Bury Road, Sewardstonebury

Proposed development at: Land adj. Knoll House, Bury Road, Sewardstonebury, , , E4 7QL.

Contents

Section 1. Introduction

Section 2. Site Analysis

- Sewardstonebury - The Site - Connections

Section 3. Planning History Contents

Section 4. Design Policy Framework │ - Epping Forest Local Plan - Metropolitan Green Belt - Emerging Local Development Plan - Supplementary Planning Documents - National Planning Policy Framework Section 5. Submitted Design - Use - Amount - Design - Appearance - Scale - Security - Access - Landscape and Ecology.

Section 6. Summary Statement Access and Design Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury

1. Introduction

Site Address Land adj. Knoll House, Bury Road, Sewardstonebury, Waltham Abbey, E4 7QL.

Client: Colin Chapman

Planning Consultant Landmark Town Planning Group, Landmark House, 87 Rayleigh House, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 5DL.

Arboriculture Consultant Tim Moya Associates, 8 Feltimores Park, Chalk Lane, , Essex, CM17 0PF.

Architectural Designers Ashby Design Ltd 13 Arm & Sword Lane Old Hatfield

Herts, AL9 5EH Design and Access Statement │ Introduction │ Statement Access and Design Road, Bury Sewardstonebury

1. Introduction (Cont’d)

This statement has been prepared by Ashby Design Ltd on behalf of Colin Chapman to support the Full Planning application submission for the site at Knoll House, Bury Road, Sewardstonebury, henceforth referred to as the application site.

The statement is intended to focus on the detail of the design and access elements of the scheme and to set out the design principles on which the application is based. The aim is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the site and outline layout proposals submitted, considering issues such as use, amount, design, appearance, scale, security, access, and landscape and ecology.

This document should be read in conjunction with the drawings and details prepared and submitted by Ashby Design Ltd.

Legislative Framework

The legislative framework for the production of Design and Access statements is set out within Guidance on changes to the development control system circular, published in 2006.

As stated by the circular, a Design and Access Statement is prepared in order to illustrate the process that has led to the development proposal, and to explain and justify the proposal in a structured way. It is not intended to replace drawings but instead provides an opportunity for developers and designers to demonstrate their commitment to achieving good design. It ensures accessibility in the work they undertake, and allows them to show how they are meeting, or will meet the various obligations placed on them by legislation and policy.

In line with the legislative framework, this document relates to the specific

requirements that are intended to be applied to the development of the site in Design and Access Statement │ Introduction │ Statement Access and Design accordance with planning policies and design best practice. Road, Bury Sewardstonebury

2. Site Analysis

Sewardstonebury

Sewardstonebury is a small hamlet in the of Epping Forest, and in the county of Essex. It is also a parish of Waltham Abbey. It is located within the Metropolitan Green Belt and totally surrounded by the forest.

The Site

The application site of 0.390 hectares / 0.96 acres, lies to the East of Bury Road, Sewardstonebury, and is currently land that is associated to Knoll House. The land in its entirety comprises of a detached two storey house of traditional design on a well landscaped plot. The application site is part of the mature garden of Knoll House and is itself well screened from Bury Road.

Knoll house forms part of the built up frontage of this section of Bury Road, and extends to the south on its Eastern side. West Essex Golf Course is situated to the East of the application site.

Connections

Sewardstonebury is located approximately 3.2 miles from Waltham Abbey, 1.5 miles from and 11 miles from . The area is completely residential, with no shops, pubs or churches. Chingford provides the closest railway station, with regular Site Location Plan services to Liverpool Street.

Analysis Site │ Statement Access and Design Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury

3. Planning History

The application site has been subject to planning applications in the past.

The most recent of which was granted approval in November 2014, for the

development of a single detached house with integral garage. (Ref: EPF/2250/14).

Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury Design and Access Statement │ Planning │ Statement History Access Design and

Previously Approved Proposed Site Layout (Ref:EPF/2250/14)

4. Design Policy Framework Emerging Local Development Plan Epping Forest Council has started the preparation of a new local plan and will

replace the existing 1998 local plan and 2006 alterations documents. The new Local The following section identifies the planning policy context considered to be relevant to the site and the planning application proposals. Plan will guide development in the district up to 2033, being used to deal with

planning application and to provide land allocations. Epping Forest Local Plan (1998) and Alterations (2006) GB2A - Development in the Green Belt Supplementary Planning Documents H2A - Previously Developed Land The Essex Design Guide, Essex County Council’s Vehicle Parking Standards (2009)

DBE1 - Design of New Buildings DBE2 - Effect on Neighbouring Properties and EPDC’s ‘Designing Out Crime’ supplements, among others, are adopted by DBE4 - Design in the Green Belt Epping Forest DC and support the consideration of planning proposals within the DBE6 - Car Parking in New Development Borough of Brentwood. DBE8 - Private Amenity Space LL3 - Edge of Settlement National Planning Policy Framework LL10 - Adequacy of Provision for Landscape Retention In March 2012, the Government published its National Planning Policy Framework ST6 - Vehicle Parking (NPPF). This document replaces the Planning Policy Guidance Notes and Statements

issued since 1991. It provides guidance for local planning authorities and decision- Metropolitan Green Belt takers both in drawing up plans and as a material consideration in determining The Metropolitan Green Belt is a statutory green belt around London. It includes applications. designated part of , , Berkshire Buckinghamshire, Essex, , Kent and Surrey. It states that the purpose of the planning system is to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development. There are three dimensions to sustainable Most councils, Council included, do not appear to publish a development: economic, social and environmental and these dimensions give rise Green Belt map relative to areas within their respective authority, however, an to the need for the planning system to perform a number of roles, socially, interactive map published by the Telegraph in 2012 gives more accessibility to the economically and environmentally. public in establishing areas which are considered to be Green Belt Land.

Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury Design and Access Statement │ Design Policy Framework Design Policy │ Statement Access and Design

Metropolitan Green Belt around the Epping Forest District Application site in relation to the Metropolitan Green Belt

5. Submitted Design

Layout overview

 Proposal consists of two detached dwellings with associated garages and private amenity spaces.

 Each dwelling is circa 4000sqft in size.

 New access junction and crossover incorporated from Bury Road with gated

entrance, all to Essex County Council standards to allow efficient use by residents and public service vehicles.  Each dwelling benefits from a double garage and generous driveway.

 Large private gardens are provided to the rear of the site.

Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury Design and Access Statement │ Submitted Design Submitted │ Statement Access and Design

Proposed Site Layout Plan (Ref: F033.16.PL1002)

5. Submitted Design (Cont’d)

Use

The proposal is for a residential development with associated access, vehicular and cycle parking and private amenity spaces.

Amount

The proposed development will provide 2 new detached dwellings which aim to make efficient use of the site.

A full accommodation schedule can be found in Appendix I at the end of this statement but to summarise, the following dwellings are included:

Proposed Ground Floor Plan (Ref: F033.16.PL10.01) Plot 1—Five Bedroom Detached House (372.5sqm 4,011sqft) Plot 2—Five Bedroom Detached House (372.5sqm 4,011sqft)

Design

The layout of the site is not dissimilar to the previously approved scheme ref, EPF/2250/14, all be it with one extra dwelling and an altered access point. The proposal divides the land associated with Knoll House, allowing development of the two new dwellings and associated parking amenity and individual garden spaces.

The layout maintains the alignment of the existing built form along Bury Road, and continues the principle which is characterised in the area, of large dwellings set on generous plots.

Plot One is approximately 2m from the north side of the boundary, while Plot Two is approximately 4m from its southern boundary. Plot Two sits a minimum of 7m from

the side elevation of Winterstoke, of which there appears to be no glazing. Each Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury

plot has a very generous rear private garden space of over 975 sqm. Design and Access Statement │ Submitted Design Submitted │ Statement Access and Design

Proposed First Floor Plan (Ref: F033.16.PL10.01) Proposed Second Floor Plan (Ref: F033.16.PL10.01)

5. Submitted Design (cont’d)

Appearance The proposed dwellings have the intention of complimenting the area and the street scene in which they sit, with a coherent design and a blend of high quality

materials.

The traditional style demonstrated in this proposal, provides a continuation of the large traditional dwellings which already exist along Bury Road, of which typically consist of a mix of brick, stone, render and timber features. The use of brick, stone detailing and clay tiling within the elevational design interweaves the proposal into its surrounding character, while the double storey, parapeted gables act as the main features of the architectural design and gives the dwellings some presence and character of their own. Scale

The footprint of the two proposed dwellings are in keeping with the large sized dwellings that already exist along Bury Road. The same can be said of the overall height and mass of the proposed built forms. The two storey dwellings, with rooms in the roof, is consistent with the residential setting of Bury Road. The overall height of the dwellings are around 9.6m.

Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury Design and Access Statement │ Submitted Design Submitted │ Statement Access and Design

Proposed Street Scene (Ref: F033.16.PL1003)

5. Submitted Design (cont’d)

Security

The proposals put forward into this application have been considerate to the principles set out within the Essex Design Guide—Urban Place and ’Designing Out Crime’ supplements and implemented where possible. The attributes that are generally deemed important to the physical aspects of crime are listed as Access and Movement, Structure, Surveillance, Ownership, Physical Protection, Activity and Management and Maintenance.

The development is proposed to be gated and therefore naturally obtaining a high level of secureness, in what is an inherently safe location. The proposal aims to minimise any overlooking issues, either on-site or with its neighbours but maintains a certain level of natural surveillance across the site.

A well designed lighting scheme across the site, and a selection of materials, fittings and planting that deter vandalism, further improve on the safety and security of the site in general.

Access Vehicular access is provided off Bury Road via a new access junction with dropped kerb crossover. The new access is proposed to be a minimum width of 5m and have a visibility splay of 2.4m x 40m onto the 30mph Bury Road. Each dwelling will be provided with a separate drive way and double garages in a mirrored layout, which provide a minimum of 2 cars per dwelling, with further surface parking via the generous driveways. The garages will be to Essex County Council standards of 3m x 7m internal dimensions. Cycle parking can therefore be accommodated within the garages as necessary. Refuse and emergency vehicles will be able to drive into the site and turn safely within the shared driveway area.

Refuse and recycling amenities for each dwelling will be provided to meet local Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury Proposed Access Strategy (Ref: F033.16.PL1004) authority requirements, typically this includes the provision of separate refuse and

recycling wheelie bins, waste food bins and garden waste bins or bags. Design and Access Statement │ Submitted Design Submitted │ Statement Access and Design

5. Submitted Design (cont’d)

Landscape and Ecology The site sits within the Metropolitan Green Belt and as would be expected, is a typically verdant location. The proposal is located within the extensive grounds of Knoll house, which is currently laid to grass and is scattered with various trees and shrubs. This application is accompanied by an Arboricultural Report by Tim Moya Associates (Appendix II), which identifies the level of soft features across the site and the impact the proposals have on them. It is highlighted that 21 shrubs and trees of fairly low amenity value are lost as part of the proposals and that a ‘no dig’ construction of the new access road is required, in order to maintain the quality and life of the large trees that exist on this crossover between Bury Road and the site itself. The proposal overall is considered to avoid the loss or damage of important tress with careful implementation, to ensure that the existing good quality trees are retained for the long term. It is concluded within the report that; “Tree protection measures, replacement planting and detailed designs of construction operations within the rooting environments of retained trees can be successfully controlled by suitably worded planning conditions”.

Arboricultural plans (ref: 140405-PD-31) Road, Bury Sewardstonebury

Design and Access Statement │ Submitted Design Submitted │ Statement Access and Design

6. Summary

The plans submitted with this application have been informed and led by a clear understanding of the wider context of the surrounding area, in particular, the fact that large detached dwellings are an established feature of this area along Bury Road, and within the Green Belt.

The proposals put forward would provide two new dwellings of similar size, scale, and appearance to those that already exist along Bury Road and would therefore not appear to be out of character. Further more, the design aims to compliment and enhance an already ‘upmarket’ residential area, with a high quality design and its own individuality and presence.

The scheme fully incorporates a new access, driveways, garages and private amenity space, without being considered to be overly detrimental to the verdant nature of the setting. Trees and shrubs are to be removed on site, but these are considered to be of fairly poor quality with little to no amenity value, as stated within the Arboricultural Report (Appendix II).

For the reasons indicated throughout this statement, it is requested that that the officer delegated to the determination of this application, looks upon the proposal put forward positively.

Proposed Elevations (Ref: F033.16.PL10.03)

Design and Access Statement │ Summary │ Statement Access and Design Bury Road, Bury Sewardstonebury