Policy RS5: Biodiversity

This Plan strongly endorses the Government Commitment No 9 in the Environment Plan to ‘protect natural habitats and species to maintain and improve the wealth of biodiversity in the county’ (RCC Core Strategies 21 & 23).

In relation to the Langham, specific areas for safeguarding and protection against development are:

1. the area within 25m of the brook and its banks;
2. the following areas of woodland and hedgerow:
   1. both sides of Cold Overton Road between Pasture Farm and Ranksborough Farm;
   2. the ancient parish boundary hedgerow, notably to the western and southern sides;
   3. the border of the canal;
   4. Loudall Lane;
   5. Munday’s Close Wildlife Area;
   6. Royale Ranksborough Park – both trees and wildlife;
   7. the verge at the junction of Manor Lane and Ashwell Rd;
   8. the verges of Ashwell Rd;
   9. the grounds of the Methodist Church;
   10. Ruddle Way wildlife areas;
   11. the fields around Royale Ranksborough Park.

Policy VC1: Important Open Green Spaces

1. In accordance with Policies CS23 and SP21 no further development will be permitted on protected Open Green Spaces & Frontages within the Planned Limits of Development (see Figure 8.2), including specifically Penman’s Field and Munday’s Close.
2. Frontages to new developments and existing properties, including gardens, will be in keeping with existing development and shall reflect the character of the area. Hedges and walls are typical whereas fencing is not acceptable.
3. Those views within the village that are protected will be preserved such that any development that could block or significantly impede or spoil the view will not be allowed. These include;
   1. views of the parish church and churchyard;
   2. views of Langham and the church from the A606;
   3. views identified in Figure 8.3
      1. View 1 The village and church from Manor Lane across the paddocks at the rear of 48 & 50 Well St.;
      2. View 2 The Bowling Green from Manor Lane, tucked behind a wicker gate, with church beyond;
      3. View 3 The Church St. bridge to Well St. which incorporates the brook and its banks, with the church and old houses;
      4. the brook, including the maintenance of the natural state of its paths and banks which are visually important.

Policy VC3: Street Character

The village is a rural community whose street scene reflects its countryside location. Features characteristic of the village such as walls, grass verges, low banks and mature trees will be safeguarded and reflected in new developments. Any work on the following must preserve this unique rural character:

1. Boundaries and Driveways
   1. new and replacement walls will reflect the materials, type of construction and proportions of existing/nearby walls; the use of fences as front boundaries will be avoided;
   2. any mud building or wall will be maintained and preserved;
   3. the many existing ironstone and brick walls will be safeguarded and reflected in new developments;
   4. the use of traditional materials such as gravel for driveways will be encouraged throughout the village. Impermeable materials such as tarmac are not acceptable in the Conservation Area with Article 4 Direction.
2. Pavements, verges & hard edging
   1. Pavements and grass verges will be maintained  to their    original    width    (unless    their narrowness causes a safety issue). The varied verge and path widths will be safeguarded and used as style examples in new developments;
   2. where hard edging is necessary, stone sets must be used wherever physically possible, in keeping with the village style;

future developments must include pathways linking them to the rest of the village

3. Traffic signage and management:
   1. traffic calming measures  must  be  in sympathy   with   the   village   character;
   2. urbanisation of the village's roads will be discouraged (except where   safety is  an  issue);  examples  include proliferation of road signs, creation of one-way streets and pavements on narrow lanes.
4. Lighting:
   1. the number of street-lights must allow for safety without causing urban lighting levels;
   2. street lighting supports will reflect the village character unless a safety issue prevents it;
   3. only energy efficient lighting will be acceptable.
5. Street furniture:
   1. all street furniture must be in keeping with the look of the village and in sympathy with existing furniture;
   2. the litter bins  will  all  be  of traditional  construction,  for  example  in metal.
6. Advertising:
   1. display of advertisements in the Conservation Area will not be accepted where they would detract from the character or street scene and/or would prejudice public safety;
   2. advertisements in the countryside will not be accepted unless they are on the building or within the curtilage of the business to which they refer, are small, muted in colour and design, unilluminated and not detrimental to the landscape.

Langham Neighbourhood Plan 2022

Click on any of the links below to view the 2022 Langham Neighbourhood Plan and the supporting documents as PDF files. All links will open in a new browser window.

The 2022 LNP - .PDF (5MB)

Supporting Documents

SDL1 Policies (16MB)

SDL2 Consultation Review (23MB)

SDL3 Climate Change etc (4MB)

SDL4a Sust Growth & Site Allocation (4.4MB)

SDL4b Site Assessment for 2017 LNP (3.3Mb)

SDL5 Building Design (3Mb)

SDL6 Cultural Heritage(8MB)

SDL7 Rural Setting (8.5MB)

SDL8 Village Character (84MB)

SDL9 Associated Proposals.pdf (150KB)

SDL10 Basic Conditions Statement (700KB)

SDL11 Langham Maps (7MB)

SDL12 SEA Report (22Mb)

LNP Steering Group