Object
Allocations DPD Discussion and Consultation Document
Representation ID: 17974
Received: 14/04/2010
Respondent: Barratt Eastern Counties
Agent: Kember Loudon Williams Ltd
There is policy support for Green Belt release to 2031 (see paragraph 3.32 and 3.33 of EEP 2008), the advice in PPG2 that Green Belt review should be taken in the context of long term development planning, that paragraph 53 of PPS3 encourages the review of any RSS to be built into emerging development plans and PPS12 encourages longer term beyond the normal 15 years where circumstances justify, the table should be expressed as minimums and in view of the evidence submitted with the planning appeal into the Rectory Road amend to say 330 dwellings for south Hawkwell.
The specification of 175 dwellings for South Hawkwell is considered to be too low and does not reflect the most appropriate way in which the area should be developed to:
* Create a new defensible Green Belt boundary
* Secure vital enhancements to the protected woodland and other habitats in this area
* Makes effective and efficient use of the land to meet PPS3 objectives
* Secures a development that is acceptable in character and sustainable
* Has regard to opportunities and constraints including the gas pipeline, protected ecology and appropriate means of access
* Appropriately plans for a longer term release of Green Belt as envisaged by the EEP Review which was begun in
Autumn 2009 and which is supported by PPS12, paragraph 53 of PPS3 and PPG2 (paragraph 2.6).
The basis on which the housing land supply is calculated and the dwelling numbers identified in the table on page 4 includes a flawed assessment of the likely number of houses that will be achieved from existing brownfield sites and in particular current employment sites which the District Council wishes to promote for housing. I review these matters in other representations. However, in order to rectify the errors it is recommended that the allocation of land at South Hawkwell be noted as 'up to 330 dwellings' since this is the proven carrying capacity of a site which has been promoted through an application and appeal and represents the most appropriate place for a housing site in South Hawkwell. It is a suitable number having regard to the points made above and the attached plan (to be emailed separately).