Planning in Nuneaton and Bedworth

Community Facilities

Proposals for development which would lead to the loss of community facilities (as defined within paragraph 11.40 of the supporting text) will only be permitted where: • adequate alternative facilities and services are available locally; or • access to locally alternative facilities is enhanced; or • replacement facilities are proposed nearby; or • it can be clearly demonstrated that there is no longer a demand or is surplus to requirements for the facilities the use. Alternatively, the facilities the use is no longer viable/appropriate and that there is a greater benefit to the area resulting from the proposed use. For reference to sports centres; indoor sports and recreational buildings and land; open space, green spaces/parks; and sports and playing fields refer to Policy HS6 'Sport and exercise'. New development serving a local community or business need (especially in rural areas or where not served by public transport) will be encouraged unless material considerations indicate otherwise.

Sport and Exercise

Existing local sports pitches and open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields, should be retained unless justification can be provided as to why they are no longer required or that proves alternative suitable provisions can be provided. New developments including strategic housing sites, will be required to plan from the outset for the integrated planning of a healthy environment for its communities. This includes the provision and maintenance for sport, and physical activity and community facilities, as well as green infrastructure, open space, allotments and walking and cycling routes in line with policies NE1 – Green infrastructure and NE2 – Open space and playing fields. New facilities, links and spaces should relate well to other areas, and be safe, convenient, accessible and functional. Spaces should be resilient to and mitigate for climate change and include natural planting to provide shaded outdoor spaces and to help with air filtration. In ensuring the timely delivery of infrastructure requirements, development proposals must demonstrate that full regard has been paid to the IDP and all other policies and relevant strategies, including the Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy; Sport, Recreation and Community Facilities Strategy; Open Space Strategy; Green Infrastructure Strategy; and Indoor Leisure Facilities Needs Strategy and Allotment Strategy, or documents that formally superseded them. The on-site provision, maintenance and management of sports and recreation facilities provided will be secured through planning obligation, as they will be needed to make the development acceptable in planning terms.

Hot Food Takeaways

To limit development of environments that encourage obesity, hot food takeaways (now use class sui generis, formerly use class A5), should be directed to town centres as set out in 'Policy TC3 – Hierarchy of centres (including district and local centres)'. Outside of Nuneaton and Bedworth town centres, hot food takeaway proposals will be permitted in district or local centres, providing the proposal does not increase the number of units of hot food takeaways to over 20% of the centre's total usage. Outside of the defined town, district and local centres, hot food takeaways will only be supported where: • It is demonstrated that the proposal will not have a significant adverse impact on residential amenity through odour, noise and litter. • Deliveries or customer visits by car would not have an unacceptable impact on existing or proposed public transport provision, traffic movements, road or pedestrian safety. • The proposal is not within a 400m radius of any access points of an existing primary or secondary school (including any special school, sixth form college or academy). This will not apply when the buffer zone overlaps with a town or local centre. • The proposal does not jeopardise the provision of an essential local service. • A Sequential Assessment is provided, which demonstrates that there are no other sequentially preferable sites. Proposals should be in accordance with the Council's adopted Planning for a healthier area – hot food takeaways SPD (2020) or as per any subsequent updates. Support will be given for opportunities to tackle obesity through other means, or any further SPDs as evidence or initiatives evolve.

Land Instability

c. That any risks of creating land instability likely to adversely affect nearby land or infrastructure have been adequately mitigated.

Sustainable Design and Construction

All Development proposals must should be: 1. Designed to a high standard and meet the ten characteristics of the National Design Guide and National Model Design Codes. Designed to meet the requirements specified in any relevant extant Concept Plan SPD and the Sustainable Design and Construction SPD (2020). Able to evidence that new developments are water efficient, incorporating water efficiency and re-use measures and that the estimated consumption of wholesome water per dwelling is calculated in accordance with the methodology in the water efficiency calculator, not exceeding 100 110 litres/person/day (or any future reduction stated within an updated version of the Building Regulations 2010). (until such time this is superseded by a lower figure under Building Regulations). Residential development mustshould meet 95% M4(2) and 5% M4(3) Building Regulations standards for access, the NDSS and the principles set out within the relevant SPDs (including the Future Homes and Buildings Standard where technically and financially feasible). Where assessment methods are changed or superseded, the appropriate replacement standards will be used. Where a developer considers meeting any of the above requirements is unviable or can demonstrate that they are not suited to local circumstances, supporting evidence must be provided, with any planning application, to clearly demonstrate this. aAn independent Viability Assessment is likely to be the most appropriate assessment to demonstrate that it is unviable. must be submitted with the application.

Employment

Employment sectors in line with those prioritised in the Economic Development Strategy.

Strategic Employment Allocation SEA4

Criteria 6: Financial contribution towards the feasibility studies to investigate the possibility of reopening of the culverted Griff Brook. Criteria 8: Suitable sewage connection to the existing foul drainage network. and contributions to local sewage network, improvements to increase capacity, improvement to the local network to reduce impact on hydraulic performance and improve biological treatment capacity to accommodate the development. Criteria 9: Creation of cycle path link between Bermuda Station and Coventry Road, as well as contributions to a crossing point for Coventry Road, where sought and justified, and contributions to the Bermuda Connectivity Project. Key development principles: Any contamination from previous uses on the site is to be suitably mitigated. Parts of the site are on areas of floodplain and any development should have regard to this and to the risk of fluvial flood risk.

Strategic Employment Allocation SEA6

1. Provision of approximately 20.99ha of employment land. 2. Provision of approximately 7ha of land to deliver at least approximately 150 dwellings (including extra care units). 3. Provision of a new junction or junctions onto Bowling Green Lane to serve the residential development element of SEA6. The employment site is to be served by the provision of a new junction onto Bowling Green Lane at the School Lane junction, with associated traffic lights and any transport improvements/new junctions and upgrades required along Bowling Green Lane and School Lane (in conjunction with both the development on School Lane and either by agreement with the landowner or securing the transfer of the land to the highway authority to facilitate the use of highway powers for land outside of the School Lane site. The developer will be expected to submit for agreement an HGV routing strategy which will show HGVs accessing/egressing the site from the School Lane direction and avoiding the local schools on Bowling Green Lane, Ash Green Lane and Wheelwright Lane). 7. Suitable sewage connection to the existing foul drainage network. and contributions to increase capacity to the treatment works to support growth. 8. Contribution towards increased personnel and vehicles for Warwickshire Police. Contributions to infrastructure requirements for Warwickshire Policy where this is justified and compliant with the CIL Regulations. 12. Retain existing hedgerows and trees as part of the green infrastructure for any development. Enhance existing hedgerows with new planting where they have become fragmented. Seek to retain the public right of way within a landscape enhancement area either side of the route in order to form a strategic landscaping area through the centre of the site. Or, if necessary, appropriately divert the public right of way along a route that does not materially inconvenience the public.

Strategic Policy SEA2

Strategic site SEA2 will contribute to meeting the strategic employment needs of the Borough, job creation objectives of the Borough Plan Review and the delivery of new homes in a mixed-use allocation. A cross boundary outline application has been made with conditional approval granted by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council for 73 dwellings and employment/commercial floor space with ancillary offices (Application reference 037237 – March 2023) but refused by Coventry City Council. An appeal is scheduled in 2023. 8. Financial contribution towards expansion of existing primary school provision (not currently required under outline 037237) and secondary school places at Ash Green School. Additional provision for early years, SEND and post-16 as required. 16. Retain areas of ridge and furrow, within open spaces, where possible. 26. The Environment Agency, Warwickshire County Council Flood Risk Management and Coventry City Council require the site to provide a betterment for flood relief downstream by providing additional rainwater storage within the site. Protected, UK Priority, rare and endangered species surveys will be required where there is a reasonable likelihood of their presence. Where their presence is found or suspected their populations will be protected and where possible enhanced, during and after development. Developments that look to provide species provision into the development will be encouraged.

Strategic Policy SEA3

Strategic employment site SEA3 comprises of an extension to an existing employment park and will contribute to meeting the strategic employment needs of the Borough and job creation objectives of the Borough Plan Review. The site received outline consent for employment use (Application reference 038023 - July 2022). Two reserved matters schemes are being considered in tandem, one large single unit (Application reference 039750) and another two smaller units (Application reference 039751) with potential for additional mezzanine space. 11. Suitable sewage connection to the existing foul drainage network and contributions to increase capacity to the treatment works to support growth.

Strategic Policy SEA4

6. Financial contribution towards the feasibility studies to investigate the possibility of reopening of the culverted Griff Brook. 8. Suitable sewage connection to the existing foul drainage network and contributions to local sewage network, improvements to increase capacity, improvement to the local network to reduce impact on hydraulic performance and improve biological treatment capacity to accommodate the development. 9. Creation of cycle path link between Bermuda Station and Coventry Road, as well as contributions to a crossing point for Coventry Road, where sought and justified, and contributions to the Bermuda Connectivity Project.

Climate Change

To address the climate change emergency, schemes providing renewable and low carbon technologies will be supported unless material considerations indicate otherwise. These include but are not exclusive to schemes that promote biomass energy, ground and air source heat pumps, hydro power, solar thermal and solar photovoltaic. Development must have regard to reflect the Climate Change Act 2008, zero carbon emissions by 2050 and the Environment Act 2021 and subsequent emerging Acts and, where possible, look to reduce carbon emissions and provide resilience to climate change. Therefore, new development must, where possible, make use of sustainable transport, sustainable materials, minimise waste materials, make use of low carbon technologies, renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. The use of the higher Building Regulation requirements will be encouraged and supported. Proposals for retrofitting microgeneration technologies in existing developments will be approved, subject to a suitable assessment of the potential impacts to the local area. Community led initiatives for renewable and low carbon energy schemes will be approved if in accordance with other policies in the Plan.

SuDS

New development will be required to implement appropriate, above-ground SuDS techniques, where feasible, in order to manage surface water run-off. For all sites, surface water discharge rates should be no greater than QBar (or QMed) site-specific greenfield run-off rates, unless otherwise agreed by the LLFA. Warwickshire County Council's Flood Risk Guidance for Development should be referenced for drainage design and guidance on discharge rates. Surface water run-off should be managed as close to its source as possible and discharged in line with the surface water drainage hierarchy. Opportunities to utilise rainwater harvesting or reuse should be explored, to have benefits for both flood risk and water scarcity. Discharge via any sewer network is considered the last resort and where discharging into 3rd party assets (e.g. sewer network), written confirmation from the asset owner of the acceptance of such connection will be required. All redevelopment of brownfield sites should seek to remove existing connections to the public sewer for surface water drainage. Developers are encouraged to contact Severn Trent, regarding sewer capacity, at an early stage of planning, to ensure adequate time is available to assess the risk and develop any network improvements should they be required. All development proposals and public realm improvements should consider the use of urban wetlands and street rain gardens as part of sustainable drainage schemes, particularly where there are known surface water flooding problems, or where wildlife habitat connectivity could be enhanced or restored. Above ground SuDS features must, where feasible, be included within all development in order to bring wider sustainability benefits including improved water quality, enhanced biodiversity and amenity/leisure value. SuDS should be dispersed across a development (e.g. not concentrated in a single attenuation feature) with consideration given to design for and retaining the first 5mm of rainfall. SuDS should be designed so that they do not impact on archaeology. Impacts can be caused by draining waterlogged archaeology or introducing surplus water and pollution from surface runoff into archaeological sediments via soakaways. Consideration should be given to the most appropriate course of action to protect buried, waterlogged archaeology through the design of SuDS features. Details of the SuDS proposed to be used, including operation and maintenance, must be agreed at the earliest possible stage with the LLFA.

Green and Blue Infrastructure

The Borough's green and blue infrastructure assets will be protected, managed, and, where possible, enhanced or created to provide nature recovery networks. New development proposals will enhance, sustain and restore existing and create green (including wildbelts) and blue infrastructure (including canals); whilst at the same time protecting and, where possible, enhancing public rights of way. Climate change will be fundamental to new development and green and blue infrastructure must play a part in delivering long term mitigation and adaptation to this, by including installation of retro-fit SuDS such as rain gardens, bio-retention and tree pits, where this can be achieved. Development should comply with the Council's adopted Open Space and Green Infrastructure SPD (2021) and any emerging studies. The historic environment should be valued as an important asset in contributing to the multi-functionality of green-blue infrastructure via cultural heritage, recreation and tourism, utilising assets such as historic parks, gardens and canals. Where development proposals have a watercourse classified as a main river within their boundary, as a minimum, developers should set back development 8m from the top of the bank or landward toe of any flood defence. The same easement will also be required on smaller watercourses to maintain water elements, ecology and wildlife corridors. Greater widths are required where appropriate forming green infrastructure, open space or ecological corridors unless reduced widths are justified. This includes such as 50m buffers for ancient woodland, 30m buffers around all semi-natural woodland and broad-leaved plantation woodland and 5m buffers either side of intact hedgerows.

Open Space

Climate change will be fundamental to new development, including open spaces which must play a part in delivering long-term mitigation and adaptation. New development, including open spaces, must play a part in delivering long term mitigation and adaptation to climate change and must have regard to this when considering tree planting, the provision of shade and the use of flood mitigation and SuDS within the development site.

Ecology, Biodiversity, Geodiversity and Local Nature Recovery

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, protected species, the Government's 25 Year Plan and Environment Act 2021 are all key national legislation that must be adhered to. Development proposals need to ensure ecological networks, services and biodiversity and geological features are either conserved, enhanced, restored and/or created to assist in nature recovery. The use of mechanisms to improve biodiversity such as green roofs or green walls are encouraged. Species Protected, UK Priority, rare and endangered species surveys will be required where there is a reasonable likelihood of their presence. Where their presence is found or suspected their populations will be protected and enhanced during and after development. Developments that provide species provision into the development will be encouraged. Ecological network Sites of international, national and local importance (including existing and potential Local Wildlife Sites) will be protected from development to safeguard the criteria for which they were designated and thereby maintain their significant contribution to supporting a functional Green Infrastructure throughout the borough, county, sub-region and nationally. The level of protection sought for these sites will be at an appropriate scale to the site's designation status, and the contribution it makes to the ecological network. Any Potential Local Wildlife Sites (pLWS) will be surveyed for their ecological importance against the Guidance for the Selection of Local Wildlife Sites. Where protection, retention and/or enhancement of these sites is not possible, this must be clearly demonstrated (including survey work) to show that the benefits from the development significantly and demonstrably outweigh the impacts on the site, when assessed against legislation, and National and Borough Plan Review policies. Fragmentation of habitats Development proposals will ensure species are able to positively respond and adapt to the impacts of climate change by preventing the fragmentation of existing habitats. Links and habitats should be created where there are gaps to the ecological network of wildlife sites, wildbelts, stepping stones, wildlife and canal corridors, and green spaces, regardless of whether they are of international, national or local importance. Watercourses should be joined up to provide natural linkages for ecological networks and to improve water quality. Biodiversity Net Gain offsetting All applicable development, that is not exempt, must demonstrate a minimum 10% Biodiversity Net Gain with off-site offsetting being required as a last resort once all available options in the avoidance mitigation hierarchy have been demonstrably explored. Developers must use Warwickshire County Council's biodiversity offsetting metrics (until such time this is superseded by the mandatory use of the national metrics) the Statutory Metric to quantify the impact, and to calculate an appropriate level of compensation to replace the lost habitat. If there is any habitat loss that cannot be replaced on site, then replacement habitat should be provided in the Borough, in the following order: • A biodiversity strategic location. • A location adjoining and/or linking a biodiversity strategic location. • A location which significantly increases connectivity between LBAP habitats – and/or any emerging Nature Recovery network location that aligns with targeted areas and corridors for increased ecological connectivity. 1. Within the Borough 2. Within a neighbouring authority 3. Within Warwickshire, Coventry or Solihull Within each of these areas, the location of the replacement habitat should be considered in the following order: o In a strategic area for habitat creation or enhancement o In a semi-strategic area for habitat creation or enhancement o The creation or enhancement of an offset site greater than 20 hectares in area If these locations are not suitable then: 4. Elsewhere in England: o In other local authority areas o The purchase of national credits Geological diversity Development proposals will avoid adversely impacting sites of geological interest and, where appropriate, conserve and enhance such features for the enjoyment of residents, and for reasons of advancing local geological education. Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy Development proposals need to have regard to the Warwickshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and its priority habitats and species and any Areas of Particular Importance for biodiversity (APIBs) or opportunity areas. Ecological and geological assessment Development proposals affecting the ecological network and / or important geological features will be accompanied by a Preliminary Ecological Assessment and/or, where relevant, a Geological Assessment. Where the assessment indicates an adverse impact, the assessment must set out a mitigation strategy to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity, indicate how it will create biodiversity net gains and where relevant, how it will reduce its geological impact. Any proposal that directly or indirectly impacts on a highly distinctive ecological site must show that less distinctive ecological sites have been considered first and explain why those sites were not suitable. The assessment must demonstrate that the benefits of the development proposal will outweigh the immediate loss of biodiversity and/or geodiversity before development is permitted. The assessment must also demonstrate that the combination of proposed habitat retention, enhancement and any biodiversity offsetting, results in a minimum of a 10% net gain in biodiversity and where appropriate enhance 'at risk habitats' identified in the Biodiversity Action Plan, Green Infrastructure Strategy and any emerging Nature Recovery Plans. The assessment should include retention, enhancement and creation of ecological habitats and nature recovery. Developments that create new habitat should seek to accommodate a mix of predominantly native trees, including fruit trees as well as suitable species of street trees. Where there is evidence of deliberate neglect, clearance or damage to biodiversity prior to the submission of an application, the Council will assess the acceptability and biodiversity calculations on what was considered to be the original wording. Special Areas of Conservation and Sites of Special Scientific Interest Development that would adversely affect Special Areas of Conservation or cause significant harm to SSSI will not normally be granted planning permission.

Delivering Sustainable development

The Council will secure sustainable development by requiring all new development to contribute towards the national need to achieve net zero carbon emissions. The Council will require development to contribute towards the creation and maintenance of sustainable places, mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change and reducing carbon emissions. To achieve this, development should: • Re-use previously developed land and re-use buildings as a sustainable option, where applicable. • Be of high quality, relative to its use and locality. • Use natural resources prudently. • Be supported by infrastructure provision. • Encourage car-free neighbourhoods and sustainable modes of travel. • Maximise opportunities to enhance and expand the natural and built environment, in line with policies in this plan. Development must be adaptable/resilient to climate change, of a high quality, address the prudent use/safeguarding of natural resources and be fully supported by infrastructure provision. Development should also provide environmental mitigation and enhancement, whilst at the same time sustaining and enhancing the historic environment in line with policies set out in this plan. Car-free neighbourhoods will be encouraged. Furthermore, the re-use of previously developed land and the re-use of buildings as a sustainable option is encouraged whilst the achievement of national standards for highway design and sustainable transport infrastructure will be supported. Climate change adaption includes building new developments in line with water resource efficient design to 110 litres/person/day as a minimum, as well as environmental mitigation such as sustainable urban drainage systems. The Council will secure sustainable development by requiring all new development to contribute towards the national need to achieve net zero carbon emissions. Planning applications that accord with national policies and the policies in this Borough Plan Review (and where relevant, with policies in neighbourhood plans, other adopted Development Plans and adopted supplementary planning documents (SPDs) (or as per any subsequent updates) will be supported unless material considerations indicate otherwise. When considering development proposals, these will be determined in accordance with policies in this Borough Plan Review (and where applicable, with the other adopted Development Plan Documents and neighbourhood plans) unless material considerations indicate otherwise. In determining applications, consideration should be given, where relevant, to adopted Supplementary Planning Documents. 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 NPPF taken as a whole; or specific policies in the Framework that indicate development should be restricted.

Heritage Assets

Development proposals should which sustain and, where possible, enhance the Borough's heritage assets including listed buildings, conservation areas (Appendix D), scheduled monuments (Appendix I), registered parks and gardens, archaeology, historic landscapes and settings of townscapes including canals. ., will be approved. Great weight will be given to the conservation of the Borough's heritage assets and their settings, with greater weight being given to assets of higher importance. Any harm to the significance of a designated or non-designated heritage asset must be justified. Proposals causing harm to designated heritage assets will be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal in the following ways: • Whether it has been demonstrated that all reasonable efforts have been made to sustain the existing use, find new uses or mitigate the extent of the harm to the significance of the asset. • Whether the works proposed are the minimum required to secure the long-term use of the asset. Development proposals affecting non-designated heritage assets must establish the asset's significance. In determining planning applications affecting non-designated assets, the effect of the proposal on the asset's significance will be taken into account. A balanced judgement will be taken having regard to the significance of the heritage asset and the scale of any harm or loss of significance. Scheduled monuments and other non-designated archaeological sites of equivalent importance should be preserved in-situ. Development proposals that would result in the removal or destruction of scheduled monuments or remains of archaeological interest, that are considered to be of equivalent significance to a scheduled monument, will not normally be permitted, as substantial harm or loss should be wholly exceptional. Development that would adversely affect other importance archaeological remains non-designated archaeological sites will only be acceptable where: • the benefits of development outweigh the harm to the remains and the value of retaining them in situ. • the degree of disturbance/loss has been minimised. • satisfactory provision is made for the evaluation, excavation, recording and interpretation of the remains before commencement of the development. Where there are likely to be valuable archaeological remains, archaeological evaluation, which may include a geophysical survey and/or trial trenching, is likely to be required prior to the determination of any planning application. The advice of Warwickshire County Council Archaeological Information and Advice should be sought prior to any submission.

Policy DS7

The Council will monitor the delivery of housing and publish progress against the trajectory (as shown in Appendix B). Where it is apparent that the annual delivery rates are falling short of what was anticipated is less than 75% of the annualised requirement for three consecutive years, then the Council will take the necessary action to address any shortfall. Such action may include (but is not limited to): • Working with developers and site promoters, particularly of the two largest strategic sites, to review the requirements and phasing of infrastructure provision, where such re-phasing would assist with viability. • Working with developers, site promoters and other interested parties to help unlock potential sources of funding for identified infrastructure, or;. • cConsidering the use of compulsory purchase powers to help addr

General Market Housing

Development is required to provide an appropriate mix of housing types and sizes based on the need and demand identified in the most up–to–date HEDNA or equivalent. There is currently an imbalance of dwelling types within the Borough, which the Council will seek to re-address by actively promoting the delivery of housing schemes, where the housing mix of housing tenures, types and sizes proposed, aligns with the identified needs and demands of the Borough, in the most up to date HEDNA or equivalent, as well as the characteristics of the surrounding area. Homes for older people Development of extra care housing, residential care homes and other housing options, which allow older people to stay in their own homes, will be supported where a local need can be demonstrated. These types of buildings will need to comply with M4(3) higher Building Regulations standards and will be strongly encouraged to adhere with the emerging Warwickshire County Council Technical guidance for Specialised Supported housing and Housing with Care developments. Other specialised housing Development proposals for specialised housing and care accommodation will be supported where a local need can be demonstrated. These types of buildings will need to comply with M4(3) higher Building Regulations standards and will be encouraged to adhere with the emerging Warwickshire County Council Technical guidance for Specialised Supported housing and Housing with Care developments. Self-build and custom build homes Development proposals for self-build and custom build homes will be supported, subject to compliance with the development plan policies as a whole.

Affordable Housing Provision

Proportion of affordable housing The Council is committed to improving housing affordability in Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough. The Council will seek at least 25% of new dwellings to be delivered as affordable where residential development proposals consist of 15 dwellings or more. For residential development proposals that consist of between 11 to 14 dwellings, a contribution of two affordable housing units will be required, irrespective of any demolitions. Tenure Mix and First Homes National Policy requires 10% of the total number of homes on a development site to be allocated for affordable home ownership (unless the proposal meets one of the exemption tests in the NPPF). Accounting for the contribution from First Homes, the remainder of the affordable home ownership is to be delivered as shared ownership, or as specified in the Council's latest published Affordable Housing SPD. Current national requirements are that 25% of the total affordable housing requirement are provided under the First Home scheme. The Council's local eligibility criteria for First Homes is provided in the supporting text for this policy. In addition to the First Home requirement set out above, the remainder of the affordable housing requirement is to be delivered as social or affordable rent. For schemes of 11 to 14 dwellings, one First Home and one social rent/affordable rent property is to be provided. The tenure split and affordable housing mix sought will be based upon evidence and agreed on a site-by-site basis by the Housing Team. Where national policy requirements, relating to the First Homes Initiative or local eligibility criteria, are updated/altered, the latest requirements will be applicable. Of the affordable housing dwellings provided, the exact tenure, size and mix should be identified through discussions with the local authority and informed by the Council's latest published housing need evidence. Design standards The Council will require developments to incorporate and suitably integrate affordable and market housing to a high design standard. All affordable housing must meet the requirement for 95% of new dwellings to be M4(2) compliant and 5% to meet the M4(3) Regulation Standards. All affordable units must include private outdoor amenity space for each property. On-site provision All affordable housing need should be met on-site, unless it can be robustly justified that on-site provision is neither feasible nor viable. Where developers consider applying the affordable housing policy is unviable, or where it is considered that a different mix would better suit local needs and site–specific circumstances, evidence and a Viability Statement must be included with the planning application stating the reasons. Exceptions Proposals which boost affordable housing delivery will be considered constructively in line with any updates to national policy. This includes First Home Exception Site proposals as set out in national guidance. Outside of settlement boundaries, housing development, in addition to those allocated within the Borough Plan Review, will be supported on small rural exception sites, where affordable homes can be delivered to meet the needs of local people within the local community, where there is no conflict with other Borough Plan Review policies and the following criteria are met: • The site is adjacent to existing settlement boundaries • The proposed development is considered suitable by virtue of its size and scale in relation to the surrounding settlement and its services and proximity to public transport links and infrastructure. • The initial and subsequent occupancy of affordable homes is controlled through planning conditions and legal agreements, as appropriate, to ensure that the accommodation remains available in perpetuity to local people in affordable housing need. • The majority of the homes provided are affordable and where an element of market housing is required to enable the delivery of significant additional affordable housing, the element of market housing is the minimum amount required to enable the delivery of the proposed affordable housing. Affordable housing SPD Proposals must consider how they accord with the requirements set out in the Council's latest Affordable Housing SPD.

Nationally Described Space Standards

All residential dwellings should comply with the Nationally Described Space Standards (NDSS), unless proven not to be feasible, including any dwelling which does not fall within a C3 use class; for example, extra care accommodation, assisted living housing or houses in multiple occupation; or from change of use or conversion. Where this requirement is believed to be unviable, written robust justification as to why this policy cannot be achieved, should be provided to the Council.

Major residential development in town centres

Any new major residential development should be within:

Strategic Housing Allocation SHA1

1. Provision of at least approximately 1,700 dwellings in a mix of dwelling types and sizes. 15. Financial contributions towards sport and physical activity based on the requirements of the Council's Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and Indoor Sports Facility Needs Assessment and Strategy for pitch sport improvements works, including off-site swimming pool provision, cycling facilities at Bedworth Physical Activity Hub, rugby pitch provision at Nicholas Chamberlaine School and community centre, outdoor tennis facilities and athletics facility at Pingles, Nuneaton. 22. Contribution towards increased capacity at Nuneaton Justice Centre. Contributions to infrastructure requirements for Warwickshire Police where this is justified and compliant with the CIL Regulations. 36. Development should will be required to come forward in accordance with the HSG1 concept plan above, as well as the extant HSG1 Concept Plan SPD.

Strategic Housing Allocation SHA2

1. Provision of at least approximately 1,525 dwellings in a mix of dwelling types and sizes. 7. Provision of footway/cycleway linkages to the existing footway/cycleway network, including linkage to Bermuda Road bus stops and Bermuda Park Station. This is to provide a tarmac fully lit sustainable link route constructed to Highways adoptable standards (cycle provision to LTN1/20 guidance and include visibility splays) and which may be requested to be offered for adoption. The route and its lighting will need to be designed to demonstrate that there is no impact (using measures to prevent light spill) to the adjacent sensitive areas/habitats including Local Wildlife Sites and bat migration/feeding corridors. 11. Contribution towards increased personnel and vehicles for Warwickshire Police and increase capacity at Nuneaton Justice Centre. Contributions to infrastructure requirements for Warwickshire Policy where this is justified and compliant with the CIL Regulations. 14. Provision or financial contributions towards sport and physical activity based on the requirements of the Council's Playing Pitch and Outdoor Sports Strategy and Indoor Sports Facility Needs Assessment and Strategy for pitch sport improvements, including off-site swimming pool provision, cycling facilities at Bedworth Physical Activity Hub, rugby pitch provision at Nicholas Chamberlaine School and community centre, outdoor tennis facilities and athletics facility at Pingles, Nuneaton. A landscape buffer is required to the western edge of the development. 37. Development proposals should comply with the requirements of the latest adopted Concept Plan SPD and Arbury Design Code SPD.

Strategic Housing Allocation SHA3

1. Provision of at least approximately 350 dwellings in a mix of dwelling types and sizes.

Strategic Policy SHA6

Strategic housing allocation SHA6 is a sustainable and deliverable urban extension to Bedworth.

Strategic Policy SHA7 – East of Bulkington

Strategic housing site SHA7 will be developed for a mix of residential and community uses. Key development principles 1. Provision of approximately 230 dwellings in a mix of dwelling types and sizes. 2. Play and open space, including younger children's play, to be provided with appropriate management and maintenance arrangements. 3. Financial contribution towards the upgrading of sports facilities and teenage play provision at Bulkington Recreation Ground and financial contribution towards facilities at Miners Welfare Park in Bedworth. 4. Financial contribution towards primary education at Arden Forest Infant and St James Academy Junior schools in order to meet anticipated demand for school places. 5. Financial contribution towards secondary level education in order to expand existing secondary provision in the area to an additional 3.5 form entry. 6. Bus infrastructure improvements adjacent to SHA7 with a potential contribution to secure diversion of frequent local bus services in order to access the strategic housing allocation, based on dialogue with Warwickshire County Council and bus operators. 7. Any transport improvements/upgrades required along Nuneaton Road, Lancing Road, Bramcote Close and surrounding streets affected as a result of the development. The main access points are likely to be from Nuneaton Road and Lancing Road. 8. Financial contributions towards highways infrastructure identified in the Strategic Transport Assessment for Bulkington. 9. Provision of footpaths/cycleways through the open space on the site, including linking the existing public footpath on the southern parcel of the site with the northern parcel, and through the development area to Nuneaton Road. 10. Financial contributions towards the development of a dedicated cycle path along the B4029 between Bulkington Village Centre and Bedworth, and towards links to Bulkington Village Centre and Nuneaton. 11. Suitable sewage connection to the existing foul drainage network. 12. Financial contributions towards sport and physical activity. 13. Financial contribution toward community facilities. 14. Financial contribution for primary medical care to be given to NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board. Form of development 15. Maintain and enhance vegetated boundaries that front onto the wider rural area (to be maintained as Green Belt defensible boundaries). 16. Provide an open space corridor incorporating the public right of way with specimen trees and small groups of trees interspersed amongst grassed areas and wildflower meadows. 17. Provide street trees to the internal road network. 18. Enhancement of the brook which follows the south-western boundary.

Strategic Policy DS4

Along with the Strategic Development Allocations listed above and identified on the policies map, the following non-strategic sites are allocated for residential development within the plan period. Each of the non-strategic housing sites have site specific considerations, which are outlined in the supporting text below. These include the loss of playing fields which might require compensation, or biodiversity and heritage considerations, including the setting of the Coventry Canal. Opportunity should be taken to use, enhance and sustain these assets, or in exceptional circumstances, compensate, where possible, as part of any development proposal. Any planning applications that come forward on non-strategic development sites must follow the recommendations of Nuneaton and Bedworth's Heritage Sites Assessment. The housing trajectory, for the plan period, can be found in Appendix B.

Infrastructure

Development will be required to provide infrastructure appropriate to the scale and context of the site in order to mitigate any impacts of the development, and address the needs associated with the development. It may be related to social, economic and/or environmental provision. Supplementary Planning Guidance and documents will be used to guide provision where relevant. Where this provision is considered unviable the application should provide clear evidence to demonstrate this. Supplementary Planning Guidance and documents will be used to guide provision where relevant. Development needs to consider the cumulative impacts to existing infrastructure and for any potential large scale transport facilities required for the wider economy (including adequate overnight lorry parking). New infrastructure must be resilient to the long-term implications of climate change such as additional flooding, water supply issues and overheating and demonstrate how development considers carbon neutral emissions by 2050. New infrastructure must promote public safety and the wider security and defence requirements.

Plan Review

The plan will be reviewed (either wholly or partly) in accordance with the requirements set out in national guidance. In the event of one or more of the following circumstances, a quicker review may be required: • If there is clear evidence that the Borough's local housing need or employment need has changed significantly since the adoption of the plan. Updated evidence or changes to national policy suggest that the overall development strategy should be significantly changed. • Any other reason that would render the plan, or part of it, significantly out of date. The Council will carry out a complete review of the Plan's policies and publish its conclusions at least every five years in accordance with national planning policy and guidance. An earlier review may be commenced where one or more of the following circumstances apply: • Significant changes to national planning policy and guidance; • Significant changes to local circumstances including a change in local employment or housing need based upon updated evidence published or accepted by the local authority; • Significant local, regional or national economic changes; • The need to address housing delivery in accordance with the triggers and criteria set out in Policy DS7; • Any other changes which would render the plan, or part of it, significantly out of date. In the event of the Plan not providing adequate provision for any future established unmet need within the Coventry and Warwickshire sub-region, the Council will commence work immediately with the authorities in the sub-region and where necessary will instigate a separate Development Plan Document to address agreed unmet needs.

Strategic allocations

6. Heritage assets should be conserved and where possible enhanced, with focus placed on the assets most at risk from neglect, decay or other threats. 7. Designated local wildlife sites LWS will be surveyed and protected, commensurate with their quality to safeguard the criteria for which they were designated and thereby maintain their contribution to supporting a functional Green Infrastructure throughout the borough, county, sub-region and nationally. 8. Areas of high distinctiveness (value 6) should be retained and where possible enhanced, along with other habitat retention, creation and enhancement required to achieve a minimum of 10% net biodiversity gain. Existing high quality biodiversity features must be retained and where possible enhanced, Section 106 including financial contributions may be required for long-term management. In terms of criterion 7 and 8 - Where protection, retention and enhancement is not possible, this must be clearly demonstrated by supporting information (including survey work). 10. Doors and windows to housing should seek to overlook all streets and public spaces in order to provide natural surveillance. 12. Community, sport, physical activity, play and open space facilities should relate well to each other and to existing areas, and the new facilities and spaces should be safe, convenient, accessible, well designed, easy to maintain and function well. Proposals shall be assessed against Sport England's Active Design Guidance and its checklist. A completed checklist to demonstrate compliance with the Design Guidance will be required with any application submission. 13. New proposals will need to ensure that the development includes fundamental mitigation for climate change, carbon reduction leading to neutral carbon emissions by 2050 and for a nature recovery strategy. For example, new developments dwellings should be built in line with water resource efficient design standards (110 litres/person/day). 15. Service bays on employment sites, adjacent to housing, will need to have loading areas set away from residential properties or any other sensitive noise receptors. Loading areas and car parks within service bays on employment sites will need to be sited a minimum distance of 50m away from residential properties or any other sensitive noise receptors, unless it can be demonstrated that a reduced distance would not give rise to unacceptable levels of noise and disturbance. 16. Proposals should comply with the requirements of the relevant Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) including Concept Plan SPDs and Design Codes for the sites (where extant/adopted). Where financial contributions are sought, these should be justified and compliant with the CIL Regulations.

Town, district and local centres

Proposals delivering new retail, leisure and office floor space will be supported where they contribute to the delivery of the requirements and recommendations set out in the Retail, Leisure and Office Study (2022) or any more up-to-date studies.

Defined town centres and primary shopping areas

Proposals for use classes defined in Annex 2 of the NPPF as 'main town centre uses' will be supported within the defined town centres providing the proposal does not detrimentally impact the primary shopping area frontages (The Council are intending to provide an Article 4 Direction in the future, in order to be able to remove some prior notification applications for these areas). Other uses will be permitted within the town centres where they do not undermine or adversely impact, either individually or cumulatively, the vitality, viability, character of the area and overall vision for the town centres.

Sustainable Transport and Air Quality

Criteria 3: How the proposal considers accords with the Council's adopted Transport Demand Management Matters (2022) and Air Quality (2020) SPDs. Development must consider the cumulative impact on air quality and measures proposed to ensure impact is not exacerbated, sustaining and contributing towards compliance with relevant limit values or natural objectives for pollutants, taking into account the presence of AQMAs and Clean Air Zones. The Council will require measures for new development to provide infrastructure to deal with the issues of air quality, which at its minimum, development will need to provide electric vehicle charging points and dust management plans. Criteria 5: How the development maximises sustainable transport options such as safe walking and cycling links to the wider transport network. Where relevant, development should, where possible, include the provision of secure cycle parking easier access to rental bikes, e-bike hubs, lockers and showers in new workplace developments and appropriate shelter or cooling along the walking and cycling links.