Dudley Council

Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 18)

Ended on the 22 December 2023
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Allotments and Community Gardens

15.6 There is high demand for allotments in the borough with greater numbers of people seeking space to grow their own food produce and an increase in the use of community gardens. This is important as it provides a sustainable source of local produce and encourages healthier eating as well as physical activity.

Policy DLP65 Allotments and Community Gardens

  1. The redevelopment of allotment sites and community gardens for other uses will not be allowed if a substantial part of the site is in use; or there is proven demand for allotments in the area.
     
  2. Redevelopment of an allotment site and community gardens will only be allowed if alternative allotment provision of the same or better quality and quantity is provided in the locality before the use of the existing site ceases.
     
  3. Planning permission will not be granted simply because an allotment or community garden site has been allowed to fall out of use and become derelict.
     
  4. Proposals for the provision of new allotment sites and community gardens will be permitted provided that they:
    1. are accessible by a variety of transport means, including walking and cycling as well as adequate parking.
    2. do not result in the loss of, or harm to a high quality nature conservation site.
    3. do not harm the visual amenity, landscape setting and appearance of the area.
    4. do not result in the loss of an area of importance and value for informal or formal recreation.
    5. do not detrimentally harm the amenity of adjacent residents and/or highway safety.
    6. safeguard and enhance any biodiversity features where possible to help support wildlife.
       
  5. On all allotment and community garden sites, the Council will encourage sustainable methods of power, the storage and re-use of water and on-site composting where appropriate.

Justification

15.7 Allotments and community gardens help encourage community engagement, provide educational benefits, and help support local biodiversity. By providing regular outdoor activity food growing can help to improve both physical and mental health and reduce health inequalities. It is therefore important for the Council to help protect existing allotment and community garden sites and encourage the provision of new sites where appropriate and in line with the policy requirements.

Policy DLP66 Burial Land including Cemeteries and Crematoriums

  1. Wherever possible the safeguarding and extension of existing burial grounds, including churchyards and cemeteries should be given preference. Where these are full, additional sites in the vicinity should be considered favourably providing they do not:
    1. adversely harm the amenity of adjacent residential areas.
    2. result in the loss of an area of importance and value for informal or formal recreation.
    3. result in the loss of agricultural land.
    4. result in the loss of or harm a high-quality nature conservation site.
       
  2. New proposals for cemeteries and crematoriums need to have consideration for the following;
    1. must be located in accessible locations well-served by a range of transport modes including walking and cycling and be close to existing settlements to minimise travel distances
    2. must have adequate parking facilities.
    3. need to consider the needs of different faiths
    4. where feasible, retain and include existing landscape, nature conservation and biodiversity features within their design.
    5. if appropriate, make use of existing buildings and infrastructure.
    6. take account of the latest Environment Agency Guidance on groundwater protection (GP3 or latest equivalent)

Justification

15.8 Land available for burials is limited within the borough. In order to ensure that burial sites are available for local communities borough-wide it will be necessary to identify suitable sites. The Council will also consider favourably proposals for green burial sites as a sustainable form of burial.

15.9 Proposals for new burial sites must take into consideration the Environment Agency (EA) guidelines for the location and layout of burial grounds especially in terms of minimum distances between burial sites and how to deal with watercourses, wells, boreholes, and springs amongst other considerations.

15.10 There is evidence of the pollution potential from cemeteries and that some form of control is often needed. The burial of human remains results in the release of a variety of substances and organisms into the subsurface. These may, in time, find their way into the groundwater. Therefore, groundwater can be at risk of pollution from human burials where the numbers are sufficient, and the protection afforded by the subsurface geology is poor.

15.11 The EA must be consulted in the preparation of proposals for any new burial site.

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