Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation

1. Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation 24th May 2017

2. What is a Neighbourhood Plan? A neighbourhood plan is our opportunity to have a say regarding how Blunsdon village should be improved. It is created by volunteers on behalf of all Blunsdoners, and we all have an opportunity to shape and comment on the plan.

3. Q: Why do we need a Neighbourhood Plan? A: Because it is the best way to have a say on development in Blunsdon • Swindon Borough Council are required to build 22,000 houses by 2026. • They are also required to offer a supply of land to fulfil the building of those houses over the next 5 years. • The number of houses being currently built falls short of that requirement. • Developers can take advantage of this because the policies set out within Swindon’s Local Plan can be overruled during a planning appeal because of that shortfall. • Therefore the Local Plan Policies that currently ‘protect’ Blunsdon from uncontrolled development cannot be upheld. • Hence developers are applying to build on land in the Village that previously was not allowed. Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation

4. Constraints to Development Q: Are there any constraints on land in Blunsdon? A: Yes some have been set out by Swindon BC Land Policies These are the SBCLP Policies that were put in place to prevent uncontrolled development in the area. They are weakened because the Borough doesn’t have a 5 year housing land supply. Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation

5. Ministerial Statement • Department for Communities and Local Government Made by: Gavin Barwell (Minister of State for Housing & Planning & Minister for London ) • Neighbourhood planning was introduced by the Localism Act 2011, and is an important part of the Government’s manifesto commitment to let local people have more say on local planning. With over 230 neighbourhood plans in force and many more in preparation, they are already a well-established part of the English planning system. Recent analysis suggests that giving people more control over development in their area is helping to boost housing supply – those plans in force that plan for a housing number have on average planned for approximately 10% more homes than the number for that area set out by the relevant local planning authority. • The Government confirms that where a planning application conflicts with a neighbourhood plan that has been brought into force, planning permission should not normally be granted. However, communities who have been proactive and worked hard to bring forward neighbourhood plans are often frustrated that their plan is being undermined because their local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five-year land supply of deliverable housing sites. • This is because Paragraph 49 of the National Planning Policy Framework states that if the local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites relevant policies for the supply of housing should not be considered up-to-date, and housing applications should be considered in the context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development. • As more communities take up the opportunity to shape their area we need to make sure planning policy is suitable for a system with growing neighbourhood plan coverage. Building on proposals to further strengthen neighbourhood planning through the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, I am today making clear that where communities plan for housing in their area in a neighbourhood plan, those plans should not be deemed to be out-of-date unless there is a significant lack of land supply for housing in the wider local authority area. We are also offering those communities who brought forward their plans in advance of this statement time to review their plans. • This means that relevant policies for the supply of housing in a neighbourhood plan, that is part of the development plan, should not be deemed to be ‘out-of-date’ under paragraph 49 of the National Planning Policy Framework where all of the following circumstances arise at the time the decision is made: • This written ministerial statement is less than 2 years old, or the neighbourhood plan has been part of the development plan for 2 years or less; • the neighbourhood plan allocates sites for housing; and • the local planning authority can demonstrate a three-year supply of deliverable housing sites. • This statement applies to decisions made on planning applications and appeals from today. This statement should be read in conjunction with the National Planning Policy Framework and is a material consideration in relevant planning decisions. • My Department will be bringing forward a White Paper on Housing in due course. Following consultation, we anticipate the policy for neighbourhood planning set out in this statement will be revised to reflect policy brought forward to ensure new neighbourhood plans meet their fair share of local housing need and housing is being delivered across the wider local authority area. It is, however, right to take action now to protect communities who have worked hard to produce their neighbourhood plan and find the housing supply policies are deemed to be out-of-date through no fault of their own. • On 7 July 2016, my Rt Hon Friend, the Member for Great Yarmouth (Brandon Lewis), extended for a period of 6 months the criteria for consideration of the recovery of planning appeals to include proposals for residential development over 25 dwellings in areas where a qualifying body has submitted a neighbourhood plan proposal to the local planning authority but the relevant plan has not been made (Hansard HCWS74). In order to allow time for the Neighbourhood Planning Bill to complete its passage through Parliament, and in the light of other potential policy changes currently under consideration, I am now extending that period for a further 6 months from today.

6. Q: What developments are happening or may happen? A: These are all the known actual and possible developments Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation

7. Q: Do we know what land is available to develop? A: Below is the land offered by local owners previously (SHLAA) 603 Land to the rear of Brooklyn & White Cottage, Broad Bush, - Not Currently Developable 709 Oxleaze Farm – 11-15 years 710 - Land West of Blunsdon Hotel, East of Ermin Street - 11-15 years 711 - Land North of Blunsdon Reservoir 0-5 years 713 - Land at Back Lane, Between Lower Village Blunsdon and Broad Blunsdon 0-5 years 715 - St. Leonard’s Farm, Lower Blunsdon 0-5 years 718 - Land South of Broadbush - Site A Not Currently Developable 719 – Land S of Broadbush, site B Now Area of non coalescence 720 - Land east of A419, North of Cold Harbour PH - 0-5 years Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation

8. B.E.N.P. Q: What policies had we set for the Neighbourhood plan? A: This was the policy set before SBC fell short of the 5 year supply • Current Housing Policy • Policy 1 - Housing Development • Within the existing settlement boundary • Proposals for residential development will be supported where: • It complies with other policies in the BENP; • It complies with the Village Design Guide (VDG), and • It complies with the design principles set out in the Swindon Residential Design Guide (SRDG). • Outside the existing settlement boundary • Where an application is submitted for development outside the existing settlement boundary it will be acceptable where: • It complies with the SBCLP on countryside development; • It complies with other policies in the BENP including the VDG. Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation

9. B.E.N.P. Q: What did the Open Day Consultation empower the NP to do?A: Ask local landowners to suggest sites for small developments where we deem it appropriate, using careful criteria. • Revised - Housing Policy 2 • Development will be supported outside the settlement boundary only in sites specified on the map below. They should conform to policies in the SBCLP, the Residential Design Guide and the Village Design Guide. They will be assessed by the BENP against the following criteria: Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation

10. B.E.N.P. Q: What factors will we consider in choosing sites in the B.E.N.P? A: Below are some of the key areas that will be considered • Land Type • Current Use /Surrounding Use • Surrounding Housing Density /Applied Housing Density • Suitability • Settlement Boundary • Protected Areas and Heritage • Flood Risk Zone • Environmental Assessment • Policy Restrictions • Environmental Issues • Impact on Flora and Fauna • Impact on Historic, Cultural, Built Environment • Impact on Landscape Character • Resources • Mineral Resources • Air Quality • Source Protection Zones • Sustainability • Access to Public Transport • Constraints to Delivery • Highway Access • Compatibility with Adjoining Uses • Land status • Access to Facilities and Services • Access to Employment Provision • Distance to Nearest Health Centre • Distance to Nearest Primary School • Distance to Nearest Convenience Store • Distance to Nearest Secondary School • Distance to Nearest District Centre Blunsdon East Neighbourhood Plan Open Consultation