Response from Mr Christopher J Smith, C/o Carter Jonas
1. Mr Christopher J Smith, C/o Carter Jonas : 27 Jan 2016 11:56:00
Discussion Paper section
6. Options for Meeting the Objectives and Delivering the Vision
Please make your comments below on the section you have selected. Where appropriate, make reference to the paragraph number you are referring to, your preferred option, the question number asked in the Discussion Paper and the reference number of the site you are commenting on.
Our comments are in regard to section 6, question 27.
Areas A18 and A19
We appreciate the importance that the Local Planning Authority has placed on this land insofar as its visual impact when approaching Arnside from the B5282 (Sandside Road). With this in mind, the land has been let only for agricultural purposes over many years. In order to preserve the attractive nature of the land, the lettings have been undertaken carefully, often with tight restrictions on the number of livestock being grazed. This has had a negative impact on the level of income and whilst there is no public access to the land, essentially the owner is “subsidising” a public good due to the current designation of the land.
We feel that developing part of the land represents a sensible, balanced approach to the problem.
The land is currently let to a neighbouring farmer who accesses the property from his own holding. However the access track to the property off Black Dyke Road (along which the bridleway passes) is under the same ownership. We appreciate that this access would need to be upgraded and widened if it was to be for residential purposes. However my client has other options for access (details of which can be supplied on request).
Sustainability of this development is achieved by combing whole of the extent within the existing settlement area. The development in A19 is designed to be located on land with a reduced visual impact (from the east) and would reduce the need to expand the “footprint” of Arnside in future. The scale of the development is modest in comparison to the wider area.
The site is located within the development limits of Arnside and therefore is within the built up area of the village for planning purposes. Arnside is identified as a “Local Service Centre” in the adopted Core Strategy and is such identified as a suitable location for further housing growth and we note that there are approximately 112 new homes in Arnside planned for over the next 15 years.
We note that whilst land to the south east of the property is now utilised for orchards and gardens, this has broken up the ‘open’ aspect of the wider designated area.
Much of the remainder of the property is already surrounded by residential properties.
In addition, my client personally comments “…this is the prime site for development in the entire district and enjoys magnificent views across the estuary to the Lake District mountains. It is the last available site in the area so endowed and will require very careful planning to do justice to its position and to enhance the 'Entrance to Arnside'. It is entirely surrounded by houses with a line of mixed quality 80 year old housing running right along the skyline to its rear.”
We trust the above is in order and that you’ll contact the writer with any further comments or queries.
Oliver Bateman
[Additional information]:
Site A18
Please accept my apologies for a late entry.
I am the owner of the site. I would like to develop it. I have owned the land for nearly 40 years and for at least the first 30 of those years have been content to let it for grazing. However it is becoming increasingly difficult to let and increasingly uneconomical because it is entirely surrounded by houses and not attractive to local farmers.
It is a prime site for development with glorious Arnside views and within easy walking distance of the amenities of the village and the railway station. However its position as a vantage point makes it visible to the approach to Arnside from the Sandside road and its development will need to be carefully planned. Its total area exceeds 10 acres and could accommodate many years of housing construction for the district.
I have always considered that it should be treated as a whole not developed piecemeal like the land to the southeast across the bridle path, much of which has been sold off as garden extensions for the houses on Blackdyke Road. If the same approach was engaged for the houses on Church Hill the site and the view from Sandside Road would be ruined.
I appreciate that development is a long term issue but I would like encouragement that is seriously contemplated in order that I will not be obliged to sell it off piecemeal .
Please be assured that I am very willing to work with you to make the very best of the opportunities.
Yours faithfully,
Christopher J. Smith
