In Newsletter 35, June 2009 p.14, reference was made to the comments made on the new Development Management & Delivery Development Plan Document 2006–2026 (DMD).
The aim of the new document is to provide ‘extra detail’ and ‘more strategic guidance’ for the Core Strategy policies. Dr Tom Greeves has responded to the consultation document on behalf of The Dartmoor Society and the full response is shown below.
The present document is in three separate A4 parts, totalling 106 pages. No fewer than 69 Topics are highlighted, often with multiple questions which the consultee is invited to answer. Reference is often made to policies which are set out in detail in the DNP Local Plan First Review 1995–2011 (adopted October 2004) and summarised on pp.76–82 (Annex 1) of the Core Strategy.
Specific response to selected Topics in Part I – Development Management Policies
Topic 1 – regarding renewable energy there is an urgent need for a DNPA policy to draw up and implement a Renewable Energy Strategy for the whole of the national park. There should be a policy which encourages ‘permaculture’ developments (such as that at Steward Wood near Moretonhampstead) as a means of demonstrating alternative ways of living that have minimal impact on the environment. At this stage such developments should be given temporary permissions (with the possibility of renewal) so that their achievements can be properly monitored.
Topic 2 – a Moorland Policy is needed which is more flexible than Local Plan (LP) Policy ML1 in order to reflect the needs of genuinely sustainable moorland communities. This policy should include the possibility of small-scale stone-cutting, peat cutting and even mineral exploitation to provide specific resources for local needs.
Topic 6 – Built Environment. The Society would support a policy which identified buildings of ‘special local interest’ which might not be listed under national criteria. There is an urgent need to recognise the importance of 20th century buildings, including those built of non-‘traditional’ materials and form, which are part of the social and architectural history of Dartmoor.
Topic 8 – it would certainly be useful to have policies on carbon reduction and energy efficiency measures and satellite dishes on historic buildings, and on public art.
Topic 9 – Heritage Assets. Policies committing DNPA to provide detailed information to the parish level about the historic and cultural environment of each settlement and parish would be welcome e.g. on the parish boundary, on tithe map field names, on known archaeological features and on historic buildings. A policy is needed which recognises that new discoveries and interpretations will continually be made.
Topic 10 – Premier Archaeological Landscapes. There is no need for specific development management policies for these areas as their wellbeing depends largely on sufficient numbers of grazing animals and a regular programme of swaling. In other words, their management is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of farming communities.
Topic 11 – Pre-development archaeological evaluation. LP Policy AH5 needs refining with the effect that ground evaluation should take place even if nothing is recorded on the Historic Environment Record – this will give the opportunity for new discoveries to be made.
Topic 13 – Peat Deposits. These in themselves will be sufficiently protected by other policies, but a policy stating the intent to carry out research on peat and human uses of it over millennia would be welcome, as our knowledge is very limited at the moment.
Topic 20 – Primary Shopping Areas in Local Centres. It would be useful to have a policy which defines these.
Topic 25 – Extensions and alterations to dwellings. The Dartmoor Society since its inception has consistently argued that constraints should be imposed on extensions and alterations which enlarge modest dwellings so that they become unaffordable, so a policy to this effect would be welcome. A policy which recognised the inherent integrity of any building as built would be useful.
Topic 26 – Replacement Dwellings. We would support a policy which tightened control over replacement dwellings which have often led to the loss of modest and historic structures (especially bungalows).
3. Specific response to Topics in Part II – Settlement & Site Specific Policies
Topic 1 – Development Boundaries. Rather than a defined development boundary it might be more useful to have, for each settlement, a map showing where development should not take place i.e. on key open spaces, historic features etc. The fundamental principle should be one of a presumption against development, unless very cogently and rigorously argued.
Topic 4 – Open Space. Yes, it is vital that there should be a policy which defines and protects significant open spaces within settlements.
4. Other Issues
4.1. Population – many of our current environmental problems are caused by the pressure of people. With world population due to rise to around 9 billion very soon, it would be appropriate to have a policy statement about the size of a residential population within the national park and their rates of consumption of resources both local and further afield.
4.2. Housing – we remain deeply concerned as to how DNPA is going to be able to limit permissions to the guidance in the Regional Spatial Strategy of 50 new dwellings per annum within the national park 2006–2026 (i.e. a total of 1000 new dwellings over the 20-year period). On 22 May, Chris France, Director of Planning & Sustainable Development told a ‘Forum’ meeting that 247 new dwellings had already been granted permission in the two years 2006-2008, and admitted that the current rate was running at 2 ½ times the guidance rate. The public will quite rightly be sceptical of the decision-making process if the guidance figures are not adhered to.
4.3. Biodiversity – we urge caution in the tendency to emphasize the exceptional species and habitats. Many species sites and occurrences on Dartmoor are of international importance because of the loss of habitats elsewhere. Policies are needed which protect the ordinary and commonplace fauna and flora which provide the basis for a healthy ecosystem.
4.4. Sustainable communities – there is an urgent need for DNPA to quantify the loss of services and facilities within the national park over the past 50 years, and to develop policies to protect and expand what little remains.
4.5. Prudent use of resources – this is a fundamental concept, promoted by the Dartmoor Society. It is good to see mention of water (Part I p.33) but there should also be mention of, and policies relating to, timber, stone, soil and minerals.
4.6. Inset Maps for Rural Settlements (Part II p.11) – yes, maps are definitely needed for each Rural Settlement and each should have a Conservation Area or ‘special policy area’ marked. See also 3. Topic 1 above.
4.7. Lydford (Part II p.40) – the ‘late, unremarkable and modest’ buildings of Lydford actually add greatly to its character and are of historic interest in their own right.
4.8. South Zeal – Ramsley Mine should be included in any Conservation Area because of its importance to the community.
4.9. Walkhampton – no mention is made of the proposed Conservation Area which was put out for consultation in 2008.
4.7. Corrections – ‘concentric slopes’ (Part II p.20) needs rewording. The term ‘burgage plot’ is incorrectly used re Horrabridge (p.26), South Brent (p.32) and Sticklepath (p.44) as none of these settlements was ever a borough.
5. A Proposal for a Sustainable Future
The Dartmoor Society advocates that each settlement, large or small, within the national park, should have a policy document drawn up which sets out where the fundamental resources of a) energy supply, b) clean water and c) construction materials for sustaining that community will come from in the next 20 years.
Comment on Local Development Framework – Development Management & Delivery – Development Plan Document 2006-2026:Parts I-III
In Newsletter 35, June 2009 p.14, reference was made to the comments made on the new Development Management & Delivery Development Plan Document 2006–2026 (DMD).
The aim of the new document is to provide ‘extra detail’ and ‘more strategic guidance’ for the Core Strategy policies. Dr Tom Greeves has responded to the consultation document on behalf of The Dartmoor Society and the full response is shown below.
The present document is in three separate A4 parts, totalling 106 pages. No fewer than 69 Topics are highlighted, often with multiple questions which the consultee is invited to answer. Reference is often made to policies which are set out in detail in the DNP Local Plan First Review 1995–2011 (adopted October 2004) and summarised on pp.76–82 (Annex 1) of the Core Strategy.
Specific response to selected Topics in Part I – Development Management Policies
Topic 1 – regarding renewable energy there is an urgent need for a DNPA policy to draw up and implement a Renewable Energy Strategy for the whole of the national park. There should be a policy which encourages ‘permaculture’ developments (such as that at Steward Wood near Moretonhampstead) as a means of demonstrating alternative ways of living that have minimal impact on the environment. At this stage such developments should be given temporary permissions (with the possibility of renewal) so that their achievements can be properly monitored.
Topic 2 – a Moorland Policy is needed which is more flexible than Local Plan (LP) Policy ML1 in order to reflect the needs of genuinely sustainable moorland communities. This policy should include the possibility of small-scale stone-cutting, peat cutting and even mineral exploitation to provide specific resources for local needs.
Topic 6 – Built Environment. The Society would support a policy which identified buildings of ‘special local interest’ which might not be listed under national criteria. There is an urgent need to recognise the importance of 20th century buildings, including those built of non-‘traditional’ materials and form, which are part of the social and architectural history of Dartmoor.
Topic 8 – it would certainly be useful to have policies on carbon reduction and energy efficiency measures and satellite dishes on historic buildings, and on public art.
Topic 9 – Heritage Assets. Policies committing DNPA to provide detailed information to the parish level about the historic and cultural environment of each settlement and parish would be welcome e.g. on the parish boundary, on tithe map field names, on known archaeological features and on historic buildings. A policy is needed which recognises that new discoveries and interpretations will continually be made.
Topic 10 – Premier Archaeological Landscapes. There is no need for specific development management policies for these areas as their wellbeing depends largely on sufficient numbers of grazing animals and a regular programme of swaling. In other words, their management is inextricably linked to the wellbeing of farming communities.
Topic 11 – Pre-development archaeological evaluation. LP Policy AH5 needs refining with the effect that ground evaluation should take place even if nothing is recorded on the Historic Environment Record – this will give the opportunity for new discoveries to be made.
Topic 13 – Peat Deposits. These in themselves will be sufficiently protected by other policies, but a policy stating the intent to carry out research on peat and human uses of it over millennia would be welcome, as our knowledge is very limited at the moment.
Topic 20 – Primary Shopping Areas in Local Centres. It would be useful to have a policy which defines these.
Topic 25 – Extensions and alterations to dwellings. The Dartmoor Society since its inception has consistently argued that constraints should be imposed on extensions and alterations which enlarge modest dwellings so that they become unaffordable, so a policy to this effect would be welcome. A policy which recognised the inherent integrity of any building as built would be useful.
Topic 26 – Replacement Dwellings. We would support a policy which tightened control over replacement dwellings which have often led to the loss of modest and historic structures (especially bungalows).
3. Specific response to Topics in Part II – Settlement & Site Specific Policies
Topic 1 – Development Boundaries. Rather than a defined development boundary it might be more useful to have, for each settlement, a map showing where development should not take place i.e. on key open spaces, historic features etc. The fundamental principle should be one of a presumption against development, unless very cogently and rigorously argued.
Topic 4 – Open Space. Yes, it is vital that there should be a policy which defines and protects significant open spaces within settlements.
4. Other Issues
4.1. Population – many of our current environmental problems are caused by the pressure of people. With world population due to rise to around 9 billion very soon, it would be appropriate to have a policy statement about the size of a residential population within the national park and their rates of consumption of resources both local and further afield.
4.2. Housing – we remain deeply concerned as to how DNPA is going to be able to limit permissions to the guidance in the Regional Spatial Strategy of 50 new dwellings per annum within the national park 2006–2026 (i.e. a total of 1000 new dwellings over the 20-year period). On 22 May, Chris France, Director of Planning & Sustainable Development told a ‘Forum’ meeting that 247 new dwellings had already been granted permission in the two years 2006-2008, and admitted that the current rate was running at 2 ½ times the guidance rate. The public will quite rightly be sceptical of the decision-making process if the guidance figures are not adhered to.
4.3. Biodiversity – we urge caution in the tendency to emphasize the exceptional species and habitats. Many species sites and occurrences on Dartmoor are of international importance because of the loss of habitats elsewhere. Policies are needed which protect the ordinary and commonplace fauna and flora which provide the basis for a healthy ecosystem.
4.4. Sustainable communities – there is an urgent need for DNPA to quantify the loss of services and facilities within the national park over the past 50 years, and to develop policies to protect and expand what little remains.
4.5. Prudent use of resources – this is a fundamental concept, promoted by the Dartmoor Society. It is good to see mention of water (Part I p.33) but there should also be mention of, and policies relating to, timber, stone, soil and minerals.
4.6. Inset Maps for Rural Settlements (Part II p.11) – yes, maps are definitely needed for each Rural Settlement and each should have a Conservation Area or ‘special policy area’ marked. See also 3. Topic 1 above.
4.7. Lydford (Part II p.40) – the ‘late, unremarkable and modest’ buildings of Lydford actually add greatly to its character and are of historic interest in their own right.
4.8. South Zeal – Ramsley Mine should be included in any Conservation Area because of its importance to the community.
4.9. Walkhampton – no mention is made of the proposed Conservation Area which was put out for consultation in 2008.
4.7. Corrections – ‘concentric slopes’ (Part II p.20) needs rewording. The term ‘burgage plot’ is incorrectly used re Horrabridge (p.26), South Brent (p.32) and Sticklepath (p.44) as none of these settlements was ever a borough.
5. A Proposal for a Sustainable Future
The Dartmoor Society advocates that each settlement, large or small, within the national park, should have a policy document drawn up which sets out where the fundamental resources of a) energy supply, b) clean water and c) construction materials for sustaining that community will come from in the next 20 years.