INTRODUCTION

A1 The policies in this chapter will deliver a number of key strategic functions. One of the primary objectives of this chapter is to allocate specific sites for key uses during the period of the Plan. These key uses include housing, employment, retail, and mixed-use sites.

A2 This chapter also sets out the Council’s overall development strategy. This strategy states what type of housing and other development will be permitted, where it should be located, and in what circumstances permission will be granted. It is essential to have these policies in place in order to meet the Regional Spatial Strategy and not exceed the allowed number of new dwellings in the District during the plan period.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

A3 The aims and objectives of the Strategic Framework of the Local Plan First Review are:

· To ensure a suitable and adequate supply of land is allocated for the various key life uses.

· To ensure housing development is permitted in sustainable locations in accordance with the Council’s sustainability criteria.

· To ensure housing development meets with criteria set out in PPG3 (Housing)/PPS3 (Housing), RSS8 and other strategic guidance including the Lincolnshire Structure Plan Review.

· To ensure that the quality of life of local residents is protected.

· To facilitate economic regeneration.

· To safeguard, enhance and protect the historic and cultural landscape, biodiversity and wildlife assets of the District and toprotect the countryside for its own sake.

· To establish a clear and coherent strategy for the future development of the District.

NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND STRATEGIC GUIDANCE

A4 Due to the broad range of topics covered in this chapter a wide range of National, Regional and Strategic Policy applies. Central Government Policy requires new housing to be developed in ‘sustainable’ locations to help reduce the need to travel. The Regional Spatial Strategy sets out the housing figures for the Counties indicating the number of dwellings they must provide. The Districts are then allocated a housing figure in the Lincolnshire Structure Plan Review produced by the County Council.

A5 The policies which seek to direct housing development to the most sustainable settlements reflect the provisions of the Regional Spatial Strategy.

A6 National Policy encourages mixed-use development. Local Authorities are required to adopt a positive and proactive approach to mixed-use developments to avoid large areas in town centres losing vitality caused by large single use developments.

A7 National Policy for industrial and commercial development is contained in PPG4 (Industrial and Commercial Development and Small Firms). Whilst encouraging the development of employment generating uses, emphasises the need to locate this type of development in sustainable locations. This has been considered when allocating sites for employment development in this Plan.

A8 The Lincolnshire Structure Plan Review requires that employment development should be on a scale related to the role, function and character of the settlements in which it is located.

A9 The Lincolnshire Structure Plan Review directs that requirements for infrastructure provision must be met by the developer.

DEVELOPMENT REQUIRING PLANNING PERMISSION

A10 Policy STRAT 1 is the keynote policy against which all development proposals requiring planning permission will be assessed together with other relevant policies throughout the plan.

A11 This policy indicates that all new development will be judged against the effect it will have on the quality of the environment. Criteria contained in the policy will be used to assess all new development proposals. PPS1 (Delivering Sustainable Development) suggests that there needs to be a measure of certainty about what types of development will be permitted. The plan-led system advocates a general presumption in favour of proposals which are in accordance with the Development Plan. The Council will naturally also assess all other material planning considerations. This policy outlines the broad and fundamental factors in land use planning and will be used as a starting point when new development is being considered.

JUSTIFICATION

A12 As indicated above, this policy is a starting point against which all development proposals will be judged. Stated in this policy are all the fundamental land use factors that new development proposals should take into account. The policy also sets out the importance the Council attaches to the protection of the environment. The idea of sustainability is an often repeated aim of the Government and is central to this policy objective.

A13 A good quality environment is an asset to existing residents and new inhabitants and is helpful in attracting new economic investment. For these reasons alone the Council must ensure that the quality of the environment has considerable importance attached when any new development is proposed.

A14 When considering development proposals the Council must have adequate information to enable them to be judged against the policies in the plan. In many locations in the District which are sensitive to new developments, simple outline applications do not give sufficient detail to allow a complete consideration of the application. These sensitive locations and situations include:

· Applications in a Conservation Area; the Lincolnshire Wolds AONB; or in an Area of Great Landscape Value.

· Applications for development which will affect a Listed Building and/or its setting; Sites of Special Scientific Interest; Sites of Nature Conservation Importance; Archaeological Sites, Regionally Important Geological or Geomorphological Sites or Green Wedges.

· Applications for the development or extension of major tourist, recreation or retail development.

· Applications for development which may create pollution, unnecessarily use resources, including energy, or otherwise significantly add to environmental problems.

A15 Where it appears that a new development will result in a loss in the quality of the environment, information must be provided with the application to indicate what measures will be taken to mitigate that loss. The information should also indicate how these measures can be delivered and how a net gain from the development can be obtained. All development proposals should positively contribute to the enhancement of local distinctiveness and sense of place.

LOCATION OF NEW HOUSING – RESIDENTIAL ALLOCATIONS

A16 Sites proposed for new housing should be well related in scale and location to existing development, well integrated with the existing pattern of settlement and surrounding land uses and should take account of the availability or need for infrastructure, including public transport.

A17 When deciding the location of residential allocations a number of factors have been taken into account in order to ensure that the sites allocated are sustainable and do not have an adverse effect on the surrounding area.

DISTRICT HOUSING REQUIREMENT

A18 Lincolnshire County Annual Requirement as set out in RSS8 which the First Secretary of State has ‘Directed’ the Structure Plan to be amended to match is 2,750 dwellings per annum.

A19 The Lincolnshire Structure Plan Review 2004 follows this new annual housing figure.

A20 Using the Lincolnshire Structure Plan Review 2004 as the basis for the percentage split between the Districts. The West Lindsey portion is 7,000 dwellings from a 55,000 total for the period 2001-2021. West Lindsey therefore has 12.7% of the Lincolnshire total.

A21 Taking 12.7% of the new RSS8 derived County target of 2,750 dwellings per annum as set out in the Structure Plan Review 2004, gives West Lindsey an Annual Requirement of 350 dwellings.

A22 For the Local Plan period of 2001-2016 (15 years) the West Lindsey housing requirement is therefore:

15 x 350 = 5,250 dwellings (District-wide)

DISTRICT SUB-AREA REQUIREMENT

A23 Using Policy H1 of the Lincolnshire Structure Plan Review 2004 as the basis for the Sub-Area split, the Sub-Area Requirements (2001-2021) are therefore:

Towns (Urban)

3,100 dwellings out of the 7,000 district total

(155 dwellings per annum)

Lincoln Policy Area

2,900 dwellings out of the 7,000 district total

(145 dwellings per annum)

Rural

1,000 dwellings out of the 7,000 district total

(50 dwellings per annum)

(See Appendix 11 for a map illustrating the Sub-Areas)

A24 The Plan Period (2001-2016) Sub-Area Housing Requirement is therefore as follows:

Towns (Urban)

155 dwellings x 15 years = 2,325 dwellings

Lincoln Policy Area

145 dwellings x 15 years = 2,175 dwellings

Rural

50 dwellings x 15 years = 750 dwellings

(See Appendix 11 for a map illustrating the Sub-Areas)

A25 For the Local Plan Period (2001-2016) the Towns (Urban) Sub-Area Housing Requirement is split further by a resolution of West Lindsey District Council as follows (Gainsborough 65%, Market Rasen 25% and Caistor 10%). Note: Market Rasen includes Middle Rasen due to issues associated with Parish Boundaries.

Gainsborough

65% of 2,325 dwellings = 1,511 dwellings

Market Rasen (inc. Middle Rasen)

25% of 2,325 dwellings = 581 dwellings

Caistor

10% of 2,325 dwellings = 233 dwellings

HOUSING SUPPLY

A27 The Local Plan First Review has a base date of 01/01/2003 for housing purposes. This means that housing calculations are based on that date. Firstly Housing Completions by Sub-Area in 2001 and 2002 need to be accounted for:

Gainsborough

63 + 30 = 93 dwellings built

Market Rasen (inc. Middle Rasen)

11 + 22 = 33 dwellings built

Caistor

2 + 2 = 4 dwellings built

Lincoln Policy Area

247 + 209 = 456 dwellings built

Rural

64 + 78 = 142 dwellings built

A28 Next a Brownfield Windfall Allowance needs to be derived from the Urban Capacity Study. The Council carried out such a study which identified a total potential capacity yield of 2,116 dwellings on previously developed land which is split as follows:

Towns (Urban) 1,005 dwellings

Lincoln Policy Area 640 dwellings

Rural 471 dwellings

A29 Of the various previously developed land categories identified in the Urban Capacity Study, category 4 (vacant/derelict land and buildings), has already been considered by the Council with a view to specifically allocating any suitable sites in this category for residential development. Therefore, if all the categories, except category 4, are totalled then the potential capacity yield is reduced to 1,482 dwellings District-wide split as follows:

Towns (Urban) 521 dwellings

Lincoln Policy Area 512 dwellings

Rural 449 dwellings

A30 During public consultation on the study, concern was expressed at the level of recycled sources in categories such as ‘Re-Use of Empty Homes.’ Also the suitability of some sites was also questioned, although some respondents had also highlighted other sites that they feel should have been included in the Urban Capacity Study. In response to these factors and the long term nature of some of the categories, (excluding category 4), then the Urban Capacity Study (which looked at a 20 year period) is felt to be unlikely to realise all of the potential yield over its 20 year horizon. The Council in response to public consultation on the study is of the view that a realistic assumption would be that ⅔ of the potential yield is likely to be realised during a 20 year time horizon.

A31 The 20-year windfall estimate would therefore be as follows:

Towns (Urban)

521 dwellings x ⅔ = 347 dwellings

Lincoln Policy Area

512 dwellings x ⅔ = 341 dwellings

Rural

449 dwellings x ⅔ = 299 dwellings

A32 However, the Local Plan Period is only 15 years therefore these Previously Developed Land Windfall estimates need to be adjusted from a 20 year to a 15 year estimate. They also need to be split between the 3 towns on the same percentage basis as set out in paragraph A25. The Plan Period (2001-2016) Windfall Allowance is therefore as follows:

Gainsborough

347 dwellings x ¾ x 65% = 169 dwellings

(approx. 11 dwellings per annum)

Market Rasen (inc. Middle Rasen)

347 dwellings x ¾ x 25% = 65 dwellings

(approx. 4 dwellings per annum)

Caistor

347 dwellings x ¾ x 10% = 26 dwellings

(approx. 2 dwellings per annum)

Lincoln Policy Area

341 x ¾ = 256 dwellings

(approx. 17 dwellings per annum)

Rural

299 x ¾ = 224 dwellings

(approx. 15 dwellings per annum)

A33 This Windfall Allowance is considerably below that achieved over the last few years; however, until now any Windfall Allowance also took account of Greenfield land.

A34 Taking account of the completions set out in paragraph A27 and the Windfall Allowance set out in paragraph A32 then the housing supply remaining to be met from land committed by planning permission and/or allocations in this Local Plan First Review is as follows:

Gainsborough

1,511 – 93 – 169 = 1,249 dwellings

Market Rasen (inc. Middle Rasen)

581 – 33 – 65 = 483 dwellings

Caistor

233 – 4 – 26 = 203 dwellings

Lincoln Policy Area

2,175 – 456 – 256 = 1,463 dwellings

Rural

750 – 142 – 224 = 384 dwellings

A35 From the information contained within the Housing Land Availability Study as at the 01/01/2003 (base date of this plan) then the land committed with planning permission is as follows:

Gainsborough

75 u/c + 35 o/l + 225 f/p = 335 dwellings

Market Rasen (inc. Middle Rasen)

61 u/c + 44 o/l + 66 f/p = 171 dwellings

Caistor

1 u/c + 25 o/l + 70 f/p = 96 dwellings

Lincoln Policy Area

251 u/c + 88 o/l + 547 f/p = 886 dwellings

Rural

169 u/c + 305 o/l + 339 f/p = 813 dwellings

The calculations for the Housing Requirements use the following abbreviations: ‘u/c’ – under construction; o/l – outline; f/p – full planning permission.

A36 Finally, therefore taking account of land committed by planning permission the housing supply remaining to be met from allocations in this Local Plan First Review is as follows:

Gainsborough

1,249 – 335 = 914 dwellings

Market Rasen (inc. Middle Rasen)

483 – 171 = 312 dwellings

Caistor

203 – 96 = 107 dwellings

Lincoln Policy Area

1,463 – 886 = 577 dwellings

Rural

384 – 813 = MINUS 429 dwellings

A38 There are implications for the Local Plan First Review in that the level of potential over allocation is significant in some Sub Areas of the District. It is the Councils view that the following action should be considered:

Gainsborough – No action to be taken. The Regional Spatial Strategy for the East Midlands (RSS8) identifies the town as a Regeneration Priority; therefore its scale of development proposed is felt to be appropriate given this new enhanced status. The Lincolnshire Structure Plan Review 2004 has been unable to fully reflect the RSS8 status given its overall reduction in land requirement imposed by the Secretary of State.

Market Rasen – No action to be taken. The level of housing proposed will support the regeneration activities underway in the town. Also the only potential sites which could be considered for de-allocation are sites MR3 and MR4, where the Council has already been in substantial negotiations with developers for a significant period with permissions granted since the base date of the plan.

Caistor – No action to be taken. Caistor has under-provided housing in recent years due to constraints on sites being able to come forward. Also the local community is looking to bring about regeneration activity and have a substantial injection of new blood arising from development. This level of development will help to retain vital services and facilities and help support the new Townscape Heritage Initiative scheme.

Lincoln Policy Area – The level of over-allocation is not considered significant. There remains uncertainty over large strategic allocations in the wider Lincoln Policy Area, namely Swanpool in Lincoln City. Should any shortfall arise in this area, highlighted through Plan, Monitor, Manage then the land identified for longer term development under Policy STRAT 10 will be released.

Rural – This area is felt to have an over-allocation which cannot be supported in policy terms by the Council. An element of over-allocation is felt justified to allow for rural regeneration and community building; however the level of existing land committed by planning permission does already meet many of these aims. The Council has de-allocated all the land it can within this sub-area. To reduce the impact of the over-allocation in this area the Council will rigorously re-consider any proposal seeking a renewal of an extant permission in line with Policy STRAT 11. This will allow the over-allocation to be managed over the plan period. The release of land will also be vigorously managed though Policy STRAT 9.

Location	Site	Address	Area (Ha)	Total No. of Dwgs	Indicative No. of Affordable Dwellings Target	Brownfield or Greenfield land status	Planning Status as at base date of 01/01/2003
Caistor	C7	Navigation Lane	6.30	176	44	Greenfield	None
	C9	Grimsby Road	0.41	9	2	Brownfield	RM PP 9 dwgs
	C10	High Street	0.14	5	1	Brownfield	FUL PP 18 dwgs
	C12	Grimsby Road	0.03	1	n/a	Greenfield	None
	C13	South Street	0.07	3	1	Brownfield	None
	C14	North Street	0.10	4	1	Greenfield	None
	C15	Wold View	0.26	7	2	Brownfield	None
	C16	Caistor Hospital	5.51	130	33	Brownfield	FUL PP 49 dwgs
Gainsborough	G1	The Avenue	8.11	240	60	Greenfield	None
	G3	Woodhill Avenue	6.81	200	50	Greenfield	None
	G7	Greystones Road	1.06	40	10	Greenfield	OUT PP 30 dwgs
	G8	Japan Road	9.50	366	92	Brownfield & Greenfield	None
	G10	Lea Road	1.01	30	8	Greenfield	None
	G11	Foxby Lane	5.66	170	43	Greenfield	None
	G17	Cecil Street	0.07	3	n/a	Brownfield	None
	G18	Acland Street	0.02	1	n/a	Brownfield	None
	G19	Ropery Road	0.05	3	n/a	Brownfield	None
	G21	Northolme	0.76	23	6	Brownfield	None
	G22	Bridge Street	0.38	15	4	Brownfield	None
	G23	Portland Terrace	0.02	1	n/a	Brownfield	None
	G24	North Street	0.09	5	n/a	Brownfield	None
	G25	Corringham Road	2.22	60	15	Brownfield	None
	G26	Church Street	0.52	29	7	Brownfield	None
	G28	Lea Road	0.14	6	n/a	Greenfield	None
	G29	Lea Road	0.22	5	n/a	Greenfield	None
	G31	Nelson Street	0.64	26	7	Brownfield	None
Market Rasen	MR3	Willingham Road	7.48	150	38	Greenfield	None
	MR4	Gallamore Lane	9.27	135	34	Greenfield	None
	MR5	Legsby Road	2.89	82	21	Greenfield & Brownfield	Residual Phase
	MR10	Caistor Road	3.21	80	20	Greenfield	None
	MR11	Walesby Road	0.72	20	4	Greenfield	None
	MR16	Jameson Bridge St	0.06	2	n/a	Brownfield	None
	MR17	Willingham Road	0.27	8	n/a	Brownfield	None
Middle Rasen	Mi5	Mill Lane	0.89	17	4	Greenfield	OUT PP 19 dwgs

 

POLICY STRAT 2 - RESIDENTIAL ALLOCATIONS – LINCOLN POLICY AREA Planning permission for new housing development will be granted on the following sites provided that it properly reflects the guidelines set out in the site development requirements, which form part of this policy for each individual site as indicated in Document 3 accompanying the inset maps. Where site density remains to be determined by planning permission, it should be at the highest practicable level achievable in accordance with Policy RES 1.
Location	Site	Address	Area (Ha)	Total No. of Dwgs	Indicative No. of Affordable Dwellings Target	Brownfield or Greenfield land status	Planning Status as at base date of 01/01/2003
Bardney	B1	Horncastle Road	4.73	96	24	Greenfield	None
	B4	Field Lane	0.56	12	3	Greenfield	None
	B5	Wragby Road	2.00	40	10	Greenfield	None
	B6	Field Lane	0.78	20	5	Greenfield	None
	B7	Wragby Road	0.58	12	3	Greenfield	None
	B8	Abbey Road	1.48	30	8	Brownfield & Greenfield	None
	B9	Station Road	0.19	6	2	Brownfield	None
	B10	Station Road	1.55	30	8	Brownfield	None
Cherry	CW1	Jubilee Close	3.64	95	24	Greenfield	OUT PP 95 dwgs
Willingham	CW2	High Street	0.29	10	3	Greenfield	None
Dunholme	D2a	Adj. A46 by-pass	0.23	9	2	Greenfield	None
	D3	Four Seasons	1.15	26	7	Brownfield	None
Faldingworth	Fa2	Lincoln Road	4.61	38	10	Greenfield	Residual Phase
Fillingham	Fi1	High Street	1.05	15		Greenfield	RM PP 15 dwgs
Fiskerton	F1	Chapel Lane	1.50	35	9	Greenfield	Residual Phase
	F2	Ferns Road	0.39	6	2	Greenfield	FUL PP 5 dwgs
Glentworth	Gh1	Elizabeth Close	1.05	12	3	Greenfield	OUT PP 10 dwgs
Hawthorn Ave (CherryWillingham/Reepham)	HA1	Hawthorn Avenue	1.64	38	10	Greenfield	OUT PP 10 dwgs
Langworth	L2	Scothern Lane	0.69	4	1	Brownfield	None
	L3	Depot Site	1.05	20	5	Brownfield	None
Lincoln Fringe	LF2/3	Wolsey Way	12.48	350	88	Greenfield	None
	LF5	Wragby Road	3.77	66	17	Greenfield	FUL PP 66 dwgs
	LF6	Hawthorn Road	3.82	70	18	Greenfield	OUT PP 70 dwgs
	LF7	Nettleham Road	5.5	65	16	Greenfield	None
Saxilby	S5	St. Andrews Drive	0.67	28	7	Greenfield	FUL PP 28 dwgs
	S6	Highfield Road	0.12	2	n/a	Greenfield	Brownfield
Scothern	Sc3	Northing Road	0.39	3	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 3 dwgs
Southrey	So2	Ferry Road	0.10	2	1	Brownfield	None
Sudbrooke	Su2	Wragby Road	0.06	2	1	Brownfield	None
Welton	W6	Hackthorn	1.35	27	7	Greenfield	FUL PP 27 dwgs

 

Location	Site	Address	Area (Ha)	Total No. of Dwgs	Indicative No. of Affordable Dwellings Target	Brownfield or Greenfield land status	Planning Status as at base date of 01/01/2003
Bishop Norton	BN1	Archer Street	0.53	8	2	Greenfield	OUT PP 8 dwgs
	BN2	Archer Street	0.51	4	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 4 dwgs
	BN3	Archer Street	0.19	4	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 4 dwgs
	BN5	Pingle Lane	0.37	4	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 4 dwgs
	BN6	Pingle Lane	0.36	5	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 5 dwgs
Brookenby	Bk8	Lincoln Road	0.13	3	1	Brownfield	None
Fenton	Fe1	Maltkin Road	0.76	15	4	Greenfield	OUT PP 15 dwgs
Grayingham	Gr2	Main Street	0.23	4	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 4 dwgs
Great Limber	GL2	Grasby Road	0.38	3	1	Greenfield	None
	GL3	High Street	0.88	3	3	Greenfield	None
Hemswell	H4	Weldon Road	0.25	2	1	Greenfield	None
	H5	Dawnhill Lane	1.04	9	2	Greenfield	None
Keelby	K2	Stallingborough Rd	2.22	50	13	Greenfield	None
	K4	Stallingborough Rd	1.25	15	4	Greenfield	None
Kexby	Kx5	High Street	0.42	4	1	Greenfield	FUL PP 4 dwgs
Knaith Park	KP1	Station Road	1.02	17	4	Greenfield	FUL PP 17 dwgs
Laughton	Ln2	Morton Road	1.56	23	6	Greenfield	FUL PP 23 dwgs
Laughterton	La1	Kettlethorpe Road	1.01	15	4	Greenfield	OUT PP 10 dwgs
Legsby	Ly3	Church Farm	0.32	2	1	Greenfield	FUL PP 1 dwg
Lissington	Li1	Wickenby Road	0.91	5	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 5 dwgs
Marton	Ma1	Trent Port Road	0.22	3	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 3 dwgs
	Ma3	Stow Park Meadow	0.57	6	2	Greenfield	FUL PP 5 dwgs
Morton	Mo5	Walkerith Road	1.50	25	6	Greenfield	None
	Mo6	North Street	0.32	4	1	Greenfield	None
	Mo7	Walkerith Road	2.75	32	8	Greenfield	FUL PP 32 dwgs
Nettleton	Ne3	Moortown Road	0.53	6	2	Greenfield	RM PP 6 dwgs
	Ne7	Normanby Road	0.10	1	n/a	Brownfield	RM PP 1 dwg
	Ne8	Wood Farm	1.64	35	9	Greenfield	None
Newton on Trent	NT1	High Street	0.35	2	1	Greenfield	None
North Kelsey	NK4	Cemetery Road	0.64	5	1	Greenfield	None
Osgodby	Og2	Mill Lane	0.31	5	1	Greenfield	None
Scotter	Sr1	Gainsborough Rd	3.47	40	10	Greenfield	FUL PP 12 dwgs
	Sr3	Messingham Rd	2.14	54	14	Greenfield	None
Scotton	Sn1	Northorpe Road	0.25	2	1	Greenfield	None
	Sn4	Crapple Road	0.75	8	2	Greenfield	None
	Sn5	Westgate	1.29	10	3	Greenfield	OUT PP 10 dwgs
	Sn6	Eastgate	0.20	1	n/a	Greenfield	OUT PP 1 dwg
Snitterby	Sb1	School Lane	0.88	8	2	Greenfield	OUT PP 8 dwgs
South Kelsey	SK4	Thornton Road	1.10	20	5	Greenfield	None
	SK8	Thornton Road	1.56	11	3	Greenfield	OUT PP 9 dwgs
	SK9	Waddingham Road	0.72	12	3	Greenfield	None
Swallow	Sw2	Caistor Road	0.70	5	1	Greenfield	OUT PP 5 dwgs
	Sw3	Grimsby Road	0.36	4	1	Greenfield	RM PP 2 dwgs
Upton	U1	Lodge Lane	0.31	7	2	Greenfield	Residual Phase
Waddingham	Wa2	Snitterby Road	0.54	12	3	Greenfield	FUL PP 13 dwgs
Willoughton	Wn1	Northfield Lane	0.43	6	2	Greenfield	FUL PP 3 dwgs
	Wn3	Templefield Road	0.46	2	1	Greenfield	FUL PP 2 dwgs

 

JUSTIFICATION

A39 The sites identified under this policy represent a wide range of sizes, types and locations, including sites in the urban areas and in villages. All sites have been subject to a site assessment exercise for inclusion in the Plan, taking into account a variety of sustainability factors.

A40 Although sites have been identified in the Local Plan First Review which are considered to be suitable for residential development, not all forms of residential development will necessarily be suitable for each one of them. Thus the Council has drawn up a list of Site Development Requirements for each of the allocated sites. These requirements must be met when development takes place and may vary only when clear justifiable reasons are presented. The total numbers of dwellings specified in the policy tables and in the site development requirements should usually be regarded as a minimum. Actual site capacities should take account of the site characteristics and the density guidelines set out in Policy RES 1.

A41 All development on these sites will also be required to meet with all other relevant policies in the Plan.

SETTLEMENT HIERARCHY

A42 Central Government Policy emphasises the need to ensure the retention and creation of vital and viable rural communities, whilst protecting and preserving the countryside. It suggests the main focus of new development should be on existing settlements, promoting sustainable development by strengthening villages and market towns, protecting open space, sustaining local services and reducing the need to travel. It is desirable, therefore, to generally direct new residential development towards main settlements which have the facilities and services to sustain new residents. In other settlements lacking those facilities and services and new residential development will only be permitted under specific circumstances.

A43 The settlements of West Lindsey have been placed in a hierarchy so that any new development can be appropriately located. The decision of where to place the settlements within the hierarchy is based on the size of the settlements, their facilities and services and public transport provision and accessibility to major towns in the District and to Lincoln. The hierarchy is based upon a combination of these factors, not any individual factor, although to be a primary rural settlement the basic life facilities must be available in the village in a sizable proportion and/or have good public transport/accessibility to access a full range of day to day life services.

A44 The concept of a settlement hierarchy is based upon the principle that each settlement in the District can be placed in a category. The categories are:

Towns: as defined in the Structure Plan Review.

Primary Rural Settlements: key service centres meeting most of resident’s day to day needs, and of those villages in its rural hinterland.

Subsidiary Rural Settlements: villages providing a smaller range of day to facilities.

Small Rural Settlements: villages with predominantly only a very small number of facilities.

The Countryside: which will include the very smallest hamlets within it.

JUSTIFICATION

A45 When an application is made for the development of windfall housing, the location of the site will be a primary consideration. The settlements have undergone the aforementioned sustainability assessment based on the existence of the following facilities:

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