Other Planning Policy Guidance

This note sets out the council’s requirements for First Homes, which should be included on sites that provide affordable housing.

The council has produced a guidance note that provides further information on how criterion (e) of Policy SS6 of the Adopted Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2011-2029 (ALP) should be applied to planning applications. This was updated in January 2019. The guidance note can be viewed below:

The council published a guidance note in relation to criterion (a) of Policy SS6 of the Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan 2011-2029 in January 2019. The guidance note can be viewed below:

In some cases, the Local Plan requires applicants to carry out a marketing exercise of a property/site to determine whether there is a demand for an existing use.

This guidance note sets out what is expected from an applicant when they are undertaking a marketing exercise, and the minimum standard of information that should be provided as part of any submission.

The following guidance has been produced and adopted by the council to guide development affecting heritage assets.

For further information on any of the subjects covered please contact a member of the Historic Environment Team by emailing development.control@basingstoke.gov.uk. Visit the Historic Environment webpages.

The Heritage SPD (March 2019) provides detailed and comprehensive guidance to support the implementation of relevant policies in the adopted Local Plan, primarily concerning the Historic Environment (EM11), but also Landscape (EM1) and Delivering High Quality Development (EM10), in addition to a number of site specific allocation policies (SS3.1- SS3.12).

View the Heritage SPD

View our conservation areas webpage for planning advice and guidance in conservation areas or contact a member of the Historic Environment Team.

Take a look at our trees webpage for guidance on trees in conservation areas or contact one of the Tree Officers in the Natural Environment Team by emailing customer.service@basingstoke.gov.uk

Conservation Area Appraisals

The council has produced a Conservation Area Appraisal for each conservation area in the borough. View our Conservation Area Appraisals and associated maps.

The conservation areas are being re-appraised on a rolling basis, with new appraisals added to the above webpage.

The Landscape, Biodiversity and Trees Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) addresses how each of these considerations should inform new development. The Green Infrastructure Strategy published in November 2018 also provides information on the implementation of Local Plan Policy EM5 (Green Infrastructure).

View the Landscape, Biodiversity and Trees Supplementary Planning Document

View the Green Infrastructure Strategy

The council has produced a Countryside Design Summary which explains the design relationship between the borough's landscape, settlement patterns and buildings.

Countryside design summary (PDF) [3Mb]

Biodiversity Net Gain - Interim Guidance for Development

The Government’s Environment Bill will introduce a mandatory requirement for all developments that are over 0.1 ha to demonstrate a minimum 10% net gain for biodiversity. The council does not yet have a firm date for when net gain will become mandatory nationally, however, ahead of this statutory legislation, the council have prepared a guidance note to inform development proposals and decisions over the short-term. The interim guidance note sets out the council’s objectives for achieving measurable net gains for biodiversity and what information should be submitted to support applications to demonstrate measurable net gains have been achieved.

The guidance presents options for achieving off-site net gain listing three options. Please be aware the council is currently not able to offer compensation on council owned land (option 3), nor is it currently in a position to signpost applicants to third party providers (option 2). We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Biodiversity Interim Guidance Note (PDF) [3mb]

A Village or Town Design Statement (VDS) describes the distinctive character of a particular village or town, and this can help to inform planning decisions on design in relation to Local Plan Policy EM10 (Delivering High Quality Development).

You can download the adopted VDS documents below: