Regulation 25 Representation on behalf of Mr Dudley Ball

2. Residential

We register SUPPORT for Option WH5 for the following reasons:-

1. We have submitted separate Representations relating to the current alignment of the MGB boundary in this location, which is shown on the attached Plan. The boundary is extremely arbitrary and even bisects an existing house fronting Church Road. Option WH5 would create a more logical and clear-cut interface between the built up area of Hockley and the adjoining countryside. We therefore agree that this Option would provide a defensible boundary compared to the current MGB boundary;

2. The existing character of Church Road to the immediate west of Pond Chase Nurseries is 'strongly residential' and can logically be considered as part of the built up area in tandem with the release of new housing capacity on the nurseries site itself;

3. It is indicated in the text that Option WH5 can potentially provide additional access to the Nurseries site. We agree that the provision of a further access in addition to that on Folly Lane would be beneficial in terms of accessibility and convenience. It is envisaged that there may be some technical constraints which may rule out a bellmouth access off Church Lane to the north of the new development on the former site of West View. However, there are no such constraints to preclude the provision of a pedestrian and cycleway access off the Church Road frontage and this would assist with sustainable transport objectives;

4. The character of the area is already substantially 'developed' such that the selection of Option WH5 would have only a very limited effect on the openness of the existing Green Belt. We therefore consider Option WH5 to be superior to the other Options in terms of the protection of the openness of the Green Belt;

5. The exclusion of the open land to the immediate north of the recent development on the West View site from the MGB would rectify an error made in 1962 when the Inner Green Belt Boundary was drawn bisecting the West View site which at that time benefited from an extant planning permission for two dwellings additional to the former West View bungalow itself;

6. Option WH5 is a sufficiently large site to incorporate a buffer area along the northern edge of the Pond Chase Nurseries Site to supplement the wooded character on this northern edge of Hockley;

7. We consider that Option WH5 represents the most logical and beneficial location for a strategic site and would be well placed to provide a diverse cross section of different house types, including affordable housing; and

8. As the largest site, and having regard to the existing character of Pond Chase Nurseries, Option WH5 offers prospects to incorporate a small employment allocation for B1 uses or a seedbed centre. This would further strengthen the sustainability credentials of this site.

For further details see paper copy.