Written Statement
PART ONE:
BACKGROUND AND STRATEGIC POLICIES
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
• The purpose of the Local Plan
• The Local Plan Timescale
• Key Stages of Consultation
• Format of the Plan
• Using the Local Plan
• Supplementary Planning Guidance
• Sustainability Appraisal
• Monitoring
CHAPTER 2: THE FUTURE OF THE VALE TO 2011
The Context for the Local Plan
The Character of the Vale
The National Context
The Regional Context
The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
The Council.s Vision for the Vale
The Aims and Goals of the Local Plan
CHAPTER 3: THE LOCAL PLAN STRATEGY
Introduction and Planning Context
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code GS: General
Strategy)
The Location of Development
• Developments in Existing Settlements (GS1)
• Development in the Countryside (GS2)
• Development in the Oxford Green Belt (GS3, GS4)
Making Efficient Use of Land and Buildings
• Land and Buildings within Settlements (GS5)
• Redevelopment of Buildings Outside Settlements (GS6)
• Re-use of Buildings Outside Settlements (GS7, GS8, GS9)
Minimising the Need to Travel by Car and Reducing the Impact of Traffic (GS10)
CHAPTER 4: GENERAL POLICIES FOR DEVELOPMENT
Introduction and Planning Context
• The Structure of this Chapter
• Government Advice and Structure Plan Policies
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code
DC: Development Control)
The Quality of New Development
• Design (DC1)
• Energy and Resource Conservation (DC2)
• Design Against Crime (DC3)
• Public Art (DC4)
• Access (DC5)
• Landscaping (DC6)
• Waste Collection and Recycling (DC7)
• The Provision of Infrastructure and Services (DC8)
• The Impact of Development on Neighbouring Uses (DC9)
• The Effect of Neighbouring or Previous Uses on New Development (DC10)
Protecting Natural Resources and Reducing Flood Risk
• Agricultural Land (DC11)
• Mineral Resources
• Water Quality and Resources (DC12)
• Flood Risk and Water Run-off (DC13, DC14)
• Environmental Impact Assessments
Control of Specific Types of Development
• Advertisements and Signs• Shopfronts (DC19)- Outdoor Advertisements (DC15)
- Illuminated Advertisements (DC16)
- Advertisements on Listed Buildings (DC17)
- Advertisements in Conservation Areas and the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (DC18)
- Display of Advertisements Without Express Consent
• External Lighting (DC20)
CHAPTER 5: TRANSPORT
Introduction and Planning Context
• Structure of this Chapter
• Planning Guidance from Central Government
• Regional Policy Background
• The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
• The Local Transport Plan for Oxfordshire
• Local Consultation
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code
TR: Transport)
Integrated Transport and Land Use Studies
• Abingdon Integrated Transport Study and Strategy
• Wantage and Grove Integrated Transport and Land Use Study (TR1)
• Didcot Integrated Transport and Land Use Study
• Implications of the Integrated Transport Strategies for New Development (TR2, TR3)
• The Vale.s Main Settlements and Didcot
• The National Cycle Network (TR4, TR5)
• Public Car Parking In the Main Settlements (TR6)
• Bus Services
Rail Services . Grove Station (TR7)
Public Transport Interchange Facilities (TR8)
New Transportation Initiatives
• Rural Traffic . .CountryWays.
• Home Zones
Transport Assessments and Travel Plans In
Association with Major Development (TR9)
Improving the Highway Network
• Marcham Bypass
• A34 Multi-Modal Study
Lorries and Roadside Services (TR10)
PART TWO:
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
CHAPTER 6: HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
Introduction and Planning Context
• Planning Guidance from Central Government
• The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code HE: Historic
Environment)
Conservation Areas
• Preservation and Enhancement: Implications for Development (HE1, HE2)
• Detailed Plans and Drawings
Historic Buildings (HE3, HE4, HE5,
HE6, HE7)
Historic Parks and Gardens (HE8)
Archaeology (HE9, HE10, HE11)
CHAPTER 7: NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Introduction and Planning Context
• Nature Conservation
• Landscapes of the Vale
• The Local Plan and its Role in Safeguarding the Vale.s Natural Environment
• Planning Guidance from Central Government
• The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code NE: Natural
Environment)
Nature Conservation and Biodiversity
• The Need for Ecological Appraisals (NE1)
• Protection of Sites of Special Nature Conservation Importance (NE2)
• Geologically Important Sites (NE3)
• Other Sites of Nature Conservation Value (NE4)
• Protection of Species (NE5)
• Enhancement and Creation of Habitats
Countryside and Landscape Protection
• The Landscapes of the Vale
• The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NE6)
• The North Vale Corallian Ridge (NE7)
• The Landscape Setting of Oxford (NE8)
• The Lowland Vale (NE9)
• Urban Fringes and Countryside Gaps (NE10)
• Areas for Landscape Enhancement (NE11)
• Great Western Community Forest (NE12)
PART THREE:
SOCIAL ISSUES
CHAPTER 8: HOUSING
Introduction and Planning Context
• The Structure of this Chapter
• Planning Guidance from Central Government
• Regional Policy Background
• The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
• Local Consultation
Policies and Proposals (Policy code H: Housing)
The New Housing to be Provided in the Vale
to 2011
• The Amount of New Housing
• The Distribution of New Housing
• The Managed Release of Sites (H1)
New Housing Sites Identified in the Local Plan
• Housing Sites in Abingdon (H2)
• Housing Sites in Botley (H3)
• Housing Sites in Faringdon (H4)
• Strategic Housing Site West of Grove (H5)
• Housing Sites in Wantage (H6)
• Major Development West of Didcot (H7)
• Housing on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus (H8)
• The former Dow Agro Sciences site in Letcombe Regis (H9)
New Housing Development on Sites not Identified in the Local Plan
• Development in the Five Main Settlements (H10)
• Development in the Larger Villages (H11)
• Development in the Smaller Villages (H12)
• Development Elsewhere (H13)
The Efficient Use of Land and Buildings
• The Sub-division of Dwellings (H14)
• Housing Densities (H15)
• Size of Dwelling and Lifetime Homes (H16)
• Affordable Housing (H17)
• Affordable Housing on Rural Exception Sites (H18)
• Special Housing Needs (H19)
• Accommodation for Dependent Relatives (H20)
• Mobile Homes Providing Permanent Residential Accommodation
• Mobile Homes Providing Temporary Residential Accommodation (H21)
• Sites for Gypsies (H22)
• Travelling Show People
• Open Space in New Housing Development (H23)
• Extensions to Dwellings and the Erection of Ancillary Buildings and Structures (H24)
• Garden Extensions (H25)
CHAPTER NINE: COMMUNITY SERVICES AND FACILITIES
Introduction and Planning Context
• Role of the District Council and Others
• Planning Guidance from Central Government
• The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
• The Local Plan Policies
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code CF: Community Facilities)
• Protection of Existing Services and Facilities (CF1)
• Provision of New Community Services and Facilities (CF2)
• Childcare Provision
• Cemetery Provision (CF3, CF4)
• Public Houses (CF5)
• Telecommunications- Masts and Antennae (CF6)
- Satellite Dishes (CF7)• Development for Utility Companies on Operational Land (CF8)
• Proposed Reservoir (CF9)
• Production of Renewable Energy on a Commercial Basis (CF10)
CHAPTER TEN: LEISURE
Introduction and Planning Context
• Planning Guidance from Central Government
• The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
• The District Council.s Cultural Strategy
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code L: Leisure)
Provision for Leisure in Association with
New Development
Protecting Open Space within Settlements
• Playing Space (L1)
• Urban Open Space and Green Corridors ( L2, L3)
• Allotments (L4)
• Regional and Sub-Regional Leisure Facilities (L5)
• Major Leisure and Entertainment Facilities (L6)
• Small-scale Local Leisure Facilities (L7) (L8)
The Provision of Countryside Recreation
Facilities (L9)
Safeguarding and Improving Public Rights
of Way (L10)
• Safeguarding Long-Distance Recreational Footpaths
- The Ridgeway (L11)
- The Thames Path (L12)
- The d.Arcy Dalton Way• Proposed Park at Folly Hill, Faringdon (L13)
• The Wilts and Berks Canal (L14, L15)
• Golf Courses (L16)
• The River Thames (L17, L18)
• Noisy Sports (L19)
• The Keeping & Rearing of Horses for Recreational Purposes (L20)
PART FOUR:
ECONOMIC ISSUES
CHAPTER 11: ECONOMY OF THE VALE
Introduction and Planning Context
• Planning Guidance from Central Government
• Regional Guidance
• The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
• Regional and County Economic Development Strategies
• The Vale.s Economic Development Strategy
• Current Provision for Employment.generating Development in the Vale
• Local Plan Issues Report
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code E: Economy)
Sites for Business Development
• The Main Settlements
• Abingdon (E1)
• Botley Area (E2)
• Faringdon (E3)
• Wantage and Grove (E4)
• The Didcot Area- Milton Park (E5)• Local Rural Site (E8)
- Disused Milton Reservoir and Pumping Station (E6)
- Harwell Science and Innovation Campus (E7)
• New Development on Sites not Identified in the Local Plan (E9)
• Protecting Key Sites for Business Use- Key Business Sites (E10)
- Rural Multi-user Sites (E11)
- Large Campus Style Sites (E12)• Ancillary Uses on Key Employment Sites (E13)
• The Retention of Small Scale Commercial Premises in Settlements (E14)
• Steventon Storage Facility (former Home Office Stores Site, Steventon) (E15)
• The Countryside and Its Economy- New Buildings Required for Agricultural Purposes (E16)
- Farm Diversification (E17)
- Farm Shops (E18, E19)
- The Keeping, Rearing and Training of Horses (E20, E21)• Minimising the Need to Travel by Car
- Working from Home (E22)
CHAPTER TWELVE: SHOPPING AND TOWN CENTRES
Introduction and Planning Context
• Structure of this Chapter
• Planning Guidance from Central Government
• Regional Policy Background
• The Oxfordshire Structure Plan
• Shopping Study Review (1991) and Further Review (1996)
• Local Consultation
• Town Centre Surveys
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code S: Shopping)
• The Location of New Retail Development
• The Sequential Approach to the Location of New Retail Development
• Hierarchy of New Retail Provision (S1)
• Town Centre Policies
• Primary and Secondary Shopping Frontages for Abingdon and Wantage (S2, S3)
• Non Retail uses in Town Centre (S4, S5)
• Upper Floors in Town Centres (S6)
• The Bury Street Precinct, Abingdon (S7)
• The Limborough Road Area, Wantage (S8)
• Faringdon Market Place (S9)
• Town Centre Approaches (S10, S11)
• Policies for Local Shopping Centres (S12)
• Village and Other Small Local Shops (S13, S14)
• Garages and Garage Shops (S15)
• Other Shops/Retail Uses
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: TOURISM
Introduction and Planning Context
Background to the Local Plan Policies
• Tourism in the Vale
Policies and Proposals (Policy Code T: Tourism)
• General Policy (T1)
• Major Tourism Facilities
• Tourist Facilities and Attractions
• Museums and Heritage Centres
• Associated Tourist Facilities in the Countryside (T2)
• Visitor Accommodation- Hotels, Guest Houses and Public Houses (T3)
- Self Catering Accommodation
- Bed and Breakfast
- Camping and Caravanning (T4)
APPENDICES
1. Conservation Areas
2. Historic Parks and Gardens
3. Scheduled Ancient Monuments
4. Nature Conservation Designated Sites
5. The Content of the Planning and Development
Brief and Design Statements for the Major Development West of Didcot