The National Planning Policy Framework - Essay Example

DESIGN AND ACCESS MENT By Introduction This Local Plan sets out a food recycling centre for educational use by clearly outlining the Councils policies and proposals requirements for future development and land use. The premises will be located at a place called Sharpness in UK. The statement is an application that seeks permission from the relevant authority by complying with the required policy guidelines to provide a clear framework to provide clear policies against which development proposals can be assessed, enable coordination of infrastructure provision, develop the strategic policy of the centre and Council’s Adopted Structure Plan. The rationale behind this programme is to support sustainability by recycling food waste and garden waste to produce fertiliser as well as biogas to be used in the generation of electricity. Therefore, the document seeks to state the principle policies that would necessitate permission to go ahead. Vision Statement This vision is designed to reduce environmental degradation by making better use of waste and sustainably generating electrical energy by reducing the carbon footprints in the process to complement the main grid and other sources. The proposed development will also allow citizens to learn the process of anaerobic digestion that will be used to recycle the food to produce both biogas and fertiliser. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) The National Policy Framework is a significant part of the government’s reforms to make the plans for projects less intricate and easier to comprehend. It immensely reduces the number of policy pages about planning (Parliament, Commons, & Committee, 2014, p. 9) The Framework lays down planning policies for United Kingdom (UK) and how they are projected to be functional. It provides direction for local planning authorities and decision-takers, both in drawing up plans and making decisions about planning applications. The Framework does not include specific waste policies, since national waste planning policy is published as part of the National Waste Management Plan for England (Britain & Government, 2012, p. 1). The Framework should be read in combination with the government’s planning policy for traveller sites. Local planning authorities preparing plans and making decisions on waste on travellers’ sites should also to take into account the policies in the Framework. The Secretary of State determines these according to the Planning Act 2008 and significant national policy statements for main infrastructure, as well as any other matters that are considered both vital and applicable (which may include the Framework in this case). Purpose of the Project The purpose of the “design and access statement” planning system will be to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. According to the policies in paragraphs 11 to 87, there are three dimensions to sustainable development: social, economic, and environmental. These dimensions give rise to the need for the planning system to perform a number of roles: Environmental role: The project will focus much on protection of the environment by contributing to protection and enhancement of natural, artificial and historic environment and. In fact, part of this will be helping in the improvement of biodiversity, use natural resources prudently, minimise waste and pollution, alleviate carbon and harmful aerosols and become accustomed to climate change including moving to a low carbon economy (Evans, Fox, & Swanson, 2009, p. 599). Social role: By providing the supply of housing required to meet the needs of present and future generations ‘design and access statement will be meant will be able to support the people of Sharpness by creating a high class built environment, with accessible local services that reflect the community’s needs and support its health, social and cultural well-being Economic role: This will be useful to the people of Sharpness by contributing to building a strong, approachable and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right type is in the right places and at the right time to support growth and innovation; and by identifying and coordinating development requirements, including the provision of infrastructure (Zellner, et al., 2008, p. 56). In this regard, the aforementioned roles will not be undertaken in isolation, for the reason that they are mutually dependent. Therefore, to achieve sustainable development, social, environmental and economic gains will be sought together and at the same time through the planning system. The planning system will play a dynamic role in guiding expansion to ensure sustainable solutions (Government, 2012, p. 1). Shaping Places Given that the project will be set near a large water body, it will be duly responsible for care and protection of the environment as required by the policy (Adams & Tiesdell, 2012, p. 208). To make this possible, the new project intends to put in place the following measures as pertains to Policy 93 NPPF “help to shape places”. Feed Local Soils with waste: The collected and recycled waste will be used for manufacture of fertilizer. This will not only support local farmers, but also international farmers by providing organic and environmental friendly fertilizer and sustainable food production with community composting infrastructure. Source Separate: Also, there will be strict methods aimed at source separation of residential and business waste into three streams which will include recyclables, compostable and residuals. This way all the recyclable waste will be channelled to different agents for further processing. The compostable and residuals will be used in the food waste recycling plant for bio gas production and fertilizer manufacturing. This will act as a great alternative to reduction of green house gas and in particular methane (Commons, 2007, p. 8). Seize the Paper:  Also, the new organization will see to it that it commits to recycling a minimum of 75% of all paper and composting the rest by 2017.This will involve sensitizing the residents on the need to avoid poor disposal of litter on the surrounding environment. Reduction of Methane: Methane remains the major and most harmful green house gas. According to Public policy there is need to first support the removal of methane by requiring source separation of recyclables and compostable then mitigate methane from existing sources where organics have already been buried. In this respect the company intends to put up a digester to facilitate the decomposition of the slurry obtained from biodegradable waste. This in turn will ensure that stray methane is harvested and used for power generation (Wolf & Stanley, 2013, p. 188). In fact, all the aforementioned measures are aimed at minimising susceptibility and providing resilience to the negative impacts of climate change, and supporting the delivery of renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure. This is fundamental to the social, economic and environmental magnitude of sustainable development (Lally & Matt, 2012, p. 73). Local and Neighbourhood Plans NPPF In accordance with Policy 58, neighbourhood and local plans should develop healthy and all-inclusive policies that set out the value of growth and expansion that will be expected for the area. Therefore, it would be necessary to understanding and assess the defining characteristics. Planning policies and decisions should seek to guarantee that development is realised (Paterson & Elaine, 2013, p. 2031). According to Policy GE1,”Permission will not be granted to any development that would be likely to lead to an unacceptable level of noise, general disturbance, smell, fumes, and loss of daylight or sunlight, loss of privacy or have an overbearing effect.” As a result, the negative effect that may arise out of this new development on the amenities of any inhabitants or occupiers of adjacent land who may be affected is a material planning consideration. The significant point is that such effects will be considered when putting forward a scheme, to avoid these effects rising to an intolerable level. These effects will be a consideration on account that this will be a new sensitive development which may give rise to smell, noise, vibration and even insects breeding. In this particular situation, consideration must be given to the need for the protection of the existing use from future complaints from the occupiers of the new premises. This will imply that there will be preliminary consultation from the neighbours with an intention to sensitise them on the development that is proposed (Britain, Parliament, & Commons:, HC 190 - Operation of the National Planning Policy Framework, 2014, p. 16). According to The Environment Act 1995, it purports that ‘The Secretary of State to prepare and publish a national Air Quality Strategy.” This requires local authorities to produce a local air quality strategy and define areas where national air quality objectives are not met or are at risk and designate such areas as Local Air Quality. Community Facilities and Service Policy 42 further suggests that advanced, high quality communications infrastructure is indispensable for sustainable economic growth. Although improvement to the connectivity of the transport network connectivity would benefit Sharpness, the most noteworthy users of the roads are personal vehicles, industrial transporters and farm transporters. Improvements to the network would modify specific roads to specific users and fix more of the key urban landscapes than the present status. The waterfront and their related uses are concentrated in the south and are easily reached through the low level swing bridge and internal dock roads (Tony & Timothy, 2006, p. 210). The Sharpness Docks have the capacity to handle up to 500 ships each with a capability of six thousand tonnes per year and there is still possible for extension. The railway in the docks is not currently in use but is sheltered alongside the land available for expansion and the promising reopening of the infrastructure will pave way for more service and community (Willis, Turner, & Bateman, p. 128). Green Spaces and Pedestrian Routes According to policy 73 of NPPF, access to high quality opportunities and open spaces for sports and recreation makes an important contribution to the well-being health and of communities living in Sharpness. In this section of the Planning policy, suggests that there should be robust and up-to-date assessments of the requirements for open space which can cater for children’s parks, recreation where churches and mosques could be built, facilities and opportunities for new provision (Maruani & Amit-Cohen, 2007, p. 19). Sharpness is at the moment characterised by an inland waterway towpath that is also linked to a network of green spaces leading to the transport network and wider countryside. On the other hand, pedestrians and cyclists have an insufficient number of crossing points, which provides the opportunity to create and develop new ones for the growing location in line with compliance to policy 73 of NPPF (Valk & Dijk, 2009, p. 78). Although Sharpness is comparatively a marginal logistics and industrial location and the low rents indicate low demand. The whole estate is bordered by countryside land with vast tracks of farms and, in the interior land is primarily used for industrial and suburban buildings. The industrial buildings are for the most part warehouses associated with canal while inhabited buildings in new town to the east have enough spaces in between them. In order to cater for enough open space, all the obsolete structures deserted on the east will be renovated to cater for indoor games and where adequate space is available, it will be reclaimed to cater for outdoor games. Policy 56 Better Place Under this policy the Government attaches big significance to the design of the built surroundings. This indicates that a good design is a key aspect of sustainable development which is also inseparable from good planning, and should contribute absolutely to making places better for people to live in (Persson & Nilsson, 2011, p. 273). The industrial legacy and character of Sharpness will be symbolised best through its style and materiality, and as a consequence the proposal courteously will adhere to it. In order to make it to appear like a new landmark, a green wall will be used to make the building magnificent, spectacular and ecologically friendly. Furthermore, the building will be located on a Greenfield which will be another way to camouflage the site (Parliament & Committee, 2011, p. 35). Also, in order to make the place conducive to live in, the organic waste coming from the eating place will feed the landscape ensuring the self sustainability of the site. An outdoor park will be created for people or guests to rest and take pleasure in the place. The landscape will be designed for both the public and the building users. Policy 109 Biodiversity According to Policy 109 of the NPPF, the planning system should contribute to and improve the natural and neighbouring environment (McKenney & Kiesecker, 2010, p. 170). To be able to fully comply with this law, the food recycling centre will contribute the following: Recognizing the wider remuneration of ecosystem services in Sharpness. Taking care and enhancing valued landscapes, ecological conservation interests and soils conservation. Stroud Local Policies This Local Plan sets out Stroud District Councils policies and proposals for future development and land use in the District. In this connection, the food recycling centre will preserve and improve the uniqueness and diversity of the South West’s environment. It will also persuade and sustain a varied and strong economy right through the South West part of Sharpness. It will also secure a sustainable level of growth and distribution of development to provide a framework for the provision of infrastructure and services to ensure an enhanced quality of life. Finally it will provide for a safe and efficient transport system to serve the existing and future needs of the South West (Alterman, 2011, p. 57). The following are regulations, support, strategies and policies that can help in the request for permission from NPPF to develope food recycling centre in sharpness. Flood Risk The development will make contributions towards canal improvement neighboring to the site. Through this, the organization will be able to realize its long term objective of reinstating this overgrown and disused stretch of canal. This will further improve the scenery of the surroundings. Housing and Economic Development The primary objective of identifying this need will be: Recognize the future quantity of housing needed, including a breakdown by category, possession and dimension; Recognize the future size of land or floor space necessary for economic growth uses including both the quantitative and qualitative requests for new development. Provide an analysis breakdown of in terms of value, site and to offer an indication of gaps in existing land supply. Conservation Area Following permission, the scheme will also incorporate conservational areas as designated by the district council. For instance, trees will be protected through tree preservation order. Notifications will be submitted to the council’s trees officer before any work on tree is due to start. Climate Change Addressing climate change will be one of the core land use planning values which the National Planning Policy Framework expects to strengthen both decision-taking plan and making. In this case, the scheme will reflect this principle and enable the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the NPPF. Conserving the Environment In line with the National Planning Policy Framework, and local authorities the development will set out a Local Plan with a positive strategy for the conservation and delight of the historic environment. Such as a strategy will recognize that conservation is an active exercise. In developing the strategy, the waste recycling company will be able identify specific opportunities within their area for the conservation and improvement of heritage assets. This could comprise, where suitable, the delivery of expansion within their settings that will make a positive contribution to, or better reveal the significance of, the heritage asset. Ensuring the Vitality of Town Centres The 60th clause of NPPF requires that Planning policies and decisions should not attempt to enforce architectural styles or scrupulous tastes (Cullingworth, Pendlebury, & Geoff, 2014, p. 47). Still, they should not suppress modernism, innovation or initiative through unproven requirements to conform to certain development forms or styles. As a result, the food recycling centre will seek to promote and reinforce local uniqueness by practicing the following: For instance, provision of Holiday housing facilities which will be an attractive investment market appealing both to individuals and larger property companies. For larger companies, they are seen as part of a mixed leisure portfolio. For individuals, they appeal as a mixture of a place to visit on a regular basis with the potential for capital uplift and regular rental income More so, the northern areas have great potential in urban design to provide accommodation uses that take advantage of tradition interests and the superiority of its natural surroundings. The urban design evaluation of constraints and opportunities will offer the vision for the Estate Strategy and will be reflected in the type, location and scale of the proposals within the Estate. Local Policy By considering the requirement of this policy, this proposal intends to not only put up a compliant structure but also employ sustainable construction to reduce waste. That will be achieved by laying down strategies such as reusing and crushing aggregates and by extension work with suppliers that take back packing for reuse. Therefore, the structure itself will be both ornamental and useful by adhering to design standards pertaining to carbon reduction (Ward & Inderwildi, 2012, p. 18). Hence, the food recycling centre landscaping design will cater for open spaces in such a manner that they harmonize the place’s character and quality, whether built or planted. In view of this policy, the proposed anaerobic digester proposal will facilitate great levels of landscaping. This will be accomplished by avoiding the usual dumping of food and garden in landfills. At the same time, it will be contributing to the wider cause of sustainability by producing biogas in the process. Conclusion Design and access statement as indicated in the entire document has served to fulfil all the requirement of the policies. The proposal sticks to the laid down principles intended to strategise construction of a food recycling plant. The document is in accordance with the development plan. The National Planning Policy Framework requirements have been taken into account in the preparation of neighbourhood and local plans, which is a material deliberation in planning decisions. Planning policies and decisions have been reflected and where fitting they are relevant to EUobligations and legislative requirements. List of References Adams, D., & Tiesdell, S. (2012). Shaping Places: Urban Planning, Design and Development. Aberdeen: Routledge. Alterman. (2011). National-level Planning in Democratic Countries. Liverpool : Liverpool University Press. Britain, G., & Government, D. f. (2012). National Planning Policy Framework 2012. Durban: The Stationery Office. Britain, G., Parliament, & Commons:, H. o. (2014). HC 190 - Operation of the National Planning Policy Framework. Paris: The Stationery Office. Commons, G. B. (2007). Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Reducing the Reliance on Landfill in England. London: The Stationery Office. Cullingworth, B., Pendlebury, J., & Geoff, V. (2014). Town and Country Planning in the UK. Bristol: Routledge. Evans, G., Fox, W., & Swanson, L. (2009). Conceptualising Spatial Planning Outcomes: Towards an Integrative Measurement Framework. Society & Natural Resources , 22 (7), 598. Government, D. f. (2012). National Planning Policy Framework 2012. Durban: The Stationery Office. Lally, & Matt. (2012). Lessons in neighbourhood place-shaping. Town and Country Planning , 81 (2), 89. Maruani, T., & Amit-Cohen, I. (2007). Open space planning models: A review of approaches and methods. Landscape and Urban Planning , 1 (1), 81. McKenney, B. A., & Kiesecker, J. M. (2010). Policy Development for Biodiversity Offsets: A Review of Offset Frameworks. Environmental Management , 45 (1), 165. Parliament, & Committee, H. o. (2011). Sustainable Development in the Localism Bill. London: The Stationery Office. Parliament, G. B., Commons, H. o., & Committee, C. a. (2014). HC 190 - Operation of the National Planning Policy Framework. London: The Stationery Office. Paterson, & Elaine. (2013). Urban design and the national planning policy framework for England. URBAN DESIGN International , 5 (5), 2035. Persson, A., & Nilsson, M. (2011). The National Planning Policy Framework on better place. Environmental Health Perspectives , 109 (2), 359. Tony, G., & Timothy, M. (2006). A typological framework for categorizing infrastructure vulnerability. Journal of Environmental Management , 83 (2), 210. Valk, A. v., & Dijk, T. v. (2009). Regional Planning for Open Space. Groningen: Routledge. Ward, & Inderwildi, O. R. (2012). Global and local impacts of UK renewable energy policy. Energy & Environmental Science , 6 (1), 18. Willis, Turner, & Bateman. Urban planning and management. Managing the environment for sustainable development , 1, 507. Wolf, S., & Stanley, N. (2013). Wolf and Stanley on Environmental Law. Paris: Routledge. Zellner, M. L., Theis, T. L., Karunanithi, T, A., Garmestani, S, A., et al. (2008). A new framework for urban sustainability assessments. Computers, Environment and Urban Systems , 32 (6), 488. Read More