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8. CREATING HOMES FOR CHARMOUTH’S NEEDS

Context

8.1 TheVS(Q1, 31 and 32) indicated a range of views including those wishing to protect Charmouth’s village feel and avoid becoming over-developed, although others thought there is a need for small and affordable housing for young people and families. Subsequent research, in the Housing Needs Assessment (HNA), recommended increased provision of affordable/social rent homes, with an additional focus on shared ownership/starter homes to reduce entry requirements to the local housing market. Demographic trends and rising affordability ratios point conclusively in the direction of smaller homes in an area dominated by detached dwellings which command comparatively high prices. Therefore, the increased provision of 1-3 bedroom units is recommended to meet current needs and to aid the ‘right sizing’ of an ageing population and to increase affordability for first time buyers. HNA also highlighted that this Plan should cater for the needs of an ageing population.

8.2 This Plan’s Vision and Objectives incorporates the need for more small and affordable homes to meet local needs and maintain a balanced community. This is in line with the LP and Dorset Council’s Plan (2020-24) which supports more affordable, suitable and decent housing.

8.3 LP-HOU2 confirms that housing needs can be identified at the parish level. This chapter sets out the number, type, tenure and size of housing needed and their design requirements with the aim of meeting the housing needs of Charmouth without causing harm to its natural and built environment (see Chapters 4 and 6) and to its community. It is essential therefore, that these housing policies are read in conjunction with other policies in the Plan which manage these impacts.

New Housing Development

Size of Housing

8.4 The VS confirmed that housing is an important issue for Charmouth with support for smaller and affordable housing: 55% wanting 1-2 bedroom houses (Q32); 66% wanting housing which attracts families with children (Q31). The HNA analysis of demographic trends and affordability ratios confirmed the need for 1-3 bedroom houses to balance the current stock which is dominated by relatively expensive larger detached houses; in the ‘2011 Census’ 42.9% of the stock is detached. In March 2021, the Housing Waiting List for Charmouth, confirmed that 90% of the applicants were seeking 1-3 bed homes. Provision of this smaller type of housing would enable elderly people to downsize (46.9% of the population are 65+ compared to West Dorset’s 31.9%), thereby freeing up larger family homes and enable more movement through the size ranges. The HNA also indicated considerable under-occupancy, so this approach would make more efficient use of the existing housing stock. This Plan includes reference to the ‘Charmouth Housing Needs Statement’ which will be updated over time as necessary and be available on the Parish Council website to inform developers of the number, type and tenure of housing required at that time (see Chapter 11).

Constraints on Development

8.5 The VS (Q1, 31 and 32) raised concerns about the possible negative impacts of development on the village’s character, openness and on village life and wanting to avoid sprawl into surrounding countryside: (Q34) 59%  not wanting building on greenfield sites; 54% not wanting building on agricultural land and 64% did not support infill in gardens. Charmouth has evolved organically primarily through small infill schemes, typically of 5-20 homes (see para 8.11), and individual re-developments and house sub-divisions within the built-up area of the settlement and this trend is expected to continue. This would be in line with the LP’s Strategic Approach which envisages ‘Tier 3’ rural villages (those with a Defined Development Boundary - DDB) such as Charmouth providing smaller sites through redevelopment and infill.

8.6 Physical constraints have meant that there has been no new major development on the periphery of the village in the last 60 years. The settlement area is therefore substantially developed and tightly bounded (see aerial photograph below) and edged by constraints to development; the coast to the south, The Old Priory Wall to the north, River Char to the east and steeply rising land and an important skyline towards Black Ven in the west. In the LP, Charmouth is a ‘Tier 3’ settlement with a DDB (see Map 3.1), which the LP carries forward and no boundary changes are proposed in this Plan. Charmouth sits in an AONB and World Heritage Site and has areas liable to flood and land with ground instability adding further to its constraints (see Chapter 6). The call for sites in theDorset ‘Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, 2018’ (SHLAA) did not yield any credible options and the open land north of the DDB up to the A35 bypass was dismissed by the Local Planning Authority on access issues and environmental and visual impact grounds and determined as ‘unsuitable’ again in the 2020 Assessment. Therefore, this Plan has made no allocation of specific sites as there are no obvious areas in Charmouth and the LP confirms that neighbourhood plans can have criteria - based policies.

Charmouth’s Tight Settlement Boundary

Charmouth’s Tight Settlement Boundary

1950’s Edge of the Village Housing

1950’s Edge of the Village Housing

Number of Houses Required

8.7 The HNA (para 23) summarised Charmouth’s ‘share’ of the forecast housing growth of West Dorset as approximately 8-9 houses p.a. but acknowledged that this analysis takes no account of the above constraints. The LP para 3.3.27/LP-SUS2 sets no target for the amount of housing required in Charmouth and confirms that new housing should be at an appropriate scale to each settlement which will be different in terms of its needs, opportunities and constraints which neighbourhood plans can reflect. An updated indicator of Charmouth’s housing requirement has been provided in the 2021 Dorset Local Plan Consultation Plan, Appendix 2 which provides figures to inform the preparation of neighbourhood plans (but do not represent a sub-area target). The figures assume extant permissions (approved but not completed or expired) will meet the requirement for the first 3 years of the Plan which represents 8 houses in Charmouth. For the remaining 12 years of the Plan period, an estimate of 3 new houses p.a. is indicated from windfall sites; no specific sites having been identified. Therefore, there is a minimum housing requirement of 44 over the Plan’s timescale, with 18% already approved and half of these are under construction. This potential level of growth is considered appropriate when taking into account Charmouth’s constraints and reliance on small infill sites.

8.8 In the wider housing market, there has been considerable recent housing development/planning approvals for over 2000 units in Bridport, Axminster and Lyme Regis providing considerable provision and pipeline of affordable housing within a 7 mile (11.2 km) radius of Charmouth.

Location of Housing

8.9 Inside the DDB, land is nearly fully utilised for residential use but there is some limited scope for small scale infill, re-developments and sub-division of larger plots/houses providing it is sensitively designed and at an appropriate density (see Policies H4 and H5). LP-SUS2(ii) confirms that residential development will normally be permitted if it meets the needs of the local area, which in the case of Charmouth, is for small homes, including affordable. This would continue the village’s trend of organic growth. The ‘Dorset Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment 2018’ (SHLAA) identified 2 sites of less than 0.3 ha. and 20 other minor infill plots.

8.10 Outside the DDB, opportunities are constrained and LP-SUS2(iii) states that development will be strictly controlled but identifies some exceptions relating to housing: alterations and extensions to existing properties, including their subdivision or replacement; affordable housing; rural workers housing; open market housing through re-use of existing rural buildings; and properties affected by coastal change (see Chapter 10 and Policy CC2). Additionally, this Plan seeks to support limited development on appropriate brownfield sites, and potentially small rural exception site(s) to provide the type of housing that meets Charmouth’s needs (see Policy H2).

8.11 The LP-HOU2 clarifies that exception sites should be small scale and adjoin a settlement. In Charmouth this means adjoining the DDB as there are no other clusters of housing that could be considered as a settlement. Any such sites should not represent a marked intrusion into the opencountryside that surrounds Charmouth’s DDB and would be best placed where the development would result in the rounding-off of the existing Boundary and be contained within existing logical and physical boundaries. In the context of the scale of Charmouth’s forecast housing requirements, the need to maintain the village’s open character, the historic style of organic growth and to avoid unacceptable intrusion into the opencountryside, rural exception sites outside the DDB should comprise a maximum of 20 dwelling units. This would maintain the character of Charmouth’s historic organic growth where, in the last 60 years, housing developments of more than 5 units had an average of 14 units (including flats) per scheme. New developments need to be sympathetically located and designed to avoid harm to its natural and heritage assets (see Chapters 4 and 6). Protection of these assets is an overriding Strategic Objective in the LP and this Plan.

8.12 Therefore, the policy aim is to support the development of new small houses on small scale sites primarily inside the DDB, to continue Charmouth’s historic pattern of organic, small scale growth.

POLICY H1: New Housing Developments

New housing developments will be supported, in principle, if they do not harm the natural and built environment and meet the following criteria:

  • inside the Defined Development Boundary, new sites should be smallreflecting the organic, incremental growth of the village historically, or,
  • outside the Defined Development Boundary, opportunities for further housing will be limited to rural exception sites and housing permittedby the Local Plan. Rural exception sites for affordable housing up to a maximum of 20 units per site must adjoin the Defined Development Boundary and form a logical extension to this Boundary and must not represent a marked intrusion into the countryside, or,
  • across the Parish, re-development of a brownfield site which is not of high environmental quality,
  • and in each case, will contribute to Charmouth’s housing needs by size, type and tenure as defined in the latest Charmouth Housing Needs Statement (see Parish Council website) or, if out of date, the most objectively assessed review of Charmouth’s housing needs. The initial need is for mixed developments of one, two and three bedrooms suitable for families, couples and individuals looking to downsize or as starter/first homes.

Affordable Housing

Housing Need Priorities

8.13 The VS (Q32) identified a need for affordable housing: 73% wanting more low cost/affordable homes for young families, couples and individuals enabling them to stay in the village; 47% wanting more local authority/housing association/shared equity homes. The HNA identified the need for a mix of affordable housing types including rental, shared ownership and starter homes.  The HNA recommends a spread of 70% social/affordable rent and a maximum of 30% intermediate affordable housing plus an additional focus on shared ownership/starter homes. LP-HOUS1 also recommends the same 70:30 ratio. In 2020, the Government consulted on proposals for first homes for sale at a discount for eligible first-time buyers with priority to those with a local connection. NPPF para 62 states that the size, type and tenure of housing for different groups in the community should be reflected in planning policies. Due to Charmouth’s relatively high house prices, it is recognised that affordable homes at 80% of the market rate do not represent ‘affordable’ to many prospective occupants. Nevertheless, Charmouth’s housing need priorities are, in descending order:

i) social/affordable rent

ii) intermediate affordable

iii) starter/first homes

iv) market homes

8.14 NPPF para 64 permits an affordable housing contribution on developments of 5 units or fewer in ‘designated rural areas’ such as Charmouth and NPPF para 78 confirms that rural housing policies should be responsive to local circumstances and reflect local needs. Due to the scarcity of land for housing in Charmouth, it is essential that the number of affordable homes is maximised and therefore all new developments of 3 or more homes should contribute to meeting Charmouth’s affordable housing needs. This lower threshold is justified to avoid missing vital opportunities to secure affordable homes on the small sites expected to come forward and is a policy accepted elsewhere in Dorset e.g. Buckland Newton. 

8.15 The proportion of affordable homes of types i) and ii) above of the site’s total units:

  • within the DDB, will be the LP-HOUS2 requirement of 35% and ideally higher;
  • outside the DDB, a rural exception site should be 100% (see paras 8.18 and 8.19)

8.16 NPPF para 63 expects affordable housing to be provided on-site and, due to Charmouth’s land shortages, support will only be given for schemes providing additional on-site affordable homes. Off-site financial contributions will only be considered for any shortfall fractions of whole units. It is also critical that any new affordable homes created are safeguarded for future local occupants and NPPF’s definition of rural exception sites confirms they are for affordable homes, in perpetuity.

8.17 In order to determine that a proposed development will meet LP and this Plan’s policy requirements, planning applications will state the number of affordable homes/market homes, their size (number of bedrooms) and tenure. To achieve a balanced and integrated development, affordable and market homes will be indistinguishable by being evenly spread across the site and without discernible differences in quality, design and size.

Encouraging Rural Exception Site Development

8.18 It is recognised that Charmouth’s constraints and land conditions can lead to abnormal building costs. To positively stimulate new rural exception site development, but only in exceptional cases, a small proportion of 1-3 bed starter/first or market homes could be considered where viability need can be evidenced (including that any available grants have been maximised). NPPF para 72 confirms that Charmouth, being in an AONB, ‘entry level exception sites’ for first time buyers should not be permitted. However, starter homes were identified in HNA as a requirement and therefore such provision should be supported as part of a mixed development, but capped, to avoid encroaching unacceptably on Charmouth’s higher affordable housing priorities (see para 8.13). In addition, NPPF para 78 provides for local discretion in allowing a proportion of market homes on rural exception sites, as does the LP in para 5.2.11. The viability case will be assessed on maximising Charmouth’s housing need priorities (see para 8.13). The viability assessment will be at the applicant’s cost and on an open-book basis and made available for public scrutiny in line with NPPF para 58. This approach seeks to strike a balance by permitting a small, but capped, proportion of starter/first and market homes to increase the likelihood of schemes coming forward, without sacrificing the overall net yield of affordablehomes.

8.19 The proportion of starter/first or market homes of the site’s total units will be:

  • starter/first homes, up to 20%,
  • market homes, up to 20%,
  • but, their combined amount cannot exceed 30%

In this situation, the 70:30 split of social/affordable rent: intermediate affordable (see para 8.13) would apply to the remaining balance of units with a maximum 30% intermediate affordable. Table 8.1 illustrates a theoretical example of the mix of homes on a 20 unit site reflecting the Plan’s descending order of priorities.

TABLE 8.1 Illustrative Rural Exception Site Housing Mix

Illustrative Rural Exception site

Notes:

A Hypothetical 20 unit Rural Exception Site (maximum size)

Reflects the Plan’s descending order of priorities (paras 8.13-8.19):

11 Social/Affordable Rent (55% of Total)

4 Intermediate Homes (20% of Total).

Together these reflect the 70:30 split of the balance after:

3 Starter/First Homes (15% which exceeds the % of Market Homes -max 20% of Total)

2 Market Homes (10% - max 20% of Total)

Combination of these cannot exceed 30% of Total and are subject to evidence of viability need.

Allocation of Houses to Local People

8.20 In line with LP-HOU2 the allocation of affordable housing will be prioritised to those with a housing need and a Charmouth Connection (i.e. an established residency or employment connection to Charmouth. Consideration of housing needs at the parish level is supported by LP-HOU2. As the justification for building affordable homes is to meet Charmouth’s needs, the housing provider will, during an initial period of marketing, exclusively allocate affordable homes to applicants with a Charmouth Connection. The marketing period will reflect the different lead times for rental-only properties (8 weeks) compared to those with a purchase element (13 weeks) which recognises the time to raise finance etc. Thereafter, wider marketing should prioritise applicants with an equivalent connection to adjoining rural parishes which Charmouth serves as a community service centre (the parishes of Catherston Leweston, Wootton Fitzpaine, Whitchurch Canonicorum and Stanton St Gabriel). This sequencing to apply on first completion and subsequent re-lets/sales.

8.21 Therefore, the policy recognises that land for new housing in Charmouth is an extremely scarce resource and aims to give positive encouragement to maximise the provision of small affordable homes which meet Charmouth’s housing needs. Affordable housing provision is also a key component of the Village Improvement Projects (see Appendix G).

POLICY H2: Affordable Housing

New housing developments will be supported providing that:

  • they maximise their contribution to Charmouth’s housing needs priorities which are, in descending order:
  • social/affordable rent
  • intermediate affordable
  • starter/first homes
  • market housing

and, therefore, all planning applications will state how the development will meet these housing needs priorities in terms of size, type and tenure of housing proposed;

  • inside the Defined Development Boundary, developments of 3 or more houses will include at least 35% on-site affordable homes. Financial contributions towards the provision of affordable housing will be required for any shortfall fractions of whole units;
  • rural exception sites adjoining the Defined Development Boundary should comprise 100% affordable homes. Exceptionally, starter/first and market homes up to a maximum of 20% each type and a combined total of 30% of the total number of units on each rural exception site can be considered where they are essential to a scheme’s viability. These homes should also meet the size/type/tenure priorities in the Charmouth Housing Needs Statement. The viability assessment(s) justifying the original application and any subsequent requests for variations to the composition of the development will be based on maximising Charmouth’s housing needs priorities and made available for public scrutiny;
  • the social/affordable rent : intermediate affordable ratio should be capped at 30% intermediate affordable;
  • affordable housing should not be readily differentiated from the market homes by their design, quality and distribution within a site;
  • the housing provider will, during an initial period of marketing, exclusively allocate affordable homes to applicants with a Charmouth Connection and be able to provide evidence of this marketing. This initial period of marketing will be 8 weeks for rental-only properties and 13 weeks for properties which include a purchase element. Thereafter, properties can be more widely marketed but with priority to applicants with an equivalent connection to adjoining rural parishes which Charmouth serves as a community service centre. This sequencing applies on first completion and subsequent re-letting/re-sale;
  • affordable homes will be provided in perpetuity.

Benefitting from New Housing

Principal Residency Condition

8.22 There were 31 comments on second homes/holiday lets in the VS (Q34) with the majority voicing concerns about their negative impact on the local housing market e.g. the ability of young people/families to get onto the housing ladder; house under-occupancy and impact on local trade. The HNA shows that between 2001 and 2011, the number of 25-44 year olds fell by 26.4% and 16-24 year olds by 2.9% (considerably more than West Dorset rates) indicating disturbing changes in population structure. Uncontrolled growth of second homes/holiday lets can damage an otherwise sustainable community. The ‘Draft Purbeck Local Plan’ confirms that in the Dorset AONB, which also includes Charmouth, concentrations of second homes can harm the viability of local services and facilities, harm the sustainability of communities and create competition for residents seeking affordable homes and as a result it proposes a principal residency policy. The ‘Dorset AONB Management Plan, 2019-24’ Policy C4h also aims to “discourage growth in the number of second homes within the AONB”. The Service Provider Questionnaire (see Chapter 7 and Appendix E) confirmed the seasonality of retail trade. With tourism trade essential to many businesses, some may struggle during the winter months and the village has already suffered several recent shop closures.  For Charmouth, a principal residencypolicy would generate more consistent year-round trade without negatively affecting the current stock of tourism accommodation.

8.23 Census data of homes with ’no usual residents’ represents the most consistent, official data for making comparisons. This data includes second homes and holiday homes, both representing housing unavailable for permanent occupation. For Charmouth, the ‘2011 Census’ figure shows that 26.5% of the housing stock (West Dorset 10%) has ‘no usual residents’ and is higher than any other coastal parish between Charmouth and Portland e.g. a similar coastal village and tourist destination, Burton Bradstock, is 20.4%. Between 2001 and 2011 the Census shows that the total number of ‘household spaces’ in Charmouth increased by 117 (+14.4%) but the number with ‘no usual residents’  increased by 92 (+59.7%) indicating that the new housing developed has yielded few permanent households (increase of 25, +3.8%). The un-checked continuance of this trend will threaten Charmouth’s ability to survive as a sustainable community. Dorset Council Local Plan 2021-2038 Options Consultation, Appendix 2 included a Background Paper on second homes and, using different and more up to date data, confirmed Charmouth’s high proportion of second homes and identified the option to include a principal residency policy in neighbourhood plans. Therefore, new housing in Charmouth will be restricted to their occupancy as a principal residency and cannot be used as a second home or for holiday letting accommodation. Consultations on draft Plan policies have confirmed support for a principal residency condition; a policy which has been tested as legitimate in St Ives and other subsequent neighbourhood plans e.g. in rural areas of Cornwall and Devon. The Charmouth percentage of ‘no usual residents’ is also higher than some of the approved neighbourhood plans with principal residency policies in Cornwall.

8.24 It is estimated that in Charmouth there are over 50 individual instances ofholiday letrestrictions in force which prohibits full-time occupancy and occasionally applications are made to remove this restriction. Whilst not all such premises would be suitable as a permanent residence (e.g. layout, construction and ability to meet Building Regulations, terms of leases etc), it does represent a potential stock of genuinely affordable homes, important in the context of Charmouth’s lack of sites for new affordable housing. To maximise the local benefit of removing a holiday let restriction, the property (of permanent construction and not, for example, a caravan) will be subsequently restricted to its occupancy as a principal residence. The impact on tourism is thought to be mimimal due to Charmouth’s existing high numbers of holiday lets/second homes.

Protecting the Stock of Small Houses

8.25 Due to the scarcity of land to provide small homes in Charmouth, it is essential that 1-3 bed homes remain small in size to help balance Charmouth’s housing stock and safeguard a supply chain for first time buyers and their next move. The CNP Examination Report stated that, should extensions be proposed which are deemed to be too large, the application of LP-ENV12 and ENV16 would avoid harm to the character and appearance of the area and avoid harm to neighbours. This should apply to extensions of both existing and new homes.

8.26 Therefore, policies have been designed to maximise the benefits of new housing development for both Charmouth’s current needs and to safeguard benefits for future occupiers in order to provide a more sustainable community.

POLICY H3: Benefitting from New Housing

  • Applications for new housing, replacement homes and changes of use which result in net additional housing and applications to remove a holiday let restriction will be supported providing the property will be restricted, in perpetuity, by legal agreement to its occupancy as a principal residence; defined as the sole or main residence of the occupier for the majority of their time. Occupiers will be required to keep verifiable proof that they are meeting this obligation and make it available when requested for inspection by the Local Planning Authority.

Housing Form and Layout

8.27 The VS (Qs 1,31,32 & 33) had many comments on protecting the village’s character rather than housing design. Residents were concerned to keep the village’s unspoilt and natural charm, its open feel and, therefore, avoid over development. The CCSCAA highlights Charmouth’s ‘unique spaces with varying degrees of enclosure and exposure’ and focal points where ‘there are glimpses up side passages and lanes as well as views of the wider countryside, adding up to a rich and complex sequence of spaces, views and other townscape experiences’. Outside of the Conservation Area, more recent development has resulted in mainly low density, low rise, well-spaced housing and, because of Charmouth’s undulating topography, this provides a similar feeling of openness. These characteristics are particularly valued by residents and are important to Charmouth’s attractiveness as a tourist destination.’ The VS indicated that residents were also concerned about the scale, visual impact and loss of amenity of housing development. 64% (Q34) did not support infill in gardens and 64% did not support demolishing buildings and re-building at higher density and some recent developments of this type have caused local controversy.

8.28 Within its DDB, Charmouth has very few undeveloped areas but there are potential opportunities as properties become re-developed. Outside its Conservation Area, Charmouth had significant areas of housing built between 1920-50s which spread as ribbon development towards the coast and subsequent infill either side of The Street. A process of refurbishment and re-development has already started and will continue, presenting opportunities to provide additional housing, including the infill of larger plots and subdivision of larger premises. In fact, the majority of recent housing has been provided in this way although opportunities will inevitably diminish over time.

Recent High Density Infill

Recent High Density Infill

Low Density Housing Overlooking the Coast

Low Density Housing Overlooking the Coast

8.29 Policies need to balance local concerns about the impacts of re-development with managing the inevitable process of improvements to an ageing housing stock by supporting opportunities for new housing but only in appropriate locations and at a sympathetic scale and density. NPPF (para 124 d indicates that, in achieving appropriate densities and efficient use of land, policies should take into account the desirability of maintaining an area’s prevailing character and setting (including residential gardens). The Government’s ‘National Design Guide 2019’ places emphasis on well-designed places and how the layout of buildings relates to the settlement pattern and density of building plots and gaps between them. In this context, this Plan’s policy focus therefore is on managing density and massing impacts of new build, re-developments and extensions, ensuring that they respect the building line and complement their neighbouring properties and the immediate locality. The immediate locality is the area spreading out from the plot which has a similar pattern of development, plot sizes, overall density and comparable building forms. The need is for the development to enhance the ‘visual rhythm’ of the street scene and create a sense of enclosure which is influenced by the massing and roof lines of buildings, the gaps between buildings, their positioning and orientation on their plots and the visual harmony of boundary treatments, access and car parking arrangements. In a generally hilly landscape, consideration must also be given to the massing impacts and building heights of new housing to ensure they do not visibly distort skylines and other defining features and do not result in the degradation of wide views and vistas (see Policy NE1 and NE2).

8.30 Particular attention is required to determine a property’s positioning within its site and re-developments should normally occupy the original footprint, unless a different position would enhance the street scene. Rear gardens should have a minimum depth of 10 m. (32.8 ft.) to provide privacy and security with safe play areas and maintain the overall density of the immediate locality. LP-ENV 16 requires that development should be designed not to impact on the amenity and quiet enjoyment of residents. Any proposal should avoid adverse impacts of overlooking, loss of privacy, window shadowing of neighbouring properties with a minimum distance of 20 m (65.6 ft.) between facing habitable room windows. This approach is in line with LP-ENV 12 which requires that alterations or extensions should not overpower the original building or neighbouring properties.

8.31 Therefore, the policy aim is to establish criteria to support new developments, including infill, house extensions and replacements, where they fit sympathetically into their surroundings. The focus is on managing plot/site layout so that the density/massing etc of the development maintains the village’s openness and characteristics and ensures that new housing is sympathetic to, and complements, its surroundings and blends into its immediate locality. This is in line with LP-ENV 12 and NPPF para 78 confirms that rural housing policies should be responsive to local circumstances and reflect local needs. Charmouth’s principal needs are for small homes and Policy H4, aims to control the replacement of a small house with a much larger house. This happens in Charmouth and fails to contribute to its housing needs resulting in properties of an inappropriate scale to neighbouring properties and are often second homes/holiday lets. Whilst Charmouth has generally low density development, there are areas of higher density housing and the policy allows new development in those localities to reflect these densities, resulting in efficient use of land. The planning applicant’s Design and Access Statement should explain how the proposal has been designed to meet the policy criteria.

POLICY H4: Housing Form and Layout

The size, scale, mass, height, layout, plot sizes and positioning, density and access of housing development must be designed to:

  • be proportionate to its plot and complement and enhance Charmouth’s openness and reflect its rural village and coastal characteristics;
  • reflect the prevailing settlement pattern (plot size, spacing between buildings, orientation and shape) and density of development in the immediate locality;
  • be in keeping with the wider street scene including visible boundary treatments and how access and car parking arrangements are arranged;
  • reflect the prevailing street facing height of neighbouring properties and should normally be one or two storeys in height (any roof dormers counting as a storey). Only where adjoining an extensive block of 3 or more storey buildings would more than 2 storeys be considered providing the massing of the overall street scene is not distorted;
  • provide/retain rear garden space commensurate with the size of the property, meet the needs of anticipated occupiers and maintain the general density of the immediate locality;
  • protect the neighbours’ amenity, in particular, from overlooking, loss of light, over dominance or general disturbance during construction;
  • provide easy connections to nearby housing and facilities.

Housing Design 

8.32 A Strategic Objective of the LP is to achieve high quality and sustainability in design, reflecting local character and distinctiveness of the area. NPPF para 127 encourages neighbourhood plans to identify the special qualities of each area and explain how this should be reflected in development. Outside the Conservation Area, which has its own special protections, Charmouth has a wide range of architectural styles and these contribute to Charmouth’s character. Large areas of Charmouth were developed by the release of fields with plots developed individually or in small numbers by local builders.  VS (Q33) comments were positive about the varied mix which has resulted. However, the VS (Q33) also provided strong views (62%) that residents wanted new housing to be similar to neighbouring properties. The VS (Q33) indicated that new housing should be sympathetic to the village’s built and natural heritage and characteristics with 57% supporting use of traditional design and materials and 41% feeling that it is not important to have modern design.

‘The Street’, part of the Conservation Area

The Street

8.33 Due to the variety of architectural styles, no attempt has been made to produce a formal design guide or to categorise the village by zones of housing style typologies. Instead the approach has been to establish policy principles building upon the best practice found in the ‘National Design Guide 2019’, Dorset Council’s ‘Supplementary Planning Guidance - Design and Sustainable Development Guidelines, 2009’ and ‘Building for Life’. In addition, the 2021 NPPF confirmed an increased role for design guides which reflect local character and design preferences. Once clarified, there may be a need to produce a design guide for Charmouth which should incorporate the principles established in Policies H4 & H5, in line with NPPF para 134. The aim is to encourage good quality and innovative architectural design which results in good value, functional and sustainable homes which are sympathetic to, and enhances, distinctive local features. These are features visible when looking out from the plot, those visible on neighbouring properties when looking at the plot from the street or other public access point and traditional features appearing in the wider Charmouth/Dorset area. In the case of extensions/replacements this includes distinctive features of any remaining parts of the former building(s).  This does not mean that design should replicate nearby properties, which may themselves be of poor design, but seeking opportunities to reflect distinctive local features through good quality design which complement and enhance the wider street scene. It also does not mean that, on a new development, each house should be of identical design and bland and repetitive styles must be avoided.

8.34 This Plan will not support housing which makes no effort to integrate its design with distinctive local features, especially generic ‘off-the-shelf’ designs imported from other parts of the country. This is in line with LP-ENV10 and 12 which emphasise the importance of good design and NPPF para 134 states that development that is not well designed should be refused. The planning applicant’s Design and Access Statementshould explain how the proposal has been designed to meet the policy criteria.

Varied Mix of Housing Types

Varied Mix of Housing Types

8.35 When considering the design of housing, particular attention should be made to the Plan’s Natural Environment policies (see Chapter 6) which seek to protect the environment and, in the VS (Q33), 56% of respondents supported environmentally friendly/eco-homes (see Policy CC1). The HNA indicates that due to Charmouth’s ageing population all new homes should be built to enable easy adaptation for the disabled and meet any national or local standards. The ‘2011 Census’ indicates that Charmouth’s population (West Dorset figures in brackets) has 46.9% aged 65+ (26.4%) and 7.6% in bad/very bad health (5.0%).

8.36 Therefore, the policy aim is to encourage good quality, innovative and sustainable design which incorporates local distinctive features which will enhance the street scene.

POLICY H5: Housing Design

The design of new housing, including landscape and boundary treatments should:

  • be sympathetic, responsive and complementary to the distinctive characteristics of the landform and site and not harm nearby natural or built environments;
  • be of high quality and long-term durability, complementary to distinctive local features such as the variety of materials (in particular traditional materials where applicable), architectural detailing, textures and colours of buildings in order to add interest and reinforce local characteristics;
  • reflect the form and pitches of roofs, chimney styles and typical door/window/lintel features and dimensions, including wall:window ratios, in the immediate locality;
  • ensure that external structures such as waste and cycle storage are integrated into the overall design;
  • include landscaping sympathetic to the existing natural landscape and retaining the maximum amount of existing on-site natural features and boundaries;
  • incorporate scope for flexible solutions for elderly or disabled occupants.


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