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4 SETTLEMENT BOUNDARY AND COALESCENCE

Settlement boundary

4.1 In a parish such as Old Windsor with one principal settlement, it is important that development is directed to appropriate locations - principally Old Windsor village - and that sprawl is avoided. The purpose of a settlement boundary is to help to provide that direction.

4.2 The green belt entirely surrounds the settlement area of Old Windsor village. It has been successful in achieving the five main purposes of the green belt, as provided by the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF):

• To check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
• To prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another;
• To assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment;
• To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns;
• To assist in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.

4.3 The NPPF makes clear that the Government attaches great importance to green belts and these should only be altered in exceptional circumstances as part of the review of a local plan.

4.4 Due to the restrictions of the green belt, development is going to come forward in the form of infill development within the settlement boundary on small windfall sites.

4.5 Outside of the settlement boundary in the open countryside, national and local policy relating to green belts shall apply.

Coalescence with Windsor

4.6 As shown in Figure 4.1, the built up area of Old Windsor is very close to that of Windsor. With Windsor being the largest and most sustainable settlement area within the RBWM area for accommodating growth, there will be further pressure to erode the gap between the settlements. It is important that development does not significantly reduce this gap, either through a single development or a number of developments together.

Figure 4.1: Map showing the proximity of Old Windsor village to Windsor

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