DM24 Other Important Landscape Features - Preferred Option

The second sentence of this policy seems to imply that all of the features that follow are necessarily of importance for fauna or flora, which of course will not always be the case e.g. not all hedgerows or ponds are necessarily always of material nature conservation interest. If the intention of the policy is to protect these features where they are of nature conservation importance, then to avoid ambiguity the sentence should state ... "The Council will protect the following landscape features from loss or damage where they are of importance for fauna and flora, when considering proposals:"

There is potentially a contradiction between the first and the second paragraphs, with the first paragraph appearing to state a categorical position on protection from loss or damage, and the second paragraph (correctly in our view) noting that an exception will exist where there is appropriate mitigation. To aid clarity, it may in fact be easiest to delete the second sentence in the first paragraph entirely, and place the list of features after the second paragraph.

Greenbelt and Countryside

Objectives

The proposed allocation of one of the sites WR1-4 does not meet any of these objectives as detailed in response to the Allocations document.

The Hall Road site meets all the criteria listed on page 28 for preserving the Green Belt.

Policy DM11.

Figure 3 on page 31 shows the Agricultural land classification for the district and the protection of agricultural land is loosely referred to in this Chapter . However there is no firm policy for the protection of such land which is a natural resource. The existing policy in the Local Development Plan at 8.16 states that the Council recognises that the best and most versatile agricultural land defined as Grades 1, 2 or 3a within the Agricultural Land Classification system is a valuable natural resource for the future. It is important that as a natural resource it is protected for the future.

This policy should be retained. The proposed wording in DM11 and DM13 is inadequate to ensure the safeguarding of agricultural land falling into the of Best and Most Versatile category

Green Tourism

At present Hall Road provides an attractive gateway to one of the most picturesque historic towns in South East Essex and the proposals for large scale development in Hall Road does not accord with the Green Tourism aims.
Environmental Issues

Policy DM 24

The policy is too weak to ensure the protection of valuable habitats. The policy should a requirement for developers to provide full environmental impact and protected species surveys to ensure adequate protection and such surveys must not be carried out during winter months.

The policy should also include a requirement that where a development abuts a protected hedgerow that an appropriate buffer zone is provided. An example of the need for this requirement is Ironwell Lane.

It is recognised that the character of an area is made up of a combination of buildings and landscape; with the landscape made up of a range of landscape elements.

In developing proposals for a site it is important to consider the various landscape elements and consider the contribution to the landscape but also the potential impact to develop a site efficiently (e.g. a single tree could affect access on to a site and its development potential).

Therefore, the development of sites should consider the importance of landscape features (e.g. hedgerows), which could be removed in order to improve the layout and design of the resultant development. However, the loss of any landscape feature should be mitigated by the inclusion of additional landscape features, which should include a range of native species to enhance the areas flora and fauna. This will ensure that development have a positive affect on the landscape character of the area.

Within the townscape there are features which can be valuable visually, as well as to flora and fauna.

Often, when an old established garden (particularly the extensive grounds of an older house) is re-developed, there is no protection for any part of it (other than trees given T.P.O.s). The earthmovers strip out all vegetation before development commences, yet such gardens can contain features, such as ornamental hedges, shrub borders and ponds which are every bit as valuable for wildlife conservation as countryside hedges and field ponds - as well as being visually attractive within the urban context. Thought should be given to how such features might be retained within a new development.

One feature not included in the list is old Orchards/Fruit trees. It is recognised that there is a need to preserve these, as so few now remain. Rarer varieties of apple and pear trees can easily be lost when development rakes place (particularly when only a single tree or a small cluster of trees survive from what was once an orchard, and the significance is therefore not noticed). Unfortunately, fruit trees are not subject to tree preservation orders, so they have no real protection in the planning system. Yet old established fruit trees can be very valuable for wildlife, particularly for bird species, such as hawfinch, bullfinch and lesser-spotted woodpecker.

Greenbelt and Countryside

Objectives

The proposed allocation of one of the sites WR1-4 does not meet any of these objectives as detailed in response to the Allocations document.

The Hall Road site meets all the criteria listed on page 28 for preserving the Green Belt.

Policy DM11

Figure 3 on page 31 shows the Agricultural land classification for the district and the protection of agricultural land is loosely referred to in this Chapter. However there is no firm policy for the protection of such land which is a natural resource. The existing policy in the Local Development Plan at 8.16 states that the Council recognises that the best and most versatile agricultural land defined as Grades 1, 2 or 3a within the Agricultural Lane Classification system is a valuable natural resource for the future. It is important that as a natural resource it is protected for the future.

This policy should be retained. The proposed wording in DM11 and DM13 is inadequate to ensure the safeguarding of agricultural land falling into the of Best and Most Versatile category.

Green Tourism

At present Hall Road provides as attractive gateway to one of the mot picturesque historic towns in South East Essex and the proposals for large scale development in Hall Road does not accord with the Green Tourism aims.

Environmental Issues

Policy DM24

The policy is too weak to ensure the protection of valuable habitats. The policy should a requirement for developers to provide full environmental impact and protected species surveys to ensure adequate protection and such surveys must not be carried out during winter months.

The policy should also include a requirement that where a development abuts a protected hedgerow that an appropriate buffer zone is provided. An example of the need for this requirement is Ironwell Lane.