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DRAFT Sustainability Appraisal Report for the Emerging Local Plan ...

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4.56 Policy LP08 seeks to provide “…up to 1,500 high quality dwellings of a mixed tenure and type<br />

including <strong>the</strong> provision of af<strong>for</strong>dable housing.” It is worth noting that LP02 is predicated on <strong>the</strong> fact<br />

that this development will come <strong>for</strong>ward.<br />

4.57 The site has a number of constraints, such as being located within <strong>the</strong> Green Belt as well as being<br />

located adjacent to <strong>the</strong> European protected sites of <strong>the</strong> Thames Basin Heaths SPA and Thursley Ash<br />

Pirbright and Chobham SAC.<br />

4.58 Policy LP08 removes <strong>the</strong> DERA Site from <strong>the</strong> Green belt and, similar to o<strong>the</strong>r location policies, it sets<br />

out a number of development control outcomes <strong>the</strong> Council will look <strong>for</strong> in connection with new<br />

development in this area.<br />

4.59 The <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> considered four policy options <strong>for</strong> Policy LP08 to deliver its objective. These have been<br />

summarised in Table 22.<br />

Table 22 – LP08 Policy Options Considered<br />

Policy and Alternatives Considered<br />

Assessment<br />

ID.<br />

Policy/Alternative Policy Text<br />

Location Policy 8 (LP08) – The <strong>for</strong>mer DERA site, Longcross<br />

This approach promotes removal of <strong>the</strong> DERA site from <strong>the</strong> Green Belt to allow its redevelopment<br />

<strong>for</strong> a mixed use development that includes up to 1,500 new homes and in <strong>the</strong> region of 79,000 m 2<br />

of onsite mixed employment uses.<br />

LP08‐A1<br />

LP08‐A2<br />

LP08‐A3<br />

1500 dwellings to be developed on land at Great Grove Farm, Ottershaw.<br />

1500 dwellings to be developed on at least two sites of a minimum size.<br />

1500 dwellings to be developed on schemes as <strong>the</strong>y arise in <strong>the</strong> context of <strong>the</strong><br />

approach to be taken to sustainable development as set out in <strong>the</strong> NPPF.<br />

4.60 To summarise, Policy LP08 promotes removal of <strong>the</strong> DERA site from <strong>the</strong> Green Belt to allow its<br />

redevelopment <strong>for</strong> a mixed use development that includes in <strong>the</strong> region of 1,500 new homes. The<br />

alternatives consider <strong>the</strong> provision of 1500 in o<strong>the</strong>r locations.<br />

Strategic Policy 1 (SP01) – Green Belt Areas<br />

4.61 During <strong>the</strong> Issues and Options consultation 66% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that future<br />

development should be in accessible urban locations ra<strong>the</strong>r than in <strong>the</strong> Green Belt and 60% agreed or<br />

strongly agreed that future development should be on previously developed sites of major developed<br />

sites.<br />

4.62 With <strong>the</strong> exception of two policies (LP05 and LP08) <strong>the</strong> Council’s policy out in SP01 is to primarily locate<br />

new development within existing urban areas, thus maintaining <strong>the</strong> extent and existing boundaries of<br />

<strong>the</strong> current Green Belt. In <strong>the</strong> case of <strong>the</strong> two exceptions LP05 proposes to relax <strong>the</strong> strictness of policy<br />

SP01 to permit development around <strong>the</strong> University site. LP08 removes <strong>the</strong> DERA site from <strong>the</strong> Green<br />

Belt.<br />

4.63 The <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> considered one policy option <strong>for</strong> Policy SP01 to deliver its objective and has been<br />

summarised in Table 23.<br />

Table 23 – SP01 Policy Options Considered<br />

Policy and Alternatives Considered<br />

Assessment<br />

ID.<br />

Policy/Alternative Policy Text<br />

Strategic Policy 1 (SP01) – Green Belt Areas<br />

This approach promotes <strong>the</strong> strict protection of <strong>the</strong> Green belt following a general relaxation in<br />

terms of Royal Holloway UOL and <strong>the</strong> removal of <strong>the</strong> DERA site.<br />

‐ Alternatives not considered relevant to this policy.<br />

4.64 In consideration of <strong>the</strong>re being no alternatives to Policy SP01, <strong>the</strong> <strong>Local</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> policy team state that:<br />

“The policy provides a local perspective on <strong>the</strong> guidance set out in <strong>the</strong> NPPF in<br />

terms of green belt protection. Section 9 of <strong>the</strong> NPPF (paragraphs 86 to 92)<br />

emphasises <strong>the</strong> need to avoid inappropriate development that will, by definition,<br />

Page | 57 Runnymede BC FINAL <strong>Sustainability</strong> <strong>Appraisal</strong> <strong>Report</strong> – Feb 2013

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