Response from Ms Linda Berriman (Individual)
1. Ms Linda Berriman (Individual) : 16 Apr 2012 17:32:00
Before completing this online representation please tick the box to show you have read the 'Guidance Notes for Making a Representation'
I have read the guidance notes
Policy/Site No.
LA1.3 Housing Allocations - R121M-mod KENDAL EAST OF CASTLE GREEN ROAD
1.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is legally compliant?
No
1.2 If NO please identify which test of legal compliance your representation relates to by selecting the relevant option(s) below and completing section 1.3.
Sustainability Appraisal has not been carried out and its baseline information and conclusions have not been used to inform the DPD
The DPD has not had regard to the Sustainable Community Strategy
The processes of community involvement in developing the DPD are not in general accordance of the Statement of Community Involvement (SCI)
2.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is sound?
No
2.2 If NO please identify which test of soundness your representation relates to by selecting the relevant option(s) below and completing section 2.3.
The DPD is not justified in that it is not founded on a robust and credible evidence base and/or is not considered the most appropriate strategy when considered against the reasonable alternatives.
The DPD is not consistent with national policy.
2.3 Please give details of the change(s) you consider necessary to make the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD sound, having regard to the test you have identified at question 2.2 above.
It would be helpful if you could state your proposed change to the DPD and the reasons why you think it is necessary.
My proposed change would be to exclude R121M on the basis of unsoundness;
To build houses on this piece of land would be unsound for the following reasons:-
Justified and Effective
"The DPD should show how the policies and proposals help to ensure that the social, environmental and resource use of objectives of sustainability will be achieved"
Numerous development proposals for this site in the past have been rejected because of:-
-the importance of the approaches to Kendal,
-biodiversity,
-flooding (which will not be alleviated by the Stockbeck system as this is already at capacity),
-access and highways safety (Oaktree Road and Sedbergh Road are too narrow).
Overall, previous reports by SLDC, Friends of the Lake District and others have rejected this site because of the sensitivity of the landscape and its low capacity for development. It therefore becomes uneconomic in terms of returns on investment in the infrastructure to support relatively few houses. Would this housing then be 'affordable' in terms of the price? Who would subsidise it?
SLDC has not provided enough costed detail to make this judgement.
SLDC's own Core Strategy policies on green infrastructure,open spaces,landscape and settlement character are not being adhered to. SLDc's Local plan 2006 has rejected this site because the 'development of higher hillsides further East would be unduly prominent'.
SLDC has not taken notice of the community in the form of Kendal Town Council who supported the view that R121 should not be developed for sound reasons stated previously.
It's engagement with the community has been low level and complicated, dependant on access to a computer.Ac cessing this website has been complicated for someone fairly computer literate - for the majority of the occupants living around this site who are elderly, this would not be an option let alone user friendly.
The site was originally considered by SLDC as being unsound for development- the site hasn't changed. Therefore,is it reasonable to assume that other political considerations (targets?) are taking precedence over sound i.e.justified and effective criteria.
3.1 If your representation is seeking a change, do you consider it necessary to participate in the oral part of the examination?
NO, I do not wish to participate at the oral examination
3.2 If you wish to participate in the oral part of the examination, please outline why you consider this to be necessary.
I have given authority to the Save Our Landscape East Kendal (SOLEK)to represent me in any Oral examination.
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