Local Development Framework Consultation

Swarthmoor

41 Swarthmoor

RN105, RN106, RN109M, R684SW

Oppose

A general policy for the development of existing settlements is to round off and/or infill and to avoid extending. After my discussion with the planning officer it was clear that this had been a consideration in the suggested emerging sites indicated as RN109M and R684SW whilst not promoting sites RN105 and RN106.

However further consideration would suggest other factors are equally relevent and should be given due consideration as follows:

1) RN109M is already receiving strong opposition form the existing neighbours who currently enjoy a view across the fields. For RN105 your commentary suggestes that the any development would not compromise views from existing dwellings in Swarthmoor and that the natural bowl like effect of the surrounding fields could be utilised to reduce any potential visual impact from development and enclose the site.

2) RN109M will place more vehicular pressure onto the already congested junction to the main A590 at Cross a Moor. Currently the projected yield for the site is 94 dwellings which using an average planning required car to house ratio of 2.5 would mean approx 235 cars will come and go from the site if it is fully developed. It is reasonable to assume that nearly all of the cars leaving the site will turn towards the A590 with only limited traffic turning right towards Pennington. In fact traffic turning right could be doing so to avoid the main junction and thereby bring further congestion into the village itself.

Furthermore should site R684SW also be developed as the emerging site allocation suggests then it also relies on most traffic flowing to and from a junction onto the A590.

Since Barrow and the West coast are likely to be key employment areas then it would also be reasonable to assume that during rush hour times at least half the traffic arriving at the junction will being turning right across the flow of traffic onto the already busy A590.

In contrast traffic emerging from sites no RN105 and RN106 have alternative ways of joining the main roads. Traffic heading for Barrow will only need to turn into the left hand lane of traffic on the A590 whilst cars heading for Ulverston and beyond have the option of turning east and joining Urswick Road or make an alternative route through Swarthmoor itself.

3) Currently the Highways Agency have made no comment on any of the sites although it is expected a Traffic Assessment will be required for each. However, clearly the level of extra traffic that site RN109M will add to the already hazardous Cross a Moor junction should be of major concern especially if it is combined with the possible traffic levels that would be added to the A590 from site R684SW.

6) There are drainage issues on site RN105 which the land owner considers is due to broken and insufficient sized drainage on the site. Both issues can be addressed and we would like to submit further evidence in due course on this and other matters.

7) Further evidence with be submitted prior to the end of the summer 2010.

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