Adopted Stowmarket Area Action Plan - Mid Suffolk District Council

Stowmarket Area Action PlanGENERAL DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES4.2 The NPPF contains 12 core principles that are supportive of the vision, objectivesand policies of the Stowmarket Area Action Plan. This approach to sustainabledevelopment is underpinned by the Model Policy below:SAAP Policy 4.1Presumption in Favour of Sustainable DevelopmentWhen considering development proposals the Council will take a positive approachthat reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in theNational Planning Policy Framework. It will always work proactively with applicantsjointly to find solutions which mean that proposals can be approved wherever possible,and to secure development that improves the economic, social and environmentalconditions in the area.Planning applications that accord with the policies in this Local Plan (and, whererelevant, with policies in neighbourhood plans) will be approved without delay, unlessmaterial considerations indicate otherwise.Where there are no policies relevant to the application or relevant policies are out ofdate at the time of making the decision then the Council will grant permission unlessmaterial considerations indicate otherwise – taking into account whether:Any adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrablyoutweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the National PlanningPolicy Framework taken as a whole; orSpecific policies in that Framework indicate that development should be restricted.Best Use of a Development Opportunity4.3 The Council will ensure that development proposals represent the 'best use of adevelopment opportunity'. This will include a review of relevant national, regional andlocal policies and pre-application discussions, in order to deliver high quality developmentand design. Development briefs and Masterplans will help to determine the best use ofa site. The Council will consider alternative uses of sites that would contribute more fullyto meeting the strategic objctives of the SAAP, which may sometimes protect sites fortheir optimum use.Development Briefs4.4 The Council will require a 'Development Brief' to be produced, before an applicationis submitted, for SAAP allocations and other proposals in the SAAP area that havesignificance beyond their site boundary. The purpose of the development brief is to aidthe coordinated delivery of infrastructure and provide a framework for the evaluation ofMid Suffolk Stowmarket Area Action Plan (February 2013)15