Wallington Neighbourhood Plan 2022 - 2031 Submission Version June 2023

2 About this neighbourhood plan

2.1 This document is the Wallington Neighbourhood Plan (WNP) and relates to Wallington village and its rural surrounds, as shown in Figure 2.1. Rushden village, although within the parish boundary, is not included in the neighbourhood plan area.

2.2 North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC), as the local planning authority, designated the neighbourhood area on 22 April 2020. Once 'made' (adopted), the WNP will form one part of the development plan for this part of the parish over the period 2022 to 2031, the other part being the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011 to 2031 (adopted November 2022).

2.3 The WNP has been prepared in accordance with the Town & Country Planning Act 1990, the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the Localism Act 2011 and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

2.4 The WNP provides guidance to any interested parties wishing to submit planning applications for development within the neighbourhood area. The process of producing the Plan has involved the community as widely as possible. The Neighbourhood Plan Working Group has comprised up to 12 volunteers at any one time, representing almost 8% of the population of the village. In consultation with the wider community, they have put together a vision for the future of the neighbourhood area and set out how that vision will be realised through planning land use and development change over the plan period.

2.5 Each section of the WNP covers a different topic. Under each heading there is a justification for the policy presented, which provides the necessary understanding about what it is seeking to achieve. The policies themselves are presented in the greenboxes. It is these policies against which planning applications will be assessed. It is advisable therefore, that to understand the full context for any individual policy, it is read in conjunction with the supporting text and evidence documents that have been compiled to underpin the WNP.

2.6 In addition to the policies, the Plan identifies local needs and community aspirations that whilst not met through the planning system, are important to the well-being of the community. It is proposed that these projects will be met through community action supported by a range of organisations. The WNP also sets out the Community Infrastructure Priorities and a framework for monitoring and implementation.

Figure 2.1: Wallington Neighbourhood Plan designated area

The Planning Policy Context

National Planning Policy

2.7 The WNP has been prepared in accordance with the NPPF (most recently revised in July 2021). Paragraphs 29 and 30 state:

"Neighbourhood planning gives communities the power to develop a shared vision for their area. Neighbourhood plans can shape, direct and help to deliver sustainable development, by influencing local planning decisions as part of the statutory development plan. Neighbourhood plans should not promote less development than set out in the strategic policies for the area, or undermine those strategic policies. (Neighbourhood plans must be in general conformity with the strategic policies contained in any development plan that covers their area).

Once a neighbourhood plan has been brought into force, the policies it contains take precedence over existing non-strategic policies in a local plan covering the neighbourhood area, where they are in conflict; unless they are superseded by strategic or non-strategic policies that are adopted subsequently".

Local Planning Policy

2.8 The WNP must be in general conformity with the strategic policies (which are denoted as 'SP' in the Local Plan) of the adopted development plan, which comprises:

• North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011 to 2031 (adopted November 2022)
• The Waste Site Allocations Development Plan Document 2011-2026 (adopted July 2014)
• The Waste Core Strategy & Development Management Policies Development Plan Document 2011-2026 (adopted November 2012)
• The Minerals Local Plan 2002-2016 (adopted March 2007)
• Made Neighbourhood Plans in the District

2.9 The adopted documents are also supported by the following Supplementary Planning Documents:

• The Employment Land Areas of Search Supplementary Planning Document (adopted November 2015)
• The Minerals Consultation Areas Supplementary Planning Document (adopted November 2007)

2.10 Policy SP2 (Settlement Hierarchy and Spatial Distribution) of the Local Plan seeks to deliver at least 13,000 net new homes across the District over the period 2011 to 2031. Approximately 80% of housing delivery is proposed to be focussed to the larger settlements, 13% to villages identified for growth, and the remainder to smaller villages (including Wallington).

2.11 Wallington is classified as a Category B village in the Local Plan, where limited infilling development, which does not extend the built core of the village, will be supported. This is a new categorisation for Wallington and the implications of this on housing development in the village are not yet known. A statement by NHDC about how the smaller villages have been categorised was prepared for the Local Plan examination. It is one of the reasons why this neighbourhood plan is essential at this time. There are no sites allocated in the emerging local plan for Wallington. Two new homes have been built or granted planning permission since 2011.

Community engagement

2.12 The WNP Working Group has developed the Plan through extensive engagement with the community. Discussions with NHDC have taken place on each of the topic areas covered by the Plan. In addition, communication with the neighbouring ward has taken place as some of the policies could impact on these areas.

2.13 A Consultation Statement is presented alongside the Submission Version Neighbourhood Plan document, with the main activities summarised in Table 2.1.

Table 2.1: Summary of engagement activity

The village fete

Sustainability of the Neighbourhood Plan

2.14 The WNP has been screened to determine whether a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and or Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) is required. The screening document was subject to consultation with Historic England, Natural England and the Environment Agency between March and April 2022. The screening has concluded that the Wallington Neighbourhood Plan is unlikely to result in significant environmental effects and therefore does not require an SEA or an HRA.

2.15 A copy of the Screening Determination letter and statement is included in the evidence base for the WNP.