Local Development Framework Consultation

Barbon

RN279#

Oppose

A number of arguments can be made which show the unsuitability and undesirability of RN279# for housing development. These are as follows.

1 Does not meet the Core Strategy

South Lakeland Local Development Framework – Core Strategy CS1.2 – The Development Strategy (Page 18) states:-

“New small-scale infilling and rounding off development will be permitted outside the service centres, in ?order to satisfy local need across the numerous smaller villages and hamlets scattered across the District.”

On Page 22 infilling is defined as

“building taking place on a vacant plot in an otherwise built-up street frontage.”

RN279# is neither small scale (at 0.79ha) nor does it have any frontage on to a built-up street.

2 Previous planning policy

Previous planning policy recognised the need to keep parts of the village separate in development terms. In the 1980s, the Council only gave planning permission to build to the end of existing Barnrigg ie permission was given to build Stirk House in its position at the end of Barnrigg to recognise the end of the Cul de Sac. The South Lakeland Local Plan 2006 confirmed the development boundary at the end of Barnrigg. The reasons that this land was not considered appropriate for development remain today and include some of those arguments within this submission.

3 Access

Currently there is only one vehicular access to the site, a nominal 4 metre wide, 40 metre long track alongside Stirk House. This track exits with an awkward dog leg on to one of the ‘points’ of the hammerhead at the end of the Barnrigg Cul de Sac. There is poor visibility on the track of vehicles approaching from the other direction. The track is separated from Stirk House only by a 1 metre wide path and fence. It does not seem reasonable that this track could provide the sole vehicular access to a housing development on this site without severe traffic flow problems and disruption to Stirk House, Oak House and to Barnrigg more generally. It is clearly inappropriate for this plot to form part of the SLDC Land Allocation without a clear understanding of how access will be provided.

4 Character of open spaces in the village

Barbon nestles under Barbon Low Fell and Middleton Fell along the valley of the Barbon Beck. On the West side of the village, the land slopes away toward the River Lune and then rises toward Mansergh and Old Town. Toward the South West, Hutton Roof Crags are prominent. To the North the Howgill Fells can be observed.
Barbon is a very open village with a number of separately identifiable groups of development. Between the groups there is open space that allows for views on all sides of the village to be seen. It is this open nature of the village that is so much appreciated by the inhabitants and visitors alike. It is important to the village that this open nature is maintained. The development of RN279# will appreciably affect this, joining up two distinct areas of the village and spoiling the views from places such as Watery Lane, the Village Hall and the houses at the end of Barnrigg.

5 Natural Environment

Core Strategy “CS8.4 - Biodiversity and geodiversity” Page 102 specifically focuses on protecting and enhancing the biodiversity of land.
RN279# currently provides the only reasonable size piece of open land in the village not subject to either housing or intense farming (eg grazing or hay production). As a result the land has developed a very diverse population of flora and fauna. Whilst I am not aware of any formal assessment of the biodiversity it is clearly extensive and needs an authoritative assessment to understand its nature. The village would be poorer with the loss of this rich habitat.

6 Amenity

A development of housing on RN279# will completely change the nature of the end of Barnrigg. Low Fell House, Stirk House and Oak House have their significant outlook South over an area of quiet wilderness with a variety of plant, animal and bird life which changes over the seasons. One of the reasons that we bought the land and subsequently built Low Fell House was that we were at the edge of the Development Boundary and that our South aspect was not going to be the subject of any housing development. This same aspect is enjoyed from the Village Hall, Watery Lane and a number of dwellings in the vicinity. Whatever development takes place on RN279# will significantly change that for the worse and residents and visitors will not be able to enjoy the area in the same way.

Oppose

Long term stability is needed in the planning process.

Option B - Communities and/or developers bringing forward sites for housing and employment for consideration under relevant Core Strategy policies, through neighbourhood plans and/or other local initiatives

Empowerment of local population to determine their future.