10. ANP4: Infill Residential Development

10.1There is no expectation in the Guildford Local Plan 2019 that Albury Parish will deliver new homes to meet the Borough’s housing needs nor any strategic policy provisions to meet any housing requirement through the conventional method of site allocations in a neighbourhood plan as the parish is washed over by Green Belt. However, unallocated windfall residential development can be considered appropriate if it meets the exceptions set out in NPPF, principally limited infilling consistent with NPPF paragraphs 154(e), 154(f) and 154(g).

10.2This policy sets out the framework for considering infill development. In order to relate these provisions for limited infilling in villages to the form and character of parish villages, the policy confines the definition of ‘limited’ to the frontages through the villages as defined in the Albury Design Guidance and Codes APPENDIX A, as opposed to backland development. It also confines the definition to apply only to land that is enclosed by surrounding development to such an extent that its development would appear in character with the built-up area, rather than becoming an extension to it.

10.3This approach meets the requirements of GLP Policy P2 which supports limited infilling and Policy D1(4) which acknowledge the importance of village character and local distinctiveness. As identified in the Design Code APPENDIX A

Policy ANP4 – Infill Residential Development

Development proposals for the construction of new dwellings on land within the built-up area of Albury village and the settlement areas as laid out in the Guildford Local Plan, will be considered as ‘limited infilling’ in the Green Belt if:

1. the site forms a small gap in an otherwise continuous built-up frontage and is effectively enclosed on at least three of its sides by buildings of the same height as the proposed buildings

2. the development does not obscure an important local view into the countryside as defined within the Albury Design Code and Guidelines APPENDIX A; and,

3. the development is of high quality and designed to reflect local character, including in relation to height, scale, mass, design and materials. Any gaps between dwellings takes into account the policies of this Neighbourhood Plan and the Albury Design Guidance and Codes APPENDIX A as a whole.

4. The development does not result in the loss of significant trees or leave an adverse impact on biodiversity

5. The development does not result in an undue loss of neighbouring amenity.

6. The development provides adequate levels of on-site amenity space.