Report for Item 6 - Swale Borough Council

2.6 (Contd) PART 2
Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 7 - Sustainable Development in Rural Areas states
that the Government’s objective for rural areas is to raise the quality of life and the
environment through the creation of sustainable rural communities, sustainable
economic growth whilst preventing urban sprawl. Annex A of PPS7 refers
specifically to new agricultural dwellings within the rural area and sets out five tests
for assessing the appropriateness of such development. These are as follows:
1. clear evidence of a firm intention and ability to develop the enterprise
(significant investment in new farm buildings is usually a good indication);
2. functional test i.e. the need for accommodation to be on site;
3. clear evidence that the proposed enterprise have been planned on a sound
basis;
4. the functional need could not be fulfilled by another existing dwelling on the
unit, or any other existing accommodation in the area which is suitable and
available for occupation by the workers concerned;
5. other normal planning requirements e.g. on siting and access, are satisfied.
Annex A of PPS7 also notes that if a dwelling is essential to support a new farming
activity, it should normally, for the first three years, be provided by a caravan or other
temporary accommodation.
Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 4 - Sustainable Economic Growth notes that the
principle aim is to achieve sustainable economic growth. At Policy EC6: Planning for
Economic Development in Rural Areas, it seeks to ensure that the countryside is
protected for its own sake. Economic development in areas of open countryside
should be strictly controlled. Councils should support farm diversification for
business purposes that are consistent in their scale and environmental impact with
their rural area.
Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG) 24 - Planning & Noise seeks to ensure that
development achieves acceptable noise levels, appropriate to the area within which
the development is proposed.
The Swale Landscape Character Assessment and Guidelines document (March
2005) identifies the site as being within the ‘Iwade Arable Farmlands’ character area.
The guidelines for development within this area are classified as ‘conserve and
create’. The objective is to conserve the remaining landscape structure of the
woodland, hedgerow, orchard, ditches and shelterbelts and look for opportunities to
recreate such features to restore a strong landscape structure. It also seeks to
conserve the distinctive landscape character of the valley and hills, covered by
woodland, trees, pasture/grassland and orchards, that form the eastern and northern
landscape setting of the village of Newington.
Discussion
I consider the key issues to be the principle of the development, the impact on the
visual amenities of the surrounding area and the character and appearance of the
landscape, the impact on the setting of the conservation area, the impact on local
residents in terms of noise and disturbance and the highway implications.
Continued . . .
43