The Summary of the Village Survey results is Appendix 2.
5.1.1. Neighbourhood plans must meet certain basic conditions before they can be adopted. They are tested by an Independent Examiner, and checked by the local authority, before being brought back to Westcott Village for a referendum on approval of the plan.
5.1.2. Neighbourhood plans must:
5.2.1. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. The NPPF also states that there are three dimensions to sustainable development: economic, social and environmental.
5.2.2. The WNDP must contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. Paragraph 14 of the NPPF states that there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development and therefore pursuing sustainable development, including making it easier to:
5.2.3. Appendix 3 provides a Sustainability Appraisal. This provides a baseline assessment of the village and analyses how the six policies of the WNDP would perform against 19 sustainability objectives. In most cases, the policies have a positive or neutral impact against each objective. Where potential negative impacts are identified, they are capable of mitigation and/or would be addressed through other policies of the Development Plan.
5.3.1. The NPPF strongly supports the principle of neighbourhood planning. It states that Neighbourhood Plans should set out a positive vision for the future of the local area. They should set planning policies to determine decisions on planning applications, including policies which set out the quality of development that should be expected for the area, based on stated objectives for the area's future and an understanding and evaluation of its defining characteristics.
5.4.1. The WNDP has been prepared with due regard to the saved policies in the Mole Valley District Council Local Plan 2000 and Core Strategy 2009.
5.4.2. The WNDP should be read as a whole, in conjunction with those saved policies within the Mole Valley Local Plan, and in conjunction with the Larger Rural Village Character Appraisal Supplementary Policy Document and the operative adopted Surrey Hills AONB Management Plan. The Larger Rural Village Character Appraisal Supplementary Policy Document was adopted by Mole Valley District Council in 2013. It covers the six villages of Beare Green, Brockham, Capel, Charlwood, Hookwood and Westcott. It analyses the character and landscape setting of each village, as well as providing general guidance on character issues.
5.4.3. We have endeavoured to ensure the WNDP objectives below accord with the underlying vision of the planning policies of the Local Plan.
5.4.4. From the 1960s until the present day Westcott has accommodated a series of housing developments, from Pointers Hill to Dairy Close; from Rokefield to The Pound, and St John's Court. Most recently, a development of 14 houses, including some affordable accommodation has been created at Pipp Brook Place and Meadow Close. In total, 64 new homes have been created in the village since 2001, of which 34 were included in the 2011 census. Since that census a further 30 new homes have been developed:
The Pound |
7 |
Broomfield Park |
2 |
Meadow Close & Pipp Brook Place |
14 |
Logmore Lane |
1 |
Brooklands & The Paddock |
3 |
Rookery Drive |
3 |
5.4.5. These new dwellings have been created with either outside of the Metropolitan Green Belt or through redevelopment of the existing developed environment. Reflecting the findings of the village survey, the WNDP envisages that this focus of development will continue for the period of this plan.
5.4.6. The pace of development achieved since 2001, as described in 5.6.3, equates to a 7.2% expansion. Continuing at that rate for the next 20 years would deliver approximately 92 new dwellings within the ward by 2036. Given that Westcott Ward elects 1/41th of the members of Mole Valley District Council, an annual rate of 4.6 new dwellings is equivalent to the 188 per annum identified in the 2009 Strategy. The ability to meet additional housing need described at a much wider geographic level within the emerging evidence of the 2016 Strategic Housing Market Assessment is constrained by the environment and land designations within which sits the ward of Westcott.
5.4.7. It is hoped that the introduction of the WNDP will help to continue to preserve the natural historic integrity of the village and at the same time, present an achievable vision for development that aligns with the Local Plan. Our mutual goals, by reference to the Development Plan, are to make provision for the District's growth in a way that will minimise significant harmful changes to its distinctive character, environment and feel, and that the natural built and historic environment will be safeguarded and enhanced.
5.4.8. The Development Plan does not indicate a specific housing allocation for Westcott. The village is surrounded by Green Belt, and has two Conservation Areas, one of which is within the centre of the village, and the relevant policies relating to these special areas will be adhered to in any policy within the WNDP. This directive of the WDNP both underpins and supports the Development Plan.
5.4.9. During the extensive Green Belt Boundary Review process conducted by the Village Forum during 2013/14 no suitable potential development sites were identified by the Neighbourhood Forum. The WNDP, therefore, has not allocated a site or sites for future development in the village. Any new sites emerging would be considered for development under the policies of the WNDP.
5.5.1. Future Planning applications will be considered against the policies of the WNDP and the Mole Valley Development Plan. This will be monitored by the Westcott Village Association.
5.5.2. The review of this Plan should be done by the appropriate body no later than 5 years after its acceptance and to reflect the continuous evolution of national planning policy and, if appropriate, any revised Local Plan for Mole Valley District.
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