The fundamental tenet of the new planning policy framework will be a presumption that development proposals which are clearly sustainable should be supported and planning permission granted. Only in specific cases where sites have been identified for protection from development within an adopted Local Plan should such development proposals be refused. In that sense, should an otherwise non-designated site be demonstrated to be sustainable, then the default position to a planning application should be “yes”. The key issue in this sense therefore will be, “what is sustainable development” and how will the Government and individual Local Planning Authorities define it when considering proposals against this policy presumption?
Spawforths have consistently sought to promote the most sustainable sites for development in sites across the country, on the basis that the planning system for many years has sought to deliver sustainable development and consequently resist proposals in unsustainable locations. Throughout the evolution of Local Development Frameworks in various Authorities, Spawforths have successfully identified sites of sustainable type and location and proven the case for allocations for sites which had previously been rejected by previous development plans.
Under this new emerging system, each development proposal, both at a strategic and planning application stage, will need to demonstrate that it is sustainable. In that sense, sustainability relates not simply to environmental and locational factors, but also in the sense of social and economic sustainability, the latter of which the emerging planning system places increased importance.
As a result, Spawforths are able to prepare and submit a robust and credible Sustainability Assessment for each site we promote to the Local Planning Authority. These assessments consider each site consistently against a number of key sustainability objectives falling under the key themes of economy, environment and social. On this basis we can demonstrate whether a site is sustainable and, consequently whether the Government’s “presumption in favour of development” applies. Given that development will rarely be promoted on sites which are specifically protected from development, this assessment will form a critical basis on which the principle of development in each will be considered. A sustainable development should therefore mean a successful planning application and a proposal which is deliverable.
Case Study
A presumption in favour of sustainable development is not a fundamental shift from a previous unsustainable approach to planning and development. However it places much more significance on this issue and gives it a priority in the decision making process, unless other adopted policies exist to prohibit development in a location.
Spawforths’ recently obtained outline planning permission for a significant development at Harworth and Bircoates in Bassetlaw, following the successful representations to the emerging development plan. The decision by the Council recognised the role of the development in regenerating a former colliery and in supporting the existing settlement in delivering additional retail and services. In that sense the development represented a sustainable development and enabled the Council to deliver a significant part of their housing requirements within a largely brownfield site. As part of the submission to the Council, reports were prepared which successfully demonstrated the sustainability of the site. Clearly the ability to show a site to be sustainable will prove crucial under the emerging national policy context and Spawforths are able to produce robust and credible assessments to accompany planning applications and establish this key point as part of the submission.
For more information on the Harworth project follow this link to our projects section.