Proposed Rippingale Neighbourhood Plan
Following over four years in formulating the proposed Rippingale Neighbourhood Plan, with extensive consultation through a Village questionnaire, public presentations, Parish Council and other public meetings plus a comprehensive Neighbourhood Profile exercise, we have now reached the stage where we are required to undertake a mandatory regulatory 6-week consultation with residents; this will run from 1 June to 12 July. A major event to support this will be an all-day consultation meeting on Saturday 26 June in the Village Hall 1000 – 1700, with presentations on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan to be given at 1000, 1300 and 1500. During the consultation period the Plan and associated documents will be available on the Village website, on request in hard copy and available in hard copy on the 26 June for viewing.
The Government’s policy is that communities have powers to shape housing and associated development through neighbourhood planning - a right introduced through the Localism Act 2011. A Neighbourhood Plan should set out a vision for an area and planning policies for the use and development of land; the Plan does however have to adhere to local and national planning frameworks. The Plan will form part of the statutory planning framework for the area, and the policies and proposals contained within the plan will be used in the determination of planning applications.
The document must reflect the views of the residents of the Plan Area to influence the type, scale and design of any development which may be proposed in the future; this is an opportunity to ensure the Village remains a vibrant forward-looking community, demographically balanced with good, sustainable facilities. The Plan also affords an opportunity to protect and enhance the facilities and natural features that are most valued; the rural aspect of the Parish with its open views and green spaces; and important historical monuments and buildings. It also aims to protect important farmland and associated wildlife. The Plan will used by SKDC planning officers and elected members of the local authority in assessing planning applications, by applicants as they prepare planning applications for submission to the local authority and by the Parish Council in consideration of planning applications in the neighbourhood.
To influence this process the proposed Plan identifies a number of policies which have been produced to support a vision of the Village in the future and associated Plan objectives. These set the parameters for development. The proposed policies are set out below:
Residential Housing: Within the Village settlement potential for infill and brownfield development is normally to be of no more than three houses but could be if warranted up to a total of 10 mixed residences spread across the Village. On the edge of the Village proposals for developments of up to 30 houses will be considered if there is clear evidence of substantial support by the Village residents and this meets proven need for a particular type of housing. Affordable housing within these developments will be supported dependent on an identified need. Any development has to be sustainable and deliver essential infrastructure.
Design and Materials: Any new building or refurbishment by developers has to take into account the distinctive character of the Village including with regard to brickwork, windows and roofing and maintain an appropriate setting and scale.
Important Views: As the Village has distinctive landscape settings and villagescapes, certain views out of and into the Village have been identified for protection from over intrusive development and these should not be obstructed.
Community Facilities: Proposals involving the loss of sole and viable local community facilities will be resisted. Proposals for new community businesses and facilities will be supported.
Environmental and Green Infrastructure Protection: Development has to avoid or mitigate against a detrimental impact on green infrastructure, local nature and irreplaceable habitats. These are identified within the Plan and include woodlands, trees, hedgerows, footpaths and bridleways and water courses.
Local Green Space: Designated local Green Spaces and access to them are to be conserved and protected from development when relevant.
Heritage: Identified unlisted structures within the Village should ordinarily be preserved and any development affecting them has to be beneficial and mitigated.
Employment, Rural Economy and Visitor Economy Policy: Employment generating development proposals, generally within surplus infill land and brownfield sites within the built-up area, including tourism, will be supported. These are to be small scale, have acceptable traffic and parking needs and have no detrimental impact on the character of the Parish.
Flood Risk Policy: Development proposals have to be properly Flood Risk assessed, be in the lowest flood risk areas, avoid increasing flood risk elsewhere and with surface water effectively managed.
Broadband and Connectivity Policy: Development proposals are to enhance existing communications infrastructure, enabling residents to access reliable internet and communication systems. This infrastructure should be where viable be unobtrusive and have no unacceptable detrimental impact on the natural or built environment.
Any comments on the proposed plan will be analysed and addressed and any amendments made to the proposed Plan as necessary. These comments should be directed to the Chairman of the Parish Council at chairmanrpc4@gmail.com or 07908 540683.
Next steps. The Plan will be submitted to SKDC for consideration and a further 6-week consultation with the Village will take place. After this an Independent Examiner will verify the Plan; once this is achieved a referendum on the Plan will be organised by SKDC with the electorate of the Parish of Rippingale to gauge the acceptance of the document.
View or download a copy of the Rippingale Neighbourhood Draft Plan for consultation