Object

Representation ID: 4914

Received: 22/12/2022

Respondent: Gladman

Agent: Gladman

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? Yes

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Gladman consider Policy SA5(036c) as proposed in the Plan to be sound. That said, Gladman do not consider the decision to reduce the allocation boundary from 8ha in the preceding Preferred Options Plan (which proposed to allocate the site for a minimum of 168 dwellings) to 3.85ha in the Publication Plan (which allocates the site for a minimum of 81 dwellings) is entirely appropriate.

It is acknowledged that the site is located within the historic extent of Acton Hill Park, the heritage interest of which principally derives from it being the designed grounds to Acton Hill House, itself a non-designated heritage asset. Gladman question whether the interest of the historic park warrants this proposed level of mitigation and consider that a smaller set-back would be more proportionate.

The Site represents one of the few opportunities to deliver development in a non-Green Belt location in the authority and thus the potential for development here should be maximised, as to reduce the extent of Green Belt release required to meet the proposed housing requirement. Gladman contend that the new allocation boundary does not reflect the full, natural and logical extent of the available development site and suggest to make effective use of land, that the allocation for a minimum of 168 dwellings, as set out in the preceding Preferred Options Plan, is reinstated.

The Site can deliver a wide range of market and affordable homes as well as new open space and green infrastructure which could be provided in greater quantum with increased benefits for landscaping and net gains in biodiversity if a larger area within the site boundary is considered for allocation. The site is not at flood risk and access has been demonstrated as ok in principle.