Prospect Farm, Thirsk Road, Easingwold For Persimmon Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd
Design and Access Statement in support of a Full Planning Application for substitution of 15no house types and minor adjustments to previously Approved Residential Development of 79no New Dwellings.
Prepared by Downes Illingsworth Partnership Limited. Chartered Architects.
January 2009
1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This Design and Access Statement has been prepared on behalf of Persimmon Homes Yorkshire Limited for the amendments to an approved residential development. It should be read in conjunction with the submitted drawings and forms and briefly outlines the background to the development and describes the proposed amendments to the original approved scheme.
1.2 When the original application was submitted a Design and Access Statement was not required. However a Supporting Design Statement was prepared as part of the Planning Appeal in January 2006 and this original statement can be referred to for the design principles under Planning Reference 06/00078/FUL. I have not, therefore, repeated the original design criteria and objectives here but briefly outline the approved scheme and then schedule the changes that form the basis of the revised application, together with other minor adjustments to the scheme.
2.0 BACKGROUND 2.1 The site was originally refused Planning Permission in March 2006, under reference 06/00078/FUL where after a Planning Appeal, referenced App/G2713/A/06/1198335, was lodged. Following a Public Enquiry the site was eventually granted Full Planning Permission in August 2006 for the residential development of 79no dwellings and is subject to a Section 106 Agreement.
2.2 The construction of the development commenced on site last year and around 30% of the units are now completed with a number sold and occupied. However, due to the current market conditions work has currently ceased on site with some properties completed and unsold and others partly constructed.
3.0 THE APPROVED SCHEME 3.1 The site is on the north western edge of the market town of Easingwold, within walking distance of the town centre shops, local amenities and schools. The primary school lies directly to the east of the site and the provision of an additional parking area for the school formed part of the original planning approval. The town has bus services to the surrounding villages and towns and the city of York is about a 30 minute bus ride away.
3.2 The site has a single access onto Thirsk Road at the south-eastern side of the site with a further link onto Thirsk Road at the northern end providing emergency access and a secondary pedestrian and cycle route out of the development.
3.3 The approved development briefly comprises 79no 2 and 3 storey dwellings with a range of two, three and four bedroom properties. There are 18 different house types offering a wide choice of accommodation, suitable for the majority of prospective purchasers. A large number of the properties are arranged around a central green space, containing a children’s play area, with smaller cul-de-sacs serving further dwellings at the edges of the site. The style of the properties are intended to reflect the local vernacular and further design objectives can be found in the original Supporting Design Statement. The external materials comprise facing brickwork and tiles and specific details have been previously approved by the Planning Officer.
3.4 The main entrances of all units are fully accessible with a level approach from an adequately sized parking space or “drop off” point. The doors all have level thresholds and so are easily accessible by wheelchairs and pushchairs.
4.0 DETAILS OF AMENDMENTS ON THE LATEST SCHEME 4.1 The principles of the design and layout of the development remain as previously approved and the scheme is very similar with only minor amendments and modest changes to certain house types and the substitution of others to try and eliminate the 3 storey ‘townhouse’ style properties that are not popular with purchasers in the current climate.
4.2 The range and variety of dwelling types still remains, with even greater options for purchasers with the introduction of two new house types, the ‘Gilling Wide’ 3 bedroom type house and the ‘Roseberry’ type, modest 4 bed dwelling.
4.3 The revised scheme involves the substitution of house types on fifteen plots together a number of other minor adjustments. The changes to the layout are noted below; • Plot 32: Garage repositioned in line with dwelling • Plot 33: Substitution of house type Kepwick to Pickering in same location • Plot 34 & 35: Repositioned 2.5m westwards and plot 34 handed • Plot 35: Garage omitted but now has use to garage south of dwelling • Plots 36: Substitution of house type Kepwick to Farlington in same location with a single garage • Plot 37: Substitution of house type Rainton to Roseberry in same location • Plot 38: Substitution of house type Rainton to Sunningdale in same location • Plot 41: Substitution of house type Rainton to Escrick in same location • Plot 42: Substitution of house type Escrick to Roseberry and repositioned slightly • Plot 43: Garage omitted, substitution of house type Pickering to Roseberry with integral garage and repositioned slightly • Plot 44: Garage omitted, substitution of house type Escrick to Sunningdale with integral garage and repositioned slightly • Plot 45: Garage to north omitted, substitution of house type Aysgarth to Farlington and single garage in line with dwelling • Plot 46: Garage to north omitted, substitution of house type Eavestone to Lingdale and single garage in line with dwelling • Plot 47: Substitution of house type Eavestone to Lingdale in same location • Plot 53: Substitution of house type Aysgarth to Gilling Wide in same location • Plot 58: Substitution of house type Rainton to Roseberry in same location • Plot 60: Substitution of house type Rainton to Roseberry in same location • Plot 70: Substitution of house type Kepwick to Pickering in same location • Yorkshire Water access added between plots 41 &42
4.4 The alterations to the approved scheme are relatively minor in nature and the changes will have a lesser impact than the approved scheme by the elimination of a number of the three storey units. However, the quality and character of the scheme will not suffer as a result. The main change to note is the elimination of the rear garage courts for plots 42 to 46. This will not be detrimental to the scheme but will improve security, particularly for the potential occupiers’ vehicles, garden equipment, etc. that were not readily visible from the property being in remote garages with shared driveways. These amendments will also reduce the impact from the new buildings on the peripheral tree belts.
4.5 It should also be noted that the site access and the internal highway network has already been constructed and the design and layout, including previously approved footpath links, are not affected by the alterations. Similarly, the drainage, open space, children’s play area, landscaping and affordable housing provision remains as the previously approved scheme. The submission of details in these respects is therefore felt to be unnecessary. There will be a variation required to the Section 106 Agreement, but this will simply be to revise the dates and planning reference number.
4.6 The external materials have been previously approved by the Planning Officer and remain unchanged; these are confirmed as follows; Facing Brickwork: Terca Durham Claret Stock, Terca Gainsborough Multi, Terca Durham Red Multi, Terca Old Castle Blend, Terca Gainsborough Red, Hanson Chatsworth Multi Roof Tiles: Lafarge Richmond – Slate Grey, Lafarge Grovebury – Terracotta, Lafarge Norfolk Pantile – Terracotta Windows: White Upvc Doors: Steel faced doors and white Upvc French windows
4.7 In addition, minor adjustments have been made to the approved Lingdale and Sunningdale House Types with the removal of the rear bay windows.
5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The house type substitutions and minor adjustments have been made to meet current market demand and to accommodate requirements sought by Yorkshire Water. However, the thrust of the original concept has been retained and the re-submitted scheme closely reflects the approved layout.
5.2 All the other planning considerations remain as previously agreed and should not therefore require further consideration.