Chapter 3: Site Specific Provisions
Built-up area boundaries
3.1 The Core Strategy (2007) in Core Policy CP5 identifies the towns and villages in the District that are considered appropriate to have a designated built-up area boundary, within two distinct categories. These boundaries are defined on the Proposals Map and include any land that is allocated for development. Development within a defined built-up area boundary of a Category 1 settlement is considered to be acceptable if it accords with all the relevant planning policies, and development within a Category 2 settlement may be acceptable if, additionally, it is justified in terms of meeting an identified local need. Any land outside a built-up area is considered to be in the countryside, where development is strictly controlled.
3.2 The Core Strategy sets out the strategic context for the definition of built-up area boundaries including reference to the settlement sustainability studies. These helped to establish a hierarchy of settlements according to their ability to accommodate additional development. This work has helped in the identification of settlements that should have a defined built-up area boundary and of land for new development, which is discussed later in this chapter.
3.3 The definition of built-up area boundaries has been used as a policy tool for some time. All boundaries have been reviewed as part of the preparation of the Core Strategy and this Site Specific Allocations of Land document. The purpose of the reviews was to ensure that the boundaries are logical, consistent and reflect recent planning policy.
3.4 Built-up area boundaries have previously sometimes been drawn close to buildings but have now generally been redrawn to include the whole curtilage of homes and other buildings, in accordance with the Government's definition of previously developed land in Annex B to Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing. There is, however, no presumption that the whole of the curtilage will necessarily be suitable for development. The built-up area boundaries also include any new development adjacent to the boundary and minor extensions where they relate well to the existing built-up area and may be suitable for development. Open space, school and playing fields are included in defined built-up area boundaries where they are located at the edge of the built-up area but relate more to the urban environment than the surrounding countryside. Government guidance makes it clear in Planning Policy Guidance 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation, that there is no presumption for the development of these types of greenfield land. This remains the case whether or not such facilities are included in a defined built-up area boundary. In an exceptional case where an area of open space, sport or recreational land is considered suitable for redevelopment it would only be allowed if new facilities or enhancements to the remaining facilities could be secured. This issue will be addressed in the General Development Control Policies document.
3.5 In addition, minor amendments have been made to the built-up area boundaries as a result of the representations received during the preparation of this submission document. Further details of these amendments can be found in the Issues and Options Analysis and Response to Representations report (February 2005) and the Statement of Compliance, which has been published alongside this document.