Policy GESP38: Great Places

The strategic allocations contained in the GESP require a comprehensive approach to delivering high quality development with coordinated infrastructure provision. This will be managed by a series of plans supporting each allocation including illustrative concept plans which form part of each allocation policy. In addition, the following plans will be produced:

1. Masterplans for GESP allocations:
   1. Before outline or full permission is granted the local planning authority will prepare, consult on and approve the masterplan working with the site promoters
   2. The masterplan will be informed by the illustrative concept plan and will further define the requirements for the creation of a high quality new place, including the phasing of development, associated infrastructure and delivery mechanisms
   3. The masterplan will identify the detailed elements of residential, commercial, employment and community uses for the site together with the environmental, green infrastructure (including SANGs where necessary), community and design requirements
   4. For all GESP allocations the masterplan will include an allocation-wide design code commensurate with the scale of the development proposed
   5. The masterplan will identify the information and documentation which will be submitted alongside all planning applications
   6. Conditions or planning obligations imposed on outline and hybrid planning consents will ensure that future planning applications, and the resulting development, conform with the masterplan
2. Parcel plans for each phase of GESP allocations:
   1. The parcel plan will promote the highest quality design and amplify in detail the relevant development plan policies and the content of the masterplan
   2. The parcel plan will include a detailed layout plan at an appropriate scale
   3. For all GESP allocations the parcel plan will include a phase-specific design code
   4. The parcel plan will be prepared by the site promoters and the local planning authority will be actively involved in its preparation
   5. Outline planning consents will include conditions requiring that a parcel plan for each phase of development is submitted to and approved by the local planning authority
   6. Reserved matters or full planning applications will only be permitted where they accord with the parcel plan which has been approved by the local planning authority.

10.5 The sites being considered for allocation in the GESP are strategic in scale (see Section C for details). Development of such sites will involve reconciling a wide mix of uses, multiple landowners and developers and delivery will be complex involving major infrastructure investment from many providers. It is therefore essential that the sites are planned in a coordinated fashion to ensure early delivery at pace alongside high quality design and the provision of necessary infrastructure. A masterplanning process to achieve this is described in draft policy GESP38.

10.6 The masterplanning process will follow three stages, each adding a layer of detail and certainty to the outcome of achieving high quality places. This is explained in Figure 10.1.

10.7 This staged approach to preparing development proposals provides clarity over the level of detail and evidence required, enabling decisions on the relevant planning applications to be much smoother, quicker and more certain. Quality can be ensured by the clear phase by phase guidance on relevant layout and design concepts set within the overarching context of the masterplan.

10.8 Masterplans and parcel plans should be prepared in accordance with any local design policies, guidance or toolkits, such as the emerging Liveable Exeter toolkit for future place- making. The associated place-making approach sets a series of important considerations for delivering high quality development which should be applied in the preparation of the masterplans:

• Recognition of the profile of the local area through an understanding of function, characteristics, opportunities and constraints
• Understanding the drivers of change in the local area
• Applying place-making concepts including the garden city principles and others identified locally

10.9 Draft policy GESP38 applies to the GESP allocations (when identified in the next version of the plan) but not allocations included in local plans. The Greater Exeter councils have additional masterplanning and design policies within local plans which would apply to both GESP and local plan allocations.

10.10 In terms of considering planning applications, the Greater Exeter councils support the use of planning performance agreements, ensuring that the local planning authority have sufficient resources to carry out the work and deal with the planning applications. This also gives applicants the benefit of an agreed timetable for the work.

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