1.2 Planning context
Planning policy for Olveston Parish is set out
in the South Gloucestershire Local Plan3. This Design Statement
is consistent with the policies in the Local Plan and provides
supplementary guidance to reflect the special character of
the Parish4.
The Parish is located wholly within the Bristol
Green Belt5, in which new development is generally prohibited.
The only exceptions should be for uses deemed suitable in
green belts as defined in Government policy, namely: uses
to do with agriculture and leisure; "infilling"
within existing villages; and the conversion of redundant
buildings constructed of traditional materials.
In Olveston and Tockington the older parts of
the villages were designated as Conservation Areas in 1975
because of the concentration of buildings of historic and
architectural interest. Designation is a recognition of the
group value of buildings and their surroundings and the desirability
of conserving the character of the area as a whole. Within
conservation areas special policies apply and the design of
new buildings and alterations to existing buildings must be
handled with particular care6.
The community has been especially concerned
about the nature of infilling in terms of the design of new
buildings and their "fit" within the local environment,
and that none of the recent developments has addressed the
increasing need for lower cost/affordable housing. |