Open Spaces 16 May 2013 - Extracts From the Draft Plan Stratford’s green spaces are the single most important thing that people like about the town. Existing green and open spaces need to be protected and improved, with measures to safeguard and enhance the town’s biodiversity and natural environment – in particular the River Avon corridor and the town’s trees. New developments must include green space, which ideally should be connected to other green space, and new housing developments must provide garden and food growing space, either as part of the property or as nearby allotments. Although the town is generally well supplied with sports facilities, but there is an identified shortfall in the provision of mini and junior football pitches and junior rugby pitches, as well as a shortfall of play space for children and young people. Further housing development will put pressure on play and sports provision, so this Plan includes proposals to secure additional facilities. This Plan also needs to look ahead to likely changes in future years – in particular, the implications of climate change. All new developments need to take account of possible flooding and drainage problems, while buildings must be energy efficient and sustainably constructed. The Plan also aims to encourage the generation of local renewable and low carbon energy. Objectives Suggested Solutions 11A: Ensure adequate open space and green areas 11A-P1 Protect existing green spaces 11A-P2 Provide open space in new developments 11A-P3Wherever possible, new green spaces should connect to other green spaces 11A-P4 Provide new food growing space, such as allotments 11B: Improve open spaces and green areas 11B-P1 Provide suitable protection for local wildlife sites 11B-P2 Include specific proposals in the plan for improvement of existing open spaces and green areas 11C: Maintain the town’s natural environment and protect its biodiversity 11C-P1 Safeguard and enhance the town’s biodiversity and natural habitats 11C-P2 Preserve the River Avon as a biodiversity corridor 11C-P3 Protect existing trees and plant new ones 11D: Ensure high quality sports facilities are available within the town 11D-P1 Ensure suitable play provision within new housing developments 11D-P2 Secure additional sports facilities for young people 11E: Ensure new development is adapted for climate change 11E-P1 Climate change risk assessment of new developments 11F: New developments should address any flooding or drainage problems 11F-P1 Incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) into all new development 11F-P2 All new development proposals to include a drainage strategy 11G: Encourage energy efficiency and sustainable development 11G-P1 New developments should include proposals for exceeding minimum requirements for sustainable construction 11G-P2 Encourage the local generation of renewable and low carbon energy 11G-P3 Prepare Sustainable Stratford Plan Objective 11A: Ensure adequate open spaces and green areas Stratford’s green spaces are the single most important thing that people like about the town. They were highly rated by one in six respondents in the survey of views carried out in early 2012 – a higher proportion than any other aspect of the town. 11A-P1 Protect existing green spaces The following green spaces will be retained and protected. 1.A. All existing Green Belt which falls within the boundary of this plan 2.B. The river and canal corridors 3.C. The Racecourse Meadow Site of Special Scientific Interest and Local Wildlife Site 4.D. Welcombe Hills and Clopton Park Local Nature Reserve 5.E. Bordon Hill Local Wildlife Site 6.F. The stretch of “The Greenway” which falls within this plan 7.G. Shottery Fields 8.H. Firs Garden 9.I. Stratford Recreation Ground 11A-P2 Provide green spaces in allocated development areas Developers must provide for publicly accessible open space in the areas covered by site-specific policies in Section 3. Wherever possible, these green spaces should connect to other green spaces.For sites of [0.4 hectares or more], publicly accessible open space that is appropriate to the character and location of the site should be provided in accordance with Stratford-on-Avon District Council guidance on the provision of open space. 11.1 The site-specific plans prepared to guide the development of certain areas are set out in Section 3. This policy sets a general framework for these site-specific plans, requiring that green space is included within them and that the design of the developments should aim to connect up areas of green space. 11.2 Development proposals may come forward for sites other than those in Section 3. Where appropriate, sites over a minimum size should contribute to the public open space of the town. 11A-P3 Wherever possible, new green spaces should connect to other green spaces. 11A-P4 Provide new food growing space, such as allotments All housing development of more than [25] homes should ensure each home has a minimum of [20] square metres garden or growing space, either as part of the property or in the form of nearby allotments. 11.3 The 2011 Open Space Assessment commissioned by Stratford-on-Avon District Council found under-provision of allotments in Stratford relative to its size. The Town Council, as statutory allotment authority, has been aware of the problem for some time – and in particular has noted that the small gardens provided on a number of recent housing developments has increased demand for allotments. This policy would require developers of larger housing sites to provide gardens or their equivalent in allotments. Objective 11B: Improve open spaces and green areas Although a number of areas have been identified as important green areas, some lack legal protection, while others could benefit from improvements. 11B-P1 Provide protection for local wildlife sites The following areas will be declared Local Nature Reserves. 1.A. Warwick Road Lands Local Wildlife Site 2.B. Bridgetown Woodland and Meadowland 11.4 Although these two areas have been identified as important for retention for the benefit of local wildlife, they currently lack the protected status of a Local Nature Reserve. 11B-P2 Proposals for specific sites Include specific proposals for improving named areas of green or open space within the town. Objective 11C: Maintain the town’s natural environment and protect its biodiversity Woods and copses and other habitats, which include meadows, scrubland and water bodies, enhance and maintain the natural environment. The River Avon is an important local biodiversity corridor, but a wide variety of habitats is essential for protecting biodiversity. Trees in particular bring a number of benefits, many of which will be more important in future years because of climate change. They reduce the effects of flash flooding, they provide shade and keep places cooler in summer, and they help to preserve biodiversity. Trees also create a sense of place and have a positive impact on people’s physical and mental health. 11C-P1 Safeguard and enhance the town’s biodiversity and natural habitats Proposals for new developments should take into account the Local Biodiversity Action Plan and show what effect, if any, they will have on local biodiversity. Where plans involve a loss of biodiversity or habitat, appropriate habitat should be created in mitigation. 11.5 Habitats such as woods, meadows, water and scrubland can be found with the town. It is important to preserve a wide range of habitats if the town’s biodiversity is to be maintained and enhanced. Proposals for new developments should take into account the priorities of the Local Biodiversity Action Plan and where there is expected to be a loss of biodiversity, appropriate habitats should be created in mitigation. 11C-P2 Preserve the River Avon as a biodiversity corridor Development proposals within the Zone 3 flood plain of the River Avon will have to show that they will not damage the river’s role as a biodiversity corridor or linkages between the river and other important biodiversity sites. 11.6 Development should aim to support and enhance the biodiversity value of the River Avon corridor and recognise the importance of river meadows in flood management. 11C-P3 Protect existing trees and plant new ones All new development will be expected to protect mature trees. Where this is not possible, new trees should be planted to replace those lost. New developments should incorporate the planting of appropriate native trees and shrubs in their plans. 11.7 Plans for new developments should include areas for trees and shrubs, which should be integrated into the overall purpose and structure of the development. Where an area for development includes existing mature trees, plans should be based on the assumption that these trees will be preserved. Objective 11D: Ensure high quality play and sports facilities are available within the town The town is generally well supplied with sports facilities, but there is an identified shortfall in the provision of mini and junior football pitches and junior rugby pitches. There is also a shortfall of play space for children and young people against Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s recommended standards. Further housing development will put pressure on play and sports provision. 11D-P1 Ensure suitable play provision within new housing developments Developers must provide for publicly accessible open space in the housing developments covered by site-specific policies in Section 3 and for any windfall sites in excess of [0.4 hectares] except where dwellings are being provided solely for the use of elderly people. 11.8 Where sites are being developed for housing, provision should be made for play areas of a suitable design and standard, either on site or through contribution by the developer for off-site provision. 11D-P2 Secure additional sports facilities for young people Developer contributions will be sought for the acquisition and development of mini and junior football and junior rugby pitches. Objective 11E: Ensure new development is adapted for climate change For Stratford over the next 20 years, climate change is likely to mean increased risk of extreme weather: heavy rain leading to flooding, heat waves which threaten health, especially for older people. Beyond Stratford, efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change will tend to increase the costs of fossil fuels, affecting energy and transport bills. Policy 11E-P1 Climate change risk assessment of new developments All new development should be subject to an assessment of the risks posed by climate change – in particular, the risks posed by flooding, heat waves and higher energy costs. Where the assessment highlights risks, developers will be expected to include actions to mitigate such risks in their development proposals. 11.10 Risk assessments should be undertaken by a suitably qualified assessor who is independent of the developer. Developers may prepare their own proposals for mitigation of identified risks, but these proposals should show how the proposals relate to generally accepted good practice. Objective 11F: New developments should address any flooding or drainage problems Stratford has experienced many incidents of flooding over the past few years: major flooding along the River Avon and more small-scale flooding elsewhere in the town. New development must not make flooding worse. New developments should therefore aim to reduce the risk of flooding in the area through the layout and design of the development, and through the appropriate application of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS). 11F-P1 Incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) into all new development All new developments must incorporate Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems to reduce the run-off of surface water. 11.11 The SUDS must be designed to complement existing drainage systems and must meet any requirements set by the relevant regulatory authorities. New developments should seek to maximise opportunities for ground water retention and minimise the risk of storm flooding. 11F-P2 All new development proposals to include a drainage strategy All proposals for the development must include a Drainage Strategy which sets out the approach to SUDS, the approach to foul drainage, and any implications for existing drainage systems. 11.12 Applicants will be expected to have sent the Drainage Strategy for comment to the relevant regulatory authorities – currently, the Environment Agency, Severn Trent Water, and Warwickshire County Council – before it is submitted with a development application. Objective 11G: Encourage energy efficiency and sustainable development Stratford’s energy mainly comes from electricity and gas. One of the main high pressure gas grid pipelines runs close to Stratford, but the town is further from the main electricity grid, and is served by a spur, making it vulnerable to outage. Significant growth of the town – and its demand for electricity – might therefore require reinforcement of supply. We must also look for opportunities to improve the sustainability of the town as a whole – not only improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings but also seeking to reduce carbon emissions from transport and other sources. 11G-P1 New buildings: sustainable construction All new developments will meet the minimum requirements in force at the time through the Code for Sustainable Homes and its equivalent for non-domestic buildings. Development plans for sites in Section 3 will be expected to include proposals for exceeding these standards 11.13 New buildings can be designed to minimise their use of energy and, in some circumstances, to generate energy from renewable sources. Water resources nationally are under pressure and the government predicts that the future will see less water available for people, businesses and the environment, so building design should also aim to minimise the use of water. 11G-P2 Encourage the local generation of renewable and low carbon energy New developments should include proposals for maximising opportunities to install renewable and low carbon energy systems, including district-heating schemes. 11.14 New development sites offer opportunities to include in their design the installation of renewable or low carbon energy systems which would be difficult to install once the development is completed. All development proposals will be expected to include appropriate renewable or low carbon energy systems. 11G-P3 Prepare Sustainable Stratford Plan Developer contributions will be sought to meet the costs of preparing and implementing a Sustainable Stratford Plan. 11.15 It is standard practice to require developers to prepare travel plans for proposed new developments. The proposed Sustainable Stratford Plan will build on these initiatives, seeking to encourage: •the use of local shops and facilities •reuse and recycling of waste, including commercial waste •walking, cycling and the use of public transport •actions to reduce the use of energy and water
Posted on: Tue, 02 Jul 2013 06:14:45 +0000
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