London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames - Unitary Development Plan
Unitary Development Plan - Adopted 1 March 2005
 
   

The UDP has been extended beyond 11th March 2008, with the exception of certain policies and proposals which will not be saved beyond that date. The policies which have not been saved are shown as striked through text, the proposal sites not saved have been removed from the proposals map.

The Core Strategy was adopted on 21st April 2009 and supersedes some UDP policies, which are now shown as striked through text. View the Core Strategy
   

Chapter 4

IMPLEMENTATION
   
IMP1 Re-use of buildings and land – superseded by Core Strategy Policy CP 1
IMP2 Mixed uses
IMP3 Provision of planning advantage – superseded by Core Strategy Policy CP 16
IMP4 Environmental assessment – not saved beyond March 2008
IMP5 Working in partnership – not saved beyond March 2008
   
4.1

This chapter includes policies relevant to the implementation of the Plan and to different types of development considered in the following chapters. It is particularly concerned to take forward elements of strategic policy concerned with sustainable development not covered in other chapters.
   
 

NATIONAL POLICY AND STRATEGIC PLANNING GUIDANCE
4.2

Planning Policy Guidance Note No. 1 (PPG1 1997) indicates that sustainable development seeks to deliver the objective of achieving, now and in the future, economic development to secure higher living standards while protecting and enhancing the environment. The most commonly used definition is ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’  (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987).
4.3

PPG1 emphasises the importance of mixed use development in helping create vitality and diversity and reducing the need to travel.  Mixed uses should be promoted within designated areas such as town centres.  Within these areas applications for single uses need to be justified either in terms of their non-suitability for mixed uses or in terms of their contribution to the overall mix of uses in the area.
4.4 In relation to planning obligations PPG1 states that they must be necessary to the development and fairly and reasonably related in scale and kind.
 

IMP 1 - RE-USE OF BUILDINGS AND LAND – superseded by Core Strategy Policy CP 1
4.5

New development should, whenever possible, be provided through the conversion of existing buildings and/or the recycling of urban land or brownfield sites and it should maximise potential for energy generation from renewable resources and resource conservation (see BLT 31).

 

When considering new development the Council will encourage:
 
  • The re-use and recycling of existing buildings;
  • The use of vacant and under-utilised land,
  subject to environmental and other policies in the Plan.
 
4.6

Existing buildings should normally be retained and where necessary converted to other uses or refurbished rather than redeveloped.  Where new development is to be undertaken maximum use should be made of derelict, vacant and under-utilised land.  Retention of buildings will help minimise use of non-renewable resources, lead to provision of lower cost premises and retain familiar townscape features.  Concentrating redevelopment on vacant and under-utilised land will avoid the loss of natural vegetation, especially trees, which aid the natural regulation of the ecosystem and help resist development pressure on greenfield sites.
 

IMP 2 - MIXED USES
4.7

The Council will seek to concentrate uses which serve the local community or attract visitors  in areas of mixed use shown on the proposals map.  Within these areas proposals will be expected to maintain or enhance the mix of uses.  Mixed use developments will be sought on appropriate sites.  Outside Areas of Mixed Use, mixed use schemes will be encouraged subject to non-residential uses being limited in scale to that compatible with local character, and not giving rise to unacceptable levels of traffic or disturbance to local residents.    

 
4.8

The strategy of the Plan is based on reducing the need to travel and enhancing local communities through the provision of opportunities at the most local level practicable. Such an approach takes forward the aims of the Plan in relation to equality of opportunity and will also help reduce crime (through maintaining round the clock surveillance) and improve health (through encouraging walking and community development). It is the intention to concentrate premises for local services and small firms with small shops in mixed use areas thereby ensuring the uses help support one another. There are also many employment, community and service uses outside mixed use areas and these should normally be retained.  New non-residential uses such as corner shops, small offices or live-work units or community halls or centres which could serve local communities and provide employment and other opportunities for local residents without generating significant in-coming traffic, should be established. Much of the Borough is designated as conservation areas within which variety of use forms an important part of the character and as such contributes to conservation objectives.
 

IMP 3 - PROVISION OF PLANNING ADVANTAGE – superseded by Core Strategy Policy CP 16
4.9

Where it is necessary to make a proposal acceptable in land use planning terms, in accordance with the criteria in paragraph 7 of Circular 1/97, the Council will seek the provision of planning advantages appropriate to the site and commensurate to the scale and nature of the development.  Planning advantages can comprise:
  a)

improvements to the public transport system and interchanges, the footpath and cycle route network including access to the road system and rear servicing, public car parking and public cycle parking;
  b)

provision of special benefits in the form of public buildings, open space and other facilities for public use such as recreation and community uses which help meet site or other Plan objectives;
  c)

conservation of buildings (listed and buildings of townscape merit) or places of historic or architectural interest or conservation areas or areas of nature conservation interest;
  d)

provision of affordable or special needs housing;
  e)

community facilities such as public conveniences (including provision for people with disabilities),  childcare facilities or playspace,  recycling facilities;
  f)

provision of small industrial units;
  g)

tourist information points;
  h)

street furniture, landscaping and tree planting beyond the site boundary, and public works of art;
  i)

provision of employment training schemes which develop the skills of Borough residents thus promoting employment opportunities and improved quality of life for residents;
  j)

provision of buildings and/or facilities to satisfy the need for additional educational resources or public open space needs which the development may generate;
  k)

contributions to meet the full costs of activity arising from the development and its implications for transportation and infrastructure including the need for parking and highway access, improved public transport and other facilities;
  l) another planning benefit for which there is a local need, for example environmental improvements to local shopping centres, housing and industrial estates, and closed circuit TV (CCTV).
 
 
4.10

The Council will operate the policy with regard to advice included in Strategic Planning Guidance for London (RPG 3 1996) and Circulars 1/97 and 6/98 or any superseding advice.  The policy includes provision to overcome objections to proposals that are otherwise appropriate and acceptable and which can often provide benefits to the wider community.  It will thus help in implementing several other important policies in the Plan.  The Council will seek undertakings from developers under the Planning and Compensation Act 2004 when granting planning permission to secure appropriate advantages.  It must be stressed that the provision of planning advantage alone is not sufficient to justify a development; it must first comply with other policies.
  IMP 4 - ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT – not saved beyond March 2008
4.11

In appropriate cases major applications must be supported by environmental impact assessments, in other cases the Council will require assessments relating to specific environmental matters in accordance with other policies of the Plan (ENV 26, TRN21 etc.).This is in accordance with Circular 2/99. Where appropriate compensation or mitigation may be sought to overcome the environmental cost of development.
   
4.12

Major developments and particularly those in sensitive locations must be accompanied by an environmental statement in accordance with Circular 2/99 or any superseding advice.  The Council will require assessments of specific matters in relation to development proposals where there is concern in relation to an objective of the Plan. The Council is developing an environmental checklist which will form supplementary guidance to the Plan and most developments (not including minor extensions) will be assessed against this guidance. Where appropriate, compensation or mitigation measures may be sought to overcome the environmental cost of a development with regard to Circular 1/97 or any superseding advice.
  IMP 5 - WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP – not saved beyond March 2008
4.13

The Council will encourage and seek the co-operation of local groups, businesses, land owners, public and voluntary agencies in achieving the objectives of the Plan.  The Council will work particularly closely with voluntary groups who are supportive of the aims of the Plan.
   
4.14

There are many organisations such as voluntary groups, societies and businesses who are interested in protecting and improving the environment and enhancing community life in the Borough. The Council will encourage and, where appropriate, advise organisations within the framework of the Plan. Their contribution is especially important when the Council continues to have limited financial resources.
 
 
London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames - Unitary Development Plan
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