Issue and Options 2023
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New searchQ-C11. Please select the option which is most appropriate for South Warwickshire Option C11b. As indicated in the Issues and Options consultation document, there have been recent issues with sewage leaks in some locations across South Warwickshire. This is a common problem across many parts of the country. One of the causes of sewage pollutions is that some sewage treatment works are already at, or beyond, capacity. As such, new development can further exacerbate this issue. One option for addressing this issue would be for the Local Plan to impose ‘Grampian conditions’29 whereby the new housing should not be occupied until there is sufficient capacity in the sewage treatment infrastructure to deal with the sewage waste arising from the development (and from other anticipated development in the locality). In the context of the Cotswolds National Landscape, it is important to note that one of the ‘special qualities’ of the National landscape is the ‘river valleys…with high quality water’.30 29 https://www.planningofficers.org.uk/uploads/news/UseOfGrampianConditions.pdf 30 The special qualities of the Cotswolds National Landscape are listed in Chapter 2 of the Cotswolds AONB Management Plan 2018-2023
Q-D2.1. Please select all options which are appropriate for South Warwickshire Option D2b. Developing design guides and / or design codes for specific places will be particularly important for the Cotswolds National Landscape. Several of the ‘special qualities’ of the National Landscape relate to the built environment, including: . The unifying character of the limestone geology – its visible presence in the landscape and use as a building material; . Variations in the colour of the stone from one part of the AONB to another , which add a vital element of local distinctiveness. . Distinctive settlements, developed in the Cotswold vernacular (with) high architectural quality and integrity. As such, these are amongst the aspects of the area’s natural beauty which make the area distinctive and nationally important. Design guides and / or design guides covering the Cotswolds National Landscape section of South Warwickshire should have regard to these special qualities and to relevant guidance published by the Cotswolds National Landscape Board, including: . Cotswolds AONB Management Plan;31 . Cotswolds AONB Landscape Character Assessment;32 . Cotswolds AONB Landscape Strategy & Guidelines;33 . Cotswolds AONB Local Distinctiveness & Landscape Change.34 Regard should also be given to the Cotswolds Natural Character Area Profile.35 31 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2018) Cotswolds AONB Management Plan 2018-2023. Policy CE3 (Local Distinctiveness) is particularly relevant in this regard. (N.B. A new AONB Management Plan, covering the period 2023-2025 has recently been adopted by the Board and soon be published on the Board’s website). 32 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2004) Cotswolds AONB Landscape Character Assessment. 33 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2016) Cotswolds AONB Landscape Strategy & Guidelines. 34 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2004) Cotswolds AONB Local Distinctiveness and Landscape Change. 35 Natural England (2015) Natural Character Area (NCA) Profile 107: Cotswolds. The Cotswolds National Landscape also extends into: NCA 95 (Northamptonshire Uplands); NCA 96 (Dunsmore & Feldon); and NCA 107 (Severn & Avon Vales). Q-D3. Please select all options which are appropriate for South Warwickshire Option D3c. This is the most relevant option because different settlements and / or localities are likely to have different levels of density. The principle of basing density ranges upon the prevailing characteristics of existing places is particularly important in locations such as the Cotswolds National Landscape. For example, that should influence the density range include: Settlement type o Market town o Compact village o Dispersed village o Compact hamlet o Dispersed hamlet o Settlement form: Settlement type o Linear o Radial o Organic o Planned External form o Skyline o Settlement edge (soft / hard) Further information on these topics is provided in the Board publication ‘Cotswolds AONB Local Distinctiveness and Landscape Change’.36 The issue of density is also relevant for settlements within the setting of the Cotswolds National Landscape as the density of development may influence the extent to which the development affects views from the National Landscape. When setting density ranges, it is also important to ensure that the density range makes sufficient provision for green infrastructure, open / recreational space and climate mitigation and adaptation measures. 36 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2004) Cotswolds AONB Local Distinctiveness and Landscape Change. Chapter 4. Q-D5. Should we continue with the approach to include a high-level strategic policy within the Part 1 plan and to utilise heritage assessments to inform the growth strategy, and delay detailed policies to Part 2? Yes. The Local Plan should acknowledge that cultural heritage (including the historic environment) is one of the factors that contributes to the natural beauty of the Cotswolds National Landscape. It should specify that this topic would be taken into account when assessing the potential impact of proposed developments on the Cotswolds National Landscape. Relevant ‘special qualities’ of the National Landscape include:37 .Significant archaeological, prehistoric and historic associations dating back 6,000 years, including Neolithic stone monuments, ancient drove roads, Iron Age forts, Roman villas, ridge and furrow fields, medieval wool churches and country estates and parks. .A vibrant heritage of cultural associations, including the Arts and Crafts movement of the 19th and 20th centuries, famous composers and authors and traditional events such as the Cotswolds Olympicks, cheese rolling and woolsack races. 37 The special qualities of the Cotswolds National Landscape are listed in Chapter 2 of the Cotswolds AONB Management Plan 2018-2023
Q-W1. Should the Part 1 plan include a policy on pollution? Yes. In the context of the Cotswolds National Landscape, two particularly relevant issues and light pollution and noise pollution, as these adversely affect the dark skies and tranquillity of the National Landscape, which are two of the area’s ‘special qualities’. The policy on pollution should explicitly address these two forms of pollution. The supporting text should explicitly address the relevance / significance of these two forms of pollution in relation to the Cotswolds National Landscape. The issue of tranquillity and dark skies are addressed in Policies CE4 and CE5, respectively of the Cotswolds AONB Management Plan 2018-2023,38 which provides some useful wording in relation to noise and light pollution. They are also addressed in the Board’s position statements on: (i) tranquillity39;and (ii) dark skies and artificial light40. We recommend that the supporting text for the pollution policy should explicitly refer to these two position statements. With regards to road traffic, we recommend that the supporting text for the pollution policy should explicitly refer to the ‘Guidelines for the Assessment of Road Traffic’, in particular, the two ‘rule of thumb’ thresholds specified in paragraph 3.1 for Environmental Impact Assessments: 1. Where traffic flows will increase by more than 30% (or the number of heavy goods vehicles will increase by more than 30%). 2. Sensitive areas where traffic flows have increased by 10% or more. In other words, the policy should specify that an EIA would normally be required where a proposed development would result in an increase in traffic flows that exceed these thresholds. In this context, the Cotswolds National Landscape should be treated as a ‘sensitive area’. The Board has addressed this issue in it’s Tranquillity Position Statement which applies the following thresholds:41 . Rule 1: Where traffic flows will increase by more than 30% (or the number of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will increase by more than 30%). . Rule 2: Any other sensitive areas where traffic flows have increased by 10% or more. 38 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2018) Cotswolds AONB Management Plan 2018-2023. Policies CE4 and CE5. 39 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2019) Tranquillity Position Statement. 40 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2019) Dark Skies and Artificial Light Position Statement 41 Cotswolds National Landscape Board (2019) Tranquillity Position Statement. Section 4.5. Q-W4. Please add any comments you wish to make about a healthy, safe and inclusive South Warwickshire. The Local Plan should make explicit reference to Natural England’s new Green Infrastructure Framework42 and, ideally, require development to comply with the standards and other guidance that is set out in the Framework. 42 https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/GreenInfrastructure/Home.aspx
