Agenda item

Report number PLA505 by the Head of Planning Policy & Economic Regeneration.                                                              (attached)

DECISION:

That the Cabinet approves the changes to the Interim Housing Policy as stated below:

(1)               To approve the division of the policy into two separate policies, one for the urban areas and one for the rural area;

(2)               To approve the revised working of the ‘rural’ policy and adopt this as the Council’s policy for new residential development in rural areas:

Interim Housing Policy

New residential development will not be permitted on green field sites within the rural area.

Within the main villages that are considered “local service centres” (and identified in this document), new residential proposals will only be permitted where they are for:

a)     A previously developed site (in accordance with the definition in PPG3 Annex C: see Appendix 1)

b)  Rural Exception sites for affordable housing or agricultural and forestry workers accommodation to meet a proven local need

In all other villages and the countryside housing proposals will only be considered acceptable if they are for :

c) Rural Exception sites for affordable housing or agricultural and forestry workers accommodation to meet a proven local need

d) Replacement dwelling (one for one)

e) Conversion of buildings provided that the following criteria are met:

i) the building(s) contribute to the character & appearance of the local area by virtue of their historic, traditional or vernacular form

ii) the building(s) are in sound structural condition

iii) the building(s) are suitable for conversion without substantial alteration , extension or rebuilding

iv) the works to be undertaken do not detract from the character of the building(s) or their setting

v) it can be demonstrated that all other alternative uses have been considered

In all cases planning permission will also be subject to all relevant policies of the “saved” Adopted South Kesteven Local Plan

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)   Report number PLA505 by the Head of Planning Policy and Economic Regeneration outlining the results of the public consultation exercise of the interim housing policy. It summarises the main issues raised through consultation and outlines proposed changes to the policy;

(2)   Comments and officer response consequent from consultation appended to report PLA505;

(3)   Separate ‘urban’ and ‘rural’ plans would focus urban housing development so that Strategic Housing requirements within urban areas are met while ensuring that any development in rural areas would occur within communities that were sustainable;

(4)   The Interim Housing Policy could be adopted as SPD should the structure plan be approved;

(5)   Provision that the situation in each sustainable area be renewed annually to ensure that amenities required for sustainability remain available;

(6)   Special provision is made to affordable housing for essential workers in rural and agricultural settings.

Other Options Considered and assessed:

To maintain the current situation where policies H6 and H7 of the Local Plan would continue to be used to determine planning applications for new houses awaiting the preparation of the Housing and Economic Development Policy DPD in the LDF. Rejected because a number of planning permissions granted in this period would include Greenfield sites or sites in less sustainable locations. Structure Plan requirements for the district could be met by actual completions and commitments by 2010 (ten years early); this would leave a ten year period where no housing development would be permitted.