Policy S/SB relates to Settlement Boundaries. Details of settlement boundaries have not been provided at this stage but are to be drawn on the Policies Map that will accompany the draft Local Plan for consultation. The Greater Cambridge Local Plan Topic Paper 1: Strategy explains: “Defining settlement boundaries (previously known as development frameworks) is necessary to ensure that the countryside is protected from gradual encroachment, but in particular they help guard against incremental growth in unsustainable locations”.
This approach is considered to be overly restrictive and does not accord with paragraph’s 69 and 79 of the NPPF, which states that housing should be located where it will enhance or maintain the vitality of rural communities and that small and medium sized sites can make an important contribution towards housing. . This policy direction should not preclude growth in sustainable locations, which may include sites well related to settlements but previously outside of settlement boundaries. It is noted that in the past settlement boundaries have been drawn to tightly, and do not provide for many (if any) windfall opportunities.
The settlement boundary for Orwell were last reviewed some time before the Adopted Proposals Map Published January 2010. The tight settlement boundary has artificially constrained development in a village which has a good range of services and facilities. Not allowing sufficient land within settlement boundaries for windfall sites is contrary to Paragraph 69 c) of the NPPF. The south-east side of site 40496 abuts Orwell’s settlement boundary. It is considered that the site would form a logical extension to Orwell, resulting in a site that is well related to the existing village, and that would not create amenity issues for existing residential properties.