Histon and Impington Designation of Neighbourhood Area

Showing comments and forms 1 to 7 of 7

Support

Histon and Impington - Designation of Neighbourhood Area (July 2014)

Representation ID: 164723

Received: 20/07/2014

Respondent: Histon & Impington Parish Council

Representation Summary:

Histon & Impington north of the A14 are a well defined, cohesive, community. The remainder of the Parish of Impington south of the A14 is very different in nature, and are/will be pure urban extensions of Cambridge with different needs and opportunities.

Full text:

Histon & Impington north of the A14 are a well defined, cohesive, community. The remainder of the Parish of Impington south of the A14 is very different in nature, and are/will be pure urban extensions of Cambridge with different needs and opportunities.

Support

Histon and Impington - Designation of Neighbourhood Area (July 2014)

Representation ID: 164840

Received: 15/07/2014

Respondent: Cambridgeshire County Council

Representation Summary:

The County Council will need to be involved to ensure that any proposed policies take account of services and infrastructure that the County Council may be required to deliver.
We note the desire to see early provision of infrastructure to support development and a vision towards a Digital Village. Whilst officers broadly support these measures, it is important that if any policies require developer contributions, they meet the statutory planning tests for such contributions.
We support the need for an appropriate balance between monies being locally spent and ensuring that there is sufficient funding for strategic infrastructure required to mitigate the impacts of the development.

Full text:

A NP , if implemented, has the authority the establish general planning policies for new homes and where they should be built, which may require new infrastructure such as schools and roads. The County Council will need to be involved in the development of any plan to ensure that any proposed policies take account of services and infrastructure that the County Council may be required to deliver.

We understand that South Cambridgeshire District Council as the local planning authority(lpa) has a duty to support communities making their neighbourhood plan and that in due course there may be an examination in which the County Council may be involved. We understand that the lpa can claim funding to support completed plans.

We also note in the application supplementary information provided by the Parish Council the desire to see early provision of infrastructure to support development and a vision towards a Digital Village. Whilst officers broadly support these measures, it is important that if any policies require developer contributions, they meet the statutory planning tests for such contributions and do not unduly impact on the viability of the development proposal. County officers would be happy to work with the Parish Council in helping to identify spending priorities.

We support the need for an appropriate balance between monies being locally spent and ensuring that there is sufficient funding for strategic infrastructure required to mitigate the impacts of the development.

Support

Histon and Impington - Designation of Neighbourhood Area (July 2014)

Representation ID: 164841

Received: 14/07/2014

Respondent: The Woodland Trust

Representation Summary:

The Woodland Trust are very supportive of the concept of neighbourhood planning and we are very keen to see these plans progress. We would very much appreciate it if you could pass the link to our Neighbourhood Planning microsite on to the Histon and Impington Steering Group.

Full text:

Many thanks for consulting the Woodland Trust on the proposed Histon and Impington Neighbourhood Area. The Woodland Trust are very supportive of the concept of neighbourhood planning as an important mechanism for embedding woods and trees into local communities, as such we are very keen to see these plans progress. We would like to take this opportunity to draw your attention to the Woodland Trust's neighbourhood planning microsite: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/campaigning/neighbourhood-planning/ this site sets out how woods and trees can help communities meet the aims of their plans. We would very much appreciate it if you could pass this link on to the Histon and Impington Steering Group.

Support

Histon and Impington - Designation of Neighbourhood Area (July 2014)

Representation ID: 164842

Received: 10/07/2014

Respondent: Cllr Jonathan Chatfield

Representation Summary:

I would like to place on record my full support for Histon and Impington Parish Council and the development of their community led neighbourhood plan. I look forward to working with them on this in the coming months.

Full text:

I would like to place on record my full support for Histon and Impington Parish Council and the development of their community led neighbourhood plan. I look forward to working with them on this in the coming months.

Comment

Histon and Impington - Designation of Neighbourhood Area (July 2014)

Representation ID: 164843

Received: 11/07/2014

Respondent: Natural England

Representation Summary:

Natural England is a stautory consultee in neighbourhood planning. Must be consulted where proposals likely to affect a SSSI or 20hectares or more of best most versatile agricultural land. Also consult on Strategic Environmental Assessments.

General advice offered on following subjects with relevant web links
Protected landscapes; Protected species; Local Wildlife Sites; Best Most Versatile Agricultural Land; and Opportunities for enhancing the natural environment.

Full text:

Thank you for notifying Natural England of the neighbourhood designation request.

Natural England is a non-departmental public body. Our statutory purpose is to ensure that the natural environment is conserved, enhanced, and managed for the benefit of present and future generations, thereby contributing to sustainable development.

Natural England is a statutory consultee in neighbourhood planning. We must be consulted on draft Neighbourhood Development Plans where the Town/Parish Council or Neighbourhood Forum considers our interests would be affected by the proposals. We must be consulted on draft Neighbourhood Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders where proposals are likely to affect a Site of Special Scientific Interest or 20 hectares or more of Best and Most Versatile agricultural land. We must also be consulted on Strategic Environmental Assessments, Habitats Regulations Assessment screening and Environmental Impact Assessments, where these are required. Your local planning authority will be able to advise you further on environmental requirements
.
The following is offered as general advice which may be of use in the preparation of your plan/ order.
Natural England, together with the Environment Agency, English Heritage and Forestry Commission has published joint advice on neighbourhood planning which sets out sources of environmental information and ideas on incorporating the environment into plans and development proposals. This is available at: http://publications.environment-agency.gov.uk/PDF/GEHO0212BWAZ-E-E.pdf

Local environmental record centres hold a range of information on the natural environment. A list of local records centre is available at: http://www.nbn-nfbr.org.uk/nfbr.php

Protected landscapes
If your neighbourhood planning area is within or adjacent to a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), we advise that you take account of the relevant National Park/AONB Management Plan for the area. For Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you should seek the views of the AONB Partnership.

National Character Areas (NCAs) divide England into 159 distinct natural areas. Each is defined by a unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity and cultural and economic activity. Their boundaries follow natural lines in the landscape rather than administrative boundaries, making them a good decision making framework for the natural environment.
http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/publications/nca/default.aspx

Protected species
You should consider whether your plan or proposal has any impacts on protected species. To help you do this, Natural England has produced standing advice to help understand the impact of particular developments on protected or Biodiversity Action Plan species should they be identified as an issue. The standing advice also sets out when, following receipt of survey information, you should undertake further consultation with Natural England.
Natural England Standing Advice - http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/planningdevelopment/spatialplanning/standingadvice/default.aspx

Local Wildlife Sites
You should consider whether your plan or proposal has any impacts on local wildlife sites, eg Site of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) or Local Nature Reserve (LNR) or whether opportunities exist for enhancing such sites. If it appears there could be negative impacts then you should ensure you have sufficient information to fully understand the nature of the impacts of the proposal on the local wildlife site.

Best Most Versatile Agricultural Land
Soil is a finite resource that fulfils many important functions and services (ecosystem services) for society, for example as a growing medium for food, timber and other crops, as a store for carbon and water, as a reservoir of biodiversity and as a buffer against pollution. It is therefore important that the soil resources are protected and used sustainably. Paragraph 112 of the National Planning Policy Framework states that:
'Local planning authorities should take into account the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality'.

General mapped information on soil types is available as 'Soilscapes' on the www.magic.gov.uk and also from the LandIS website; http://www.landis.org.uk/index.cfm which contains more information about obtaining soil data.

Opportunities for enhancing the natural environment
Neighbourhood plans and proposals may provide opportunities to enhance the character and local distinctiveness of the surrounding natural and built environment, use natural resources more sustainably and bring benefits for the local community, for example through green space provision and access to and contact with nature.

Opportunities to incorporate features into new build or retro fitted buildings which are beneficial to wildlife, such as the incorporation of roosting opportunities for bats or the installation of bird nest boxes should also be considered as part of any new development proposal.

Should the proposal be amended in a way which significantly affects its impact on the natural environment then, in accordance with Section 4 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, Natural England should be consulted again at consultations@naturalengland.org.uk


Comment

Histon and Impington - Designation of Neighbourhood Area (July 2014)

Representation ID: 164844

Received: 04/07/2014

Respondent: Sport England

Representation Summary:

Planning can play important role in encouraging communities to become more physically active. Positive planning for sport, protection from unnecessary loss of sports facilities and an integrated approach to providing new housing and employment land and community facilities provision is important.

Neighbourhood Plan must reflect national policy set out in NPPF and be aware of Sport England's role in protecting playing fields.
Link to guidance on development policy for sport. Need evidence of need for facilities - Local Plan for area may have assessments / Playing Pitch Strategy that NP can reflect. Design guidance availabe for new facilities.

Full text:

Thank you for consulting Sport England on the above Neighbourhood Plan.

Planning Policy in the National Planning Policy Framework identifies how the planning system can play an important role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities. Encouraging communities to become more physically active through walking, cycling, informal recreation and formal sport plays an important part in this process and providing enough sports facilities of the right quality and type and in the right places is vital to achieving this aim. This means positive planning for sport, protection from unnecessary loss of sports facilities and an integrated approach to providing new housing and employment land and community facilities provision is important.

It is important therefore that the Neighbourhood Plan reflects national policy for sport as set out in the above document with particular reference to Pars 73 and 74 to ensure proposals comply with National Planning Policy. It is also important to be aware of Sport England's role in protecting playing fields and the presumption against the loss of playing fields (see link below), as set out in our national guide, 'A Sporting Future for the Playing Fields of England - Planning Policy Statement'.
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/development-management/planning-applications/playing-field-land/

Sport England provides guidance on developing policy for sport and further information can be found following the link below:
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/forward-planning/

Sport England works with Local Authorities to ensure Local Plan policy is underpinned by robust and up to date assessments and strategies for indoor and outdoor sports delivery. If local authorities have prepared a Playing Pitch Strategy or other indoor/outdoor sports strategy it will be important that the Neighbourhood Plan reflects the recommendations set out in that document and that any local investment opportunities, such as the Community Infrastructure Levy, are utilised to support the delivery of those recommendations.
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/planning-for-sport/planning-tools-and-guidance/
If new sports facilities are being proposed Sport England recommend you ensure such facilities are fit for purpose and designed in accordance with our design guidance notes.
http://www.sportengland.org/facilities-planning/tools-guidance/design-and-cost-guidance/

Support

Histon and Impington - Designation of Neighbourhood Area (July 2014)

Representation ID: 164845

Received: 12/09/2014

Respondent: Kings Gate Management Company (Cambridge) Ltd

Representation Summary:

Support development of joint neighbourhood and community involvement contributing to planning policy. Company interested in providing and designing homes in neighbourhood for benefit of area. In discussions with a range of organisations

Support vision in Neighbourhood Application with core objectives of Sustainability, "Digital Village", Diversity & Inclusivity and Heritage and be appropriate for all age groups.

Note legal status of Neighbourhood Plan once adopted. Expect Neighbourhood Plan will propose more development than Local Plan, help to determine type and design of development.

Note recent amendments to CIL Regs exempting self-build developments.

Would like to ensure Neighbourhood Plan takes account of NPPF requiring councils to consider custom/self build housing. Expect requirement will be extended to require councils/neighbourhoods to find land to satisfy that need.

Full text:

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the proposed neighbourhood area. I have only just seen this 6 week consultation following the Pre-Hearing Meeting on the Local Plan at the Guildhall yesterday and understand that the closing date is today. So we have not yet had chance to provide a fully considered response.

We support the development of a joint neighbourhood and community involvement as a contribution to planning policy. Our company is interested in providing and designing homes in the neighbourhood for the benefit of the area e.g. maximising the use of facilities such as the guided bus route. We are in discussions with a range of organisations from national builders and housing associations to private developers and self/custom build companies. We expect to make a presentation on self/custom build at the Local Plan Hearing.

We support the statement in the Neighbourhood Application that the vision should address the core objectives of Sustainability, "Digital Village", Diversity & Inclusivity and Heritage and be appropriate for all age groups.

We note that once agreed the Neighbourhood Plan will have the same legal status as the Local Plan. We expect that the Neighbourhood Plan will propose more development than the Local Plan and help to determine what type and design of development should take place.

We note that the CIL Regs were amended recently to include a mandatory exemption for self-build developments, in addition to the existing exemption for affordable housing.

We would like to ensure that the Neighbourhood Plan (and the Local Plan) takes full account of paras 50 and 159 of the NPPF which now requires all councils to measure the level of demand there is for custom/self build housing. We expect that this requirement will be extended in due course to require councils/neighbourhoods to find land to satisfy that need. This will help to meet the vision stated above.