Report

The Woodsmith Project - S73 Project Amendments: Appendix 3 Statutory Development Plan

• identifies where development can and cannot take place;

• encourages redevelopment of vacant buildings or land; and

• helps reduce the National Park’s contribution to climate change

A3.6

The Plan seeks to help deliver the statutory purposes of National Park designation. These are ‘to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the National Park’ and ‘to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park by the public’. In addition, there is a statutory duty on the National Park Authority ‘to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities’ whilst pursuing the statutory purposes. Strategic Policy A articulates this approach the most, however all policies have been written to ensure adherence to the statutory purposes and duty.

A3.7

A3.8

The Plan gives great weight in decision making to the importance of landscape.

A3.9

Chapter 3 of the Local Plan (‘Strategic Approach’) sets out the spatial strategy and the key strategic policies the Authority will use to help direct and influence new development in the future. Of note are Strategic Policies A (‘Achieving National Park Purposes and Sustainable Development’) which reiterates the key tests in the NPPF and the National Park statutory purposes and C (‘Quality and Design of Development’) which seeks to maintain and enhance the distinct character of the National Park. Strategic Policy D sets out the Major Development Test, however, as the principle of development has already been established Strategic Policy D is not considered applicable to this application. Chapter 4 sets out the key objectives in relation the conservation and enhancement of the natural and built environment. The objectives relevant to this Project includes: • Securing high quality new development that is well designed, reinforces local distinctiveness and enhances the unique landscape character, settlement pattern and architecture of the National Park, including through protection of important views. • Safeguarding and improving the sense of tranquillity and remoteness in the National Park.

A3.10

• Maintaining and improving the darkness of night skies seen in the National Park.

• Conserving and enhancing the biodiversity and geodiversity of the National Park and improve habitat connectivity.

• Conserving and enhancing soil, air and water quality.

• Reducing the causes of climate change and assist in the adaption to and mitigation of its effects including through promotion of sustainable design and efficient energy use in new buildings.

A3.11

These objectives are picked up in Strategic Policies E-H and ENV1-8:

• Strategic Policy E (The Natural Environment) outlines that the quality and diversity of the natural environment of North York Moors National Park will be conserved and enhanced.