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Landscape and Planning Policy

Cotswold District Council, as Local Planning Authority, has a major role in ensuring that new developments enhance the landscape of the District, particularly as such a high proportion of the District falls within the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

There is a substantial framework of legislation, guidance and policies at the national,  county and district level.

National Legislation

The Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000)   places a responsibility on local authorities to ensure protection for designated landscapes, including AONBs.

CROW Act 2000 section 85 - General duty of public bodies etc

(1) In exercising or performing any functions in relation to, or so as to affect, land in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a relevant authority shall have regard to the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty of the area of outstanding natural beauty.

The 1990 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act  covers issues relating to Conservation Areas. 

72   General duty as respects conservation areas in exercise of planning functions

(1) In the exercise, with respect to any buildings or other land in a conservation area, of any powers under any of the provisions mentioned in subsection (2), special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area.

National Guidance and Policies

The need to enhance the natural and local environment is endorsed by the Government in its planning policy - the National Planning Policy Framework.

The key sections in the NPPF in terms of landscape policy are

The minsterial foreword

The presumption in favour of sustainable deelopment  (paras. 6 - 16)

The core planning principles (para. 17)

Requiring good design (paras. 56 - 68)

Promoting healthy communities (paras. 69 - 78)

Protecting Green Belt land (paras. 79 - 92)

Meeting the challenge of clmiate change, flooding and coastal change (para. 93 - 108)

Conserving and Enhancing the Natural Environment (para 109 - 116)

Light pollution (para. 125)

Conserving and Enhancing the historic environment (paras. 126 - 141)

 

Structure Plan Policies

• Gloucestershire Structure Plan Second Review (adopted 1999) 

Policy NHE.1 Countryside character and natural resources

The countryside’s character, appearance and non-renewable and natural resources will be protected from harmful development unless the social and economic needs of the area or wider environmental objectives outweigh such harm.

Policy NHE.4  AONB

In Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty the conservation and enhancement of the natural beauty will be given priority over other considerations. Regard will also be had to the economic and social well-being of the AONB.  Provision should not be made for major development within the AONB unless it is in the national interest and the lack of alternative sites justifies an exception.

Policy NHE.5  Special Landscape Areas

Provision should not be made for development that would detract from the particular landscape qualities and character of Special Landscape Areas. The broad locations of Special Landscape Areas are as follows:the north eastern and north western fringes of the Cotswolds; on the southern fringes of the Cotswolds near Cirencester, Tetbury and Fairford; the upland western and southern parts of the Forest of Dean District; between Gloucester urban area and the Cotswolds, including Robinswood Hill; and Chosen Hill in Churchdown. 

The precise boundaries of, and additions to, the Special Landscape Areas will be identified in local plans.

Policy NHE.6  Historic Environment

The distinctive historic environment of the County will be conserved and enhanced.  Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas, and their settings will be preserved.  Historic settlements and landscape, historic parks and gardens, and sites of archaeological importance will be protected from the adverse effects of development.

Local Plan Policies

Cotswold District Local Plan 2001 - 2011 (adopted April 2006) 

Policy 2:    Renewable Energy

Policy 8:    Special Landscape Areas

Policy 9:    Biodiversity, geology and geomorphology

Policy 10:  Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows

Policy 11:  The Historic Landscape

Policy 14:  Conversion of historic agricultural buildings of traditional design

Policy 15:  Conservation Areas 

Policy 18:  Development within the development boundaries of Cirencester and the principal settlements 

Policy 19:  Development outside development boundaries

Policy 22:  Replacement dwellings in rural areas

Policy 26:  Tourism 

Policy 27:  Diversification of farms and agricultural estates

Policy 28:  Conversion of rural buildings

Policy 29:  Agricultural, forestry and other occupational dwellings

Policy 31:  Equestrian related development

Policy 33:  Playing fields, sports facilities and allotments

Policy 34:  Landscaped open spaces and play areas in residential development 

Policy 35:  Golf courses

Policy 36:  Sustainable transport network 

Policy 38:  Accessibility to and within new development

Policy 39:  Parking provision

Policy 42:  Cotswold Design Code 

Policy 44:  Public art

Policy 45:  Landscaping in new development

Policy 46:  Privacy and gardens in residential development

Policy 47:  Community safety and crime prevention

Policy 48:  Advertisements and signs

Policy UT1:  Cotswold Water Park

Policy UT2:  Settlement protection boundaries 

Supplementary Planning Guidance and Documents

Cotswold Water Park (1999)

This SPG zones the Cotswold Water Park into areas in which different types of development are or are not appropriate.

Cotswold Design Code (2000)

The Design Code SPG aims to provide information for owners and developers on various aspects of building design in Cotswold District.

Cirencester Town Centre (2008)

The SPD forms part of the ‘Vision for Cirencester’, which evolved from community and stakeholder engagement and provides guidance on the future development of Cirencester.

Informal Guidance

Cotsowlds AONB Management Plan 

This five-year plan, which was adopted by the Cotswolds Conservation Board in March 2008 details policies and priorities for action.  The plan was endorsed by Cotswold District Council in January 2009.