South Local Plan CALL FOR SITES

SUPPORTING INFORMATION IN RELATION TO LAND WEST OF FOX ROAD, , WV5 7HD

ON BEHALF OF

John Davies (Farms) Ltd

CALL FOR SITES LAND WEST OF FOX RD, SEISDON

OWNER DETAILS

John Davies (Farms) Ltd Swancote Farm Swancote WV15 5HA

PROJECT

Call for Sites Submission

ISSUED BY

Mike Lloyd BA (Hons) DipTP MRTPI Planning Consultant

APPROVED BY

Stuart Thomas BA (Hons) MA MRTPI Partner and Head of Planning

Beech House Anchorage Avenue Shrewsbury Business Park SY2 6FG 01743 271697 berrys.uk.com

1

Purpose of this Statement

1.1 This document provides information in support of a site submitted in response to ’s Call for Sites as part of the Local Plan review.

The Site and its Environs

1.2 The location of the site is identified on Figure 1 and on the plan provided at Appendix 1 of this statement. The site is currently in two parts, the northern part being in agricultural use, whilst the landowners currently allow the southerly part of the site to be used on an informal basis as recreational space. The site is available in whole or part for residential development and its proposed development provides an opportunity to secure recreational facilities of equal if not greater value on a more formal basis.

Figure 1: Google Maps Aerial Imagery with site location identified

1.3 The site is located to the west of Fox Road, and north of Tinkers Castle Road, in the settlement of Seisdon. The site is therefore within close walking and cycling distance of the settlement’s services and facilities, including Seisdon Convenience Store and Garage. The settlement is also less than 1 mile from the settlement of and its services and facilities including All Saint’s Church, Primary School, Village Hall and public houses. The settlements are also connected to the wider range of services and facilities provided in surrounding settlements, including and , by public transport. 2

1.4 The site is relatively well enclosed, with existing residential development to its north (Lower Lanes Meadow), south (including the Seven Stars development) and east (on the opposite side of Fox Road). Residential development on the site would therefore be seen as a logical infilling of development in this location rather than an unacceptable intrusion into open countryside and would best assimilate with neighbouring land uses.

Figure 2: Lower Lanes Meadow, to the north of the proposed site

1.5 The site is relatively unconstrained. It lies outside of any areas subject to flooding, as demonstrated on the mapping provided at figure 3, below. Seisdon does benefit from a number of Listed Buildings, including The Old Manor House and Seisdon Hall, and a Conservation Area. However, new built development on the site will be well screened from these historic assets by the existing built form of the village. In addition, the overall size of the site provides opportunities to include significant landscape planting and reinforce existing hedgerows to further ensure that new development assimilates into its landscape setting and does not give rise to any unacceptable adverse impacts.

Figure 3: Extract of Gov.UK Flood Map for Planning 3

1.6 Whilst the site is relatively unconstrained, it is recognised that the site lies within the South Staffordshire Green Belt. The National Planning Policy Framework identifies the following five purposes of Green Belt as: • to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built up areas; • to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another; • to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment; • to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns; and • to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Nonetheless, as part of the Council’s review of the Local Plan it is noted that a comprehensive Green Belt review is being undertaken. In this regard, it is contended that the site does not make a significant contribution to any of the stated purposes and its release from Green Belt is therefore appropriate to meet the housing needs of the area. Access

1.7 The site is bounded to the east and south by existing highways (Fox Road and Tinkers Castle Road respectively). It may not be considered appropriate to gain access to the site from Tinkers Castle Road, due to the nature and characteristics of the highway corridor in this location. Nonetheless, it is anticipated that, given the amount of highway frontage the site enjoys along Fox Road, together with the vertical and horizontal alignment of the Road and its substantial verge, an appropriate access can be achieved with ease. In addition, and significantly in this regard, a new field access has recently been approved (application reference 17/00269/FUL) and constructed from Fox Road. This access benefits from significant visibility splays and may be upgraded to serve residential development on the site with ease. 4

Appendix 1 – Site Location Plan