SOUTH LEIGH PARISH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

SOUTH LEIGH PARISH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

2017 – 2031

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

0. 1.0  Introduction
1. 1.1  Planning Policies
   11. 1.11  Localism Act
   12. 1.12  National Planning Policy Framework
   13. 1.13  EU Regulations
   14. 1.14  WODC Local Plan
2. 1.2  South Leigh Parish Neighbourhood Plan Designation
3. 1.3  Parish Profile
4. 1.4  What Has Been Done So Far

THE VISION OF THE COMMUNITY

0. 2.0  Maintaining the Character of South Leigh Parish
1. 2.1  Developing a Successful Community
2. 2.2  Summary

KEY ISSUES

0. 3.0  Environment
1. 3.1  Climate Change
2. 3.2  Housing
3. 3.3  Employment
4. 3.4  Services and Facilities
5. 3.5  Traffic and Transport

POLICIES

0. 4.0  ENVIRONMENT 4.01 Background

   4.02 Landscape
   4.03 Access to the Countryside 4.04 Green Infrastructure

   4.041 Green Corridors

   4.042 Local green Spaces 4.05 Biodiversity

   4.06 Heritage Assets
   4.061 Listed Buildings

   4.062 Undesignated Heritage Assets 4.07 Dark Skies

1. 4.1  CLIMATE CHANGE

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4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

5.0

PLANS

HOUSING

4.21 Background
4.22 Process of Investigation
4.23 Exception Site Affordable Homes 4.24 Brown Field Sites
4.25 Design

EMPLOYMENT

4.31 Background
4.32 Working From Home
4.33 Internet Connection
4.34 Mobile Phone Coverage 4.35 Business in the Countryside

SERVICES AND FACILITIES

41. 4.41  Key Services and Facilities
42. 4.42  Sport and Recreation
43. 4.43  Retail

TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT

4.51 Background
4.52 Traffic Management 4.53 Parking
4.54 Buses
4.55 Cycling
4.56 Walking

ANNUAL REVIEW

Parish Boundaries
Landscape Assessment Report Map of Cogges Wood Landscape Assessment Report Map of South Leigh north Landscape Assessment Report Map of South Leigh south Landscape Assessment Report Map of South Leigh south-east Landscape Assessment Report Map of South Leigh centre Landscape Assessment Report Map of South Leigh south-west Rights of Way
Green Corridors
Local Green Spaces
Woodland and Wetland Habitats
Listed Buildings
Dark Skies

Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E Figure F Figure G Figure H Figure I Figure J Figure K Figure L Figure M –

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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN

1.0 INTRODUCTION

A Neighbourhood Plan is a type of planning document which is part of the Government’s approach to planning, aiming to give local people more say about what goes on in their area. However, all Neighbourhood Plans must also be in line with higher level planning policy (‘Planning Policies’), namely the 2012 National Planning Policy Framework (‘NPPF’) and, in the case of the Parish of South Leigh, a Neighbourhood Plan must also presently be aligned to the Saved Policies of the adopted 2011 West Oxfordshire District Council’s (‘WODC’) Local Plan and the Policies of the 2031 WODC Local Plan. (as appropriate collectively ‘WODC Local Plan’)

The overall requirement of any Neighbourhood Plan is a presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The South Leigh Neighbourhood Plan (the Plan) relates to the whole of the geographic Parish of South Leigh (the Parish) as shown in Figure A.

MAP SHOWING THE BOUNDARY OF SOUTH LEIGH PARISH

Figure A

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The Plan intends to ensure and safeguard the future of our Community (in this context meaning the residents of the Parish) as a small, vibrant, rural Parish while recognizing that to maintain that vibrancy, the Community needs to plan for some limited new housing within the already built area in the Parish or areas adjacent thereto in order to allow a widening of demographics within the Parish whilst retaining its essentially polyfocal nature.

The Plan also includes sections on the environment and climate change, how to support local/home working, and employment, how to maintain and enhance services and facilities where possible and how to control traffic taking into account the fundamental nature and constraints of a rural Parish.

1.1 PLANNING POLICY

The appropriate Planning Policies begin with the Localism Act and the NPPF as applied through the relevant Local Plan for the District of West Oxfordshire as set out below.

1.11 The Localism Act

The Localism Act came into force in April 2012 and sets out the regime for a Neighbourhood Plan. Although the Government’s intention is for local people to decide what goes on in their area, the Localism Act sets out some important requirements. One of these is that all Neighbourhood Plans must be in line with the Planning Policies.

1.12 National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

The NPPF retains a ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’, as defined by five basic principles: (1) living within the planet’s environmental limits; (2) ensuring a strong, healthy and just society; (3) achieving a sustainable economy; (4) promoting good governance; and (5) using sound science responsibly.

In addition the NPPF embraces three critical roles for sustainable development: (1) an economic role, contributing to a strong, responsive, competitive economy; (2) a social role, supporting vibrant and healthy communities and (3) an environmental role, protecting and enhancing our natural, built and historic environment.

The NPPF also recognises twelve core-planning principles. In summary, they: (1) are led by local plans which set out a vision for the future of the area; (2) enhance and improve the places where people live; (3) drive sustainable development; (4) secure a high quality of design and a good standard of amenity; (5) protect the diversity of different areas; (6) support the transition to a low- carbon future; (7) help conserve and enhance the natural environment; (8) encourage the re-use of land; (9) promote mixed use developments; (10) conserve heritage assets; (11) make full use of public transport, walking and

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cycling; and (12) improve health, social and cultural wellbeing.

The Plan is designed to embrace these basic principles, the roles of sustainable development and the twelve core planning principles, insofar as they can be applied to the Parish. General conformity of the Plan to the NPPF is assessed in the Basic Conditions Statement.

1.13 European Regulations

The Plan must comply with European Regulations on strategic environmental assessment and habitat regulations. In the case of the Plan, neither a Sustainability Appraisal nor a Strategic Environmental Assessment is required. However, the basic Conditions Statement evaluates the impact of the European Regulations on the Plan and a Screening Assessment against these Regulations has been carried out which endorses the conditions of the Basic Conditions Statement.

1.14 WODC Local Plan

The Plan is written in conjunction with, and to conform to, the WODC Local Plan which contains a range of policies relevant to the Plan. General conformity to these policies is assessed in the Basic Conditions Statement.

In particular, WODC Local Plan Policy OS2 classifies the two settlements in the Parish as settlements where development would only be supported where;

(a) it is required to meet a local need or
(b) development requires a rural location or
(c) development is proposed through a Neighbourhood Plan.

1.2 SOUTH LEIGH PARISH NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN DESIGNATION

The Qualifying Body to create the Plan is South Leigh Parish Council (‘SLPC’).
The Plan Area was formally designated by WODC on 1st March 2017 and includes the whole of the Parish.

SLPC determined that the Plan should cover the period from 1st April 2017 – 31st March 2031 so as to align with the WODC Local Plan.

1.3 PARISH PROFILE

The majority of the evidence and policies in the Plan concerns the settlements of South Leigh and High Cogges, but there is a significant area of agricultural land and dispersed individual dwellings outside those two settlements.

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The key points of the Parish profile are:

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The 2011 Census shows the resident population to be 336, with 141 households in the Parish; the population density is 0.2 people/ha; in comparison the population density for WODC as a whole is 1.5 people/ha. The age profile of the Community is very much weighted towards the older age group with 81 of the Community being over 65 and only 14 pre- school children living in the Parish.

52% of the Parish’s houses are lived in by only 2 people.
13% of the Residents of the Parish live on their own.
Comparable house prices for the Parish are higher than the national average.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR

SLPC has been assisted in the preparation of the Plan by the South Leigh Neighbourhood Plan Group (‘SLNPG’).

The SLNPG has undertaken extensive consultations within the Community and others with an interest in the Parish and has considered their views in preparing the Plan. These consultations have included: several public meetings and Community consultation events; questionnaire surveys, and liaison with formally constituted groups, the owners of businesses and managers of services and interested landowners.

Communication with the Community has also been through quarterly articles in the Parish newsletter, which goes free into every household and business in the Parish, and an updated page on the South Leigh website, Facebook page, and

Twitter feed.
 There have also been extensive consultations, public meetings and exhibitions within the Community.

Reports have been commissioned from third party contractors in respect of the Historic Landscape, Green Corridors, Hedgerows and Housing. The Community itself has produced reports on the history of the built area including the Church, the Fauna and Flora of the Parish and Community activities.

Copies of all these reports are contained in the Consultation Report.

Based on the responses and reports received through the Consultation Process, the SLNPG formulated a draft Plan which was submitted to SLPC for its approval.

The Draft Plan utilized the Consultation responses to create a statement of the VISION FOR OUR COMMUNITY. The Plan sets out the KEY ISSUES – being the objectives necessary to satisfy the Vision of our Community.

Then, the Plan establishes POLICIES designed to meet these Key Issues and thus deliver the Community Vision.

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SLPC has approved the draft Plan in the form of this document.

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THE VISION OF THE COMMUNITY
The Steps Undertaken to Achieve our Community Vision

The Parish has a strong sense of Community cohesion and purpose. The Community Vision for the Parish was developed from an initial Community consultation event followed by questionnaire surveys with input from other Community groups, societies and organisations in the Parish. Two broad themes emerged:

2.0 MAINTAINING THE CHARACTER OF THE PARISH

The Parish is effectively made up of the two settlements of South Leigh and High Cogges.

The two settlements within the Parish retain their essential rural character. The overwhelming view of the Community is that the strengths of the Parish lie in this strong sense of community and identity as rural settlements – both as separate entities in their own right and as one combined Community – sharing facilities and friendships as a cohesive whole.

The appearance of the two rural settlements within the Parish has been preserved by the managed integration of very small numbers of new housing

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over many years.

The settlement of South Leigh has a wide range of listed buildings (heritage assets), some small businesses and industrial units that together create a distinctive setting. It retains its polyfocal appearance with open green spaces intersecting the built area being a particular feature and with the majority of its population living within 10 minutes walk of its key focal points – the Village Hall, the Village Green, the Pub, the Football Pitch, the Playground and the Church. The Plan wishes to preserve and enhance the essential attractive and polyfocal nature of the built area. The Plan does not support the creation of a continuous, linear settlement.

The other settlement of High Cogges lies approximately one mile from the centre of the settlement of South Leigh and is the smaller of the two settlements by far, having approximately twenty houses. It is much more linear in appearance albeit with development, in the main, on one side of the road. The settlement contains some listed buildings, some small business and industrial units.

In Consultation events, the Community has expressed its commitment to landscape, nature conservation, protection of its local green open spaces, combating climate change and limiting light pollution. The Community has a close relationship with the open countryside: most residents live within a 5 minute walk of the surrounding open farmland. The Plan will enhance access to the countryside, seeking to maintain the current feel of the two settlements and underpin their close relationship with the open countryside.

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2.1 DEVELOPING A SUCCESSFUL COMMUNITY

The Parish has a strong sense of Community resting on the successful integration of people with a wide range of personal characteristics and backgrounds and the Plan seeks to ensure that the Parish continues to be a strong rural Community inclusive of age, gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and disability. There is a low crime rate and a high participation rate in Community events. The Community is committed to sustaining and developing these features of Community cohesion and inclusiveness.

The settlements of South Leigh and High Cogges support a small number of mostly small businesses and home workers, although a significant number of the Community commute to nearby towns for employment or are retired.

The Plan supports the development of more local employment opportunities, supported by an improved broadband and by comprehensive mobile phone coverage which would support a small but strong local economy, reduce the reliance on commuting and retain young people within the Community.

The Community wishes to play its part in reducing and mitigating environmental degradation and climate change. The Plan seeks to minimise additional traffic flows within the Parish, encourage energy efficiency, protect dark skies by minimizing light pollution and promote renewable energy production on a individual household basis (with the aim of reducing the overall carbon footprint of the Community) and create and protect wildlife habitats and corridors around the Parish.

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2.2 SUMMARY OF THE VISION OF THE COMMUNITY

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KEY ISSUES

The Plan is an opportunity to meet the Parish’s immediate needs and address the longer term Community Vision.

Through the Consultation Process, the following Key Issues (objectives) were identified.

3.0 ENVIRONMENT

How to ensure that the distinctive rural landscape of the Parish, the polyfocal settlement pattern, the historical assets, the dark skies, the natural environment and the biodiversity of the Parish including its open green spaces and corridors are protected and enhanced.

3.1 CLIMATE CHANGE

How to mitigate, wherever possible, against the adverse effects of climate change caused by the way in which we live and in particular to mitigate against the impact on the climate of any development.

3.2 HOUSING

Whether any new housing was required to meet the Community Vision.

3.3 EMPLOYMENT

How to encourage and support more home working and additional local employment within the Parish.

3.4 SERVICES AND FACILITIES

How to encourage and improve the present facilities where possible.

3.5 TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT

How to mitigate the amount of traffic passing through the Parish (it being recognised that the main problem with regard to traffic and transport in the Parish is the volume of traffic on the A40 which is a matter outside the remit of the Plan).

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POLICIES
4.0 ENVIRONMENT 4.01 Background

The Parish is located approximately 8km to the south east of the town of Witney. The main settlement is South Leigh which is located in the centre of the Parish with the smaller settlement of High Cogges located in the north west of the Parish close to the south-eastern boundary of Witney.

The Parish is located in the transitional zone between the Upper Thames Clay Vale and the Limestone Wolds.

The River Windrush runs along the south-western edge of the Parish where there is large scale gravel extraction around the site of Gill Mill which has a number of Grade 2 listed sites and Roman remains. Although mineral extraction policy remains the preserve of Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and is not therefore covered by this Plan, the preservation and development of these and heritage assets in the Parish will be covered by The Plan.

The surrounding fields form an interlude between the separate parts of the Parish of South Leigh and what makes the settlement of South Leigh unique in the area are the fields which intersperse the built area of the settlement itself so that most homes both face and have open fields to their rear. The fields are part of the settlement and help to give it its sense of historical place.

Likewise the surrounding fields are an integral part of High Cogges.

To the north of Church End, South Leigh lies the heathland enclosed in 1793. This essentially open area of fields and countryside, unchanged in over 200 years, gives a unique aspect to the settlement of South Leigh and the pathway to the historic church of St. James.

The largest use of land in the Parish is for agriculture. Since the 1793 enclosures, and in particular the early years of the 20th century, the traditional farming practices of smallholdings and communal strip farming has given way to a few large estate landholdings and several individual farms.

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4.02 Landscape

The fundamental landscape of the Parish has remained unchanged since the Enclosure Act of 1793. This is particularly true of the open fields lying south of the A40 as well as the open fields lying along Stanton Harcourt road to the south of South Leigh. The intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside was created by these enclosures which is what makes the Parish unique in this area.

The Landscape Assessment Report (a full copy of which forms part of the Consultative Report) splits the Parish into six distinct Parish Landscape Character Areas (PLCA) marking the relationship of the landscape with the settlement patterns of the Parish. These six distinct landscape areas are shown on the six maps that follow.

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Figure B

South Leigh PLCA A Cogges Wood and Open Rolling Vale Farmland lies in the northern area of South Leigh Parish between the A40 and Witney. The area as a whole is typical of the Open Rolling Vale Farmland which characterises the northern landscape setting of South Leigh Parish. The whole area is important to the wider landscape setting of South Leigh containing a route for quiet, informal recreation, areas of biodiversity allowing appreciation of wildlife and areas with a distinctive sense of place with cultural and historic associations. The area has an overriding perception of remoteness away from busy areas and strongly contrasts with the built-up urban areas of nearby Witney and Eynsham. Visual sensitivities include the long rural views into, out of and across the area from public rights of way, settlements and roads. Fields along the higher ground are the most visually sensitive and the area forms a sensitive skyline between South Leigh and Witney. The area’s raised topography and vegetation contributes to providing visual screening of the large urban area of Witney from South Leigh.

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Figure C

South Leigh PLCA B South Leigh Northern Semi-enclosed Rolling Vale Farmland lies between South Leigh Village to the south and the A40 to the north. The area as a whole is typical of the low-lying Semi-enclosed Rolling Vale Farmland and Rolling Clayland landscape types which characterises much of the surrounding landscape setting of South Leigh. The whole area is important to the wider landscape setting of South Leigh containing routes for quiet, informal recreation, areas of biodiversity allowing appreciation of wildlife and areas with a distinctive sense of place with cultural and historic associations. The area has an overriding perception of remoteness away from busy areas and strongly contrasts with the built-up urban areas of nearby Witney and Eynsham. Visual sensitivities include the long elevated rural views into, out of and across the area from public rights of way and roads, views to and from the Eynsham Hall Registered Park and Garden to the north, and views to the historic edge of South Leigh village notably to landmark buildings.

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Figure D

South Leigh PLCA C South Leigh Village Core includes the village core of South Leigh and area of small scale arable and pasture fields. The area as a whole is typical of the low-lying Semi-enclosed Rolling Vale Farmland, Flood Plain Pasture Rolling and Clayland landscape types which characterises much of the surrounding landscape setting of South Leigh. The area contains South Leigh’s distinctive village core and contains valued historic assets and areas and routes for quiet informal recreation, areas of biodiversity allowing appreciation of wildlife and areas with a distinctive sense of place with cultural and historic associations and strong vernacular character. The area has an overriding perception of a tranquil rural village, reinforced by the pattern of small pasture and arable fields encircling it, that strongly contrasts with the built-up urban areas of nearby Witney and Eynsham. Visual sensitivities include the long elevated rural views into, out of and across the area from public rights of way and roads, views across the village green at Church End, views across small scale sloping fields and along Limb Brook and views to the historic edge of South Leigh village notably to landmark buildings.

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Figure E

South Leigh PLCA D South Leigh Open Flat and Rolling Farmland lies in the south-east of the parish, between South Leigh village and Stanton Harcourt.
The area as a whole is typical of the Open Rolling and Open Flat Vale Farmland landscape types. The whole area is important to the wider rural setting of South Leigh and its separation from Stanton Harcourt. The open landscape allows expansive views which are possible from the rural roads and from several public rights of way which themselves have historic connections and associations, most notably the ditch and bank along the edge of Tar Wood. The paths are locally valued, including as circular routes and links to Stanton Harcourt and providing opportunity to appreciate wildlife and a sense of tranquillity.

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Figure F

South Leigh PLCA E South Leigh Southern Semi-enclosed Rolling and Flat Farmland lies across the centre of the parish, from the south-eastern edge of Witney and the A40, south-west of South Leigh village, broadly parallel with the course of the River Windrush. The area as a whole is typical of the Semi-enclosed Rolling and Open Flat Vale Farmland and OWLS Rolling Clayland landscape types. The whole area is important to the wider rural setting of South Leigh and its separation from Witney and distinction from High Cogges. Much of the area is an important transitional landscape between the settlements and the mineral workings along the River Windrush. The semi-enclosed landscape often shortens views, though more expansive views are possible from High Cogges. The paths are locally valued, including as circular routes and links to Rushy Common and the River Windrush, providing opportunity to appreciate wildlife and a sense of tranquillity.

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Figure G

South Leigh PLCA F River Windrush Semi-enclosed Flat Vale Farmland and Mineral Sites lies along the south-western edge of the parish, from the south- eastern edge of Witney along course of the River Windrush. The area as a whole is typical of the Semi-enclosed Flat Vale Farmland landscape type in many respects, and the Minerals and Landfill Sites landscape type in particular. The area contains the course of the River Windrush and is important in this respect, although the natural landscape has been greatly affected by extensive mineral workings. Despite this, the semi-enclosed landscape accommodates the workings well and the area retains a strongly rural character. Restored pits provide valuable recreation and nature conservation assets and restoration has generally been carried out sensitively and in keeping with local character.

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4.03 Access to the Countryside

The Landscape Assessment Report and the Consultation Process identified the importance of the network of Rights of Way as shown on the map that follows (Figure H) which is highly valued by the Community for quiet informal recreation. These Rights of Way are also enjoyed by numerous visitors to the Parish especially those on walking tours. Some of the Rights of Way are well known and publicised circular walks benefitting the people of Witney and Eynsham as much as the Community itself.

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RIGHTS OF WAY WITHIN THE PARISH

Figure H

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4.04 Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure is the term used to encompass the network of multi- functional green spaces within the Parish which help to provide a natural life support system for people and wildlife and in the Plan its expression includes Green Corridors and Local Green Spaces.

4.041 Green Corridors

Wildlife needs space to move, feed and breed. Green Corridors are routes that support the conservation and protection of wildlife. The Parish has significant

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wildlife resource and the Plan seeks to preserve and enhance such wildlife protection.

National and local planning policy supports the identification and enhancement of Green Corridors as areas of importance for wildlife. Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (‘TVERC’) in its report of August 2017 headed ‘Green Corridors in South Leigh’ (a copy of which is contained in the Consultation Report) have identified a network of existing and potential green corridors in the Parish.

The corridors are based on modelled habitat networks and Public Rights of Way and facilitate the movement of people and wildlife through the landscape.

Existing north-south Green Corridors in the TVERC Report passing through the settlement of South Leigh include along Bonds Lane, past Tar Wood and along Moor Lane to the Lower Windrush Valley, and north from South Leigh to the A40.

Proposed east-west Green Corridors have been identified including the old railway line to the south of the settlement of South Leigh and connecting a series of small woodlands including Furzy Breach Wood to the north of the settlement of South Leigh itself. Any new development will be expected to maintain and enhance these Green Corridors.

Accordingly the Plan seeks to protect the existing Green Corridors and to take steps to enhance the provision of Green Corridors across the heathland to the south of the A40 as shown on the Plan marked by Figure I by working with WODC, OCC, landowners and other interested parties.

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term.

Figure.I

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4.042 Local Green Spaces

The Plan recognises that Green Infrastructure is important because it provides many social, economic and environmental benefits close to where people live and work, including:

•   Places for outdoor relaxation and play.
•   Space and habitat for wildlife with access to nature for people.
•   Climate change adaptation – for example, flood alleviation.
•   Improved health and well being – lowering stress levels and providing

  opportunities for exercise.

  The Plan identifies for special protection, green spaces of particular local significance for reasons of the intrinsic beauty, historic importance, recreational value, tranquillity and richness of its wildlife.

  Local Green Spaces so identified for special protection in the Parish are marked on the Plan following (Figure J) and include: the Football Pitch and surrounding area and the Village Green. The Plan prohibits new development on Local Green Spaces other than in very exceptional circumstances where a suitable and acceptable alternative will be provided.

  These Local Green Spaces are used by locals and visitors and provide facilities and central points for the local Community to meet. They are often used for fundraising events. They are an essential part of creating a cohesive settlement.

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OPEN GREEN SPACES MAP

Figure J

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Magnified Open Green Spaces from Figure J Above

A – Village Hall Garden – 0.12 hectares

B – Village Green – 0.06 hectares

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C – Playground – 0.15 hectares

D – Football Pitch and Surrounding Area – 3.75 hectares

Total of 4.62 hectares of proposed Local Green Space Designation

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4.05 Biodiversity

The Community places considerable value on the enhancement of biodiversity in the Parish, including the creation of wildlife habitats (as shown on figure K below), the conservation of the native hedgerows, the planting of native trees and wild flowers, and the protection of wildlife corridors. Any new development will be expected to maintain and enhance existing green corridors and landscape features (such as water courses, hedgerows and treelines) for biodiversity.

Figure K