3 responses from Levens Farms Ltd , c/o Steven Abbott Associates LLP
1. Levens Farms Ltd , c/o Steven Abbott Associates LLP : 10 May 2012 08:23:00
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I have read the guidance notes
Policy/Site No.
LA1.3 Housing Allocations - M41KM KENDAL SOUTH OF LUMLEY ROAD
1.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is legally compliant?
Yes
2.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is sound?
Yes
2.4 Use this space to explain your support for the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD.
Policy LA1.3 Housing Allocations M41KM, land at Lumley Road
The owners of this site are very willing to see it developed for residential purposes, as they have
been in the past. They have planted trees immediately to the South of the site and these are now
very well established and will continue to grow, thus creating a very significant change in the
appearance of the field in question.
The owners also control the hedgerow on the Western boundary and the drumlin beyond that, and
are thus able to enhance the screening of the site from the Kendal bypass as required in association
with any development proposals on the site.
The document at Paragraph 3.27 recognises the need for strong landscaping and green
infrastructure, and for the retention of trees and hedgerows, and the owners are entirely open to
providing such features.
The site is of course close to the proposed Strategic Employment Site and therefore a good one from
the point of view of prospective employees. Any Transport Assessment and Travel Plan would
obviously take account of the proximity of that Strategic Employment Site, as well as other
employment sites across the River which are accessible from the Romney Bridge which is close by.
The A6 is the route of a regular bus service providing access into the town centre and Southwards
towards Milnthorpe.
In summary the site is certainly deliverable, it is in the hands of a willing landowner, it is sustainable
in terms of its relationship to Kendal in general and to the proposed Strategic Employment Site in
particular, and the landowner controls adjoining land which allow for greater provision of landscape
features to assist in the assimilation of the development into the town.
Please tick the box if you wish to be notified when the document is submitted, published and adopted.
Please notify me
2. Levens Farms Ltd , c/o Steven Abbott Associates LLP : 11 May 2012 11:44:00
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.
LA1.6 Strategic Employment Sites - E4M KENDAL LAND AT SCROGGS WOOD, MILNTHORPE ROAD
1.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is legally compliant?
Yes
2.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is sound?
Yes
2.4 Use this space to explain your support for the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD.
Site E4M
Policy LA1.6 and LA2.9 Strategic Employment Sites
The owners of this site have been active in promoting it ever since the allocations exercise began and perhaps even earlier than that.
They have had developer interest and one interested party forwarded a report to South Lakeland District Council on infrastructure issues that had been identified and showed that all could be satisfactorily resolved.
A structural landscaping scheme was prepared by the owners and submitted to the Planning Authority at an earlier stage when a smaller area of land was being considered by them as potentially suitable for allocation.
The new larger site reflects a wider interest in ensuring that Kendal does not find itself in a position of being short of employment land as it has been for the past 15 years or more. Notwithstanding that the Core Strategy identifies a need for 20 hectares of land for employment purposes in Kendal, of which 9 should be aimed at strategic employment needs, the allocation is for a significantly larger area and this has been in part based on the fact that it will need to be well landscaped in order to avoid significant intrusion into the countryside.
Paragraphs 3.34 and 3.35 set out the suitability of the site in terms of its size, location, deliverability, availability, infrastructure capacity, market considerations and environmental capacity, as well as its good location in relation to the strategic highway network. It is acknowledged that Scroggs Wood provides a good screen from the adjoining residential area and that the site is in reasonable walking and cycling distance of many parts of South Kendal, and that it is also along a major bus route.
It is fair to conclude, given the willingness of the land owners and the interest of developers in the site, that it is deliverable as well as being sustainable, and that its allocation is sound.
There is a requirement for a Planning Brief which will deal inter alia with landscaping including a buffer of Scroggs Wood, biodiversity mitigation, compensation and enhancement across the site and significant green infrastructure, including retained hedgerows, landscaping along the perimeter of the site and the protection of drumlin characteristics. There is also a need to protect the River Kent Area of Special Scientific Interest, to submit a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan, to provide cycle
and pedestrian links towards the town centre and within the site itself, and to enhance public rights of way across and adjacent to the site.
Finally, there is a need to protect the Watercrook Scheduled Monument Site and the Helsington Laithes and Snuff Mill Listed Buildings.
From the studies that have already been undertaken on behalf of the landowner and developer it is clear that all these things can be achieved without the need to make half of the site into a landscaped area.
Given the shortage of employment land that Kendal has experienced, and the difficulty in finding appropriate land, which is set out in the Allocations Document, it is important that potential industrial land is not in any way wasted by excessive or unreasonable landscaping.
It is however important to note that the owners also control land on all sides of the development other than at Scroggs Wood itself. This includes land across the opposite side of the A6 should access improvements involve any land take on that side of the road.
They are able therefore to carry out structural landscaping beyond the confines of the site, which in the end will result in more of it being available for employment development, whether in this plan period or in a subsequent plan period.
It is important that any Planning Brief takes account of this control of adjoining land and a
willingness to see it used to enhance landscape provision outside the site itself, thus ensuring that scarce employment land to serve Kendal's longer term interests is not in any way compromised.
In summary the land is available, it is deliverable, it is sustainable and there is a willingness to bring it forward in the long term interests of the employment infrastructure of Kendal.
3.1 If your representation is seeking a change, do you consider it necessary to participate in the oral part of the examination?
YES, I 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.
Given that the site is of strategic importance the owners would be willing to participate as they have a great knowledge of the iste.
Please tick the box if you wish to be notified when the document is submitted, published and adopted.
Please notify me
3. Levens Farms Ltd , c/o Steven Abbott Associates LLP : 11 May 2012 11:46:00
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.
LA2.9 Strategic Employment Allocations, Kendal
1.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is legally compliant?
Yes
2.1 Do you consider that the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD is sound?
Yes
2.4 Use this space to explain your support for the South Lakeland District Council Land Allocations DPD.
Site E4M
Policy LA1.6 and LA2.9 Strategic Employment Sites
The owners of this site have been active in promoting it ever since the allocations exercise began and perhaps even earlier than that.
They have had developer interest and one interested party forwarded a report to South Lakeland District Council on infrastructure issues that had been identified and showed that all could be satisfactorily resolved.
A structural landscaping scheme was prepared by the owners and submitted to the Planning Authority at an earlier stage when a smaller area of land was being considered by them as potentially suitable for allocation.
The new larger site reflects a wider interest in ensuring that Kendal does not find itself in a position of being short of employment land as it has been for the past 15 years or more. Notwithstanding that the Core Strategy identifies a need for 20 hectares of land for employment purposes in Kendal, of which 9 should be aimed at strategic employment needs, the allocation is for a significantly larger area and this has been in part based on the fact that it will need to be well landscaped in order to avoid significant intrusion into the countryside.
Paragraphs 3.34 and 3.35 set out the suitability of the site in terms of its size, location, deliverability, availability, infrastructure capacity, market considerations and environmental capacity, as well as its good location in relation to the strategic highway network. It is acknowledged that Scroggs Wood provides a good screen from the adjoining residential area and that the site is in reasonable walking and cycling distance of many parts of South Kendal, and that it is also along a major bus route.
It is fair to conclude, given the willingness of the land owners and the interest of developers in the site, that it is deliverable as well as being sustainable, and that its allocation is sound.
There is a requirement for a Planning Brief which will deal inter alia with landscaping including a buffer of Scroggs Wood, biodiversity mitigation, compensation and enhancement across the site and significant green infrastructure, including retained hedgerows, landscaping along the perimeter of the site and the protection of drumlin characteristics. There is also a need to protect the River Kent Area of Special Scientific Interest, to submit a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan, to provide cycle
and pedestrian links towards the town centre and within the site itself, and to enhance public rights of way across and adjacent to the site.
Finally, there is a need to protect the Watercrook Scheduled Monument Site and the Helsington Laithes and Snuff Mill Listed Buildings.
From the studies that have already been undertaken on behalf of the landowner and developer it is clear that all these things can be achieved without the need to make half of the site into a landscaped area.
Given the shortage of employment land that Kendal has experienced, and the difficulty in finding appropriate land, which is set out in the Allocations Document, it is important that potential industrial land is not in any way wasted by excessive or unreasonable landscaping.
It is however important to note that the owners also control land on all sides of the development other than at Scroggs Wood itself. This includes land across the opposite side of the A6 should access improvements involve any land take on that side of the road.
They are able therefore to carry out structural landscaping beyond the confines of the site, which in the end will result in more of it being available for employment development, whether in this plan period or in a subsequent plan period.
It is important that any Planning Brief takes account of this control of adjoining land and a
willingness to see it used to enhance landscape provision outside the site itself, thus ensuring that scarce employment land to serve Kendal's longer term interests is not in any way compromised.
In summary the land is available, it is deliverable, it is sustainable and there is a willingness to bring it forward in the long term interests of the employment infrastructure of Kendal.
3.1 If your representation is seeking a change, do you consider it necessary to participate in the oral part of the examination?
YES, I 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.
Given that the site is of strategic importance the owners would be willing to participate as they have a great knowledge of the site.
Please tick the box if you wish to be notified when the document is submitted, published and adopted.
Please notify me
