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| URBAN FORM | |||||
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| 62. | The Borough comprises a number of distinct communities whose identity and distinctness are reinforced by the way in which the urban areas are defined and separated by narrow gaps of open land. These narrow gaps of open land have a strategic importance where they help to prevent coalescence and retain the separate identities of the larger settlements of Havant, Waterlooville and Emsworth. This policy recognises the importance of Strategic Gaps to the urban form of the Borough in providing clear and distinct visual and physical breaks in the built environment. They are highly valued by local communities not only in retaining the separate identities of settlements but also as areas with recreation, amenity, nature conservation or landscape value. Strict control of new development is necessary if their importance is not to be diminished. | ||||
| UF1 | STRATEGIC GAPS | ||||
| Development will not be permitted which would diminish the following defined strategic gaps physically or visually. | |||||
| (i) | Havant Gap - Havant, Leigh Park/ Cowplain, Waterlooville, Purbrook, Portsmouth |
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| (ii) | Emsworth Gap - Havant/Emsworth |
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| (iii) | Rowlands Castle Gap - Havant/Rowlands Castle |
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| (iv) | Emsworth/Chichester Gap - Emsworth/Chichester/ Westbourne/Southbourne |
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| 63. | This policy reflects a principal concern to avoid further coalescence and retain the separate identities of the main settlements in the Borough. The basis of this concern reflects the critical balance now reached between the urban areas and the remaining countryside in the Borough. The Gaps fulfil the important function of maintaining the link between the undeveloped coast and the open countryside which extends beyond the urban areas. | ||||
| 64. | The vital characteristic of all the identified important gaps is that they should be retained in the long term as areas of land free from new development which would detract from a feeling of leaving one settlement before entering another. It is particularly important in these narrow stretches of open land to resist even small urban incursions which would lead to the gradual erosion of the integrity of the gaps as open areas between settlements. | ||||
| Havant Gap | |||||
| 65. | The Havant Gap is a narrow Gap running from the undeveloped coast of Langstone Harbour to the boundary of the Borough with East Hampshire District. It is followed by the course of the A3 (M) and has a varied landscape structure and topography which must be defended and strengthened if it is to continue to fulfil its role as an important break between the built up areas of Havant and Leigh Park to the east and Cowplain, Waterlooville, Purbrook and Portsmouth to the west. The employment land allocation at Dunsbury Hill Farm (EMP1.4), has been defined so as not to prejudice the role of the Havant Gap in retaining the separate physical and visual identities of the main settlements to the east and west. | ||||
| Emsworth Gap | |||||
| 66. | The Emsworth Gap provides a continuous countryside link between the coast of Chichester Harbour and the wider countryside of East Hampshire to the north of Havant and Emsworth. The Gap has, with the exception of Southleigh Forest to the north of Emsworth, a very flat, open and agricultural character and it provides a clear visual break between the built-up areas of Havant and Emsworth. | ||||
| 67. | Rowlands Castle Gap | ||||
| This gap is contiguous with the Havant Gap and maintains the separate identities and settings of Havant and Rowlands Castle. The majority of the land in this gap within the Borough is park land associated with the Staunton Country Park. | |||||
| 68. | Emsworth/Chichester Gap | ||||
| This Gap plays an important role in helping to maintain the visual break and separate identities of Emsworth from the settlements of Southbourne and Westbourne in West Sussex. The gap complements the Chichester and Emsworth Strategic Gap in the adopted Chichester District Local Plan - First Review | |||||
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