(public pack)harbury and deppers bridge ndp agenda

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Item 4

Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan, Referendum Version, September 2018

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"Our vision is of a socially cohesive and

mutually supporting rural parish. A low

carbon parish with adequate infrastructure,

that respects the value of the surrounding

farmland and natural landscape and offers

essential services, recreation, employment and

housing opportunities for people of all ages

and income levels.”


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Acknowledgements

This document has been developed and produced on behalf of the Parish

Council by the Harbury Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group:

Pat Summers (Chair) Parish Councillor

Samantha Allen (Vice Chair) Parish Councillor

Janet Thornley Parish Councillor

Chris Gibb Parish Councillor

Keith Thompson Parish Councillor

Bob Sherman Chairman, Harbury Energy Initiative

Jenny Patrick Former Parish Councillor

Linda Ridgley Secretary, Harbury Society

Andrew Patrick Former District Councillor

Hazel Turner Deppers Bridge representative

John Hancock Retired Harbury General Practitioner

Marian Millington Focus Group representative

Roger Gardner Self-employed

John Stringer Educational Writer/Church

representative

Paul Quinney Group Scout Leader


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Chapel Street, Harbury


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Table of Contents

Chapter Page Number

1 What is a Neighbourhood Development Plan and

why do we need one for the parish of Harbury?

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2 Preparing the Harbury Neighbourhood

Development Plan 11

3 Harbury Profile 15

4 Vision and Objectives 26

5 Policies and Proposals 30

6 Monitoring and Review 67

Appendix 1 – Listed Buildings 68

Appendix 2 – Local Green and Open Spaces

Analysis

78

Appendix 3 – Sites of Special Scientific Interest 84

Appendix 4 – Public Rights of Way 86


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Table of Policies

Policy Page Number

Policy H.01 – New Housing Development in Harbury Village 30

Policy H.02 - New Housing Development in Deppers Bridge and

the Open Countryside

34

Policy H.03 - Securing a Suitable Mix of House Types and Sizes

in New Development

35

Policy H.04 – Local Needs Schemes 37

Policy H.05 - Housing Development and Design Principles 38

Policy H.06 – Green Infrastructure 40

Policy H.07 - Protecting and Enhancing Local Green Spaces 41

Policy H.08 - Protecting Small, Incidental Open Spaces 45

Policy H.09 - Protecting Significant Views 46

Policy H.10 – Landscape Design Principles 47

Policy H.11 - Ensuring New Development Provides Appropriate

Infrastructure

49

Policy H.12 - Protecting Existing Community Facilities 51

Policy H.13 - Development of New Community Facilities 55

Policy H.14 - Sustainable Design and Energy Efficiency 57

Policy H.15 - Highways and Transport 58

Policy H.16 - Business and Employment Development in the

Centre of Harbury Village

59

Policy H.17 - Protecting Existing Employment Premises 60

Policy H.18 - Protecting and Enhancing Local Shops and

Businesses

63

Policy H.19 - Protecting Local Heritage 63


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Figure 1 – Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan Area

© Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number

0100053686


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1 What is a

Neighbourhood

Development Plan and

why do we need one for

the parish of Harbury? 1.1 The Localism Act 2011 introduced significant reforms to the planning

system in England to give local communities more say in shaping

future development in their area. The most significant reform gave

local parish councils the power to prepare a neighbourhood

development plan for their area.

1.2 Harbury Parish Council decided it was essential to use this new

power because neighbourhood planning provides a powerful set of

tools for local people to ensure that they get the right type of

development, in the right place, and at the right time for our

community. Keeping people informed about what is going on,

during the preparation of the neighbourhood plan, has helped us to

maintain and enhance the strong sense of community that already

exists in the parish.

1.3 The parish council, therefore, applied to be designated a

neighbourhood planning body for the whole parish. Harbury was

approved as a neighbourhood planning area by Stratford-on-Avon


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Council in September 2014. This designation has allowed the local

community to come together, through the preparation of this

neighbourhood development plan, to set out how the future

development of the area should be shaped up to 2031.

1.4 The neighbourhood plan area covers the whole of the parish, see

Figure 1.

1.5 When complete the Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood

Development Plan (HNDP) will become part of the statutory

development plan and will be used to help determine future

planning applications in Harbury Parish.

1.6 To take effect, a neighbourhood development plan requires the

support of a simple majority in a referendum of the neighbourhood.

The full plan preparation process is shown in Figure 2.

1.7 Following a series of informal and formal consultations held in

accordance with the Neighbourhood Plan Regulations, this

Referendum version of the HNDP has been prepared. If approved at

referendum by a simple yes vote of those eligible to vote in the

neighbourhood area (parish) the HNDP will be made part of the

development plan for the area.


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Figure 2 – The Neighbourhood Development Plan

Preparation Process

What is in The Harbury Neighbourhood Development

Plan (HNDP)?

1.8 The Plan is for the Parish as a whole and looks at a wide range of

issues, including:

❑ Housing

❑ Leisure and well-being

❑ Business

❑ Traffic and transport

❑ Natural and built heritage

❑ Community assets

What Period Does the Harbury Neighbourhood

Development Plan Cover?

1.9 The Stratford-on-Avon Council Plan period is from 2011 – 2031 and

in order to align with this plan, the HNDP covers the same period.

DesignationPreparing the Plan, including informal

consultation

Formal Consultation

(6 weeks)

Revise PlanSubmit Plan to Stratford

Stratford Consult for 6 weeks

ExaminationReferendum

(current stage)Plan made


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What other things do we have to take account of?

1.10 The HNDP sets out a series of policies that once made will be used to

guide development and to help to determine future planning

applications. This important legal position means that not only does

the HNDP have to follow the process set out in Figure 2 it also has to

have regard to national planning policy and to be in “general

conformity” with the strategic planning policies set in the Stratford-

on-Avon Local Plan (Core Strategy). Altogether the Harbury

Neighbourhood Development Plan and the Local Plan will form the

development plan for the area, see Figure 3.

Figure 3 – The Harbury and Deppers Bridge

Neighbourhood Development Plan in Relation to Other

Plans

National planning policy (NPPF)

Stratford on Avon Strategic Planning Policy

Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development

Plan

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2 Preparing the Harbury

Neighbourhood Development

Plan

2.1 The Draft Harbury Neighbourhood Development Plan has been prepared by a

Steering Group of volunteers and parish councillors. This chapter sets out in more

detail the work to date: the evidence; consultations and decision-making so that

anyone with an interest in the future of the area can see how the plan has been

developed.

Community consultation


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2.2 The timeline below sets out the progress so far in preparing the Harbury NDP.

Date Action

October 2013 Preliminary NDP survey. 1000 questionnaires

delivered: 250 returned.

31st October 2013 Questionnaire results analysed and collated.

16th November 2013 Open Afternoon in the Village Hall - with display

of survey results, photographs and community

group stands.

20th February 2014 1st NDP meeting: 11 out of 32 volunteers

attended.

18th March 2014 2nd NDP meeting. Harbury Society attended and

stressed the value and importance of the existing

Harbury Village Design Statement.

22nd April 2014 3rd NDP meeting. Application to Stratford-on-

Avon District Council for neighbourhood area

designation.

14th May 2014 4th NDP meeting: discussed ways to make NDP

high profile.

8th June 2014 Community consultation - CARNIVAL

26th June 2014 5th NDP meeting: feedback from carnival &

questionnaires.

12th September 2014 Parish Council meet with Gladmans about their

proposed development.

16th September 2014 6th NDP meeting: Stratford-on-Avon District

Council approved Harbury's designated area.

Feedback on Gladman meeting, Village with a

Vision & Prince's Trust. Joined 'Harbury News' on

Facebook.

13th January 2015 7th NDP meeting: moving forward in 2015.

Steering Group now has a regular 15 members.

Harbury NDP website planned.

17th February 2015 8th NDP meeting: Considered other NDPs &

possible use of consultants. The chairman of the

Harbury Energy Initiative produced the first draft

of a “Vision Statement".

24th of March 2015 Vision Statement agreed.

18th-28th April 2015 Young people of the parish consulted with help

from Southam College and Harbury School.

Letters and emails sent to farms and businesses in

the parish.

29th April 2015 10th NDP meeting: Looking at objectives and

policies. Preparation for the Open Afternoon.


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23rd May 2015 Community Consultation - Open Afternoon at

Village Hall for 'resident suggestions'. Groups,

farms, businesses all invited.

22nd of July 2015 11th NDP meeting with Kirkwells to discuss first

discussion draft NDP.

4th of November 2015 Steering Group meet to discuss draft NDP with

Kirkwells.

7th December 2015 to

15th January 2016

Informal consultation on draft plan.

February-May 2016 Consideration of informal consultation responses.

August- September

2016

First Regulation 14 consultation

December 2016 Parish Council considers Regulation 14

consultation responses and decides to revise the

plan and repeat the Regulation 14 consultation

6th February 2017 to

20th March 2017

Second Regulation 14 consultation.

11th January to 22nd

February 2018

Submission consultation.

Summer 2018 Independent examination.

30 July 2018 Examination report published.

2.3 The Parish Council initiated the Harbury NDP and a Steering Group was formed

in January 2014. This Group comprises a mix of Parish Councillors and volunteers

with representatives drawn from a range of local parishioners. The Steering Group

has produced this NDP in accordance with the Neighbourhood Planning

Regulations and in consultation with the Harbury community, businesses,

landowners, various agencies and the local planning authority.

2.4 The evidence base for the Neighbourhood Development Plan includes a wide

variety of technical documents. The Planning Policy Assessment and Evidence Base

Review that accompanies this plan summarises these in more detail.

2.5 In order to build up an evidence base for the HNDP the Steering Group also

undertook the following steps:

❑ A review of existing evidence;

❑ Identification of gaps in the evidence base;

❑ Compilation of new evidence; and

❑ Analysis of evidence.


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From the above process and the feedback received, a Vision Statement was

formulated and a neighbourhood development plan was felt to be the best means

of delivering this vision.


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Harbury Profile

Introduction

3.1 The parish of Harbury and Deppers Bridge has a population of

2,4201 residents and is situated about five miles south east of

Leamington Spa, three miles south west of Southam and thirteen

miles east of Stratford-upon-Avon. Harbury village is a thriving

and busy community which boasts an active Church congregation,

a primary school, doctor’s surgery, a volunteer-run village library, a

well-used village hall, a Post Office, chemist, two general stores

and five public houses. Many other businesses operate in the

village or within the parish boundary – including a small

industrial estate at Churchlands.

Heritage

3.2 Harbury is one of the Lias Village Farmlands of the Warwickshire

Feldon as identified in Warwickshire County Council’s ground-

breaking Landscape Guidelines piloted by the Countryside

Commission in 1993.

3.3 As such it has a varied, small-scale hedged landscape of scattered

farms and nucleated settlements of brick and White Lias limestone

buildings and its disused quarries and railway cutting have semi-

natural grassland and scrub.

1 2011 Census


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3.4 It has the typical steep wooded scarp slope and more gentle dip

slope; a well-defined geometric pattern of small to medium sized

fields with many hedgerow and roadside trees (despite the ravages

of Dutch Elm Disease in 1975).

3.5 There are two SSSIs within the parish one along the railway cutting

and another at Harbury Quarries (Appendix 3). These protected

areas and the village’s internal wildlife corridors, connect Harbury

and Deppers Bridge to the wider countryside and are of great

ecological significance.

3.6 Harbury is proud of its history and heritage which it seeks to protect

and enhance. The Plan Area comprises the whole Parish including

the original village of Harbury and the later industrial workers’

settlement of Deppers Bridge to the east, Figure 1.

Mill Lane, Harbury

3.7 Harbury has two Conservation Areas designated in 1980 (Figure 4).

One covers the historic core of the village, Top End, the other is

based on the Manor House and the once detached farming

community to the west, Bottom End.

3.8 There are 35 buildings and structures in the parish that have Listed

Building status and protection. These include the Church, Manor

House, Wagstaffe School and Windmill (Appendix 1).


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Figure 4. Harbury Conservation Areas

3.9 The Warwickshire Sites and Monuments record lists over fifty

important finds within the parish from Neolithic, Bronze Age and

Saxon times with considerable Roman finds and remains from the

Fosseway and the extensive “suburbs” of Roman Chesterton.

Important Mediaeval finds relate to the Manor House, Harbury

House - the original Bury site, and the Mediaeval house platforms in

the Church Paddock. There are also remains relating to the Harbury

Quarries, Great Western Railway and its cutting.

3.10 In 1998 the community consulted and produced one of the first

Village Design Statements and in 2005 a Parish Plan was produced,


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and subsequently updated in 2012. These were previously adopted

by Stratford-on-Avon District Council and still have status as

informal supplementary planning guidance.

3.11 The Parish Plan and Village Design Statement illustrate the

importance the parish places on its history, its vernacular

architecture, its wildlife, countryside views, nature conservation,

energy efficiency and sustainability. The documents identify what

the community values and give advice on enhancement, design and

environmental protection, but this Neighbourhood Plan goes further

and sets out how the Parish will develop in future years.

3.12 The community recognises the part it has to play in mitigating

climate change by supporting and encouraging efficient use of

energy, reducing demand and lowering carbon emissions. The

village group, Harbury Energy Initiative, has worked on an energy

conservation programme in the village since 2010. Since then they

have facilitated internal insulation of the library, cavity wall

insulation for the rugby club, solar energy monitoring at the village

hall and energy options reports for the church, school and two other

community buildings. More still needs to be done.

3.13 In the last three years, over 50 people in the village have installed

photovoltaic panels on their roofs. Some recent new housing

developments have included air source heat pumps and two eco-

houses have been built in the parish. In line with government’s

support for community energy and de-centralised heat and power

generation schemes the village aims to explore options for a

community energy project that will also provide the benefit of a

community fund for further local energy efficiency measures.

3.14 The new homes at Hereburgh Way and Ridgley Way, Bush Heath

Lane, have air source heat pumps and good insulation at the current

level required by government. A majority of NDP respondents have

heard about the Harbury Energy Initiative and about a fifth have

attended meetings to hear more about how they could benefit from

further energy reduction in their own homes.

3.15 Nearly every respondent already had double glazing, most have loft

and wall insulation and there was reasonable interest in more

information to be made available with regard to photovoltaic cells

and solar panels.


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3.16 An Electric Car Club has been initiated for 2015, providing an

additional non-polluting green transport option. One aim of this is

to reduce car ownership in the village and this will also relieve some

of the on-street congestion.

3.17 The Parish lost the majority of its forest trees to Dutch Elm Disease

(Elm was the dominant species in the Feldon). Considerable

replanting was done from the 1980s onwards but there is still a

deficit. The remaining trees are thus even more precious and should

be retained.

3.18 Infill housing development has seen the village continue to grow but

this needs to be managed in such a way that other land uses such as

businesses, facilities and green space are not lost.

3.19 Some recent new building has failed to respect the local vernacular

this needs to be avoided in future especially in the Conservation

Areas.

3.20 Speculative housing development has achieved Sustainable Homes

Code Level 3 for insulation, energy efficiency and water saving.

Through the neighbourhood plan we would like to encourage

developers to go further, although we acknowledge that government

policy is to have one sustainable building standard through the

Building Regulations. We also need to ensure there is suitable

provision of social housing, appropriate landscaping and good

quality space for children to play.

3.21 A feature of Harbury frequently remarked on by visitors and

residents is the depth and variety of its community life. There are: -

• over 30 active sports clubs, of which half regularly compete in

events outside the village;

• a similar number of recreational associations, embracing a

very wide range of interests;

• and a similar number of formal and informal community

groups working to support charities in and outside the village,

and overseas.

• Of the annual events that mark the Harbury year, the most

noteworthy is the Carnival held in June, preceded by a week

of unique warm-up events.

• Harbury & Ladbroke News is the award-wining monthly

magazine that keeps residents informed about all these events.


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3.22 Certain places in Harbury and Deppers Bridge play a key role in this

concentration of community activity:

• All Saints’ Church has a large, active congregation, and

together with its well-equipped Parish Room frequently hosts

both Church and non-Church events.

• The Village Hall has, since the 1960s, been the largest

alternative meeting place, and its premises are always in great

demand. In 2015, the Village Hall underwent an ambitious

extension programme. The recreation ground behind the

Village Hall includes football pitches, floodlit tennis and

netball courts, an all-weather play area, a BMX track, a

skateboard park, a well-equipped children’s play area and a

well-used zip wire. Next to this are allotments, administered

by the Parish Council on behalf of the County. Further

working allotments are in Hall Lane and beside the BT

exchange building.

• Harbury Primary School is large and successful, with premises

which are in demand for after-school events. Since 2012 its

well-resourced Heritage Room has acted as a living history of

the community.

• The Surgery includes an in-house Pharmacy in addition to the

independent Pharmacy in the village centre.

• The Library, part of the County Library service, is run by

volunteers, and includes an award-winning café.

• The Rugby Club has pitches for rugby and cricket with a well-

equipped clubhouse.

• The pubs, dating back to before the railway cutting was

constructed, are central to Harbury’s story. In 2015, there were

4 of them in Harbury Village as well as a Village Club, and the

Great Western situated between Harbury and Deppers Bridge.

• Deppers Bridge Playing Field offers recreation space to local

families

3.23 Harbury is a village surrounded by open countryside:

• There are within the village more than a dozen green spaces,

much valued by residents. Some of these “green lungs” are

protected as village greens or roadside verges but some are

not and deserve to be preserved for their function of bringing

wildlife into the heart of Harbury.


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• From the edges of the village it is possible to look out onto

open countryside. Harbury’s Village Design Statement of 1998

strongly makes the case for protecting these rural views.

• Outside of the village itself, but within the parish boundary on

the B4522 (Station Road) between Harbury and Deppers

Bridge is Harbury Spoilbank Nature Reserve. This site is also

part of the Harbury Railway Cutting SSSI. It is well known for

its butterflies and other wildlife;

• Bishops Bowl Lakes, a nationally recognized fishing resource,

are also within the Harbury Quarries SSSI; and

• Harbury is also a crossing-point for well-trodden footpaths,

including 2 miles of Warwickshire’s own long-distance path

the Centenary Way; and Harbury is crossed by the

Warwickshire Feldon Cycleway.

3.24 This was borne out by the responses to the 2014 Village Survey.

To the open-ended question “What do you like about living in

Harbury?” the following responses were made:

26.4% replied ‘The activities, clubs and associations’;

5.2% ‘The Church and Tom Hauley Room’;

10.0% ‘The quality of the school and pre-schools’;

7.2% ‘The quality of care (Doctor and Chemist);

6.4% ‘The number of pubs to visit’;

30% ‘The rural aspects / open countryside / walking.

And to the question “What parts of Harbury should be preserved?”

19.6% said ‘The Village Hall / playing fields’;

8.0% ‘The Library and café’;

22.8% ‘the centre / pubs and shops’;

53.6% ‘The green spaces’;

32.4% ‘The Church and the church paddock’;

3.2% ‘The Allotments’;

2.0% ‘The rural outlook’.

3.25 The medium size employers within the parish are: International

Fasteners (based between Harbury and Deppers Bridge), Harbury

School, Harbury Surgery, the Co-op Late Shop and Banana Moon

Nursery. International Fasteners employs five office staff and 12-15

people working in production. Harbury C of E Primary School

employs a Headteacher, 7 full time teachers, 4 part-time teachers, 8

teaching assistants, 1 office manager and 2 playground/dinner staff.

The website www.harburyschool.com lists up-to-date activities and

calls for parent involvement. Harbury Surgery has 5 doctors, 3

http://www.harburyschool.com/


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nurses, a Practice Manager, a Premises Manager, 5 reception staff

and 3 dispensary staff. It also has a Healthcare Team consisting of a

Community Midwife, a District Nurse and Health Visitors. The

website www.harburysurgery.org.uk gives out information and has

an online ‘virtual patient representation group’. The Co-op Late

Shop employs a Manager, a Trainee Manager and because it is open 7

days a week from 7am until 10pm there are 11 part-time assistants

employed for different shifts. Banana Moon Nursery employs a

nursery manager and deputy manager and 10 members of staff.

3.26 Other shops in the village centre include the Supermarket/Post

Office, chemist, Muggleston’s fruit & vegetable shop and a

hairdressing salon. The Bull Ring Business Centre houses the Parish

Office, Serenity toning tables, and Kleinmann Property Services.

There are no large size employers within the parish. However, there

are twelve industrial units operating from ‘Churchlands’ on the edge

of the village of Harbury and more industrial units are included in

the plans for development of the old Cement Works site, part of

which lies within the parish, between Harbury and Bishops

Itchington.

3.27 Other sources of local employment include Harbury Pre-School,

Bishops Bowl Lakes, the Autism Centre on the Fosse, and work in

local agriculture. Mechanics work at the Bull Ring Garage in Church

Terrace and there are office staff in The Business Centre, which is

also in Church Terrace. There are four Bed & Breakfast houses in

Harbury and the Great Western public House in Deppers Bridge also

offers this service. The Great Western is one of five public houses in

the parish – the others are The Old New Inn, The Shakespeare, The

Gamecock and The Crown.

3.28 Homeworking in the parish is very high. In the 2011 Census, 225

residents, 19.5% of all those in work, said that they worked from, or

mainly worked from home: compared with only 10.3% in England

and 9.7% for the West Midlands. High speed broadband and better

mobile phone coverage are, therefore, a priority so as to ensure that

village businesses and homeworkers are able to keep pace with

technology and there has been a campaign to facilitate this.

3.29 The majority of residents commute to work in nearby towns such as

Southam, Leamington Spa and Warwick. Many travel much further

as 11.6% of commuters liked the good road access to towns and cities

via major road links and the M40. Travelling to work by car is the

http://www.harburysurgery.org.uk/


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preferred option, although there is also a popular hourly bus service

from Southam to Leamington Spa on weekdays. The largest local

employer in the area outside of the parish is Jaguar Land Rover

based six miles away in Gaydon.

3.30 Local jobs for local people mean less commuting, saving individuals

the cost of travel and increasing the leisure time that they have

available. Young people can find it difficult to gain their first job

where they can develop workplace skills especially when they have

no transport of their own or cannot drive. This neighbourhood plan

supports economic growth in Harbury so that jobs are created, and

prosperity improved for all. Local enterprise should be encouraged.

8.8% of residents wanted to see shops and services in the centre of

the village expanded although 3.6% wanted no additional businesses

in the centre. 36.4% thought that the Churchlands site ought to be

expanded to accommodate more businesses with 12.8% believing

that industrial type business units should be outside of the village

altogether.

3.31 The main traffic management problems of the parish are due to:

▪ congestion in the centre of Harbury village

▪ lack of adequate parking provision and

▪ speeding vehicles entering Harbury and driving through

Deppers Bridge.

There is a separate report on Deppers Bridge.

Harbury is rural in character and has narrow roads, particularly in its

centre. The existing volume of traffic already poses threats to the

safety of both road users and pedestrians. With a prospective

increase in the village population through the 75 houses of the David

Wilson Homes development, 5 at Henry’s, 7 at Hillside and 4 in

Dovehouse Lane, further pressure will be put on the road system by

the increased number and movement of cars and people.

3.32 21% of residents surveyed stated that traffic congestion in the centre

of the village, roads around the primary school and near to the

surgery were a major problem and one of the things they disliked

about living in Harbury. A cause for concern is the speeding traffic

coming into Harbury on Butt Lane, into Temple End, Binswood End

and on the B4451 and B4452 from Southam and Ufton respectively.

There are 30mph signs and crocodile teeth painted on the roads but


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that doesn’t slow the cars down. The two longest roads in the village,

Park Lane and South Parade, also suffer from speeding cars with

many residents feeling that “this is an accident waiting to happen”.

HOUSING IN DEPPERS BRIDGE

3.33 Deppers Bridge is a small ribbon development comprising some 44

houses immediately adjacent to the B4451 and a further 6 set off from

the road down private drives. The hamlet owes its existence to the

success of the former Harbury Cement Works Ltd., which owners

Greaves, Bull and Lakin set up alongside the Great Western Railway

in 1855. Development of the 'Works' went from strength to strength

and by 1924 had the capacity to produce 343 tons of 'Portland'

cement per day and nearer 400 tons per day by 1926.

Deppers Bridge

3.34 It was during this heyday period that the majority of Deppers Bridge

homes were built to house company workers. Predominantly on the

northern side of the road facing south towards the 'Works’, and

varying in size and scale from the most capacious down to the more

modest cottages, they catered for all ranks of employees. Some of the

cottages have plaques set into their frontages giving the date of

construction as 1924

3.35 In 1927 Harbury Works was purchased by the 'Red Triangle Group'

of cement manufacturers but, due to the economic climate at that

time and overcapacity in the industry, the company's fortunes

declined rapidly and resulted in its bankruptcy in 1931. The few

houses scheduled to complete the group were never constructed with

two remaining 'gaps' subsequently filled by more modem homes.


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3.36 In 1932 the Blue Circle Group bought the company from the receiver

and continued work there until 1970 when the site became a depot,

but no further houses were added and by then most had been sold

off to tenants or private buyers.

3.37 Of the roadside premises only two pre-date that period of

development in the hamlet with four more added in later years.

Formerly a quiet backwater, but now a busy commuter route,

Deppers Bridge is unsuitable for further development as access onto

an already overstretched road is a perpetual problem. While there is

a notional opportunity for ' infill' on the southern side of the B4451,

unless and until there is a by-pass, such development would be

unfeasible. With no amenities other than a children's recreation

ground any additional development would be unsustainable causing

more problems than benefit.

Deppers Bridge Park

3.38 Set in an attractive area of typical Feldon natural landscape character

and more specifically within the Lias Village Farmlands type,

government planning inspectors in 2014 and 2015 concluded that any

proposed dwellings or other developments on productive farmland

in Deppers Bridge would have significant and harmful impacts upon

both the character and appearance of such a sensitive point in the

landscape.


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4

Vision and Objectives

Vision

Our vision is of a socially cohesive and mutually

supporting rural parish. A low carbon parish with

adequate infrastructure, that respects the value of

the surrounding farmland and natural landscape

and offers essential services, recreation,

employment and housing opportunities for people

of all ages and income levels.

Objectives

4.1 The following objectives have been identified for the HNDP:

OBJECTIVE 1 – To provide, where necessary, small housing

developments with a 'lifetime housing' design, in keeping with the

parish style and nature, allowing opportunities for people of all

incomes and ages to live in the parish of Harbury. To ensure that a

significant proportion of the new housing development is

affordable and retained in perpetuity for those with a 'local'

qualification.

OBJECTIVE 2 - To preserve the rural nature of Harbury village,

with wildlife corridors and farming coming right into the heart of

it as it does at present.


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OBJECTIVE 3 - To preserve and protect important green spaces

within the village and retain countryside views out across a natural

landscape.

View from Butt Lane

OBJECTIVE 4 - To ensure adequate infrastructure in the parish is

included and funded when any new developments are planned.

OBJECTIVE 5 – To invest in our community buildings, recreation

space and associated equipment to ensure these are adequate for an

increased population.

OBJECTIVE 6 - To lower the carbon footprint of the parish by

supporting energy conservation measures, ensuring all new

housing is built to a high standard of energy efficiency and water

conservation, making them truly affordable to run and maintain,

ensuring also that all extension and renovations of existing

buildings to be carbon neutral, where possible.

OBJECTIVE 7 - To ensure all new developments provide safe

routes for pedestrians and cyclists to access Harbury village centre,

thus discouraging use of cars for short, local journeys.

Consideration should be given to providing a diverse range of

transport options with links to local centres, aiming at reducing car

ownership, congestion in Harbury village centre and competition

for parking spaces.

OBJECTIVE 8 - To maintain a thriving Harbury village centre by

retaining commercial space for business, shops and pubs as well as


28

supporting important volunteer run facilities. Encourage home

working and local employment opportunities, thus reducing the

need for vehicle travel to work.

OBJECTIVE 9 – To protect and enhance all historic and heritage

sites in the parish.

Mill Street

29

Map 1. Settlement Boundary for Harbury Village © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686

KEY - Settlement Boundary Significant views out of the village

30

5

Policies and Proposals

5.1 This chapter of the HNDP sets out the planning policies and proposals that

will be used to help us achieve our vision and objectives. Each policy is set

out under the appropriate objective. So, for example, under the objective –

“To preserve and enhance the distinctive heritage of the area.” we have

different policies to control the rate of housing development in the

settlements of the parish.

OBJECTIVE 1 – To provide, where necessary, small

housing developments with a 'lifetime housing'

design, in keeping with the parish style and nature,

allowing opportunities for people of all incomes and

ages to live in the parish of Harbury. To ensure that a

significant proportion of new housing development is

affordable and retained in perpetuity for those with a

'local' qualification.

Policy H.01 – New Housing Development in Harbury Village

New housing development will be concentrated within the

Harbury village settlement boundary (Map 1).

Within this boundary, proposals for new housing will be

supported when they:


31

a) do not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the parish’s

rural landscape;

b) conserve or enhance the significance of designated and

non-designated heritage assets;

c) do not have an unacceptable adverse impact on existing and

future residential amenity;

d) do not have an unacceptable adverse impact on the natural

environment and protect and enhance biodiversity and

habitats;

e) do not lead to the inappropriate development of

residential gardens that would cause harm to the village

by reason of over-development, significant loss of

useable garden spaces for both existing and proposed

new properties, and loss of off-street car parking;

f) are appropriately located for the users and residents of

the proposed use to access local facilities and services;

and they

g) are appropriate in terms of size, scale, design and

respect the character of the surrounding area.

Shared Ownership Homes, Percival Drive


32

Background/Justification

5.2 Harbury is identified in adopted strategic planning policy for Stratford-on-

Avon as a Local Service Village 5.3 In preparing the Harbury Neighbourhood Development Plan we must be in

general conformity with adopted strategic planning policy for the area – the

Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy – the “Core Strategy”.

5.4 The Core Strategy (Policy CS15) identifies Harbury as a Local Service

Village. In such villages approximately 2,000 new homes will be built

between 2011 and 2031. Harbury is identified as a Category 1 Local Service

Village. In the Category 1 Local Service Villages approximately 450 of the

2,000 new homes will be built, with no more than around 25% of the 450 in

any individual settlement.

5.5 The settlement boundary for Harbury, the continuous black line on Map 1,

historically known as the village envelope, has been drawn around the

existing built up area of the village and also includes known housing

commitments (built sites, sites under construction or sites with planning

permission) these are shown on Map 1 and area at:

❑ Bush Heath Lane

❑ Ridgley Way

❑ Hillside

❑ Spinney Field

These are also areas that residents indicated, during our consultations, that

they considered development to be appropriate. Completed consultation

returns from the Carnival 2014 indicated in order of preference 40%

preferred to see development at Bull Ring Farm Road; 39% at Bush Heath

Lane; and 32% at Pineham Farm. A further important factor in drawing up

the new settlement boundary has been the aim of maintaining the eastern

and western boundaries of Harbury village. This was supported by 68.4% of

residents. Policy H.01 will mean there is a presumption in favour of new

housing development within the settlement boundary, where it can meet

the criteria in Policy H.01. Stricter planning controls for new housing will

exist in Deppers Bridge and the open countryside.

5.6 There are also a small number of other commitments within the settlement

boundary:


33

❑ 1 at Walnut Tree Cottage

❑ 1 at Ivy Lane

❑ 2 at Frances Road

❑ 4 at Dove House Lane

❑ 5 at Henrys

5.7 With the planning approvals on the edge of the village listed in para. 5.6

and other commitments, as at March 2017, 63 homes had been built and 71

dwellings committed making of a total of 134 houses.

New housing Hereburgh Way

5.8 This anticipated growth in Harbury will contribute at least 28.4% of the

identified growth of 450 new dwellings in the Core Strategy for the

Category 1 Local Service Villages. The Core Strategy also sets out that “no

more than around 25%” of this growth for the Category 1 Local Service

Villages should be in an individual settlement. Harbury is considered to

have met this requirement and, therefore, the settlement boundary as drawn

in Map 1 will be used to manage any further housing growth in the village

up to 2031.


34

5.9 In drawing the settlement boundary for Harbury we have also maintained

the long standing approach contained in the Village Design Statement and

the Parish Plan of protecting the eastern and western boundaries of the

village (see graphic above). To the west is the defined edge of the scarp and

the east the strong urban/rural edge provided by Butt Lane and Bush Heath

Road.

5.10 Harbury Cement Works is a brownfield site, part of which is within

Harbury Parish and part is within Bishops Itchington Parish. Under the

Stratford District Council Core Strategy this site has been designated a key

development site with over 200 new dwellings to be built as part of the

commitment to reuse brownfields sites. The Cement Works figures are not

taken into consideration when assessing the number of dwellings planned

for Harbury in the period up to 2031.

Policy H.02 - New Housing Development in Deppers Bridge

and the Open Countryside

Proposals for new development in Deppers Bridge and the

open countryside, that is those areas within the neighbourhood

plan area, but outside the Harbury village settlement boundary

(Map 1), will only be supported in the following circumstances:

a) Replacement dwellings;


35

b) Re-use of redundant or disused buildings, not in need

of substantial repair or rebuilding;

c) Development that would bring back in to use and

secure a suitable and sympathetic re-use of a heritage

asset;

d) Agricultural and forestry dwellings for essential

workers; and

e) In accordance with Policy H.04..


5.11 In the Core Strategy Deppers Bridge is not identified as a Local Service

Village but included with “all other settlements” as an area where new

housing development will be restricted to small-scale community-led

schemes. However, to ensure that new housing development is sustainable

and is concentrated in Harbury village proposals for new housing

development in Deppers Bridge and the open countryside will be strictly

controlled.

View into Deppers Bridge

Policy H.03 - Securing a Suitable Mix of Housing Types,

Tenures and Sizes in New Development

To ensure that future housing development meets the housing

requirement identified in the Core Strategy and also helps to


36

meet the different needs that will arise over the plan period

from the existing and future population, in housing

developments of 6 or more dwellings, a range of types, tenure

and sizes of dwellings will be required, including a proportion

of suitable homes to meet the needs of older and younger

residents as well as the potential to provide for those seeking

to build their own home on appropriate sites. Before finalising

the housing mix on such sites developers must take account of

up-to-date demographic, housing need, self and custom build

demand and strategic housing market information and are

particularly encouraged to consult and take into account the

views of the Parish Council.

Figure 4. Preferred Future Housing Provision (Source: Harbury Neighbourhood

Plan Questionnaire).


5.12 Much of the new housing in Harbury village already has planning

permission. This will help to meet the housing requirement set for the

Category 1 Service Villages in the Core Strategy. Committed new housing

and possible future new development will also help to meet the various

housing needs that have been identified in the neighbourhood plan area: the

78.0%

65.2%

37.6%

26.8%23.2% 22.4%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

90.0%


37

need for housing for older people and housing for young families. We

recognize that such needs change over time, and may change between now

and 2031. Therefore, when planning permission is sought the parish council,

working with landowners, developers, and the local planning authority will

seek to ensure that a range and type of houses is provided to meet the needs

of existing and future residents.

5.13 Local people expressed strong views about the type of housing needed in

the future, Figure 4. Some of this need will be addressed by the new

development listed above in para. 5.5.

5.14 Policy H.03 will seek to secure a range of housing on market housing sites,

in the case of future affordable housing provision on market housing

proposals in the neighbourhood plan area will be determined using Core

Strategy Policy CS.18. Data from the most recent Harbury Housing Needs

Survey 2011 revealed the following:

Rented from a Housing Association (21)

14 x 2 bedroom houses

4 x 2 bedroom bungalows


Shared Ownership (2)


Local Market Ownership (38)


1 x 2 or 3 bed house

1 x 2, 3 or 4 bedroom house

7 x 2 bedroom bungalows

3 x 2 or 3 bedroom bungalows


3 x 3 or 4 bedroom houses


3 x 4 or 5 bedroom houses

However, it is appreciated that the most up to date evidence on housing

need should be used.

Policy H.04 – Local Needs Schemes

When it can be demonstrated through robust and up to date

local housing needs information and that need cannot be met

by affordable housing provision through a market-led scheme,


38

housing development for local needs will be supported when

all of the following criteria are met:

a) In Harbury village the site should adjoin the settlement

boundary, and in Deppers Bridge it should be

immediately adjoining existing built up development in

the hamlet;

b) Development should be located in Flood Zone 1 and the

floodplain of the River Itchen should be maintained and

where opportunities arise, restored to maximise the

natural storage of floodwater, reduce flooding and

increase landscape, conservation and ecology value;

c) In Harbury village the site is in reasonable walking

distance of public transport and local community

facilities;

d) The future use of such housing is secured in perpetuity to

meet a local need..

Developers are also particularly encouraged to consult with the

Parish Council to gain their support for the proposal at an early

stage.


5.15 Not all local housing need will necessarily be addressed by affordable

housing provision on market-led housing development. Where this is the

case, in exceptional circumstances, rural exception housing will be allowed

when it meets the criteria in Policy H.04. Where the criteria in Policy H.04

and other development plan policy is fulfilled self-build may be appropriate

as such rural exception housing.

Policy H.05 - Housing Development and Design Principles

Within the neighbourhood plan area all new housing

development proposals should promote good design and be in

keeping with the character of the area. In assessing proposals

regard will be given to the following:


39

a) Incorporation and reinterpretation of local building

styles in development proposals so that these make a

positive contribution to the village character of Harbury;

b) Retention of open spaces in the village and protection of

the rural nature of the wider parish;

c) Retention of trees and hedgerows;

d) Maintenance and enhancement of the existing settlement

pattern, particularly the need to conserve the character

and appearance of the eastern and western boundaries of

Harbury village;

e) Good design and suitable layout that takes into account

topography of the site and its surroundings and views in

to and out of the site;

f) Appropriate use of local materials and details;

g) When adjacent to the Conservation Areas or other

heritage assets development should, where appropriate,

be set back from road and street boundaries and should

use appropriate boundary treatments and materials;

h) Retention and preservation of significant and historical

landscape features within the site, including older

buildings which if proposed to be altered or extended

make use of appropriate materials and styles; and

i) The use of suitable boundary treatments both to

individual properties and full housing schemes. In

particular, development on the edge of the villages

should seek to retain existing hedges and trees and use

native species for new planting.


5.16 National planning policy seeks to replace poor design with better design.

Since 1998 Harbury has had a Village Design Statement. This has been used as

the basis for developing a number of the policies in the neighbourhood

plan, including Policy H.05 that will be used to assess housing development

proposals and to promote better design in such proposals.


40

OBJECTIVE 2 - To preserve the rural nature of Harbury

village, with wildlife corridors and farming coming

right into the heart of it as it does at present.

Policy H.06 – Green Infrastructure

The mosaic of paths, paddocks, fields, watercourses and water

features, woodland, grassland and other green infrastructure

features within the parish should be maintained and enhanced

for their recreational, tourist and ecological value.

Development proposals should seek to maintain this green

infrastructure and, where possible, should enhance it by

creating new connections and links or by restoring existing

green infrastructure.

Development that would disrupt or sever this mosaic will not

be supported unless suitable compensatory provision can be

provided to establish a new connection within the immediate

vicinity of the connection to be lost or severed.


5.17 It is acknowledged that Harbury will grow substantially in the short term,

given existing housing commitments. This growth, and any further growth,

should not be at the expense of the rural nature of the parish. The

neighbourhood plan, therefore, includes a number of policies to protect key

natural and open space assets.

5.18 There is a green infrastructure of paths, fields, watercourses, other water

features, woodland, grassland and other similar features within the parish.

This is important for leisure, recreation, tourism and ecological reasons.


41

OBJECTIVE 3 - To preserve and protect important

green spaces within the village and retain countryside

views out across a natural landscape.

Policy H.07 - Protecting and Enhancing Local Green Spaces

The following areas listed below and shown on Maps 2a and

2b are designated as Local Green Spaces.

H.07a - Church Paddock

H.07b - Church Paddock Allotments

H.07c - The Pound

H.07d - Old New Inn Green

H.07e - Binswood End Green

H.07f - Pump Green

H.07g - Bullring Green

H.07h – Deppers Bridge Playing Field

H.07i - Harbury Playing Fields

H.07j - Pineham allotments

H.07k – Manor Orchard Green

H.07l – Frances Road Green

Development will only be supported in very special

circumstances, that is when harm to the local green space and

any other harm is outweighed by other considerations.

42

Map 2a – Harbury Local Green Spaces © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686


43

Map 2b – Deppers Bridge Local Green Spaces © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number

0100053686

44


5.19 Local green spaces are defined in paragraphs 76 and 77 of the NPPF:

76 Local communities through local and neighbourhood plans should be able to

identify for special protection green areas of particular importance to them.

By designating land as Local Green Space local communities will be able to

rule out new development other than in very special circumstances.

Identifying land as Local Green Space should therefore be consistent with

the local planning of sustainable development and complement investment

in sufficient homes, jobs and other essential services. Local Green Spaces

should only be designated when a plan is prepared or reviewed, and be

capable of enduring beyond the end of the plan period.

77 The Local Green Space designation will not be appropriate for most green

areas or open space. The designation should only be used:

a. where the green space is in reasonably close proximity to the community it

serves;

b. where the green area is demonstrably special to a local community and holds

a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic

significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or

richness of its wildlife; and

c. where the green area concerned is local in character and is not an extensive

tract of land.

Once identified such spaces can only be developed in “very special

circumstances”.

Appendix 2 analyses open and green spaces in the parish against the

criteria in national planning policy. Those highlighted in Appendix 2 and

listed above in Policy H.07 are considered to meet the NPPF definition of

local green spaces.


45

Old New Inn Green

Policy H.08 - Protecting Small, Incidental Open Spaces

Development that would result in the loss of the other

small, open spaces as identified in Appendix 2 of the Plan

such as grass verges will only be supported when:

a) Equivalent or better provision is provided elsewhere

within a suitable location in Harbury village; or

b) It can be clearly demonstrated that the open space

performs no useful function.


46

The Pound


5.20 As well as protecting the most important local green spaces using Policy

H.07 the neighbourhood plan will also seek to protect other smaller,

open spaces. Such areas serve many functions and their loss will only be

supported when a suitable alternative space is provided, or the

applicant can clearly demonstrate that the space no longer performs a

useful function.

Policy H.09 - Protecting Significant Views

In Harbury village the significant views out of the village

shown on Map 1 will be given special consideration when

assessing planning applications. Development proposals

should ensure that in these areas special attention is paid to

preserving such views.

Significant views within the village of the windmill and

parish church should also be retained. Development


47

proposals that would have a significant adverse impact on

these views will not be supported.


5.21 Views out of Harbury are very important. This is because farmland

sweeps up to the edge of the village and this offers extensive views.

Therefore, from many points within the village, from between houses,

from roads, public footpaths and green corridors there are views of

open countryside. In some of the more recent parts of the village, north

of Farm Street and at Hillside, more modern estate type developments

have failed to take in to account the need to create, retain and enhance

such views. The neighbourhood plan will ensure this does not happen

in the future by setting out planning policy for significant views. The

significant views out of the village identified on Map 1 were originally

identified in the Harbury Village Design Statement (1998).

View east from Butt Lane

5.22 There are also some locally significant views within the village – views

of the old windmill and parish church. New development should also

seek to ensure these views are retained and not significantly adversely

affected by such development.

Policy H.10 – Landscape Design Principles

All new development proposals should be informed by and

will be assessed against the following landscape design

principles:


48

a) Preservation of the strong east and west boundaries of

Harbury village;

b) Retention of mature trees, hedgerows and stone walls;

c) Measures to retain and enhance the environment and

enjoyment of public rights of way and other routes

through, around, into and out of a site;

d) Impact on heritage assets and other historic and

archaeological features in the landscape;

e) Use of suitable materials and building styles;

f) Minimal use of external lighting to retain dark skies;

and

g) Conservation and enhancement of natural landscape

features.


5.23 Harbury is part of the “Lias Villages” of the Feldon. A varied and small

scale hedged landscape of scattered farms and nucleated brick and

stone villages. Harbury is a ridge top village that does not follow the

general rules for such villages. Harbury rather than spreading along the

scarp edge spreads at right angles to the scarp and edge and down the

dip slope. The village stretches away from the White Lias scarp in a

farmed landscape of large hedge fields with few roadside trees and

isolated wooded plantations. Policy H.10 identifies the fundamental

features that go to making the landscape in the neighbourhood plan

area distinctive and valued. Policy H.10 in identifying these features

provides those putting forward development proposals and decision-

makers a set of criteria against which to assess how individual

development proposals will help to retain and enhance the local

landscape.


49

OBJECTIVE 4 - To ensure adequate infrastructure in

the parish is included and funded when any new

development is planned. Policy H.11 - Ensuring New Development Provides

Appropriate Infrastructure

All new development will be expected to provide an

appropriate level of infrastructure to meet the needs and

demands arising from the development. Where an

infrastructure need is identified for a particular

development the necessary infrastructure must be put in

place to support that development as the need arises.

Background/Justification 5.24 Neighbourhood planning gives local people an opportunity to shape

the future of where they live. One of the primary concerns of local

residents is that existing infrastructure – services, roads, drainage,

sewers – struggle to cope with things as they are now, and that more

development, certainly at the levels proposed will only make this

worse, see Figure 5. The neighbourhood plan will, therefore, seek to

address these concerns. National Planning Practice Guidance (para. 045)

sets out that neighbourhood planning bodies can consider what

infrastructure needs to be provided in their neighbourhood area. By

doing this we are seeking to ensure that Harbury parish can grow in a

sustainable way. In particular, future development management

decisions in the area should be mindful of the need to take account of:

access to places at the village primary school; sufficient medical

coverage at a larger surgery; appropriate energy supply for responsible

demand; and adequate waste disposal/sewerage provision.

5.25 In particular, the following future improvements to local infrastructure

have been identified as being needed to support the existing and new

communities in the village: facilities for young people e.g. maintenance

and improvements of health and care facilities; and certain road

improvements.


50

Figure 5. Household Dislikes About the Village (Source: Harbury

Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire).

5.26 Infrastructure will be secured through planning agreements such as

section.106 and section 278 agreements for site specific items of

infrastructure such as a junction improvement/specific cycle/pedestrian

links to a new housing estate/traffic calming measure such as a speed

table that directly relate to a specific development. Most small-scale

development will be liable to contribute toward towards generic –

‘district-wide’ infrastructure through a Community Infrastructure Levy

(CIL) adopted on 11th December 2017 and effective from 1st February

2018. These contributions will be spent on more strategic items of

infrastructure such as secondary school provision, a major road scheme,

a country park or sports facilities.

5.27 The Warwickshire County Council’s Local Transport Plan 2011-26

acknowledges the that sustainable development needs to be

underpinned through various measures and as such provides policies

for the following:

❑ Travel Plans

❑ Walking and Cycling

❑ Accessibility to frequent bus services

A key ingredient regarding accessibility to frequent bus services is

through the Warwickshire County Council Quality Bus Partnership

21.0% 20.0%

8.0%6.4% 5.6%

3.6% 2.8% 2.4% 2.4% 2.0%0.0%

5.0%

10.0%

15.0%

20.0%

25.0%


51

which the parish will continue to liaise with to ensure the availability

and improvement of bus stops and services. Currently bus services from

Harbury connect the village with Leamington Spa, Banbury, Rugby and

Daventry. A key objective of the Quality Bus Partnership is to ensure

services are affordable, accessible and available.

OBJECTIVE 5 - To invest in our community

buildings, recreation space and associated

equipment to ensure these are adequate for an

increased population.

Policy H.12 - Protecting Existing Community Facilities

The community facilities listed below and shown on Maps

3 and 4 will be protected:

1. Harbury Village Hall

2. Harbury Village Club

3. Village Library and car park

4. Church of All Saints

5. Tom Hauley Room

6. Harbury Primary School

7. Harbury Pre-school

8. Banana Moon Nursery

9. Harbury Surgery

10. Harbury Chemist

11. The Scout Hut

12. Rugby Club

13. The Shakespeare Inn

14. The Gamecock Inn

15. The Crown Inn

16. Harbury Supermarket and Harbury Post Office

17. Co-op Late Shop

18. Muggleston’s Country Fayre


52

Development requiring planning permission that would

lead to the loss of these facilities to residential uses will not

be supported unless equivalent, or better, provision is made

elsewhere within the village; or, after an extended period of

active marketing (a minimum of twelve months, including

marketing in the neighbourhood plan area); or as otherwise

may be justified by the circumstances of the premises in

question and agreed that the applicant can then clearly

demonstrate that there is no longer a viable community,

retail, food and drink or commercial use for the asset.

Background/Justification 5.28 As well as seeking to secure adequate new infrastructure to ensure

development is sustainable, our neighbourhood plan consultations have

demonstrated that local people also value the wide range of existing

services and activities, Figure 6. Therefore, our neighbourhood plan will

seek to protect and enhance these facilities.

Crown Public House


53

Figure 6 – Households Likes About the Village (Source: Harbury

Neighbourhood Plan Questionnaire).

74.8%

53.6%

30.0%26.4%

13.6%12.8%11.6%11.2%10.0% 7.2% 6.4%5.2% 3.2% 1.2%

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%


54

Map 3 – Harbury village protected community facilities (for

numbering see Policy H.12) © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey

100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686


55

Map 4 – Harbury village protected community facilities – Harbury

Rugby Club (for numbering see Policy H.12) © Crown copyright and database rights

[2015] Ordnance Survey 100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686

Policy H.13 - Development of New Community Facilities

Development proposals for new or improvements to

existing community facilities will be supported when they

preserve local character and distinctiveness, and do not

cause unacceptable harm to the landscape or residential

amenity of existing and future occupiers. In particular, new

and improved facilities for young people and older

residents will be supported.


56

Harbury Village Hall Background/Justification

5.29 As well as seeking to protect existing village facilities the

neighbourhood plan will also support the development of new

community facilities. There is a particular need to improve facilities for

young people and older residents.

OBJECTIVE 6 - To lower the carbon footprint of the

parish by supporting energy conservation measures,

ensuring all new housing is built to a high standard

of energy efficiency and water conservation, making

them truly affordable to run and maintain, ensuring

also that all extension and renovation of existing

buildings is carbon neutral.


57

New eco-home, Harbury

Policy H.14 - Sustainable Design and Energy Efficiency

All new development proposals will be encouraged to:

a. Adopt sustainability measures promoted through the

Harbury Energy Initiative and the Parish Council;

b. Adopt a Fabric First approach through a higher than

basic Fabric Energy Efficiency Standard target;

c. Use sustainable drainage to reduce risk of flooding on

site, downstream and upstream, wherever it is

appropriate to do so; and

d. Recycle water effectively.


5.30 Harbury has taken the lead with a number of community initiatives to

promote sustainability: the Harbury Energy Initiative and the Electric

Car Club. Whilst we recognise that the government has one set of

technical standards for new housing development based on additional

optional Building Regulations on water and access, and a new national

space standard complementing the existing set of Building Regulations,

which are mandatory, we think it important that new development tries

to go even further. The neighbourhood plan will encourage developers


58

of all types of new development to achieve the highest possible

standard achievable at the time in terms of sustainable design.

OBJECTIVE 7 - To ensure all new developments

provide safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists to

access Harbury village centre, thus encouraging less

car use for local journeys. Consideration should be

given to providing a diverse range of transport

options with links to local centres, aiming at

reducing car ownership, congestion in Harbury

village centre and competition for parking spaces.

Policy H.15 - Highways and Transport

Development proposals should include measures to

minimise and make acceptable any impact on the local road

network by providing:

a. Safe and suitable access; and

b. Encouraging the use of public transport including

new and enhanced pedestrian routes to the existing

network and where necessary new bus infrastructure.

Background/Justification 5.31 A primary concern for residents, as for many villages, is the day-to-day

impact of traffic. Where appropriate, new development should seek to

minimise any impact it will have on the local highway network. In

addition, the Parish Council will seek to include information that will

allow existing and new residents to consider different modes of travel

by including a range of travel information in a village “Welcome Pack”.

5.32 The Parish Council will continue to work with Warwickshire County

Council to implement transport improvements through the Rural

Strategy by improving access to services via public transport, walking

and cycling. Traffic management measures will be implemented, where


59

required, to improve road safety, for example, by reducing the impact of

vehicular traffic through speed management.

OBJECTIVE 8 - To maintain a thriving Harbury

village centre by retaining commercial space for

business, shops and pubs as well as supporting

important volunteer run facilities. Encourage home

working and local employment opportunities, thus

reducing the need for vehicle travel to work. Policy H.16 - Business and Employment Development in

the Centre of Harbury Village

Development for shops (A1), business (B1), offices and

community uses that support the continued vibrancy and

vitality of the centre of Harbury village will be supported

provided they have suitable regard to the following:

a. the Conservation Area and its setting;

b. the distinctive rural character of the parish;

c. they do not have a detrimental impact on the parish’s

highway network; and

d. they create or maintain good access to the village

centre and small business sites by public transport,

cycling and walking, together with adequate signage.

5.33 Harbury as a local service village has a reasonable range of local

businesses. To ensure that the village remains a vibrant place to live

existing businesses will be supported and new businesses will be

encouraged in the centre of Harbury village.


60

Banana Moon Nursery, Harbury

Policy H.17 - Protecting Existing Employment Premises

To maintain a full range of employment opportunities in

the local area the following sites (also shown on Map 5) will

be protected for employment use (Use Classes B1, B2 and

B8):

▪ International Fasteners

▪ Churchlands Industrial Estate

▪ Bull Ring Business Centre

▪ Bull Ring Garage

Development for employment uses in these specified areas

and premises will be supported provided that the proposal

would have an acceptable impact on the local road network

and residential amenity.

Planning approval for change of use or development

outside of the above Use Classes will only be supported

when:


61

a. The existing use is no longer considered suitable or

viable for continued employment use after an

appropriate period of active marketing to be agreed

with the local planning authority; and

b. The proposed use would not have a detrimental

impact on adjacent uses and occupiers.

Background/Justification 5.34 Within the neighbourhood plan area there are also a number of

important sources of local employment, these range from the larger

Churchlands Industrial Estate through to smaller, individual

businesses. The neighbourhood plan will seek to protect these sources

of employment. In doing this, the mix of land uses in the

neighbourhood plan area will be retained. This will ensure that the

parish does not just become a dormitory area of housing, but remains an

area with a reasonable balance of land uses and its own sources of local

employment.

5.35 It has been suggested that a “Harbury Business Network” be set up so

that local business people can get together at breakfast or lunch

meetings to exchange ideas and not feel that they are working in

isolation. The one thing that home-workers say they miss is socialising

with work colleagues. This is a non-land use planning action that the

Parish Council will support.


62

Map 5 – Protected Employment Sites


63

Policy H.18 - Protecting and Enhancing Local Shops and

Businesses

Proposals to enhance and improve local shops (Use Class

A1), financial and professional services (Use Class A2) and

business premises (Use Class B1) will be supported.

Change of use of retail premises to non–retail uses will only

be supported where planning permission is required if the

applicant can demonstrate there is no longer a need for such

provision or the use is no longer viable, or suitable, or

better provision, is provided, in a suitable location

elsewhere in or convenient to the neighbourhood plan area.

Background/Justification 5.36 As well as our important remaining local employment premises

Harbury village is also fortunate to have a number of local retail

premises. These provide valuable local facilities for all residents of the

village, but are especially useful for those who are less mobile e.g. the

young without access to a car or the elderly residents. The

neighbourhood plan will seek to protect and support future

enhancements of these premises so that they continue to provide these

much needed local retail facilities.

OBJECTIVE 9 – To protect and enhance all historic

and heritage sites in the parish.

Policy H.19 - Protecting Local Heritage

Development should conserve the following heritage

assets listed below and identified on Map 6 taking into

account the scale of any harm or loss to them and the

significance of the heritage asset:

1. Pillar Box on Old New Inn Green

2. Pump and well at Hill Cottage, Farm Street

3. Pump at Montgomery House, Mill Lane


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4. Pump at Denys Close, Temple End

Fire Plate and Plaques:

5. Newend House

6. 35 Farm Street

Stone Walls

7. Stone wall on site of Old New Inn

8. Stone wall to Pan’s Garden, Farm Street

9. Stone wall to Temple House, Temple End

10. Stone wall corner Vicarage Lane/Dovehouse Lane

11. Stone wall round Cemetery corner

12. Stone wall to rear of Chapel Street Green

13. Stone wall adjacent to Co-op on Mill Lane

14. Stone wall to Village Club, Crown Street

Ironwork

15. Iron railings to front of Village Hall and Play Area,

South Parade

16. Iron gates to the Cemetery

Development proposals should take full account of

known surface and sub-surface archaeology and ensure

unknown and potentially significant deposits are

identified and appropriately considered during

development after consultation with the Warwickshire

Historic Environment Record (HER). Lack of current

evidence of sub-surface archaeology must not be taken as

proof of absence.


65

Listed War Memorial, Crown Street

5.37 As well as the statutorily protected Conservation Areas and Listed

Buildings (Appendix 1) the parish also has a number of non-designated

heritage and archaeological assets. The non-designated heritage assets

have been identified using guidance produced by Historic England,

and subject to a separate local consultation with the owners of the

assets.

https://www.historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/good-practice-local-heritage-listing/


66

Map 6 – Protecting Local Heritage © Crown copyright and database rights [2015] Ordnance Survey

100055940 Harbury Parish Council (Licensee) License number 0100053686


67

6

Monitoring and Review 6.1 Plans are only valuable when kept up to date. The Parish Council

will monitor the policies and proposals in the plan on an annual

basis. A monitoring report will be prepared on the plan and

presented to the Annual General Meeting in May each year.

6.2 Where the need for change is identified we will work with Stratford

on Avon District Council to produce updates and amendments

where necessary.

7.3 Should significant sections of the plan become out of date we will

look to review the whole document by producing a new plan

following the Neighbourhood Development Planning procedure.


68

Appendix 1 Listed Buildings

Listed Buildings (source: Historic England, 10/05/16)

There are 35 statutory Listed Buildings in Harbury Parish2. These can be

seen on a map online at https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/map-

search and are listed below. The web link for each individual entry links to

the National Heritage List for England. The most up to date information on

listed buildings should be sought from Historic England or the local

planning authority.

STONEWALLS

Heritage Category: Listing

Grade: II

Location:

• STONEWALLS, FARM STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

1-4, HALL LANE


Grade: II

Location:

• 1-4, HALL LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

BUTCHERS


Grade: II

Location:

• BUTCHERS, 7, HIGH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

2 http://list.historicengland.org.uk/results.aspx

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/map-search

https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/map-search

http://www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1035606



http://list.historicengland.org.uk/results.aspx


69

LOWER WESTFIELDS FARMHOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• LOWER WESTFIELDS FARMHOUSE, MIDDLE ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire

BARN AND STABLE APPROXIMATELY 30 METRES NORTH OF LOWER WESTFIELDS

FARMHOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• BARN AND STABLE APPROXIMATELY 30 METRES NORTH OF LOWER WESTFIELDS

FARMHOUSE, MIDDLE ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

HARBURY FIELDS FARMHOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• HARBURY FIELDS FARMHOUSE, MIDDLE ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire

THE MANOR HOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• THE MANOR HOUSE, PARK LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

WESTERN HOUSE


Grade: II








70

Location:

• WESTERN HOUSE, UFTON ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

14, VICARAGE LANE


Grade: II

Location:

• 14, VICARAGE LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

K6 TELEPHONE KIOSK


Grade: II

Location:

• K6 TELEPHONE KIOSK, MILL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

PUMP APPROXIMATELY 2 METRES NORTH OF NUMBER 7


Grade: II

Location:

• PUMP APPROXIMATELY 2 METRES NORTH OF NUMBER 7, BINSWOOD END,

Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

HARBURY HOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• HARBURY HOUSE, BUTT LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

BRIDLES AND SADDLERS







71


Grade: II

Location:

• BRIDLES AND SADDLERS, CHAPEL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire

CHEST TOMB APPROXIMATELY 0.5 METRES EAST OF SOUTH AISLE OF CHURCH OF ALL

SAINTS


Grade: II

Location:

• CHEST TOMB APPROXIMATELY 0.5 METRES EAST OF SOUTH AISLE OF CHURCH OF

ALL SAINTS, CHURCH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

WISSETT LODGE


Grade: II

Location:

• WISSETT LODGE, 10, CHURCH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

THE CROWN INN


Grade: II

Location:

• THE CROWN INN, CROWN STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

HILLCREST COTTAGE


Grade: II

Location:







72

• HILLCREST COTTAGE, 7, BINSWOOD END, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire

BAKER THORNICROFT'S HOUSE

COUNTRY FAYRE


Grade: II

Location:

• BAKER THORNICROFT'S HOUSE, CHAPEL STREET,

• COUNTRY FAYRE, CHAPEL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS


Grade: II

Location:

• CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, CHURCH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire

FORMER FONT APPROXIMATELY 0.5 METRES WEST OF TOWER OF CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS


Grade: II

Location:

• FORMER FONT APPROXIMATELY 0.5 METRES WEST OF TOWER OF CHURCH OF ALL

SAINTS, CHURCH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

THE HOMESTEAD


Grade: II

Location:

• THE HOMESTEAD, CROWN STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

WAGSTAFFE SCHOOL HOUSE








73


Grade: II

Location:

• WAGSTAFFE SCHOOL HOUSE, CROWN STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire

HARBURY WINDMILL


Grade: II

Location:

• HARBURY WINDMILL, MILL LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

THE SHAKESPEARE PUBLIC HOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• THE SHAKESPEARE PUBLIC HOUSE, MILL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire

BULL RING COTTAGE


Grade: II

Location:

• BULL RING COTTAGE, THE BULL RING,

• 1, HIGH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

THE HOMELAND


Grade: II

Location:






74

• THE HOMELAND, 18, VICARAGE LANE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

FORMER COTTAGE AND ATTACHED BARN AT STAPENHALL FARM


Grade: II

Location:

• FORMER COTTAGE AND ATTACHED BARN AT STAPENHALL FARM, SOUTHAM

ROAD, DEPPERS BRIDGE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

CHURCH HOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• CHURCH HOUSE, CROWN STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

27, FARM STREET


Grade: II

Location:

• 27, FARM STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

THE COTTAGE


Grade: II

Location:

• THE COTTAGE, 5, HIGH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

PHOENIX HOUSE


Grade: II







75

Location:

• PHOENIX HOUSE, HIGH STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

FORMER DAIRY AND CHEESEROOM APPROXIMATELY 1.25 METRES NORTH OF LOWER

WESTFIELDS FARMHOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• FORMER DAIRY AND CHEESEROOM APPROXIMATELY 1.25 METRES NORTH OF

LOWER WESTFIELDS FARMHOUSE, MIDDLE ROAD, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire

STONE HOUSE


Grade: II

Location:

• STONE HOUSE, 2, MILL STREET, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

MILESTONE AT NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE SP 3928 5935


Grade: II

Location:

• MILESTONE AT NATIONAL GRID REFERENCE SP 3928 5935, SOUTHAM ROAD,

DEPPERS BRIDGE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

Harbury War Memorial


Grade: II

Location:

• Crown Street, Harbury, Warwickshire, CV33 9HE, Harbury, Stratford-on-Avon,

Warwickshire







76

Appendix 2 Local Green and Open

Spaces Analysis This analysis has been undertaken to assess all green and open spaces in the

neighbourhood plan area and has been used to help determine which spaces


77

should be protected using the NPPF designation of Local Green Spaces and which

should be protected in other ways through the neighbourhood plan.

78

LOCAL GREEN AND OPEN SPACES ANALYSIS Grade Space and reason identified.

Identified for B – beauty; H-historic value; R- recreational value; T - trees; W – wildlife value.

Proximity to community (inside settlement boundary?)

Demonstrably Special? Sites to be designated highlighted in green Local and not extensive

1 Church Paddock. Private H*** ,B*,W***.T***

Inside Green lung, mature trees, surrounded by high density housing; important to the setting of the Church; part of the historic core of the Medieval village. Also, an important wildlife route.

Small paddock with mature trees in village centre

1 Church Paddock Allotments Private. W.R.

Inside Cultivated area of Paddock (see Church Paddock above) that provides allotment gardens in central area of the village close by historic and terraced housing areas.

Small area of cultivated rural land.

1 The Spinney Private but open access. H**.W***.B*.R**.T*

Inside Wooded area adjacent to Cutting and Pound Green, is both a recreational and wildlife asset, acting as a corridor into the village for plants and animals from the Cutting SSS!

Small area of regenerated woodland housing remains of machinery used for excavation of Harbury Cutting.

1 Harbury Cutting (SSSI) Bullring lane to the Tunnel H***.W****.B*.R*.T*

Inside Historic – built by Brunel, early examples Three Arch Bridge and Tunnel; designated SSSI and wildlife reserve of Geological significance. Brings wildlife into heart of village.

Small section adjacent to village heavily wooded with important butterflies and orchid species.

1 The Pound Parish H*.W**.B***.R*.T****

Inside Most extensive Designated Village Green (DVG) with mature Limes, Horse Chestnuts, magnificent Copper Beech and backed by extensive Harbury Stone Wall. Part of wildlife route into village.

Green lung NE of village. With Spinney Cutting, & Dovehouse Lane provides access into village centre for wildlife.

1 Old New Inn Green Parish W.B.R.T**

Inside In historic Bottom End Conservation Area. Second largest DVG provides green setting for stone farm buildings and site of Silver Jubilee Plane tree.

In SW corner of village surrounded by listed and other historic buildings with long run of Harbury stone wall.

1 Binswood End Green Parish W.B.R. T*

Inside Small green area (DVG) with trees in NW section of Bottom End Conservation Area of small cottages & modern houses

Was site of the Smithy and only open and green area in this part of Harbury

1 Pump Green Parish H***. W*.B.R

Inside Setting for War Memorial views of Church and Dovehouse in this medieval core of Harbury. DVG

Small green area in Conservation Area at the village core

1 Bullring Green Parish H**.

Inside Designated Village Green in centre of Harbury village providing setting for listed Bullring Cottage and High St.

Tiny patch of green space –remnant of Bullring - Commercial heart of the village.

1 Chapel Street Green Parish R.

Inside Tiny plot planted with Shrubs provides seat and greenery in historic street of mainly terraced stone houses.

Very small but welcome public space in crowded central part of old village.

1 Manor Road Green Parish (HA) W.R.T.

Inside Triangular Green Space enhancing views along Park Lane Provides recreational space for adjacent private and rented homes.

Small green space with trees adds to the sweep of verge along Park Lane


79





1 Crown Close Green Parish (HA) W*.R*.T*.

Inside Pensioners’ homes set back behind green space with trees in Conservation Area. A breathing space in a crowded road.

Small green space in historic core of village.

1 Manor Orchard Green Parish R.

Inside Provides a small play area safe from traffic on this crowded modern estate.

Small area in centre of housing estate

2 Queens Close Green Parish W*.B.R.T.

Inside Small Green with trees managed by PC and locals Small area on eastern edge of village.

2 Percival Drive Green Parish W*.R.B.T.

Inside Small Green with conifers on entrance to modern estate gives some green space on relatively dense development.

Small with planting of conifers to reinforce the character of this area on village heathland.

2 Ridgley Way Green Private W.R.

Inside Medium open space on new estate on southern edge of village for recreation and to enhance this site with trees and wildflowers.

Planted for wildflowers, provides links to the countryside.

2 Neales Close Green. R. Inside Only green space on this modern housing estate. Used for children’s play.

1 Frances Rd Green R. Inside Only green space on this modern housing estate. Used for children’s play.

1 Deppers Bridge Playing Fields Parish R**. W*.T.

Inside Small recreation ground to south of majority of housing. It is the only public area in the hamlet and provides play space for the children.

Small field surrounded by hedge. Provides important recreational space where none other exists.

1 Harbury Playing Fields Parish:- R**.W*.H.T**

Inside Extensive area for multiple Recreational Activities. A King George V Field and Playing Field in Trust. Comprising:

With adjacent Right of Way to Allotments provides wildlife corridor into village.

1 Small Child’s Play Area R**. S Edge Safe fenced area with multiple play equipment and seating Area taken from fields. Well used

1 Children’s Play Area R**. S Edge More adventurous play with Zipwire and Basketball. Area taken from fields. Well used

2 Netball/Tennis Courts R. S Edge Very well used facility. Area taken from fields. Well used

1 BMX Track R*. S Edge Very well used facility Area taken from fields. Well used

1 Skatepark R*. S Edge Very well used facility Area taken from fields. Well used

2 Football pitches R*. S Edge Very well used facility Area taken from fields. Well used

1 Pineham Allotments County Council R**.W**T.

S Edge Parish Council rents and manages allotments from County to provide this important facility and valued for the village.

Allotment gardens in rural setting. Links wildlife & farmland to village.

1 Spinney Field/Paddock Private W***.B*.

N Edge A small Paddock adjacent to the Spinney and stretching down to the Cutting SSSI provides a wildlife corridor into the village.

Typical small grazing paddock now with permission to two dwelling on south side.


80





2 School Grounds County/PCC R*.W**.T**

Inside Part of the Grounds are cultivated by the school Children. There is a woodland classroom and play space. The area is bounded by trees.

An important green space on what were the Manor grounds.

1 All Saints Churchyard PCC W****. B**. H***.T****.

✓ Inside ✓A very special and revered space for quiet contemplation. The lime trees surrounding, the ancient stone grave markers and the Church are at the core of the Medieval village; they enhance village centre and provide greenery to view out to other streets and buildings

In the Medieval core and managed conservatively for wildlife, this is a much valued haven for wildflowers, birds and bats.

1 Harbury Cemetery Parish W*** B** H* R. T****.

Inside A solemn, quiet place full of important trees, Irish Yew, Copper Beech, Cypress on a pivotal corner in Town End Conservation Area

At the junction of the two historic sections of the village. Beautiful trees.

1 Cemetery Corner Verges WCC. W.B.

Inside The Cemetery trees form a stunning backdrop to view from Chapel Street the Park Lane/South Parade corner all enhanced by the verge.

Harbury Stone retaining wall, grass verge and mature trees.

1 Farm Street Verge WCC W.B.

Inside One of only three village streets retaining an historic sweep of grass verge, with modern housing set back to read as it was when created

Grass softens the setting of stone farms and cottages. Several protected trees.

1 Vicarage Lane Verge WCC W.B.H**.T**.

Inside The grass verge here delimits the boundary of the Dovehouse Manor lands and so is an historic relic and important green space

A relic of the time before streets were paved or footways created

1 Dovehouse Verge & setting WCC H****.W*.B*.T**.

Inside Vicarage Lane Verge sweeps round into Dovehouse Lane and remnants continue to the left and onto the Pound providing another wildlife corridor through the village and a setting for the Dovehouse.

The Dovehouse remains and medieval core here are important to Harbury and a warning to protect our remaining history.

1 Frances Road Hedge Covenant W******.B**.

Inside Remaining field boundary hedge important for birds and wildlife is protected by covenant and maintained by private individual.

A small remnant of a typical agricultural division saved for the future & wildlife.

1 Pineham Avenue verges WCC H.

Inside Early Council estate for a semi-agricultural village, laid out with extensive gardens and grass verges

Special for the lack of footways, grass verges and allotment gardens beyond

1 Bush Heath Lane Verge W**.R**.T***.B.

S Edge Wildlife corridor from countryside into heart of Conservation Area. Elms replanted along length and site of Millennium Oaks

Important for dog walking and cycling.

1 Mill St (mid-section) Verge WCC B**.W**.R.T***.

Inside A remnant of historic grass verge enhanced with trees provides a softening effect on the views E and W to the two Conservation Areas and mitigates impact of the austere modern estate to the north.

Mill Street verge, hedgerows mature trees, footpath network & remaining fields


81





& paddocks connect the village to its surrounding countryside & wildlife.

1 Park Lane Verges WCC W* B*.T***

Inside Form a green corridor from the Old New Inn to the village centre and especially beside the School where replanting after Dutch Elm Disease re-creates the once rural scene.

A typical example of the sweep of grass that exemplifies our village which has been lost on some modern estates.

1 Ufton Road/Butt Lane verges WCC W**. B. T.

E edge Special as along the edge of the village boundary hedges retained or recreated forming a clear dividing line. Excellent for wildlife.

Harbury sits in a rural landscape with hedgerows surrounding the village.

1 Station Road Corner Private B**. W*.T***

E edge Stand of Scots Pine marking the eastern edge of the village. Typical of the heathland that forms the “waste of the Parish”.

2 Station Rd Spoil Bank (SSSI) W***. B*. H**. R.

Deppers Bridge

Site of Special Scientific Interest for emergent limestone flora and fauna west of hamlet. Managed by volunteers. Imp. Wildlife corridor.

Typical of plants and butterflies found locally and valued by local residents

1 Path to Allotments RoW W**.R.T*H**Sa

S edge Hedge bounded right of way to Parish Allotments. Important wildlife corridor connecting S of village to N. Ancient Saltway route.

Typical of the area with mixed species hedgerow.

1 Darkie (Back) Lane RoW W*.H*. B. R.

Inside Ancient much loved and valued hollow way linking Chapel Street to the School on Back Lane with a safe route to the School,

Short internal footpath retaining trees and hedgerow. Important EW wildlife route.

1 Lovers Lane RoW H**.W**.R.T**

Inside Original route out of village to the east, alongside the site of one of the Medieval Manors of Harbury. A wildlife route from and to the E.

Follows the edge of the Bury – Saxon Queen Hereburgh’s village foundation.

1 Dovehouse Lane to Pound RoW H**.W*.B. R.

Inside Part of the early and medieval route out of the village to the east. A well walked path to the Pound Green. Imp Wildlife route.

Typical hedged internal footpath joining the centre to the countryside.

1 Mill Lane RoW B**.H*.W***. R*.T***

Inside & to N

Most loved footpath. Linking network of paths into the surrounding countryside creating wildlife corridor. Full of wildflowers and birds it runs to and along the Cutting giving views of the Three Arch Bridge.

Starts within the village as a paved road and becomes a footpath between hedges and trees out into the countryside.

1 Bullring Farm Road WCC part RoW W***.B**. H*. R***T***

Inside & to N

The prettiest Lane and part of the Centenary Way. It crosses the Cutting and continues to the Ufton Fields SSSI acting as a very important wildlife corridor.

Starts within the village as a paved road and becomes a footpath between hedges and trees out into the countryside


82





1 Co-op Field RoW R*. W**. H*. R*.T*.

Inside & to N

One of several paths linking to Mill Lane and the Cutting. Is widely used by dog walkers and appreciated for the extensive views.

Short stretch of footpath crossing small fields. A wildlife route into village from N.

2 Village Club grounds Private W*.H. T*.

Inside In the Conservation Area began as a Reading Room donated by local Landowners. An important facility with a large car park, it forms an extension to the Church Paddock and retains its trees and hedges.

This open site is bounded by historic hedges and trees.

2 Hall Grounds Private. H*. B*. W*.T**.

Inside & to N

Special for Parkland with parkland trees (many with TPOs) running along Bullring Lane down to the Cutting acting as a wildlife corridor.

Landscaped field with mature trees, typical of larger properties in Harbury;

2 Harbury House Grounds G11 Private H**.W*.B.T***

Inside & to E

Listed building of Historic importance sited within the Bury with many important mature trees and landscaped grounds.

Typical landscaping and use of Harbury Stone walls.

2 Shakespeare Inn Garden Private Grade 11 H*. W.

Inside Oldest remaining Inn in the parish on a large plot. Adjacent to and with access to Darkie Lane.

Part timbered Pub originally Farm with Car Park, hedged garden and trees.

1 Wissett Lodge Paddocks G Private Grade 11 Listed H**.W*.T***

Inside Grounds of Listed Building with important trees forming the central space in one of the villages open spaces surrounded by other historic houses, terraces etc. A Green Lung in the centre of the village.

This space provides “borrowed” greenery to properties in the village centre and a home for wildlife.

2 Harbury Manor Gardens Private Grade 11 Listed H**. W*.T***

Inside The stone walls, hedges and mature trees of the Manor Gardens are visible in surrounding streets and enhance the Conservation Area. There are views from Park Lane to this 11th Century Hall House.

A private space of great significance to village history. Its stone walls and Trees softens impact of modern housing


83

Appendix 3 Sites of Special Scientific Interest


84


85

Appendix 4 Public Rights of Way


86


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Stratford on Avon District Council

Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan 2017 - 2031 Independent Examiner’s Report By Ann Skippers BSc (Hons) MRTPI FRSA AoU

30 July 2018

Item 4

Appendix 2

2

Contents

Summary

3

1.0 Introduction

4

2.0 Theroleoftheindependentexaminer

4

3.04.0

NeighbourhoodplanpreparationTheexaminationprocess

6

7

5.0 Compliancewithmattersotherthanthebasicconditions 8

6.0 ThebasicconditionsNationalpolicyandadviceSustainabledevelopmentThedevelopmentplanEuropeanUnionobligations

99

101111

7.0

DetailedcommentsonthePlananditspolicies1. WhatisaNeighbourhoodPlan…2. PreparingtheHarburyNeighbourhoodPlan3. HarburyProfile4. VisionandObjectives5. PoliciesandProposals

- H01- HO2- HO3- HO4- H05- HO6- HO7- HO8,HO9- H10,H11- H12,H13- H14,H15- H16,H17- H18,H19

6. Howtocomment…7. MonitoringandreviewAppendices

13131313141414161617181920222324252627282828

8.0 Conclusionsandrecommendations 29

Appendix1ListofkeydocumentsAppendix2QuestionsofclarificationAppendix3LettertoSDC

303133

3

SummaryIhavebeenappointedastheindependentexamineroftheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan.TheParishcontainsthevillageofHarburyandthehamletofDeppersBridgesome5milessoutheastofLeamingtonSpa.HarburyisidentifiedintheCoreStrategyasaLocalServiceVillage.ThePlancontains19policiesthatrangefromdefiningasettlementboundaryforHarburyvillagetogetherwithLocalGreenSpacestosupportingthepromotionofemploymentuses.ThewellwrittenandpresentedPlanbuildsonearlierworkinaVillageDesignStatementandParishPlanandmakesuseofotherimportantinitiativesintheParish.ItaddsalayeroflocalcontextanddetailtoDistrict-levelpoliciesthatwouldbeimpossibleforDistrict-widepoliciestodo.WhilstthePlandoesnotallocateanysitesforhousing,itprovidesabalancebetweensupportinglimitedgrowthandseekingtoprotectandenhanceitsnaturalandbuiltenvironmentalattributes.Ihaverecommendedmodificationswhich,byandlarge,aretohelpensurethatthePlanisaworkabledocumentthatprovidesapracticalframeworkfordecisionmaking.Subjecttothosemodifications,IhaveconcludedthatthePlandoesmeetthebasicconditionsandalltheotherrequirementsIamobligedtoexamine.IamthereforepleasedtorecommendtoStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncilthattheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlancangoforwardtoareferendum.InconsideringwhetherthereferendumareashouldbeextendedbeyondtheNeighbourhoodPlanareaIseenoreasontoalterorextendthisareaforthepurposeofholdingareferendum.AnnSkippersMRTPIAnnSkippersPlanning30July2018

4

1.0 IntroductionThisisthereportoftheindependentexaminerintotheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan(thePlan).TheLocalismAct2011providesawelcomeopportunityforcommunitiestoshapethefutureoftheplaceswheretheyliveandworkandtodeliverthesustainabledevelopmenttheyneed.Onewayofachievingthisisthroughtheproductionofaneighbourhoodplan.IhavebeenappointedbyStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncil(SDC)withtheagreementoftheParishCouncil,toundertakethisindependentexamination.IhavebeenappointedthroughtheNeighbourhoodPlanningIndependentExaminerReferralService(NPIERS).Iamindependentofthequalifyingbodyandthelocalauthority.IhavenointerestinanylandthatmaybeaffectedbythePlan.Iamacharteredtownplannerwithovertwenty-fiveyearsexperienceinplanningandhaveworkedinthepublic,privateandacademicsectorsandamanexperiencedexaminerofneighbourhoodplans.Ithereforehavetheappropriatequalificationsandexperiencetocarryoutthisindependentexamination.2.0 TheroleoftheindependentexaminerTheexaminermustassesswhetheraneighbourhoodplanmeetsthebasicconditionsandothermatterssetoutinparagraph8ofSchedule4BoftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended).Thebasicconditions1are:

§ HavingregardtonationalpoliciesandadvicecontainedinguidanceissuedbytheSecretaryofState,itisappropriatetomaketheneighbourhoodplan

§ Themakingoftheneighbourhoodplancontributestotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment

§ Themakingoftheneighbourhoodplanisingeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciescontainedinthedevelopmentplanforthearea

§ Themakingoftheneighbourhoodplandoesnotbreach,andisotherwisecompatiblewith,EuropeanUnion(EU)obligations

§ Prescribedconditionsaremetinrelationtotheneighbourhoodplanandprescribedmattershavebeencompliedwithinconnectionwiththeproposalfortheneighbourhoodplan.

1Setoutinparagraph8(2)ofSchedule4BoftheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended)

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Regulations32and33oftheNeighbourhoodPlanning(General)Regulations2012(asamended)setouttwoadditionalbasicconditionstothosesetoutinprimarylegislationandreferredtointheparagraphabove.Onlyoneisapplicabletoneighbourhoodplansandis:

§ ThemakingoftheneighbourhoodplanisnotlikelytohaveasignificanteffectonaEuropeansite2oraEuropeanoffshoremarinesite3eitheraloneorincombinationwithotherplansorprojects.

Theexaminerisalsorequiredtocheck4whethertheneighbourhoodplan:

§ Hasbeenpreparedandsubmittedforexaminationbyaqualifyingbody§ Hasbeenpreparedforanareathathasbeenproperlydesignatedforsuchplan

preparation§ Meetstherequirementstoi)specifytheperiodtowhichithaseffect;ii)not

includeprovisionaboutexcludeddevelopment;andiii)notrelatetomorethanoneneighbourhoodareaandthat

§ Itspoliciesrelatetothedevelopmentanduseoflandforadesignatedneighbourhoodarea.

ImustalsoconsiderwhetherthedraftneighbourhoodplaniscompatiblewithConventionrights.5Theexaminermustthenmakeoneofthefollowingrecommendations:

§ Theneighbourhoodplancanproceedtoareferendumonthebasisitmeetsallthenecessarylegalrequirements

§ Theneighbourhoodplancanproceedtoareferendumsubjecttomodificationsor

§ Theneighbourhoodplanshouldnotproceedtoareferendumonthebasisitdoesnotmeetthenecessarylegalrequirements.

Iftheplancanproceedtoareferendumwithorwithoutmodifications,theexaminermustalsoconsiderwhetherthereferendumareashouldbeextendedbeyondtheneighbourhoodplanareatowhichitrelates.Iftheplangoesforwardtoreferendumandmorethan50%ofthosevotingvoteinfavouroftheplanthenitismadebytherelevantlocalauthority,inthiscaseStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncil.Theplanthenbecomespartofthe‘developmentplan’fortheareaandastatutoryconsiderationinguidingfuturedevelopmentandinthedeterminationofplanningapplicationswithintheplanarea.

2AsdefinedintheConservationofHabitatsandSpeciesRegulations20123AsdefinedintheOffshoreMarineConservation(NaturalHabitats,&c.)Regulations20074Setoutinsections38Aand38BofthePlanningandCompulsoryPurchaseAct2004asamendedbytheLocalismAct5ThecombinedeffectoftheTownandCountryPlanningActSchedule4Bpara8(6)andpara10(3)(b)andtheHumanRightsAct1998

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3.0 NeighbourhoodplanpreparationAConsultationStatementhasbeensubmitted.AusefultimelineisincludedthatsummarisesthemainstagesofworkonthePlan.FromthisitisveryclearthatextensiveworkhasbeencarriedoutonthePlansinceOctober2013.Aswellasquestionnaires,anumberofopenafternoonsandmeetingswithkeystakeholdersincludingsocieties,schoolsanddevelopershavebeenheld.ThequestionnaireinOctober2013toallhouseholdsinthePlanareageneratedaresponseofsome25%.ThesubsequentOpenAfternoonwaswellpublicisedandover100peopleattended.AYouthQuestionnairewasalsogeneratedforstudentsatSouthamCollegeandoneforPrimarySchoolchildren.Adedicatedwebsitewasestablished.Meetingswithprovidersofservicesandfacilitiesinthevillagetookplace.AsecondOpenAfternoonwasheldinMay2015andwidelypublicisedusingavarietyofmethodsincludingletterstobusinessesandgroups,telephonecallstostakeholders,theHarburyandLadbrokeMagazine,posters,postcards,aFacebookpageandthewebsite.TheStFrancisGroupandGladmanDevelopmentsandThePriceFamilyTrustandotherindividualsandorganisationshadstallsandprovidedinformation.Afterthisevent,adraftPlanwasproducedandviewscanvassedonitsgeneraldirectionoftravel.MeetingswereheldwithavarietyofstakeholdersincludingSDC,landowners,thedevelopmentindustryandotherorganisationsandpeopleaswellasbusinessesintheParish.Pre-submission(Regulation14)consultationwasheldbetween1August–23September2016.Followingthis,theParishCouncildecidedtorevisethePlanandtorunasecondperiodofRegulation14consultation.Thissecondperiodranbetween6February–20March2017.TheConsultationStatementdetailstheresponsesfromthetwoRegulation14periodsofconsultation.Iconsidertherehasbeensatisfactoryengagementwiththecommunityandotherbodiesthroughouttheprocess.Submission(Regulation16)consultationwascarriedoutbetween11January–22February2018.TheRegulation16stageattracted15representationsfromdifferentpeopleororganisations.Ihavetakenalltherepresentationsreceivedintoaccount.

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4.0 TheexaminationprocessIhavesetoutmyremitearlierinthisreport.Itisusefultobearinmindthattheexaminer’sroleislimitedtotestingwhetherornotthesubmittedneighbourhoodplanmeetsthebasicconditionsandothermatterssetoutinparagraph8ofSchedule4BtotheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990(asamended).6PPGconfirmsthattheexaminerisnottestingthesoundnessofaneighbourhoodplanorexaminingothermaterialconsiderations.7WhereIfindthatpoliciesdomeetthebasicconditions,itisnotnecessaryformetoconsideriffurtheramendmentsoradditionsarerequired.SomerepresentationsofferusefulsuggestionswhichtheParishCouncilmaywishtoconsiderwhenthePlanisreviewed.Wheremodificationsarerecommendedtheyappearinboldtext.WhereIhavesuggestedspecificchangestothewordingofthepoliciesornewwordingtheseappearinbolditalics.PPG8explainsthatitisexpectedthattheexaminationwillnotincludeapublichearing.Rathertheexaminershouldreachaviewbyconsideringwrittenrepresentations.Whereanexaminerconsidersitnecessarytoensureadequateexaminationofanissueortoensureapersonhasafairchancetoputacase,thenahearingmustbeheld.9AfterconsiderationofallthedocumentationandrepresentationsIdecidedthatitwasnotnecessarytoholdahearing.IsoughtclarificationonanumberofmattersfromtheParishCouncilandSDCinwritingandmylistofquestionsisattachedtothisreportasAppendix2.IamverygratefultobothCouncilswhohaveprovidedmewithcomprehensiveanswerstomyquestions.Theresponsesreceived(allpubliclyavailable)haveenabledmetoexaminethePlanwithouttheneedforahearing.Additionally,NPIERS,theNeighbourhoodPlanningIndependentExaminerReferralService,haspublishedguidancetoserviceusersandexaminers.Amongstothermatters,theguidanceindicatesthatthequalifyingbody,inthiscase,HarburyParishCouncil,willnormallybegivenanopportunitytocommentuponanyrepresentationsmadebyotherpartiesattheRegulation16consultationstageshouldtheywishtodoso.ThereisnoobligationfortheParishCounciltomakeanycomments;itisonlyiftheywishtodoso.Ifaqualifyingbodywishestomakecomments,theguidanceindicatesthatanysuchcommentsshouldbemadewithintwoweeksaftercloseoftheRegulation16stage.

6PPGpara055refid41-055-201802227Ibid8Ibidpara056refid41-056-201802229Ibid

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IthereforewrotetoaskwhethertheParishCouncilwishedtomakeanycommentsonanyoralloftherepresentationsreceivedatRegulation16stageandaskedforanycommentsby27April2018.TheParishCouncilhaveconfirmedtheydonotwishtocommentonanyoftherepresentations.IamverygratefultoSDCforensuringthattheexaminationhasrunsmoothly.Imadeanunaccompaniedsitevisittotheneighbourhoodplanareaon16May2018.5.0 CompliancewithmattersotherthanthebasicconditionsInowcheckthevariousmatterssetoutinsection2.0ofthisreport.QualifyingbodyHarburyParishCouncilisthequalifyingbodyabletoleadpreparationofaneighbourhoodplan.Thisrequirementissatisfactorilymet.PlanareaThePlanareawasapprovedbySDCon8September2014.ThePlanareaiscoterminouswiththeParishadministrativeboundary.ThePlanrelatestothisareaanddoesnotrelatetomorethanoneneighbourhoodareaandthereforecomplieswiththenecessaryrequirements.ThePlanareaisshownonpage6ofthePlan.PlanperiodThePlancoverstheperiod2017–2031.ThisisclearlystatedonthePlan’sfrontcover.However,page9ofthePlanindicatesthePlanperiodis2011–2031toalignwithSDClevelplans.TheBasicConditionsStatementindicatesthePlanperiodisfromthePlanbeingmade,indicatedas2016,to2031,buttheperiodisconfirmedas2017–2031aswell.Inresponsetoaqueryonthis,ithasbeenconfirmedthatthePlanperiodis2017–2031.ExcludeddevelopmentThePlandoesnotincludepoliciesthatrelatetoanyofthecategoriesofexcludeddevelopmentandthereforemeetsthisrequirement.DevelopmentanduseoflandPoliciesinneighbourhoodplansmustrelatetothedevelopmentanduseofland.Sometimesneighbourhoodplanscontainaspirationalpoliciesorprojectsthatsignalthecommunity’sprioritiesforthefutureoftheirlocalarea,butarenotrelatedtothedevelopmentanduseofland.IfIconsiderapolicyorproposaltofallwithinthis

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category,Iwillrecommenditbeclearlydifferentiated.Thisisbecausewidercommunityaspirationsthanthoserelatingtodevelopmentanduseoflandcanbeincludedinaneighbourhoodplan,butactionsdealingwithnon-landusemattersshouldbeclearlyidentifiable.10Subjecttoanysuchrecommendations,thisrequirementcanbesatisfactorilymet.6.0ThebasicconditionsRegardtonationalpolicyandadviceTheGovernmentpublishedaNationalPlanningPolicyFramework(NPPF)in2012.On24July2018,arevisedNPPFwaspublished.Paragraph214inAnnex1ofthatdocumentexplainsthat:

“ThepoliciesinthepreviousFrameworkwillapplyforthepurposeofexaminingplans,wherethoseplansaresubmittedonorbefore24January2019.Wheresuchplansarewithdrawnorotherwisedonotproceedtobecomepartofthedevelopmentplan,thepoliciescontainedinthisFrameworkwillapplytoanysubsequentplanproducedfortheareaconcerned.”

Footnote69explainsthatforneighbourhoodplans“submission”meanswhereaqualifyingbodysubmitsaplanproposaltothelocalplanningauthorityinaccordancewithregulation15oftheNeighbourhoodPlanning(General)Regulations2012.ItisthereforeclearthatitisthepreviousNPPFpublishedin2012thatisrelevanttothisparticularexamination.AnyreferencestotheNPPFinthisreportrefertotheNPPFpublishedin2012.TheNPPFisthemaindocumentthatsetsoutnationalplanningpolicy.InparticularitexplainsthattheapplicationofthepresumptioninfavourofsustainabledevelopmentwillmeanthatneighbourhoodplansshouldsupportthestrategicdevelopmentneedssetoutinLocalPlans,planpositivelytosupportlocaldevelopment,shapinganddirectingdevelopmentthatisoutsidethestrategicelementsoftheLocalPlanandidentifyopportunitiestouseNeighbourhoodDevelopmentOrderstoenabledevelopmentsthatareconsistentwiththeneighbourhoodplantoproceed.11TheNPPFalsomakesitclearthatneighbourhoodplansshouldbealignedwiththestrategicneedsandprioritiesofthewiderlocalarea.InotherwordsneighbourhoodplansmustbeingeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesoftheLocalPlan.TheycannotpromotelessdevelopmentthanthatsetoutintheLocalPlanorundermineitsstrategicpolicies.1210PPGpara004refid41-004-2017072811NPPFparas14,1612Ibidpara184

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TheNPPFindicatesthatplansshouldprovideapracticalframeworkwithinwhichdecisionsonplanningapplicationscanbemadewithahighdegreeofpredictabilityandefficiency.13On6March2014,theGovernmentpublishedasuiteofplanningguidancereferredtoasPlanningPracticeGuidance(PPG).Thisisanonlineresourceavailableatplanningguidance.communities.gov.ukwhichisregularlyupdated.Theplanningguidancecontainsawealthofinformationrelatingtoneighbourhoodplanning.IhavealsohadregardtoPPGinpreparingthisreport.PPGindicatesthatapolicyshouldbeclearandunambiguous14toenableadecisionmakertoapplyitconsistentlyandwithconfidencewhendeterminingplanningapplications.Theguidanceadvisesthatpoliciesshouldbeconcise,preciseandsupportedbyappropriateevidence,reflectingandrespondingtoboththecontextandthecharacteristicsofthearea.15PPGstatesthereisno‘tickbox’listofevidencerequired,butproportionate,robustevidenceshouldsupportthechoicesmadeandtheapproachtaken.16Itcontinuesthattheevidenceshouldbedrawnupontoexplainsuccinctlytheintentionandrationaleofthepolicies.17Whilstthishasformedpartofmyownassessment,theBasicConditionsStatementsetsouthowthePlanhasrespondedtonationalpolicyandguidancethroughasimpletableandcommentaryonhowthePlan’spoliciesalignwiththeNPPF’scoreplanningprinciples.ContributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopmentAqualifyingbodymustdemonstratehowthemakingofaneighbourhoodplanwouldcontributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment.TheNPPFasawhole18constitutestheGovernment’sviewofwhatsustainabledevelopmentmeansinpracticeforplanning.TheFrameworkexplainsthattherearethreedimensionstosustainabledevelopment:economic,socialandenvironmental.19Whilstthishasformedpartofmyownassessment,theBasicConditionsStatementcontainsasectionthatexplainshowthePlanalignswitheachofthethreecomponentsofsustainabledevelopmentoutlinedintheNPPFinTable2.

13NPPFpara1714PPGpara041refid41-041-2014030615Ibid16Ibidpara040refid41-040-2016021117Ibid18NPPFpara6whichindicatesparas18–219oftheFrameworkconstitutetheGovernment’sviewofwhatsustainabledevelopmentmeansinpractice19Ibidpara7

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GeneralconformitywiththestrategicpoliciesinthedevelopmentplanThedevelopmentplanrelevanttothisexaminationistheStratford-on-AvonDistrictCoreStrategy2011to2031(CS)adoptedon11July2016.TheBasicConditionsStatementhasatablethatsetsoutallofthePlanpoliciesanddiscussesthemwithregardtothemostrelevantCSpolicies.Thishasprovidedaveryusefulcontextformyownconsiderationofthisbasicconditionandiscomprehensiveinitscoverageandcommentary.EmergingplansatSDClevelofrelevancetothisexaminationInadditionInotethatSDCiscurrentlypreparingaSiteAllocationsPlan(SAP)whichfocusesontheidentificationofreservesitesinaccordancewithPolicyCS.16oftheCSandcoversanumberofotherissuesincludingthedefinitionofbuilt-upareaboundaries.ConsultationontheSAPRevisingScopingandInitialOptionsendedon9March2018.EuropeanUnionObligationsAneighbourhoodplanmustbecompatiblewithEuropeanUnion(EU)obligations,asincorporatedintoUnitedKingdomlaw,inordertobelegallycompliant.AnumberofEUobligationsmaybeofrelevanceincludingDirectives2001/42/EC(StrategicEnvironmentalAssessment),2011/92/EU(EnvironmentalImpactAssessment),92/43/EEC(Habitats),2009/147/EC(WildBirds),2008/98/EC(Waste),2008/50/EC(AirQuality)and2000/60/EC(Water).StrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentDirective2001/42/EContheassessmentoftheeffectsofcertainplansandprogrammesontheenvironmentisrelevant.Itspurposeistoprovideahighlevelofprotectionoftheenvironmentbyincorporatingenvironmentalconsiderationsintotheprocessofpreparingplansandprogrammes.ThisDirectiveiscommonlyreferredtoastheStrategicEnvironmentAssessment(SEA)Directive.TheDirectiveistransposedintoUKlawthroughtheEnvironmentalAssessmentofPlansandProgrammesRegulations2004.AScreeningDocumentdatedFebruary2017hasbeensubmitted.ThisupdatesanearlierscreeningopinionofOctober2016thatthePlanisunlikelytohavesignificanteffects.TheSEAscreeningwasreviewedbecausearevisedsettlementboundarywasincludedinthePlan.TherevisedScreeningDocumentconcludedthataSEAisnotrequired.Therequisiteconsultationwiththestatutoryconsulteeswasundertaken.Allthreestatutoryconsultees,theEnvironmentAgency(EA),NaturalEngland(NE)andHistoricEngland(HE)respondedwithallthreeconcurringthataSEAwouldnotberequired.IhavetreatedtheScreeningDocumenttobethestatementofreasonsthatPPGadvisesmustbepreparedandsubmittedwiththeneighbourhoodplanproposalandmade

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availabletotheindependentexaminerwhereitisdeterminedthattheplanisunlikelytohavesignificantenvironmentaleffects.20IamoftheviewthatEUobligationsinrespectofSEAhavebeensatisfied.HabitatsRegulationsAssessmentDirective92/43/EEContheconservationofnaturalhabitats,commonlyreferredtoastheHabitatsDirective,isalsoofrelevancetothisexamination.AHabitatsRegulationsAssessment(HRA)identifieswhetheraplanislikelytohaveasignificanteffectonaEuropeansite,eitheraloneorincombinationwithotherplansorprojects.21TheassessmentdetermineswhethersignificanteffectsonaEuropeansitecanberuledoutonthebasisofobjectiveinformation.AScreeningDocumentdatedOctober2017confirmedthatthenearestEuropeansitetothePlanareaisEnsor’sPoolSpecialAreaofConservation(SAC)locatedsome30kmtothenorth.TheScreeningDocumentconcludedthatthePlanwouldnothavelikelysignificanteffectsonanyEuropeansitesaloneorincombinationwithotherplansandconcludedthatafullHRAwouldnotbeneeded.NaturalEnglandwereconsultedandagreedwiththeconclusionoftheScreeningDocument.22Giventhenature,characteristicsanddistanceoftheEuropeansiteandthenatureandcontentsofthePlan,IconsiderthatafullHRAisnotrequiredandthatthefurtherbasicconditionsetoutinRegulation32oftheNeighbourhoodPlanning(General)Regulations2012(asamended)iscompliedwith.IhavealsoconsideredanyimplicationsarisingfromthejudgmentinthecaseofPeopleOverWind,PeterSweetmanvCoillteTeoranta23andaskedthelocalplanningauthoritytodothesame.MylettertoSDCisattachedatAppendix3.SDChaveconfirmedtheydonotconsideranyfurtherHRAworkisneeded.IhavealsoindependentlyconsideredthismatterandconsiderthattheScreeningDocumentislegallycompliantinthelightofthejudgmentandthatnofurtheractionisrequiredasaresultofthisjudgmentinrelationtothisparticularPlan.EuropeanConventiononHumanRights(ECHR)TheBasicConditionsStatementincludesasectiononthis.ThereisnothinginthePlanthatleadsmetoconcludethereisanybreachoftheConventionorthatthePlanisotherwiseincompatiblewithit.PPG24confirmsthatitistheresponsibilityofthelocalplanningauthority,inthiscaseSDC,toensurethatalltheregulationsappropriatetothenatureandscopeofthedraftneighbourhoodplanhavebeenmet.ItisSDCwhomustdecidewhetherthedraftplaniscompatiblewithEUobligationswhenittakesthedecisiononwhethertheplanshould

20PPGpara028refid11-028-2015020921Ibidpara047refid11-047-2015020922LetterfromNaturalEnglandof31October201723CaseC-323/1724PPGpara031refid11-031-20150209

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proceedtoreferendumandwhenittakesthedecisiononwhetherornottomaketheplan.7.0DetailedcommentsonthePlananditspoliciesInthissectionIconsiderthePlananditspoliciesagainstthebasicconditions.Wheremodificationsarerecommendedtheyappearinboldtext.Asareminder,whereIhavesuggestedspecificchangestothewordingofthepoliciesornewwordingtheseappearinbolditalics.ThePlanispresentedtoahighstandardandhastwotablesofcontentsandofpolicieswhicharehelpful.Ifoundthedocumenteasytoreadanduse.Photographsareinterspersedthroughoutthedocumentgivingitadistinctiveflavour.1WhatisaNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlanandwhydoweneedonefortheparishofHarbury?Thiswellwrittensectioncontainsessentialbackgroundinformationandsetsoutasimplediagramtoshowhowtheprocessofplanmaking.ItisausefulleadintothePlan.SomeelementsofitwillofcourseneedsomenaturalupdatingasthePlanprogressestowardsbeingmade.ThereisatypoinFigure3onpage10ofthePlanwhichshouldbecorrected.

§ Adda“s”to“DepperBridge”inFigure3onpage10ofthePlan2PreparingtheHarburyNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlanThiswellwrittensectionsetsouttheprocessofPlanmakingandincludesaveryusefultimelinesummarisingthekeyeventsandmilestonesintheprocess.Thissectionandthetimelineinparagraph2.2willrequiresomenaturalupdatingasthePlanisfinalised.3HarburyProfileThiswellwrittensectioncontainsausefulintroductiontomanyofthekeyissuesfacingtheParishanditsresidents.

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4VisionandObjectivesThevisionis:

“Ourvisionisofasociallycohesiveandmutuallysupportingruralparish.Alowcarbonparishwithadequateinfrastructure,thatrespectsthevalueofthesurroundingfarmlandandnaturallandscapeandoffersessentialservices,recreation,employmentandhousingopportunitiesforpeopleofallagesandincomelevels.”.

Thevisionissupportedbynineobjectives.ThevisionobjectivesareallclearlyarticulatedandareappropriateforthisPlan.However,IagreewithSDCthatitwouldbeappropriatetoensurethatobjective3alignswithPolicyH.07andforthisreason,amodificationisrecommended.Aconsequentialamendmenttothisobjectiveonpage39ofthePlanwillalsobeneeded.TheParishCouncilconfirmsthatthemaponpage28ofthePlanis“Map1”referredtoinPolicyH.01.Inordertohelpwithclarity,amodificationisrecommendedtoincludeatitle,mapnumberandkey.

§ Changetheword“all”inobjective3to“important”

§ Consequentialamendmentstoobjective3willbeneededthroughoutthePlan

§ Addatitle“Map1”andakeytothemaponpage28ofthePlanwhichidentifiesallthefeaturesindicatedonthemapi.e.thesettlementboundaryandthebluetriangles

5PoliciesandProposalsEachofthenineobjectivesheadsasetofpoliciesdesignedtoachievetheobjective.StructuringthePlaninthiswayhasbeensuccessful.PolicyH.01NewHousingDevelopmentinHarburyVillagePolicyCS.16oftheCSrequiresthedeliveryofatleast14,600newhomesbetween2011and2031.DevelopmentisdistributedinaccordancewithCSPolicyCS.15whichsetsoutthesettlementhierarchyfortheDistrict.HarburyisidentifiedasaLocalServiceVillage(LSV)inthishierarchy.WithinLSVs,CSPolicyCS.15explainsthatdevelopmentwilltakeplaceonsitesidentifiedinneighbourhoodplansandthroughsmall-scaleschemeswithinsettlementboundariesorotherwisewithintheirphysicalconfines.

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CSPolicyCS.16providesforapproximately2,000dwellingsinthe45LSVs.Harburyisa‘Category1’LSV.Category1LSVsaretoprovidesome450dwellingsofthe2,000totalwithnomorethanaround25%beingprovidedinanyonesettlement.ThePlanexplainsthatasofMarch201538homeshadbeenbuiltwithafurther90withplanningpermissionequatingto128newdwellingsorsome28%ofthe450dwellingfigureintheCS.Inadditionthebrownfieldsite,HarburyCementWorks,fallspartlywithinthePlanarea,butthe200orsonewdwellingsforthissitehavenotbeenincludedinthecalculationfortheperiodupto2031.SDChascommentedthatthefiguresinparagraph5.7nowrequireupdating.Thelatesthousingfiguresare63dwellingsbuilt,71committedmakingatotalof134houses.Intheinterestsofaccuracythesefiguresshouldbeupdated.IrecognisethatSDCispreparngaSAPwhichwillallocatereservesites.TheSAPdoesnotidentifyasettlementboundaryforHarburybecausethisPlandoesthisalthoughareservesiteisproposedatlandwestofBushHeathLane.TheSAPishoweveratarelativelyearlystageandatthepresenttime,Harburyhasmetandexceeded,itshousingfiguretargetintheCS.SDChasconfirmedthatthePlanmakesappropriateprovisionforhousinginlinewithcurrentrequirements.WhilstarepresentationseekstheinclusionofareservesiteinHarbury,thereisnorequirementforneighbourhoodplanstoallocatesitesregardlessofthemeritsorotherwiseofthosesitesputforward.PolicyH.01directsnewhousingdevelopmenttoHarburyanddefinesanewsettlementboundarywhichisclearlyindicatedonMap1(whichasaresultofanearliermodificationnowclearlytitledwithakey).Thesettlementboundaryincludescommitmentsandtakesaccountofthecommunity’ssupportforprotectingtheeasternandwesternboundariesofthebuilt-uparea.Thepolicythencontainssevencriteriaforanysuchproposalstomeet.Allareclearlywordedandseektoensurethatanydevelopmentisappropriatehelpingtoensurethatitissustainable.Criterionb)referstotheconservationandenhancementofheritageassetsandthisisahighbarthatdoesnotalignwithnationalpolicyandadviceorthestatutorytestfordevelopmentinconservationareasorfordevelopmentthatmightaffectconservationsareaswhichisthepreservationorenhancementofthecharacterorappearanceoftheconservationarea.AccordinglyIrecommendthatcriterionb)ismodifiedtoreflectthisstatutorydutyandtoreflectnationalpolicymoreclosely.Subjecttothismodification,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.Thesupportingtexttothepolicycontainstworeferencesto“PolicyHNDP1”whicharenowsupercededandtheseshouldbebroughtuptodate.

§ Amendcriterionb)toread:“conserveorenhancethesignificanceofdesignatedandnon-designatedheritageassets;”

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§ Changetworeferencesto“PolicyHNDP1”onpage31ofthePlanto“PolicyH.01”

§ Updateparagraph5.7onpage32ofthePlantoread:“…asatMarch2017,63

homeshadbeenbuilt,71dwellingscommittedmakingatotalof134houses.”PolicyH.02NewHousingDevelopmentinDeppersBridgeandtheOpenCountrysideThispolicysetsoutthetypesofdevelopmentthatwillbesupportedinDeppersBridgeandoutsidethesettlementboundaryforHarbury.Itsupportsreplacementdwellings,thereuseofredundantbuildings,developmentthatwouldbringheritageassetsbackintouseandhomesforagriculturalandforestryworkersaddingalocallayerofdetailtoCSPolicyAS.10.Itincludesanumberofappropriatecaveats.DeppersBridgeisidentifiedintheCSasan“othersettlement”whereCSPoliciesCS.15andAS.10indicatethatnewhousingwillbelimitedtosmall-scalecommunity-ledschemeswhichmeetaneedidentifiedbythelocalcommunity.InthisinstancethecommunitydoesnotconsiderdevelopmentinDeppersBridgewouldbesustainableandthereforethispolicyseekstolimitdevelopment.Thereishowever,apotentialinconsistencywithPolicyH.04whichpermitslocalneedsschemesexceptionallyadjoiningthebuilt-upareaofDeppersBridgesubjecttovariousothercriteria.Torecognisethis,modificationismadetothisotherwiseclearlywordedpolicyandsupportingtext.Withthismodification,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.

§ Addanewcriterione)thatreads:“inaccordancewithPolicyH.04.”

§ Removethe“and”attheendofcriterionc)andinsertitattheendofcriteriond)

§ Add“IntheCoreStrategy”atthestartofparagraph5.11onpage34ofthe

Plan

§ Addtheword“However,”tothestartofthesecondsentenceofparagraph5.11

PolicyH.03SecuringaSuitableMixofHousingTypes,TenuresandSizesinNewDevelopmentForschemesofsixormoredwellings,thispolicyrequiresarangeofhousetypes,sizesandtenurestobeprovided.Itspecificallyseekstoprovidefortheneedsofolderandyoungerpeople.ThehousingmixtobeprovidedissubjecttouptodateinformationandconsultationwiththeParishCouncil.

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Thepolicytakesaccountofnationalpolicybyhelpingtoprovideawidechoiceofhomesandplanforamixofhousingbasedontheneedsofthecommunityandwillhelptoachievesustainabledevelopment.ItreflectsCSPoliciesCS.18andCS.19.Amodificationisrecommendedtoaddalittlemoreflexibilityandtoensurethepolicyhastheprecisionsoughtbynationalpolicyandguidance.Inadditionthepolicyrequiresdevelopersto“consultandtakeintoaccounttheviewsoftheParishCouncil…”.WhilstIacceptthisisgoodpractice,IammindfulthattheNPPF,25whilstencouragingearlyengagementandconsultationstatesthatlocalplanningauthoritiescannotrequiredeveloperengagementbeforeaplanningapplicationissubmitted.ThereforeamodificationismadetothiselementofthepolicytotakeaccountoftheNPPF.ThesupportingtextreferstoaHousingNeedsSurveydated2011.ThePlanshouldbe‘futureproofed’andtheinsertionofaphrasetodealwiththisisrecommendedandthiswillalignbetterwithPolicyH.03andH.04.

§ Amendthephrase“…includingaproportionofhomestomeettheneedsofolderandyoungerresidentsaswellasthoseseekingtobuildtheirownhome.”inthepolicyto“includingaproportionofhomessuitabletomeettheneedsofolderandyoungerresidentsaswellasthepotentialtoprovideforthoseseekingtobuildtheirownhomeonappropriatesites.”

§ Changethesentencethatreads“BeforefinalisingthehousingmixonsuchsitesdevelopersshouldconsultandtakeintoaccounttheviewsoftheParishCouncilalongwithup-to-datedemographic,housingneed,selfandcustombuilddemandandstrategichousingmarketinformation.”to“Beforefinalisingthehousingmixonsuchsitesdevelopersmusttakeaccountofup-to-datedemographic,housingneed,selfandcustombuilddemandandstrategichousingmarketinformationandareparticularlyencouragedtoconsultandtakeintoaccounttheviewsoftheParishCouncil.”

§ Addanewsentencetoparagraph5.14onpage36ofthePlanthatreads:

“However,itisappreciatedthatthemostuptodateevidenceonhousingneedshouldbeused.”

PolicyH.04LocalNeedsSchemesPolicyH.04supportshousingthatmeetsevidencedlocalneedsinareaswherehousingwouldnotnormallybeconsideredappropriatesubjecttofourcriteria.ThefirstallowssuchdevelopmentadjoiningthesettlementboundaryforHarburyandthebuilt-upareaofDeppersBridge.Thesecondisthatanysuchdevelopmentissuitablylocatedin

25NPPFpara189

18

Harburyandconvenientforservicesandfacilities.Thirdly,thedevelopmentmustbesecuredforlocalneedsinperpertuityandfinallytheParishCouncilshouldbeconsulted.Theintentionofthepolicyisunderstood.However,Ifeelthewordingusedcouldbeimprovedforclarityandprecisionandaccordinglymakemodificationstoreflectthis.FurthermoretherequirementtoconsulttheParishCouncilhasbeendiscussedinrelationtoPolicyH.03andamodificationismadetoalterthistotakeaccountoftheNPPF.Inadditionthispolicypermitshousingtomeetlocalneedsonsitesthatwouldnototherwisebeconsideredsuitableforhousingdevelopment.ArepresentationfromtheEnvironmentAgencyconfirmsthatHarburyandDeppersBridgearelocatedwithinFloodZone1(lowrisk),butthatexistingdevelopmentinDeppersBridgeislocatedwithin100moftheRiverItchenanditsfloodplain.Asaresultthewordingusedinthepolicycouldbeinterpretedthatdevelopmentmightbepermittedinthefloodplain.IconsiderthatinordertoprovidethepracticalframeworkfordecisiontakingsoughtbynationalpolicyandguidancethatanewcriterionshouldbeaddedwhichwilladdresstheEnvironmentAgency’sconcern,takeaccountoftheCSandparticularlyPolicyCS.4andensurethatthePlancontributestotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment.This,togetherwiththeothermodificationstothewordingofthepolicy,willensureitmeetsthebasicconditions.Thereisasmalltypoinparagraph5.15thatshouldbecorrected.

§ AmendPolicyH.04toread:“Whenitcanbedemonstratedthroughrobustanduptodatelocalhousingneedsinformationandthatneedcannotbemetbyaffordablehousingprovisionthroughamarket-ledscheme,housingdevelopmentforlocalneedswillbesupportedwhenallofthefollowingcriteriaaremet:a) InHarburyvillagethesiteshouldadjointhesettlementboundaryandin

DeppersBridgeitshouldimmediatelyadjoinexistingbuiltupdevelopmentinthehamlet;

b) DevelopmentshouldbelocatedinFloodZone1andthefloodplainoftheRiverItchenshouldbemaintainedandwhereopportunitiesarise,restoredtomaximisethenaturalstorageoffloodwater,reducefloodingandincreaselandscape,conservationandecologyvalue;

c) InHarburyvillagethesiteiswithinreasonablewalkingdistanceofpublictransportandlocalcommunityfacilities;

d) Thefutureuseofsuchhousingissecuredinperpetuitytomeetalocalneed.

DevelopersarealsoparticularlyencouragedtoconsultwiththeParishCounciltogaintheirsupportfortheproposalatanearlystage.”

19

§ Correct“eception”to“exception”inparagraph5.15onpage37ofthePlanPolicyH.05HousingDevelopmentandDesignPrinciplesHighqualitydesignissoughtbythiscriteriabasedpolicy.ThepolicytakesitsleadfromtheHarburyVillageDesignStatementfirstproducedin1998.Itseekstoensurethatnewdevelopmentisappropriateandreinforceslocaldistinctiveness.Itwillthereforehelptoachievesustainabledevelopment.Ittakesaccountofnationalpolicyandguidancewhichparticularlyseeksgooddesignindicatingitisindivisiblefromgoodplanning.26ItaccordswiththeNPPF’semphasisongooddesignanditsaimstocreateorreinforceasenseofplaceandtorespondtolocalcharacterandhistory.27ItisingeneralconformitywiththeCSandinparticularPolicyCS.9.Thepolicyiswordedclearlyandmeetsthebasicconditions.Nomodifcationsarethereforerecommended.InotethepointmadebySDCthatthispolicyshouldapplytoalldevelopment.Iagreewiththiscomment,butthisisnotamodificationIneedtorecommendinorderforthePlantomeetthebasicconditions.ShouldthischangebesomethingthattheParishCouncilandSDCwishtopursue,theapplicabilityofthepolicytoalldevelopmentratherthanonlyhousingdevelopment,couldbeachievedbyinsertingthepolicyinadifferentsectionofthePlanandchangingthetitleofthepolicybyremovingthewordhousingandremovingthewordhousingfromthefirstparagraphofthepolicy.Inmyviewsuchchangeswouldalsomeetthebasicconditions.PolicyH.06GreenInfrastructureTheNPPFdefinesgreeninfrastructureasanetworkofmulti-functionalgreenspacethatcandeliveravarietyofenvironmentalandqualityoflifebenefits.Inadditiongreeninfrastructurecanhelptomanageimpactsfromclimatechange.Thispolicyplanspositivelyfortheprotection,enhancementandcreationofgreeninfrastructure.ItreflectsCSPolicyCS.7.Itisclearlyworded.Itmeetsthebasicconditionsandnomodificationsaresuggested.26NPPFpara56andSection727Ibidsection7generallyandspecificallypara58

20

PolicyH.07ProtectingandEnhancingLocalGreenSpacesAnumberofLocalGreenSpaces(LGS)areproposedbythispolicy.TheNPPFexplainsthatLGSsaregreenareasofparticularimportancetolocalcommunities.28Theeffectofsuchadesignationisthatnewdevelopmentwillberuledoutotherthaninveryspecialcircumstances.Identifyingsuchareasshouldbeconsistentwithlocalplanningofsustainabledevelopmentandcomplementinvestment.TheNPPFmakesitclearthatthisdesignationwillnotbeappropriateformostgreenareasoropenspace.FurtherguidanceaboutLGSsisgiveninPPG.TheproposedareasareallshownclearlyonMaps2aand2b.Appendix2ofthePlancontainsananalysisoftheproposedLGSs.Ivisitedalltheareasonmysitevisit.ChurchPaddockformsanimportantpartofthesettingoftheChurchandiscentraltothehistoriccoreofthevillage.Itisparticularlyvaluedforitswildlife,treesandhistoricvalue.ChurchPaddockAllotmentsisapaddockandallotmentsthatformpartofthesettingoftheChurch,butprovidesallotmentsinacentrallocationandisvaluedforitsrecreationandwildlife.ThePoundisanareaoflandwithmaturetreesandseataswellasastonewallthataddstothecharacterofthevillage.Itisavillagegreenthatisparticularlyvaluedforitsbeautyandtrees.OldNewInnGreenisatriangleofvillagegreenwithintheConservationAreathatischaracteristicofthevillage.BinswoodEndGreenislandonacornerwithahorsechestnuttreeandseatthataddstothesettingofthevillageanditscharacter.ItfallswithintheConservationArea.PumpGreenhasawaterpump,seatingandthewarmemorialandcontributestothesettingoftheChurch.Itisparticularlyvaluedforitshistory.BullringGreenisasmallareaintheheartofthevillagevaluedforitshistoricsignificance.DeppersBridgePlayingFieldisawelldefinedarealargelylaidtograsswithahedgeboundary,largetreesandplayequipmentvaluedastheonlyrecreationareainthissettlement.

28NPPFparas76,77and78

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HarburyPlayingFieldsconsistsofarecreationareawithtenniscourtsandplayequipmentincludingazipwireusedextensivelyforrecreationandwalkingatthetimeofmyvisit.PinehamAllotmentsisadjacenttotheHarburyPlayingFieldsandisanareaofwellusedandbusyallotmentsatthetimeofmyvisit.Itisvaluedforrecreationandwildlife.ManorOrchardGreenformsasmallgrassedareathatformspartoftheintegralcharacterofthisresidentialarea.Itisvaluedforitsrecreationaluse.IqueriedwhetherthisareahadbeenshowncorrectlyonMap2a(AreaH.07k)asaresultofmysitevisit.TheParishCouncilhasconfirmedthatitwasshowninaccuratelyandhaveprovidedacorrectedlocationmap.AsthismapshowstheareaconcernedmorelogicallygiventhefeaturesonthegroundandtheareaissmallerthanthatshowninthesubmissionversionofthePlan,Iconsidernopartywouldbeprejudicedbyamodificationtocorrectlyidentifythissite.FrancesRoadGreenisanareaneararecentlyconstructedterraceofhouseswhichaddstotheopennessoftheestateandcharacterofthearea.SomeoftheproposedLGSsfallwithinaConservationArea.IhaveconsideredwhetherthereisanyadditionallocalbenefittobegainedfromdesignationasaLGSasadvisedbyPPG.29IconsiderthattheLGSdesignationexpressestheareasofparticularsignificanceandimportancetothelocalcommunityandthereforethereisaddedvalue.Inmyview,theproposedLGSsaresensiblyandclearlydefined.Allareincloseproximitytothecommunitytheyserve,arelocalincharacterandholdaparticularlocalsignificancebecauseoftheirbeautyandcontributiontothecharacterandappearanceoftheParish,historicsignificance,theirrecreationvalueorfortheirtreesandwildlife.AllmeetthecriteriaintheNPPFsatisfactorily.Turningnowtothepolicyitself,thepolicyrefersbacktotheMaps2aand2b.Itisclearlywrittenonlyallowingdevelopmentinexceptionalcircumstanceswhilstretainingflexibility.TheonlymodificationssuggestedaretoensurethatthepolicydesignatestheseareasasLGSsandtomakethepolicywordingclearerandmorereflectiveoftheNPPF’sstanceonLGSs.Inresponsetoaquery,aslitheroflandisshownonMap2athatdoesnotappeartobeaproposedLGS.Intheinterestsofaccuracy,thisarea,asewageprocessingstationoffBushHeathLaneshouldbedeletedfromMap2a.Inaddition,aphotographofQueensCloseGreenisincludedinthissectionofthePlan,butisnotaproposedLGS.Toavoidanyconfusion,thisshouldberemovedfromthissectionofthePlan.

29PPGpara011refid37-011-20140306

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§ Substitutethewords“willbeprotected”inthefirstsentenceofthepolicywitharedesignated”

§ Deletethewords“fornon-openlanduses”inthelastparagraphofthepolicy

§ CorrecttheareaforproposedLocalGreenSpaceH.07kshownonMap2abyamendingMap2atoaccordwiththemapsenttomeinresponsetomyquestionsofclarificationbyemailof18June2018

§ RemovetheslitheroflandoffBushHeathLanefromMap2a

§ RemovethephotoofQueensCloseGreenfromthissectionofthePlan

PolicyH.08ProtectingSmall,IncidentialOpenSpacesThispolicyseekstoprotectothersmallerareasofopenspacesuchasgrassverges.Thepolicyonlypermitsthelossofsuchareasifasuitablealternativeisprovidedoritcanbedemonstratedthatthespaceperformsnousefulfunction.Inmyview,itwouldbeunlikelythateitherofthesescenarioswouldarisegiventhelikelynatureofthesespaces.IhavethereforeconsideredwhethertheprotectionofthesespacesisimportanttothecharacterandsettingoftheParish.Atmysitevisit,Isawthatsuchspacesdoformpartoftheintegralcharacteranddistinctivenessofthearea.Theirprotectionwouldcontributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment.Thepolicyinitselfisclearlyworded.However,intheinterestsofclarityitshouldbelinkedtotheopenspacesidentifiedinAppendix2ofthePlan.Subjecttothismodification,thepolicywouldmeetthebasicconditions.

§ Addthewords:“asidentifiedinAppendix2ofthePlan”after“…inthelossoftheothersmall,openspaces…”inthefirstsentenceofthepolicy

PolicyH.09ProtectingSignificantViewsThesupportingtextexplainsthatviewsoutofHarburyareimportantbecauseofthetopographyandlandscapeofthearea.Theseareimportanttoitscharacter,itsdistinctivenessinthelandscapeandtoits‘feel’andsenseofplaceasIexperiencedonmysitevisit.PolicyH.09seekstoensurethatanydevelopmentthatmightaffecttheseviews,identifiedclearlyonMap1,onpage28ofthePlan,willtakeaccountofthem.Inadditionviewswithinthevillageofthewindmillandparishchurcharesimilarlyprotected.

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IsaweachofthefourviewpointsidentifiedonMap1atmyvisittogetherwithviewsofthewindmillandchurch.AllhavebeenidentifiedappropriatelyandtheviewsonMap1providelongerdistanceviewsacrossthesurroundingfarmlandandlandscapeandareclosetopublicfootpaths.TheviewsintheheartofthevillageareimportantwithglimpsesaswellaswiderviewsofthewindmillandchurchaddingmuchtothecharacterofHarbury.TheVillageDesignStatementalsorecognisestheimportanceoftheseviews.Thepolicyprovidesanappropriatebalancebetweenprotectingimportantviewsandsupportingdevelopment.Ittakesaccountofnationalpolicyandguidanceinrecognisingtheintrinsiccharacterandbeautyofthecountrysideandpromotingandreinforcinglocaldistinctivenessandwillhelptoachievesustainabledevelopment.Amongstotherthings,CSPolicyCS.9referstotheneedforsensitivedevelopmentthatmakesthebestuseofonsiteassetssuchaslandscapingfeaturesandpublicviewsandvistasanddoesnotharmexistingones.IconsiderthispolicyaddsalocallayertoCSPolicyCS.9andbuildsonearlierworkundertakenaspartoftheVillageDesignStatement.Itthereforemeetsthebasicconditionsandnomodificationsarerecommended.PolicyH.10LandscapeDesignPrinciplesPolicyH.10isacriteriabasedpolicythatseekstoensurethatanydevelopmenttakesaccountoftheparticularlandscapefeaturesthataresoimportanttoitssettingandlocaldistinctiveness.Thecriteriaincludethepreservationofthewell-definedeastandwestboundariesofHarbury,treesandhedgerowsandlightingimpactondarkskies.ItpicksuponthedistinctivecharacteristicsandfeaturesoftheParishandtakesaccountofCSPolicyCS.5.Thepolicyiswordedwellandwillcontributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopment.Itthereforemeetsthebasicconditionsandnomodificationsarerecommended.PolicyH.11EnsuringNewDevelopmentProvidesAppropriateInfrastructureThispolicyseekstoensurethattherightinfrastructureaccompaniesdevelopment.Itisnotprescriptiveaboutwhatthisinfrastructuremightbeandsothereisalevelofflexibilitywithinit.Thesupportingtextexplainsthatthecommunityisparticularlyconcernedaboutservices,roads,drainageandseweragecapacity.Inadditionissuessuchasschoolplacesandmedicalfacilitiesarereferredto.Thetextincludesatableofpotentialinfrastructureimprovementsthatthecommunitywouldliketosee;somerelatedtothedevelopmentanduseoflandandothermatterssuchasdogfoulingwhicharenot.Neverthelessthetableillustratestherangeofissueswell.Thetextexplainsthat

24

infrastructurewillbesecuredthroughplanningobligationsaswellasCommunityInfrastructureLevy(CIL).SDChasnowadoptedCILandsosomeupdatingisneededtoparagraph5.26.Whilstthepolicyisnon-specific,itacknowledgestheneedforinfrastructureandthecommunity’sdesiretoseekimprovementstoawidevarietyofissues.Thepolicyisclearlywordedandmeetsthebasicconditions.InparticularitwillhelptoachievesustainabledevelopmentandaddsalocallayerofdetailtoCSPolicyCS.25.Asaresultnomodificationstothepolicyarerecommended.

§ Updatethesecondsentenceinparagraph5.26onpage49ofthePlanbyreplacingthewords“…whenitisadoptedlaterin2017”to“adoptedon11December2017andeffectivefrom1February2018.”

PolicyH.12ProtectingExistingCommunityFacilitiesPolicyH.12containsalistof18facilitiesrangingfromthevillagehalltopublichousesthatthePlanseekstoprotect.Thepolicyonlysupportsthelossofanyfacilitiesifequivalentorbetterprovisionismadeelsewhereorafteraminimummarketingperiodof12monthsitcanbeshownthattheuseisnolongerviable.The18facilitiesareshownonMaps3and4.Thepolicyisclearlywordedandtakesareasonableapproach.InotethatSDCcommentthatusuallyaminimummarketingperiodofsixmonthsisusedandthispolicyseeksaminimumofayear.Inordertoaddalittlemoreflexibility,amodificationismadetoaddressthispoint.TheNPPF30promotestheretentionanddevelopmentoflocalservicesandcommunityfacilitiesincludingshops,publichousesandplacesofworship.CSPolicyCS.25seekstoretainsuchfacilitiessubjecttovariouscriteria.

§ Addthewords“orasotherwisemaybejustifiedbythecircumstancesofthepremisesinquestionandagreed”after“…(aminimumoftwelvemonths…”inthepolicy

PolicyH.13DevelopmentofNewCommunityFacilitiesThispolicysupportsnewfacilitiesorimprovementstoexistingfacilitiesprovidedthatanyeffectsonlocalcharacter,landscapeandresidentialamenityareacceptable.Facilitiesforyoungerandolderresidentsareparticularlyencouraged.Itreflectsthe

30NPPFpara28

25

stanceoftheNPPFinrelationtolocalservicesandcommunityfacilitiesinruralareasandwillhelptoachievesustainabledevelopment.Itthereforemeetsthebasicconditionsandnomodificationsaresuggested.PolicyH.14SustainableDesignandEnergyEfficiencyPolicyH.14seekstoachievesustainabledesignandenergyefficiencyandthisisclearlyofimportancetothecommunity.Thesupportingtextreferstotwocommunityinitiatives,theHarburyEnergyInitiativeandtheElectricCarClub.However,theGovernmentannouncedinaWrittenMinisterialStatement(WMS)of25March2015,thatitisnotappropriatetorefertoanyadditionallocaltechnicalstandardsorrequirementsrelatingtotheconstruction,internallayoutorperformanceofnewdwellingsinneighbourhoodplans.Someofthemeasuresreferredtointhepolicywouldberegardedassuchstandards.However,Iconsiderthatasthepolicyencourages,ratherthanrequires,suchmeasuresandthereforeisflexibleinitsapproachtoachievingsustainabledesignandenergyefficiency,thenthepolicywouldmeetthebasicconditionsinthisregard.ThepolicyalsoappliestoothertypesofdevelopmentandisingeneralconformitywiththeCS,particularlyPoliciesCS.2,CS.4andCS.9.Criterionc.ofthepolicyseekstheuseofsustainabledrainage.AWMS31advisesthatfrom6April2015,policyanddecisionsonmajordevelopmentshouldensurethatSustainableDrainageSystemsareputinplacewhereappropriate.Thereforewithsomeflexibilitythiscriterionwillbeacceptable.InadditionSDCmakethepointthatthiscriterionshouldalsoreferto“upstream”.Themodificationsuggestedwilladdressbothissues.

§ Amendcriterionc.toread:“Usesustainabledrainagetoreduceriskoffloodingonsite,downstreamandupstream,whereveritisappropriatetodoso;and”

PolicyH.15HighwaysandTransportThispolicyseekstoensurethatthetrafficimpactonthelocalroadnetworkfromnewdevelopmentisacceptableandpromotestheuseofpublictransport.ThisisinlinewiththeNPPF’spromotionofsustainabletransport.ItreflectsCSPolicyCS.26.ThewordingofthepolicydoesnotprovidethepracticalframeworkwithinwhichdecisionsonplanningapplicationscanbemadewithahighdegreeofpredictabilityandefficiencysoughtbytheNPPF.32Thisisbecausethepolicyonlyseekssafeandsuitableaccesswhereappropriate.Therearealsotwoothermodificationstoensurethepolicy31WrittenMinisterialStatement18December201432NPPFpara17

26

providesthepracticalframeworksoughtbynationalpolicy.Subjecttothismodification,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.

§ AmendPolicyH.15toread:“Developmentproposalsshouldincludemeasurestominimiseandmakeacceptableanyimpactonthelocalroadnetworkbyproviding:

a.safeandsuitableaccess;andb.encouragingtheuseofpublictransportincludingnewandenhancedpedestrianroutestotheexistingnetworkandwherenecessarynewbusinfrastructure.”

PolicyH.16BusinessandEmploymentDevelopmentintheCentreofHarburyVillageShops,businesses,officesandcommunityusesaresupportedbythispolicyprovidedthatanyimpactsontheConservationAreaandthecharacteroftheParishareacceptableandsubjecttosatisfactorytrafficandtransportimpacts.ThepolicytakesaccountoftheNPPF’sstanceonthedevelopmentoflocalservicesandcommunityfacilitiesandCSPolicyCS.22whilstrecognisingthekeyissuesofcommunityconcern.Thepolicymeetsthebasicconditionsandinparticularwillcontributetotheachievementofsustainabledevelopmentandnomodificationsarerecommended.PolicyH.17ProtectingExistingEmploymentPremisesTheNPPFsupportsprosperousruraleconomiesandeconomicgrowthtosupportjobs33andCSPolicyCS.22seekstoprovideforawiderangeofbusinessesandcommercialactivitiesinsustainablelocations.FoursitesidentifiedonMap5areprotectedforemploymentusebythispolicy.Employmentuseisalsoencouragedonthesefoursitessubjecttosatisfactoryimpactsonthelocalroadnetworkandresidents.Thepolicyisflexibleinthatchangesofusearepermittediftheexistinguseisnolongersuitableaftermarketingandtheproposednewusewouldbecompatiblewithadjacentusesandoccupiers.Thislattercriterionistobeparticularlywelcomedgiventheimpactthatdifferentorotherusescanhaveonoccupiersofbusinesspremisesandreflectstheagentofchangeprinciple.ThewordingofthepolicyrequiresmoreprecisionandclarityinlinewithnationalpolicyandguidanceandtotakeaccountofthestanceintheCS.Subjecttothesemodifications,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.

33NPPFpara28

27

Aseparatelyidentifiedcommunityactiontoestablishabusinessnetworkisalsoincludedinthesupportingtext.Itishoweververyclearthatthisisanon-planningissue.

§ Amendthesecondparagraphofthepolicytoread:“Developmentforemploymentusesinthesespecifiedareasandpremiseswillbesupportedprovidedthattheproposalwouldhaveanacceptableimpactonthelocalroadnetworkandresidentialamenity.”

§ Amendcriteriona.toread:“Theexistinguseisnolongerconsideredsuitableorviableforcontinuedemploymentuseafteranappropriateperiodofactivemarketingtobeagreedwiththelocalplanningauthority;and”

PolicyH.18ProtectingandEnhancingLocalShopsandBusinessesSupportforUseClassesA1,A2andB1isgivenbythispolicy.Anychangesofuseofretailpremisestonon-retailusesareonlysupportedifthereisnolongeraneedforthefacilityorbetterprovisionisprovidedelsewhereintheParish.ThereisacleardesiretosupporttheexistinglevelofsuchfacilitiesthatHarburyvillageiscurrentlyfortunatetohave.ThePlanexplainsthatthesearevaluedlocalfacilities.However,thereisadangerthatthelatterhalfofthepolicymightstagnatethosepremiseswhicharenolongerviable.Subjecttoinclusionofthisinthepolicy,itwillprovideapracticalframeworkfordecisionmakingassoughtbytheNPPFandmeetthebasicconditions.

§ Amendthesecondparagraphofthepolicytoread:“Changeofuseofretailpremisestonon-retailuseswillonlybesupportedwhereplanningpermissionisrequirediftheapplicantcandemonstratethereisnolongeraneedforsuchprovisionortheuseisnolongerviable,orsuitable,orbetterprovisionisprovidedinasuitablelocationelsewhereinorconvenienttotheneighbourhooodplanarea.”

PolicyH.19ProtectingLocalHeritageThispolicyseekstoconserve16differentlocalnon-designatedheritageassetsnamedinthepolicyandshownonMap6.Theassetsrangefrompumpstostonewallstoironwork.Thepolicyalsoseekstoensurethatarchaeologicalassetsaretakenintoaccount.ItismyunderstandingthatwhilstthePlancanidentifyapotentiallistofsuchassets,theprocessforidentifyinglocalheritageassetsrestswiththelocalplanningauthority.The

28

Plancouldhoweveridentifythesebuildingsashistoricstructuresoflocalsignificanceworthyofbeingpreservedandenhanced.Itisalsopossibleforapolicy,asPolicyH.19does,toseektoretainandprotectlocalheritageassets.TheNPPFexplainsthatthesignificanceofanon-designatedheritageassetshouldbetakenintoaccountinthedeterminationofanyplanningapplication.34Abalancedjudgmentwillbeneededhavingregardtothescaleofanyharmorlossandthesignificanceoftheasset.35ThewordingofthepolicythereforeneedssomeamendmenttoensureregardishadtotheNPPFaswellasCSPolicyCS.8.Withthemodificationsdetailedbelow,thepolicywillmeetthebasicconditions.

§ Changethefirstparagraphofthepolicytoread:“DevelopmentshouldconservethefollowingheritageassetslistedbelowandidentifiedonMap6takingintoaccountthescaleofanyharmorlosstothemandthesignificanceoftheheritageasset:”

6HowtocommentonthisdocumentThissectionwillofcourseneedtoberemovedfromthefinalisedverisonofthePlan.

§ Removesection67MonitoringandReviewAnnualmonitoringwillbeundertakenbytheParishCouncilandawillingnesstoreviewthePlanasnecessaryissignaled.Whilstmonitoringisnotarequirementofneighbourhoodplans,Iconsideritgoodpracticetodoso.AppendicesAppendix1ListedBuildingsusefullycontainsinformationaboutlistedbuildingsasofMay2016isprovided.ItwouldbeusefultoensurethatusersofthePlanseekthemostuptodateinformationandthisshouldbeaddedsothatthePlanprovidesapracticalframeworkfordecisionmaking.

§ AddasentencetothefirstparagraphofAppendix1thatreads:“ThemostuptodateinformationonlistedbuildingsshouldbesoughtfromHistoricEnglandorthelocalplanningauthority.”

Appendix2LocalGreenandOpenSpacesAnalysisisusefulandsitsalongsidePolicyH.07ofthePlan.34NPPFpara13535Ibid

29

Appendix3SitesofSpecialScientificInterestisreferredtoonpage15ofthePlan.Appendix4PublicRightsofWayisusefulandrelatestoPolicyH.10.8.0ConclusionsandrecommendationsIamsatisfiedthattheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan,subjecttothemodificationsIhaverecommended,meetsthebasicconditionsandtheotherstatutoryrequirementsoutlinedearlierinthisreport.IamthereforepleasedtorecommendtoStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncilthat,subjecttothemodificationsproposedinthisreport,theHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlancanproceedtoareferendum.Followingonfromthat,IamrequiredtoconsiderwhetherthereferendumareashouldbeextendedbeyondtheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodPlanarea.IseenoreasontoalterorextendthePlanareaforthepurposeofholdingareferendumandnorepresentationshavebeenmadethatwouldleadmetoreachadifferentconclusion.IthereforeconsiderthatthePlanshouldproceedtoareferendumbasedontheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodPlanareaasapprovedbyStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncilon8September2014.Ann SkippersMRTPIAnnSkippersPlanning30July2018

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Appendix1ListofkeydocumentsspecifictothisexaminationHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodDevelopmentPlan2017–2031Regulation16SubmissionConsultationDraftBasicConditionsStatementdatedNovember2017ConsultationStatementNovember2017StrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentScreeningDocumentFebruary2017HabitatsRegulationsAssessmentoftheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodPlanOctober2017HarburyPlanningPolicyAssessmentandEvidenceBaseReviewJuly2015TrafficandTransportWithinDeppersBridgeUndatedreportVillageDesignStatement1998Stratford-on-AvonDistrictCoreStrategy2011–2031SiteAllocationsPlanRegulation18ConsultationRevisedScoping&InitialOptionsJanuary2018andAppendicesVariousinformationonwww.harbury-pc.gov.ukListends

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Appendix2QuestionsofclarificationfromtheexaminerExaminationsoftheHarburyandDeppersBridgeNeighbourhoodPlanQuestionsofclarificationfromtheExaminertotheParishCouncilandStratfordonAvonDistrictCouncil(SDC)HavingcompletedmyinitialreviewoftheNeighbourhoodPlan(thePlan),IwouldbegratefulifbothCouncilscouldkindlyassistmeasappropriateinansweringthefollowingquestionswhicheitherrelatetomattersoffactorareareasinwhichIseekclarificationorfurtherinformation.Pleasedonotsendordirectmetoevidencethatisnotalreadypubliclyavailable.QuestionsrelatingtotheNeighbourhoodPlan1. WasadedicatedwebsitefortheNeighbourhoodPlanestablished?

2. Page58oftheConsultationStatementindicatesthatTables5and6setoutthe

responsesreceivedtothe‘second’Regulation14periodofconsultation.PleaseconfirmwhetherthisiscorrectandifsowhethertheConsultationStatementincludestherequisiteinformation.

3. Page13ofthePlanreferstoaPlanningPolicyAssessmentandEvidenceBase

Reviewandothertechnicaldocuments.DotheseremainrelevanttothePlanandifso,pleasedirectmetowhereImightfindthem.

4. Pleaseprovidemewithacopyof,oralinkto,amapthatshowstheapproved

neighbourhoodplanarea(thelinkontheSDCdoesnotprovidethis).5. PleaseconfirmthedatetheneighbourhoodplanareawasapprovedbySDC.6. PleaseconfirmthestartandenddatesofthePlanperiod.7. Pleaseprovidemewithacopyof,oralinkto,anyresponsereceivedfromNatural

EnglandinrelationtotheconsultationontheHabitatsRegulationsAssessment.8. Pleaseprovidemewithacopyof,orlinkto,theseparatereportonDeppersBridge

referredtoonpage22ofthePlan.9. Isthemaponpage28ofthePlan,Map1referredtoinPolicyH.01?10. PleasewouldSDC:

a) provideuptodatehousingfigurestoupdateparagraph5.7onpage32ofthePlan

b) confirmwhetherornotSDCissatisfiedthePlanmakesappropriateprovisionforhousinginlinewithCSrequirementsatthecurrenttime

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c) confirmthetimeperiodforthesefigurestoensureitalignswiththePlanperiod(seequestion6above).

11. InrelationtoPolicyH.07,hastheproposedLocalGreenSpaceatManorOrchard

GreenbeencorrectlyidentifiedonMap2a?12. ThereisaslitheroflandidentifiedonMap2athatdoesnotseemtobeaproposed

LocalGreenSpace.Isthisright?Pleaseletmeknowwhatthisareais.13. IsthephotographofQueensCloseGreenonpage43correctlyincludedinthePlan?14. InrelationtoPolicyH.08,are[all]theseothersmall,openspacesidentifiedin

Appendix2ofthePlan?Ifnot,whataretheotherspacesnotidentifiedasproposedLocalGreenSpacesinAppendix2?

15. Pleaseprovidemewithacopyof,orlinkto,theVillageDesignStatement.ItmaybethecasethatonreceiptofyouranticipatedassistanceonthesemattersthatImayneedtoaskforfurtherclarificationorthatfurtherquerieswilloccurastheexaminationprogresses.Pleasenotethatthislistofclarificationquestionsisapublicdocumentandthatyouranswerswillalsobeinthepublicdomain.BothmyquestionsandyourresponsesshouldbeplacedontheCouncils’websitesasappropriate.

Withmanythanks.AnnSkippersIndependentExaminer27May2018

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Appendix3LettertoSDCof12July2018

© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Page 1 of 7Harbury and Deppers Bridge $he3bwuak.doc

Equality Impact Assessment

Section Planning Policy Officer(s) responsible for the screening/scoping

Rosemary Williams, Policy Planner and John Careford, Policy Manager (Planning and Housing)

Name of Policy/Strategyto be assessed

Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan

Date of Assessment

Is this a proposed new or existing policy/strategy?

New Policy document

Signature of responsible officer (to be signed after the EqIA has been completed)

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Appendix 3

© Warwickshire County Council, Corporate Equalities & Diversity Team Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP EQIA Page 2 of 7

Form A1INITIAL SCREENING FOR STRATEGIES/POLICIES/FUNCTIONS FOR EQUALITIES RELEVANCE TO ELIMINATE

DISCRIMINATION, PROMOTE EQUALITY AND FOSTER GOOD RELATIONS

High relevance/priority Medium relevance/priority Low or no relevance/priority

Note: 1. Tick coloured boxes appropriately, and depending on degree of relevance to each of the equality strands2. Summaries of the legislation/guidance should be used to assist this screening process

Business Unit/Services:

Relevance/Risk to Equalities

State the Function/Policy /Service/Strategy being assessed:

Gender Race Disability Sexual Orientation

Religion/Belief Age Gender Reassignment

Pregnancy/ Maternity

Marriage/Civil Partnership (only for staff)

Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP

x x x x x x x x x

Are your proposals likely to impact on social inequalities e.g. child poverty for example or our most geographically disadvantaged communities? If yes please explain how.

The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP seeks to have a positive impact on social inequalities by:

Providing, where necessary, small housing developments with a 'lifetime housing' design, in keeping with the parish style and nature, allowing opportunities for people of all incomes and ages to live in the parish of Harbury;

Providing a range of types, tenure and sizes of dwellings will be required, including a proportion of homes to meet the needs of older and younger residents, as well as those seeking to build their own home.

Supporting local needs schemes in areas where housing will not normally be considered suitable (subject to conditions); Investing in community buildings, recreation space and associated equipment to ensure these are adequate for an

increased population; Expecting all new development to provide an appropriate level of infrastructure to meet the needs and demands arising

from the development; Preserving and protecting important green spaces within the village by designating Local Green Spaces and retaining

countryside views out across a natural landscape; Protecting Existing Employment Premises and encouraging home working and local employment opportunities, thus

reducing the need for vehicle travel to work.

YES


Are your proposals likely to impact on a carer who looks after older people or people with disabilities? If yes please explain how.

NO

Form A2 – Details of Plan/ Strategy/ Service/ Policy

Stage 1 – Scoping and Defining

(1) What are the aims and objectives of Plan/Strategy/Service/Policy?

Neighbourhood Development Plans are one of a new set of community rights brought in by the Localism Act in 2011. Neighbourhood Plans are planning documents which, when ‘made’ (adopted) by the District Council will carry the same weight as the Local Plan. The Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP) covers the Parish area of Harbury. Policies included within the Plan will affect the people who live, work and visit the Parish. The overarching ‘Vision’ for the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP is:“Our vision is of a socially cohesive and mutually supporting rural parish. A low carbon parish with adequate infrastructure, that respects the value of the surrounding farmland and natural landscape and offers essential services, recreation, employment and housing opportunities for people of all ages and income levels”. The NDP also includes the following strategic objectives:HousingTo provide, where necessary, small housing developments with a 'lifetime housing' design, in keeping with the parish style and nature, allowing opportunities for people of all incomes and ages to live in the parish of Harbury. To ensure that a significant proportion of the new housing development is affordable and retained in perpetuity for those with a 'local' qualification. Local EconomyTo maintain a thriving Harbury village centre by retaining commercial space for business, shops and pubs as well as supporting important volunteer run facilities. Encourage home working and local employment opportunities, thus reducing the need for vehicle travel to work.Local AmenitiesTo ensure that valued community facilities, local shops and services are maintained and where possible enhanced in order to promote sustainable livingBuilt EnvironmentTo invest in our community buildings, recreation space and associated equipment to ensure these are adequate for an increased population.To ensure all new developments provide safe routes for pedestrians and cyclists to access Harbury village centre, thus discouraging use of cars for short, local journeys. Consideration should be given to providing a diverse range of transport options with links to local centres, aiming at reducing car ownership, congestion in Harbury village centre and competition for parking spaces.


To protect and enhance all historic and heritage sites in the parish.Natural EnvironmentTo preserve the rural nature of Harbury village, with wildlife corridors and farming coming right into the heart of it as it does at present To preserve and protect important green spaces within the village and retain countryside views out across a natural landscape.To lower the carbon footprint of the parish by supporting energy conservation measures, ensuring all new housing is built to a high standard of energy efficiency and water conservation, making them truly affordable to run and maintain, ensuring also that all extension and renovations of existing buildings to be carbon neutral, where possible.InfrastructureTo ensure adequate infrastructure in the parish is included and funded when any new developments are planned

(2) How does it fit with Stratford District Council’s wider objectives?

The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP is consistent with wider objectives contained in the Sustainable Community Strategy, Housing Strategy, Business and Enterprise Strategy and the adopted Core Strategy.

(3) What are the expected outcomes? The expected outcomes of the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP are set out in the Vision and Strategic Objectives of the Plan itself and more specifically within a number of the individual policies.

(4)Which of the groups with protected characteristics is this intended to benefit? (see form A1 for list of protected groups)

The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP is not intended to benefit any one particular group. It is relevant to everyone who will live, work or visits the District over the plan period to some degree.

Stage 2 - Information Gathering(1) What type and range of evidence or information have you used to help you make a judgement about the plan/ strategy/ service/ policy?

The evidence base for assessing the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP is of the same nature as the Core Strategy, which includes primary and secondary information. This includes studies commissioned to establish the level of housing provision, issues around affordability and deliverability. Additional local evidence has been gathered to inform individual policies within the Plan. The Strategic Environmental Assessment screening carried out in relation to the NDP also included consideration of baseline data and the potential for significant effects on people.

The Basic Conditions Statement submitted with the NDP contained a short statement indicating that the Plan had had regard to fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and that it was fully compliant with the Human Rights Act. The Examiner confirmed that there was nothing in the NDP that led him to conclude there was any breach of the Convention or that the Plan was otherwise incompatible with it.


(2) Have you consulted on the plan/ strategy/ service/policy and if so with whom?

The production of the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP has been an iterative process with community consultation central to its production. However, the NDP has also been through two formal consultation processes in accordance with The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The first being a 6 week Regulation 14 ‘Pre-Submission’ consultation carried out by the Parish Council as ‘Qualifying Body’. The second 8 week (due to consultation being carried out over the Christmas period) consultation was the Regulation 16 ‘Formal Submission’ consultation carried out by the Local Planning Authority.

Groups consulted on the NDP at both consultation stages included: Local businesses Local residents Community groups ‘Statutory’ consultees listed in the Regulations, including Historic England; Environment

Agency and Natural England.(3) Which of the groups with protected characteristics have you consulted with?

The consultations set out above were open to all interested parties. The DistrictCouncil has a database of individuals and organisations that it contacts to inform them of the commencement of consultations. Any individual or group may be placed on the database. This database was shared with the Parish Council for the Regulation 14 consultation, for consistency. The only group with protected characteristics that was specifically consulted was Accessible Stratford, in relation to issues of disability.

Stage 3 – Analysis of impact(1) From your data and consultations is there any adverse or negative impact identified for any particular group which could amount to discrimination?

If yes, identify the groups and how they are affected.

RACENo

No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against individuals of any race.

DISABILITYNo

No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against this equality group.

GENDERNo

No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against either gender.

MARRIAGE/CIVIL PARTNERSHIPNo

No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against this group.

AGENo

No policies in the NDP are targeted towards or against people of specific age groups.

GENDER REASSIGNMENTNo



RELIGION/BELIEFNo


PREGNANCY MATERNITYNo


SEXUAL ORIENTATIONNo


(2) If there is an adverse impact, can this be justified?

No adverse impacts in relation to the identified groups are anticipated.

(3) What actions are going to be taken to reduce or eliminate negative or adverse impact? (This should form part of your action plan under Stage 4.)

No negative or adverse impacts are anticipated therefore no actions are needed.

(4) How does the plan/strategy/service/policy contribute to promotion of equality? If not what can be done?

The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP will contribute to the promotion of equality by seeking to ensure access to suitable and affordable housing, employment opportunities, services and facilities for all.

(5) How does the plan/strategy/service/policy promote good relations between groups? If not what can be done?

This question is not relevant to the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP.

(6) Are there any obvious barriers to accessing the service? If yes how can they be overcome?

This question is not relevant to the Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP.

Stage 4 – Action Planning, Review & MonitoringIf No Further Action is required then go to – Review & Monitoring (1)Action Planning – Specify any changes or improvements which can be made to the service or policy to mitigate or eradicate negative or adverse impact on specific groups, including resource implications.

No further action is required.

EqIA Action Plan

Action Lead Officer Date for completion

Resource requirements

Comments

N/A


(2) Review and MonitoringState how and when you will monitor policy and Action Plan

The Harbury and Deppers Bridge NDP does not include a section on Monitoring and Review. The Neighbourhood Planning Regulations allow for NDPs to be reviewed and amended as and when the need for change is identified. In such circumstances, the PC would work with SDC to amend the Plan as necessary. Should significant sections of the Plan become out of date, a new NDP could be produced through the NDP procedures.

Should the NDP be reviewed or superseded within the Plan Period (up to 2031), the EqIA would be monitored and updated at the same time as the review of the NDP.

Stratford-on-Avon District Council Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan

Decision Statement published pursuant to the Localism Act 2011, Schedule 38A (9) and Regulations 19 and 20 of theNeighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012

At Stratford-on-Avon’s Council meeting on 17 December 2018, Members decided to make the Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan under Section 38A (4) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended). The Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan now forms part of the Development Plan for Stratford-on-Avon District.

Reasons for decision:The Harbury and Deppers Bridge Neighbourhood Development Plan meets the Basic Conditions and its promotion is compliant with legal and procedural requirements. Paragraph 38A(4)(a) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires the District Council to make the Neighbourhood Development Plan if more than half of those voting in the referendum have voted in favour of the Plan being used to help to decide planning applications within the Neighbourhood Area. The Plan was endorsed by more than the required threshold in the referendum held on 29 November 2018.

This decision statement can be viewed on the Stratford-on-Avon District Council website:www.stratford.gov.uk/harburynp

Copies can be viewed at the District Council main reception at:

Stratford-on-Avon District CouncilElizabeth HouseChurch StreetStratford-upon-AvonCV37 6HX

8.45am and 5.15pm Mondays to Wednesdays

8.45am and 5.00pm on Thursdays and Fridays.

Telephone: 01789 267575

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Appendix 4

http://www.stratford.gov.uk/harburynp

(public pack)harbury and deppers bridge ndp agenda

Documents