Policy information sourced from the Dartford Development Policies Plan
DP6: Sustainable Residential Locations
Residential development (Class C3) locations that have been shown to be deliverable or developable in the Dartford Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) and have been assessed as sustainable will, as nonwindfalls, be permitted where the proposals are in accordance with Core Strategy Policy CS10:1&2, and in accordance with other development plan policies and material considerations.
Unplanned windfall residential development may be permitted following assessment in accordance with Core Strategy Policy CS10:4&5, other development plan policies and material considerations (including the Dartford Housing Windfall SPD). Consistent with CS10, all windfall developments for five or more dwellings will be permitted only where they demonstrate that the following criteria are fully satisfied:
- Windfall residential development should be located on ‘brownfield’ land to ensure unplanned development does not prejudice achievement of the Core Strategy target of 80%. Greenfield windfall sites will only be permitted if highly sustainably located in all respects of clause b) below, and if the site is needed to rectify an absence of five year housing land supply.
- To reduce transport demand and minimise car use, proposals must be within easy walking distance of a range of community facilities including schools, shops, leisure and recreation facilities on safe and attractive walking routes; and well located with respect to walking/ cycling and public transport to employment opportunities in the Borough. The assessment of pedestrian access shall be based on applying appropriate walking distance thresholds suitable in the Dartford context that will assist in substantial modal shifts from car use.
- The proposal is designed and planned to contain specific measures and improvements to reduce car use and promote alternative transport options. These should, as appropriate:
- encourage the use of existing walking, cycling and public transport provision;
- contribute to the operation of feasible, efficient and effective sustainable transportation systems and capacity. This may on large developments require support to deliver new or improved public transport facilities, routes or services.
Residential development should provide evidence proportionate to the scale of the proposal that it will not result in unacceptable or unforeseen cumulative impacts on social, community or green infrastructure that cannot be mitigated.
For more information please see the Development Policies Plan