FACILITIES, SERVICES AND UTILITIES

6.1 This Chapter of the Plan covers the following subjects:

Community Facilities and Services

Public Utilities including:

• Telecommunications and Power Lines

• Major Hazards

• Flooding, Water Supply

• Sewage Treatment

Coastal Erosion

Renewable Energy

6.2 Most social and community facilities are the responsibility of authorities other than the District Council. The following paragraphs contain background information and proposals for new facilities where there are land-use implications, eg, change of use or the allocation of a particular site. This Chapter is, therefore, by no means exhaustive in respect of the provision of social and community facilities in the District. Site specific issues, eg a site for a new hospital in Felixstowe or the future of a particular school, are found in the Area policies.

RURAL FACILITIES

6.3 The District Council shares the widespread concern which exists for the well-being of the rural communities within the District. The Local Plan contains a number of policies aimed at helping to encourage the retention of existing village facilities as well as the provision of new ones, and policies to protect and enhance the economic well-being of the rural economy. Whilst these policies all contribute to assisting the well-being of villages and the rural areas, they will be judged against the following general policy, which emphasises the District Council's desire to support and encourage village facilities.

POLICY AP87

Village Services and Facilities

In settlements, proposals for new, or the replacement or extension of existing services and facilities will be encouraged subject to no material adverse impact on the environment, highway safety or residential amenity. Temporary buildings may be acceptable as a means of testing the viability of such a business or community venture.

6.4 Where temporary buildings are used, the District Council will grant temporary consents. These are likely to be for three year periods, although each case will be considered on its merits. This will avoid the risk of temporary buildings becoming semi-permanent and an eye-sore after the initial period of testing the viability of the service or facility. The visual impact of any temporary buildings will be taken into account when planning applications are considered. Any temporary building will need to be of an acceptable standard of design, but it is accepted that large sums of money are not likely to be spent on temporary buildings.

 

COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES

RE-USE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS

6.5 Recreational or community use can often be made of redundant schools or other public buildings, although a residential or commercial use of the building usually attracts a much higher value. This may take the property out of the financial reach of the local community.

6.6 Nevertheless, the District Council feels that where a building, such as a redundant school, becomes available it should, in the first instance, be considered for recreational or community use and the local community be encouraged to consider its potential for such uses.

POLICY AP88

Redundant Public Buildings

In the event of `public' buildings, such as schools, churches or halls becoming redundant, planning permission for a change of use to residential or commercial use will not normally be granted, unless the District Council is satisfied that a recreation or community use cannot be achieved or is not appropriate.

6.7 Where the closure of a particular building is known, specific policies for its future use are included in the relevant Area policies.

RURAL SERVICES

6.8 Facilities such as schools, shops, post offices, surgeries, dispensaries, community halls, places of worship, recreation etc, will be generally encouraged at the local level, as will public transport. Proposals which involve the provision of such facilities will generally be supported, as long as they are consistent with other policies of this Plan. The loss of such facilities will be generally resisted, although each proposal needs to be considered on its individual merits.

PUBLIC UTILITIES

TELECOMMUNICATIONS, MASTS AND AERIALS

6.9 Technological changes in communications, and the increasing demand for power, require the provision of a wide range of aerials, cables, masts and power transmission lines. Whilst the larger telecommunications installations require planning consent, many minor telecommunications developments do not require planning consent, being permitted development.

6.10 When considering planning applications for telecommunication facilities, including masts and aerials, the District Council will wish to be satisfied that they will have the minimum possible visual impact. This will be achieved by the developer satisfying the District Council that all technically acceptable solutions have been evaluated, including the possibility of sharing any existing facilities. The developer will be expected to demonstrate the benefits of the chosen solution including:

(i) its significance as part of the local network; and

(ii) its relationship with other facilities.

6.11 When the District Council considers applications for installations in the AONB and other sensitive locations, such as Special Landscape Areas, Historic Parklands, Conservation Areas and in close proximity to listed buildings, it will need to be satisfied that other, less sensitive locations are not technically feasible. Where less sensitive locations are not available, the District Council will expect existing buildings and structures to be used for mounting and masking the structures. Where neither less sensitive locations nor suitable buildings are available, and the District Council is satisfied as to the essential need for the facility at the expense of some environmental intrusion, it will require that degree of intrusion or visual impact to be kept to the minimum possible by careful siting so as to exploit existing features, such as buildings and trees, and the land form.

6.12 With the rate of technological change that is currently taking place, it may well be that some of the installations considered essential now will not be needed in a few years time. It is a requirement of the operator's licence issued under the Telecommunications Act 1984 that, when an installation is no longer required, the equipment is removed from the site. This licence also requires that the site be reinstated at that time. The District Council will consider imposing conditions on any planning permission granted for these installations to ensure that the land is restored to its former condition within a specified period of the use being discontinued and in accordance with an approved scheme of works.

POLICY AP89

Telecommunications Installations

Proposals for telecommunications installations, including masts, antennae, dishes and other apparatus, will be permitted where they comply with the following criteria:

(a) the siting and external appearance of all installations, including any location or landscaping requirements, shall be designed to minimise the impact of the development on its surroundings, while respecting the need for operating efficiency and the technical and legal constraints placed on operators;

(b) any antennae proposed for erection on buildings shall, so far as is practicable, be sited and designed to minimise their impact on the external appearance of the building; and

(c) applications shall be supported by evidence to demonstrate that the possibility of erecting antennae on an existing building, mast or other structure has been fully explored and that there are no suitable alternative locations.

In sensitive locations more stringent controls will be exercised. These sensitive locations include the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Conservation Areas, Special Landscape Areas, Historic Parklands, other areas with special designations, and those near listed buildings or the setting of listed buildings. Proposals will be permitted only where they meet the above criteria and are supported by evidence to demonstrate:

(i) that they would meet an essential need, for example by providing an essential link to national services; and

(ii) that there are no suitable alternative sites in less sensitive locations.

Under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act, 1984 an operator's licence requires the removal of equipment when an installation is no longer required and the reinstatement of the site. The District Council will consider imposing conditions on any planning permission granted for these installations to ensure that the land is restored to its former condition within a specified period of the use being discontinued and in accordance with an approved scheme of works.

6.13 Many minor telecommunication developments outside of Conservation Areas and AONBs are currently permitted under the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. This provides that, in order to constitute permitted development, apparatus, such as radio masts which are being installed on the ground, must not exceed a height of 15 metres above ground level, or the height of any apparatus which they are replacing, whichever is the greater. Even though such masts are permitted development, before the apparatus is installed a code system operator must apply to the District Council for a determination as to whether its approval of the siting and appearance of the development is required.

6.14 When responding to prior approval applications in respect of telecommunications apparatus, the principal issues which the District Council will take into account are the visual impact on the landscape and the proximity to residential properties or other land uses. In view of the fact that the District Council has to accept the need for a network of aerials and masts, it would be inappropriate to adopt a blanket ban on them in specific areas such as within the AONB and SLAs. It is more likely to be a case of negotiating with the operators to ensure that the best, or least damaging, site is used. Since these developments are permitted development, the District Council cannot impose conditions in the same way as it could with a normal planning consent. However, removal after redundancy of such installations is a requirement of the permitted development regulations and the District Council will seek to ensure that these are enforced. Where prior approval is required the proposal will be considered against Policy AP89.

POWER LINES

6.15 Overhead power lines can be very intrusive in the landscape, particularly in sensitive areas such as the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Special Landscape Areas. Major overhead transmission lines should not be sited within the AONB unless no alternative route can be found and the lines are required in the national interest. They should also avoid other sensitive areas, such as the Special Landscape Areas and Conservation Areas; where this is not possible, they should be carefully sites so as to minimise their impact. Lower voltage transmission lines should avoid such sensitive areas wherever possible; where it is not possible, they should be undergrounded. Electricity supply lines to individual properties should be carefully designed and sited, in order to minimise their intrusion into the townscape and landscape. The feasibility of burying supply lines will always need to be considered.

POLICY AP90

Overhead Power Lines and Electricity Supply Lines

Major overhead transmission lines (275 kv or over) and substations must avoid the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, unless no alternative solution is possible and the line is required in the national interest. They should, wherever practicable, avoid other sensitive areas, such as Special Landscape Areas, wetlands supporting high concentrations of water birds and Conservation Areas, but where they are so located they must respect satisfactorily the form and character of the area.

Where other lower voltage transmission lines must cross sensitive areas, they will be expected to be placed underground or, if that is not possible or would not significantly reduce their visual impact, they should be carefully sited, so as to avoid undue damage to the local environment.

In respect of electricity supply lines to individual properties, the District Council will co-operate with electricity supply companies to ensure that, by careful siting and design, there will be minimal intrusion into the townscape or landscape. In every instance, the feasibility of burying lines will be considered.

6.16 This policy will need to be read in conjunction with Policy LP24, which relates to street furniture, and aims to encourage statutory undertakers and developers to place all wires and cables underground and to rationalise the number of supporting poles.

MAJOR HAZARDS

6.17 Certain sites and pipelines are designated as notifiable installations by virtue of the quantities of hazardous substances being stored or used. The siting of such installations will be subject to planning controls aimed at keeping these separated from housing and other land uses with which such installations might be incompatible from the safety viewpoint. To this end, the Planning Authority will seek the advice of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) on the suitability of that development in relation to the risks that the notified installation might pose to the surrounding population.

6.18 The District already contains a number of installations handling notifiable substances, including high pressure natural gas transmission pipelines. Whilst they are subject to stringent controls under existing health and safety legislation, it is considered prudent to control the kinds of development permitted in the vicinity of these installations. For this reason, the Planning Authority have been advised by the Health and Safety Executive of consultation distances for each of these installations. Any development within this consultation distance would be subject to scrutiny by the HSE who will, amongst other things, take into account the following factors:

(i) the distance of the development from the installation;

(ii) inherent vulnerability of the exposed population, ie, children, elderly or infirm;

(iii) proportion of time spent by any individual in the development;

(iv) size, ie, number of people who might be present;

(v) whether people are likely to be indoors or out of doors;

(vi) ease of evacuation or other emergency measures;

(vii) construction of building, eg, height, materials, ventilation.

6.19 In determining whether or not to grant consent for a proposed development within these consultation distances, the Planning Authority will take account of the advice it received from the Health and Safety Executive about the risks to the proposed development from the notifiable installation. The existing installations are listed in Appendix 2.

POLICY AP91

Hazardous Development

In considering proposals concerning hazardous development, development in the vicinity of hazardous installations, or the development of contaminated sites, account will be taken of the amount, type and location of hazardous substances present and the need for special precautions or restrictions to protect future users of the site and any other affected land, as advised by the Health and Safety Executive.

SAFEGUARDING DIRECTIONS

6.20 Safeguarding directions currently exist around two military installations within the District; at the Martlesham Heath Technical Site and at RAF Woodbridge. These directions require the District Council to consult with the Ministry of Defence before granting planning permission for any development that lies within specified areas defined on maps annexed to the respective directions. The location and layout of proposed buildings and other structures, together with dimensions, including height, will be of particular relevance.

FLOODING, WATER SUPPLY AND WATER QUALITY

6.21 Responsibility for flood protection, conservation of the water environment and water quality lies with the Environment Agency.

Flood Protection

6.22 It is important to ensure that new development is not at risk from flooding which would endanger life and damage property. Similarly, it is important to ensure that new development does not impede flood flows, reduce flood storage capacity, or exacerbate problems of flooding in areas downstream, through an increase in run-off from impermeable surfaces, such as roofs and paved areas. Additionally, there is a need to safeguard maintenance access to watercourses and any development within 9 metres of a main river or flood defence requires the consent of the Environment Agency. It is important to remember that development in the upper parts of a river catchment area can also have significant effects downstream. The District Council is aware of the areas at risk from flooding, as these are annotated on maps drawn up many years ago by the National Rivers Authority or brought to its attention by other bodies. The Environment Agency is currently undertaking a study to reappraise which areas are at risk.

POLICY AP92

Areas at Risk from Flooding

New development, or the intensification of existing development, will not be permitted in areas at risk from flooding. In addition, development (including the raising of land) will not be permitted where it is likely to impede materially the flow or storage of flood water or increase the risk of flooding elsewhere (for example, due to additional surface water run-off), or increase the number of people or properties at risk of flooding, unless the development includes appropriate measures to prevent these occurring.

The Water Environment

6.23 The conservation and enhancement of wildlife, landscape and archaeological features associated with rivers, ponds, lakes, estuaries etc, including protection from development, is adequately covered by policies in other sections of this Local Plan, particularly Chapter One, the Environment. Appropriate locations for water-related recreation are also addressed in Chapter Seven, Recreation.

Water Quality

6.24 It will be important to protect inland, coastal and ground waters from pollution arising from development. Development, including changes in land use, which pose an unacceptable risk to the quality of ground or surface water will be strongly resisted.

6.25 With increasing population and water use in the Region, many sewerage systems and sewage treatment works are becoming overloaded. Where development continues despite overloading, pollution of watercourses will occur if additional infrastructure is not provided.

POLICY AP93

Sewage Disposal

In considering proposals for new development or changes of use, the District Council will have regard to the availability and capacity of mains foul sewers, sewage treatment works and surface water drainage. If the development will overload the sewerage system or the sewage treatment works then it will need to be the subject of a phasing agreement between Suffolk Coastal District Council and the developer, in consultation with Anglian Water. Septic tanks will only be acceptable on small-scale developments where:

(i) mains drainage is not available; or

(ii) the sewerage system and/or sewage treatment works is at, or over, capacity and the scale of development does not warrant further improvements;

(iii) in both cases ground conditions are satisfactory and the plot is of adequate size to provide an adequate sub-soil drainage system.

SURFACE WATER AND AQUIFER PROTECTION

6.26 The availability of adequate levels of clean water to meet the needs of households, industry and agriculture is considered to be essential. The policing and protecting of the quality of inland, coastal and underground waters and for managing water resources to meet reasonable need, is the responsibility of the Environment Agency. The Council attaches importance to the efficient use of water resources. Planning permission for new development may be withheld where the supply of water, or infrastructure for its provision, is inadequate.

6.27 The Local Plan will aim to complement the work of the Environment Agency, by regulating the location of development and controlling operations to avoid, or at least to minimise, any adverse effects of the use of land. Development will not be permitted within areas around groundwater sources or over vulnerable areas of aquifers, where it poses an unacceptable risk to the quality of the underlying water. The Environment Agency will be consulted on any proposals which might affect any Groundwater Protection Areas. These are areas identified by the Environment Agency and indicate where groundwaters are at varying degrees of risk from different, potentially polluting forms of activity or development.

POLICY AP94

Surface Water and Aquifer Protection

Development will not be permitted within areas around potable groundwater and surface water sources or over vulnerable areas of aquifers which, in the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, after consultation with the Environment Agency, pose an unacceptable risk to the availability or quality of the water resources, unless appropriate provision is made, by condition or legal agreement, to prevent this occurring.

FARM RESERVOIRS

6.28 Many crops now need large quantities of water at critical stages of their growing cycle, often when surface and ground water stocks are at their lowest. Farmers are, therefore, being encouraged by the Environment Agency to make provision for the storage of surplus winter water in appropriate areas where this can be shown to be environmentally acceptable. Development of water resources will be subject to full Environment Agency licensing procedures and policy. Various criteria will need to be satisfied, including availability of resource, justification of need and an acceptable environmental impact on existing legitimate users of water. It may be necessary for the applicant to provide a full environmental assessment in support of the application and the licence will include conditions to protect the environment.

6.29 Structures and excavations which are reasonably necessary for the purposes of agriculture, within an agricultural unit of 5 hectares or more, are permitted development under Part 6 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. This would generally include a reservoir for irrigating farmland, which would store surplus winter water, reducing the demand for water in the drier summer months. Farmers are required to notify Local Planning Authorities in advance, which enables them to consider issues such as the landscape impact of the development and the desirability of preserving sites of recognised historic nature conservation value. It is Government advice that where planning consents are required, Local Planning Authorities should consider proposals for on-farm reservoirs positively.

6.30 Where the District Council considers that the proposal would have a significant impact on a particularly sensitive area, the applicant will be asked to produce an Environmental Assessment of the proposed development and to submit a full planning application which would then be determined, following consultation, in the normal way. It is likely to be the potential visual and environmental impact of a proposed reservoir, rather than its size, which will determine whether an Environmental Assessment or a full planning application is required.

Assessment of Environmental Effects

6.31 All types of works in, under, over and adjacent to watercourses and sea defences need to be appropriately designed and implemented in order to prevent such effects as increased risk of flooding, erosion, increased danger to the public or drainage to the water environment. The evaluation of such works is prescribed in Statutory Instrument 1988 No 1217 'The Land Drainage Improvement Works (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations, 1988.'

SEWAGE TREATMENT

6.32 Responsibility for sewage treatment lies with Anglian Water Services Ltd. The District Council will liaise with that body, particularly in respect of:

(i) large developments which come forward where phasing may be required, so that the necessary infrastructure or improvements to existing facilities, can be provided; and

(ii) development in small villages with very limited facilities which will quickly become overloaded.

COASTAL EROSION

INTRODUCTION

6.33 The forces of the sea are causing the coast of East Anglia to erode. Naturally, this has been occurring for a considerable number of years. However, in some places along the coast, the effects are becoming more profound and there may well be a threat to property in the near future.

6.34 The District Council, together with Waveney District Council and the National Rivers Authority (now the Environment Agency) commissioned the production of a Shoreline Management Plan. This Shoreline Management Plan, which has been the subject of a number of consultation stages, will form part of an overall Plan for the coastline of East Anglia and has been prepared in accordance with guidelines produced for Coastal Defence Authorities by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1995. The Shoreline Management Plan can, therefore, be deemed as "a document which sets out a strategy for coastal defence for a specified length of coast, taking account of natural processes and human and other environmental influences and needs" (MAFF Guidance Notes 1995).

6.35 The aim of the Shoreline Management Plan is to provide the basis for sustainable coastal defence policies within the District and to set objectives for the future management of the shoreline. It is the most detailed document available relating to the coastline and describes the issues raised by and the objectives of those affected by Coastal Defence Policy. It appraises the coastal defence options for each part of the Coastline and sets out a preferred strategy. That strategy has implications for the future land use planning of the coastal margins of the District. Indeed, one of the objectives of the Shoreline Management Plan, as set out in the MAFF Guidance Note, is to "inform the statutory planning process and related coastal zone planning". Shoreline Management Plans, however, are not statutory documents as they are not required by law, but they do have considerable statutory backing in that there are increasingly strong links between the existence of a Plan and the availability of MAFF Grant Aid for coastal defence works.

6.36 Within the Shoreline Management Plan, maps have been produced for each part of the coastline to show the effects of the strategy which is set out. Generalised land uses have been shown purely for guidance purposes and do not purport to show land use planning policies. The most important aspect of the maps as far as planning policy is concerned is the coastal defence strategy line. In this respect there are four options:

• Do nothing - where the strategy is that no coastal defence works, except safety works, are to be undertaken. The strategy line for this case indicates the probable position of the low water mark in the year 2068.

• Hold the existing line - where the strategy is to maintain a coastal defence in its established position. The line, shown solid, represents the line of a sea wall, crest of an embarkment or some other defined feature.

• Advance the existing line - where the strategy is to move an existing coastal defence to seaward. (This option is not currently a strategy for any part of Suffolk Coastal District and is therefore not indicated).

• Retreat the existing line - where, for the benefit mainly of the built environment, the strategy is to seek to control and slow down a naturally occurring rate of landward retreat of the shoreline. The strategy line for this case is shown dotted as there can be no absolute certainty that the strategy can be implemented successfully.

AREAS AT RISK

6.37 The conclusions which have been drawn during the execution of the Shoreline Management Plan study enable the Council to include policies in the Local Plan in respect of coastal instability of specific locations, namely Cobbolds Point, Felixstowe, Dunwich and Bawdsey Manor, and for the remainder of the coast. Specific coastal instability policies for Dunwich, Bawdsey Manor and Cobbolds Point are set out in paragraphs 9.48 to 9.50 (AP123), 10.44 to 10.47 (AP164) and 11.189 to 11.190 (AP194) respectively.

6.38 Elsewhere on the coastline, its potential instability will be a major consideration in the determination of planning applications. In this respect, the following policy and the Shoreline Management Plan will be used in the consideration of proposals. It will be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

POLICY AP95

Coastal Instability

In determining proposals for development or changes of use along the coast (as may be permitted by other policies of the Local Plan), a material consideration will be the likelihood of coastal instability occurring during the life-time of the Local Plan and the life-expectancy of the development.

SEA DEFENCES

6.39 Where works are carried out `soft' or `natural' sea defences will be expected. These include the creation of higher and wider beach profiles, rehabilitation of saltmarsh, or creation of `washlands' behind existing sea walls. This will help to maintain and enhance the important visual aspects of any defences on the coastline as well as providing opportunities to maximise nature conservation benefits. However, the type of defence suitable for a particular location will depend upon a number of factors, including the land form, the rate and type of erosion or flooding, the number of properties affected, nature conservation priorities, and the role of the length of coast line concerned in the sedimentary system to which it relates

POLICY AP96

Sea Defences

In the interests of marine and coastal habitats, particularly along the Heritage Coast, the District Council will, where practical, expect the use of `soft' sea defences such as higher and wider beach profiles, or the rehabilitation of salt marshes, thus providing the opportunity to maximise nature conservation benefits, rather than the installation or raising of sea walls using material such as concrete. The protection of sites of archaeological importance will also be relevant to the design of sea defences.

6.40 Apart from the damages arising from coastal erosion and flooding, there is also a risk of erosion and flooding within the river estuaries. The District Council will be party to studies of the Estuaries of the Rivers Deben, Ore/Alde Blyth and Orwell, in association with other organisations, particularly the Environment Agency. This Estuaries Study will be complementary to the Shoreline Management Plan.

LIGHT POLLUTION

6.41 There has been growing concern for many years about the problems of light pollution. Light pollution can perhaps best be described as light in the wrong place, or at the wrong intensity, or at the wrong time.

6.42 Artificial lighting is desirable in certain circumstances for security reasons, pedestrian and traffic safety, recreation, and for enhancing historic and architecturally important buildings. Poor and/or insensitive design and installation of lighting schemes, however, can result in light pollution. This can occur as:

• sky glow - the orange glow to be seen around urban areas caused by a scattering of artificial light by dust particles and water droplets in the sky;

• glare - the uncomfortable brightness of a light source when viewed against a darker background; and

• light trespass - light spillage beyond the boundary of the property on which a light is located.

6.43 Light pollution can affect both urban and rural areas but it is a particular problem in the countryside where dark skies at night are one of the special and intrinsic qualities of the rural landscape. Artificial lighting can obscure vision of the stars; it can destroy local character by introducing a suburban feel into rural areas; it can intrude on residential amenity; it can impact upon the ecology and wildlife of an area; and it can cause stress and anxiety for people affected. In addition, light pollution represents a waste of energy, resources and money. Sound advice on lighting in rural areas is available in 'Lighting in the Countryside - Towards Good Practice' (DOE/Countryside Agency - 1997).

6.44 In many instances, lighting may form part of or be itself a development which enjoys permitted development rights, eg agricultural development, or security lighting. Large scale lighting installations, such as the floodlighting of a football stadium or public tennis courts would clearly constitute development which would require planning consent. While recognising the advantages that floodlighting can bring in making more effective use of recreational facilities, the Council is conscious that such lighting can have an adverse environmental impact. Proposals for floodlit recreational facilities, as with other schemes for floodlighting, will, therefore, be considered against policy AP97.

6.45 When considering planning applications which involve lighting, the District Council will expect details of any proposed lighting to be submitted as part of the application. In particular, the District Council will need to be satisfied that the lighting proposed is the minimum needed for the purpose, that it will result in the minimum possible pollution from glare and light spillage, and that there will be no light spillage onto highways which could cause traffic dangers.

POLICY AP97

Light Pollution

The District Council will seek to minimise light pollution. Applications for development requiring or likely to require external lighting should include details of lighting schemes. Applicants will need to satisfy the District Council that:

(i) the proposed lighting scheme is the minimum needed for security, working purposes, recreational or other use of the land;

(ii) it is so designed to minimise pollution from glare and light spillage, particularly to residential and commercial areas, areas of nature conservation importance, and areas whose open and landscape qualities would be affected;

(iii) there will be no glare or light spillage onto highways which could dazzle, distract or disorientate road users using them.

In order to prevent unnecessary intrusion into the countryside, or the effect on residential amenity, the District Council may seek to control the days and times of use of lighting.

6.46 The District Council will seek to ensure that the installation can and will be maintained to a standard which continues to meet the objectives of (i) to (iii) above. Applications will also be considered against any Supplementary Planning Guidance. In order to assist applicants, the District Council has produced Supplementary Planning Guidance on Recreational Floodlighting which sets out the criteria which need to be met and the information the Council will require in order to determine planning applications for such proposals.

6.47 Some types of developments for which planning permission is required will in certain circumstances, including, for example some types of sports provision, only be acceptable provided their use is limited to normal daylight hours. Floodlighting may not be appropriate in such locations if it were intrusive or detracted from the amenity of adjacent properties.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

6.48 Renewable energy includes those energy flows that occur naturally and repeatedly in the environment from the sun, the wind, the oceans, the plants and from the fall of water. Combustible or digestible industrial, agricultural and domestic waste materials are also regarded as renewable sources of energy. Renewable energy offers alternative methods of energy production to that produced by burning fossil-fuels, nuclear power or gas powered generating stations. As such, renewable energy sources offer the hope of increasing diversity and security of supply and of reducing harmful emissions to the environment.

6.49 Renewable energy resources can usually only be developed where they occur. As stated earlier, renewable energy resources are either those that occur naturally within the environment such as hydro power, solar energy and wind, or those that are a product of man's activity, such as energy crops, biogas, landfill gas and the energy derived from waste combustion. The harnessing of wind is considered to be the most likely to be deployed on a significant scale in the UK. Certainly wind power generation has a high public profile, due in part for the need for turbines to be sited in areas of high annual mean wind speed, generally coinciding with exposed open areas. Within Suffolk Coastal District high mean wind speeds are mostly limited to the coastal strip, coincidental with the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and parts of the elevated plain in the north-west of the district. Whilst these areas experience higher mean wind speeds than elsewhere within the district such speeds are believed to fall below those mean wind speeds required to make wind generation currently viable.

6.50 Whilst the District Council wishes to support and encourage the development of renewable energy schemes within the district, the protection of the landscape and the historic built environment remain primary considerations. A judgement is needed as to whether the likely impact of structures, associated with renewable energy schemes, on the environment is justifiable in the light of the contribution such schemes can make in terms of energy production. Within the environmentally sensitive Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, characterised by its gently undulating lowland landscape where extensive long distance views are gained, potential intrusion caused by major structures is considered unacceptable. Similarly major structures are also thought inappropriate for the intimate landscapes associated with the Suffolk River Valleys Special Landscape Area. Within the historic built environment of Conservation Areas and on and about listed buildings potential conflicts may arise through the proposed use of renewable energy technologies, for example, active solar power. In such instances it may prove impossible to resolve potential visual impacts.

6.51 It is recognised, however, that a number, and variety, of renewable energy schemes may only have a limited impact, if at all, on a locality, for example, small schemes generating power from waste associated with individual farm holdings. Overall, the following policy will apply:

POLICY AP98

Renewable Energy

In view of the environmental benefits associated with harnessing renewable energy sources, the District Council will support the development of renewable energy schemes provided that it can be shown that such development would not cause significant harm to interests of acknowledged importance in the local environment.

In assessing proposals for renewable energy schemes, in addition to the local and wider benefits which the proposal may bring, the District Council will have particular regard to the following issues:

(i) the immediate and wider impact of the proposed development on the natural beauty of the landscape. Particular care will be taken in assessing proposals for developing renewable energy projects in the areas with special designations, where stricter planning controls are applied. In the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the siting of major developments will be permitted only if justified by a proven national interest and a lack of alternative sites. In Special Landscape Areas [SLAs], the District Council will require evidence of a lack of alternative sites outside the SLA before such proposals will be permitted;

(ii) the impact of the proposed development on ecologically important areas;

(iii) other impacts, such as noise, vibration and safety;

(iv) the need to protect features and areas of natural, cultural, historical and archaeological interest;

(v) the measures that would be taken, both during and after construction, to minimise the impact of the development on local land use and residential amenity.

Where permitted, a high standard of design, materials and landscaping to reflect the setting will be expected. Supply and power lines will be judged against Policy AP90.

6.52 Whilst siting, design, materials and landscaping proposals would form standard considerations of any development application when considering renewable energy schemes any connection to the local electricity distribution network will also need to be an important consideration. The placing of wires overhead will only accentuate the impact of for example wind turbines. In accordance with Policy AP90 such lines will normally be expected to be placed underground.

6.53 The District Council considers that energy efficiency is also an important consideration and this is reflected in the Design criteria set out in para 2.8A. Efficiency measures include:

a) passive solar design measures within individual buildings for example building orientation, built form/internal layout, maximising natural daylight;

b) orientation of estate layouts to, for example reduce wind chill, avoid frost pockets;

c) heat recycling and solar power;

d) use alternatives to non-renewable materials.

POLICY AP99

Conservation of Energy

The District Council will generally support and encourage the conservation of energy and the use of alternative and renewable sources of energy in the design and layout of development proposals for new buildings and conversions of existing buildings, subject to consistency with the design principles for historic buildings and there being no materially adverse impact upon the built heritage of the District.

MATERIALS RECLAMATION

6.54 The District Council supports the concept of a Materials Reclamation Facility (MRF). A Materials Reclamation Facility is capable of receiving and sorting large quantities of waste and recyclable materials by a combination of manual and mechanical means. The degree of sophistication of the MRF will affect the type of collection system necessary to achieve high recycling recovery rates. There are essentially two types of MRF: "clean" and "dirty". Each would occupy a site of, approximately, one acre which would accommodate a mixture of hardstanding, storage space, and buildings.

6.55 A "clean" MRF receives recyclable materials that have been separated to some degree at source. Separating and sorting the waste is initially achieved by a combination of the householder and the collection crew, dependant on the type of vehicle used for collection and the requirements and capabilities of the MRF. Such an activity could take place within the towns in the district, perhaps on existing General Employment Areas or land with an employment use. Because of any residual smell from the material, or attraction to insects, such a use ought to be located away from any residential properties.

6.56 A "dirty" MRF is capable of receiving mixed wastes and recyclable materials which are then sorted. The residual waste is taken to landfill for disposal. This type of facility has two environmental considerations:

(i) the creation of smell and, inevitably, litter plus the attraction to insects and birds; and

(ii) significant heavy lorry movements carrying waste both to the facility and from it to the land-fill site.

Consequently, the best location may be an existing land-fill site where environmental impact is already present and managed.

6.57 While supporting the principle of MRF's the District Council has only limited responsibility for determining planning applications for such development:

• the County Council is responsible for determining planning applications for the disposal of refuse or waste material, and the use of land or new buildings for the transfer, sorting and recycling of waste;

• the District Council is responsible for determining planning applications for the change of use of buildings to provide MRF's, but only where the use would not involve the deposit of refuse or waste materials, ie 'clean' MRF's.

Proposals for changes of use, where the District Council is the determining authority, will be considered against the following policy:

POLICY AP100

Materials Reclamation Facilities

Proposals for the change of use of buildings to provide 'clean' Materials Reclamation Facilities (MRF) will be permitted where they meet the following criteria:

• the building has good access to the Primary Route Network and its proposed use as a MRF would not give rise to problems of highway safety; and

• the proposed use would not materially harm the living conditions of local residents, the natural beauty of the landscape, the character or appearance of the conservation areas, wildlife interests, the historic landscape or archaeological sites.

The District Council's preference for 'clean' MRF's is within buildings on existing General Employment Areas or land with an employment use. Because it is important to minimise lorry and car journeys to and from MRF sites, isolated or remote locations in the open countryside are not acceptable. However, schemes for small-scale facilities serving local communities will be considered on their merits.

NOISE

6.58 Noise has grown in importance as an environmental issue and there is a Planning Policy Guidance Note (PPG24) devoted to it. It is this documentation to which the District Council will refer in considering proposals in respect of:

(a) the siting of a new development in order to avoid disturbance from existing sources of noise. An example of such a source within the Suffolk Coastal District is Felixstowe Port; and

(b) the siting of new development which is likely to generate noise so as to create a material disturbance to nearby established uses such as housing, schools and hospitals. In this respect, where appropriate, other policies of the Local Plan contain criteria to that effect.