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| Chapter 12.0 - Tourism |
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| 12.1 |
The District is already an established
tourist destination. Its most popular attractions include Sherwood
Forest Country Park, Rufford Abbey, Center Parcs, Southwell Minster
and the historic town of Newark. The District Council will seek to
promote a sustainable and prosperous tourist industry, whilst resisting
development which would threaten environmental quality, the amenities
of residents, and areas of landscape or ecological importance. |
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Background, Problems
and Issues |
| 12.2 |
Tourism is now a major contributor to
the health of the local economy. The East Midlands Tourist Board estimated
the value of tourism to the region at £641m, of which £156m is generated
by overseas visitors (24%). The comparable figures for Nottinghamshire
are £132m and £39m (30%) respectively. These figures do not include
day visitors, who in 1992 are estimated to have spent a further £93m
within Nottinghamshire. |
| 12.3 |
The District Council will promote and
encourage tourism. It will attempt to do so in a way that safeguards
environmental quality and protects areas of ecological and landscape
value. The protection of sensitive areas, such as Sherwood Forest,
from inappropriate development is a fundamental requirement of a sustainable
tourism strategy. The District Council will seek to safeguard those
areas and features that are of interest to tourists and visitors to
the area. |
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Policy Context for the
Plan |
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Central Government Advice |
| 12.4 |
The Government's planning policies for
tourism are contained within PPG21 "Tourism". The central objective
outlined in this PPG is the need to achieve sustainable tourist development
that serves both economic growth and conservation of the environment.
The Government introduced, in the PPG, four guiding principles for
the promotion of tourism: |
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- development of the industry in ways which contribute to, rather
than detract from, the quality of the environment;
- promoting the understanding of environmental quality concerns
within the industry and of the need to improve the quality of
its service and its products;
- ensuring, through the Regional Tourist Boards and Training and
Enterprise Councils, that managers in tourism adopt visitor management
techniques that can help mitigate the impact of development on
the environment; and
- encouraging those types of tourism which in themselves aim to
safeguard the environment.
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| 12.5 |
While PPG21 emphasises the major contribution
tourism can make to the national economy and the prosperity of many
towns and rural areas, it acknowledges that the planning process can
assist tourism development, but only in ways that take account of
other related policies, for example, conservation, countryside and
the natural environment protection, and recreation. |
| 12.6 |
In addition to PPG21 several other policy
notes are particularly relevant to tourism: PPG1 (General Policy and
Principles), PPG2 (Green Belts), PPG4 (Industrial and Commercial Development
and Small Firms), PPG7 (The Countryside - Environmental Quality and
Economic and Social Development), PPG9 (Nature Conservation), PPG12
(Development Plans and Regional Planning Guidance), PPG13 (Transport),
PPG17 (Sport and Recreation) and PPG19 (Outdoor Advertisement Control).
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Regional Planning Guidance
for the East Midlands (RPG) |
| 12.7 |
RPG8 recognises the important role tourism
plays in creating a healthy local economy. The Guidance indicates
that local authorities should include policies which encourage the
improvement of under-used tourist facilities. It also emphasises the
need to safeguard vulnerable environments and to seek to take pressure
off sensitive sites. In addition, it is suggested that the development
of new tourist accommodation should be encouraged. |
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Nottinghamshire Structure
Plan Review |
| 12. |
8 The Structure Plan Review recognises
the importance of tourism to Newark and Sherwood District. It considers
the various problems, needs and opportunities associated with tourism
development, including the problems of over-use of existing sites
and balancing environmental and economic considerations. It contains
policies which seek to concentrate tourist development within urban
areas and villages, unless it cannot reasonably be located in such
areas. New tourist accommodation in the countryside will be tightly
controlled and proposals for caravan and camping sites will only be
acceptable where their environmental effects are acceptable. |
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Objectives |
| 12.9 |
The aims of the Local Plan will be achieved
through the implementation of the following objectives: |
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- encourage and make provision for appropriate tourist development;
- increase the amount of hotel and tourist accommodation;
- support appropriate tourist uses in the countryside; and
- safeguard the environmental quality of established tourist areas.
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Tourism Potential |
| 12.10 |
The District has considerable unexploited
potential for tourism. The District Council will monitor the need
to improve and extend the existing facilities for tourism in the area.
In addition, the Council will seek to divert visitor pressures to
other new and perhaps less well known attractions, including King
John's Palace, Clipstone and Laxton. The District Council will seek
to liaise with the County Council and other interested bodies to achieve
these aims, in accordance with the Council's Tourism Strategy. The
District Council warmly welcomes the development of Sherwood Pines
by Forest Enterprise as a facility for passive recreational activities.
The District Council will encourage such initiatives, especially where
they have the potential to reduce visitor pressures elsewhere in the
District. |
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Policy TO1
New Tourist Development |
| Planning permission will
be granted for tourist attractions and services provided
that the scale and nature of what is proposed reflects
the historic, architectural or environmental character
and importance of the area concerned. |
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Justification |
| 12.11 |
There is a close relationship between
tourism and the environment. Tourists come to Newark and Sherwood
District to enjoy attractive countryside and the historic interest
of Newark, Southwell and Sherwood Forest. Tourist development should
therefore seek to protect and enhance these assets and should not
destroy or degrade those aspects of the District's heritage that are
of interest to visitors. In accordance with PPG21 and the District
Council's expressed aim to promote sustainable development, the District
Council will attempt to balance the economic and employment benefits
of tourism with the need to safeguard the environment and the amenities
of residents. |
| 12.12 |
In addition, any potential tourist development
will be assessed against relevant wildlife, woodland and landscape
protection policies in Chapter 8, as well as Conservation Area, archaeological
and architectural safeguarding policies in Chapter 7. |
| 12.13 |
The District Council will attempt to focus
new tourist accommodation close to existing settlements and, especially,
in the larger villages. Whilst favouring tourist development in these
areas, the District Council recognises that it is the countryside
where many tourists want to be and the economic benefits of tourism
are most needed. It is also recognised that this approach is likely
to conflict with the aims of sustainable development, as outlined
in the Plan. The District Council will therefore seek to ensure that
development is acceptable in terms of its effects on the landscape,
ecology, farmland and rural settlements. The District Council will
also seek to secure environmental benefits from large tourist related
developments in the countryside, for example, in the form of tree
planting, particularly within the Greenwood Community Forest and heathland
restoration in the Sherwood area. |
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Tourism in Villages |
| 12.14 |
The District Council wishes to focus new
investment within existing settlements, where the environmental impacts
are likely to be less and the benefits of any new facilities can be
more easily enjoyed by the existing residents of the District. The
following policies outline where development will be permitted. |
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Policy TO2
Tourist Accommodation |
| Planning permission will
be granted for new hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation
or self-catering accommodation within towns and larger
villages, subject to the provisions of Policies DD1-DD6.
In the countryside, planning permission will be granted
only for schemes consistent with Policies NE2 or NE6 which
make use of existing agricultural buildings or assist
in the diversification of the rural economy. |
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Justification |
| 12.15 |
The District Council recognises that there
is a shortage of accommodation for visitors in the area. The Council
will, therefore, generally welcome proposals for tourist accommodation,
but it will attempt to control them in such a way so as to minimise
their impact on the environment. All tourist accommodation should
be designed to be in sympathy with the surrounding countryside and
local architectural and building styles. It should not create or exacerbate
highway problems or adversely affect areas of historic, ecological
or archaeological value. |
| 12.16 |
The District Council has experienced little
demand for the development of tourist accommodation within rural areas
in the past. Hotels and guest houses are best sited within villages,
provided that they do not create environmental problems for local
residents. Given the current level of demand, there is little justification
for allowing such accommodation in the open countryside, except where
it makes use of suitable existing buildings. The District Council
will assess all proposals for tourist development against relevant
wildlife, landscape and countryside protection policies in Chapter
8, and those policies that seek to safeguard the built environment
in Chapter 7. |
| 12.17 |
Proposals for the change of use of buildings
to small-scale bed and breakfast accommodation in the countryside
will normally be acceptable, subject to satisfactory parking arrangements
and provided that they do not adversely affect the amenities of neighbours.
The District Council will encourage this form of accommodation, within
the District as it broadens the base of the type and variety of accommodation
available to visitors. As many tourists to the area only stay for
short breaks, this type of accommodation is well suited to meet existing
demand. |
| 12.18 |
The construction of isolated holiday chalets
can have a detrimental effect on the quality of the countryside, being
visually intrusive and detracting from views and the perception of
wild areas. Although this is not a major problem at present, the District
Council will attempt to ensure that a strict control is operated over
this form of development. |
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Policy TO3
Hotel Improvements |
| Planning permission will
be granted for the upgrading of existing hotel and tourist
accommodation facilities by extensions which are appropriate
in scale and location. |
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Justification |
| 12.19 |
The District Council will seek to encourage
the enhancement of existing hotels and tourist accommodation by allowing
sensitive improvements to existing facilities, including the provision
of new access and facilities for the disabled. Improvements must be
of an appropriate scale and should respect and enhance the character
of the existing building. Adequate car parking facilities should also
be provided with any new development. |
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Policy TO4
Youth Hostel Accommodation |
| Planning permission will
be granted for youth hostels or similar accommodation
within the District provided: |
| 1. |
The building would reflect
the character of the area; |
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The proposal would not create
traffic problems; |
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The amenities of nearby residents
are not adversely affected; and |
| 4. |
In the countryside, the criteria
outlined in Policy TO2 are satisfied. |
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Justification |
| 12.20 |
The District Council welcomes the creation
of a new Youth Hostel at Edwinstowe, close to the heart of Sherwood
Forest. Also in the north of the District is Walesby Scout Camp which
has proved extremely successful. The District Council will welcome
proposals for hostel accommodation elsewhere in the District, especially
in Newark or close to important footpath and recreational routes.
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| 12.21 |
While the District Council favours development
within settlements, the Authority recognises that certain tourist
activities are inevitable in the countryside. The following policies
provide more detailed guidance. |
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Policy TO5
Dispersing Tourist Pressure |
| Planning permission will
be granted in the Sherwood Forest Special Landscape Area
for tourist attractions and services which would encourage
the dispersal of visitor pressures away from existing
over-used tourist and recreation facilities but would
not affect the character and appearance of the area. |
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Justification |
| 12.22 |
The Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre and
surrounding Country Park act as a focal point for visitors to Sherwood.
In 1990, the site attracted approximately 800,000 visitors. This concentration
of visitor pressure is having an adverse effect upon the surrounding
woodland and its wildlife, widening footpaths, and gradually altering
the character of the area. Similar problems occur at Rufford Park
during peak periods. The number of visitors to the Abbey and Country
Park reached 600,000 in the same year. The District Council will,
therefore, seek to encourage the dispersal of visitor pressure away
from these "honey pot" sites to other less sensitive sites, so protecting
areas such as Rufford and the Sherwood Forest Country Park from further
damage. |
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Policy TO6
Tourist Caravan and Camping Sites |
| Planning permission will
be granted for non- static tourist caravan and camping
development provided: |
| 1. |
The site is not prominent
in the landscape and the proposal would not detract from
the character and appearance of the surrounding countryside.
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| 2. |
The site is located and
designed so as to be adequately screened from surrounding
public areas; |
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The site is within close
proximity to the main road network and should be served
by approach roads and access points of a suitable standard; |
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The development is associated
with existing settlements and is of a compatible scale
with that settlement, so as not to impair the amenities
of local residents or overload local services or facilities; |
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The site is located in an
area with local opportunities for informal countryside
recreation and is not detrimental to these attractions; |
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It does not involve the expansion
of an existing site which is under-utilised or involve
the creation of a new site in an area where the utilisation
of existing sites is low; |
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The development does not
adversely affect areas of nature conservation or archaeological
significance; and |
| 8. |
Any built development is
limited to that required for the operation of the site,
such as, a shower block and toilets. |
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Justification |
| 12.23 |
The District Council will normally grant
planning permission for tourist and caravan sites where they can be
sensitively integrated into the countryside. However, such development
will usually require careful landscaping and design. Permission will
not normally be given where a site is considered to have a harmful
effect on the attractiveness of the area and where it may damage or
disturb areas of nature conservation or archaeological importance.
Built development will be limited to essential facilities which should
include provision for disabled persons. The Council will not normally
grant planning permission for sites containing "static" caravans in
the countryside. |
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The White Post Area,
Farnsfield |
| 12.24 |
This is an area set within open countryside
and focused on the "White Post" junction on the A614(T). Various land
uses have become established in this area over the years, including:
a public house, services for motorists, a restaurant, a butterfly
park and a farm (tourist) centre. The District Council intends to
monitor the impact of existing development and the outstanding permissions,
and to consider proposals for further tourist-related development,
in the context of the Nottinghamshire Structure Plan Review, and the
policies contained in this Plan. The need for further specific policies
will be considered in the light of this monitoring. |
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Norwood Park and Thoresby
Hall |
| 12.25 |
The Council recognises that Norwood Park
and Thoresby Hall are potentially capable of fulfilling some of the
recreation and leisure needs of the wider area. The Council hopes
that it will be possible, in due course, for suitable proposals to
be identified, in consultation with the owners and other interested
parties. |
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