Core Strategy Preferred Options document - Amazon Web Services

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Strategies, Activities and Actions – The Green Belt Over 12,700 hectares of Rochford District is designated as Metropolitan Green Belt. ‘Green Belt’ is a planning designation, not a description of land. Land can be brownfield, i.e. it has been developed in the past, but is still part of the Metropolitan Green Belt. Previous community involvement has established that local people are, in the main, opposed to the release of Green Belt land for development. However, in general people are also opposed to additional development within the established settlements. Previous community involvement exercises have made it clear to us that the District’s residents consider the protection of the Green Belt to be very important. We acknowledge this and will seek to minimise the amount of Green Belt land released by prioritising land outside of the Green Belt for development, and, where Green Belt release is unavoidable, ensuring that developments occur at a reasonably high density to limit the amount of Green Belt land developed. The term ‘Green Belt’ refers to a planning designation and is not necessarily a description of the land. Land designated as Green Belt can include, primarily for historical reasons, developed land and brownfield sites. As such, whilst it is considered that all land currently designated as Green Belt helps achieve the five Green Belt purposes as set out in PPG2 to at least a degree, some Green Belt land is more worthy of protection than others. We will examine the degree to which current Green Belt land is helping to achieve the purposes of the Green Belt when considering reallocating the land. We consider that there are a number of strategic buffers that are particularly worthy of mention as they play a key role in preventing the coalescence of settlements and thus help preserve the identity of the District’s towns and villages. GB1 Green Belt Protection – Preferred Option We will seek to direct development away from the Green Belt, minimise the reallocation of Green Belt land and will prioritise the protection of Green Belt land based on how well the land helps achieve the purposes of the Green Belt. The need to prevent the coalescence of individual settlements, in order to help preserve their identities, will be given particular consideration. Rural Diversification, Green Tourism and Recreational Uses Whilst the District is predominantly Green Belt, only 3% of its VAT registered businesses are agricultural – less than the regional and national averages. It is recognised that diversification into other forms of economic activity is necessary if farms are to remain viable. There is concern that our current restrictive approach to the Green Belt will not allow the District to achieve its vision of green tourism developing in the District and may hinder rural diversification. However, any over relaxation of Green Belt policies would be harmful to the character of the Green Belt, undermine the purposes of including land within it, and be contrary to sustainability objectives. A balance needs to be struck. 42
Strategies, Activities and Actions – The Green Belt GB2 Rural Diversification and Recreational Uses – Preferred Option We will continue our restrictive approach to development within the Green Belt, but with some relaxation for rural diversification. Forms of rural diversification that will be considered acceptable in appropriate circumstances in the Green Belt include: • Conversion of existing buildings for small-scale employment use • Green tourism • Outdoor recreation and leisure activities • Conversion of buildings to bed and breakfasts / hotels In considering proposals for the above, issues pertaining to the purposes of the Green Belt and wider sustainability issues will be considered, but we will make allowances for the fact that public transport is limited within rural areas of the District. Retail (with the exception of farm shops) and residential development will not be considered acceptable forms of rural diversification in the Green Belt. The Green Belt provides leisure opportunities for the District, and we will allow development that is essential for outdoor sport and recreation activities considered appropriate in the Green Belt, e.g. changing rooms connected with a sports use. Such essential facilities will be expected to have a minimal impact on the openness of the Green Belt. GB2 – Alternative Options Option Why is it not preferred? Allow greater diversification of existing businesses in rural areas. To allow greater diversification would require relaxation of Green Belt policy to a degree that it would have a negative impact on the character of the Green Belt. It may also undermine sustainability objectives. 43 Much of the District’s Green Belt land has (in addition to the characteristics which warrant its designation as such) other constraints which make its development even less appropriate. Parts of the Green Belt, for example, are of ecological importance, have special landscape qualities, and / or are at risk of flooding. The proportion of local businesses involved in agricultural activities is low; constituting a fraction over 3% of VAT registered businesses in the District compared to national and regional figures of a fraction over 5% and over 5.5%, respectively.
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Page 10 and 11: Introduction 3. Strategies, Activit
Page 12 and 13: Introduction What you told us previ
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Page 16 and 17: Introduction Priority Role of Core
Page 18 and 19: Introduction County Strategies Esse
Page 20 and 21: Introduction • Looking Back and M
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