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Policy HD/PR: Public realm

About this page

How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works

These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:

Policy background

  • Relevant national policy or regulations
  • National or regional trends
  • Local situation and needs/li>
  • How we have dealt with this issue in the past
  • The thinking behind the policy

Policy options for the new Local Plan

We may suggest a variety of approaches:

  • Keeping existing policy as it is
  • Making small changes
  • Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
  • Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future

Policy option analysis

  • A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.

More on this topic

Read the Heritage and Design Topic Paper for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more.

Explore the policy

Select a section below to read more.

Policy background

9.428 The NPPF highlights planning policies and decisions should ensure that developments, among other things, establish or maintain a strong sense of place, using the arrangement of streets, spaces, building types and materials to create attractive, welcoming and distinctive places to live, work and visit.

9.429 The Public realm is defined as any publicly owned streets, pathways, right of ways, parks, publicly accessible open spaces and any public and civic building and facilities. Development proposals often include areas of public realm as part of their proposals and/or contribute financially to the creation to new or enhanced streets and spaces.

9.430 Several strategies and guidance to support the delivery and coordination of quality of public realm improvements and maintenance have been prepared. In addition, Neighbourhood Plans often include detailed public realm proposals and policies.

9.431 Placemaking Plan Policy D10 requires proposals to be designed to enhance the public realm and to contribute towards achieving public realm infrastructure improvements, in line with the Planning Obligations SPD, and successor documents.

9.432  The detailed background and evidence relating to the following options is set out in the Heritage and design Topic Paper.

Policy options for the new Local Plan

9.433 The policy remains fit for purpose.

9.434 The current policy accords with national and local strategies, however, amendments could be incorporated to ensure the policy is clearer.

9.435 This could include some headline principles from the pattern book and Public Realm and Movement Strategy being incorporated within the policy so that it is able to better define what good public realm is. This is with an aim of aiding planning balance and judgement.

Option A

Retain policy D10 with amendments as outlined above.

Advantages of Option A

Adopted policy presents no issues or concerns arising from development management officers in its implementation.

Disadvantages of Option A

None identified.

Status message

The Local Plan Options Consultation has closed