Object

Representation ID: 28513

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: Chartford Homes

Agent: Barton Wilmore

The site, which has reference SH/026 in the Council’s Sustainability Appraisal has a significant number of constraints which means it is unlikely to be developable and it is not a suitable or achievable site and it should not be carried forward as a proposed allocation.

We would question how the site will be accessed, as we assume that it could not be achieved via the B6269 because of the change in levels. There is a potential access off Bankfield Road and in order to achieve this, it would require the removal of a large woodland of mature trees, some of which are understood to be protected by Tree Preservation Orders . In addition, the woodland represents deciduous woodland priority habitat so there will be an adverse impact upon biodiversity through the loss of this woodland. We would question how any future development would demonstrate biodiversity net gain when the loss of the woodland is factored in.

It is noted that the Council believe that the development will be accessed via Glenview Drive, however we would question the suitability of the access given the steep topography and ability to accommodate traffic associated with 164 dwellings.

The site is very steep and is effectively split into two distinct parts – the southernmost being a small area which sits directly behind the row of properties fronting onto Nab Wood Drive. This area is detached from the remainder of the site by a further band of trees which sit on land which is so steep that we consider it highly doubtful that you would be able to construct a road with a suitable gradient to connect the two parcels. As such, if the Council carry this site forward to the Publication draft, the site boundary should be significantly reduced with the southernmost parcel removed along with the mature woodland fronting onto Bankfield Road. A more realistic site area would in fact be around 2 hectares which would reduce the capacity significantly.