddesignsthatreflectthedistinctivecharacteroftheParish,andcreateenvironmentsthatareaccessibletoall.G5: ContributiontoGreenDevelopment
EffinghamParishCouncilwishestoenshrinewithintheNeighbourhoodPlantheprinciplethatallfuturedevelopmentscontributetothelongtermsustainabilityofparishlifeandinfrastructure.
AllproposalswillberequiredtodemonstratehowtheysupportGreenerConstructionStandards,andcontributetowardsthereductionofemissionsandaGreenerfutureforEffingham.
Thispolicyseekstoensurethatalldevelopmentproposalsadheretothehighestenvironmentalstandards.
G6: SchemesofDevelopment
ThePlanwillencourageandsupportschemeswhich
• Proposeproportionatedevelopmentofthesiteandavoidoverdevelopment.
• Arecontainedwiththevillagesettlementareas.
• Maintaintheintegrityofvillageboundariesandapproaches.
• Enhancetheruralcharacterofthevillage.
• RespectthehistoricalsettingoftheConservationArea.
Thispolicyseekstoinformallschemesofdevelopmentinrespectofthoseaspectswhicharemostlikelytobesupportedwithinthecontextofthisplan.
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b. HousingPolicies
H1:NewhomesinEffingham
DuringthePlanperiod(January2016–December2030)theNeighbourhoodPlanmakesprovisionforthedevelopmentof60newhomestomeettherequirementsofprospectivehouseholdswithinthecivilparishofEffingham,throughacombinationofsupportedsitesassetoutinH3andwindfallsitesassetoutinH4.
TheNeighbourhoodPlandirectsfuturehousingdevelopmentinthecivilparishtobewithintherevisedSettlementAreaboundaryofEffinghamvillage,asshownonMapG2,havingregardtotheGreenBeltprovisionsofpoliciesEN2(GreenGatewaystotheVillage)andEN3(GreenBeltStrategicGaps).
AnalysisoftheresponsestotheHousingRequirementSurveycarriedoutinOctober‐November2013indicatedthat42extramarkethomeswereneededtomeettherequirementforoneandtwobedroomhomesfromprospectivehouseholdsintheparish[HousingTargetforEffingham,AppendixA3].Manyoftheseprospectivehouseholdswouldalsoconsider‘affordable’housing*forsharedownershiporrent.Afurther10prospectivehouseholdsrequire‘affordable’homesratherthanmarkethomes.Theprovisionof60homeswouldallowforamixofhousesizesonanysite,includingsomethree‐bedroomhomes.
EffinghamParishCouncilrecognisesthatGuildfordBoroughCouncil(GBC)hasthestrategicresponsibilityforsettingthehousingtargetforEffingham.HoweveritisanticipatedthatGBCwilltakeaccountofthehousingrequirementsoftheexistingEffinghamcommunityassetoutinthispolicy,andoftheenvironmentalconstraintsincludingGreenBeltagainstagreaterhousingtargetsetoutinotherNeighbourhoodPlanpoliciesandtheEffingham‐specificevidencebasedocuments.
*SeedefinitionSection6a.
H2:Mixofhousing
Newresidentialdevelopmentof5unitsorabove,exceptforspecialisthousingasinH5,isrequiredtoprovideamixofhousingtenures,typesandsizestomeetlocalhousingrequirements.
• Atleast20%ofmarkethomesshallhaveonebedroom,andatleast60%shallhavetwobedrooms.
• Nomorethan40%oftwo‐bedroommarkethomesshallbeflats.
• ThepercentageofaffordablehomesshallbeassetoutintheGuildfordBoroughLocalPlan.
• Atleast30%ofaffordablehomesshallhavethreeormorebedrooms.
ThepercentagesofdifferenthousesizesandtypesformarkethomesarebroadlyconsistentwiththerequirementsoftheprospectivehouseholdswhorespondedtotheHousingRequirementsSurvey[HousingTargetforEffingham,AppendixA3].
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Formarkethomes,thesuggestedfiguresmeanthatinadevelopmentof20homes,atleast4shouldbeone‐bedroom,atleast12shouldbetwo‐bedroom(includingtypicallyatleast7housesorbungalowsandatmost5flats),andatmost4shouldbethreeormorebedrooms.
Thepercentageoftwo‐bedroomandone‐bedroommarkethomesishigherthanthatsuggestedforGuildfordBoroughbythe‘WestSurreyHousingMarketAssessment’(30%and10%respectively),howeverthisreflectsmarketrequirementsinEffingham.TheHousingRequirementsSurveyshowedthatsufficientlargerhomes(threeormorebedrooms)fromtheexistinghousingstockwerelikelytobecomevacanttomeetthedemandforlargermarkethomesduringthenext15years.Further,analysisofLandRegistryandPlanningApplicationdatainrecentyearsdemonstratesthataboutathirdofexistingtwo‐bedroomhomeshavealreadyreceivedplanningpermissiontoextend,reducingthenumberoftwo‐bedroomhomesavailablefromexistinghousingstock.Thecurrentexistingstockofone‐bedroommarkethomesisnegligible.
Foraffordablehomes,theHousingRequirementsSurveyindicatedaneedfor30%threebedroomaffordablehomesforfamilieswithtwochildren.ThisisconsistentwiththefigureforGuildfordBoroughinthe‘WestSurreyHousingMarketAssessment’,whichforaffordablehomessuggestsaneedfor25%three‐bedroomhomesand5%four‐bedroomhomes.
H3:HousingsupplythroughSupportedSites
TheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsappropriateproposalsfornewhomestomeettherequirementsoftheEffinghamcommunityonthefollowingSupportedSites(MapH3),withintherevisedSettlementboundaryshownonMapG2:
Site1: LandatChurchStreetknownasthe‘ChurchStreetfield’,forapproximately20small‐scalehomesdesignedtobeinkeepingwiththeConservationArea.Anydevelopmentheremust,asfaraspossible,conservethetreebeltalongtheboundarywiththepedestrianfootwayalongChurchStreet.
Site2: Landknownas‘LyonsField’betweenEffinghamCommonRoadandtheSt.LawrenceSchoolplayingfield,forupto9newhomesdesignedtobeinkeepingwiththeexistingdevelopmentalongEffinghamCommonRoadandLeewoodWay.ThelayoutshouldenableopenviewsthroughthedevelopmenttowardstheagriculturallandofEffinghamLodgeFarm.
Site3: LandalongLowerRoadonthewesternpartofEffinghamLodgeFarm,adjacenttotheBritishLegionHall,forupto30newhomes,designedtobeinkeepingwiththeadjacentConservationAreaandthelistedbuildingnearby.ThelayoutshouldenableopenviewsthroughthedevelopmenttowardsThornetWood,shouldreflectthe‘edgeofsettlement’location,andmustavoidharmtothewildlifecorridorthroughtheStrategicGreenBeltGaptotheeast.DevelopmentofthissitemustbeaccompaniedbythedemolitionofallpermanentbuildingsandredundantglasshousesontheremainderofEffinghamLodgeFarm,whichshouldbereturnedtoopenGreenBeltland.
Site4: Landat‘OrchardWalls’onBeechAvenue,forupto6newhomes.ThissiteiswithinEffingham’ssettlementareaunderthe2003LocalPlan.
AllnewhousingdevelopmentshouldbeinkeepingwiththeVillageDesignStatement(PolicyG4)andtheLandscapeandVillageCharacterPolicyEN6.
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Supportedsitesforhousinghavebeenselectedonthebasisoflandknowntobeavailablefordevelopmentandfollowingconsultationwiththevillagecommunity.Fulldetailsoftheprocessofsiteselectioncanbefoundinthedocument‘SelectionofSupportedSitesforHousing’[AppendixA4].
Insummary:
Site1,theChurchStreetfield,comprisesaformerschoolplayingfieldandissurroundedbybuilt‐developmentonallfoursides:cottagesalongChurchStreettothewest,TheLodgeandEffinghamPlacetotheeast,‘Ambledown’andLowerRoadtothenorthandSt.LawrenceChurchtothesouth.AccessisavailablefromChurchStreetandfromLowerRoad.Site1isintheheartofEffingham’sConservationArea,andhasListedBuildingsclose‐byonallfoursides.Newdevelopmenthereshouldbesmall‐scale‘cottage‐style’homesandshouldprovideopengreenspacewithinthelayout.
Site2,‘LyonsField’,isanundevelopedfieldsurroundedbydevelopmentonthreesides:LeewoodWaytothewest,6housesfrontingEffinghamCommonRoadtothenorth,andStLawrencePrimarySchooltothesouth.Totheeastistheplayingfieldfortheprimaryschool,withagriculturallandatEffinghamLodgeFarmbeyond.DevelopmenthereshouldbedesignedsoastoallowopenviewsthroughthedevelopmenttowardsEffinghamLodgeFarm,conservingtheopenruralcharacterofthevillage.Partofsite2iswithinthe5kmzoneoftheSpecialProtectionAreaofOckhamandWisleyCommons(seeGBCpublication‘ThamesBasinHeathsSpecialProtectionAreaAvoidanceStrategy2009‐16’).AtpresentthereisnoSANG(SuitableAlternativeNaturalGreenspace)provisionwhichcoversthispartofEffingham,whichrestrictsthenumberofhousespermittedheretounder10.
Site3,landfrontingLowerRoadonthewesternpartofEffinghamLodgeFarm,hasdevelopmentontwosides:theBritishLegionandtheCatholicChurchtothewest,andEffinghamPlaceandtheHowardofEffinghamSchooltothesouth.Thislandislargely‘previously‐developed’,containingseveralpermanentbuildingswithassociatedcurtilagesandhard‐standing.NewhousingherewillonlybepermittedifthepermanentbuildingsandredundantglasshousesonEffinghamLodgeFarmtothenortharedemolishedandthelandreturnedtoGreenbeltpurposes,sotheincreaseinopennessoffsetsthelossofopennessfromdevelopmentonSite3.OpenviewsthroughthedevelopmenttoThornetWoodinthenorthwillalsoconserveandimprovetheperceptionofopennessonthissite.
Site4,landat‘OrchardWalls’iswithinthe2003LocalPlansettlementareaandhasbeenidentifiedbyGuildfordBoroughCouncilaslandsuitableforhousingdevelopment.
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H4:Housingsupplythroughwindfallsites
TheNeighbourhoodPlanwillsupportproposalsforwindfalldevelopmentswithinthesettlementarea,provided:
Thequantumofdwellingsandtheirsitecoveragewillnotbeanover‐developmentoftheplotinrelationtoneighbouringplotcharacteristicsinrespectofbuilt‐form,massingandbuildingline.
Satisfactoryroadaccessisprovidedtogetherwithsufficientoff‐streetparking.
ThedesignisconsistentinallaspectswiththeVillageDesignStatement(PolicyG3).
TheschemewillnotresultinthelossoforharmtoanybuildingsorstructureontheLocalListofnon‐designatedheritageassetsforEffingham.
Theschemewillnotresultinthelossofvaluabletrees,hedgesornaturalfeaturesthatformpartofthecharacterofthevillage.
TheschemeisconsistentwithallrelevantpoliciesintheNeighbourhoodPlanandtheGuildfordLocalPlan.
TheNeighbourhoodPlanrecognisesthatadditionalsitesforhousingwithinthesettlementareamaycomeforwardwithintheNeighbourhoodPlanperiod,andwillsupportsuchproposalsiftheyareconsistentwithNeighbourhoodPlanandLocalPlanpolicies.
H5:TravellerAccommodation
TheNeighbourhoodPlanwillpermitdevelopmentsofuptosixTravellerpitchesasruralexceptionsiteswithintheGreenBeltontheHomeFarmestate,accessedfromCalvertRoadorChesterRoad,tomeettheneedsofTravellerswithstronglocalconnectionstothecivilparishofEffingham,providedthat:
Thepitcheswouldmeetagenuinelocalneedthatwouldnototherwisebemet.
Thenumber,sizeandtenureofanydevelopmentwouldbeappropriatetomeet,orwouldcontributetomeeting,theidentifiedlocalneedforTravellerpitcheswithinEffinghamcivilparish,andthepitchesareallsecuredasaffordablehomesinperpetuityandsecurearrangementsaremadetoreservethepitchesforlocalneeds,bothinitiallyandonsubsequentchangeofoccupant.
ThedevelopmentofthesitewouldtakefullaccountofenvironmentalconsiderationsandwouldnotsignificantlydetractfromthepurposesofincludinglandwithintheGreenBelt.
ThispolicyisconsistentwiththeschemedevelopedforHomeFarmbyGuildfordBoroughCouncilinconsultationwithHomeFarmresidents.EffinghamParishCouncilisstronglyinsupportofprovidingTravellerpitchestoimprovethelivingconditionsofTravellerfamilieswithlocalconnectionswithEffingham,andwelcomesthejoint‐workingbetweenGBCandEffingham’sTravellerandnon‐TravellerresidentsintheHomeFarmarea.
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H6:Specialisthousing
TheNeighbourhoodPlanwillsupportproposalsforgroundfloorhomesdesignedforelderlyanddisabledpeople,includingbothground‐floorapartmentsandcottage‐stylesmallbungalowswiththeirowngardens.
TheHousingRequirementSurvey[HousingTargetforEffingham,AppendixA3]indicatedarequirementforelevenhomesdesignedoradaptedforelderlyordisabledpeople.
TheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework,paragraph50,requiresauthoritiestoplanforamixofhousingbasedontheneedsofdifferentgroupsinthecommunityincludingolderpeopleandpeoplewithdisabilities.
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c. EnvironmentalPoliciesBackgroundinformationsupportingtheseEnvironmentalPoliciesisgivenin‘Effingham’sNaturalEnvironment’[AppendixA5].
EN1:LocalGreenSpace
WithintheparishofEffingham,thefollowinggreenareasholdaspeciallocalsignificanceandaredesignatedasLocalGreenSpaces(seeMapEN1):
1. KingGeorgeVFields–recreationalvalueandhistoricsignificance
2. BrownsField–recreationalvalueandhistoricsignificance
3. Allotments–recreationalvalue
4. GreatRidingsWood–beauty,recreationalvalue,tranquillityandrichnessofwildlife
5. EffinghamCommon–beauty,recreationalvalue,tranquillityandrichnessofwildlife,historicsignificance
6. Bank’sCommon,includingBank’sLane–beauty,recreationalvalue,tranquillityandrichnessofwildlife
7. ThornetWood(AncientWoodland)–beautyandrichnessofwildlife
8. OldlandsWood‐beauty,recreationalvalue,tranquillityandrichnessofwildlife
9. HorsecloseCopse(AncientWoodland)‐beauty,recreationalvalue,tranquillityandrichnessofwildlife
10. KilnFieldCoppice(AncientWoodland)‐beauty,recreationalvalue,tranquillityandrichnessofwildlife
11. HermitagePlantation‐beauty,recreationalvalue,tranquillityandrichnessofwildlife
TheseareasaredesignatedasLocalGreenSpacesinperpetuitybecausetheyqualifyfordesignationasLocalGreenSpacesaccordingtothecriteriasetoutinPara76and77oftheNPPF:
1. TheyareimportantareasofgreenlandforEffinghamaddingtothecharacteranddiversityoftheparish.
2. Eachoftheseareasholdshistoricalsignificanceaspartofwildlifecorridors,ancientwoodlandsandareasthatarecriss‐crossedbyancientrightsofway
3. Theyarecriss‐crossedwithfootpaths,bridlewaysandbywaysthatareusedforrecreationandamenitybylocalresidents,day‐trippersandleisureseekersfromalloverthesoutheastandbeyond.
4. Theyareareasoflandwhichaddtothecharacterandopennessofthevillage,contributingtoattractivevistasandviews.
5. TheycontributetowildlifecorridorsandtheprotectionofbiodiversitybetweentheareaofAONBtothesouthandEffinghamandBookhamCommonstothenorth.
6. TheyareareasoflandthataresustainableasareasofrecreationandamenitybeyondtheperiodoftheplanbeingdesignatedasopenaccesslandundertheCountrysideandRightsofWayAct2000(CROWact).
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Moredetailsaregivenin‘Effingham’sLocalGreenSpaces’[AppendixA5].
EN2:GreenGatewaystotheVillage
Thefollowingsites(SeeMapEN2)aredesignatedassitescriticaltomaintaintheGreenGatewaystoEffingham,essentialtoconservetheuniqueruralcharacterofthevillagesettlementareaandthestrategicgapsbetweenEffinghamanditsneighbours.
• KingGeorgeVFields(A246easterngateway)
• EasternareaofEffinghamLodgeFarm(LowerRoadeasterngateway)
• FieldstowestofTheGrove(A246westerngateway)
• FieldseithersideofeasternendofOrestanLane(OrestanLanewesterngateway)
• NorthernareaofEffinghamLodgeFarm(EffinghamCommonRoadnortherngateway)
• UpperLeewoodandLeewoodFarm(EffinghamCommonRoadnortherngateway)
• GolfClub(BeechAvenuesoutherngateway)
• FieldtothewestofChampionMeadow(BeechAvenuesoutherngateway)
DevelopmentproposalsonsuchsiteswillonlybeconsideredunderVerySpecialCircumstancesasdefinedwithintheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework
TheNeighbourhoodPlanencouragesruralhorticulturalplantingideastoimprovevillagegatewayswhilemaintainingvalueddistantviews,includingtheplantingofnativedeciduousspeciesinpreferencetovisuallyopaqueevergreenspeciessuchaslaurelandconifer.
Signsatkeyentrypointstothevillagewillbesupportedandencouragedtoportraytheruralnatureofthevillageanditshistoricalsignificance
TreeswhichcontributesignificantlytothelandscapeoftheGreenGatewayswillbeprotectedusingTreePreservationOrderswherenecessary.
TheNeighbourhoodPlanseekstocooperatewithMoleValleyDistrictCouncilandBookhamVanguardNeighbourhoodForumtoprotectlandinGreatandLittleBookhamwhichcontributestoeasternGreenGatewaystoEffingham,includingRollsFarmandthefieldintheHowardofEffinghamschoolgroundstotheeastofthepublicfootpath.
Greengatewaysandapproachesarethearteriesthatsupplyavillage’sheart.Theirconservationisessentialtoaruralvillage’sidentity,itssenseofcharacterandself‐worth.Residentsandvisitorsalike,approachingavillage,knowthattheyaredoingsofirstbyleavinganotherplace.Asbuildingsthinandgreenspacebecomesapparentasenseofanticipationgrows.Thegreener,moreopenandlongertheseapproachesthegreatertheanticipationofsomethingdifferent.Metropolitanvisitorsareabletoleavethecitybehind,experienceachangeofpace,atransformationofoutlookandindoingsorevitalisethemselves.Residentsexperienceasenseof“cominghome”asfamiliarlandmarksbothbuiltandnaturalcomeintoview.
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EN3:GreenBeltStrategicGaps
ThefollowingGreenBeltsites(seemapEN3)aredesignatedasGreenBeltStrategicGapsprotectingtheseparateidentityofthevillageofEffingham,preventingcoalescencewithneighbouringsettlementsandpreventingurbansprawl.
1. EffinghamLodgeFarm(easternarea)
2. EffinghamCommon
3. GreatRidingsWoodandwoodlandtothewestofCalvertRoad
AnydevelopmentproposalwithinthevicinityoftheseStrategicGapsmustavoidharmtothepurposesoftheGap,including:
ProtectingthesettingandseparateidentityofthesettlementofEffinghamandpreventingcoalescencewithneighbouringvillages
MaintainingtheopennessofthelandwithintheGapandprotectingopenviews
ConservingtheGaps’functionaspartofawildlifecorridor
ProtectingthesettingsandavoidingcoalescenceoftheConservationAreasofEffinghamandLittleBookham
TheGreenBeltsitesdesignatedasStrategicGapsaregivenaddedprotectioninthePlanduetotheirimportanceinprotectingtheseparateidentityofEffinghamandpreventingcoalescencewithneighbouringvillages.GiventhespreadofdevelopmentfromtheLondonsuburbsthroughtoAshteadandLeatherhead,andthecoalescencethathasalreadyoccurredthroughLeatherhead,FetchamandBookham,theGreenBeltStrategicGapontheeasternareaofEffinghamLodgeFarmisparticularlyimportantinservingthepurposesofGreenBeltstatedintheNPPF:
Tochecktheunrestrictedsprawloflargebuilt‐upareas
Topreventneighbouringtownsmergingintooneanother
EffinghamLodgeFarm(east),stretchingfromLowerRoadtoThornetWood,conservestheseparationbetweenthehistoriccentresofEffinghamandLittleBookham,bothofwhichhaveConservationAreas.ThelandispartoftheEasternGreenGateway(policyEn2)providingavisualgapandanopenviewfromLowerRoadtotheThornetWood(AncientWoodland)andisanessentialpartoftheeasternwildlifecorridoridentifiedinEN5.
EffinghamCommonprovidesaclearseparationbetweentheEffinghamresidentialdevelopmentaroundLowerFarmRoadandEffinghamCommonRoadandthesettlementboundaryofEastHorsleywhichbeginsneartherailwayline.ItprovidesavisualgapandopenviewstothewestfromEffinghamCommonRoad,andisanessentialpartofthenorthernwildlifecorridoridentifiedinEN5.
GreatRidingsWoodandwoodlandtothewestofCalvertRoadprovidesaclearseparationbetweenresidentialdevelopmentwithinthecivilparishesofEffinghamandEastHorsley.ThewoodsareanessentialpartofthewesternwildlifecorridoridentifiedinEN5.
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EN4:BiodiversityandWildlife
Developmentproposalsarerequiredtodemonstratethattheexistingbiodiversityandbio‐abundancewithinEffinghamisconservedandwherepossibleenhanced.
AnydevelopmentproposalswithinthefollowingareasdesignatedasimportanthabitatbyNaturalEngland,orwithin50metresoftheboundaryofsuchareas,shoulddemonstratethatthewildlifehabitatoftheareaswillbeprotected:
• Ancientwoodland(includingThornetWood)
• Lowlandmeadow(includingBanksCommon)
• Goodqualitysemi‐improvedgrassland(includingpartofEffinghamCommonandSNCIatEffinghamGolfCourse)
Developmentproposalsandlandscapingschemesshouldimproveandmaintain
• Hedgerows
• Grassverges
forthebenefitofwildlife.
Landscapingschemesshoulduselocallysourcednativespecies,ratherthannon‐nativespecies.
ThispolicyaimstosustainbiodiversityandwildlifehabitatsinEffinghamandthebio‐abundancethatthesehabitatsafford.Itseekstomitigatetheeffectsofdevelopmentbyprovidingasuitableboundarybetweennewdevelopmentsandprotectedhabitats,tosafeguard,forinstance,thetreerootsoftheancientwoodlandorimportantwildlifehabitats.Thepolicyalsoseekstosustainhedgerowsandgrassvergeswhichareknowntobeimportantaswildlifecorridorsandbreedingplacestomanyspecies.
NaturalEnglandhasdefinedpriorityhabitatsthatneedprotectionforthesakeofwildlifeandbiodiversity.InEffinghamthefollowingdesignatedprotectedhabitatsexist:
Ancientwoodland
Lowlandmeadow
GoodQualitySemi‐improvedGrassland
DeciduousWoodland
Hedgerows
GrassVerges
NPPFparagraph114requiresplanningauthoritiestosetoutstrategytoplanpositivelyforthecreation,protection,enhancementandmanagementofnetworksofbiodiversityandgreeninfrastructure,andparagraph117requirespoliciestopromotethepreservation,restorationandre‐creationofpriorityhabitatsandecologicalnetworks.
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EN5:WildlifeCorridors
Wildlifecorridorsandsitesusedasasteppingstoneforplantsandanimalmovementsbetweenprotectedsites,particularlytheSitesofSpecialScientificInterestatRanmoreCommon,SheepleesandBookhamCommon,willbeconserved(seeMapEN5).Keysitesalongthesecorridorsinclude:
Westerncorridor:OldlandsWood,woodlandwestofCalvertRoad,woodlandnorthandwestofOrestanLane,EffinghamCommon
Easterncorridor:AgriculturallandoneasternpartofEffinghamLodgeFarm,ThornetWoodandlandtothenorth,openfieldsandwoodlandtotheeastofKingGeorgeVFields,connectingtoChalkPitLaneinLittleBookhamclosetotheborderwithEffingham
Northerncorridor:EffinghamCommon,BanksCommonconnectingthroughtoBookhamCommon,andancientwoodlandsofLittleandGreatMornshillWood,GallowsGroveandOakenWood.
Southerncorridor:GolfcoursewestofBeechAvenue(aSiteofNatureConservationImportance),fieldstotheeastofBeechAvenue,woodlandintheAONBtothesouthoftheparish
Wildlifecorridorsshouldbenolessthan100metreswide,andmayincludehedgerowsaswellasopenlandandwoodland.
Hedgesandgrassvergesshouldbeconservedinanydevelopmenttoprovide‘steppingstones’forwildlifeconnectivity.
Developmentproposalsmustdemonstratethattherewouldbenosignificantharmtothewildlifecorridorsandsteppingstonesites.Harmislikelytobecausedbytheintroductionorenlargementofbarrierssuchasbuildings,roads,hardlandscapingandartificiallighting,andbythere‐routingofwatersourcesorwatercourses.
MuchofEngland’swildlifeisnowrestrictedtowildlifesites,whichconsistlargelyofsemi‐naturalhabitats.However,survivinginsmall,isolatedsitesisdifficultformanyspecies,especiallyinthelongertermandgivenclimatechange.
EffinghamsitswithinatrianglewithanSSSIateachapex(RanmoreCommon,SheepleesandBookhamCommon)makingwildlifecorridorswithinthecivilparishparticularlyimportantforbio‐diversity.NPPFparagraph117requiresplanningpoliciestoplanforbiodiversityatalandscape‐scaleacrosslocalauthorityboundaries,andtopromotethepreservation,restorationandre‐creationofpriorityhabitatsandecologicalnetworks.ThisisparticularlyrelevantheresinceBookhamCommonandRanmoreCommonaresituatedintheMoleValleyDistrictCouncilarea.
TheNeighbourhoodPlanseekstoprotectthelargenumberofhighqualitysiteswithinthecivilparishofEffinghamwhichcontaintherangeandareaofhabitatsthatspeciesrequire,andtheecologicalconnectionsthatallowspecies,ortheirgenes,tomovebetweenthesesites.Formanyspecies,habitatdoesnothavetobeacontinuous,physicalconnectionforthemtodisperse.
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EN6:Landscapeandvillagecharacter
ThePlanwillsupportandencourageproposalsthatseektoenhancetheessentialcharacterandlandscapeofthecivilparishandvillageasspecifiedintheVillageDesignStatement[SupplementaryDocumentSD1].
Newdevelopmentproposalswillberequiredtodemonstratethefollowinglandscapedesignprinciples:
Landscapeschemesandboundarytreatment:Nativespeciesshouldbeusedforhedgesandtreeplanting,avoidingtheuseoffast‐growingconifers.Fencedesignshouldbeconsistentwiththecharacteroftheareaandshouldnotinterferewiththemovementofwildlife.FlintwallswithinorclosetotheConservationAreashouldbeconsistentwithexistinghistoricwalls.
Wildlifecorridors:Landscapingschemesshouldallowmovementofwildlifeandrespectdesignatedwildlifecorridors.
Views:Importantviewsandvistasareconservedandenhanced(seeMapEN6).
Accessdesign:Accessproposalsassociatedwiththedevelopment,includingroads,pedestrianroutesandcycleways,shouldconserveandenhancethelandscapeandcharacterofthevillage.
Permeablesites:Alldevelopmentproposalsshouldbepermeabletopedestriansandcyclists,avoidingtheuseofgatesacrossroadswhichwouldimpedeaccessforpedestriansandcyclistsmovingthroughthesite.
ThispolicyisdesignedtosustainandpromotethesceniclandscapeswithinEffinghamparishforthebenefitofvisitorsandresidents.Effinghamhasmanysplendidvistasandviews,forinstanceinthenorthoftheparish,forwalkersonthepopularJubileeTrail,thereisasplendidviewfromEffinghamCommonacrossLondontotheChilterns.InthesouthoftheparishtherearegorgeousviewsovertheNorthDowns.Theseviewsandlandscapesareattractivetoramblers,seriouswalkers,cyclistsandhorseridersfromLondonandbeyond,andasmanyrightsofwayaresharedwithneighbouringvillagestheeconomicbenefitsaresharedoverawidearea.
EN7:SharedSpaces
ThePlanwillsupportandencourageproposalsthatprovideorfacilitatetheprovisionofsharedgreenspaces,including:
Communityorchards
Naturalgreenplayspaces
Opengardensaccessibletoall
ThePlansupportstheprovisionofgreenspacessharedby,andaccessibleto,allthecommunity.ExistingexamplesincludethegardenatthejunctionofChurchStreetandCrossways,thewoodlandandgrasslandareasoftheKingGeorgeVFields,andthegrasslandattheendofMiddleFarmPlace,whichisownedandmaintainedbyGuildfordBoroughCouncil.
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EN8:DarkSkies
AlldevelopmentsshouldrespectEffingham’scurrentstatusasa‘darkskies’parish,avoidinglightpollutionandprotectingthenight‐timeviewsofintrinsicallydarkareasofvillageandcountryside.
Minimumlightinglevels,controlledbytimerswhereappropriate,shouldbeusedwherelightingisrequired:
• Toensureroadsafetyinareaswherethereisarisktopedestriansandcyclists,or
• Topreventcrime,or
• Tolightentrancestobuildingsusedafterdark,or
• Fortimedlightingforeveningsportingactivities,or
• Tosupportthenight‐timeeconomyincludinglightingforfarmersneedingtoworkatnight.
Innovativegreensolutionsforappropriatelightingwillbeencouraged.
Residentialdevelopmentshouldbedesignedtominimiselightpollution,avoidingtheuseofunscreenedroof‐lightsoratria.
ThemajorityofEffinghambenefitsfromtrulydarkskiesandconsequentlythrivingpopulationsofnocturnalwildlife,andthisisvaluedbyresidents.
ThePlanrecognisesthatartificiallightoffersvaluablebenefitstoresidents:safety,findingones’wayaround,preventingcrime,facilitatingsportandthenight‐timeeconomy.Howeverinappropriateartificiallightingcancontributetoarangeofproblems:itgivesthevillageanurbanfeel,itdetractsfromtheenjoymentofthenightsky,itcancausehealthproblemsanditisharmfultowildlife.
EN9:Effingham’sConservationAreaandHeritageAssets
AlldevelopmentproposalswithintheConservationAreaorwithin400mofaNationalorlocallylistedbuildingortheirsettingshouldconformtotheDesignGuidancesetoutintheVillageDesignStatement[SupplementaryDocumentSD1].
Alldevelopmentproposalsshouldalsobesympathetictoandconsistentwiththehistoricsettingandlayoutofthevillage,andseektoenhancethespecialqualityanddistinctivecharacterofEffingham,assetoutintheVillageDesignStatement[SupplementaryDocumentSD1].
Effinghamcivilparishcontains31ListedbuildingsaswellasmanyLocallyListedheritageassets.TheConservationAreaisimportanttothecharacterofthevillage.
Thefollowingaimsareparticularlyimportant:
ToconserveandenhancepublicamenityincludingauralandvisualamenitywithintheConservationArea
ToconserveandenhancethedistinctivecharacterofEffingham’sConservationArea
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ToconserveandenhancethesettingofEffinghamConservationArea,andcreateabufferofseparationbetweenEffinghamandLittleBookhamConservationAreas
ToreflectandbesympathetictothematerialsusedinEffingham’sHeritageAssets. TofollowthelocalDesignCodefortheConservationArea.
ToconserveandenhancetheroofscapeoftheConservationArea.
Toconserveandenhanceviews,bothviewswithinand/orcrossingthroughtheConservationArea,andviewsfromtherestoftheParishtowardsorintotheConservationArea.
Toavoidaddingtoon‐streetparkingissues:ParkingislimitedonthenarrowroadsoftheConservationArea,especiallyasmanypropertiesvaluedasHeritageAssetsdonothavedriveways.On‐streetparkingdistractsfromthesettingoftheConservationArea.
EN10:Airquality
TheNeighbourhoodPlanwillsupportandencouragedevelopmentproposalsthatprovideorfacilitatethebetterprovisionofairqualityandthereductionofpollutionby:
Reducingtrafficcongestion.
Includingplants,treesandshrubsinanylandscapingschemetocleanandreplaceourair,andasfaraspossiblereplacinganytreesorhedgerowswhichhavetoberemoved.
Providingfacilitiesforlow‐pollutiontransport,includingsafecyclestorageandchargingpointsforelectricvehicles.
Effinghamisaruralvillageinthehinterlandofoneoftheworld'sgreatestmetropolises.YetitisthefirstvillageoutofLondontobesurroundedbyGreenBeltandopencountrysidemuchofitownedbytheNationalTrust,theWoodlandTrustandGuildfordBoroughCouncil.Goodqualityairbothshouldandwouldbeexpectedforthebenefitnotonlyofitsresidentsbutitsmyriadofvisitors.IncreasingnumbersofcyclistsandwalkersnumberamongstthoseutilisingthisareaadjacenttotheSurreyHillsAreaofoutstandingbeauty.
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d. CommunityAssetPolicies
C1:AssetsofCommunityValue
EffinghamNeighbourhoodPlanidentifiesthefollowinglocalassetsas“sitesofcommunityvalue”toreflecttheiracknowledgedimportancetothelifeandenjoymentofthelocalcommunity:
1. SirDouglasHaigPublicHouse
2. ThePloughPublicHouse
3. StLawrenceChurch,burialgroundandHall
4. OurLadyofSorrowsCatholicChurch,burialground&Hall
5. EffinghamMethodistChurch
6. TheParishRoom
7. TheOldVillageHall
8. KGVHall&PlayingFields
9. Allotments
10. EffinghamCommon
11. CalburnCricketGround12. Shopson‘TheStreet’13. St.LawrencePrimarySchool
14. TheParishCouncilBurialGround15. TheBritishLegionHallonLowerRoadOnlyproposalsthatresultinthemaintenanceorimprovementoftheviabilityand/orcommunityvalueof“SitesofCommunityValue”willbesupported.Otherwiseproposalsthatresultineitherthelossorsignificantharmtotheassetwillberesisted,unlessitcanbeclearlydemonstratedthattheoperationoftheassetortheongoingdeliveryofthecommunityvalueoftheasset,isnolongerfinanciallyviable.
UnderPart5Chapter3oftheLocalismAct2011andtheAssetsofCommunityRegulations2012EffinghamParishCouncilwillseektoincludesitesnotalreadyinlocalpublicownership(i.e.allexcept8,9,11and14)ontheLocalPlanningAuthorityRegisterofAssetsofCommunityValue.ThisprovideEffinghamParishCouncilorresidentsorothercommunityorganisationswithintheparishtheopportunitytobidtoacquiretheassetonbehalfofthecommunityshouldtheassetbeplacedforsaleontheopenmarket.
Thispolicyaimstoensurethatsitesofcommunityvalueareidentifiedandprotectedforthebenefitoffuturegenerations.TheHousingRequirementsSurvey[SupplementaryDocumentSD2]providesevidenceoftheimportanceoftheseassetstothelocalcommunity.
Anumberofsuchassetsarealreadyunderthestewardshipoflocalpublicbodies(EffinghamParishCouncilandEffinghamVillageRecreationTrust)andwillcontinuetobesofortheforeseeablefuture.Thosethatarenotarecandidatesforinclusion.
Furtherdetailsaregivenin‘EffinghamCommunityAssets’[AppendixA6].
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C2:KingGeorgeVHall&PlayingFields
TheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsproposalstoimprove,extendorreplaceKingGeorgeVHall,andsupportsproposalsontheFieldsincludingnewcourtsorsportspitches,providedthat:
• TheproposalprovidesenhancedfacilitiesforrecreationandleisureactivitiesprincipallyfortheresidentsofEffinghamandforfacilitieswhichincreaseresidents’well‐beingsuchasmedicalservices.
• Theproposalwillnotleadtoanysignificantincreaseintrafficinthevillage.
• TheproposalimprovesoratleastdoesnotworsentheparkingprovisionatKingGeorgeVHallandincludesmanagementtominimisetheimpactforresidents.
• PreferencewillbegiventothoseproposalsthatarelikelytoimprovethefacilitiesforEffinghamresidents,addressingtheirstatedneedforimprovement,andextendtheuseoftheassetbyEffinghamresidents.
NPPFSection8.Promotinghealthycommunities(paragraph69)statesthat“Planningpoliciesanddecisions,inturn,shouldaimtoachieveplaceswhichpromote…….opportunitiesformeetingsbetweenmembersofthecommunitywhomightnototherwisecomeintocontactwitheachother,includingthroughmixed‐usedevelopments,strongneighbourhoodcentresandactivestreetfrontageswhichbringtogetherthosewhowork,liveandplayinthevicinity.”
DevelopmentorredevelopmentofKingGeorgeVHall&PlayingFields(KGV)providesanunparalledopportunitytomeetthisrequirementgivenitscurrentusage,locationandscope.
ThispolicyaimstoensurethatcommunityfacilitiesbenefitfromSection106orpotentialCILfundingtoensurethatessentialsocialinfrastructureimprovesasthecommunitygrowsinscale.
TheHousingRequirementsSurvey(HRS)carriedoutin2013indicatedthatEffinghamresidentscurrentlymakesignificantusetheKGVfacilitiesandhaveviewsontheneedforimprovementwhicharereflectedinthispolicy.TheresponsestoquestionsconcerningtheKGVaresummarisedintheHRS[SupplementaryDocumentSD2].
C3:LocalHealthServices
TheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsproposalsforthedevelopmentorchangeofuseofabuildingtodeliverfacilitiesprovidinghealthservicesincludingGPclinics,podiatry,mentalhealthprovision,counsellingandotherserviceswhichincreasethewell‐beingofresidents,providedthat:
• Thesiteissuited/adaptedtothispurposeintermsofaccessandcar‐parking.
• Theproposalwillnotleadtoalossofamenityforlocalresidents.
ItisevidentthatthereisastrongneedforthedevelopmentofHealthServicesmorelocaltotheEffinghamcommunity.Givenpoorpublictransportresidentscurrentlyhavetotraveladistancebycartoreachfacilitiesinneighbouringvillages.
InresponsetotheHousingRequirementsSurvey(HRS)carriedoutin2013,Question21(HowdoyoureachyourGPsurgery?),itisapparentthattheoverwhelmingnumberofvisitstoGP
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surgeriesaremadebyprivatecarownedbythehousehold:95%toEastHorsley,94%toFairfieldinBookham,and97%toEastwickParkinBookham.
Thepolicyaimstoaddressakeyconcernraisedbyresidentswithlackofdirectaccesstomedicalservicesinthevillage.HRSQ22(DoyousupportaconsultingroomwithinEffingham?)89%supportedtheprovisionofaconsultingroomwithinEffinghamforusebylocalGPpracticesandotherhealthservicessuchasphysiotherapists,chiropodistsandhealthvisitors.Bysuchprovision,improvementinthesecuringofsamedaydoctor’sappointments(seeresponsestoHRSquestion20)maybeachieved,moresustainabletravelpatternswouldbeencouragedandtrafficcongestionreduced.
C4:CommunityBurialFacilities
ThisNeighbourhoodPlansupportsproposalstoextendandimproveburialfacilitieswithinEffingham,including:
• ExtensionoftheexistingParishCouncilBurialGroundinChurchStreet.
• Spacesdesignatedforcontemplationandremembrancewheretheyarelinkedtothedevelopmentofspiritualfacilities.
Thispolicyaimstoaddressakeyconcernraisedbyresidentswherebyexistingspacewithinthevillagecemeteryislimited.TheCivilParishBurialGround,ownedandmanagedbyEffinghamParishCouncil,providesanon‐denominationalfacilitywhereresidentsareabletohonourtheirfamilyandfriendswithoutexcessivetravel.
PolicyC10proposesforfundingviaSection106contributionsorCILforanextensionoftheParishCouncilburialground(C4).
C5:Broadband&ITservices
Supportwillbegiventoproposalsthat
• Provideaccessfortheparishtocurrentandfuturegenerationlandlineandmobilenetworkstoincludebutnotbelimitedto;VDSLandFTTHhighsuperfastbroadband,2G,3Gand4Gmobile,coaxialCATV,or
• Providecommunityfacilitiesthatgiveimprovedhighspeedaccesstointernetandbroadbandfacilities,or
• ProvidelearningopportunitiesforresidentstoacquireITskillsandcapabilities,or
• Provideaccesstoemergingtechnologiesastheyarise,or
• Wherefacilitiesrequireabovegroundinstallations,theseshouldbeofacharacterconsistentwithrequirementsasspecifiedwithintheVillageDesignStatement[SupplementaryDocumentSD1].
TheNPPF(Section5.Supportinghighqualitycommunicationsinfrastructure)identifiesinParagraph42that“Advanced,highqualitycommunicationsinfrastructureisessentialforsustainableeconomicgrowth.Thedevelopmentofhighspeedbroadbandtechnologyandothercommunicationsnetworksalsoplaysavitalroleinenhancingtheprovisionoflocalcommunityfacilitiesandservices.”
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C6:Schools
TheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsproposalsfornewdevelopments,refurbishmentorextensionstoimprovetheeducationalfacilitiesatSt.LawrencePrimarySchool,theHowardofEffinghamSchoolandSt.Teresa’sSchoolontheirexistingsitesonly,providedthat:
• Thereisnosignificantincreaseinpupilnumbers
• TheproposalsareconsistentwithallrelevantpoliciesintheNeighbourhoodPlan,theGuildfordLocalPlanandtheVillageDesignStatement[SupplementaryDocumentSD1].
• Proposalsdonotresultinincreasedtrafficmanagementissues,andseektoimprovetheexistingprovisionforparkingonsitetoreducetheimpactonnearbyroadsandresidents.
Publicconsultationeventshaveshownthereisstrongsupportforanynewdevelopmentsorextensionstothethreeschoolsinthevillagetobeontheirexistingsites.ThisopinionisparticularlymarkedinthecaseoftheHowardofEffinghamSchool(astateacademy),wherethereisconsiderablepublicoppositiontotheplanningapplicationtorebuildtheschoolonGreenBeltlandatEffinghamLodgeFarm,with295homesproposedasenablingdevelopment.
ThereareconsiderabletrafficcongestionproblemsfromschooltrafficalongLowerRoadandthroughthevillagetotheHowardSchool,andparkingproblemsalongLowerRoadoutsidetheschool.InthecaseofStTeresa’sSchool(aprivategirlsschoolincludinganursery,preparatoryschoolandsecondaryschool)residentsareveryconcernedaboutschooltrafficproblemsalongBeechAvenue,whichisanarrowwindingroadwithpoorvisibilityandnofootwayformuchofitslength.
InresponsetotheHousingRequirementsSurvey(carriedoutin2013,Question12(SchoolsattendedbyEffinghamchildren)indicatesastrongpreferenceforlocalchildrentoattendalocalschoolatpre‐school,primaryandsecondarystages[SupplementaryDocumentSD2].
StLawrencePrimarySchoolwillbeproposedforinclusionontheLocalPlanningAuthorityRegisterofAssetsofCommunityValueinorderthatFreeSchoolOptionsmightbeexploredintheeventofanypotentialclosure.
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C7:CommunityLearningandWellbeing
EffinghamNeighbourhoodPlansupportsproposalsthatincludedevelopmentofcommunityfacilitiestosupportcommunitylearningandwellbeing.
OfparticularinterestareschemesthatEITHERwithinexistingfacilitiesORthroughconversionofotheravailablesitesandfacilitiesseektoenablenewservicesorimproveaccesstoexistingservices
• Adultlearning
• Afterschoolclubs
• Holidayplayschemes
• Medical&wellbeingconsultationrooms/services(seealsoPolicyC3)
• Communityfacilitiesforart,craftanddrama
• CommunityITfacilitiesandlearning
• Community“dropin”facilityforelderlyresidents
• Indoorcommunityfacilityforyoungpeople
ThePlansupportsandencouragesschemesthatconserveexistingbuildingsforcommunityuseasoutlinedabove.
InresponsetotheHousingRequirementsSurveycarriedoutin2013,Question13(Requirementformoreeducational/childcarefacilities),significantinterestwasexpressedintheprovisionofmorelocallybasedadulteducationclasses,after‐schoolclubsandholidayplayschemes.
ResponsestoQuestion2(Numberofpeopleineachagerange)indicatedthatover27%ofEffingham’scurrentpopulationareaged65orolder,suggestingtheneedforfacilitiesforelderlyresidents.
Moredetailsaregivenin[SupplementaryDocumentSD2].
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C8:InfrastructureInvestment
TheParishCouncilproposesthefollowingprojectsforfundingviaSection106contributionsorCIL:
• Trafficmanagement,pedestriansafetyandstreetscapeenhancementinthevillage.
• ProvisionofsafecycleroutesincludingtoschoolsandtoEffinghamJunctionStation.
• Improvement,extensionorreplacementofKingGeorgeVHall,andenhancementstotherecreationfacilitiesontheKingGeorgeVFields,asperPolicyC2,oradditionalprovisionofsocialandeducationalservicesforresidents(PoliciesC5andC7).
• Amoderncentreforcommunitylearningandwellbeing.(PoliciesC5andC7).
• Theprovisionofafacilityprovidinghealthservices,asperPolicyC3.
• ImprovementstotheeducationalfacilitiesatSt.LawrenceSchoolandHowardofEffinghamSchool,asperpolicyC6.
• ImprovementstopublicfootpathsandbridlewaysincludingthoseonEffinghamCommon.
• ExtensionoftheParishCouncilburialground(PolicyC4).
TheParishCouncilconsidersitsensibletoseektoplanfortheuseofCommunityInfrastructureLevy(CIL)aheadofsuchtimethatGuildfordBoroughCouncilhasadoptedaCILPolicy.UntilaCILpolicyisinplace,theParishCouncilwillencourageGuildfordBoroughCounciltoseekSection106contributionsforapproveddevelopmentswhichfundcommunityinfrastructureprojects.
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e. InfrastructurePolicies
R1:RoadSafety
TheNeighbourhoodPlanwillsupportproposalstoimprovepedestrianandvehicularsafetyinthevillagewheresuchproposalscomplywithrequirementsoftheVillageDesignStatement,especiallyintheareaofTheStreetandaroundschools.ResponsestotheHousingRequirementsSurvey[SupplementaryDocumentSD2]showedthatsafetyonvillageroadswasamajorconcern.InanswertoQuestion14(ConcernsaboutroadsinandaroundEffingham)49%wereconcernedaboutspeeding,38%concernedaboutcongestion,and36%concernedaboutdangerousorinconsiderateparking.
R2:CarParking
TheNeighbourhoodPlanwillsupportschemesthat:
• Improvecarparkingtosupportkeyvillageservicesincludingstationsandshops.
• Preserveandimproveexistingcarparkingprovisiontoservelocalresidents.
Newdevelopmentproposalsshouldprovideamplecarparkingwithinthescheme.
ResponsestotheHousingRequirementsSurvey[SupplementaryDocumentSD2]Question14showedthat31%ofrespondentsthoughttherewasinadequateparkingprovisioninthevillage.ProblemsareparticularlyacutealongLowerRoadduringschooltimes,andonBrownsLane,ChurchStreetandLowerRoadonSundays,whenlargeRugbyClubeventsoftencoincidewithchurchservices.
CarparksopentothepublicandvaluedbylocalresidentsincludethecarparkatNorwoodRoadandthecarparkattheKingGeorgeVHallenablingaccesstothefacilities.Carparksat‘OurLadyofSorrows’ChurchonLowerRoad,attheStLawrenceChurchhallonBrownsLane,andattheBritishLegionClubonLowerRoadareavailabletousersofthosefacilities,butcannotcopewiththelargeparkingrequirementatacutetimes.ThecarparkattheHowardofEffinghamSchoolismadeavailabletotheRugbyClubwhenpossible,butitsavailabilitycannotbeguaranteed.
Theimprovementofexistingcarparkingprovisionisimportanttothevillage,andanynewdevelopmentmustnotmakeexistingproblemsworse.
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R3:TrafficManagement
ProvidedthatallschemesareconsistentwiththeVillageDesignStatementandsympatheticwithConservationArearequirements,theNeighbourhoodPlanwillsupport
• Schemesthatprovidemoreeffectiveroutesandalternativestotheuseofinappropriatevillageroads.
• Appropriatetrafficcalmingmethodstomaintainorimprovethesafetyofallroadusersinthevillage,andparticularlyinthevillagecentreandalongLowerRoad.
• Appropriateparkingrestrictionswhichmaybenecessarytoensuresafetyofallroadusersandalsotoimprovetheflowoftrafficwherenecessary.
• ContinuedrestrictionstotheweightandmovementoflargedeliveryvehiclesandHGVsthroughoutthevillagebutespeciallywithintheConservationAreaandalongEffinghamCommonRoad.
• Introductionofamaximum20MPHspeedrestrictionwithinthevillagecentreandaroundschools.
• SchemesthatsupportImprovedsafetyforallroadusersandparticularlypedestriansandcyclists.
TheHousingRequirementsSurvey[SupplementaryDocumentSD2]indicatesthattrafficmanagementschemeswouldbesupportedbyresidents,providingtheyareappropriatelydesignedincloseconsultationwiththecommunity.
R4:PublicTransportandSustainableCarUse
TheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsproposalstoimproveconnectivitybyPublicTransportandCommunityBusservices:
• BetweenEffinghamandnearbyvillagesandtownsincludingGuildford,Leatherhead,Cobham,Dorking,BookhamandtheHorsleys.
• Toandfromlocalstations.
TheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsschemestoencouragesustainablecaruseincluding:
• ‘CarSharing’wheretravellerswithsimilartravelroutesofferliftstoeachother,facilitatedbypromotingenablingwebsitesandappstobothresidentsandemployers.
• ‘Peertopeercarrental’orCarClubsbyencouragingproposalswhichmakeavailablesuitableparkingspacesreservedforthestationingofsharedcars.
• ‘Rentyourdriveway’schemestoenablelocallyemployedindividualstooccupythedrivesofvolunteerresidentswhoseowncarsareelsewhereduringworkinghours.
TheHousingRequirementsSurvey(Questions16LocalTrainServices)indicatesthat49%ofregulartrainjourneysaretowork,mainlycommutersintoLondonand10%ofregularjourneysareforeducation.ResponsestoQuestion15(Localbusservices)showthatthemostcommonreasonforregularbusjourneysisshopping(43%)withverylittleuseofbusesforwork(5%)oreducation(4%).
TheoverwhelmingmajorityofEffinghamresidentsrelyonprivatecars,eithertoreachtherailwaystationorfortheirentirejourney.Busservicesareinadequateintheeveningsandat
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weekends,withnoregularservicetothelocalstationsatEffinghamJunction(1.8miles)andBookham(1.7miles).
TheNeighbourhoodPlanthereforesupportsproposalsthatwouldimprovepublictransportintheparish.
Changingeconomics,developingenvironmentalattitudesandenablingtechnologiesarepresentingsolutionsaimedatmakingcarusagemoreefficientaswellasreducingcongestionandparking.Thesesinclude‘CarSharing’,‘Peertopeercarrental’andRentyourdriveway’schemes.Whilstthesesolutionsarepredominantlyfindingapplicationinurbanenvironmentatpresent,theiradoptionlocallyistobeencouragedaswillyettoemergeviableideas.
R5:SafeCycleRoutes
TheNeighbourhoodPlanseekstopromoteincreasedusageofsafe/dedicatedcycleroutesandwillsupportsuchschemesespeciallyinthefollowingareas:
• Accesstothestations(EffinghamJunctionandBookham).
• Routestovillageschools.
36%ofrespondentstotheHousingRequirementsSurveyQuestion18(Cycletracksandsafecycleroutes)agreedthatmorecycletracksandsafecyclerouteswereneededinandaroundEffingham.Thecommentsshowedstrongsupportfortheprovisionofsafe,off‐roadcycleroutesalongEffinghamCommonRoadtoEffinghamJunctionStation,andoff‐roadroutesbetweenvillagesgivingsafercyclingroutestotheHowardofEffinghamSchool.
R6:FootwaysandPedestrianRoutes
TheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsproposalsleadingtoimprovedfootwaysandpedestrianroutesthroughoutthecivilparish,andinparticular:
• AccessiblecontinuoussafepedestrianroutesalongTheStreet,ChurchStreet,BrownsLane,Crossways,OrestanLaneandBeechAvenue.
• PedestriancrossingfacilitiesacrossTheStreettotheshopsandacrossthetraffic‐lightcontrolledjunctionoftheA246/TheStreet/BeechAvenue.
• Provisionofdroppedkerbswhereneededtoimproveaccessforwheelchair‐users
Proposalsforresidentialdevelopmentshouldincludepedestrianroutesthroughthesite.
Therewasstrongsupport(46%)intheHousingRequirementsSurveyQuestion17(Footwaysandpedestrianroutes)forimprovementstopedestrianroutes,particularlyinthevillagecentretoallowsafepedestrianaccesstotheshopsandcommunityfacilities.
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R7:DisabledAccess
TheNeighbourhoodPlanrequiresthat
• AllfuturedevelopmentinthevillagetakesaccountoftheneedtomakeprovisionforDisabledAccessandtoincorporateflexibledesignsforbuildingsandtheirsettings,includingaccesstoamenityspace,enablingthemtoadapttofutureneedsandtotakeintoaccounttheneedsofallusers.
• Newroadsandfootwaysshouldbedesignedtoallowdisabledaccess.
TheNeighbourhoodPlanwillsupportschemestoimprovedisabledaccesstoexistingvillageservices,includingwheel‐chairaccesstobothplatformsatEffinghamJunctionstation,consistentwithdeliveringasustainable,accessibleenvironmentforallresidentsandvisitors.
TheDisabilityDiscriminationAct2005makesitunlawfulforpeoplewithdisabilitiestobediscriminatedagainst,amongstotherthings,intheaccesstogoods,facilities,andservices.Dutyplacedonpublicservicestoamendtheirserviceorfacilitiessothatdisabledpeoplecanaccesstheservicebetter.
Paragraph35oftheNationalPlanningPolicyFrameworkstates:“Plansshouldprotectandexploitopportunitiesfortheuseofsustainabletransportmodesforthemovementofgoodsandpeople.”Therefore,developmentsshouldbelocatedanddesignedwherepracticaltoconsidertheneedsofpeoplewithdisabilitiesbyallmodesoftransport.
Althoughjustoutsidetheparishboundary,EffinghamJunctionstationiswidelyusedbyEffinghamresidents.Currentlythereisramp‐accesstotheGuildford‐boundplatformonly.ThereisanurgentneedforaliftorothermeansofaccessfordisabledpeopletotheLondon‐boundplatform.
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f. LocalEconomyPoliciesResearchinsupportofthesepoliciesispresentedinAppendixA7.
LE1:SafeguardingVillageShopsandRetailFacilities
ToensurethecontinuationofahealthyretailsectorinEffingham,theNeighbourhoodPlansupports:
• theestablishmentofretailpremisesthatprovidesaserviceandmeetthedaytodayneedsoftheresidential,studentandvisitorcommunitiesaswellaslocalbusinesses.
• the"changeofuse"ofexistingretailpremisesonlyifbydoingsotheycontinuetoprovideaserviceapplicabletothelocalresidentialcommunity.
• proposalsthatcreateadditionalproportionateA1(traditionalsmallshopsandservices)orA3(café)unitswithinthesettlementboundarywhereaccessandparkingareadequate.
• proposalswhichimproveandenhancethevitalityandviabilityoftheshopsontheStreetRetailParade.
• changeofusefromshopping(A1use)torestaurantsandcafes(A3)withintheRetailParadesorthepartconversionoftheexistingPublicHousestoarestaurantorcafe.
ThefollowingproposalswouldcauseharmtoEffingham’sretailsectorortotheruralcharacteroftheparishandwillberesisted:
• developmentthatwouldresultinthelossofretailfloorspacewithintheRetailParadeorthelossofsmall(A1)shopunitselsewhere
• changeofusetoHotfoodtakeawayunits(A5).
• conversiontoofficeuseintheparadepremises.
• changeofuseoftheVineries,currentlyA1GardenCentreuse,tomoregeneralA1uses
AlldevelopmentproposalsforretailfacilitiesshouldcomplywithguidelinessetoutintheVillageDesignStatement[SupplementaryDocumentSD1]andenvironmentalimprovementsareencouraged:
• Improvementofthecurrentstreetsceneof‘TheStreet’viamoregreenlandscaping
• TheenhancementofTheStreetRetailParadeareaasanaturalcentreofthevillagecommunityforexamplebyimprovingcommunityseating/meetingand/socialisingfeatures.
• ImprovementtothesettingoftheA246Parade ProposalsthatwouldresultinalossofaretailoutletoutsideofaRetailParadeshouldtakeintoaccounttherolethattheseoutletsprovidetothelocalcommunity.AnyproposalsfortheredevelopmentorchangeofuseofaunitoutsidetheRetailParadewillneedtodemonstratethattheunitisnolongerneeded.Itmustbedemonstratedthattheunithasbeenprofessionallyandpositivelymarketedforatleastoneyearatarealisticlevel,reflectingitscurrentuse,withoutsuccess.
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TheRetaileconomyinEffinghamconsistsof:
• asixshopretailparade[TheStreet],
• twopublichouses[ThePloughandTheHaig]and
• atwoshopparadeonthemainroadthroughthevillage[A246]
• agardencentreattheVineriesnurseryonLowerRoad
TheStreetRetailParadecurrentlyconsistsof6shopfrontedretailpremises.Thesecurrentlyconsistof:abutchers,aladieshairdresser,generalhardwarestore,bakerswithcafé,villagemarketwithrecentlytransferredPostOfficeCounter.TheformerPostOfficethatclosedinearly2015iscurrentlyvacant.ItisbelievedthataReplacementWindowCompanyintendstoopenasashowroom.
TheVillageshopsareimportantpartofthevillagecommunity,providinglocalavailabilityofbasicfoods,goodsandservices,preventingunnecessarytravel,promotingsocialinteraction,enablingemploymentbothdirectlyandindirectly.
TheVineriesnurseryissituatedintheGreenBeltoutsidethesettlementarea.Itscurrentuseasagardencentreisconsideredtobeanappropriateuseofglasshousestructuresinthisrurallocation,anditiswell‐supportedbylocalresidents.Howeveritisnotasuitablelocationformoregeneralretailuse.
ThispolicyissupportedbyParagraph28oftheNPPF.
LE2:AgriculturalandEquestrianBusinessPolicy
ThisNeighbourhoodPlanencouragesappropriateschemesthatsupporttheAgriculturalandEquestrianEconomy.InparticularthePlan
• Supportsschemesthatseektoenhance/developnewandexistingfacilitiesofanAgriculturalorEquestriannature
• Supportsschemestoensurebridlewaysaremaintainedingoodcondition
• ResistsproposalsthatresultinthelossoflandcurrentlyusedforAgriculturalpurposes
• ResistsproposalsthatresultinthelossoflandcurrentlyusedforEquestrianfacilitiesunlessitistobereturnedtoagriculturalpurposes
AllproposalsarerequiredtobecompliantwiththeVillageDesignStatementandrespectfulofresidentialamenity.
AgriculturalbusinessshouldbeencouragedtoexpandwithintheParish,sothatgreenareascanbeusefulnotliefallow.BydoingsotheprimarypurposesoftheNPPFGreenBeltaremet.
ThispolicyissupportedbyParagraph28oftheNPPF.
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LE3:Provisionandusageofonsiteparkingforemployers.
Whereemployershaveavailablespacetheywillberequired/encouragedtoavoidoverflowparkingbythepromotionofsustainablecommutingsuchascarsharingandbicycleusage.
Giventheparkingproblemsinthevillage,describedunderPolicyR3,allemployersareencouragedtoreducetheneedforon‐streetparking.Schemestoencouragesafecyclingareparticularlyencouraged.
TheuseofbicyclingnumberplatesbytheHowardisseenassuccessfullyaddressingaperceivedproblem.Cyclebehaviourimprovedontheroads,cyclesecurityimprovedforstudentsandcyclecrimediminished.Theintroductionofasimilarschemetomodify6thformcarusageandparkingbehaviourwouldbewelcomed.Thismayrequiretheintroductionofareasrestrictedtopermitholderswhoagreetosustainabletravelmethods.
ThispolicyissupportedbySection4oftheNPPF,Promotingsustainabletransport.
LE4:Thrivinglocalbusinesses
TheNeighbourhoodPlansupportsproposalsfortheestablishmentofnewbusinessesortheexpansionofcurrentbusinesseswhichare
• Home‐based,wherethesedonotimpacttheamenityoffellowresidents.
• Retail,meetingdaytodayneedsofresidentsandvisitors.
• Ruralenterprisesthatservethelocalresidentpopulation.
• Agriculturaluseoffallowlandareas.
• Lightindustrialabletooperatewithnoiseorpollutionlevelsthatbarelyimpacttheresidentialcommunity.
ThispolicyissupportedbySection3oftheNPPF,Supportingaprosperousruraleconomy.
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8. DeliveryPrinciplesTheEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlanwillbeimplementedthroughacombinationofthelocalplanningauthority’sconsiderationanddeterminationofplanningapplicationsfordevelopmentintheparishandthroughsteeringpublicandprivateinvestmentintoinfrastructureprojectsassetoutinpolicyC8ofthePlan.
MostofthepoliciescontainedintheEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlanwillbedeliveredbylandownersanddevelopersrespondingtoitsproposalsforencouragingandmanagingdevelopment.InpreparingthePlan,carehasbeentakentoensure,asfaraspossible,thattheseproposalsareachievable.
Whilstthelocalplanningauthoritywillberesponsiblefordevelopmentmanagement,theParishCouncilwillalsousetheEffinghamNeighbourhoodPlantoframeitsrepresentationsonsubmittedplanningapplications.Itwillalsoworkwiththeauthoritytomonitortheprogressofsitescomingforwardfordevelopment.