South Ayrshire Local Plan

Environmental Quality

This settlement strategy chapter has highlighted the importance of defining a strong framework to guide future investment and development. However, it is vitally important that this framework is supplemented with the detail needed to ensure that development is of a high quality and in appropriate locations. The following policy provides a basic standard that applies to all development proposals, notwithstanding any other presumptions or guidance provided in relevant policies provided elsewhere in the Plan.

STRATEGIC POLICY STRAT5*

In seeking to ensure a high quality environment, the Council will expect, that all development:

Is appropriate in terms of layout, scale, massing, design and materials used in relation to its surroundings; and
Is appropriate in terms of its siting and setting and is not visually intrusive; and
Respects and safeguards natural heritage resources; and
Respects and safeguards built or archaeological heritage resources; and
Safeguards the amenity of nearby dwellings, schools, institutions, workplaces or communities; and
Is appropriate to its locality in terms of road safety, by reason of type or volume of traffic generated by, or as a consequence of that development; and
Will contribute to an efficient use of existing public services, facilities and infrastructure; and
Can be adequately serviced without overburdening existing infrastructure provision; and
Employs the principles of sustainable urban drainage and is safe from reasonable risk of flooding without increasing a risk of flooding in other locations; and
Employs the principles of sustainability in its design, location and use of materials; and
Is designed to facilitate crime prevention; and
Takes cognisance of the implications of the existence of, or proposals for notifiable installations (e.g. hazardous substances), in accordance with the views of the Health and Safety Executive; and
Complies with the aims and objectives of the Plan.

NOTE
In addition to the above policy, the Council will encourage developers to ensure proposals conform to the principles of the Disability Discrimination Act.