What is low impact residential development?
Low impact residential development is a planning policy in Dartmoor National Park’s local plan. It was introduced in December 2021, when the plan was formally adopted.
The policy is designed for “people genuinely seeking to live in a far more sustainable way than considered normal for the 21st Century and delivering significant environmental enhancement. In essence, it offers the potential for planning permission to be granted for a low impact home (or homes) outside of a classified settlement, as a departure from the normally restrictive planning policies that apply to the open countryside”.
The Dartmoor policy follows the One Planet Development policy in Wales, and has in turn been followed by a version of One Planet Development in Cornwall.
What does the local plan say?
The plan states: “This Local Plan aims to take an inclusive approach to sustainable development, supporting the varied needs of Dartmoor’s community. There is a growing movement of people who genuinely wish to live differently and take it upon themselves to pursue development and a lifestyle which is far more sustainable and low impact than what is considered normal in the 21st Century. Their homes are unconventional structures, built on-site, of natural materials sourced within the locality. Whilst a home may be of non-standard construction, it must meet relevant building regulations, and provide safe and healthy living accommodation”.
It goes on to state: ““Low impact means not only being broadly self-sufficient, but doing so in a way which has no significant environmental impact and instead brings environmental enhancements. This includes landscape, biodiversity, cultural heritage, air, water and soil quality and other relevant environmental enhancements on-site”.
What does the policy say?
‘Policy 3.12 Low Impact Residential Development’ states that low impact residential development will be permitted subject to ten criteria (a to j). Where these criteria are satisfied, permission could be granted for a temporary period of up to six years, with a monitoring report needing to be submitted at the five year mark. After that there would be scope for a permanent planning permission.
The accompanying text states that where a proposed development is outside but well related to a settlement, it must meet further criteria.
It is important that anyone considering buying land and applying for Low Impact Residential Development should read and digest all the relevant policies and criteria in the local plan. Any planning applications will be assessed against these policies and criteria, as well as any relevant policies in the National Planning Policy Framework.
What should a planning application include?
The local plan states that proposals must be supported by robust evidence including:
- Business and Improvement Plan
- Ecological Footprint Analysis
- Zero Carbon Analysis
- Landscape and Visual Assessment
- Biodiversity Assessments
Any more info?
- Unlike in Wales and Cornwall, it doesn’t appear that guidance has been produced for Dartmoor’s low impact development policy. The Park Authority has prepared a Housing supplementary planning document, which makes brief mention of low impact residential development.
- As of August 2023, a search of Dartmoor’s planning register indicated that there had been one planning application for a ‘low impact’ dwelling since the policy was adopted. However, the Park Authority concluded that the proposal did not demonstrate the core elements of policy 3.12 and the application was refused.
External links
Dartmoor Local Plan (see pages 84-85)
Related pages
One Planet Development (Cymru)
AL1: Regenerative & Low Impact Development (Cornwall)
This page is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as advice or recommendation. It may not be comprehensive or up-to-date, and may omit important regulations, policies or criteria. You should do your own research and seek professional advice as appropriate before deciding your way forward. See website disclaimer / terms of use.
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