Planning in Charnwood

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PUA (NE Leicester SUE and PUA Growth)

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCT has calculated that 11,616 new patients would require health care facilities. Hamilton GP Practice and the Practice located at Silverdale Drive, Thurmaston have recently raised capacity issues are keen to expand further.

North of Birstall

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCT has calculated that 4,840 new patients would require health care facilities. The focus of growth will be on the 2 Birstall GP practices and the 2 Mountsorrel practices. In Birstall the Greengate Medical Centre has indicated a lack of capacity but can expand on existing site. In Mountsorrel the larger practice at Alpine House cannot manage large number of new patients in their existing building.

West of Loughborough SUE, Shepshed and Loughborough / Shepshed growth

Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland PCT has calculated that 9,953 new patients would require health care facilities. Future capacity issues will mean that a new purpose built facility or building with clinical rooms would create a better opportunity to deliver future capacity. The largest GP Practice in Shepshed is at capacity and would need to expand further.

Service Centres

Dependent on the location of growth, but capacity constraints have been identified in Anstey, Quorn, Rothley and Sileby

Facilities for Children

22 sites estimated to achieve 480 meter catchment.

Facilities for Young People

22 sites estimated to achieve 480 meter catchment.

Outdoor Sports Provision

29ha (based on 2.60 ha per 1,000 population), including 13ha of pitches and 5 tennis courts. Indicative provision of 13ha of community pitches and 4 tennis courts.

Indoor Sport

3 indoor courts in a multi use sports hall in accordance with Open Space Sport and Recreation Study.

Open Space and Community Facilities for remaining Borough wide housing provision

Dependent on the location of growth and the size and characteristics of the site to be developed.

Facilities for Children

14 sites estimated to achieve 480-metre catchment.

Facilities for Young People

14 sites estimated to achieve 480-metre catchment.

Outdoor Sports Provision

22.75ha (based on 2.60 ha per 1,000 population), including 9ha of community pitches and 4 tennis courts. Indicative provision of 9ha of community pitches and 4 tennis courts.

Indoor Sport

2 indoor courts in a multi use sports hall in accordance with Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study.

Open Spaces, Sports and Recreation

We will work with our partners to meet the strategic open space needs of our community by 2028. We will do this by: requiring new developments to meet the standards set out in our Open Spaces Strategy, having regard to local provision and viability; requiring masterplans for our sustainable urban extensions that deliver quality open spaces; retaining open space, sport and recreation facilities unless they are clearly surplus to requirements or replacement provision of at least equal quantity and quality will be made in a suitable location; responding positively to development which contributes to open space, sport and recreation provision, including Local Green Space, identified through a Neighbourhood Plan or similar robust, community led strategy; and securing long-term management and investment plans for existing, and new facilities.

High Quality Design

We will require new developments to make a positive contribution to Charnwood resulting in places where people would wish to live through high quality, inclusive design and, where appropriate, architectural excellence. Proposals should respond positively to their context and reinforce a sense of place. We will require new developments to: respect and enhance the character of the area, having regard to scale, density, massing, height, landscape, layout, materials and access arrangements; protect the amenity of people who live or work nearby and those who will live in the new development; function well and add to the quality of an area, not just in the short term, but over the lifetime of the development; provide attractive, well managed and safe public and private spaces; provide well defined and legible streets and spaces that are easy to get around for all, including those with disabilities; and reduce their impacts upon and be resilient to the effects of climate change in accordance with Policy CS16. We will do this by requiring independent design reviews for major or sensitive developments and using national design assessments to determine quality of new developments.

Loughborough University and Science & Enterprise Park

We will allocate 77 hectares of land to the west of Loughborough University for an extension to the Science and Enterprise Park. This will include 35 hectares of land to the east of Snell's Nook Lane for Phase 3 and 42 hectares to the west of Snell's Nook Lane for Phase 4. By 2028 the Science and Enterprise Park will deliver at least 111,000 sqm of space in a landscaped campus that: - provides for uses that directly relate to the University's own operational activities including teaching, research and development, administration, student accommodation and sports facilities; - provides for the development of businesses operating within or directly supporting the knowledge based sector; - delivers a range of development opportunities that includes an innovation centre, space for business start ups, grow on units for small and medium sized enterprises and potential for inward investment; - provides for appropriate ancillary uses to serve the Science and Enterprise Park and ensures that any main town centre uses are in accordance with Policy CS9; - protects historic and archaeological features including the setting of Garendon Registered Park and Gardens and its assets in accordance with Policy CS14; - integrates with the sensitive landscape and respects it's character, biodiversity and appearance in accordance with Policy CS11 and CS13; - retains 40% of the overall site area for green infrastructure, designed to maintain key linkages across the site connecting into the surrounding network in accordance with Policy CS11 and CS12; - provides high quality design and innovation in the form and layout of the development, buildings and green space in accordance with Policy CS2; - where viable, exceeds the Building Regulations for carbon emissions in accordance with Policy CS16; - delivers buildings and spaces that have been designed to be adaptable to future climatic conditions including extremes of temperature, drought and flooding in accordance with Policy CS16; - includes appropriate Sustainable Drainage Systems and flood alleviation measures and where possible reduces flood risk in Loughborough in accordance with Policy CS16; - provides genuine choice to walk and cycle and is well connected to public transport networks in accordance with Policy CS17; and - makes a positive contribution to the provision of highway infrastructure as identified through a Transport Assessment in accordance with Policy CS17 and CS18. We will do this by working with our public and private sector partners, including Loughborough University, to: - prepare a flexible Development Framework, including delivery and phasing arrangements and a masterplan that sets parameters and a phasing strategy for the delivery of a cohesive development; - establish an economic development strategy to capture the wider benefits of the development; and - support the University in the development of management and marketing practises that assist the delivery of the Science and Enterprise Park; We will require the flexible Development Framework and detailed planning applications to be informed by a Green Infrastructure Strategy and a Sustainability Assessment that identifies the developments response to carbon emissions reduction and climate change resilience.

Employment and Economic Development

By 2028 we will meet the economic needs of our community and support the economy of Leicester. We will do this by: delivering up to 75 hectares of land between 2011 and 2028 for strategic employment purposes in accordance with Policy CS1; supporting the expansion of the Science and Enterprise Park on up to 77 hectares of land in accordance with Policy CS23; encouraging a greater proportion of high technology and knowledge based businesses; providing opportunities for manufacturing businesses to develop, re-locate and expand; providing opportunities for small-scale, high quality business units and offices; promoting business and employment regeneration opportunities that are accessible to the Priority Neighbourhoods; and supporting major employment opportunities in locations where they reduce journeys to work by car.

Regeneration of Loughborough

We will make a significant contribution to the regeneration of Loughborough by 2028 by: supporting proposals for town centre uses at our strategic regeneration sites in particular those at Devonshire Square and towards the southeast of Loughborough Town Centre in accordance with Policy CS9; supporting development which conserves and enhances the heritage and tourism value of Loughborough's Industrial Heritage Quarter; supporting proposals to reconnect the Great Central Railway at Railway Terrace and deliver a direct connection into the Midland Mainline railway; supporting development which enhances the tourism potential of our heritage assets, including the Great Central Railway and Grand Union Canal; requiring development adjacent to the Grand Union Canal to contribute to an active waterfront with public access; supporting proposals that enhance the landscape and biodiversity value of the former Allsopps Lane refuse tip and provide for public access; supporting employment proposals for vacant land and buildings adjoining the Bishop Meadow Industrial Estate, particularly where they benefit small and medium enterprises or, knowledge based businesses; We will do this by supporting proposals for new development through our Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document.

Regeneration of Shepshed

We will make a significant contribution to the regeneration of Shepshed by 2028 by: supporting developments which contribute to the vitality and viability of Shepshed in accordance with Policy CS9; supporting proposals that provide managed workspace and small business start up space; and supporting developments that improve access to community facilities. We will do this by: working with our partners to prepare a Shepshed Regeneration Masterplan; delivering strategic developments in accordance with Policy CS22; and supporting proposals for new development through our Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document.

Rural Economic Development

We will maximise the potential of our rural economy by 2028. We will do this by: Allowing approximately 7 ha of employment land to be distributed between the designated Service Centres; supporting the sustainable growth and expansion of businesses in rural areas, both through conversion of existing buildings and well designed new buildings; Supporting farm diversification where farming remains the dominant element of the business; Supporting the provision of excellent electronic communications networks for all homes and businesses; and Supporting tourism and leisure facilities, particularly developments that benefit the Great Central Railway, the River Soar and Grand Union Canal and the National Forest Strategy. Provided that in all cases the scale and character of the development is designed and operated so as to cause no detriment to the character and appearance of the countryside.

Sustainable Construction and Energy

We will adapt to and mitigate against the effects of climate change by encouraging sustainable design and construction and the provision of renewable energy, where it does not make development unviable. We will do this by: encouraging developments to, where viable, exceed Building Regulations for carbon emissions by prioritising measures that reduce the need for energy and secure residual need for energy through low carbon or renewable sources; requiring the Design and Access Statements for major developments to demonstrate how the need to reduce emissions has influenced the design, layout and energy source used; supporting developments that reduce waste, provide for the suitable storage of waste and allow convenient waste collections; encouraging residential development to meet the equivalent of Code for Sustainable Homes Level 5 for water efficiency (80 litres/person/day); encouraging non residential development in excess of 1,000 sqm gross floorspace to achieve the equivalent of BREEAM 3 credits for water consumption as a minimum; combating the 'heat island' effect by encouraging green roofs, green walls, increased tree cover, waterways and the layout of external spaces; supporting commercial, community and domestic scale renewable energy or low carbon energy developments where they contribute towards our target of at least 27.5MWe, having regard to the impact upon the wider landscape, biodiversity, the historic environment, public safety, noise, odour and other amenity considerations; in the case of proposals for wind energy development involving one or more wind turbines, planning permission will only be granted if: - the development site is in an area identified as suitable for wind energy in the Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document or a Neighbourhood Plan; and - following consultation, it can be demonstrated that the planning impacts identified by affected local communities have been fully addressed and therefore the proposal has their backing encouraging the effective use of land by reusing land that has been previously developed, provided that it is not of high environmental value; directing development to locations within the Borough at the lowest risk of flooding, applying the Sequential Test and if necessary, applying the Exception Test. Where development is proposed in flood risk areas, mitigation measures must be in place to reduce the effects of flood water; supporting developments which take opportunities to reduce flood risk elsewhere; requiring developments to manage surface water run off with no net increase in the rate of surface water run off for Greenfield sites; and supporting new development that protects environmental resources including local air quality and our most versatile agricultural land.

Restoration of the 188 ha Garendon Park

Restoration of the 188 ha Garendon Park to be included as scheme works along with Village Green at the heart of the development.

Charnwood Forest - Regional Park Strategy and Action Plan

30% of land area would be planted and accesses created to and from outside areas within the Regional Park by non-vehicular means

River Soar Corridor

Watermead to include a new visitor centre and improved signage; Barrow upon Soar to include investment in existing links and facilities, and improved boundary treatment to caravan park; Loughborough to include Improvements to existing links between town and university and waterway

Parks

1.5ha requirement for a park in the north of the site

Landscape and Countryside

We will support and protect the character of our landscape and countryside by: requiring new developments to protect landscape character and to reinforce sense of place and local distinctiveness by taking account of relevant local Landscape Character Assessments; requiring new development to take into account and mitigate its impact on tranquillity; requiring new development to maintain the separate identities of our towns and villages; supporting rural economic development, or residential development which has a strong relationship with the operational requirements of agriculture, horticulture, forestry and other land based industries and contributes to a low carbon economy, in accordance with Policy CS10; supporting the provision of community services and facilities that meet proven local needs as identified by a Neighbourhood Plan or other community-led plan; and supporting rural communities by allowing housing development for local needs in accordance with Policy CS3. We will protect the predominantly open and undeveloped character of Areas of Local Separation unless new development clearly maintains the separation between the built-up areas of these settlements.

Green Infrastructure

We will protect and enhance our green infrastructure assets for their community, economic and environmental values. We will work with our partners to define, protect and enhance the Charnwood Forest Regional Park and support the aims of the National Forest Strategy by: supporting the woodland economy, rural diversification, including sustainable and green tourism which protects and enhances the distinctive Charnwood Forest landscape; seeking planting from developments that are within the Charnwood Forest Regional Park that meet National Forest Planting Guidelines; and securing green links between developments and the Charnwood Forest We will support proposals that relate to the River Soar and Grand Union Canal Corridor which: provide high quality walking and cycling links between the corridor and our towns and villages; deliver hubs and other high quality tourism opportunities linked to the River Soar at Loughborough, Barrow upon Soar and Thurmaston; and protect and enhance water bodies and resources. We will protect and enhance our Urban Fringe Green Infrastructure Enhancement Areas by: enhancing our network of green infrastructure assets through strategic developments in accordance with Policies CS19, CS20, CS21, CS22 and CS23; addressing the identified needs in open space provision; and supporting development in Green Wedges that: - retains the open and undeveloped character of the Green Wedge; - retains and creates green networks between the countryside and open spaces within the urban areas; and - retains and enhances public access to the Green Wedge, especially for recreation.

Biodiversity and Geodiversity

We will conserve and enhance our natural environment for its own value and the contribution it makes to our community and economy. We will do this by: Supporting developments that protect biodiversity and geodiversity and those that enhance, restore or re-create biodiversity. We will expect development proposals to consider and take account of the impacts on biodiversity and geodiversity, particularly with regard to: Sites of Special Scientific Interest Local Wildlife Sites Regionally Important Geological Sites UK and Local Biodiversity Action Plans priority habitats and species protected species, and ecological networks We will only support development that results in the loss of ecological or geological features in exceptional circumstances where the benefit of development clearly outweighs the impact on ecology and geodiversity. Where there are impacts on biodiversity we will require adequate mitigation; or as a last resort, compensation which results in replacement provision that is of equal or greater value and potential than that which will be lost, and is likely to result in a net gain in biodiversity. We will consider this by requiring development proposals to be accompanied by ecological surveys and an assessment of the impacts on biodiversity and geodiversity. We will also work with our partners to secure long term management and investment plans for biodiversity and geodiversity.

Watermead Regeneration Corridor - Direction of Growth

We will identify a direction of growth within the Watermead Regeneration Corridor and along the Thurmaston waterfront. We will support developments that: contribute directly to the regeneration of Thurmaston village centre, the Thurmaston waterfront and the Grand Union Canal; improve connectivity and accessibility between the Country Park, waterfront and the wider community; responds positively to the high quality tranquil setting of Watermead Park; meet local employment needs and contributes to regeneration; redevelop Pinfold Industrial Park and Bridge Business Park for homes, leisure and jobs in accordance with Policies CS6 and CS9; provide up to 8,750sqm for offices and around 16ha for employment and a hotel accessed off Wanlip Road in accordance with Policies CS6 and CS9; encouraging the development to, where viable, exceed Building Regulations for carbon emissions in accordance with Policy CS16; deliver buildings and spaces that have been designed to be adaptable to future climatic conditions including extremes of temperature, drought and flooding in accordance with Policy CS16; include appropriate Sustainable Drainage Systems and flood alleviation measures and where possible reduces flood risk in accordance with Policy CS16; designing development to protect and enhance water quality; and protect and enhance the wildlife corridor in accordance with Policies CS12 and CS13. We will do this by allocating specific sites for regeneration through the Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document. We will work with our partners in the development of detailed proposals to guide regeneration and will require in support of planning applications: a Development Framework, including delivery and phasing arrangements and a comprehensive masterplan including key design principles for each element of the development and how it relates to the Watermead Regeneration Corridor, informed by a Flood Risk Assessment and community consultation; and a Green Infrastructure Strategy to inform the development of detailed proposals and long term management.

Heritage

We will conserve and enhance our historic assets for their own value and the community, environmental and economic contribution they make. We will do this by: requiring development proposals to protect heritage assets and their setting; supporting development which prioritises the refurbishment and re-use of disused or under used buildings of historic or architectural merit or incorporates them sensitively into regeneration schemes; working with our partners to prepare Conservation Area Character Statements, Landscape Character Assessments and Village Design Statements; supporting developments which have been informed by and reflect Conservation Area Character Appraisals, Landscape Character Appraisals and Village Design Statements; supporting developments which incorporate Charnwood's distinctive local building materials and architectural details; supporting the viable and sustainable use of heritage assets at risk of neglect or loss, providing such development is consistent with the significance of the heritage asset, especially where this supports tourism or business development; securing improvements to the following 'at risk' heritage assets through our major developments: - the Temple of Venus, Garendon Park, Ashby Road, Loughborough - the Triumphal Arch, Garendon Park, Ashby Road, Loughborough - Roman villa north of Hamilton Grounds Farm, Barkby Thorpe - Garendon Park, Ashby Road, Loughborough - Shepshed Conservation Area - Taylor's Bell Foundry, Freehold Street, Loughborough

Development Strategy

We will make provision for at least 13,940 new homes between 2011 and 2028. Leicester Principal Urban Area Our priority location for growth will be the Leicester Principal Urban Area, where provision will be made for at least 5,500 new homes and up to 46 hectares of employment land between 2011 and 2028. We will do this by planning positively for: a sustainable urban extension of approximately 4,500 homes to the north east of Leicester, delivering approximately 3,250 homes and up to 13 hectares of employment land by 2028 and the remaining homes beyond the plan period as part of a comprehensive and integrated development; a direction of growth for approximately 1,500 homes as part of a sustainable urban extension to the north of Birstall, delivering approximately 1,345 homes and up to 15 hectares of employment land by 2028 and the remaining homes beyond the plan period as part of a comprehensive development; a direction of growth for up to 8,750 sqm of offices and up to 16 hectares of general employment land within the Watermead Regeneration corridor; and sustainable development which contributes towards meeting our remaining development needs, supports our strategic vision, makes effective use of land and is in accordance with the policies in this strategy. Loughborough and Shepshed The majority of our remaining growth will be met at Loughborough and Shepshed where provision will be made for at least 5,000 new homes and up to 22 hectares of employment land between 2011 and 2028. We will do this by planning positively for: a sustainable urban extension of approximately 3,000 homes to the west of Loughborough, delivering approximately 2,440 homes and up to 16 hectares of employment land by 2028 and the remaining homes beyond the plan period as part of a comprehensive and integrated development; approximately 1,200 homes within and adjoining Shepshed to support its regeneration; up to 6 hectares of employment land within and adjoining Loughborough/Shepshed; and sustainable development which contributes towards meeting our remaining development needs, supports our strategic vision, makes effective use of land and is in accordance with the policies in this strategy. We will also plan positively for up to a 77 hectare expansion of Science and Enterprise Park to the West of Loughborough University. Service Centres We will plan positively for the role of Service Centres (Anstey, Barrow Upon Soar, Mountsorrel, Quorn, Rothley, Sileby and Syston). We will do this by; providing for at least 3,000 new homes and approximately 7 hectares of employment land within and adjoining our Service Centres between 2011 and 2028; safeguarding services and facilities; and responding positively to sustainable development which contributes towards meeting our development needs, supports our strategic vision, makes effective use of land and is in accordance with the policies in this strategy. Other Settlements We will meet the local social and economic need for development in other settlements (Barkby, Burton on the Wolds, Cossington, East Goscote, Hathern, Newtown Linford, Queniborough, Rearsby, Thrussington, Thurcaston, Woodhouse Eaves and Wymeswold). We will do this by: providing for at least 500 new homes within settlement boundaries identified in our Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document between 2011 and 2028; responding positively to small-scale opportunities within defined limits to development; responding positively to affordable housing developments in accordance with Policy CS3; safeguarding services and facilities; and responding positively to development which contributes to local priorities as identified in Neighbourhood Plans. Small Villages and Hamlets We will safeguard services and facilities and respond positively to development that meets a specific local social or economic need in our smallest settlements (Barkby Thorpe, Beeby, Cotes, Cropston, Hoton, Prestwold, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Ridgeway Area of Rothley, Seagrave, South Croxton, Swithland, Ulverscroft, Walton on the Wolds, Wanlip, Woodhouse and Woodthorpe). We will do this where: the specific local social or economic need is identified by a Neighbourhood Plan or other appropriate community-led

North East of Leicester Sustainable Urban Extension

We will allocate land to north east of Leicester as a sustainable urban extension to deliver a community of approximately 4,500 homes. The development will make a significant contribution to meeting our housing needs by delivering approximately 3,250 homes by 2028 and the remaining homes beyond the plan period. The sustainable urban extension will create a balanced community and a safe, high quality and accessible environment. We will do this by: Housing seeking 30% affordable homes to meet local needs in accordance with Policy CS3; seeking a range of tenures, types and sizes of homes in accordance with Policy CS3; supporting extra care housing where it meets the needs of our ageing population in accordance with Policy CS3; and requiring a permanent site for gypsies and travellers of at least 4 pitches and a site of at least 4 plots for showpeople in accordance with Policy CS5. Employment providing up to 13 hectares of employment land to help meet our strategic and local employment needs in accordance with Policy CS6. Community Facilities providing three primary schools and one secondary school, as appropriate to meet the need for school places, as focal points for the new community, in locations that are accessible to both the new and existing communities; providing one main accessible Local Centre delivered as part of an early phase of development that is accessible to both new and existing communities, including as a minimum, local shops and a supermarket, small scale employment and a range of non-retail and community facilities and services in accordance with Policy CS9; including opportunities, where appropriate, for additional smaller centres where they complement the main centre, are well related to a school and meet community needs in accordance with Policy CS9; and supporting the provision of excellent electronic communications networks for all homes and businesses in accordance with Policy CS 10. Transport requiring well connected street patterns and walkable neighbourhoods that provide high quality, safe and direct walking, cycling and public transport routes in accordance with Policy CS17; requiring the retention of existing walking, cycling and road connections with Thurmaston and where possible the creation of new links in accordance with Policy CS17; requiring a comprehensive package of transport improvements in accordance with Policies CS17 and CS18 and including: new and improved cycling and walking routes, well related to the green infrastructure network, connecting to existing and new employment areas and centres, Syston train station and Thurmaston Waterfront; new and enhanced bus services connecting both the western part of the development and eastern part with local employment opportunities and Syston, Thurmaston and Leicester City Centre, as identified through a Transport Assessment; a new main road through the development from Barkby Thorpe Lane at the north to Sandhills Avenue at the south, performing the function of a high street where it passes through the new main centre; appropriate capacity improvements to Barkby Thorpe Lane and the A607/Barkby Thorpe Lane roundabout and if necessary a new road link from the development to Melton Road and the A607; and other network improvements as identified by an appropriate Transport Assessment. Environment protecting the separate identities of Syston, Barkby and Barkby Thorpe and their Conservation Areas; responding to the landscape and surrounding areas to create a locally distinctive development in accordance with Policies CS2 and CS11; protecting historic and archaeological features including the setting of Hamilton Deserted Medieval Village and the Roman Villa in accordance with Policy CS14; protecting and enhancing existing wildlife corridors and, where appropriate, provide new corridors to create a coherent biodiversity network in accordance with Policy CS13; encouraging the development to, where viable, exceed Building Regulations for carbon emissions in accordance with Policy CS16; delivering buildings and spaces that have been designed to be adaptable to future climatic conditions including extremes of temperature, drought and flooding in accordance with Policy CS16; requiring development that provides appropriate Sustainable Drainage Systems and flood alleviation measures and where possible reduces flood risk in Thurmaston, Syston and Barkby in accordance with Policy CS16; protecting and enhancing water quality; providing an extension of the Leicester Hamilton Green Wedge including access to and long term management of a formal parkland as part of an accessible, comprehensive and high quality network of multi-functional green spaces in accordance with our open space standards in accordance with Policies CS15 and CS12. The package of green space should include: parks totalling around 3.6 hectares; around 23 hectares of natural and semi-natural green space; around 5 hectares of amenity green spaces; around 22 sites providing facilities for children; around 22 sites providing facilities for young people; around 29 hectares of outdoor sports provision including around 13 hectares of playing pitches and around 5 tennis courts; around 4 indoor courts; and around 4 hectares of allotments. We will do this by working with our public and private sector partners and will require the following to support a planning application: a Development Framework including delivery and phasing arrangements and a masterplan informed by an independent Design Review Panel and community consultation including key design principles to ensure the development of a comprehensive sustainable urban extension; a Green Infrastructure Strategy to inform the development of detailed proposals and long term management; and a Sustainability Assessment that identifies the developments response to carbon emissions reduction and climate change resilience. Before outline planning permission is granted, we will require a development brief, design code or equivalent to be prepared to inform detailed planning applications or reserved matters applications.

North of Birstall Direction of Growth

We will identify a direction of growth to the north of Birstall for a sustainable urban extension to deliver a garden suburb of approximately 1,500 homes. The development will make a significant contribution to meeting our housing needs by delivering approximately 1,345 homes by 2028 and the remaining homes beyond the plan period. The sustainable urban extension will be to the north of the A46, west of the A6, east of the Great Central Railway line and to the south and west of the Broadnook Spinney. It will create a balanced community and a safe, high quality and accessible environment. We will do this by: Housing seeking 30% affordable homes to meet local needs in accordance with Policy CS3; seeking a range of tenures, types and sizes of homes in accordance with CS Policy 3 in accordance with Policy CS3; supporting extra care housing where it meets the needs of our ageing population in accordance with Policy CS3; and requiring a site of at least 4 plots for showpeople in accordance with Policy CS5. Employment providing up to 15 hectares of employment land to help meet our strategic and local employment needs in accordance with Policy CS6. Community Facilities providing a primary school as appropriate to meet the need for school places, as a focal point for the new community; contributing to the provision of secondary school places as appropriate to meet the need for school places; providing one accessible Local Centre delivered as part of an early phase of development, including as a minimum, local shops and a small supermarket, small scale employment and a range of non-retail and community facilities and services including a community centre in accordance with Policy CS9; supporting the provision of excellent electronic communications networks for all homes and businesses in accordance with Policy CS10; and supporting development that maximises the opportunities to create strong social links with Birstall. Transport requiring well connected street patterns and walkable neighbourhoods that provide high quality, safe and direct walking, cycling and public transport routes in accordance with Policy CS17; requiring a comprehensive package of transport improvements in accordance with Policies CS17 and CS18 and including: new and improved cycling and walking routes, well related to the green infrastructure network, connecting to existing and new employment areas and centres, the Birstall Park and Ride, Watermead Country Park and Charnwood Forest; bus service enhancements connecting the new community with local employment opportunities and Birstall, Leicester City Centre and Loughborough, as identified through a Transport Assessment; a new roundabout on the A6, north of the A46 interchange; appropriate access arrangements including a connection to the A6 and Rothley; appropriate capacity improvements at the A46 interchange; and other network improvements as identified by an appropriate Transport Assessment. Environment protecting the separate identity of Wanlip, Rothley and Rothley Conservation Area; responding to the landscape and surrounding areas to create a locally distinctive development in accordance with Policies CS2 and CS11; protecting historic and archaeological features including the setting of Rothley Park and Rothley Conservation Area in accordance with Policy CS14; protecting and enhancing existing wildlife corridors and, where appropriate, provide new corridors to create a coherent biodiversity network in accordance with Policy CS13; encouraging the development to, where viable, exceed Building Regulations for carbon emissions in accordance with Policy CS16; delivering buildings and spaces that have been designed to be adaptable to future climatic conditions including extremes of temperature, drought and flooding in accordance with Policy CS16; requiring development that provides appropriate Sustainable Drainage Systems and flood alleviation measures and where possible reduces flood risk associated with the Rothley Brook in accordance with Policy CS16; providing an accessible, comprehensive and high quality network of multi-functional green spaces in accordance with our open space standards in accordance with Policies CS15 and CS12 and garden suburb principles; requiring the development to respond to the minerals safeguarding policies in the Leicestershire Minerals Development Framework. We will do this by allocating a specific site in the Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document. We will do this by working with our public and private partners and will require the following to support a planning application: a Development Framework, including delivery and phasing arrangements and a masterplan informed by an independent Design Review Panel and community consultation including key design principles to ensure the development of a comprehensive sustainable urban extension; a Green Infrastructure Strategy to inform the development of detailed proposals and long term management; and a Sustainability Assessment that identifies the development's response to carbon emissions reduction and climate change resilience. Before outline planning permission is granted, we will require development brief, design code or equivalent to be prepared to inform detailed planning applications or reserved matters applications.

West of Loughborough Sustainable Urban Extension

We will allocate land to the west of Loughborough as a sustainable urban extension to deliver a community of approximately 3,000 homes. The development will make a significant contribution to meeting our housing needs by delivering approximately 2,440 homes by 2028 and the remaining homes beyond the plan period. The sustainable urban extension will create a balanced community and a safe, high quality and accessible environment. We will do this by: Housing - seeking 30% affordable homes to meet local needs in accordance Policy CS3; - seeking a range of tenures, types and sizes of homes in accordance Policy CS3; - supporting extra care housing where it meets the needs of our ageing population in accordance Policy CS3; and - requiring a permanent site for gypsies and travellers of at least 4 pitches and a site of at least 4 plots for showpeople in accordance with Policy CS5. Employment - providing up to 16 hectares of employment land to help meet our strategic and local employment needs and support the regeneration of Loughborough and Shepshed in accordance with Policies CS6, CS7 and CS8; Community Facilities - providing two primary schools as appropriate to meet the need for school places, as focal points within the new community; - contributing to the provision of secondary school places if necessary to meet the need for school places; - providing one accessible Local Centre, delivered as part of an early phase of development, including as a minimum, local shops and a small supermarket, small scale employment and a range of non-retail and community facilities and services in accordance with Policy CS9; - including opportunities, where appropriate, for an additional smaller centre where it complements the main centre, is well related to the school and meets community needs in accordance Policy CS9; and - supporting the provision of excellent electronic communications networks for all homes and businesses in accordance with Policy CS10. Transport - requiring well connected street patterns and walkable neighbourhoods that provide high quality, safe and direct walking, cycling and public transport routes in accordance with Policy CS17; - requiring the retention of walking, cycling and road connections with Loughborough and Shepshed and where possible the creation of new links in accordance with Policy CS17; - requiring a comprehensive package of transport improvements in accordance with Policies CS17 and CS18 and including: - new and improved cycling and walking routes, well related to the green infrastructure network, connecting to new and existing employment areas including the Science & Enterprise Park and Dishley Grange, new and existing centres and Garendon Registered Park and Garden; - new and enhanced bus services linking the new community with local employment opportunities, Loughborough Town Centre, Shepshed District Centre and Loughborough Railway Station; - a new road providing the function of a high street where is passes through the new main centre; - a new strategic distributor road through the development to connect to the A512 at the south and the A6 (south of Hathern) to the north; - a new road link from the distributor road to Hathern Road; - dualling of the A512 between Snell's Nook Lane and M1 motorway J23; - capacity improvements to M1 motorway J23; and - other network improvements as identified by an appropriate Transport Assessment. Environment - protecting the separate identities of Hathern and Shepshed and their Conservation Areas; - responding to the landscape and surrounding areas to create a locally distinctive development in accordance with Policies CS2 and CS11; - protecting and mitigating impacts on historic and archaeological features including Garendon Registered Park and Garden, the scheduled monument and listed buildings within the Park in accordance with Policy CS14; - protecting and enhancing existing wildlife corridors and where appropriate, provide new corridors to create a coherent biodiversity network in accordance with Policy CS13; - encouraging the development to, where viable, exceed Building Regulations for carbon emissions in accordance with Policy CS16; - delivering buildings and spaces that have been designed to be adaptable to future climatic conditions including extremes of temperature, drought and flooding in accordance with Policy CS16; - requiring development that provides appropriate Sustainable Drainage Systems and flood alleviation measures and where possible reduces flood risk in Loughborough in accordance with Policy CS16; - including appropriate measures to mitigate any noise and air quality impact from the M1 Motorway; - provide public access to, restoration and long term management of Garendon Registered Park and Gardens as a public park and heritage assets consistent with their significance; and - provide an accessible, comprehensive and high quality network of multi-functional green spaces in accordance with our open space standards in accordance with CS15 and CS12. The package of green space should include: - parks totalling around 1.5 hectares; - around 3.4 hectares of amenity green spaces; - around 14 sites providing facilities for children; - around 14 sites providing facilities for young people; - around 22.8 hectares of outdoor sports provision including around 9 hectares of playing pitches and around 4 tennis courts; - around 3 indoor courts; and - around 2.5 hectares of allotments. We will do this by working with our public and private sector partners and will require the following to support a planning application: - a Development Framework, including delivery and phasing arrangements and a masterplan informed by an independent Design Review Panel and community consultation including key design principles to ensure the development of a comprehensive sustainable urban extension; - a Heritage Strategy to inform the detailed mitigation proposals for the restoration and long term management of heritage assets; - a Green Infrastructure Strategy to inform the development of detailed proposals and long term management; and - a Sustainability Assessment that identifies the developments response to carbon emissions reduction and climate change resilience. Before outline planning permission is granted we will require a development brief, design code or equivalent to be prepared to inform detailed planning applications or reserved matters applications.

Strategic Housing Needs

We will manage the delivery of at least 13,940 new homes between 2011 and 2028 to balance our housing stock and meet our community's housing needs. We will do this by: seeking the following targets for affordable homes within housing developments, having regard to market conditions, economic viability and other infrastructure requirements: 30% affordable housing within the sustainable urban extensions north east of Leicester and west of Loughborough and the direction of growth north of Birstall; on sites of 10 dwellings or more in the following urban areas and service centres: Target Location 20% Thurmaston, Shepshed 30% Birstall, Loughborough, Anstey, Barrow Upon Soar, Mountsorrel, Sileby, Syston 40% Quorn, Rothley on sites of 5 dwellings or more in the following rural locations: Target Location 30% East Goscote, Thurcaston 40% Barkby, Barkby Thorpe, Beeby, Burton on the Wolds, Cossington, Cotes, Cropston, Hathern, Hoton, Newtown Linford, Prestwold, Queniborough, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Rearsby, Ridgeway Area of Rothley, Seagrave, South Croxton, Swithland, Thrussington, Ulverscroft, Walton on the Wolds, Wanlip, Woodhouse, Woodhouse Eaves, Woodthorpe, Wymeswold seeking an appropriate mix of types, tenures and sizes of homes, having regard to identified housing needs and the character of the area; seeking all new housing to be built to 'Lifetime Homes', where feasible; securing the delivery of affordable homes on-site and integrated with market housing unless there are exceptional circumstances which contribute to the creation of mixed communities; working with our partners to deliver small-scale rural exceptions sites in accordance with Policy CS1 that meet an identified local need; and monitoring the delivery of affordable homes through our Annual Monitoring Report.

Houses in Multiple Occupation

We will support the well-being, character and amenity of our communities by managing the proportion of houses in multiple occupation. We will do this by preventing houses in multiple occupation that, either in themselves, or cumulatively with other houses in multiple occupation: damage the social and physical character and amenity of a street or residential area; or generate noise and disturbance which is detrimental to the amenity of the street or residential area; or generate a demand for on-street car parking that would prejudice the safe operation of the highway, or cause detriment to amenity. We will also prepare further policy and guidance in our Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document and Supplementary Planning Document on Houses in Multiple Occupation.

Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

We will support sites for gypsies, travellers and travelling showpeople that are: closely related to a town or village; appropriate in scale; well-related to local infrastructure and services, including safe and convenient access to the road network; and do not cause significant detrimental impact to the existing community. We will meet the need for at least 8 permanent pitches, 10 transit pitches and 16 plots for showpeople by 2028 by: requiring a site for at least 4 permanent pitches at each of our allocated sustainable urban extensions in accordance with Policies CS19 and CS22; requiring a site for at least 4 showpeople plots at each of our strategic housing developments in accordance with Policies CS19, CS20 and CS22; allocating a site for at least 4 showpeople plots in our Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document; and allocating one or more sites for at least 10 transit pitches in total in our Site Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Document.

West Loughborough SUE - Primary

2 new primary schools (2 x 2FE) (420 places) which would require 2 sites of 1.93 ha.

North East of Leicester SUE - Primary

3 new primary schools 2 x 2FE (420 places) which would require 2 sites of 1.93 ha and 1 x 1.5FE 260 places (infrastructure for 315 places) which would require a site of 1.51 ha.

North East of Leicester SUE - Secondary

1 new secondary school 1 x 605 places (infrastructure for 800 places) which would require a site of 7.85 ha.

North of Birstall Direction of Growth

1 new primary school 1 x 2FE 360 places (infrastructure for 420 places) which would require a site of 1.93 ha.

Delivering Infrastructure

By 2028 there will be significant progress towards the delivery of essential infrastructure set out in our Infrastructure Delivery Plan and the direct, local impacts of developments on existing infrastructure and our community will have been reasonably managed and mitigated. We will do this by: ensuring that development contributes to the reasonable costs of on site, and where appropriate off site, infrastructure, arising from the proposal through the use of Section 106 and Section 278 Agreements; giving consideration to the implementation of a Community Infrastructure Levy; entering into planning performance agreements with promoters on all our major proposals with 3 year review processes to consider viability and infrastructure delivery; expecting all promoters of major developments to enter with us into an open book viability appraisal; relating the type, amount and timing of infrastructure to the scale of development, viability and the impact it has on the site and surrounding area; working in partnership through our Charnwood Infrastructure Delivery Group to coordinate public sector funding and manage delivery; monitoring and reviewing the implementation of our Infrastructure Delivery Plan on an annual basis to influence investment programmes and decisions; and monitoring and reviewing the implementation of our Neighbourhood Plans on an annual basis to influence local infrastructure programmes and decisions.

Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development

When considering development proposals the Council will take a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in the National Planning Policy Framework. It will always work proactively with applicants jointly to find solutions which mean that proposals can be approved wherever possible, and to secure development that improves the economic, social and environmental conditions in the area. Planning applications that accord with the policies in this Local Plan (and, where relevant, with polices in neighbourhood plans) will be approved without delay, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Where there are no policies relevant to the application or relevant policies are out of date at the time of making the decision then the Council will grant permission unless material considerations indicate otherwise – taking into account whether: any adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the National Planning Policy Framework taken as a whole; or specific policies in that Framework indicate that development should be restricted.

Town Centre regeneration

Infrastructure to facilitate comprehensive redevelopment of key town centre regeneration sites

Town Centres and Shops

Loughborough Town Centre We will make a significant contribution to the regeneration and the continued vitality of Loughborough Town Centre by supporting major retail, leisure and other 'town centre' developments which: reinforce and enhance the compact, legible and walkable character of Loughborough Town Centre, maintaining the Market Place at its heart; maintain continuous street frontage activity in and around the retail core; follows the design principles set out in the Loughborough Town Centre Masterplan, unless it can be clearly demonstrated an alternative high quality design solution is needed to ensure a viable scheme; and makes a significant improvement in the character and appearance of Loughborough Town Centre particularly from key gateways. We will also support commercial leisure uses, including restaurants that support activity throughout the day and night for a range of age groups and which support the main retail attraction of the Town Centre. We expect around 70% of all additional floorspace for main town centre uses to be provided in Loughborough Town Centre between 2011 and 2028. Up to 2021 we will focus all new convenience and the majority of new comparison retail floorspace to the southeast of Loughborough Town Centre and Devonshire Square. We will do this by working with our partners to: ensure comprehensive redevelopment of the key town centre opportunity sites; secure adequate vehicular access from Loughborough Inner Relief Road to Baxtergate site; encourage the delivery of a new major car park; enhance key pedestrian routes between Baxtergate, Churchgate, Market Place, Devonshire Square and town centre green spaces; and promote our heritage features to help secure regeneration of our opportunity sites. We support proposals for retail, leisure and other 'town centre' developments to the northwest of the town centre where: the amount and type of retail floorspace does not compromise the redevelopment of regeneration areas in Devonshire Square and to the southeast of Loughborough Town Centre; and 'Town Centre' Uses are located and pedestrian links are designed to support the compact and walkable character of Loughborough Town Centre. Shepshed District Centre We will make a significant contribution to the regeneration of Shepshed by 2028 by: supporting 'town centre' development that is physically well integrated within and contributes to the vitality and viability of the District Centre and increases economic and community activity; supporting new developments that improve accessibility to the District Centre through signage, pedestrian and cycle routes, enhanced public transport and highway improvements and traffic management and parking initiatives; improving the pedestrian environment, and public realm; and supporting development that directly contributes to the regeneration of Shepshed in accordance with policy CS8.

Sustainable Travel

By 2028, we will seek to achieve a 6% shift from travel by private car to walking, cycling and public transport by: requiring new major developments to provide walking, cycling and public transport access to key facilities and services; requiring new major developments to provide safe and well-lit streets and routes for walking and cycling that are integrated with the wider green infrastructure network; securing new and enhanced bus services from major developments and new bus stops where new development is more than 400 metres walk from an existing bus stop; securing contributions from our sustainable urban extensions towards improvements to public transport corridors into Leicester City and Loughborough in accordance with Policy CS19, CS20 and CS22; and working with our partners to maximise opportunities for freight movement by rail. We will do this by: assessing the impact of major developments through Transport Assessments and Travel Plans; and working with our partners, including Leicestershire County Council and Leicester City Council, to secure funding for and delivery of sustainable transport improvements.

The Local and Strategic Road Network

We will maximise the efficiency of the local and strategic road network by 2028. We will do this by: delivering sustainable travel improvements in accordance with policy CS17; requiring our strategic developments to deliver an appropriate and comprehensive package of transport improvements in accordance with Policies CS19, CS20, CS21, CS22 and CS23; and requiring other network improvements as identified by appropriate Transport Assessments.

Improving transport accessibility

Secure adequate vehicular access from the Loughborough Inner Relief Road to Barker Gate Site. This is a regeneration priority served by major routes through the town.

Car parking

Encourage the delivery of a major new car park to encourage trade and functioning of the town centre

Public transport corridors to Leicester City Centre

NE of Leicester SUE will have an impact on public transport services from the site to Leicester City Centre. It is likely that bus corridor improvements and additional bus infrastructure will be required.

Improvements to Syston Railway Station

Network Rail is currently assessing and costing the possible options available to them for either improving or relocating the station as part of the Midland Main Line upgrades and freight improvements. Syston Railway Station has been included as a project for funding by Network Rail.

Great Central Railway 'Bridging the Gap'

Re-establishing connectivity of the Great Central Railway in the Loughborough area.