The Neighbourhood Planning Group commissioned an independent Site Assessment Report from a highly experienced planning consultant, who is also helping us with developing the Neighbourhood Plan, NP. He is working with some other NP groups in the South Hams. The national guidance for Neighbourhood planning notes that a site assessment is considered essential to the Neighbourhood Planning process. The Report, which is now on the NP website and available as a paper copy in the Reading Room, covers 11 potential building sites in Kingston. There were only 10 sites included in the Questionnaire, but we were told of a further one after the questionnaire went out and this has been included. This is an impartial professional Report based on planning requirements and not on anyone’s personal views. The consultant toured the sites and has had access to all the information we have collected from landowners and potential developers.
The Report will form a part of the evidence base from which we will develop the housing policies in the Neighbourhood Plan. Your views as given in the Questionnaire will of course be a significant part of this evidence.
Please also give us your comments on the Report all of which will go into the evidence to be taken into account as we build up our policies.
The Report shows 3 sites as suitable for new build with the potential of 7 new homes. The draft Joint Local Plan noted that Kingston could sustain 10 new homes over the Plan period. This is an indicative, not a definitive, number, but was allocated following consultation on a number of sustainability issues, eg public transport, facilities and amenities etc. There are already 3 new homes in the village with agreed planning permission, given during the period the Joint Local Plan will cover, which is 2014 – 2034. However please note that there is currently no clear cap on the number of homes to be built in the village and any site which landowners/developers put into planning will be judged on its own merits.
Sites deemed ‘unsuitable’ in the Site Assessment Report, are not precluded in any way from applying for planning permission. The Lewis family site, Vicarage Park and Sanderson’s Field are in the process of, or are already applying, for planning permission. Anyone can comment on their proposals through the South Hams District Council website when the full application becomes available.
Thank you to the many householders in Kingston who have completed the questionnaire and posted it in the box outside “Litchfield”. It was so full that we had to empty it!
