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| CORE POLICIES & PROPOSALS & SUPPORTING TEXT | |||
| LOCAL PLAN CORE PROPOSALS | |||
| Proposal 1 | Conservation Areas | ||
| Proposal 2 | Conservation Areas | ||
| Proposal 3 | Buildings at Risk | ||
| Proposal 4 | Interpretation | ||
| Proposal 5 | Archaeology | ||
| Proposal 6 | Landscape Plans | ||
| Proposal 7 | Environmental Improvement | ||
| Proposal 8 | Environmental Improvement | ||
| Proposal 9 | Trees and Woodlands | ||
| Proposal 10 | Trees and Woodlands | ||
| Proposal 11 | Trees and Woodlands | ||
| Proposal 12 | The Coast | ||
| Proposal 13 | The Coast | ||
| Proposal 14 | The Coast | ||
| Proposal 15 | Waste Management | ||
| Proposal 16 | Town Centres | ||
| Proposal 17 | Town Centres | ||
| Proposal 18 | Leisure and Recreation | ||
| Proposal 19 | Leisure and Recreation | ||
| Proposal 20 | Leisure and Recreation | ||
| Proposal 21 | Transport | ||
| Proposal 22 | Transport | ||
| Proposal 23 | Transport | ||
| Proposal 24 | Transport | ||
| Proposal 25 | Infrastructure | ||
| Proposal 26 | Implementation | ||
| Proposal 1 | Article 4 Directions for Conservation Areas will be updated and revised within the Plan period. | ||
| Article 4 Directions operate in all of the Conservation Areas. Their effect is that planning permission is required for even minor works such as: minor house extensions; roof alterations; satellite dishes; the erection of fences, walls and sheds; and external painting. Their purpose is to protect buildings within Conservation Areas from inappropriate extensions and alterations. | |||
| Proposal 2 | Fife Council will (undertake Conservation Area Appraisals and) update conservation plans within the plan period. These plans will: - | ||
| (a) | define the character of the conservation area; and | ||
| (b) | provide design guidance; and | ||
| (c) | draw up a schedule of required improvements for the building stock and streetscape. | ||
| By appraising
the character and appearance of Conservation Areas, the assessment
of development proposals will be assisted; precise boundaries can
be confirmed; and development opportunities identified and promoted.
Additional Conservation Area guidance is contained in design guides
available from Fife Council. It should also be noted that trees in
Conservation Areas are given the same protection as those protected
by a Tree Preservation Order. In such circumstances the provisions
of Policy E34 apply. See also policy E34. |
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| BUILDINGS AT RISK | |||
| Proposal 3 | The rehabilitation and repair of historic buildings at risk will be promoted. | ||
| Some of the area's historic buildings have fallen into decay through neglect. The Council maintains a register of "Buildings at Risk" and will seek the rehabilitation or repair of these properties through negotiation, financial assistance or direct intervention using the powers available to it, including that of serving Repairs Notices, subject to available finance. | |||
| INTERPRETATION | |||
| Proposal 4 | Fife Council will promote the interpretation of important townscape and historic features through the provision of signs, leaflets and guides and also by the promotion of appropriate visitor attractions, in accordance with the Fife Interpretation Strategy. | ||
| These steps will contribute to public knowledge of, and interest in, the built heritage of the area, and of the need to protect it for the benefit of future generations. The Council's Interpretation Strategy provides a framework to achieve this. | |||
| ARCHAEOLOGY | |||
| Proposal 5 | Fife Council will adopt strategies to safeguard from development significant archaeological remains which survive as yet unidentified, as well as sites of importance to local communities. | ||
| Fife Council
will continue to seek developer funding to support the cost of all
archaeological investigation and recording where prompted by development
activity. In exceptional cases, where it is not possible to completely
safeguard a Non-Statutory Register site or Archaeological Site of
Regional Importance from development, Policy E17 will apply. See also policy E17. |
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| LANDSCAPE PLANS | |||
| Proposal 6 | Landscape Plans will be prepared to guide development to appropriate locations, to assist in the management and enhancement of landscape setting and improve access in the countryside around towns. | ||
| The Council will develop a methodology to assess the landscape around settlements. This will consider the capacity of the landscape to accommodate future development, areas of enhancement and improvements to countryside access from settlements. | |||
| ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT | |||
| Proposal 7 | Fife Council will identify priorities for environmental improvements and seek to raise funds to implement a programme of improvements throughout the Local Plan. | ||
| Proposal 8 | Fife Council, in association with its partnership agencies, landowners and the public, will seek to protect, manage, enhance and, where appropriate, interpret and provide public access to the key habitats identified in the Fife Local Biodiversity Action Plan as being of relevance to the Local Plan area: | ||
| (a) | Farmland; | ||
| (b) | Coastal and marine; | ||
| (c) | Lochs, ponds, rivers and burns; | ||
| (d) | Moorland and heathland; | ||
| (e) | Wetland; | ||
| (f) | Woodlands and scrub; and | ||
| (g) | The urban and built environment. | ||
| The objectives and actions for each habitat are fully laid out in the Fife Local Biodiversity Action Plan (Fife LBAP), a partnership document. Under the Environment Act 1995, SEPA has a statutory duty relating to biodiversity. The Fife LBAP provides the framework within which SEPA can implement this duty. In addition, and complementary to the LBAP, is SEPA's Habitat Enhancement Initiative. Managed on a partnership basis, the Initiative seeks to promote sustainable management and enhancement of aquatic habitats and their surroundings. | |||
| The Fife LBAP will attempt to restore and enhance Fife's biological diversity by examining current use of environmental resources, future consequences as a result, and any changes required to halt any adverse impact. Threats to habitats and species from current use have been identified which in turn will lead to the identification of specific targets and actions required to overcome these. More detailed Habitat Action Plans are being prepared for each of these habitats, which will identify some of the practical action and opportunities for protection and enhancement of such habitats. | |||
| TREES AND WOODLANDS | |||
| Proposal 9 | Fife Council will support the sound management of trees, woodlands and hedgerows and seek management agreements with owners of woodlands which are of particular importance for amenity, wildlife, or public access. | ||
| Proposal 10 | Fife Council will encourage the formation of partnerships to promote and secure new tree, woodland and hedgerow planting of appropriate species in the countryside and built environment, where it is in sympathy with the local landscape character. | ||
| Trees and woodlands, which are of particular value to wildlife or the public, require to be managed. Fife Council will identify the most important examples and seek, where resources permit, formal agreements to ensure their long-term protection, particularly those of Ancient, Long-Standing or Plantation origin. Any associated landscape plans provide an opportunity for guidance on structural tree planting. | |||
| Proposal 11 | Sustainable woodland initiatives will be identified, prioritised, and promoted, in accordance with the Indicative Forestry Strategy component of the Fife Structure Plan. | ||
| Fife Council is supportive of new tree, woodland and hedgerow planting by developers, landowners, other agencies and the public for amenity, landscape improvement, recreation and nature conservation purposes, particularly where this provides an opportunity to encourage biodiversity. New planting will be promoted in locations ranging from urban areas to farms, woodland, and commercial forestry plantations. Planting on urban fringes is required in association with new development to assist in providing well-defined urban edges. The use of tree species native to Fife is preferred. | |||
| The establishment of trees and woodlands can help to create an environment attractive to incoming businesses. They can contribute to biodiversity and add to the attractiveness of wildlife corridors. Emphasis is therefore placed on promoting improvement through woodland planting in potential investment areas, urban edges, and on main road corridors and tourist routes. This, together with initiatives such as the Woodlands Grant Initiative (a wide-ranging suite of initiatives designed to encourage new planting, the management of existing woodlands, and the improvement of habitats for biodiversity) offers opportunities to establish, reinstate and manage multi-purpose woodlands combining amenity and conservation with commercial production. | |||
| THE COAST | |||
| Proposal 12 | Fife Council will assist in the implementation of the Forth Estuary Forum's Strategy and Action Plan. | ||
| The Forth Estuary
Forum is active in promoting integrated coastal zone management through
a strategy and action plan. This involves partnership working between
a range of organisations including Fife Council and will complement
the policies and proposals of the Development Plan. See also policy E38 and paragraph 1.42 of the Plan Statement. |
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| Proposal 13 | Fife Council will implement the terms of its Fife Shoreline Management Plan. | ||
| The Fife Shoreline
Management Plan provides a strategic overview to assist in the management
of the coast and in the development of policy. It is a non-statutory
document which summarises information about the Coastal Zone and which
sets out a strategy for coastal defence. See also policy E38 and paragraph 1.42 of the Plan Statement. |
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| Proposal 14 | Fife Council will seek to protect and enhance harbours and piers, which are listed as being of special architectural or historic interest. | ||
| The Fife Coast
contains a rich heritage of harbours and piers. These are an important
heritage, economic and recreational resource but many of the older
structures are falling into disrepair. The Council will, therefore,
identify problems and opportunities and work with owners to identify
solutions which secure the long-term future of the most important
harbours and piers. See also policy E38 and paragraph 1.42 of the Plan Statement. |
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| WASTE MANAGEMENT | |||
| Proposal 15 | Provision will be made for Materials Recycling Facilities, composting and for the development of other emerging recycling and waste treatment technologies. The provision of any ancillary landfill will only accommodate residual wastes. | ||
| The Fife Area
Waste Plan identifies the Best Practicable Environmental Option (BPEO)
for the management of Fife's municipal wastes and requires the provision
of appropriate infrastructure. To meet the BPEO, provision is required
for an integrated framework of waste management facilities so that
waste can be dealt with at the closest most appropriate facility.
See also paragraph 1.51 of the Plan Statement and policies E39 and E40. |
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| TOWN CENTRES | |||
| Proposal 16 | Fife Council will undertake regular "health check" surveys to monitor town centres. | ||
| In order to
monitor the impact of changes in Town Centres, regular perception
and statistical surveys will be undertaken. Fife Council will also
seek to work with local groups in marketing and physical improvement
efforts. See also paragraph 1.22 of the Plan Statement and policy R1. |
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| Proposal 17 | Proposal 17 Master Plans will be prepared to assist in the co-ordinated and comprehensive development and/or re-development of town centres. | ||
| Master Plans,
prepared in consultation with relevant parties, will help to guide
development/re-development schemes for town centres within the Plan
area. See also paragraph 1.22 of the Plan Statement and policy R1. |
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| LEISURE AND RECREATION | |||
| Proposal 18 | In safeguarding existing facilities and identifying land for new facilities, Local Plans will take into account the findings of: | ||
| (a) | SportScotland's Facilities Planning Model | ||
| (b) | Fife Council's Sport and Recreation Strategy | ||
| Proposal 19 | Fife Council will continue to develop an interconnected network of long distance paths, circular routes and links between settlements and through the countryside. | ||
| In accordance with the Paths for All Initiative, supported by Scottish Natural Heritage, the Council's long-term aim is to establish a strategic path network throughout Fife. This builds on work already undertaken. The Fife Coastal Path, for example, which traverses the Plan area, has become one of Fife's most important visitor and recreational attractions. It is maintained by the Council, and a programme of improvements to it will be undertaken as necessary. In progressing new local and long distance paths the Council will seek access agreements with landowners. In extreme circumstances, where a footpath connection serves a strategic function and where negotiations have broken down, the Council will consider legal action as a means of pursuing the proposal. In terms of local path networks, Fife Council regards it as a high priority to increase the opportunities for countryside recreation by expanding the network of local paths extending from the urban fringe; providing links into the urban area; and where opportunities arise, contributing to strategic long-distance paths. The Fife Access Framework, seeks to achieve this. | |||
| Proposal 20 | Fife Council will develop a Core Path Plan and will implement and manage a core path network sufficient for the purpose of giving the public reasonable access throughout the area. | ||
| The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 places a duty on Local Authorities to prepare a Core Path Plan for its area identifying a defined network of paths to provide reasonable public access. | |||
| TRANSPORT | |||
| Proposal 21 | Fife Council will identify and implement "Safer routes to Stations". | ||
| Proposal 22 | Fife Council will identify and implement "Safer routes to Schools". | ||
| A "safer routes to schools and stations" network is being prepared by the Council, in pursuit of: - | |||
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| Proposal 23 | Fife Council will continue to develop the cycleway network within the Local Plan area. | ||
| Proposal 24 | Fife Council will introduce traffic calming and management schemes where these bring environmental, community or road safety benefits. | ||
| Public safety and ease of movement for pedestrians and cyclists is paramount in the location and design of new roads. "Home Zones" could be integral to the design process. These introduce low traffic speeds, more pedestrian areas and design features which emphasise the change in priority to pedestrians and cyclists in areas where people live and children play. Fife Council will give consideration as to where and to what extent "Home Zones" should be introduced. | |||
| INFRASTRUCTURE | |||
| Proposal 25 | Fife Council will liaise with code system operators to ensure the establishment of co-ordinated radio telecommunication networks across Fife that minimise detrimental impact on the environment. | ||
| The Council
expects all code systems operators (see glossary) to comply with the
Federation of the Electronics Industry Operator Commitments (Annex
E of PAN 62). This includes obligatory network design and pre-application
consultation with local planning authorities (Annex F of PAN 62).
Early agreement on network planning and the siting and design of infrastructure
will ensure compliance with Policy I8. To this end, the Council will
maintain a register of sites and masts to help guide operators to
acceptable sites and to promote site sharing opportunities. See also paragraph 1.52 of the Plan Statement and policy I8. |
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| IMPLEMENTATION | |||
| Proposal 26 | Fife Council will implement the policies and proposals of the Local Plan through: | ||
| (a) | promotion, co-ordination and discussion; and | ||
| (b) | its development control function; and | ||
| (c) | its own development role; and | ||
| (d) | statutory intervention. | ||
| Implementation of the policies and proposals in the Plan is central to the success of the Development Strategy. The Council will promote, and seek to bring forward, development on the sites which are allocated in this Plan. It will prepare design briefs and guidance for the development of key sites and work with the public and private sectors to achieve the objectives of the Plan. | |||
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