Council adopts planning guidance for Horley's new neighbourhoods
News release dated 20 March 2006 about the Council formally adopting planning guidance for Horley’s new neighbourhoods.
Planning guidance for Horley’s new neighbourhoods has been formally adopted by the Council to ensure that the layout and design of new any development reflects the characteristics of Horley, and that the infrastructure is sufficient to meet the needs of the community.
The Horley Design Guide and Horley Infrastructure Provision Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) are the first documents to be adopted as part of the Local Development Framework, the new planning policy system.
Cllr Mrs Joan Spiers, Leader of Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, said: “The Horley Design Guide and Horley Infrastructure Provision SPD provide detailed formal guidance to help developers interpret planning policy, which will be taken into account when determining planning applications.
“This guidance not only applies to large-scale development but to planning applications for smaller developments in the town.”
Horley Design Guide
The Horley Design Guide will help developers at two key stages: The initial layout plan of the development and then at the building design stage.
There is a firm expectation that only developments of the highest quality in terms of both design and layout will be permitted, and that building materials reflect local distinctiveness in terms of colour, style and type of material.
The Guide promotes design traditional to the area, but modern designs of high quality will also be encouraged.
The Guide also includes a requirement to use water economy measures and to meet high standards of energy efficiency, including securing a proportion of energy from renewable sources.
Horley Infrastructure Provision SPD
The new neighbourhoods in Horley will create the need for significant investment in infrastructure and social facilities in the area.
Cllr Spiers, cont.: “Builders of developments are expected to provide the required infrastructure to support them, or make a contribution towards infrastructure provision, which is secured through legal agreements known as planning obligations.
“The Horley Infrastructure Provision SPD details what infrastructure is required and what contributions developers are required to make. It reflects our strong commitment to ensuring we deliver the high quality services and facilities the community needs.”
The developers contributions will go towards a range of items including:
- a new town park providing sports pitches and changing rooms
- a riverside green chain network of more than 50 hectares
- two neighbourhood centres including shops and community halls and
- affordable housing at the level of 25 per cent of new developments.
Contributions are also being collected on behalf of other bodies, including Surrey County Council who will be providing new primary school facilities and a substantial package of public transport and highway improvements including pedestrian and cycle links.
The Horley Design Guide and Horley Infrastructure Provision Supplementary Planning Document are available to down load from the website. Alternatively they can be viewed at the Council’s Help Shops and local libraries.
The draft documents were the subject of a public consultation in the Autumn of 2005. Following the consultation, changes were made, as appropriate, and the documents were adopted as Council policy in January 2006.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council
Town Hall
Castlefield Road
Reigate
RH2 0SH
01737 276000
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