2 responses from Mrs Gill Longfellow (Individual)
1. Mrs Gill Longfellow (Individual) : 15 Apr 2011 16:19:00
Settlement
Grange over Sands
Map Number
30 (3 of 4) Grange South
Site reference number (e.g. R62) - If your comment is about a specific site you must indicate the correct site reference.
MN25M
Housing
Oppose
Employment
Oppose
Please explain your reasons
The site currently preserves the separate identity of Kents Bank from Grange over Sands.
The site has very high landscape quality and important nature conservation interests. It would be an extremely large extension, outside the current development boundary into open countryside which would lead to very prominent development taking place on greenfield land. Development of the site would have significant landscape impact. The limestone bed of the site is likely to cause drainage/surface water problems, particularly affecting the amenity of existing properties on Kirkhead Road.
Part of this site should only be considered for future, small-scale housing development once other more suitable sites within the development boundary have been developed first and if there is an essential local need identified at that stage. Development should be phased to take place at the latter end of the Plan period (Phase 3)
The size of site identified on the map is too extensive. Although the Grange Fact File states that only around half of the site will be developed there are no safeguards or certainties provided. Policy G5 also contradicts the information in the Fact File as it states that 9.26ha will be developed for housing, for example. The capacity of the site for development is limited by its topography and any development would have a seriously damaging impact on the character and quality of the landscape. The site incorporates land which is unsuitable for development and land which should be safeguarded as; green gap, public open space, amenity open space and of national nature conservation importance. These areas should be removed from the area defined for development and safeguarded to provide greater clarity of intent. Only the area(s) of land which it is intended to develop should be identified.
Grange Fact File intends to leave the detail of this allocation to a future development brief. I consider this to be inappropriate for this site. The development of any part of this site should be guided by the policies and stated intentions and expectations set out in the Development Plan Document to provide greater transparency and clarity for developers and neighbouring properties.
If part of the site is to be developed, development should be situated on the eastern part of the site, close to the existing development boundary to retain some separation between Grange over Sands and Kents Bank.
Para 2.32 of Land Allocations document details the criteria for general employment sites and mixed use sites set out in Core Strategy policy CS7.4 which supports rural employment development:
• Of a scale which is in keeping with its surroundings;
• Which does not detract from the amenities of residents;
• Does not harm the character of the landscape or settlement or give rise to unacceptable levels of traffic.
Employment development on this site would conflict with all of these criteria.
It is inappropriate to propose this land as a ‘mixed use’ site. The proposed uses are employment land and housing. Other sites identified within Grange over Sands and surrounding villages are more appropriate and can more easily accommodate employment uses.
2. Mrs Gill Longfellow (Individual) : 15 Apr 2011 16:29:00
Settlement
Grange Town Centre
Map Number
30 (3 of 4) Grange South
Other designation - if you want to comment on something that doesn't have a site reference e.g., development boundary, town centre boundary, green gap, please select it here
Green Gap
Other (please specify)
Green Gap
Other (as specified above)
Support in part
Please explain your reasons
Support the identification of a green gap to the north of Allithwaite Road to prevent the coalescence of Grange over Sands with Allithwaite.
Support the identification of a green gap to the south of Allithwaite Road, adjoining site MN25M but this should be extended further east and south to maintain separation between Kents Bank and Grange over Sands, and Kents Bank and Allithwaite.
The current proposals for green gaps are inconsistent and incoherent. Extending the green gap to the south of Allithwaite Road would provide a better defined and more coherent boundary for Grange over Sands and a more attractive approach from Allithwaite. It will prevent the further coalescence of the settlements of Kents Bank and Allithwaite with Grange over Sands. (Map to be provided by post to illustrate the suggested changes.)
