Vale of Evesham Control Zone

.21 Vale of Evesham Control Zone Within the Vale of Evesham Control Zone, as shown on the Polices Map, business related proposals which would result in a 5% or greater increase in Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) traffic will need to demonstrate that: 1. The economic benefits of the development, particularly to the local community, outweigh the impact of the increase in HGV traffic; 2. The development cannot be accommodated on a site with better access to the Heavy Goods Vehicles Route Network within Stratford-on-Avon District, as defined by Warwickshire County Council; and 3. The supply and distribution routes proposed to serve the site are the most appropriate with regard to impacts on the amenity of local communities. DS.21 ~ Development Management Considerations Since sites can be sold on, a condition or legal agreement will be applied to a planning permission to specify the maximum number of HGV movements that would be appropriate. This would then apply to subsequent occupiers of the site. For the purposes of this policy an HGV is classed as a lorry over 7.5 tonnes maximum gross weight. Policy Justification 2.13.2 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) makes it clear that policies relating to transport have an important role to play in facilitating sustainable development but also in contributing to wider sustainability and health objectives. 2.13.3 The Vale of Evesham Control Zone policy has been carried over from the Stratford-on-Avon Core Strategy, and its retention is supported by Warwickshire County Council. Currently the policy is included in the adopted South Worcestershire Development Plan (2016) and the Cotswold District Local Plan (2018). Cotswolds District Council are proposing to retain the designation within their Local Plan review. However, Wychavon District Council’s position on the designation within the South Worcestershire Local Plan is to remove it as a policy, as they instead consider that the issue can be dealt with through amendments to the validation requirements for planning applications to address HGV impacts in the Vale of Evesham through a Transport Assessment and Statement. Nevertheless, the Vale of Evesham remains relevant as a zone in which to control the volume of HGV movements. 2.13.4 The policy seeks to control the extent to which new development or the expansion of existing businesses generates additional HGV movements in the Vale area. In general, employment proposals which can demonstrate that only a very modest increase in HGV movement would be generated will be acceptable where they are consistent with other policies in the Plan. 2.13.5 The 5% threshold specified in the policy has proven to be appropriate in that it recognises that small-scale developments do not have a significant impact on lorry movements. Where a proposal would result in a significant increase in HGV movements, it will be supported only if it can be demonstrated that the reasons for the proposal, such as economic benefits to the local economy, outweigh the impact of the increase in traffic. Increases of more than 5% may be acceptable where proposals are small-scale and the impact of addit