Local Development Framework Consultation

I wish to address the matter of SLDC's policy of excluding from consideration in its Land Allocation process of sites of less then .3 hectare and the consequences of that rule for Arnside.

In an email dated 3rd April 2012 the Development Strategy Manager offered a number of reasons in defence of that policy including:-

1. Such a rule was necessary "to keep the exercise manageable- the land allocation process is unsuited to the consideration of very large numbers of very small sites."

2. It was also noted that, "there is a risk that, if small sites with local impacts are pursued through the LDF process, it will slow down delivery of otherwise acceptable sites which could be brought forward much more quickly through the Development Management process".

3. The 0.3 ha rule was also necessary “to meet the strategic objective of affordable housing delivery, [and] be workable in administrative terms…..”

4. “The 0.3 ha threshold was clearly set out in the Emerging Options consultation document earlier this year and did not give rise to objections”.

To take reason 4 first those of us who are lay persons in planning matters did not initially understand the significance of this requirement, nor did we appreciate that it was a locally imposed rule rather than national policy. If we had been aware of these considerations earlier we certainly would have voiced our opposition.

Reasons 1 and 2 appear to be purely pragmatic concerns rather than matters of principle. We haven't the time or the resources to be dealing with a lot of small sites, appears to be the argument. It simplifies and speeds up the process if we set aside small sites and concentrate our attention on those that are larger. However this is to ignore the severely detrimental consequences of the .3 hectare rule which SLDC has seen fit to impose on the process. It acts as an obstacle to sensitive planning and leads inevitably to large developments of housing at the expense of precious open green space.

There may be a case for the application of such a rule in South Lakeland at large, but Arnside is part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty where there is an especial need for sensitive planning. According to government policy, AONBs are bracketed with national parks as areas where the landscape is in special need of protection. Thus Part 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework emphasizes in paragraph 115 “Great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and beauty”.

In the Lake District National Park the threshold is set at 0.1 ha which makes possible the inclusion of small sites. It is surely the case that Arnside, given its AONB status, should be treated similarly. Housing development in this village needs to be, above all else, sensitive, dispersed around the village in small units rather than taking the form of large blocs of housing.

With regard to the important matter of affordable housing referred to in paragraph 3 above Arnside Parish Council and Arnside Parish Plan Trust have worked hard in cooperation with South Lakes Housing to identify no less than 10 small sites around the village where such housing could be accommodated without damaging the landscape with large housing developments. ( See Appendix 1 of Arnside Village Plan-http://arnsideparishplantrust.org/Site/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/arnside-looking-forward-v4.PDF)

Saturday, 13 October 2012