THE VILLAGE PLAN (ABRIDGED VERSION)
This document sets down an outline policy framework for the preservation and future development of Kingswood Village.
1. GENERAL STATEMENT.
Residents wish to preserve the existing semi-rural character of the area, which is that of a predominately residential village comprising mainly detached, single family homes with good-sized gardens, served by a small parade of village shops and bounded by open country on all sides.
2. THE GREEN BELT.
Residents wish existing boundaries of the Green Belt to be preserved and strictly adhered to in accordance with the policies contained in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead Borough Local Plan and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Planning Policy Guidance.
Support is to be given to good planning practice and local plan policies that state that housing densities should decrease towards the boundary between housing and the Greenbelt.
Kingswood should retain its existing character as a separate village and not become urbanised by incursions into the Green Belt whether by further higher density development within Kingswood or expansion of the boundaries of the other immediately surrounding village or urban area communities.
3. POLICY ON LOCAL HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
3.1 Central and Local Government Policy.
The Department of the Environment’s Planning Policy Guidance (PPG 3) restates and quantifies the pressures arising from the demand for more housing but also encourages communities to develop a shared vision with their Local Planning Authority about the type of residential developments they wish to see in their area. This document is intended to be part of that process.
Residents support the statement under the Policy Guidance that new housing development of whatever scale must not be viewed in isolation but must have regard not just to the immediate neighbourhood buildings, but also to the townscape and landscape of the wider locality. Residents also strongly support the Borough Local Plan, which currently contains general policies that preserve and respect the existing character of the Borough.
3.2 Development of the Village.
To preserve the existing pleasant aspects and semi-rural nature of the village from inappropriate development, residents wish any future building developments to follow the guidelines set out below: -
3.2.1 The type of development permitted.
Future development should be limited to houses and bungalows with no further development planning to be granted for the building of town houses or flats or the conversion of houses to flats which would impact on the rural nature of the area.
3.2.2 The Residential Area of Special Character (RASC)
The greater part of Kingswood Village lies within an "Residential Area of Special Character" (RASC) which has special safeguards against over-development. The RASC should be preserved and extended where appropriate.
3.2.3. Plot sizes
The residents want to preserve the open rural aspect and therefore the KRA is opposed any splitting of existing large residential plots which result in either the new or the original plot being reduced to less than 0.3 hectares (0.74 acres) in the case of the RASC or less than 0.2 hectares ( 0.49 acres) in respect of properties which are outside the RASC.
3.3. Trees.
Kingswood derives part of its pleasant scenic aspect from the tree cover and residents feel it is important that this benefit is preserved. The Borough’s Tree Preservation Department aims to protect areas that are at risk and the Association fully supports their activities.