Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council

GREEN BELT AND THE RURAL ECONOMY
GREEN BELT AND THE RURAL ECONOMY
9.21
The Council intends to prepare a landscape
character assessment, in accordance with best
practice advice from the Countryside Agency, and
may produce a Supplementary Planning Document
which will identify:
• Guidelines for the design and location of new
buildings and other development in the
Green Belt;
• The key landscape, bio-diversity and ecological
qualities of the Green Belt which will need to be
protected and enhanced; and
• The circumstances in which the Council may ask
developers to enhance the rural landscape.
IMPACT OF NEW DEVELOPMENT ON THE WIDER
AMENITIES OF THE COUNTRYSIDE
9.22
Knowsley’s countryside provides a valuable resource
for outdoor recreation and outdoor sport activities
(such as fishing, walking, cycling and informal
recreation). The Borough contains three golf courses,
as well as large country parks at Stadt Moers Park
and Halewood Park and an award winning Local
Nature Reserve at Acornfield Plantation. Many people
live in or run businesses in the countryside (such as
riding establishments) which are dependent on a
quiet and disturbance free environment.
9.23
New development will generally be resisted where it
would cause noise or other disturbance which may
spoil the enjoyment of those who live in the
countryside, or use it for business or recreational
purposes. Development will, however, be encouraged
if it would provide opportunities for increasing the
awareness and availability of outdoor recreation and
outdoor sport activity opportunities.
POLICY LINKS
Policy DQ1
“Design Quality in New Development”
Policy ENV1
“Control of Pollution in New Development”
Policy ENV3
“Light Pollution”
Policy ENV9
“Protection of Habitats and Designated Sites”
POLICY G3:
AGRICULTURAL LAND
1. New development involving the loss of best and
most versatile agricultural land (Grades 1, 2 or
3A) in a way which would practically prevent it
from future return to agricultural use, will not
be permitted unless:
a) It has been demonstrated that the
development cannot be accommodated on
previously developed land or on land within
the boundaries of an urban area; and
b) It has been demonstrated that sufficient
land of lower agricultural quality is
unavailable or if available should not be
developed in preference taking into account
landscape, wildlife, historic or
archaeological considerations.
2. New development proposals which, whilst not
directly causing the loss of best and most
versatile agricultural, would effectively prevent
the use of such land as a result of the
fragmentation of holdings or the conversion of
agricultural buildings to other uses will also be
subject to the requirements of 1 above.
EXPLANATION G3
9.24
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (DEFRA) classifies agricultural land according
to its quality. Land within grades 1, 2 and 3a is known
as “best and most versatile”. Agricultural land in
Grades 3b, 4 and 5 is of moderate or poor quality and
is less significant in terms of the national agricultural
interest. The majority of the agricultural land in
Knowsley is classified as “best and most versatile”,
and is therefore subject to policy G3.
9.25
New developments can, in effect, destroy the quality
of agricultural land, making it impossible to use it as
a resource in the future. This is the case with
proposals for new buildings as well as for many
“soft” end uses such as golf courses (which can
rarely practicably be returned to agricultural use).
In some cases, although the development itself may
not be located on high quality land, it may sterilise
the use of land by fragmenting agricultural holdings
or converting buildings needed to farm the land to
other uses, unconnected with agriculture.
9.26
Non-agricultural developments (such as new
recreational or tourism uses) can themselves have a
valuable role to play in diversifying the rural economy
and can also provide an opportunity for enhancing the
landscape. Policy G3 therefore does not seek to
prevent such uses being permitted in principle.
However, where they would affect best and most
versatile land the onus will be on developers to
demonstrate (using information submitted with the
planning application) that the proposed development
cannot be accommodated on previously developed
sites or on land of lower agricultural quality.
Where alternative sites are available on lower graded
land, regard should be given to whether the
alternative sites have a landscape, wildlife, historic or
archaeological value which would mean that they are
unsuitable for the proposed development.
POLICY LINKS
Policy G1
“Development within the Green Belt”
Policy G2
“Landscape Character and Amenities of the Green
Belt”
Policy G4
“Rural Diversification”
POLICY G4:
RURAL DIVERSIFICATION
1. Proposals for the diversification of rural
enterprises will be permitted provided that
they would:
a) Preserve the openness and purposes of the
Green Belt;
b) Not harm the visual amenity or character
of the area; and
c) Otherwise be in accordance with the
policies of this Plan.
EXPLANATION G4
9.27
Appropriate proposals for rural diversification can
help to maintain a good quality and diverse
landscape, protecting a valuable resource and
supporting economic activity. The Council recognises
that diversification into non-agricultural activities can
be vital to the continuing viability of many farm
enterprises. Rural diversification shall be
encouraged where it contributes to sustainable
development objectives and preserves the openness
of the Green Belt and does not conflict the purpose of
including land within it.
9.28
Where rural diversification requires buildings, the
Council encourages the re-use or replacement of
existing buildings. Where farm diversification
proposals in the Green Belt would result in
“in-appropriate” development in terms of Planning
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KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006
KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006
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