Draft Policies

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Policy H1 Spatial Strategy and Built Up Area Boundaries

Development proposals will be supported where the following criteria as applicable, are met:

1. a)  Are allocated through this Plan

2. b)  Are located within a Built-Up Area Boundary

3. c)  Do not diminish the Settlement Separation Zone/Local Gap (see Map B and Appendix 9) visually, perceptually or physically, between West Chiltington Common and West Chiltington Old Village. A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment must demonstrate no diminution in openness of and views from the Separation Zone/Local Gap

4. d)  Do not result in coalescence between Thakeham, Nutbourne, Pulborough and Storrington (as per Policy 27 HDPF)

5. e)  Respond to the individual identities of The Common and The Old Village (as detailed in the Landscape Character Assessment at Appendix 8)

6. f)  Protect and where possible enhance local habitats, flora and fauna

7. g)  Do not have a detrimental impact on the predominantly open and undeveloped

   landscape setting of the Parish as a whole

8. h)  Important trees and hedgerows and key landscape features must be retained as part of any development proposal

 

Land outside of either Built Up Area Boundary is considered to be countryside and development will only be allowed if it is the subject of a specific policy in this neighbourhood plan or can demonstrate a need to be located in the countryside, as set out in national and local policies.

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Policy H2 Allocation of land for housing

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Permission will be granted, within the Plan period, for housing on land identified on the Policies Map provided that the development meets the requirements of the policies set out in this Plan, the Horsham District Local Plan and the West Chiltington Design Guide.

The following specifics must be addressed as part of any planning proposal for new residential development:
 

1. New development must attain a HQM minimum 3 to 4 star rating at final stage certificate and Level 4 in the ‘My Footprint’ indicator. .

2. Innovative approaches to the construction of low carbon homes which demonstrate sustainable use of resources and high energy efficiency levels will be supported where they do not harm the historic semi-rural character of the Parish. Examples would include but would not be limited to:

   1. siting and orientation to optimise passive solar gain;

   2. the use of high quality, thermally efficient building materials;

   3. installation of energy efficiency measures such as loft and wall insulation and double glazing;

   4. the use of low carbon heating systems.

3. High-quality imaginative design including permeable surfaces for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles with visually robust outdoor spaces-giving a sense of place and sense of orientation;

4. Landscape design and green infrastructure that contributes to a sustainable sense of place, such as wild areas for outdoor play, areas for re-wilding, links to the biodiversity buffers and wildlife corridors, and which softens the impact of the built form;

5. Existing mature vegetation shall where at all possible be retained to complement and enhance the development proposals and contribute to the biodiversity of the sites;

6. Where green-field development creates a new edge to the Parish, the interface between the built edge and surrounding countryside should be consistent in application and provide amenity and biodiversity value.

7. Where hard boundaries are mandated they should be screened by hedgerows and tree planting to soften their appearance and reduce the impact of pollution and noise.

8. Where possible, existing hedgerows should be retained and if necessary enhanced, or new hedgerows planted. This should be either:

   • to the front of dwellings as an integral part of the new public realm;

   • to define green spaces;

   • to the rear of individual building plots where they form an edge between the

     built area and landscape a hedgerow should be retained or planted to the rear of the plot edge and separated by a buffer and maintenance strip of 2m minimum width.

   • Hedgerows and buffers should be maintained as part of the development’s communal green space.

   • Hedgerows and buffers should be maintained as part of the development’s communal green space. 

9. Provision of affordable housing in line with the prevailing HDC policy, which should include a range of house types, sizes, and tenures. Applicants should demonstrate how the proposal will meet local needs;

10. At least 25 percent of all affordable housing units are First Homes discounted market sale units; 

11. Proposals for market housing of 5 or more dwellings should demonstrate that evidence of the local need for older person housing is reflected in the type and mix of homes proposed;

12. Proposals must respect and enhance the built character of the Parish and its high-quality countryside setting. Innovative and contemporary designs must be complementary to their context and must meet the requirements of the Design Guide; 
 

13. Developers are advised to engage in pre-application discussions with Southern Water to evaluate whether changes to the Hardham abstraction would have any impacts for the timing of delivery of their developments in order to keep pace with infrastructure investment.

 

Specific site allocations to meet Parish housing allocation

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Site 1 Land at Hatches Estate
The Neighbourhood Plan allocates the land for a mixed development of 15 units.

Development proposals will be supported provided that the requirements included but not limited to the below are met:

1. The developable land for residential uses comprises no more than 1.3ha;

2. The residential scheme delivers 15 dwellings which include 5 bungalows for older people and 5 affordable dwellings;

3. Vehicular access is off Broadford Bridge Road with pedestrian and cycle access to a specification to be agreed with the Highways Authority;

4. Dwellings must be no more than two storeys and complement the topography of the site;

5. Adequate parking must be situated within the curtilage of individual plots. Visitor parking must be pepper-potted throughout the development;

6. All existing trees and hedgerows on the western and eastern boundaries must be retained and enhanced wherever possible;

7. Vehicular access to the agricultural land to the east is maintained from Broadford Bridge Road;

8. All other relevant policies in this Plan are met.

 

Proposals will be expected to reflect the traditional settlement pattern and use local design and materials as set out in the management guidelines contained in the HDC Landscape Character Assessment 2003, the West Chiltington Landscape Character Assessment 2018 and the Village Design Guide 2018.

 

Site 2 Land at Smock Alley

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The Neighbourhood Plan allocates the land for a mixed development of 14 units.

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Development proposals will be supported provided that the requirements included but not limited to the below are met:

1. The developable land for residential uses comprises no more than 1.3ha;

2. The residential scheme delivers 14 dwellings which include 6 bungalows for older people and 3 affordable dwellings;

3. Dwellings must be no more than two storeys and complement the topography of the site;

4. Adequate parking must be situated within the curtilage of individual plots. Visitor parking must be pepper-potted throughout the development;

5. All existing trees and hedgerows on the western and eastern boundaries must be retained and enhanced wherever possible;

6. All other relevant policies in this Plan are met.

 

Proposals will be expected to reflect the traditional settlement pattern and use local design and materials as set out in the management guidelines contained in the HDC Landscape Character Assessment 2003, the West Chiltington Landscape Character Assessment 2018 and the Village Design Guide 2018.

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Policy H3 Quality of Design

Proposals for new housing, extending or altering existing dwellings must be of a high quality, be energy efficient and designed to reflect the local character and reinforce, where appropriate, local distinctiveness. Proposals for major development must demonstrate through their Design and Access Statement how they have regard to the core principles set out in this Plan and the Village Design Guide 2018 (see Appendix 1) as well as how they will enhance/improve local character.

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In addition to the specific requirements detailed in the Village Design Guide, the following items must be considered early in the design process and integrated into the overall scheme:

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1. a)  Bin stores and recycling facilities should be designed to screen bins from public view, whilst being easily accessible for residents. Bin stores must be placed in a position that meets the County Council’s Highways standards.

2. b)  Lighting schemes should comply with the requirement of Policy EH9 to maintain dark sky status.

3. c)  Satellite dishes must be positioned carefully and as inconspicuously as possible.

4. d)  Telephone and power lines must be placed underground.

5. e)  Photo-Voltaic panels, and other devices using solar energy for domestic purposes will

   be approved on a case-by-case basis, but must not detract from the character of the

   area.

6. f)  Meter boxes should be bespoke, unobtrusive and complement the materials used for

   the remainder of the building.

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Policy H4 Housing Mix

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Proposals for new housing must deliver a range of house types, sizes and tenures. Applicants should demonstrate how the proposal will meet local needs and the identified need for 2 and 3 bedroomed properties. Proposals where at least 25% of dwellings meet Lifetime Homes Standards, or its equivalent, will be supported.

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Policy H5 Housing density

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The density of new development shall be appropriate to its location by virtue of size, height, siting and relationship to existing properties including topography and not overloading local services/infrastructure.

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Policy H6 Affordable Housing

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Affordable Housing should be provided in line with the current Horsham DC Housing Strategy. The size and tenure of affordable units should reflect the latest available housing needs evidence. At least 25 percent of all affordable housing units are First Homes discounted market sale units.

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Policy H7 Windfall Sites

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Residential developments for small scale housing development of 5 or fewer dwellings on infill, and redevelopment sites within the built-up area boundaries shown on Map A will be supported subject to the proposals being well designed, and where such development:
 

a)  complies with the other relevant policies of the Neighbourhood Plan;

b)  preserves the essential open character of the parish and does not lead to the

subdivision of larger sites of a unified character;

c)  is of a scale and design appropriate to the size and character of the settlement and avoids harming unacceptably the amenities of adjoining residential properties;

d)  conserves or enhances the built and landscape character in accordance with the findings of the Landscape Character Assessment;

e)  integrates with the current infrastructure network and provides access to public and community transport, to connect with the social, community and retail facilities of the two parts of the Parish;

f)  minimises disturbance to and, where appropriate, takes opportunities to conserve and enhance wildlife habitats;

g)  delivers, wherever feasible and viable, on-site affordable homes in accordance with the development plan policy in force at the time of application, and implements the adopted Horsham Housing Register and Nominations Policy in respect of the allocation of some homes to those households with a local connection.

 

Applicants should demonstrate how the proposal will integrate effectively with existing development and meet with the requirements of other policies in this Plan. Any new development with a significant traffic impact will only be supported if that impact can be mitigated via developer contributions to measures agreed with the highway authority. Traffic impact includes effects of adverse road safety, congestion and pollution on both the main roads and rural lanes.

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Policy H8 Recreational Space

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Proposals for new housing development should include good quality outdoor amenity space – either private gardens or a shared amenity area and should contribute to providing tree cover and improved biodiversity. The amount of land used for garden or amenity space should be commensurate with the size and type of dwelling and the character of the area, and should be of appropriate utility (for play and recreation) and quality having regard to topography, shadowing (from buildings and landscape features) and privacy.

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