Environment and Heritage and Sustainability

Policy SB1 Settlement boundary AMENDED

Land outside of the settlement boundary (shown on Map E) is considered to be countryside and development will only be allowed if it is the subject of a specific policy in this neighbourhood plan or can demonstrate a need to be located in the countryside, as set out in national and local policies

Policy EH1: Protection of trees and hedgerows - AMENDED

Development proposals should not result in the loss of or have adverse impacts on trees or hedgerows of arboricultural, amenity or historic value.

Development proposals, where appropriate, should be designed to incorporate biodiversity within and around developments and enhance ecological networks, seeking to retain wherever possible ancient trees, trees of good arboricultural and amenity value and hedgerows to contribute to the Government’s target to halt the decline in biodiversity by aiming for a net gain for nature.

Proposals which significantly affect sites with existing trees or hedgerows should be accompanied by a survey that establishes the health and longevity of any affected trees or hedgerows and a management plan to demonstrate how they will be so maintained. Existing trees and hedges should be planned around in the earliest stages of planning to avoid future problems (e.g.large trees close to houses; root problems by roads, footways, utilities; trees/hedgerows not maintained on private land). Retained hedgerows should be laid and filled-out to improve health and appearance where necessary. (Note: this policy may mean retention of non-native species, particularly mature/landscape/specimen examples).

Hedges should be planted on all boundaries; where timber/masonry boundaries are mandated, these should be screened with hedge planting. Boundary/screening hedges should be on public land for maintenance purposes. Hedging plants should be mixed native species (see Appendix 2 for species and plant sizes).

All main roads, secondary and access roads and residential streets shall be tree-lined, with adequate soil/tree-pit preparation, anti-compaction and surface water infiltration (grids, permeable surfaces; SUDS) to ensure tree health.

Houses, utility and roadway structures shall be constructed to avoid conflict with retained trees, and future growth of new plantings. Species shall be selected to minimise contention with these structures.

Long term maintenance provision (e.g. funded management company) shall be set up for hedge cutting, tree pollarding, leaf collection, annual safety inspections, remedial and replanting works.

Policy EH2: Renewable and Low Carbon Energy AMENDED

Where planning permission is required proposals for energy-generating infrastructure using renewable or low carbon energy sources to serve individual properties or groups of properties, will be supported provided that:

a). The energy generating infrastructure is located as close as practicable to, and is in proportion to the scale of, the existing buildings or proposed development it is intended to serve and is appropriate to the location;

b). The siting of the energy-generating infrastructure and its scale and design avoid any harmful impacts on the significance of heritage assets, the landscape, views and wildlife, do not

compromise public safety, and allow continued safe use of public rights of way;

c). Any technologies and infrastructure used to generate energy should not detract from the rural, visual and historic character of the environment and the special interest, character and appearance of the conservation areas of the Parish.

d). Adjoining land users are not adversely impacted in terms of noise, vibration, stroboscopic effect, or electromagnetic interference; and

e). Where appropriate, the energy generating infrastructure and its installation complies with the Micro-generation Certification Scheme or equivalent standard.

f). Proposals for energy generating infrastructure on land in current agricultural production or on ‘best and most versatile’ agricultural land will not be supported. Such equipment placed upon or within industrial or farm buildings will be supported provided that there is no adverse impact in terms of noise and visual impact.

g). Where solar farms are to be removed the land must be returned to its former use.

Policy EH3 Reinstatement and restoration of land at Boxgrove and Eartham Quarries. (Original policy deleted by the Examiner but amended for the modification plan)

Land at Boxgrove and Eartham quarries must be reinstated to a greenfield site (not previously developed land).

Policy EH4 Flooding, drainage and new development - AMENDED

EH4a Flooding

No development should take place in areas at risk from flooding identified on the latest Environment Agency flood risk maps or locally known areas of flooding (see maps in Evidence Base), unless it can be shown that there are no sites where it would be possible to locate that development, in an area at lower flood risk. If having adopted a sequential approach, it shows the development must be sited in a flood risk area, then it must be designed to be flood resilient and resistant and have a safe means of escape. The exception test may have to be applied in accordance with the NPPF. The need for a sequential test does not apply to changes of use or residential extensions.

Planning applications within Flood Zones should be accompanied by a site-specific flood risk assessment in accordance with paragraph 167 of the NPPF.

EH4b Reducing Flood Risk

All development proposals on undeveloped land (i.e. greenfield) must demonstrate that peak surface water run - off rates and run off volumes from the application site will be returned to pre-development greenfield criteria, as far as reasonably practicable.

All development proposals on previously developed land (i.e. brownfield) must demonstrate that surface water run-off from the application site as a result of the development will be as close as reasonably practical to the greenfield run off rates from the development for the same rainfall event but should never exceed the rate of discharge from the site prior to its redevelopment.

New and improved utility infrastructure will be encouraged and supported in order to meet the identified needs of the community.

Planning permission will only be supported for new development subject to a drainage condition(s) in accordance with CDC standard conditions.

EH4c Sewage

All development proposals must demonstrate that sewage infrastructure cannot release into or be infiltrated by, surface water.

Policy EH5 Development on Agricultural Land SAVED

Proposals for development should safeguard the best and most versatile agricultural land from development and any proposal which would involve its significant loss should demonstrate:

a. It supports the diversification of an existing agricultural enterprise or other land-based rural business;

b. The need for the development clearly outweighs the harm; and

c. Development of poorer quality agricultural land has been fully considered

Policy EH6 Development in Conservation Areas - AMENDED

Development proposals in or adjacent to the Conservation Areas should preserve or enhance their historic, townscape and landscape character, including the attributes of significant views and vistas and heritage assets making a positive contribution to the townscape, as identified in the Conservation Area Character Appraisals and Townscape Appraisals for Boxgrove and Halnaker.

The following are key considerations when assessing the impact of development on the character or appearance of the conservation areas and their settings:

1. The impact on significant views of and from the conservation areas;
2. Reflecting the locally distinctive architectural characteristics,
   vernacular building forms and materials
3. Respecting the prevailing density, pattern and texture of the area;
4. Preserving or enhancing the street scene;
5. Maintaining the spacious character of the area by protecting open space, including gardens and trees from unsympathetic
   development;
6. Respecting the linear nature of the development, historic building lines and plot sizes;
7. Traditional features, such as shop fronts, should be retained
   wherever possible;
8. Boundary treatments, including garden walls and retaining walls should reflect locally distinctive forms and materials; and
9. Opportunities for ‘betterment’ should be considered.
   

Policy EH7 Dark Skies AMENDED

Development proposals which detract from the unlit environment of the Parish will not be supported. New lighting will be required to conform to the highest standard of light pollution restrictions in force at the time and will be restricted or regulated to be neighbourly in its use, including floodlighting at equine establishments, and on sports fields or sports grounds.

Security and other outside lighting on private and public premises should be:

1)  Fully shielded (enclosed in full cut-off flat glass fitments)

2)  Directed downwards (mounted horizontally to the ground and not tilted upwards)

3)  Switched on only when needed (no dusk to dawn lamps)

4)  White light low-energy lamps (preferably LED’s ideally with a colour temperature of 3,000K or 3,500K) and not orange or pink sodium sources

Street lighting will not be supported unless it can be proved that there is a threat to life from the street being unlit.

Policy EH8 Respecting Landscape and Historic Environment - SAVED

Development proposals should respect and enhance the local distinctiveness and character of the area, landscape and the significance of heritage assets. Development proposals that have an impact on the landscape and historic environment should demonstrate how they:

• protect the setting of designated and non-designated heritage assets
• respect landscape character
• maintain the individual identity of settlements; and/or
• protect the predominantly open and undeveloped character of the area

EH9 South Downs National Park SAVED

Development in the part of the neighbourhood area lying within the South Downs National Park will only be supported where it contributes to the special qualities of the South Downs National Park, safeguards the natural beauty of the area and does not detract from the National Park’s visual qualities and essential characteristics.

EH10 Utility Infrastructure SAVED

New and improved utility infrastructure will be encouraged and supported in order to meet the identified needs of the community subject to other policies in the plan.

EH11 Green Infrastructure and Ecosystem Services - NEW

New development should seek to protect and where practical, improve and extend the green and blue infrastructure network, as defined on Map F and Appendix 1. Where appropriate, in determining planning applications, consideration will be given to how development proposals:

1. Protect and enhance green and blue infrastructure assets;
2. Assess the impact of development proposals on the natural environment;
3. Mitigate harm to the integrity or function of the Biodiversity Corridors and ensure that they are not fragmented.
4. Contribute to, increase and enhance the natural environment by providing additional habitat resources for wildlife and which demonstrate that any potential impacts upon priority species and habitats have been fully assessed and mitigated to deliver a minimum of 10% net gain in biodiversity through the use of the Defra approved biodiversity metric, which should be delivered on- site. Where it is not possible to deliver biodiversity net gains on site, developers will be required to contribute to new or restoration projects off site to deliver overall net gains within Boxgrove Parish.
5. Provide public access and be subject to an undertaking through S106 agreement or legal contract, that biodiversity management will be maintained for a minimum period of 30 years.
6. Create a sense of place by protecting and/or fully integrating high quality, green infrastructure into the proposed development to reflect the character of the neighbourhood plan area;
   

Through good design the corridors should deliver opportunities to:

g.    Sustainably manage land and water environments and manage and mitigate the risk of flooding;

h.    Protect and provide more, better and joined up natural habitats;

i)  Reduce levels of pollution;

j)  Improve opportunities for residents health and wellbeing, such as providing recreational opportunities for walking and cycling if possible ;
k)  Increase the opportunity to store carbon through new planting or other means;
l)  Support the sustainable production and use of food, forestry and raw materials.

EH12 Singleton and Cocking Tunnels SAC - NEW

Proposals for the development of sites which are located within 12km of Singleton and Cocking Tunnels SAC must evaluate whether there is potential for an adverse effect to arise to qualifying species associated with the SAC due to loss of suitable foraging habitat and/or the severance of commuting flight lines, such as in the form of mature tree lines, hedgerows and watercourses. Where such features could be adversely affected, detailed assessment must be undertaken to ascertain whether these are of significance to foraging and commuting Barbastelle bats, and in turn whether the proposals are likely to lead to a significant effect upon the European designated site, either considered alone or in combination with other plans and projects. In the absence of such an assessment, features of potential value should be preserved. Care must also be undertaken through development design to ensure that such retained features are not subject to an increase in artificial lighting.

Where these corridors are used by roosting feeding or commuting bats, development within 50 metres will be resisted.

EH13 Non-Designated Heritage Assets NEW

Development affecting the Non-designated Heritage Assets shown in Appendix 3 should be designed so as to preserve and enhance them, so as to reinforce the quality, character and distinctiveness of the villages. All proposals that have the potential to directly or indirectly affect a non- designated assets and/or its setting must provide a heritage statement demonstrating the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset.

EH14 Important Views and Vistas NEW

The neighbourhood plan identifies the important views as shown on Map G. In particular, proposals should respond positively to the identified views and demonstrate consideration of matters relating to design, height and massing, either individually or cumulatively. Development proposals which would have a significant adverse impact on an identified important view will not be supported.

EH15 Sustainable Development and Climate Change NEW

Measures to mitigate and adapt to climate change should, where appropriate, be incorporated into the design of new developments, and through conversion or extension proposals, opportunities to retrofit such measures into existing housing should be taken as appropriate to the site and could include:

1. Careful site layout, and orientation to maximise solar gain and take advantage of natural shelter, this however must be balanced with the existing pattern of development, including building lines.
2. Adopt passive solar heating and cooling measures, including building, orientation, glazing, positioning, thermal mass, roof, overhang, and natural ventilation.
   

(iii)  Select materials to maximise heat retention in winter and minimise overheating in summer.

(iv)  Use soft landscaping to provide shelter and shade, as well as measures such as green roots to moderate temperatures.

(v)  Incorporate rainwater harvesting measures and SUDS measures.

(vi)  Carefully, integrate renewable energy and low carbon technologies, including solar, PV, solar thermal, micro wind, generation, and heat pumps.

A sensitive approach will need to be taken to safeguard the special character of the conservation areas and to avoid harm to the setting of designated and non-designated heritage assets.