West Local Plan. Issues and Options Consultation 2020.

Submission to Council by cum Parish Council.

Horringer cum Ickworth Parish Council welcome the opportunity to comment on the Local Plan issues and options document. Our responses will deal with Parts one to three of the plan in sequential order.

Part One:- Developing a Spatial Strategy

The parish council support the vision for West Suffolk, its priorities and how to take them forward. We also agree that the strategic objectives and issues for delivering the plan’s vision for the future of the district are appropriate. We do not see the need to propose any changes at this time.

We agree with the identified six potential types of place for West Suffolk in the draft hierarchy and accept that Horringer is appropriately identified as a Type A village.

Broad Options for Distribution of Growth

We support Option 3 : Focus growth on the towns, key service centres and local service centres through urban extensions and infilling where infrastructure and environmental constraints allow.

This option is considered to be a sustainable approach that would secure continued investment in the main settlements. Town centres and urban areas would also utilise available brownfield land while still allowing for modest investment in more rural areas, particularly for affordable housing. We would emphasise however, that in the case of Horringer, the A143 represents a significant infrastructure constraint which militates against significant levels of additional growth. (see below)

Part Two:- Local Issues

Our comments on local issues are based, but do not correspond precisely, to those set out in the plan:-

1. Climate Change

The Parish Council welcomes the plan’s emphasis and approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change. This is a global challenge which cuts through and influences many local issues.

2. Housing

This parish council supports and endorses the housing considerations set out in the plan. We would, in addition, wish to comment on the subject of rural affordable housing. Last year, the parish council contributed to the work of West Suffolk Council’s Rural Task Force. One of the main outcomes of which was the need for affordable housing, including accessible housing. This was emphasised as a key theme in WSC’s subsequent report earlier this year. In order to optimise the potential for such provision, we would support the application of lower thresholds for accessible affordable housing in rural areas and the proposed local designation of areas as “rural” to enable affordable housing to be brought forward on schemes for less than 10 dwellings. We also support the local identification of affordable exception sites where housing need is identified in suitable locations.

3. Green Infrastructure

Horringer Parish Council support the proposal for a new green infrastructure strategy for the whole district (formally St Edmundsbury and Forest Heath) to be developed in conjunction with the West Suffolk Local Plan. We believe it is important for all developers of new housing to allocate funding to support multi-functional green spaces, planting of woodland, street trees and cycle ways, all of which can provide multiple benefits to communities and the quality of life of those who inhabit them. The current Covid 19 epidemic places additional importance on green infrastructure and the necessity to support healthy lifestyles.

Additionally, the Parish Council believe it is not only the immediate area of development that should benefit from green infrastructure, but also those communities that could feel a negative impact on its own infrastructure, as a result of development elsewhere in the county. In the case of Horringer, we are a village suffering from increasing amounts of traffic using the A143. As mentioned under Transport below, we feel the village should benefit from additional green infrastructure to provide safe and sustainable access in the village and to itself.

4.Transport

Horringer PC strongly agrees with the sustainability issues identified, specifically to reduce the reliance on private vehicles, improve opportunities for cycling and walking, and solutions to the potential over-loading of the existing network.

These are pertinent issues for Horringer, since the A143 - the main route between West Suffolk’s two biggest towns - bisects the village. Through Horringer this road, and its surrounding infrastructure, is already unfit for the number and type of vehicles that currently use it. The type and volume of traffic, together with a lack of safe or alternative walking and cycling infrastructure, serves to deter people from walking or cycling within the village (e.g. children going to school; older people walking to events at the community centre) instead obliging people to use their cars, and further exacerbating the problem. Yet it is recognised that traffic using the A143 is only going to increase going forward.

Therefore, we strongly recommend alternative infrastructure for walking and cycling to enable safe and sustainable access within the village, and to surrounding environs (including Bury St Edmunds) and suggest that this walking and cycling infrastructure is not tied to the current road network.

Therefore, the hierarchy of transport means, with walking, cycling and public transport at the top, is very much welcomed. However, this must be supported by action, not just in terms of infrastructure accompanying new development but also for the improvement of existing infrastructure.

5.Employment

The parish council agrees with the issues identified to ensure abundant diverse and sustainable employment.

6.Rural Communities

Horringer Parish Council are keen to ensure development will not have a negative impact on the landscape of the area, whilst also supporting local communities. Under option 3 the Parish Council supports widespread development but feels, where appropriate, this should help reduce deprivation in rural areas, introduce affordable housing and support the provision of local services.

7. Natural and Historic Environment

We wish to comment specifically on Bury St. Edmunds town centre:- The present state of the town centre is extremely disappointing. It is dominated by vehicular traffic, the historic core has no fully pedestrianised areas and is a poor environment for shoppers and visitors alike. As a result of Covid 19, there is increased awareness and resources as well, to make town centres more people friendly, safer and attractive. The potential to increase footfall in the town by removing unnecessary traffic from locations such as Abbeygate St., Market Place and The Buttermarket while providing a cafe culture, landscaping, street theatre etc would be substantial. Disabled parking and controlled service delivery would still be essential but the need for environmental improvements in the town is very great and is not sufficiently recognised in the plan.

Part Three. Settlements

As a Type A village, the potential of Horringer to accommodate substantial growth in the plan period is extremely limited in environmental and sustainability terms. SHELAA sites put forward by landowners are in many cases unrealistic and do not recognise the intrinsic quality and character of the village. We have nonetheless considered all of the sites put forward in detail and propose an appropriate, modest level of development which would potentially allow growth consistent with the strategic objectives set out in the plan.

WS111 Land north-east of Horringer.

The size and scale of this site is inconsistent with Type A status and, if developed in its entirety, would introduce a major urban element into this semi-rural area. Although the site itself is much larger than would be appropriate, there may be some scope in considering a small scale development of about 0.5 Hect. An appropriately well besigned development at this location on the edge of the village and its conservation area could also realise an affordable housing element of 30% -40%. The housing settlement boundary at this point is marked by a substantial screen of trees and hedges which would need to be protected as much as possible.

WS112 Land north-west of Horringer.

This site is not supported. Its size and scale would be totally inconsistent with the character and nature of the Type A village. It would represent a major and arbitrary incursion into the open countryside poorly related to the rest of the village. Such development would also be seriously harmful to the setting of the adjacent Ickworth Estate to the west of the site.

WS113 Land between Glebe Close and Chevington Road

This site is considered to have potential for residential development. It is quite well related to the southern part of the village and is partially screened by existing vegetation. Access would need to be from the A143 Chevington Road however as Glebe Close is of sub standard design and

construction to accept significant new development. It is considered that around 15 dwellings could be accommodated on no more than half of the site, at least 30% being affordable housing.

WS593 Land off Manor Lane

This site is considered to have potential for residential development. The site is within a conservation area and adjacent to a listed building and would require a high standard of design and layout. At 0.48 Hect., the site could provide a modest number of units, say 10, including at least two affordable housing units. Manor Lane and its junction with the A143 would require significant improvement in terms of width and layout. There are also drainage and flooding issues.

WS594 Land south east of Hornbeam Drive, Horringer

This development would represent a major extension of the village into the open countryside which would be contrary to Horringer’s Type A designation.

The site’s size and scale would cause great landscape harm to the village which has, at present, a strong attractive defensible boundary at this point comprised of substantial trees, hedging and a public right of way, - the Low Way. The Low Way itself is an extremely attractive and well used footpath which would be irreparably damaged by adjacent development. It is within the Special Landscape Area and would also substantially erode the green wedge between the two parts of the village which form an attractive semi rural feature of this part of Horringer. This strategic gap between the two parts of Horringer has been protected by our Village Plan and successfully defended on appeal.

Access to this site is extremely problematic as the existing estate to the north west has just one access point to the A143, Meadow Drive. Any additional traffic using Meadow Drive, which can be very congested in the vicinity of the pre- school and primary school, would be unacceptable. Access to the A143 to the south west of this site would also be impractical. It would occupy most of the green wedge and urbanise this pleasant and open part of the village.

WS595 The corner of Westley Lane & A143 Horringer

This small site is very poorly located at this very busy road junction. Access could only be achieved via the adjoining WS111 site which itself is considered to have very limited potential. In isolation it is considered to be detrimental to highway safety as well as necessitating the loss of existing trees and hedges which mark the settlement boundary. Adjacent to conservation area boundary.