List of policies in the Headington Neighbourhood Plan that would form part of the development plan following a successful referendum on May 4th 2017.
Green Spaces and Amenity Planning Policies
Character and Identity Planning Policies
Education Planning Policies
Transport Planning Policies
Note: HNPA is the Headington Neighbourhood Forum Area
GSP1: Conserving and enhancing Public Access Green Space
1. All existing public access green space in the HNPA as shown on the Green Spaces Plan will be conserved and where appropriate enhanced unless currently allocated as a development site in an adopted development plan document.
2. Development proposals that safeguard, and/or provide opportunities to improve the quality and quantity of public access to green space through appropriate restoration, extension, expansion or diversification in a scale and setting compatible with their location will be approved.
3. Development will not be permitted where results in the loss of public access green space or harms its setting unless it can be demonstrated that there is an overriding need for development on that green space and:
• a public access green space(s) of an equivalent size and amenity in an identified area(s) of need in the HNPA is provided; or
• access to the public of existing private green space(s) of an equivalent size and amenity in the HNPA is provided.
GSP2: Provision of Green Space within Developments
In order to increase and enhance green space within the HNPA:
1. Development proposals which increase public access green space and enhance biodiversity within the HNPA will be approved, including incorporation of biodiversity in and around developments.
2. Significant developments will be subject, where it is appropriate, to a planning condition requiring the submission to and the approval of the Local Planning Authority of Biodiversity Enhancement Plans which include the provision of measures to increase the biodiversity of the site and provide arrangements for their maintenance.
3. The Plan favours the provision of public access green space on site. However, where it can be demonstrated that public access green space cannot be provided on site as part of significant developments, then alternative public access green space must be provided within, or adjacent to, the HNPA. This can be in the form of an extension or enhancement of existing public access green space within, or adjacent to, the HNPA.
GSP3: Conserving and Enhancing Biodiversity
1. Development proposals that seek to conserve and enhance land which has a significant wildlife or ecological value will be approved.
2. Development proposals which may result in significant harm to sites and/or species of ecological value as defined by Policy CS12 of the Oxford Core Strategy or any future policy in a subsequent development plan document will not be permitted, unless the developer can demonstrate that the benefits of the development clearly outweigh the loss, and this can be mitigated against and compensated for elsewhere within the HNPA by providing a replacement habitat on an equivalent or higher ecological value.
GSP4: Protection of the Setting of the Site
Development will be permitted where its design responds appropriately to the site and character of the surrounding area.
GSP5: Provision of Allotment Land
Existing and designated allotment land will be retained. Proposals that seek to increase the number of allotments in the HNPA or extend existing allotment sites will be encouraged.
AMP1: Protecting and Enhancing Sports, Leisure and Community Facilities
In order to increase accessibility to a wide range of sports and leisure facilities and to make Headington a more sustainable place in which to live and work:
1. Existing sports, leisure and community facilities will be protected and opportunities for enhancement will be sought.
2. Planning permission will only be granted for development resulting in the loss of existing sports and leisure facilities if alternative facilities can be provided and if no deficiency is created in the area. Alternative facilities will be required to be provided at a location equally or more accessible to residents of Headington by walking, cycling and public transport.
CIP1: Development to respect existing local character
New developments (including additions, alterations, change of use and extensions) will only be permitted where they respond to and enhance the distinctive local character where it is described in the Character Assessments. This may include consideration of aspects such as materials, scale, siting use, layout, form, design and intensity of activity within the built environment and setting of the HNPA. Where development proposals are required to submit a Design and Access Statement, they will be expected to demonstrate how their design and layout responds to the local character of the area.
CIP2: Protecting locally important views
Development will seek to protect important views within Headington itself, and out of the HNPA as identified on the Viewpoint Map.
Note: See Key to Viewpoints
CIP3: Innovative design
High quality development proposals, which are of an innovative and/or contemporary design will be permitted where they:
• accord with policies in the Local Plan
• respect and take account of local heritage; and
• enhance the distinctive identity, character and setting in terms of scale, layout, density, orientation and massing.
CIP4: Protecting important assets
Where the significance of a heritage asset, either designated or non- designated, would be affected by a development proposal, that development proposal will only be permitted where it addresses the conservation and enhancement of the significance, character and any special architectural or historic features of significance the asset may possess.
EDP1: New Education Provision
Proposals for change of use of non-residential premises to educational premises (D1 Non-residential institutions) for early-years or 5-19 education provision, for those who live or work in the HNPA, will be supported, subject to other policies in the Neighbourhood Plan
TRP1: Parking Provision at major employment sites
Proposals for any net additional car parking spaces for employees, which are accessible during peak periods at major employment sites in Headington will only be supported if they can demonstrate strong evidence by the submission of a Transport Assessment that Headington's road network has adequate unused capacity at peak times.
TRP2: Connectedness
Proposed developments should consider provision of connecting alleyways or other pedestrian and cycle routes with adjacent streets or other sites. These routes should be made Public Rights of Way where practicable or Permissive Rights of Way.
TRP3: Travel Plans
1. Any new development which falls above the threshold set by the City Council Parking Standards, Transport Assessment and Travel Plans SPD will be expected to prepare a travel plan showing how employees and residents may minimize car use.
2. Any development that requires the submission of a Design and Access Statement will be expected to state whether car-free alternatives have been considered and, if parking provision is to be made, why the car-free alternative have been rejected.
TRP4: Provision for people with disabilities to use active forms of transport
All new developments should include active transport provision for people with disabilities, to make journeys easy by active means.
TRP5: Promotion of Cycling
In employment developments, the quantity of cycle spaces should be based on the travel plan, with an allowance for a doubling of the mode share of cycling wherever it is practical and feasible.