Test Valley Borough Local Plan 2006
2 OBJECTIVES
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2.1 Introduction
2.1.1 This Plan is one of the key instruments that implement the
Council’s corporate aims and objectives on behalf of the community
it represents. The Council has undertaken a considerable amount
of informal consultation during the preparation of the Plan. This
has helped to define the Plan’s overall aim, key themes and
objectives that have guided the development of detailed policies
and proposals.
2.1.2 There was considerable support from the community for maintaining
the high quality of the environment and a reluctance to see more
development take place. However, the Council recognises that the
Structure Plan requires provision to be made for additional development.
In preparing this Plan the Council, therefore, has sought to balance
the aspirations of the community with its responsibilities as the
Local Planning Authority.
2.2 The Aim of the Plan
2.2.1 Sustainability is the guiding principle behind the Plan.
It has been defined as improving the quality of human life whilst
living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. 11
The protection of the environment is central to the concept of sustainability
however, it is also concerned with economic development, social
progress and the sharing of these benefits amongst people and communities.
The principle of sustainability has a long term perspective and
economic and social needs must be met without adverse impacts on
the environment which would prejudice the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
2.2.2 The overall aim of the Plan has been developed from this
principle and is:
To provide a framework for making decisions about development
in the Borough which respects the environment, meets the needs of
the community and enhances the quality of life.
2.3 Key Themes and Objectives
2.3.1 The overall aim contains three key themes (respecting the
environment, meeting the needs of the community and enhancing the
quality of life) that have been refined into seven objectives which
form the basis for the subsequent chapters of the Plan.
Respecting the Environment
2.3.2 The objective for Chapter 3: Shaping the Settlement Pattern
is:
To shape the settlement pattern by concentrating new development
in and around existing built-up areas and protecting the countryside
from inappropriate development.
2.3.3 In order to create a more sustainable pattern of development,
it is necessary to strictly control development in the countryside
and to concentrate new development in and around existing settlements.
Compact settlements make more efficient use of land and those that
support a range of facilities enable needs to be met locally, thus
achieving a degree of self-containment. By defining boundaries around
towns and villages and applying different policies within and outside
the settlements, regeneration and the re-use of previously developed
land can be encouraged. Generally additional development in the
countryside does not help to create more sustainable patterns of
development, however, it is recognised that some development is
necessary either because a countryside locations is essential (for
agriculture for example) or because it helps to support rural communities.
Chapter 3 includes policies which seek to shape the settlement pattern
in a more sustainable way.
2.3.4 The objective for Chapter 4: Conserving the Environment is:
To protect and conserve the Borough’s natural and
built environment, including wildlife, landscapes, natural resources
and cultural heritage.
2.3.5 Test Valley has a diverse and high quality environment that
requires protection from inappropriate development. Important environmental
features include wildlife sites (such as Sites of Special Scientific
Interest), attractive landscapes (such as the North Wessex Downs
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), natural resources (such as
high quality agricultural land and groundwater), archaeological
sites and features of the historic built environment (such as listed
buildings, conservation areas and historic parks and gardens). Once
lost, these environmental assets cannot be replaced and cannot be
appreciated by future generations. Chapter 4 includes policies to
ensure the protection and enhancement of the most important features
of the Borough’s natural and built environment.
2.3.6 The objective for Chapter 5: Avoiding Hazards is:
To ensure that proposed development is not at risk from
natural or man-made hazards and will not cause or increase the risk
of hazards to existing development, human health or the wider environment.
2.3.7 Planning can help to create a physically safe environment
by ensuring that proper precautions are taken against the risks
posed by natural and man-made hazards. Hazards that need to be taken
into account in drawing up this Plan include pollution, land instability,
flooding and hazardous installations. These hazards need to be considered
in the location or design of new development, so that the future
need for mitigation can be avoided and any risks to existing development,
human well-being or the wider environment can be minimised. New
development can also cause, or increase the risk of hazards, such
as pollution, and any potential impacts need to be taken into account
when planning decisions are made. Chapter 5 includes policies to
ensure that any risks posed by natural or man-made hazards are minimised.
Meeting the Needs of the Community
2.3.8 The objective for Chapter 6: Meeting Economic and Social
Needs is:
To meet the needs for housing, employment, community facilities,
tourism and infrastructure in ways that support viable communities,
maintain a robust local economy and maintain the high quality environment
of the Borough.
2.3.9 Meeting economic and social needs is an essential part of
sustainability and this Plan focuses particularly on meeting the
needs of the local community. Chapter 6 includes policies relating
to different types of development (such as housing, employment etc.)
which will be used by the Borough Council to assess planning applications
for particular uses. In addition the Plan includes policies to retain
existing uses which are beneficial to the community and specific
policies to help meet local needs, such as the need for affordable
housing.
Enhancing the Quality of Life
2.3.10 The objective for Chapter 7: Integrating Transport and Land
Use is:
To achieve a pattern of land use and a network of transport
links that reduce the overall need to travel through the location
and design of development and by encouraging the use of alternatives
to the car.
2.3.11 The integration of transport and land use policies is a
key element in supporting more sustainable travel choices and in
reducing the need to travel. The two main ways in which planning
can help are by influencing the location and design of development
and by encouraging the use of alternatives to the car, including
public transport. Developments that attract a significant number
of trips need to be located so that they can be well served by public
transport and mixed use developments can give people the opportunity
to live close to their work and within communities that can meet
their needs locally. It is also important that development is designed
to facilitate not only public transport usage, but also other modes
of transport such as walking and cycling. Chapter 7 includes policies
relating to both transport and land use which seek to reduce the
overall need to travel.
2.3.12 The objective for Chapter 8: Design is:
To enhance the quality of design of the built environment
by ensuring that new development is visually attractive, locally
distinctive, legible, safe and secure.
2.3.13 Design is one of the three key themes which underpin the
Government’s approach to the planning system and all new development
in Test Valley should have a positive impact on the built and natural
environment. Development should not only be visually attractive,
but should also strengthen the local identity of the area. Often
the use of local materials or building traditions can help to achieve
this. Developments should also be designed to provide recognisable
routes and landmarks to help people find their way around, to reduce
opportunities for crime and to reduce people’s perception
of their vulnerability to criminal attacks. Chapter 8 includes policies
that seek to enhance the quality of design of new development.
2.3.14 The objective for Chapter 9: Safeguarding Amenity is:
To ensure that the Borough’s residents can enjoy
their homes and public places without undue disturbance or intrusion
from neighbouring uses.
2.3.15 People are entitled to be able to enjoy public places and
their own dwellings without undue disturbance or intrusion from
neighbouring uses. However, where new development is proposed there
is always the potential for the amenity of people living nearby
to be adversely affected. The Council wishes to ensure that this
does not happen. New development should not result in the loss of
privacy or reduce the amount of natural light reaching a property
to unacceptable levels. Also developments should not be subject
to artificial light pollution, noise, vibration or unpleasant emissions.
Chapter 9 includes policies to ensure that the general amenity of
the Borough’s residents is safeguarded.
Site Specific Proposals
2.3.16 Chapter 10: Andover and Chapter 11: Southern Test Valley
have the same objective as Chapter 6 which is:
To meet the needs for housing, employment, community facilities,
tourism and infrastructure (in Andover / Southern Test Valley) in
ways that support viable communities, maintain a robust local economy
and maintain the high quality environment of the area.
2.3.17 The allocation of land for new housing, employment and social
and community uses is one of the key functions of the Plan. The
Plan’s site specific proposals to meet the Borough’s
needs for housing, employment, community facilities, tourism and
infrastructure are set out in Chapters 10 and 11. Allocated sites
are shown on the Proposals and Inset Maps.
2.4 Implementing the Plan
2.4.1 The Council recognises that the Plan is one component, albeit
an important one, of a complex process which brings forward development.
It also recognises that it cannot achieve the successful implementation
of the Plan in isolation and that a number of private and public
agencies and organisations have an important part to play. The circumstances
in which the Plan has been prepared; economic, social and legislative
are unlikely to remain constant and the Council will need to respond
to change. However, it is important that the long-term aspirations
set out in the form of detailed proposals should not be unduly influenced
by temporary or short-term changes in circumstances. To do so would
jeopardise the benefits of comprehensive development, particularly
where
large-scale development is concerned.
2.4.2 The Council will seek to establish partnerships with key
agencies and organisations and obtain their support and commitment
through the process of adoption of this Plan. The Council will also
monitor the performance of the Plan and keep its policies and proposals
under regular review.
11 Caring for the Earth:
A Structure for Sustainable Living, 1991, IUCN / UNEP / WWF
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